Best VPN for Multiple Devices: Surfshark vs NordVPN Family Plan 2024

In 2024, a VPN is no longer an optional tool for tech enthusiasts — it’s an essential layer of digital protection for every household with internet-connected devices. Whether you’re streaming geo-restricted content, working remotely, protecting your family’s online activity on public WiFi, or simply asserting your right to privacy, a VPN has become as fundamental as antivirus software.

But if you’re protecting more than one person — a couple, a family, or a small household — you need a VPN that supports multiple simultaneous connections without compromising speed, security, or usability. Two names consistently dominate this conversation: Surfshark and NordVPN.

In this detailed comparison, we put their family and multi-device plans head to head across the dimensions that matter most: simultaneous connection limits, speed, security features, streaming performance, and value for money.

Why Multi-Device VPN Plans Matter

The average household in 2024 has far more than five internet-connected devices — smartphones, tablets, laptops, desktop computers, smart TVs, streaming devices, game consoles, and smart home hubs. Most people also share their home network with family members, each of whom may have their own devices.

Most VPN services limit you to 5-6 simultaneous connections on a standard plan. For a single user with a phone, laptop, and tablet, that’s fine. For a household of four people, it’s insufficient. This is where family plans come in — they offer 6-10 simultaneous connections at a price that is typically less than buying two individual subscriptions.

Surfshark vs NordVPN: At a Glance

Both Surfshark and NordVPN are premium VPN providers based in privacy-friendly jurisdictions — Surfshark in the Netherlands, NordVPN in Panama. Both operate a strict no-logs policy, both have undergone independent security audits, and both offer the full suite of premium VPN features including kill switch, split tunneling, and 24/7 support.

The key difference is in the connection limits and pricing philosophy:

• Surfshark: Unlimited simultaneous connections on all plans — the single most distinctive feature in the VPN market
• NordVPN: 6 simultaneous connections on standard plans, up to 10 on the NordVPN Families plan

Security and Privacy

Encryption and Protocols

Both services use AES-256 encryption — the same standard used by the US government and military. Both support OpenVPN and WireGuard protocols (Surfshark also supports IKEv2). WireGuard in particular is the newer standard — faster than OpenVPN while maintaining equivalent security.

Surfshark: Uses AES-256-GCM and ChaCha20 encryption depending on the protocol. All servers run in RAM-only mode — no data is written to physical hard drives, meaning server wipes are complete and no historical data can be extracted.

NordVPN: Similarly uses AES-256-GCM and ChaCha20, with all NordVPN servers running in RAM-only mode. NordVPN has also undergone multiple independent security audits by Deloitte and VerSprite — a level of third-party verification that is rare in the industry.

No-Logs Policy

Both services claim a strict no-logs policy, meaning they don’t track, collect, or share your browsing activity. Both have been independently audited to verify these claims. However, there’s one important nuance: Surfshark was acquired by NordVPN’s parent company (Kape Technologies) in 2022. Some privacy advocates have raised concerns about this consolidation in the VPN market.

Both companies maintain that operational independence is preserved and that no logs policies remain in effect. For most users, this is not a practical concern — but for users with advanced threat models, it’s worth noting.

Kill Switch and Leak Protection

Both services include a kill switch — if your VPN connection drops unexpectedly, the kill switch blocks all internet traffic until the VPN is reconnected, preventing your real IP address from leaking.

Both also offer DNS leak protection and IPv6 leak protection. In independent testing, both services consistently pass leak tests — a critical baseline for any reputable VPN.

Speed and Performance

Speed is one of the most important practical considerations for multi-device households. If multiple family members are streaming, gaming, or video calling simultaneously, you need a VPN that doesn’t become a bottleneck.

Surfshark: Uses WireGuard as its default protocol, which is one of the fastest VPN protocols available. In independent speed tests, Surfshark typically achieves 85-95% of base internet speeds on local servers (servers within 100 miles of the test location). Distant server speeds are naturally lower but still excellent for streaming and general browsing.

NordVPN: NordVPN’s proprietary NordLynx protocol (built on WireGuard) delivers similarly excellent performance. In head-to-head speed tests, NordVPN and Surfshark are virtually identical on local servers — both are among the fastest VPN services available.

In practice, both VPNs are fast enough for 4K streaming on multiple devices simultaneously, smooth video conferencing, and online gaming without noticeable latency impact.

Streaming Performance

One of the primary reasons families invest in a VPN is to access geo-restricted streaming content — watching Netflix US from Europe, accessing BBC iPlayer from the US, or unblocking Disney+ content not available in your region.

Surfshark: Surfshark consistently unblocks Netflix (US, UK, Japan, Australia), Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, HBO Max, and most other major streaming platforms. The “static IP” feature (Premium add-on) is particularly useful for streaming, as it assigns you the same IP address each time — reducing the likelihood of being blocked by streaming services.

NordVPN: NordVPN has invested heavily in streaming optimization and has dedicated “Smart Play” DNS technology that reliably unblocks 30+ streaming services. In practice, NordVPN is marginally more reliable for streaming unblocking — particularly for Netflix, where it maintains one of the best unblocking records in the industry.

For families where multiple people want to watch different regional content simultaneously, both services handle this well. However, NordVPN’s Smart Play technology gives it a slight edge in streaming reliability.

Multi-Device Features

Surfshark: Unlimited Connections

Surfshark’s decision to offer unlimited simultaneous connections on all plans — including the cheapest option — is a game-changer for families. Every device in your household can be connected simultaneously without tracking who’s connected and who’s not.

This also extends to unlimited device registrations — you can register as many devices as you want with your account, and only the currently active connections count toward the limit (which, practically speaking, is infinite).

Surfshark also offers “CleanWeb” — an integrated ad, tracker, and malware blocker that works at the network level, protecting all devices on your home network even before they connect to specific websites.

NordVPN: NordVPN Families (Up to 10 Devices)

NordVPN’s standard plan supports 6 simultaneous connections — average for the industry but potentially limiting for large households. For families needing more, the NordVPN Families plan extends this to 10 simultaneous connections.

NordVPN Families also includes “NordPass Families” — a family password manager subscription (valued at $4.99/month separately) that is included with the plan. If your family doesn’t already have a password manager, this inclusion significantly increases the value proposition.

NordVPN also offers “Meshnet” — a unique feature that allows you to create encrypted private networks with up to 10 devices, regardless of where they are in the world. This is particularly useful for families who want to securely share files, host gaming sessions, or access home network resources remotely.

Pricing and Value

Surfshark:

• Monthly: $15.99
• 12-month plan: $3.99/month (billed $47.88)
• 24-month plan: $2.49/month (billed $59.76) — best value

NordVPN:

• Monthly: $12.99
• 12-month plan: $4.99/month (billed $59.88)
• 24-month plan: $3.99/month (billed $95.76)
• NordVPN Families (10 devices): $5.99/month (billed $71.88 for 12 months)

On pure price per device, Surfshark wins decisively — unlimited devices at $2.49/month is extraordinary value. NordVPN Families at $5.99/month for 10 devices plus included password manager is good value if you factor in the NordPass Families inclusion ($4.99/month value).

User Experience and Apps

Surfshark: The apps are well-designed, with a clean interface that is intuitive for VPN beginners. The one-click “Fastest Server” connection is simple, while the “Customize” tab offers granular control for power users. The iOS and Android apps are particularly polished — among the best mobile VPN apps available.

NordVPN: NordVPN’s apps are slightly more feature-rich but also slightly more complex. The server map interface (with servers shown as pins on a world map) is visually distinctive and makes it easy to select servers geographically. Advanced features are more accessible than Surfshark’s equivalent settings.

Customer Support

Both services offer 24/7 live chat support — essential for families who may encounter issues outside business hours. Response times on live chat are typically under 2 minutes for both services.

NordVPN has a slight edge in support depth — its help center is more comprehensive with detailed setup guides for a wider range of devices and platforms. Surfshark’s support is good but less extensive.

Which Should You Choose?

• Choose Surfshark if: You have a large household with many devices, you’re on a budget, and you want the best possible value per device.
• Choose NordVPN if: You want the absolute most reliable streaming unblocking, you want an included password manager, and you’re willing to pay slightly more for premium features.

Our Recommendation

For most families in 2024, Surfshark is the better value — unlimited devices at $2.49/month is simply unmatched in the VPN market. For a family of four or more with diverse streaming and privacy needs, it’s the clear choice.

However, if streaming reliability is your primary concern and you value the included password manager, NordVPN Families at $5.99/month is an excellent choice that delivers genuine premium VPN protection plus NordPass Families.