NetNinjaVPN

Surfshark vs ExpressVPN (2026): 10-Round Battle on Euro Prices, Audits and Devices

Surfshark vs ExpressVPN compared for European users: audits, jurisdiction, features, track record, network, devices, intro and renewal euro prices, refunds and payment privacy. Research-based, with sources.

By NetNinjaVPN Research Desk Published

Disclosure: NetNinjaVPN is reader-supported. Links marked /go/ may earn us a commission in future at no extra cost to you. Results come from our published method, not from commissions. This is a research-based comparison (no in-house speed tests).

On this page
  1. The verdict in 20 seconds
  2. Scorecard
  3. Round 1: Privacy & audits — ExpressVPN
  4. Round 2: Jurisdiction & ownership — Surfshark
  5. Round 3: Security features — Draw
  6. Round 4: Track record — Draw
  7. Round 5: Network — ExpressVPN
  8. Round 6: Devices & apps — Surfshark
  9. Rounds 7 & 8: Price — split
  10. Round 9: Refund & trial — Surfshark
  11. Round 10: Payment privacy — Draw
  12. Who should pick which?
  13. Related
  14. FAQ
  15. Sources (checked 30 October 2026)

Last checked: 30 October 2026 · NetNinjaVPN Research Desk

The verdict in 20 seconds

Surfshark wins 4–3 (3 draws). Surfshark is the pick for EU households: a Dutch company under the GDPR, unlimited devices and the lowest monthly price to start. ExpressVPN is the pick if you value a deeper audit programme, more countries and knowing your renewal price in advance.

Scorecard

RoundSurfsharkExpressVPNWinner
1. Privacy & auditsDeloitte no-logs reports 2023 and 2025Third KPMG assessment (as of 28 Feb 2025) plus many Cure53 and other reportsExpressVPN
2. Jurisdiction & ownershipSurfshark B.V., Netherlands (EU); Nord Security groupExpress Technologies Ltd., British Virgin Islands; Kape TechnologiesSurfshark (EU users)
3. Security featuresWireGuard, RAM-only servers, Dynamic MultiHop, Rotating IP, NoBordersLightway, post-quantum protection, TrustedServer (RAM-only), automatic obfuscationDraw
4. Track recordNo comparable public incident found2017 Turkish seizure found no logs; 2021 controversy over its then CIODraw
5. Network4,500+ servers, 100 countries (claim)113 countries, 214 locations (claim)ExpressVPN
6. Devices & appsUnlimited10 / 12 / 14 by planSurfshark
7. Price (intro)€2.49/mo (€67.23 for 27 months)€4.49/mo (€67.35 for 15 months)Surfshark
8. Price (renewal)“Applicable renewal price” (not stated)€79.95/year (Basic)ExpressVPN
9. Refund & trial30 days + 7-day free trial (eligible sign-ups)30 days (new users)Surfshark
10. Payment privacyCards, PayPal, crypto via CoinGate (not on mobile)Cards, PayPal, crypto via BitPayDraw

Final tally: Surfshark 4 – 3 ExpressVPN, 3 draws.

Round 1: Privacy & audits — ExpressVPN

Surfshark’s no-logs policy was assessed by Deloitte under ISAE 3000 in 2023 and again in a report released in June 2025, covering its standard, static and multiport servers. ExpressVPN’s third KPMG assessment examined TrustedServer and its privacy controls as of 28 February 2025 and found no issues with its safeguards against activity logging. Its Trust Center also lists a long series of other third-party audits and pentests, including Cure53 assessments in 2026. More reports and more years give ExpressVPN the round.

Round 2: Jurisdiction & ownership — Surfshark

Surfshark B.V. is registered in Amsterdam, so EU users get GDPR rights directly, supervised by the Dutch data protection authority. ExpressVPN is run by Express Technologies Ltd. under British Virgin Islands law and has been owned by Kape Technologies (which also owns CyberGhost and Private Internet Access) since 2021. Surfshark itself joined the Nord Security group in 2022. For an EU audience, direct GDPR accountability wins; readers who prefer an offshore entity may score this the other way.

Round 3: Security features — Draw

Both offer a kill switch, leak protection, modern protocols and RAM-only servers. ExpressVPN has its own Lightway protocol (built on wolfSSL) and post-quantum protection; Surfshark adds Dynamic MultiHop, Rotating IP and NoBorders for restrictive networks. Different strengths, so neither clearly wins.

Round 4: Track record — Draw

ExpressVPN’s best evidence is from 2017, when Turkish authorities seized one of its servers during an investigation and, by ExpressVPN’s account, found no logs that identified the user. Against that, in September 2021 its then chief information officer, Daniel Gericke, was one of three former US intelligence operatives in a US Department of Justice deferred prosecution agreement over hacking work for the UAE (Project Raven). ExpressVPN said it knew his history when it hired him, didn’t condone the activity, and expanded its third-party audits. We found no comparable public incident for Surfshark, but also no real-world test like the server seizure. Call it even.

Round 5: Network — ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN says it has servers in 113 countries across 214 locations; Surfshark says 4,500+ servers in 100 countries. Both are provider claims, and both cover all three Baltic states and several German cities. ExpressVPN’s wider country spread takes it.

Round 6: Devices & apps — Surfshark

Unlimited devices vs 10 (Basic), 12 (Advanced) or 14 (Pro). For families, this is decisive.

Rounds 7 & 8: Price — split

Prices as shown to a eurozone visitor on 30 October 2026 (VAT may apply):

PlanIntroPaid up frontTermRenews at
Surfshark Starter (2-year)€2.49/mo€67.2327 monthsnot stated
Surfshark One+ (2-year)€3.99/mo€107.7327 monthsnot stated
ExpressVPN Basic (1-year + 3 months)€4.49/mo€67.3515 months€79.95/year
ExpressVPN Advanced (1-year + 3 months)€5.49/mo€82.3515 months€109.95/year

Up front, they cost almost the same (€67.23 vs €67.35), but Surfshark’s money covers 27 months against ExpressVPN’s 15, so Surfshark wins the intro round clearly. ExpressVPN takes the renewal round because it publishes the figure (€79.95/year for Basic); Surfshark’s page says only that you’ll pay “the applicable renewal price”. ExpressVPN’s euro offer differs from its US-dollar 2-year offer, so readers outside the eurozone may see different terms; check our best cheap VPN page for USD figures.

Round 9: Refund & trial — Surfshark

Both give 30 days to get your money back (ExpressVPN specifies new users). Surfshark adds a 7-day free trial on eligible sign-ups (limited to 3 devices during the trial).

Round 10: Payment privacy — Draw

Both take cards, PayPal and cryptocurrency: Surfshark through CoinGate (not available on mobile), ExpressVPN through BitPay. Neither offers cash or email-free accounts like Mullvad.

Who should pick which?

You want…Pick
A VPN for the whole family’s devicesSurfshark
A provider directly under EU lawSurfshark
The lowest monthly price to startSurfshark
The deepest audit programmeExpressVPN
To know your renewal price before buyingExpressVPN
The widest country coverageExpressVPN

Both have 30-day refunds: Check Surfshark → · Check ExpressVPN →. Once you’re connected, confirm your real IP is hidden with a free leak test.

FAQ

Which is better? Surfshark wins 4–3 (3 draws) on our scorecard.

Which is cheaper? Surfshark: €67.23 for 27 months vs ExpressVPN’s €67.35 for 15 months (30 Oct 2026, eurozone).

Devices? Surfshark unlimited; ExpressVPN 10–14.

Audits? Surfshark: Deloitte 2023 and 2025. ExpressVPN: KPMG 2025 plus many others.

Spotted an error? Tell us via our contact form.

Sources (checked 30 October 2026)