Surfshark vs ExpressVPN
Surfshark and ExpressVPN sit at opposite ends of the same shelf. Surfshark is the value pick that covers every device in the house. ExpressVPN is the long-established premium name. Here is how they compare for Australians on today’s prices and features, followed by what we measured when we tested both from Melbourne.
ExpressVPN vs Surfshark: prices in Australia
| 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 ExpressVPN | US$2.99 (about A$4.29) 28 months, US$83.72 upfront | US$99.95 per 1 year | 30 days | 113 | – | Visit ExpressVPN |
– means the provider does not publish that detail on its pricing page. Prices shown in US$ are published in that currency; the Australian-dollar figure is approximate, converted at the European Central Bank euro reference rates for 12 Oct 2026 (US$1 = A$1.43).
How this list is ordered
The order is calculated from the figures in the table, weighted as follows. How we compare VPNs
- Lowest monthly price (AUD): 60%
- Countries with servers: 40%
Ranking calculated 13 Oct 2026.
Surfshark prices its plans in Australian dollars. ExpressVPN prices in US dollars, so the Australian figure above is a conversion that moves with the exchange rate, and your bank may add a foreign transaction fee.
Surfshark and ExpressVPN side by side
Devices
This is Surfshark’s clearest advantage. One Surfshark account covers an unlimited number of devices, so a single subscription does the whole household. ExpressVPN’s device allowance depends on the plan you choose.
Servers in Australia
Both list servers in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney, so neither has an edge for Australians wanting a nearby connection.
Speed: what we measured
We tested both from the same Melbourne home connection in August 2021: same line, same month, same method.
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
Our own measurements from August 2021, on a Melbourne home connection of about 108 Mbps. Changes are against the no-VPN speed on the same line.
From our test bench Melbourne, August 2021
| Connection | Download | Upload |
|---|---|---|
| No VPN | 102 Mbps | 18.4 Mbps |
| ExpressVPN, Sydney server | 88.2 Mbps −13.5% | 9.83 Mbps −46.6% |
| Server in | Download | Upload |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 25.1 Mbps −75.4% | 7.08 Mbps −61.5% |
| United Kingdom | 43.1 Mbps −57.7% | 4.95 Mbps −73.1% |
| India | 63.5 Mbps −37.7% | 4.88 Mbps −73.5% |
| Brazil | 42.6 Mbps −58.2% | 11.7 Mbps −36.4% |
| South Africa | 55 Mbps −46.1% | 3.94 Mbps −78.6% |
11.8 MiB/s average torrent download rate on an Australian server
Our own measurements from August 2021, on a Melbourne home connection of about 102 Mbps. Changes are against the no-VPN speed on the same line.
ExpressVPN was a little quicker on the Sydney server. Overseas, Surfshark was well ahead: it held about 98 Mbps to the United States where ExpressVPN managed 25, and it kept far more of our upload speed everywhere. On torrents Surfshark averaged 13.1 MiB/s against 11.8.
For the latest independent results, see the Surfshark review and ExpressVPN review.
Streaming
In our tests both opened American Netflix on every US server we tried, and both got into BBC iPlayer. Streaming services change what they block all the time, so use the refund period to confirm it works for the service you want. More in best VPN for Netflix in Australia.
Which should you choose?
- Choose Surfshark if you want Australian-dollar pricing, unlimited devices and the lower price.
- Choose ExpressVPN if you prefer its apps and its Lightway protocol and are comfortable with US-dollar pricing.
- Not sure? Both have a 30-day money-back guarantee.
See also NordVPN vs Surfshark and NordVPN vs ExpressVPN.