Surfshark vs Proton VPN
VPN pricing comparison · 2026
Surfshark pricing ranges from $1.99–$20.85/month, while Proton VPN ranges from $0–$12.99/month. Surfshark is typically 14% more affordable, though your actual cost depends on tier and team size.
Surfshark
Surfshark is a consumer VPN service now owned by Nord Security (the same parent company as
verified 27d ago
$180
$199
Proton VPN
Proton VPN is a Swiss-based VPN service developed by Proton AG, the same company behind th
verified 27d ago
$180
$199
Verdict · Vendr median · year 1
Surfshark
saves
$19
vs
Proton
· 25 seats
Cheapest
$180
Spread
10%
Estimated license cost
at 25 seats
List price × seats. Click a tier below to lock it.
Starter (1-Year)
$957/yr
year 1 license · $3/seat
VPN Plus (1-Year)
$1.5K/yr
year 1 license · $5/seat
What buyers actually pay
median, annual
Vendr deal-flow data. The real benchmark, not list price.
↓ Lowest median
Median annual
$180/yr
Vendr · n=53
Median annual
$199/yr
Vendr · n=23
REF · 01
Sources & confidence
Every dollar amount and contract clause below traces back to a sourced fact. We don't manufacture composite scores.
Where this data comes from
Vendr · TrustRadius · Reddit · BBB · official docs
Sources
7 sourced facts
3 hidden-cost · 2 contract · Vendr median · 1 review platform
Last verified
3w ago
Confidence
High confidence
Sources
6 sourced facts
3 hidden-cost · 1 contract · Vendr median · 1 review platform
Last verified
3w ago
Confidence
High confidence
REF · 02
Plans at a glance
Every tier per product. Lock one to drive the cost row above and reveal a tier-specific outbound CTA.
Tier ladder
Click a tier to lock the cost row to it. Locking surfaces a tier-specific Visit CTA.
REF · 04
Contract terms
The fine print, surfaced. Green = buyer-friendly. Each clause backed by a quoted source.
Surfshark
Proton
Auto-renewal
Yes
Yes
Cancellation
30 days for money-back guarantee
30 days money-back guarantee on new subscriptions
Commitment
✓
Monthly, 1-year, or 2-year options available
✓
Month-to-month available, or 1-2 year plans
Price escalation
Promotional pricing applies only to first term; renewal at standard rates
Renewal at standard pricing after promotional period ends
Can downgrade
No
✓
Yes
REF · 05
What users say
Aggregated, with sample sizes. We use whichever review platform has data.
User reviews
TrustRadius · Trustpilot · G2
Decide
Get a quote from each vendor
Each link opens the vendor's pricing page in a new tab.
License cost is computed from publicly listed plans (real math, list price × seats).
Median annual cost is from Vendr's deal flow when available — see source badges.
Hidden costs and contract terms each cite their own sources. We do not invent composite scores.
VS
Surfshark and Proton VPN both operate in the vpn category. This page compares their list pricing.
Plan-by-Plan Pricing
| Plan | Surfshark | Proton VPN |
|---|---|---|
| Starter (Monthly) | $15.45 /month | Free /month |
| Starter (1-Year) | $3.19 /month | $9.99 /month |
| Starter (2-Year) | $1.99 /month | $4.99 /month |
| One (Monthly) | $17.95 /month | $2.99 /month |
| One (1-Year) | $3.39 /month | $12.99 /month |
| One (2-Year) | $2.49 /month | $9.99 /month |
| One+ (Monthly) | $20.85 /month | $7.99 /month |
| One+ (1-Year) | $5.09 /month | — |
| One+ (2-Year) | $4.29 /month | — |
Cost at Scale
Total cost of ownership — licenses, implementation, and hidden costs included.
Surfshark
4 scenarios$1.99/mo ($53.73 for 27 months)
Large Household - Starter 2-Year Plan
Unlimited devices means every family member is covered, making it the cheapest per-device VPN option.
$2.49/mo ($59.13 for 27 months)
Security-Focused Individual - One 2-Year Plan
Replaces separate antivirus (~$40/year) and breach monitoring (~$10/mo) subscriptions.
$5.09/mo ($76.35/year for 15 months)
Privacy Maximalist - One+ 1-Year Plan
Includes Incogni, which would cost $6.49/mo if purchased separately.
Proton VPN
7 scenarios$0/mo
Budget-Conscious User - Free Plan
. Limited to 1 device, 5 countries, and medium speeds, but includes unlimited data and no ads.
$2.99/mo (billed as a 2-year term)
Privacy Advocate - VPN Plus 2-Year Plan
Access to 17,200+ servers, 10 devices, NetShield, and Stealth protocol.
$9.99/mo ($119.88/year)
Proton Ecosystem User - Unlimited 1-Year Plan
Replaces separate VPN, email, and password manager subscriptions.
Market Intelligence
Surfshark
- Median annual cost
- $180
- Based on
- 53 deals
Proton VPN
- Median annual cost
- $199
- Based on
- 23 deals
Contract Terms
| Term | Surfshark | Proton VPN |
|---|---|---|
| Auto-renewal | Yes | Yes |
| Cancellation | 30 days for money-back guarantee | 30 days money-back guarantee on new subscriptions |
| Minimum commitment | Monthly, 1-year, or 2-year options available | Month-to-month available, or 1-2 year plans |
| Price escalation | Promotional pricing applies only to first term; renewal at standard rates | Renewal at standard pricing after promotional period ends |
| Can downgrade | No | Yes |