Surfshark vs PureVPN (2026): Cheaper and More Audited, With One Catch
PureVPN costs $31 less a year, has twice the no-logs audits and the only port forwarding here. Surfshark has unlimited devices and nothing in its history requiring explanation.
Head-to-head VPN comparisons that go beyond spec sheets. We line up audit records, independent speed results, features, and pricing side by side — and name a winner for your specific needs.
PureVPN costs $31 less a year, has twice the no-logs audits and the only port forwarding here. Surfshark has unlimited devices and nothing in its history requiring explanation.
NordVPN costs three times more at renewal and delivers speeds PureVPN can’t match consistently. PureVPN has port forwarding, an unannounced-audit programme, and a logging incident on the record.
Three percentage points apart on speed. One audit apart on privacy. The decision comes down to how many devices you own and what you’ll pay in year three.
One is ten times faster. The other costs $82 less every year and gives you 45 days to change your mind. This is the clearest speed-versus-price trade-off in the category.
One has unlimited devices. The other has more audits, a better jurisdiction, a cheaper renewal and a 45-day window. The budget choice is less obvious than the rankings suggest.
One is six times faster in like-for-like testing. The other renews $40 a year cheaper. And the audit counts everyone quotes are comparing two different things.
One is measurably faster with three times the audit record. The other costs half as much when the intro term ends and covers unlimited devices. Here’s who each is for.