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NordVPN vs Surfshark

Comparing
two VPNs
Decided by
Independent no-logs audits
Last reviewed
2026-08-26
NordVPNTakes bitcoin

Six independent no-logs assurance engagements, more than anyone else here, and crypto refunds that are actually paid out.

SurfsharkTakes bitcoin

Unlimited devices and Deloitte-verified no-logs, from a company that merged into the same group as NordVPN in 2022.

Verdict: NordVPN

NordVPN carries more independent audits of its no-logs claim: 6 against 2 for Surfshark. We publish no rating for VPNs, so the audit count is the one criterion that decides.

Criterion
Independent no-logs audits
NordVPN
6
Surfshark
2

NordVPN and Surfshark, fact by fact

Every row is from the two reviews as of their review dates, with sources on each. A check marks the side a decidable criterion favours; rows without one are information, not a score.

NordVPN and Surfshark compared fact by fact from their reviews; a check marks the side a decidable criterion favours.
FactNordVPNSurfshark
Independent audits6, latest 2025 (favoured on this row)2, latest 2025
Real-world tests00
Incidents on record10
Market exits10
OwnerNord SecurityNord Security
JurisdictionPanamaNetherlands
Eyes allianceOutsideNine Eyes
PriceFrom $3.39/mo on the 2yr planFrom $2.49/mo on the 2yr plan
Money-back30 days30 days
Crypto acceptedbitcoin, ethereumbitcoin, litecoin, ethereum, bitcoin cash, dogecoin
Anonymous signupNoNo
Free tierNoneNone
ServersVendor states thousands of RAM-only servers across roughly 125 countriesVendor states more than 4,500 servers across 100 countries, all upgraded to 10Gbps ports
Last reviewed2026-08-262026-08-26

No-logs evidence, side by side

Dated audits and real-world tests from each review. An empty column is a finding: the claim has not been independently checked.

NordVPN

  • 2025Audit by Deloitte Lithuania: sixth no-logs assurance engagement under ISAE 3000 (Revised), covering standard, Double VPN, obfuscated and Onion Over VPN servers
  • 2024Audit by Deloitte: fifth no-logs assurance engagement
  • 2023Audit by Deloitte: fourth no-logs assurance engagement
  • 2022Audit by Deloitte: third no-logs assurance engagement, the first conducted by Deloitte rather than PwC
  • 2020Audit by PwC Switzerland: second and broader assurance engagement on the no-logs claim, reported 28 May 2020
  • 2018Audit by PwC Switzerland: first independent assurance engagement on the no-logs claim

Surfshark

  • 2025Audit by Deloitte: independent assurance that the service does not monitor or log user activity, announced June 2025
  • 2023Audit by Deloitte: first Deloitte no-logs assurance engagement on the server configurations

Frequently asked questions

Is NordVPN or Surfshark better for privacy?

NordVPN carries more independent audits of its no-logs claim: 6 against 2 for Surfshark. We publish no rating for VPNs, so the audit count is the one criterion that decides. Audits, court and seizure records and incidents are dated on each review with their sources.

Can I pay NordVPN or Surfshark with bitcoin?

NordVPN takes bitcoin and ethereum (processor: CoinGate). Surfshark takes bitcoin, litecoin, ethereum, bitcoin cash and dogecoin (processor: CoinGate). Each review quotes the vendor's own refund sentence for crypto purchases verbatim.

Which is cheaper, NordVPN or Surfshark?

NordVPN: From $3.39/mo on the 2yr plan. Surfshark: From $2.49/mo on the 2yr plan. Money-back: NordVPN 30 days, Surfshark 30 days. Prices are from each vendor's own page as of the review date.

Where are NordVPN and Surfshark based?

NordVPN: Panama (outside the five, nine and fourteen eyes alliances). Surfshark: Netherlands (nine eyes member). A jurisdiction matters less than a court record showing what the provider could hand over; the reviews carry those where they exist.

Are NordVPN and Surfshark the same company?

Both are owned by Nord Security. Shared ownership means shared infrastructure decisions and shared jurisdiction risk, whatever the brands say about each other.

The full reviews: NordVPN and Surfshark, each with its sources, and every VPN we review.

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