Surfshark vs Norton VPN: which is better in June 2026

• Surfshark is better than Norton VPN because it delivers stronger unblocking capabilities, better privacy features, and more affordable long-term pricing. It’s the superior choice for streaming, security, and overall performance.
• Norton VPN, however, may appeal to beginners thanks to its simple interface and built-in real-time protection against scams, phishing, and malware. While it can’t match Surfshark’s streaming or privacy performance, it does offer useful security extras for less tech-savvy users.

Surfshark and Norton VPN are popular names in the VPN industry that are used by many to add an extra layer of security online. Surfshark is often praised for its budget-friendly prices and advanced features, while Norton VPN is better known for its antivirus software. Since both providers are considered to be top VPNs, it is important to compare them to find which one is better in 2026.

To find this out, I collaborated with the VPNpro research team and looked into both VPNs in terms of speed, servers, security, streaming, pricing, and other key factors. After the examination, I found Surfshark to win over Norton VPN in 2026. If you want to learn more about my findings, continue reading this Surfshark vs Norton VPN comparison.

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Surfshark vs Norton VPN compared

Key differences between Surfshark and Norton VPN

Both VPNs were first introduced in 2018, which means that they have both been in the industry for the same amount of time and have similar experience. During that time, both Norton VPN and Surfshark grew popular and now offer reliable services for many users online. However, my in-house tests revealed that they have some differences, especially comparing their price and overall performance while gaming or torrenting.

Here are the main differences between Surfshark and Norton VPN:

• Surfshark is cheaper than Norton VPN. You can get Surfshark for as little as $1.99/month, while Norton VPN costs $49.99/month.
• Surfshark is faster than Norton VPN. The average download speed of Surfshark is 466Mbps, and Norton’s average speed is 398Mbps
• Surfshark has more servers than Norton VPN. Surfshark offers 4,500+ servers in 100 countries compared to Norton VPN’s 2,000+ servers in 65 countries.
• Norton VPN is better for streaming than Surfshark. Norton VPN unblocked all popular streaming services, while Surfshark failed to unlock Paramount+.
• Surshark is more secure than Norton VPN. Surfshark uses robust encryption, has a five-time verified no-logs policy, and uses RAM-only servers. Norton VPN was audited only twice, and it does not use RAM-only servers.

Final verdict: While Norton VPN is a popular and reliable VPN provider, I found Surfshark to be a better choice in 2026. Surfshark VPN guarantees anonymity as it uses all necessary security measures and has advanced security features. It is also a fast and affordable VPN that can successfully bypass geo-restrictions and has no connection limitations.

Norton VPN vs Surfshark price comparison

When it comes to price, Surfshark clearly wins over Norton VPN. You can get Surfshark for as little as $1.99/month, while Norton VPN starts at $49.99/month. Surfshark also gives you more flexibility as it has monthly, yearly, and 2-year plans. Even if you choose a 1-year plan, Surfshark is still cheaper with the starting price of $3.19/month compared to Norton’s $49.99/month. If you’re looking for a monthly VPN, Norton VPN does not offer this, but you can get Surfshark’s monthly plan for $15.45/month.

If you are not sure which provider to choose, you can test them both risk-free. Surfshark offers a 7-day free trial through the Google Play and Apple App stores, while Norton VPN’s 7-day trial works on any device. You can also use their money-back guarantees. Surfshark has a 30-day money-back guarantee, while Norton VPN goes further with a 60-day money-back guarantee, which is more than other providers usually offer.

While Norton VPN’s longer money-back guarantee is appealing, Surfshark simply delivers more value for less money. In the end, Surfshark proved to be a cheaper VPN option than Norton VPN in 2026.

Servers and locations: Norton VPN vs Surfshark

After investigating both VPNs, it seems that Surfshark has more servers than Norton VPN. With Surfshark, you can connect to 4,500+ servers in 100 countries, while Norton VPN offers 2,000+ servers in just 65 countries. While Norton VPN’s 2,000 servers are enough for everyday use, having them in only 65 locations is a huge disadvantage.

With Surfshark, you’re more likely to find a less loaded server in your preferred location, which can even lead to faster speeds. Additionally, having servers in many regions gives you access to a wider range of geo-restricted content.

While Norton VPN includes Double VPN and IP Rotation, Surfshark offers more specialized servers. With Surfshark, you will be able to use Dynamic MultiHop (double encryption), Camouflage mode (obfuscation), Rotating IP, which will switch the IP address every 5 to 10 minutes, and an optional Dedicated IP.

Norton VPN vs Surfshark security overview

Surfshark and Norton VPN both deliver solid security, but I found that Surfshark VPN is a more secure VPN. Norton VPN covers all the basics, including strong encryption and IP and DNS leak protection, yet it still lacks some of the advanced features that Surfshark provides.

No matter which VPN you choose, you will be protected with military-grade AES-256 encryption and an audited no-logs policy. However, I found that Surfshark provides extra security by using RAM-only servers, which means that no data is stored. It also completed its fifth independent audit, which proves that Surfshark is a transparent provider. Additionally, Surfshark is known for its advanced security features, which will add an extra layer of protection to your digital footprint and allow you to customize your connections.

Encryption and VPN protocols

Robust encryption is a must when choosing a VPN provider, as it determines how secure your online traffic will be. Both Surfshark and Norton VPN use the standard AES-256 encryption. Governments and the military even use AES-256 encryption to safeguard sensitive information, so your traffic will be hidden when using Surfshark or Norton VPN.

When it comes to protocols, both services provide strong options. Surfshark has OpenVPN (UDP/TCP), IKEv2, and WireGuard options. Norton VPN includes OpenVPN, IPSec, WireGuard, and Mimic. Mimis is Norton VPN’s in-house protocol designed to mask VPN traffic and help to bypass censorship. While you get obfuscation with Norton VPN’s Mimic protocol, Surfshark offers it with its Camouflage Mode feature.

Kill switch and leak protection

Surfshark and Norton VPN come with a built-in kill switch, which is a vital feature that disconnects your internet if your VPN accidentally drops. This prevents your real UP address or activity from leaking. I find a kill switch a necessary feature, especially when dealing with sensitive tasks, such as torrenting, online banking, or when using untrusted public Wi-Fi.

Both providers also guarantee IP and DNS leak protection to safeguard your digital footprint even further. However, Surfshark also has IPv6 leak protection, which ensures that your real IP stays hidden at all times.

Advanced VPN security features

Both Surfshark and Norton VPN add value by offering additional security tools. Surfshark includes Dynamic MultiHop, which routes your traffic through two servers for stronger privacy, and GPS override, letting you mask your GPS location. I was also pleasantly surprised by its Everlink feature, which instantly restores a dropped connection, keeping your VPN stable and secure. On top of that, Surfshark supports split tunneling and Smart DNS, making it a flexible option for streaming on smart TVs. On the other hand, Norton VPN has Double VPN servers and an IP Rotation feature, which will strengthen your anonymity. With its Dark Web Monitoring feature, you will be able to add an extra layer of protection as it will alert you if your personal data is leaked online. Just like Surfshark, Norton VPN also supports split tunneling.

Extra protection - malware, ads, and trackers

Norton VPN and Surfshark go beyond privacy by including tools that block ads, trackers, and even offer protection against malware. Surfshark’s CleanWeb feature blocks malicious banners, video ads, trackers, and even cookie pop-ups. I find this especially handy when streaming or browsing, as it keeps the experience smooth and uninterrupted. For an additional price, Surfshark also provides a full antivirus that secures you from malware, viruses, and spyware.

Norton VPN has an Ad Blocker feature, available through the browser extension, and an Ad Tracker Blocking feature that blocks targeted ads. For more comprehensive protection against malware and online threats, I suggest using the Norton 360 antivirus software.

Is Surfshark better than Norton VPN in terms of privacy?

Both providers follow strict no-log policies that have been independently audited, but Surfshark completed more audits. This makes me believe that Surfshark is a more trustworthy option. However, it is important to note that both Norton VPN and Surfshark are based in jurisdictions that belong to the Five, Nine, or Fourteen Eyes surveillance alliances.

To ensure that your data will stay private, I also ran IP and DNS leak tests using reliable tools like ipleak.net and dnsleaktest.com. I connected to various servers in different countries, and in every case, both Surfshark and Norton VPN delivered stable connections without any leaks. This ensures that your real IP address and similar personal data will stay private.

Norton VPN vs Surfshark privacy and logs

One drawback with both Surfshark and Norton VPN is their jurisdiction. Surfshark is based in the Netherlands, a member of the Nine Eyes alliance. In contrast, Norton VPN operates from the US, which is part of the Five Eyes surveillance alliance. These alliances are known for intelligence-sharing agreements, meaning that your personal data could be shared between them, which is not ideal for privacy-oriented users.

On the other hand, both providers have strict no-logs policies that have been independently audited. The audits confirmed that neither Surfshark nor Norton VPN stores your browsing history or any traffic logs. When looking into this, I found that the only information that is stored is payment and account details, which are necessary for managing subscriptions.

Overview of Independent Audits

To prove that Surfshark and Norton VPN are reliable services that focus on privacy, they both underwent independent audits. It seems that Surfshark has completed more audits, and the latest one was conducted in June 2025 by Deloitte, one of the “Big Four” auditing companies. This was the fifth independent audit that Surfshark completed. Additionally, Surfshark makes its full audit reports available to its users through their account dashboard.

Norton VPN, on the other hand, was last audited by VerSprite in August 2024, which confirmed that the service complies with its no-logs policy. Norton VPN also publishes a Transparency Report, which outlines the types of data requests it receives.

Surfshark or Norton VPN for streaming

Surfshark impressed me with its fast speeds and a vast server network, but I found Norton VPN to be the better option for streaming. During my in-house tests, Norton VPN unlocked all popular streaming services, while Surfshark struggled with Paramount+ and took more time than usual to load content on Peacock. Despite that, both providers unlocked various services, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Peacock, Hulu, Disney+, YouTube TV, Sky Go, ITVX, All 4, and BBC iPlayer.

Since speed is very important when streaming content online, I also tested both VPN’s speed. Surfshark’s average download speed was 466Mbps compared to Norton VPN’s 398Mbps. While both providers deliver solid speeds, Surfshark is clearly faster than Norton VPN, which means that you are less likely to encounter slowdowns or lag with Surfshark while streaming geo-locked content.

Which VPN can unblock Netflix? Testing result

Even though Netflix is available worldwide, your library and the content you see depend on your location. This means that not all Netflix movies or shows will be available. Luckily, you can bypass this by using a VPN, which is why I tested both Surfshark and Norton VPN.

To my surprise, both Surfshark and Norton VPN had no issues bypassing Netflix’s geo-restrictions. To test this out, I connected to different VPN servers and tried switching between Netflix libraries. With Surfshark and Norton VPN, I was able to unlock content on Netflix US, Canada, UK, Japan, Slovakia, Hong Kong, India, and Thailand. To change the library, I simply restarted Netflix each time I connected to a different VPN location.

Surfshark or Norton VPN for torrenting

Ensuring anonymity is especially important when downloading files online. A good VPN will protect your identity online as it will hide your IP address and encrypt your internet traffic. This way, you will be protected from your ISP monitoring your activity and speed throttling.

While both VPNs seem like reliable torrenting VPN providers, I found Surfshark to win over Norton VPN due to its faster speeds. Neither Surfshark nor Norton VPN has specialized P2P servers, but they fully support torrenting, use robust AES-266 encryption, and have strict no-log policies. Additionally, they guarantee IP and DNS leak protection and have kill switch features, which in my eyes is a necessary tool when torrenting. To see how Surfshark and Norton VPN perform in terms of torrenting, I tried downloading a Ubuntu 25.04 client (5.84 GiB) via qBittorrent. With Surfshark’s WireGuard protocol, I completed the download in about 4 minutes and 18 seconds, which I find to be a great result. Norton VPN was also successful in downloading the file, yet due to its slower speeds, the process took longer.

Surfshark vs Norton VPN for gaming

With a solid gaming VPN, you will be able to bypass geo-restrictions and access different games from anywhere in the world. Additionally, it will shield you from common online threats by masking your IP address and encrypting your traffic. A VPN is also an effective tool to safeguard yourself from DDoS attacks.

I recommend choosing Surfshark for gaming online. Just like Surfshark, Norton VPN can also bypass geo-restrictions, but it is slower than Surfshark, which is not ideal for gamers. Surfshark, on the other hand, delivered fast speeds and stable connections, so you should not experience any slowdowns or lag when gaming. Since I did not notice any major speed issues with Surfshark, I believe that it is even suitable for professional gaming.

VPN connection limits: Surfshark vs Norton VPN

You can set up Norton VPN on up to 10 devices at once, while Surfshark does not limit the number of simultaneous connections. Not many VPN providers offer unlimited connections, which is very convenient, as it means that you'll be able to protect all personal devices and even share the account with a family member.

Both VPN providers support major operating systems like Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS, so you can install Surfshark and Norton VPN on different computers, phones, tablets, and smart TVs. However, Surfshark is also compatible with Linux devices, routers, and consoles, while Norton VPN is not. Besides, both VPN’s are very easy to use as they both have an intuitive interface. You will have no issues connecting as Surfshark and Norton VPN present all servers in a clear list, and you can find additional features through the VPN settings.

Note: If your VPN provider has a limit on simultaneous connections and you want to use it on more devices, you can set the VPN up on a router. This will be counted as one connection, but the VPN will cover every device that uses the same network.

Surfshark vs Norton VPN Reddit reviews and opinions 2026

To get a better sense of how these VPNs perform in real life, I read through Reddit to find what other users have to say about them. After this, I found that Surfshark receives praise for its unlimited device connections, reliable performance on public Wi-Fi, and strong streaming capabilities. Users also mentioned that Surfshark is a fast VPN. These reviews match with my own testing, although I was not able to unblock all streaming services during my testing.

Norton VPN users like its simplicity. Since it is a bundle that comes with Norton 360, there is no need to install a separate app, which makes it very convenient if you are already a Norton customer. On the downside, some users noted that Norton VPN struggles with bypassing geo-restrictions. While I personally had no issues streaming with Norton VPN, its slower speeds might be the issue behind such reviews.

Surfshark vs Norton VPN: which wins?

Norton VPN and Surfshark VPN are excellent choices, but I did notice a few key differences between them that should be considered before making a decision. Surfshark proved to be a faster VPN that offers more robust security and unlimited connections for a better price. On the other hand, Norton VPN seems to be a great choice for streaming and simple everyday browsing. However, no matter which VPN you choose, your online identity will be protected in 2026.

Even though Surfshark proved to be a better option than Norton VPN in 2026 during my tests, you can try both of them yourself risk-free. Both Norton VPN and Surfshark offer 7-day free trials. If you want to test these services longer, Surfshark has a 30-day money-back guarantee, while Norton VPN offers a generous 60-day money-back guarantee.

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FAQ

Is Surfshark better than Norton VPN?

Yes, Surfshark is better than Norton VPN as it provides faster speeds, more advanced features, and cheaper prices. While Surfshark is an affordable VPN, it delivers quality services, so you should not encounter major issues. Additionally, Surfshark has no connection limitations and supports more devices than Norton VPN.

How reliable is Surfshark compared to Norton VPN for unblocking content?

Surfshark is not as reliable as Norton VPN for unblocking content. During in-house tests, Norton VPN unblocked all popular streaming services while Surfshark had some issues with Paramount+. However, Surfshark worked with other services like Netflix, Disney+, or Hulu, and it has more servers worldwide, which means that you should be able to access more services with Surfshark than with Norton VPN.

Is Norton VPN easier to use than Surfshark?

No, Norton VPN is not easier to use than Surfshark. Both providers offer an easy-to-follow installation process as well as an intuitive app. No matter if you choose Norton VPN or Surfshark, you will not have issues with them, even if you are a beginner.

Which VPN is more affordable, Norton VPN or Surfshark?

Surfshark is more affordable than Norton VPN. The starting price of Norton VPN is $49.99/month for its early plan, while you can get Surfshark for as little as $1.99/month for a 2-year plan. Even if you choose Surfshark’s 1-year plan, it will still be cheaper than Norton VPN, as the price is $3.19/month.

How good is the customer support of Surfshark vs Norton VPN?

Both Surfshark and Norton VPN provide efficient customer support, but Surfshark’s customer support is faster. Both providers offer reliable customer support with 24/7 live chat, alongside helpful guides and articles that you can use for troubleshooting. Surfshark is also available via email, while Norton VPN has a customer support phone number.