Surfshark vs PrivateVPN: Which VPN Should You Choose?

Who This Comparison Is For

If you're choosing between a large, feature-heavy privacy suite and a smaller, no-frills VPN with a specific niche strength, Surfshark and PrivateVPN represent two very different philosophies. Surfshark has expanded well beyond VPN encryption into antivirus, data-broker removal, and identity monitoring, while PrivateVPN has stayed a lean, independently-run operation focused on the core VPN fundamentals plus one standout feature: manual port forwarding. This comparison is for anyone trying to decide whether they want the broader suite or the smaller, more focused tool.

Pricing Comparison

Both providers follow the standard VPN pricing playbook: promotional, long-term-commitment pricing that shifts frequently, with monthly no-commitment plans costing considerably more. Surfshark structures its pricing around three tiers — Starter (VPN only), One (VPN plus antivirus and private search), and One+ (adds Incogni data removal and Alert identity monitoring) — with 24-month plans offering the lowest introductory monthly rate before renewing higher. PrivateVPN keeps things simpler: a monthly plan around $9.90, a discounted 3-month option, and a headline 36-month plan that can land around $2–$2.50/month upfront, sometimes with bonus free months. Both offer a 30-day money-back guarantee, and both warn that advertised long-term rates are introductory rather than permanent — check the checkout page before committing to either.

Feature Comparison

Surfshark's biggest structural advantages are its massive server network (4,500+ RAM-only servers in 100+ countries) and unlimited simultaneous device connections, which makes it especially strong for large households juggling phones, laptops, smart TVs, and routers. It also layers on extras PrivateVPN doesn't offer at all: bundled antivirus, Incogni data-broker removal, and Alert breach monitoring in its higher tiers. PrivateVPN counters with a much smaller network — just 200+ servers across 63 countries — but supports up to 10 simultaneous devices, more than enough for most families, and it retains manual port forwarding, a feature several bigger competitors have scaled back or removed, making it a genuine standout for torrenting and self-hosted setups. Both support AES-256 encryption, no-logs policies, and modern protocols, and both have RAM-only or audited no-logs track records. On raw speed, Surfshark edges out PrivateVPN, though it still trails ExpressVPN and NordVPN in benchmarks; PrivateVPN lags further behind, particularly on long-distance connections. App polish also favors Surfshark, whose interface is described as more refined than PrivateVPN's more basic, functional client.

Comparison Table

	Surfshark	PrivateVPN
Price (long-term plan, approx.)	~$2–4/mo	~$2–2.50/mo (36-month plan)
Server network	4,500+ servers, 100+ countries	200+ servers, 63 countries
Simultaneous devices	Unlimited	10
Standout feature	Bundled Incogni data removal + unlimited devices	Manual port forwarding for torrenting/self-hosting
Platforms/protocols	RAM-only servers, no-logs (audited)	OpenVPN, IKEv2, WireGuard, no-logs

Which One Should You Choose

If you want a single subscription that covers a large household with unlimited devices and want the option to bundle in antivirus, data-broker removal, and identity monitoring, Surfshark is the more complete package — especially if streaming across multiple Netflix libraries, BBC iPlayer, or Disney+ is a priority. Its bigger server network also gives it more flexibility against congestion or blocks.

If you're specifically doing torrenting with port forwarding needs, or you'd rather support a smaller, independently-run VPN instead of a larger corporate privacy suite, PrivateVPN is worth the tradeoff in server count and app polish. It's also a reasonable budget pick for long-term commitments if you don't need the broadest possible server coverage.

For households needing more than 10 devices covered, Surfshark's unlimited-connection model is the clear winner. For torrenting setups that specifically require incoming connections to reach your machine, PrivateVPN's port forwarding is the more relevant feature, since it's something Surfshark's guide doesn't mention offering at all.