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A Surfshark alternative makes sense when one of its limits matters to you. Surfshark has two no-logs audits under our method, the fewest among the big providers in our table. There is no port forwarding and no SOCKS5 proxy. Its base is the Netherlands, inside the Nine Eyes, and NordVPN shares its owner. It also sets no device limit and renews at about $79 a year, so leaving is about fit, not a failing service.
This guide matches seven alternatives to the most common reasons for switching, with figures from our renewal, audit, device and refund tables.
Why People Look for a Surfshark Alternative
Our Surfshark guides list the usual reasons. Seeders miss port forwarding, as our Surfshark port forwarding guide explains, and SOCKS5 users find none, as our Surfshark SOCKS5 guide shows. TV owners lost Smart DNS in February 2026. Privacy-minded users weigh the Netherlands’ place in intelligence-sharing networks, covered in our Surfshark safety guide.
Ownership matters to some too. Surfshark and NordVPN both belong to Nord Security. Switching between them does not change the parent company.
The Comparison
Our renewal table puts Surfshark at about $79 a year. PureVPN renews at $47.95, CyberGhost at $56.94, Mullvad at about $65 and Windscribe at about $69. Proton VPN renews at about $83.88 and NordVPN at $139.08. On audits, our table counts two for Surfshark, three for CyberGhost, four for PureVPN, five for Proton VPN, six for NordVPN and 10+ for Mullvad.
Proton VPN: Independent Ownership
Proton VPN belongs to the Proton Foundation, outside the big VPN groups, with five Securitum audits and a free plan without a data cap. Its Stealth protocol helps on restrictive networks. It allows 10 devices, Techlore notes, against Surfshark’s unlimited. Our Surfshark vs Proton VPN page compares them.
Mullvad: Anonymous Accounts
Mullvad uses account numbers instead of email addresses, a flat price of about $65 a year, and 10+ audits in our table. It allows five devices and has fewer streaming features. Our Mullvad vs Surfshark page compares them.
Private Internet Access: Port Forwarding and SOCKS5
PIA offers port forwarding and a SOCKS5 proxy, and sets no device limit, according to our tables, so it keeps Surfshark’s biggest strength while filling its gaps for seeders. It belongs to Kape Technologies. Our Surfshark vs PIA page compares them.
Windscribe and PureVPN: Lower Renewals
Windscribe renews at about $69 a year with no device limit and a free tier, but its refund window is only seven days, and only under 10 GB of use. PureVPN renews at $47.95, the lowest in our table, with four KPMG audits and port forwarding as a paid add-on. Our Surfshark vs Windscribe and Surfshark vs PureVPN pages compare them.
CyberGhost: Longer Refund Window
CyberGhost renews at $56.94, has three Deloitte audits and a 45-day refund window on longer plans, but allows seven devices. Our Surfshark vs CyberGhost page compares them.
NordVPN: Same Owner, More Audits
NordVPN has six audits in our table and obfuscated servers, but costs most at $139.08 a year and shares Surfshark’s owner. It suits users who want more audits and do not mind the parent. Our NordVPN vs Surfshark page compares them.
Streaming Considerations
Surfshark does well for streaming, with iPlayer on all UK servers in Comparitech’s August 2026 test, as our Surfshark streaming guide explains. Before switching, check that a Surfshark alternative handles the services you watch; CyberGhost, for example, opened US YouTube in Tom’s Guide’s May 2026 test where Surfshark failed.
Privacy Considerations
If ownership is your reason, compare more than the brand. Our VPN ownership guide shows which providers share a parent, and our VPN audit tracker explains what each audit covered.
Refund Windows
Surfshark, NordVPN and PIA give 30 days, PureVPN 31, and CyberGhost 45 on longer plans. Proton VPN gives a full refund within 30 days per its terms, Mullvad gives 14 days, and Windscribe allows seven days, under 10 GB of use.
Price Over Time
First-term deals hide the real cost. Our renewal price guide compares what each provider charges after the first term, which is what you pay from year three onwards. A cheaper first term can cost more later, so compare renewals.
| Provider | Renewal price | Per month | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | $139.08/yr | ~$11.59 | Basic |
| Surfshark | ~$79/yr | ~$6.58 | Starter |
| ExpressVPN | $99.95/yr | ~$8.33 | Basic |
| CyberGhost | $56.94/yr | ~$4.75 | 2-year |
| PureVPN | $47.95/yr | ~$4.00 | Standard, 2-year (1-year renews $57.95) |
| IPVanish | $89.99/yr | ~$7.50 | Essential |
| Windscribe | ~$69/yr | ~$5.75 | Pro |
| Proton VPN | ~$83.88/yr | ~$6.99 | VPN Plus |
| Mullvad | ~$65/yr | ~$5.40 | flat, no tiers |
| Norton VPN | $79.99/yr | ~$6.67 | Standard |
| Hotspot Shield | ~$95.99/yr | ~$8.00 | Premium annual |
| Astrill | $300 every 2 yrs | ~$12.50 | 2-year, same at renewal |
Switching Without a Gap
Sign up for the alternative before cancelling Surfshark, so you are never without protection. Install it on one device, test the services you use most, and only then move the rest. Cancel Surfshark’s renewal afterwards, and request a refund if you are still inside its window, as our Surfshark refund guide explains.
Which Surfshark Alternative Fits
Independent ownership: Proton VPN or Mullvad. Port forwarding and unlimited devices: PIA. Lowest renewal: PureVPN. Most audits among the big names: NordVPN, if the shared owner does not bother you. Our VPN alternatives guide covers the wider market.
How We Research
This page draws on our renewal, audit, device, refund and ownership tables, Techlore on Proton VPN’s device limit, and our Surfshark guides. We cross-checked these sources against each other, and where they conflict or something can’t be verified, we say so in the text rather than guessing. We checked time-sensitive figures, including prices in US dollars, on 6 October 2026. Renewal, audit, device and refund figures from our tables. The main source we relied on is Wikipedia’s Surfshark history. Our full approach lives on the About Us page.
Surfshark Alternative FAQ
It depends on the reason: Proton VPN for independence, PIA for port forwarding, PureVPN for price.
It has more audits, but both belong to Nord Security.
PIA and Windscribe, per our device table.
PIA, and PureVPN as a paid add-on.
PureVPN, CyberGhost, Mullvad and Windscribe all renew lower, per our table.
The Verdict
A Surfshark alternative is worth it when a specific gap affects you: ports, SOCKS5, ownership or audits. Match the reason to the provider, compare renewal prices, and test within the refund window.