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Surfshark vs Total VPN compares two budget options with different extras. Surfshark covers unlimited devices with 2 audits in our table; Total VPN comes inside a TotalAV antivirus bundle with no audit.
Total VPN is cheaper in year one; Surfshark adds proof and devices. This guide compares both over the long term. Our Total VPN review covers the second service in depth.
Surfshark vs Total VPN on Audits
Surfshark has 2 audits by Deloitte in our table, so outside auditors have checked its no-logs claim.
PrivacySavvy notes no audit and no RAM-only servers for Total VPN, although TheBestVPN’s leak tests came back clean. Surfshark leads on proof, though Total VPN passed leak tests.
The TotalAV Bundle
Most people get Total VPN inside a TotalAV bundle with antivirus and Total Adblock, from about $1.59 a month in year one, VPN.com reports.
Surfshark’s One plans add their own extras, including antivirus, at higher renewals, so both can serve as a bundle.
Speed
Surfshark lost 21% of its speed in CNET’s testing, our speed table records, which is acceptable for streaming and browsing.
TheBestVPN found good speeds on WireGuard, while vpnpro saw slower results on distant servers. Both perform well for streaming in published tests.
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.
VPN.com lists a first-year bundle price of about $1.59 a month for Total VPN with TotalAV. Total VPN is cheaper in year one; Surfshark’s renewal near $79 a year is the clearer long-term cost.
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.
Total VPN has no free plan and covers six devices, VPN.com reports. Surfshark’s unlimited devices beat Total VPN’s six.
Jurisdiction and Ownership
Surfshark has its base in the Netherlands, a Nine Eyes member, and belongs to Nord Security, which also owns NordVPN.
Total Security Limited, a UK company in the Point Wild group, runs Total VPN. Both sit inside intelligence-sharing alliances: the UK in the Five Eyes and the Netherlands in the Nine Eyes.
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.
vpnpro reports manual and automatic kill switches, and TheBestVPN found no DNS or WebRTC leaks.
Platforms and Support
Surfshark has apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS and TV platforms. The standalone app covers the main platforms, and a Chrome extension acts as a proxy.
Surfshark offers live chat around the clock. Support runs through the TotalAV account area.
Protocols and Streaming
Surfshark uses WireGuard, OpenVPN and IKEv2. Our Surfshark Netflix guide covers its streaming results.
WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2 and Hydra are all in the standalone app, and TheBestVPN unblocked eight of nine streaming sites. Both stream well, so price and proof decide.
Which Is Better Value?
Total VPN wins year one; Surfshark wins over several years, with audits and unlimited devices.
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 Total VPN, the annual TotalAV bundle is the usual choice, but check its renewal price before the first year ends.
Payment and Checkout
Check the final checkout total for Surfshark and Total 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.
Total VPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, PrivacySavvy notes. Both offer 30 days.
Who Each Is For
Surfshark suits households with many devices that want audited privacy at a low price. Total VPN suits people who want antivirus and a VPN in one cheap first-year bundle.
In short, Total VPN fits a cheap first year with antivirus; Surfshark fits long-term households.
What Else to Know About Total VPN
One more point: Server counts vary widely between sources, from 50 servers in 35 countries to more than 1,800 in 90. The TotalAV-integrated version also supports fewer protocols.
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 Total VPN to Surfshark, or the reverse, takes minutes. Install the new app first, test it, then cancel the old subscription before it renews.
For more on Total VPN, see whether Total VPN is safe, what Total VPN costs and NordVPN vs Total VPN.
We also cover similar services: Surfshark vs UltraVPN and Surfshark vs iolo VPN.
How We Research
For this Surfshark vs Total VPN comparison, Surfshark’s audits, prices, devices, speed and refunds come from our tables. Total VPN’s figures come from our research for the Total VPN review, mainly TheBestVPN’s Total 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 Total VPN FAQ
Surfshark for audits and devices; Total VPN for a cheap antivirus bundle.
Total VPN in year one; Surfshark often after renewal.
Its One plans add extras; Starter covers the VPN.
No.
Surfshark, with no limit.
The Verdict
Surfshark vs Total VPN: Total VPN for the cheapest first year with antivirus; Surfshark for audits, unlimited devices and lower long-term costs.