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NordVPN and Surfshark are two of the most popular virtual private networks (VPNs) on the Australian market, and they both share the same parent company. The two platforms offer reliable and encrypted internet access and both ranked in our best VPN list. Read on to learn more about how these two VPNs compare from a price, security and features perspective, so you can decide which is best for your needs.
Featured Partner Offers
1
NordVPN
Plan costs
$7.33 AUD per month or $87.95 for the first year
Number of Servers
5,500
Encryption
AES-256
2
Surfshark
Price
Starting From $3.07 AUD Per Month
Number of Servers
3000+
Encryption
AES with 256 -bit keys
3
Private Internet Access (PIA)
Dedicated IP address
Yes
Number of devices
Unlimited
Encryption
AES-256
NordVPN vs. Surfshark: At a Glance
NordVPN and Surfshark are two solid options when it comes to a reliable VPN that won’t slow down your internet connection. For the annual plan, both companies charge a similar price—less than $100 for the first year. However, there are a few differences to be aware of when choosing between the two. While Surfshark allows you to connect to an unlimited number of devices, NordVPN caps the number of devices at six. Both VPNs are compatible with Android, iOS, Windows, Mac and Linux, but NordVPN is compatible with Android TV, while Surfshark is compatible with Fire TV.
NordVPN
Annual cost
$US59.88 ($94 AUD)
(renews at $US99.48 or $156 AUD, per year)
Compatibility
Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, Linux, Android TV
Maximum number of devices
6
Annual cost
$US59.88 ($94 AUD)
(renews at $US99.48 or $156 AUD, per year)
Compatibility
Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, Linux, Android TV
Maximum number of devices
6
NordVPN is easy to install and available both to businesses and individuals. The company makes use of thousands of servers internationally to ensure high-speed encrypted internet access for Australian users. NordVPN offers month-by-month plans as well as annual and two-year plans with steep discounts.
- A high number of servers (5,000-plus)
- Dedicated IP (DIP) add-on available
- 24/7 support
- More expensive than other VPNs
- Fewer server connections than competitors
- Cost for dedicated IP is higher than some competitors
Surfshark
Annual cost
$75.30 AUD
(renews at $93.98 AUD per year)
Compatibility
Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, Linux, FireTV
Maximum number of devices
Unlimited
Annual cost
$75.30 AUD
(renews at $93.98 AUD per year)
Compatibility
Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, Linux, FireTV
Maximum number of devices
Unlimited
Surfshark is a popular VPN. It has over 3,200 servers in over 65 locations. Surfshark allows you to connect the VPN to an unlimited number of devices, and offers a month-by-month plan, a six-month plan and a two-year plan. The company also provides a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Offers split tunnelling and multi-hop features
- Unlimited simultaneously connected devices
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- More expensive than other VPNs
- No dedicated IP address add-on
How NordVPN and Surfshark Stack Up
NordVPN is slightly more expensive than Surfshark and also auto-renews at a higher rate. Surfshark also offers a better rate on its two-year plan, which comes out to $3.76 AUD per month (billed at $93.98 AUD). Meanwhile, NordVPN charges $US3.79 ($5.95 AUD) per month for the two-year plan, an initial charge of $US102.33 ($161 AUD).
Both companies offer the same encryption, a 30-day money-back guarantee and 24/7 support. If you want the option to use a dedicated IP, you will be better suited with NordVPN, as Surfshark does not offer this feature. However, Surfshark is more compatible with users with many devices, as the service enables an unlimited number of devices to use the VPN. NordVPN, on the other hand, is capped at six devices, still a considerable amount depending on your specific needs.
NordVPN and Surfshark both have a similar number of server locations: around 60. However, NordVPN has more servers (5,000+) compared with Surfshark’s 3,200-plus. If you’re planning to connect your VPN to specific locations, you can look up which location each company’s servers are connected to online.
Additional Features
NordVPN dedicated IP allows you to access IP-restricted networks while still maintaining your privacy. The dedicated IP costs $US5.89 ($9.25 AUD) extra per month (or $US70.68 and $111 AUD per year).
NordVPN also offers NordLayer, which provides internet privacy for companies and businesses. NordLayer makes it easy to manage and maintain the privacy of all the account members of your team. For an additional cost, NordVPN also offers a password manager called NordPass and NordLocker, a feature that gives you the ability to encrypt your files on your computer or cloud.
Both NordVPN and Surfshark come with a bypasser feature that makes it easy to whitelist the websites you need to access and are not able to with a VPN (an online bank, for example). This feature means you don’t have to keep connecting and disconnecting your VPN every time you want to check your bank account’s balance.
NordVPN and Surfshark both come with a kill switch, which automatically disconnects your internet connection when your device is not connected to the VPN, ensuring your privacy is not compromised. For an extra layer of security, and to ensure there is truly no way for your internet IP address to be exposed, NordVPN and Surfshark also come with the option of configuring your VPN directly onto your router. This will ensure an automatic connection to your VPN when you use your router so that you do not have to connect to your VPN every time you go online. To set this up, you’ll want to first ensure your router is compatible with either company or install a third-party firmware to allow for the setup. You can follow the instructions for Surfshark here or NordVPN here.
Featured Partner Offers
1
NordVPN
Plan costs
$7.33 AUD per month or $87.95 for the first year
Number of Servers
5,500
Encryption
AES-256
2
Surfshark
Price
Starting From $3.07 AUD Per Month
Number of Servers
3000+
Encryption
AES with 256 -bit keys
3
Private Internet Access (PIA)
Dedicated IP address
Yes
Number of devices
Unlimited
Encryption
AES-256
Bottom Line
Both NordVPN and Surfshark are great options that ranked on our list of top 10 VPNs in 2023.
If you want a VPN you can use on unlimited devices, choose Surfshark. If you need a dedicated IP for your company or personal use, choose NordVPN. If you’re interested in using a VPN for your company or team, choose NordVPN, as NordLayers will allow you to protect the privacy of each team member’s account and internet access.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Are there any VPNs that are less expensive than NordVPN and Surfshark?
There are some free VPNs available, such as Hotspot Shield, although we recommend choosing a paid option as free VPNs are less secure and come with many advertisements. If budget is an issue, you can find many cheap VPNs to choose from.
How secure are VPNs?
Both NordVPN and Surfshark provide military-grade AES 256-bit encryption. This is the same security that governments and armed forces around the world use to protect sensitive information. They both come with a kill switch that automatically disconnects your internet connection when your device isn’t connected to the VPN. Surfshark’s CleanWeb feature blocks ads and malware, preventing any phishing attempts. NordVPN offers NordLayer, which provides internet privacy for businesses.
Is Surfshark a good VPN?
Surfshark is a great middle-of-the-road solution, especially for personal use. There are plenty of features that make it stand out, including multi-hop connections and split tunnelling. Unfortunately, Surfshark doesn’t offer a dedicated IP address, but even with that drawback, it ranked in our assessment of the best VPN services.
Can I be tracked while using a VPN?
Yes, but it depends on your activity and your awareness. A VPN protects active data transfers while you’re online. If you’ve enabled cookies on websites you visit, advertisers can track your activity (but with a VPN they won’t be able to connect your activity to your IP). Malware is another risk, but a VPN can’t protect you from installing malware.
