Surfshark vs ExpressVPN: price and which to choose
Quick verdict
Both bundle identity theft coverage on their upper US plans and have no port forwarding. Surfshark allows unlimited devices and lists 24 US locations, none marked virtual; ExpressVPN caps devices at 10–14 by plan, lists 62 US locations (38 virtual), shows its renewal price and is outside the 14 Eyes.
Option A
Option B
We compare plans with a similar purpose, whose features may differ; prices before sales tax; prices for other plans and periods are in the reviews.
Feature comparison
| Criterion | Surfshark | ExpressVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Devices | Unlimited | 10 / 12 / 14 |
| US locations | 24 | 62 |
| Marked virtual (US) | None | 38 |
| Jurisdiction | Netherlands (EU) | British Virgin Islands |
| Renewal price shown | No | Yes |
| Port forwarding | No | No |
Surfshark is the value pick known for unlimited devices; ExpressVPN is the long-standing premium brand. Both sell three tiers built on the same VPN.
If you don’t want to read further
Many devices — Surfshark. More US locations, a renewal price you can see, a jurisdiction outside the 14 Eyes or a dedicated IP included — ExpressVPN.
What really sets them apart
In each row, the last sentence matters most — what the difference means for you.
How many devices?
Surfshark
Unlimited.
ExpressVPN
10, 12 or 14, depending on the plan.
Big households lean Surfshark.
US locations?
Surfshark
24; none marked virtual.
ExpressVPN
62; 38 marked virtual.
Express offers more choice; Surfshark’s list is all physical.
Identity theft coverage?
Surfshark
On One+, for US residents except New York State.
ExpressVPN
Identity Defender on Advanced and Pro, through an insurer with its own terms.
New York residents get coverage only with Express.
Is the renewal price on the price list?
Surfshark
No.
ExpressVPN
Yes — after 28 months it renews annually at the listed price.
Express tells you the second-term price up front.
Jurisdiction?
Surfshark
Netherlands (EU).
ExpressVPN
British Virgin Islands — outside the 14 Eyes.
If that matters to you, Express.
Linux?
Surfshark
App with Kill Switch (Debian 11, Ubuntu 20.04, Mint 20 and newer).
ExpressVPN
App with or without a graphical interface, with kill switch and split tunneling.
Both cover Linux – check your distribution.
TV apps?
Surfshark
Apple TV, Android TV and Fire TV apps.
ExpressVPN
Apple TV, Android TV and Fire TV apps.
No app for your TV? A VPN router covers it.
Where they don’t differ, even though it seems they should
This part is often more useful than the list of differences — it saves money for anyone who was about to pay for an imaginary advantage.
No port forwarding
Neither offers it.
2025 audits
Both had an independent no-logs audit in 2025.
30-day money-back
Both refund within 30 days (Express: first-time users).
Which one fits whom
| Your situation | What to choose | On what condition |
|---|---|---|
| More than 14 devices | Surfshark | Unlimited on every plan. |
| You live in New York State and want identity coverage | ExpressVPN Advanced | Surfshark excludes NY residents. |
| You want a dedicated IP included | ExpressVPN Pro | An add-on elsewhere. |
| You want only physical US locations | Surfshark | 24 locations, none marked virtual. |
- Surfshark’s price list doesn’t show the renewal price.
- ExpressVPN’s guarantee doesn’t cover App Store or Google Play purchases.
- Both note that tax may be added to the listed price.
- Neither offers port forwarding.
Where the facts come from
Sources: Surfshark’s and ExpressVPN’s US price lists and server lists. Prices are in the price blocks on each service’s page.
Facts in the text checked: .
FAQ: Surfshark or ExpressVPN
Other comparisons
The same products against other competitors, and other comparisons in the “VPN services” category.
Where their scores differ
Only criteria we’ve checked for both services and where the scores differ. Equal criteria and criteria without data aren’t shown here, because they add nothing to the decision.
If what matters most is — modern protocol: ExpressVPN Basic
Surfshark Starter: on some platforms (2,5/5) · ExpressVPN Basic: on all major platforms (5,0/5)
If what matters most is — jurisdiction: ExpressVPN Basic
Surfshark Starter: EU (3,5/5) · ExpressVPN Basic: outside the 14 Eyes, no data retention obligation (5,0/5)
If what matters most is — what’s included in the same plan: Surfshark Starter
Surfshark Starter: ad blocking, tracker blocking, split tunneling (3 of 3) (5,0/5) · ExpressVPN Basic: ad blocking, split tunneling (2 of 3) (3,7/5)
If what matters most is — free way to try it: Surfshark Starter
Surfshark Starter: free trial: 7 days (4,0/5) · ExpressVPN Basic: refund within 30 days (3,0/5)
If what matters most is — network coverage: ExpressVPN Basic
Surfshark Starter: 100 countries (3,0/5) · ExpressVPN Basic: 113 countries (4,0/5)
If what matters most is — devices at once: Surfshark Starter
Surfshark Starter: unlimited (5,0/5) · ExpressVPN Basic: 10 (4,0/5)
If what matters most is — price now: Surfshark Starter
Surfshark Starter: 2,49 USD/mo before tax (4,6/5) · ExpressVPN Basic: 2,99 USD/mo before tax (4,3/5)
The scores and their weights are the same as in the reviews of both services. How we calculate
Comparison text updated: