2026

Proton VPN vs Surfshark

Proton VPN and Surfshark compared side by side: protection, performance, pricing, and features. Which antivirus suits you better?

Proton VPN

8.7

/ 10

Proton VPN comes from the team behind ProtonMail and is based in Switzerland – under the protection of strict Swiss privacy laws. The software is fully open source and independently audited. Proton VPN offers Secure Core servers that route traffic through multiple countries, and a strong free tier with no data limit. Ideal for users who prioritize maximum transparency and privacy.

1st Year PriceCHF 79.90 RenewalCHF 79.90 PlatformsWindows, Mac, Android, iPhone / iPad

Protection 9.7

Performance 8.8

Best for 8.7

First-year price 8.0

Key features 8.8

Support 8.0

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Surfshark

9.1

/ 10

Surfshark stands out with unlimited simultaneous connections – ideal for families and shared households. The Surfshark One suite combines VPN, antivirus, search engine, and alert system. Speeds are very good and the server network spans over 3,200 servers in 100 countries. The value proposition is among the best on the market, especially on the 2-year plan.

1st Year PriceCHF 59.90 RenewalCHF 119.90 PlatformsWindows, Mac, Android, iPhone / iPad

Protection 9.2

Performance 9.0

Best for 9.2

First-year price 9.4

Key features 9.1

Support 8.5

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Our Verdict

Surfshark narrowly wins – Proton VPN is the leaner choice.

Surfshark scores 9.1 / 10 overall and is the stronger pick on protection and feature scope. If you value maximum performance, low resource use and lower renewal costs, Proton VPN is the better fit. Both are excellent options for Swiss users.

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Our verdict

Surfshark takes a slight lead in our comparison with an overall score of 9.1 out of 10 – an advantage of 0.4 points over Proton VPN. The gap is small but consistent across multiple test dimensions.

On price, Proton VPN currently sits at CHF 80 in year one, Surfshark at CHF 60. Watch the renewal price closely: both are transparently listed in the table above and matter more long-term than the introductory price.

Strength profiles: Proton VPN scores highest on protection, Surfshark on price-performance. If you care most about one of those dimensions, the choice is clear. For all-round needs, either product is a safe pick.

Feature-by-feature comparison

Criterion	Proton VPN	Surfshark
Real-time protection	Yes	Yes
Built-in VPN	No	No
Password manager	No	No
Anti-tracking / anti-phishing	No	No
Parental controls	No	No
Identity protection	No	No
Low system impact	No	No
Platforms	Windows, Mac, Android, iPhone / iPad	Windows, Mac, Android, iPhone / iPad
Number of devices (standard licence)	10	999
System impact in daily use	Moderate	Very low

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Frequently asked questions about Proton VPN vs Surfshark

Which scores higher on protection, Proton VPN or Surfshark?

Both reach top scores in AV-TEST and AV-Comparatives – the differences are small. The exact scores are in the comparison table above.

Which is cheaper in year 1 and on renewal – Proton VPN or Surfshark?

Look at the price columns above: year-one price and renewal price are stated transparently side by side. The renewal delta is often the bigger cost factor over 3 years.

Which is better for families, Proton VPN or Surfshark?

Both offer family plans for 5–10 devices. What matters: does the product have a dedicated parental-controls mode, screen-time management and a smooth setup. Details in the feature table.

Do I get better Mac/mobile support with Proton VPN or Surfshark?

Platform support is listed in the comparison above. Generally: macOS performance is best with Bitdefender and Intego; Android protection is most mature with Bitdefender, Norton and Kaspersky.