PrivateVPN vs Surfshark
A data-driven head-to-head of PrivateVPN and Surfshark for 2026: long-term pricing, privacy, audit history, streaming unblock, and trust signals, so you can pick the right VPN for what you actually do online.
SurfsharkWinnerVerdict: which is better?
On the data, Surfshark comes out ahead overall, but the right pick depends on what you weight most.
- Best long-term price
- Trustpilot
- Overall rating
- Countries
- Audited no-logs
- Free trial
PrivateVPN vs Surfshark: head-to-head
| Feature | PrivateVPN | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Best long-term price | $2.00/mo on the 36-month plan | $2.49/mo on the 24-month plan |
| Overall rating | 3.70 / 5 | 4.30 / 5 |
| Server count | 200+ | 4500+ |
| Countries | 63 | 100 |
| Streaming unblocks | 5 services | 5 services |
| Audited no-logs | Self-reported | 4 audits |
| Jurisdiction | Sweden | Netherlands |
| 14 Eyes alliance | Yes | Yes |
| Trustpilot | 4.7 (1,900) | 4.4 (18,700) |
| Money-back window | 30 days | 30 days |
| Free trial | No | Yes |
Pricing and specs are pulled from our latest data for each provider. Verify current pricing on the provider site before purchase.
PrivateVPN vs Surfshark FAQ
Is PrivateVPN cheaper than Surfshark?
PrivateVPN is the more affordable option at $2.00/mo on the 36-month plan, compared with $2.49/mo on the 24-month plan for Surfshark. Both prices reflect the longest published term; check the monthly rate for short-term signups.
Which is rated higher, PrivateVPN or Surfshark?
Surfshark scores higher on our 18-dimension rubric (4.30/5 vs 3.70/5 for PrivateVPN). The breakdown is in the table above, with weights published on /how-we-rank.
Has PrivateVPN or Surfshark been independently audited?
Surfshark has been independently audited 4 times. PrivateVPN has 0 on record. Audit count and recency are weighted heavily in our privacy scoring.
PrivateVPN vs Surfshark: which should I pick?
Choose PrivateVPN if owned servers with port forwarding on a budget; choose Surfshark if unlimited devices on a tight budget. The head-to-head above covers price, privacy, streaming, and trust signals so you can match the winner to your use case.