NordVPN vs Surfshark
Pick NordVPN if you switch servers often, watch Prime Video with the VPN on or want Netflix US. Pick Surfshark if you want Netflix UK or one account for every device.
We tested both from the same Melbourne NBN line in October 2026. At home they were close: Surfshark kept 94% of our download speed and NordVPN 88%.
The rest of the quick answer comes from the providers’ own sites, read for our daily data check:
- Cheaper to start: Surfshark, on each one’s lowest monthly price
- Devices at once: NordVPN 10, Surfshark unlimited
- More countries: NordVPN
- Refund window: NordVPN 30 days, Surfshark 30 days
Which should you choose?
Choose NordVPN if:
- you switch servers often: our real IP never showed when we changed country on default settings
- you watch Prime Video with the VPN on: it played on NordVPN and not on Surfshark
- you want Netflix US, ITVX or ABEMA: all three played on NordVPN
- you connect overseas a lot: it kept more of our speed in the US, UK and Japan
- you want to see the renewal price before you sign
Choose Surfshark if:
- you want Netflix UK: it played on a London server, where two NordVPN London servers were blocked
- you want a little more speed from a Melbourne server
- you want one account for a busy household’s devices
- you want a provider that names an infrastructure auditor and publishes transparency reports
Test results are from Melbourne, October 2026. Each has a catch: NordVPN’s renewal price is well above its first-term deal, and Surfshark’s kill switch was erratic on our Mac.
Surfshark vs NordVPN on price
| VPN | Lowest monthly price | Renewal price | Money-back | Countries | Devices | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Surfshark | A$3.49 27 months, A$94.23 upfront | – | 30 days | 100 | Unlimited | Visit Surfshark |
2 NordVPN | A$4.79 27 months, A$129.33 upfront | A$187.08 per year | 30 days | 150 | 10 | Black Friday deal ends soonVisit NordVPN |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
– means we do not have that detail yet.
Both quote prices in Australian dollars, and the table shows which plan is cheaper on our latest prices. NordVPN saves its best rate for 27 months paid upfront, Surfshark for 27 months.
NordVPN shows its renewal price on its pricing page, and it is a big step up from the first term, so budget for it. Surfshark did not show a renewal price beside its plans, which is why the table has a dash there; check it at checkout.
If price is all that matters, our cheapest VPN guide ranks every provider we track by what you pay in the first term and after it.
How this list is ordered
The order is calculated from the figures in the table, weighted as follows. The full method
- Lowest monthly price (AUD): 40%
- Countries with servers: 30%
- Devices per account: 30%
Ranking calculated 2 Nov 2026.
Devices
Surfshark covers unlimited devices at once on one account. NordVPN covers 10.
Ten or so is plenty for one person or a couple. It starts to pinch in a share house or a family where every phone, laptop, tablet and smart TV wants its own connection.
Australian servers
NordVPN’s Australian servers are in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. Surfshark’s are in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. A server in your own city means a shorter trip for your data, which helps if you leave the VPN on all day.
Across its whole network, NordVPN lists 7,115 servers in 150 countries and Surfshark lists 4,500+ in 100. Surfshark says all its servers run in RAM only, so nothing is kept on disk between reboots.
Surfshark vs NordVPN speed from Melbourne
You would not notice the gap at home. On Melbourne servers in one sitting in October 2026, Surfshark kept 94% of our download speed and NordVPN 88%, both close to our line.
Ping was 13 ms on NordVPN and 12 ms on Surfshark, about the same as with the VPN off. A connection to Amazon’s Sydney data centre, a stand-in for a game server, took 14 ms on NordVPN and 12 ms on Surfshark, against 26 ms without a VPN.
One evening was slow for both. On 24 October each kept noticeably less, Surfshark a little more than NordVPN. Every other Melbourne run barely slowed our line.
We tested both in October 2026 on the same Mac mini and NBN line, on default settings, with the VPN off just before each set. We compare the share of speed kept, because the line’s speed changes from day to day.
Torrenting was a tie in October 2026. The same Debian torrent ran about as fast through each VPN’s Melbourne server as with no VPN, so the people sharing the file set the pace.
| VPN | Our torrent speed | P2P policy | Kill switch | Port forwarding | Audited by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surfshark | 4.13 MiB/s tested October 2026 | Allowed in our test tested October 2026 | ✓ Listed | Not listed | Deloitte, Cure53 |
| NordVPN | 4.44 MiB/s tested October 2026 | Allowed in our test tested October 2026 | ✓ Listed | ✓ Listed | Deloitte, PricewaterhouseCoopers AG Switzerland |
Torrent speed is the average download rate we measured on an Australian server, with its date. Features and auditors are as each provider lists them; "Not checked" means we have not recorded it yet.
Tested on an account Surfshark gave us free of charge (16–25 Oct 2026). Tested on an account NordVPN gave us free of charge (14–25 Oct 2026).
Overseas, NordVPN kept more in all three countries when we ran both in one sitting in October 2026. It kept 78% to Surfshark’s 43% in the United States, 62% to 55% in the United Kingdom and 83% to 79% in Japan.
Surfshark’s first download on Los Angeles and on London crawled, which pulled its averages down. Earlier runs went the other way, so neither leads overseas every day.
| VPN | Speed kept | Download | Ping | Tested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | 78% | 41.2 Mbps | 159 ms | October 2026 |
| Surfshark | 43% | 23 Mbps | 248 ms | October 2026 |
Our download speed to a server in the United States, from Melbourne, as a share of the same line's speed with the VPN off that day. Line speeds differ between test years, so compare the share kept.
| VPN | Speed kept | Download | Ping | Tested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | 62% | 32.9 Mbps | 280 ms | October 2026 |
| Surfshark | 55% | 29.3 Mbps | 310 ms | October 2026 |
Our download speed to a server in the United Kingdom, from Melbourne, as a share of the same line's speed with the VPN off that day. Line speeds differ between test years, so compare the share kept.
Distance costs both. London ping was 280 to 322 ms on NordVPN and 300 to 310 ms on Surfshark: fine for streaming, but enough lag to feel in a fast online game.
Our earlier results (2021–22)
The last time we tested both side by side was August 2021, from a Melbourne home connection of about 104 to 108 Mbps. The figures below are shares of download speed kept.
- Sydney server: NordVPN kept about 95%; Surfshark kept about 82%. Surfshark barely touched uploads, while NordVPN’s halved.
- Overseas: in August 2021, Surfshark kept more in all four countries we tested on both, including about 91% to the US against NordVPN’s 82%.
- India: the weakest country for both, but Surfshark kept about 40% where NordVPN kept about 18%.
From our test bench Melbourne, August 2021
| Connection | Download | Upload | Ping |
|---|---|---|---|
| No VPN | 104.1 Mbps | 18.1 Mbps | 15 ms |
| NordVPN, Sydney server | 99.2 Mbps −4.7% | 8.99 Mbps −50.3% | 46 ms |
| Server in | Download | Upload |
|---|---|---|
 United States | 85.7 Mbps −17.7% | 5.25 Mbps −71.0% |
 United Kingdom | 80.2 Mbps −23.0% | 7.60 Mbps −58.0% |
 India | 19.1 Mbps −81.7% | 1.35 Mbps −92.5% |
 Brazil | 73.8 Mbps −29.1% | 3.59 Mbps −80.2% |
12.5 MiB/s average torrent download rate on an Australian server (August 2021)
Our own measurements on a Melbourne home connection of about 104 Mbps at the time, August 2021. Changes are against the speed of the same line with the VPN off, measured the same day.
From our test bench Melbourne, August 2021
| Connection | Download | Upload |
|---|---|---|
| No VPN | 107.9 Mbps | 18.4 Mbps |
| Surfshark, Sydney server | 89 Mbps −17.5% | 17.4 Mbps −5.2% |
| Server in | Download | Upload |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 98.5 Mbps −8.7% | 17.1 Mbps −7.1% |
| United Kingdom | 86.6 Mbps −19.7% | 16.4 Mbps −11.0% |
| India | 43.5 Mbps −59.6% | 10.2 Mbps −44.7% |
| Brazil | 83.1 Mbps −23.0% | 16.5 Mbps −10.2% |
 South Africa | 16.9 Mbps −84.3% | 8.19 Mbps −55.5% |
13.1 MiB/s average torrent download rate on an Australian server (August 2021)
Our own measurements on a Melbourne home connection of about 108 Mbps at the time, August 2021. Changes are against the speed of the same line with the VPN off, measured the same day.
So in 2021, NordVPN was the pick for local servers and Surfshark for overseas ones.
Treat any result more than a year old as history. Outside testers have them level on nearby servers: Top10VPN recorded a 4% speed loss for both, in reviews updated in September and October 2026.
Which is better for streaming from Australia?
It depends on the service: NordVPN for Netflix US and Prime Video, Surfshark for Netflix UK. Both played BBC iPlayer on a London server in October 2026, signed in to a UK-registered BBC account.
NordVPN got to iPlayer the hard way. Three days earlier, iPlayer had refused it on all five UK servers we tried, including an obfuscated one. A server iPlayer accepts today can be blocked tomorrow, on either provider.
Netflix split them in opposite directions. Netflix UK played on Surfshark’s London server, but Los Angeles, New York and Tokyo showed “You seem to be using a VPN or proxy” in October 2026.
NordVPN got the reverse nine days later: Netflix US played on Los Angeles, while two London servers and Tokyo showed the same message. Netflix’s blocks change, so treat this as a lean, not a rule.
Prime Video split them too, in October 2026. It played on NordVPN’s Melbourne server, and showed error 7035 on Surfshark’s Melbourne server on two evenings and on its Sydney server.
SBS On Demand, 9Now and ABC iview played on both Melbourne servers. We could not test Stan, Kayo or Binge beyond their home pages, because we have no accounts.
Banking will not split them: CommBank, NAB and myGov log-on pages opened normally on both Melbourne servers in October 2026. We did not sign in.
Elsewhere, a live Pluto TV channel played on a US server for both. On NordVPN, ITVX played on London and ABEMA on Tokyo in October 2026. Surfshark’s servers loaded ITVX and ABEMA with no region block, but we have not pressed Play on either there.
| VPN |  Netflix US | Netflix UK | Netflix Japan |  BBC iPlayer |  ITVX |  Pluto TV |  ABEMA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surfshark | Blocked on all 2 servers we tried tested 16 Oct 2026 | Played tested 16 Oct 2026 | Blocked tested 16 Oct 2026 | Played tested 17 Oct 2026 | Site loaded; playback not tested tested 16 Oct 2026 | Played tested 16 Oct 2026 | Site loaded; playback not tested tested 16 Oct 2026 |
| NordVPN | Played tested 25 Oct 2026 | Blocked tested 25 Oct 2026 | Blocked tested 25 Oct 2026 | Played tested 17 Oct 2026 | Played tested 25 Oct 2026 | Played tested 14 Oct 2026 | Played tested 25 Oct 2026 |
Our own results from Melbourne, with the date we tried. "Site loaded" means the service's local site opened through the VPN but we did not play anything (usually no account). Results from different years come from different test rounds.
Our earlier results (2021–22)
In August 2021, both played American Netflix and BBC iPlayer for us from Melbourne.
Security.org says Surfshark changed Netflix region without trouble in its September 2026 review, kinder than our US and Japanese results. If a streaming service is your reason for a VPN, try it on your own account before the refund window closes.
Privacy and audits
Both have had their no-logs claims checked by outside auditors. Surfshark says Deloitte has verified its policy in two assurance reports and Cure53 has audited its infrastructure. It also publishes transparency reports on legal requests.
Security.org’s NordVPN review (updated October 2026) says third-party auditors have verified NordVPN’s policy.
Security.org’s Surfshark review flags two catches. Surfshark is based in the Netherlands, a Nine Eyes member whose government can compel it to share customer information. And it says Surfshark “may record IP addresses”, which is not best practice for a no-logs VPN.
Leaks and kill switch
NordVPN handled server switches better on default settings. Changing from Tokyo to London, NordVPN never showed our real address on two days in October 2026, with a few seconds offline instead.
Surfshark showed our Melbourne IP both times it made the same switch, for about 4 seconds and then 3 to 6 seconds. Anything your Mac reached in that gap could see where you are, and a torrent client would show it to everyone sharing the file.
| VPN | DNS | IPv6 | WebRTC | Kill switch | Switching servers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surfshark | No leak tested 25 Oct 2026 | Could not test tested 25 Oct 2026 | No leak tested 25 Oct 2026 | Whole device, off by default; drop test not run tested 25 Oct 2026 | Kill switch off: Leaked (real address showed for about 3 s) Kill switch on: No leak (12 s offline) tested 25 Oct 2026 |
| NordVPN | No leak tested 25 Oct 2026 | Could not test tested 25 Oct 2026 | No leak tested 25 Oct 2026 | Chosen apps only, off by default; drop test not run tested 25 Oct 2026 | Kill switch off: No leak (4 s offline) tested 25 Oct 2026 |
"Could not test" means our line had no IPv6 to leak. "Not recorded" means we tested the VPN but did not record that check; "Not tested" means we have not tested the VPN yet. Neither means it failed.
Both passed on DNS. NordVPN had no DNS leaks in Melbourne, San Jose, London, Tokyo, Santa Clara, Mumbai, São Paulo, Johannesburg and Los Angeles (14–25 Oct 2026), and Surfshark none in Los Angeles, London, Tokyo, Melbourne, Mumbai, São Paulo and Johannesburg (16–25 Oct 2026). We could not test either for IPv6 leaks, because our home line has no IPv6.
Neither kill switch is on out of the box. NordVPN’s Mac app has only an Apps Kill Switch, which quits the apps you choose. Surfshark’s Kill Switch (Beta) blocks the whole Mac.
Surfshark’s kill switch fixed the switching leak, but it was erratic in October 2026. With it on, a Melbourne-to-Sydney switch never showed our address. After we turned it off, a location change failed and it kept the Mac offline until we restored it about 50 minutes later.
We have not forced a drop with either kill switch on. Turn yours on, and check it stays on, if you rely on the VPN to hide your address.
Common questions
Is Surfshark better than NordVPN?
Not across the board. NordVPN kept more of our speed overseas and never showed our real IP address when we switched servers on default settings; Surfshark showed it for a few seconds, on 16 and 25 October 2026. Surfshark kept a little more on a Melbourne server, and it played Netflix UK, where NordVPN's London servers were blocked.
Which is cheaper in Australia, Surfshark or NordVPN?
On the prices we read for our daily check, Surfshark is cheaper per month on its best deal: Surfshark from A$3.49 a month over 27 months, NordVPN from A$4.79 a month over 27 months. Both charge in Australian dollars. NordVPN shows its renewal price on its pricing page; check Surfshark's at checkout.
Which is faster in Australia, Surfshark or NordVPN?
Neither by much at home; NordVPN overseas. On Melbourne servers on 25 October 2026, Surfshark kept 94% of our download speed and NordVPN 88%. In the same sitting NordVPN kept more overseas: 78% to 43% in the United States, 62% to 55% in the United Kingdom and 83% to 79% in Japan.
Which is better for streaming, Surfshark or NordVPN?
It depends on the service. Signed in to Netflix, NordVPN played the US library on 25 October 2026 and Surfshark the UK one on 16 October. ITVX and Japan's ABEMA played on NordVPN. Prime Video played on NordVPN's Melbourne server and refused Surfshark's Melbourne and Sydney servers. Both played BBC iPlayer in London on 17 October.
Read more
Our full NordVPN review has every result from our latest retest, and the Surfshark review covers its plans and our October 2026 test in detail. If ExpressVPN is also on your list, see NordVPN vs ExpressVPN and Surfshark vs ExpressVPN.
Full reviews: NordVPN review · Surfshark review
Guides for both
- UK VPN: British servers from Australia
- US VPN: American servers from Australia
- Japan VPN: Japanese servers from Australia
- India VPN: Indian servers from Australia
- Best VPN for Netflix in Australia
- How to watch AFL and NRL overseas
- Is torrenting illegal in Australia?
- The definitive VPN guide: how a VPN works