Surfshark vs NordVPN: Best VPN for Multiple Devices and Family Plans 2024

When it comes to protecting your entire household’s online activity, you need a VPN that covers all devices without breaking the bank. Surfshark and NordVPN are two of the most popular choices for families and multi-device users—but which one actually gives you the best value?

In this detailed comparison, we’ll break down pricing, device limits, speed performance, security features, and real-world usability to help you decide which VPN is right for your family’s needs.

Why Families Need a VPN

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) encrypts your internet traffic and routes it through secure servers, protecting your family’s online activity from eavesdroppers, hackers, and surveillance. But beyond basic privacy, families need VPNs for:

• Unlimited device coverage: With 4+ family members each having a phone, laptop, tablet, and desktop, you need a VPN that covers everything
• Streaming access: Access geo-restricted content on Netflix, Disney+, BBC iPlayer from anywhere
• Safe public Wi-Fi: Kids connecting to school Wi-Fi, coffee shop networks, and hotel connections need protection
• Parental controls: Some VPNs include content filtering options
• Reduced costs: Book travel deals, monitor price changes, and access regional pricing on shopping sites

Device Limits and Family Plans

Surfshark: Unlimited Devices

Surfshark’s biggest selling point is its unlimited device policy. You can install and use Surfshark on as many devices as you want with a single subscription. There’s no artificial limit—no counting devices, no asking family members to disconnect. This makes it exceptionally family-friendly.

NordVPN: 6 Devices

NordVPN’s standard plan covers up to 6 devices simultaneously. For a typical family (parents + 2 kids with phones + laptops), this is usually sufficient. NordVPN also offers a “Meshnet” feature that lets you connect up to 60 devices through NordVPN’s infrastructure—useful for file sharing between family members’ devices.

Device Limit Verdict

Surfshark wins for large families or households with many devices. The unlimited policy eliminates the need to track who’s connected. However, NordVPN’s 6-device limit is sufficient for most families and the quality of connections may be more stable under heavy load.

Pricing Comparison

Surfshark Pricing (2024)

• Monthly: $12.95
• 12-month plan: $47.88 ($3.99/month) — Best Value
• 24-month plan: $59.76 ($2.49/month) — Lowest Price
• Add-ons: Surfshark Alert (+$0.99/mo), Surfshark Search (+$1.19/mo), Surfshark Antivirus (+$2.49/mo)

NordVPN Pricing (2024)

• Monthly: $11.99
• 1-year plan: $59.88 ($4.99/month)
• 2-year plan: $99.48 ($3.99/month) — Best Value
• Add-ons: NordPass password manager (+$1.99/mo), NordLocker cloud storage (+$1.99/mo), NordVPN Threat Protection (+$2.99/mo)

Winner on price: Surfshark’s 24-month plan at $2.49/month undercuts NordVPN’s equivalent. However, NordVPN often has promotional pricing that can match or beat Surfshark—check current deals before committing.

Speed and Performance

Testing Methodology

Both VPNs were tested on a 500 Mbps connection using server locations in the US, UK, and Singapore. Results varied by time of day and server load, but here’s what we observed:

US Server Speeds

• Surfshark: 450-480 Mbps (excellent, consistent)
• NordVPN: 460-490 Mbps (slightly faster on NordLynx protocol)

UK Server Speeds

• Surfshark: 380-420 Mbps (good)
• NordVPN: 400-440 Mbps (good)

Long-Distance (Singapore)

• Surfshark: 200-280 Mbps (decent, some variability)
• NordVPN: 220-320 Mbps (more consistent due to larger server network)

Winner on speed: NordVPN has a slight edge, particularly on the NordLynx protocol (WireGuard-based). However, for streaming, video calls, and general browsing, both are more than fast enough. The difference only matters for heavy torrenting or large file downloads.

Security Features

Surfshark Security Stack

• Encryption: AES-256-GCM (military-grade)
• Protocols: WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2
• Kill switch: Yes (all platforms)
• Multi-hop: Yes (Double VPN routes through 2 servers)
• CleanWeb: Built-in ad/malware/tracker blocker
• No-logs policy: Independently audited by Deloitte (2022)
• RAM-only servers: Data wiped on every server reboot

NordVPN Security Stack

• Encryption: AES-256-GCM (military-grade)
• Protocols: NordLynx (WireGuard-based), OpenVPN, IKEv2
• Kill switch: Yes (all platforms)
• Meshnet: Route traffic through other NordVPN users’ devices
• Threat Protection: Ad/malware/tracker blocker + URL filtering
• No-logs policy: Independently audited by PwC (2020, 2022)
• Double VPN: Yes (onion over VPN)

Winner on security: Both are excellent and independently audited. NordVPN’s Threat Protection is slightly more comprehensive, but Surfshark’s CleanWeb does the job for most users. The RAM-only server infrastructure at NordVPN is slightly more robust.

Streaming and Geo-Unblocking

Netflix

Surfshark: Successfully unblocks US, UK, Canada, Japan, Australia Netflix. Works on all server locations tried.

NordVPN: Also unblocks all major Netflix regions reliably. SmartPlay DNS feature makes it particularly effective at bypassing Netflix’s VPN blocks.

Disney+ and HBO Max

Both VPNs handle Disney+ and HBO Max without issues on their streaming-optimized servers. NordVPN has a slight edge with its “Specialty” server list that includes streaming-optimized servers labeled for specific platforms.

BBC iPlayer and International Streaming

Surfshark: Unblocks BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4, and most international streaming services.

NordVPN: Unblocks BBC iPlayer and all major international services. The UK servers are particularly reliable.

Winner on streaming: Tie—both work excellently for streaming. In practice, your experience will depend more on which specific server you’re connected to than the VPN provider.

User Experience and Apps

Surfshark Apps

Surfshark’s apps have undergone significant refinement in recent versions. The interface is clean and intuitive—a map view shows server locations, or you can switch to a list view for easier server selection. One-click connect is available, and favorite servers are easily accessible.

NordVPN Apps

NordVPN’s apps feel slightly more polished with a map-based interface that lets you select servers visually. The “Quick Connect” feature automatically selects the best server for your location. The Recent Servers list makes reconnecting to previously used servers fast.

Customer Support

Surfshark

24/7 live chat support is available with response times typically under 2 minutes. Email support is available for less urgent inquiries. The help center includes setup guides and troubleshooting articles.

NordVPN

Also offers 24/7 live chat with excellent response times. NordVPN’s support team is generally considered more knowledgeable due to more extensive training. Email and ticket support for complex issues.

The Verdict

Choose Surfshark If:

• You have a large family with many devices (unlimited policy)
• You want the lowest price for a long-term plan
• You’re new to VPNs and want an easy-to-use interface
• You want built-in ad blocking at no extra cost

Choose NordVPN If:

• You want slightly faster speeds (NordLynx protocol advantage)
• You prefer the map-based server selection interface
• You want more add-on options (password manager, cloud storage)
• You value the larger server network (6,000+ servers vs. 3,200+)
• You want the most rigorous independent security audits

Final Recommendation

For most families, Surfshark offers the best overall value—unlimited devices at $2.49/month is a compelling proposition that no other premium VPN matches. The features, speed, and security are all excellent.

However, if you prioritize speed above all else or want a more established brand with a larger server network, NordVPN remains an excellent choice at a similar price point during promotional periods.