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NordVPN and Surfshark are the two VPNs travellers ask about most, and they're closer than the ads suggest. Both are fast, easy to use and come with a 30-day money-back guarantee. The real difference is who they suit best. Here's an honest side-by-side, so you can pick in five minutes.
Short answer: travelling solo or as a couple and want the most established brand? NordVPN. Travelling as a family or with lots of phones, tablets and laptops? Surfshark, because one plan covers unlimited devices.
NordVPN vs Surfshark at a glance
| NordVPN | Surfshark | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Solo travellers, remote workers | Families, couples, many devices |
| Devices per plan | Up to 10 at the same time | Unlimited |
| Server network | Thousands of servers, very wide country coverage | Thousands of servers in about 100 countries |
| Extra protection | Threat Protection (blocks malicious sites, ads, trackers) | CleanWeb (blocks ads, trackers, malware sites) |
| Stand-out extras | Meshnet, Double VPN, dark web monitoring | Dynamic MultiHop, rotating IP, alternative ID |
| Money-back guarantee | 30 days | 30 days |
| Plans | Basic, Plus/Complete, higher tiers | Starter, One, One+ |
Features and plan names change from time to time, so check the current details on each provider's site.
Speed and reliability abroad
For travel, speed matters most on hotel and café Wi-Fi, where the connection is often the bottleneck anyway. Both providers use modern WireGuard-based protocols (NordVPN calls its version NordLynx), and both are fast enough for video calls, banking and streaming in normal use. In practice, the server you pick matters more than the brand: choose a server close to where you are for speed, or one in your home country when an app needs to "see" you at home.
Security and privacy
Both encrypt your traffic with strong, modern encryption, both offer a kill switch that blocks the internet if the VPN drops, and both state a no-logs policy that has been checked by outside auditors. For a traveller, the practical protections are the same: people on the same hotel or airport network can't easily see or tamper with what you send.
- NordVPN adds Threat Protection, which blocks known malicious websites and many ads and trackers, plus optional dark web monitoring for your email address.
- Surfshark adds CleanWeb for ads and malicious sites, and extras such as rotating IP addresses and an alternative online identity for sign-ups.
Devices: the biggest practical difference
This is where most travellers decide. NordVPN covers up to 10 devices at the same time, which is plenty for one or two people. Surfshark has no device limit, so a family can put it on every phone, tablet, laptop and even the travel router, all on one subscription.
Check NordVPN prices Check Surfshark prices
Ease of use
Both have simple apps for iPhone, Android, Windows and Mac. You open the app, tap connect, and you're protected. Both can connect automatically whenever you join an unknown Wi-Fi network, which is the single most useful setting for travel. NordVPN's server map is handy for choosing countries; Surfshark's app is a little more minimal.
Price
Prices change constantly, and both are cheapest per month on longer plans with bonus months. A few honest tips:
- Compare the total price of the plan and the renewal price, not just the monthly figure.
- The biggest discounts of the year usually come around Black Friday.
- Both offer 30 days to change your mind, so you can test the VPN on a real trip.
Which one should you choose?
Choose NordVPN if…
- you travel solo or as a couple;
- you want the most established, best-known brand;
- you like extras such as Meshnet or dark web monitoring.
Choose Surfshark if…
- you travel as a family or carry lots of devices;
- you want one subscription to cover everyone;
- you want the lowest price per device.
Before you fly: set it up in 5 minutes
- Install the app on every device you're taking and log in at home.
- Turn on auto-connect for untrusted Wi-Fi networks.
- Save a server in your home country as a favourite for banking apps.
- Test it once on your home Wi-Fi.
- Check that VPNs are allowed at your destination; a few countries restrict them.
A VPN protects your connection, not your passwords. Pair it with a password manager such as NordPass; see our guide to password managers for travellers.
Frequently asked questions
Is NordVPN or Surfshark better for travel?
Both work well. NordVPN suits solo travellers who want the most established brand; Surfshark suits families and anyone with many devices, because one plan covers unlimited devices.
Can I use one VPN subscription for my whole family?
With Surfshark, yes: there's no device limit. NordVPN allows up to 10 devices at the same time, which usually covers a couple or a small family.
Do I need a VPN on hotel Wi-Fi?
It's a good idea. Hotel and airport networks are shared with strangers, and a VPN encrypts what you send. If you mostly use mobile data from a travel eSIM, it matters less.
Can I get my money back if I don't like it?
Both NordVPN and Surfshark offer a 30-day money-back guarantee on their plans. Check the current terms before you buy.
Is using a VPN legal everywhere?
VPNs are legal in most countries, but a few restrict or ban them. Check the current rules for your destination before you rely on one.