Surfshark vs VyprVPN: Which One Wins in 2024?

Some VPN comparisons are easier to do than others. In the case of Surfshark vs VyprVPN, it’s closer than you might have expected when we put two popular providers to the test. However, there is a clear winner in this head-to-head when all is said and done.

VPN websites are usually packed with jargon, making it tough to know exactly what to look for. That’s where we come in. We’ve compared everything from features to security, to give you a better idea of how Surfshark and VyprVPN match up in the most important areas.

Surfshark vs VyprVPN – Which is best?

For those of you who don’t have time to read through the entire comparison, we’ll give you the lowdown in brief. If we had to choose between VyprVPN and Surfshark, we’d select the latter. Both have their pros and cons, but Surfshark is likely to be more helpful for the average user.

Each service is worthy in its own right, but there’s a definitive winner. Read on to find out why Surfshark earns our recommendation.

Pricing

Surfshark is one of the more impressive budget providers, starting at $12.95 USD for a month of coverage. This drops to $3.99 per month for a year, while a two-year deal works out to $59.76.

VyprVPN comes with a duo of simple plans to choose from. A single month is priced at a flat $10.00, and it’s $5.00 for 12 months. (As with Surfshark, you’ll have to pay for the entire term upfront, so it’s $60.00 altogether.)

If you only need a VPN for a month, VyprVPN is arguably better, but Surfshark does have a selection of attractive long-term offers. Both providers offer the industry standard 30-day money-back guarantee, giving you a chance to test out the service for yourself.

Surfshark allows for anonymous payment methods via cryptocurrencies, which is a feature lacking with VyprVPN. It’s all the more surprising considering the service places such a strong emphasis on privacy.

Given the fact that two years of Surfshark works out to be 24 cents cheaper than 12 months of VyprVPN, it’s an easy decision to score this round.

Winner: Surfshark

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Which has better features

Let’s take a look at the key features offered by Surfshark and VyprVPN.

You’ll be able to connect up to five simultaneous devices with VyprVPN, although that’s outclassed by the unlimited connections offered by Surfshark. (It also makes Surfshark even cheaper if you’re able to share your account.)

It’s a similar story when looking at their respective networks. Surfshark has more than double the number of servers dotted worldwide, and it is also available in more countries. On that basis alone, it emerges victorious in this particular section.

Both services allow the user to connect via split tunneling, although VyprVPN calls it "Connection per app” and only offers the feature with mobile devices. Neither provider supports port forwarding, and Surfshark is the only service to offer double-hop encryption. (This allows you to route your VPN connection through two or more of their servers for increased privacy.)

Surfshark will work to block ads and malware automatically, and NoBorders mode is great for evading detection. Once again, it does enough to narrowly take the lead.

Winner: Surfshark

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Routers supported

Router support will allow you to protect every device connected to your home network with a single account. Surfshark might come with unlimited connections, but that won’t help if the device doesn’t have a VPN app in the first place. This is where router support comes into play.

Both VPNs offer detailed setup guides for DD-WRT, Tomato, AsusWRT, and more. The providers have clearly spent time and effort ensuring that anyone with a compatible router will be able to get connected with little to no hassle.

You’ll also be able to purchase pre-flashed VPN routers via FlashRouters. These come with either Surfshark or VyprVPN already installed, making it simple to set up and get started.

Winner: It's a draw

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What services do they unblock?

Many websites and online services are blocked if you try to access them from abroad. A VPN is one of the best methods to circumvent these restrictions, but results will vary depending on the provider you’ve selected. (Most streaming platforms work to block providers, in an effort to protect broadcasting agreements.)

Therefore, the ability to access streaming platforms is a great way to judge the quality of a VPN.

Thankfully, VyprVPN and Surfshark are great at unblocking streaming services, even if Surfshark proved to be slightly more capable during testing. Both can access the likes of BBC iPlayer, which is often difficult for services more focused on the United States.

What Netflix libraries

Many VPN users sign up solely for Netflix, aiming to access the various international catalogs containing content specifically curated for each region.

Once again, VyprVPN performs admirably, although we’d prefer Surfshark for Netflix streams. It can access more catalogs, making it the optimal choice for a larger selection of users.

Winner: Surfshark

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Torrenting

Some VPN services block the use of torrents due to legal restrictions. VyprVPN notes: "Because our service treats all traffic equally, peer-to-peer and BitTorrent traffic is allowed.” The same goes for Surfshark, so you’ll be safe to share files via P2P no matter which provider you opt for.

Neither VPN supports port forwarding, although you will be able to sort servers by speed with Surfshark and VyprVPN. It’s a decent result for both providers, so we’d score this as a draw.

Winner: It's a draw

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Setup & usability

Both VPNs have apps for macOS, Windows, iOS, and Android, alongside support for Linux devices. Surfshark manages to win this round as it’s the only one with extensions for Chrome and Firefox, as well as offering an app in the official Amazon app store. (Amazon support means the VPN won’t have to be sideloaded.)

Surfshark and VyprVPN provide .ovpn files on their website, so you’ll also be able to connect using a third-party OpenVPN client. This makes it easier to use with many smart devices.

Either provider is as capable as you’d expect from one of the bigger names in the sector, with good functionality shared across all apps. Surfshark and VyprVPN are especially user-friendly, with buttons to click and connect that are clearly labeled.

The same goes for the kill-switch and additional features, which can be located within the app settings menu. Surfshark splits servers between Static IP, MultiHop, or regular options, while VyprVPN allows you to sort servers either alphabetically, by region, or by speed.

Winner: Surfshark

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Mobile features

Typically, the mobile version of a VPN will be similar in design and functionality compared to the equivalent desktop version.

That’s the case with Surfshark and VyprVPN for the most part. VyprVPN on iOS and Android is essentially a carbon copy of the desktop version, with the addition of split tunneling. One flaw with VyprVPN is that it doesn’t have a kill switch on iOS. Furthermore, the service has no plans to add support in the future:

Winner: Surfshark

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Performance & speed

Connection speeds tend to be one of the more important features when selecting a new VPN service. You’ll want to avoid slower servers if you’re streaming, torrenting, or gaming, as there may be a delay while routing your traffic.

Our speed tests aim to find an average by testing multiple regions (US, UK, Australia) at different times throughout the day. If possible, we’ll use a recommended server location.

Surfshark was a little slower than VyprVPN during testing, but the difference is negligible. Each provider is quick enough to stream 4K videos, which was to be expected considering they both make use of a super-fast encryption protocol in the form of WireGuard.

They’re able to provide coverage in regions like Russia through the use of virtual servers, with no impact in terms of performance.

Winner: It's a draw

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Security

Exceptionally important for any provider, how does the duo hold up in terms of technical security? As it turns out, they tick most of the boxes, including a few notable extras.

VyprVPN makes use of its Chameleon protocol to access blocked services, while Surfshark allows the user to connect with Shadowsocks, which can even be used in China. Either is a viable option if you live in a more oppressive region.

Each VPN offers the WireGuard protocol for improved speeds and security, and there’s a kill-switch included with the majority of apps just in case. (Remember, VyprVPN doesn’t offer this feature on iOS.)

Surfshark and VyprVPN support a collection of further secure encryption protocols, including OpenVPN and IKEv2 connections. VyprVPN even offers the obsolete PPTP, which we’d strongly advise against using. Surfshark no longer offers PPTP due to various security issues.

Each provider also aced leak tests, ensuring that your data will remain secure. Surfshark edges this round.

Winner: Surfshark

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Privacy

Each service is located in a privacy-friendly region, which is perfect for keeping your personal data safe and secure. Surfshark is based in the British Virgin Islands, while VyprVPN is headquartered in Switzerland. Either is perfect for a VPN service, with no obligation to retain any logs of user data.

Logging policy

What does the VPN do with any user data that has been logged? Services will give an overview of what to expect in their logging policy.

Neither provider keeps any logs which can be used to identify a user, although Surfshark does store some basic diagnostic information. VyprVPN is a certified no-logs provider.

Vypr has been independently audited, even if it took place back in 2018. It’s not a bad result, even if we’d prefer a more recent report. It was also the first provider in the industry to publish an independent audit. However, VyprVPN doesn’t allow for anonymous payments, which is one setback. Surfshark has also been independently audited by Cure53, most recently in 2021.

Winner: VyprVPN

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Customer service

A strong level of customer service will ensure speedy replies if you ever need to get in contact with the provider. For example, you might need help with setup, or you might want to find out which server is best for a specific function.

Both services take support seriously, allowing the user to get in contact with either 24/7 live chat or email. Surfshark and VyprVPN have lots of articles and guides available online, so it’s never tough to get a quick answer.

They each have an industry standard 30-day money-back guarantee, so you’ll be able to get a refund easily if you’re not impressed with the VPN. Unlike some providers, there are no unexpected stipulations if it’s not working out for you.

Winner: It's a draw

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Conclusion

It was closer than we expected, but we’d pick Surfshark as the outright winner in this comparison. It can be used on a wider range of (unlimited) devices, and came out on top in a lot of the sections above. It’s also cheaper, and can access more streaming services, and Netflix catalogs.

VyprVPN is a worthy challenger, and offers parity with Surfshark in many respects. It was even slightly faster during testing, but that’s not enough to earn victory in this particular head-to-head. Nonetheless, it’s a great option from a privacy perspective, especially if you only want coverage for a month or two.

Outright Winner: Surfshark

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If you’d like to check out more VPN comparisons, here are a couple featuring Surfshark against some of the best providers in the business:

• Surfshark vs Windscribe
• Surfshark vs ExpressVPN