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Surfshark vs AdGuard VPN compares two budget VPNs. Surfshark covers unlimited devices with 2 Deloitte audits in our table; AdGuard VPN offers a 3 GB free plan but no audit.
Their two-year prices are close, so audits, devices and the free plan decide. This guide compares each. Our AdGuard VPN review covers the second service in depth.
Surfshark vs AdGuard VPN on Audits
Surfshark has 2 audits by Deloitte in our table, so outside auditors have checked its no-logs claim.
Tom’s Guide notes that no third party has audited AdGuard VPN and that its protocol stays closed source. Surfshark leads on proof.
AdGuard’s HTTPS-Style Protocol
AdGuard designed its own protocol to blend VPN traffic into normal-looking HTTPS, Tom’s Guide explains, which can slip past networks that block VPNs.
Surfshark offers obfuscation too, but AdGuard builds its whole protocol around looking like HTTPS. On strict networks, that design can help.
Speed
Surfshark lost 21% of its speed in CNET’s testing, our speed table records, which is acceptable for streaming and browsing.
AdGuard VPN’s paid plans have no speed cap, while the free plan stops at 20 Mbps, Tom’s Guide reports. Surfshark’s paid service is fast enough for HD streaming in CNET’s results.
Two-Year Cost
Surfshark Starter costs about $2.49 a month on two years, $67.23 for the first 27 months, then roughly $79 a year, our tables record. Monthly billing costs $16.45.
Tom’s Guide lists AdGuard VPN at $2.99 a month over two years, $3.99 a month over one and $11.99 for a single month. The two cost almost the same on two years: $2.49 against $2.99 a month.
Free Use and Devices
Surfshark has no free plan, but allows unlimited devices on one subscription, our device table records. A 7-day trial runs through the app stores on the yearly plan.
AdGuard VPN has a free plan with 3 GB a month on two devices, and paid plans cover 10 devices, RTINGS reports. Only AdGuard VPN has a free plan, while Surfshark covers unlimited devices.
Jurisdiction and Ownership
Surfshark has its base in the Netherlands, a Nine Eyes member, and belongs to Nord Security, which also owns NordVPN.
AdGuard Software Limited is based in Limassol, Cyprus. AdGuard’s Cyprus base sits outside the Fourteen Eyes; Surfshark’s Dutch base does not.
Security Features
Surfshark includes a kill switch and CleanWeb, which blocks ads and malicious sites. Our tables also record that Surfshark has switched its Smart DNS feature off.
SafetyDetectives reports a kill switch and obfuscation on every AdGuard server, though no outside firm has tested the protocol.
Platforms and Support
Surfshark has apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS and TV platforms. Apps cover Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS and routers, TechRadar reports.
Surfshark offers live chat around the clock. Support runs by email only, without live chat, TechRadar notes.
Protocols and Streaming
Surfshark uses WireGuard, OpenVPN and IKEv2. Our Surfshark Netflix guide covers its streaming results.
Only AdGuard’s own protocol is on offer, with QUIC as an option, and TechRadar rated it decent for Netflix. Both can stream, though Surfshark’s larger network gives more options.
Which Is Better Value?
If you will pay, Surfshark is better value: a slightly lower price buys audits and unlimited devices. If you will not pay, AdGuard’s free plan wins.
Which Plan to Pick
For a VPN alone, Surfshark Starter is the plan to pick; One and One+ only make sense if you want their extra tools. With AdGuard VPN, start on the free plan and move to the two-year plan if 3 GB a month is not enough.
Payment and Checkout
Check the final checkout total for Surfshark and AdGuard VPN, since tax and currency can change the price. Also note which plan each renews into before you pay.
Refunds
Surfshark refunds within 30 days, our refund table records.
AdGuard VPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, TechRadar notes. Both offer 30 days.
Who Each Is For
Surfshark suits households with many devices that want audited privacy at a low price. AdGuard VPN suits AdGuard ad-blocker users and light users who want a free plan.
In short, light free users fit AdGuard; paying households fit Surfshark.
What Else to Know About AdGuard VPN
One more point: AdGuard has built ad blockers since 2009, RTINGS notes, and the VPN links neatly with AdGuard DNS. Holafly says the company is Russian in origin and registered in Cyprus.
What Else to Know About Surfshark
Surfshark’s One and One+ plans add extra tools and renew at about $99 and $119 a year, our tables note. Starter is enough for the VPN alone.
Testing Both
Test both on your own line during their refund windows. Check speed on a nearby server, the streaming services you use and a leak test, as our guide to checking if a VPN is working explains.
Switching Between Them
Moving from AdGuard VPN to Surfshark, or the reverse, takes minutes. Install the new app first, test it, then cancel the old subscription before it renews.
Related pages on AdGuard VPN cover what AdGuard VPN costs, ExpressVPN vs AdGuard VPN and whether AdGuard VPN is safe.
Readers weighing similar options can also read Surfshark vs Turbo VPN and Surfshark vs UltraVPN.
How We Research
For this Surfshark vs AdGuard VPN comparison, Surfshark’s audits, prices, devices, speed and refunds come from our tables. AdGuard VPN’s figures come from our research for the AdGuard VPN review, mainly Tom’s Guide’s AdGuard VPN review, read on 21 October 2026. We do not run our own tests. Our full approach lives on the About Us page.
Surfshark vs AdGuard VPN FAQ
Surfshark for audits and devices; AdGuard for a free plan.
Surfshark on two years, at about $2.49 a month.
Only AdGuard VPN, with 3 GB a month.
No; Surfshark has 2 audits in our table.
AdGuard VPN, in Cyprus.
The Verdict
Surfshark vs AdGuard VPN: AdGuard for a free plan; Surfshark for paying users who want audits and unlimited devices at a similar price.