Bottom line: ExpressVPN wins on speed and router support. Surfshark wins on price and unlimited devices. Both are excellent for streaming and have passed independent no-logs audits.
Quick Comparison: ExpressVPN vs Surfshark 2026
| Feature | ExpressVPN | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Price (2-year) | $3.49/mo | $1.99/mo ✅ |
| Speed (avg) | 850 Mbps ✅ | 680 Mbps |
| Servers | 3,000+ / 105 countries | 3,200+ / 100 countries |
| Protocol | Lightway (proprietary) | WireGuard / IKEv2 |
| No-logs audit | KPMG verified | Deloitte verified |
| Devices | 8 | Unlimited ✅ |
| Router support | Excellent ✅ | Basic |
| Our rating | 9.5/10 | 9.0/10 |
Speed: ExpressVPN Leads
| Location | ExpressVPN | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| New York | 880 Mbps | 710 Mbps |
| Chicago | 830 Mbps | 660 Mbps |
| Los Angeles | 840 Mbps | 670 Mbps |
| Average | 850 Mbps ✅ | 680 Mbps |
Winner: ExpressVPN — 25% faster on average. Surfshark is still fast enough for all streaming and gaming use cases.
Price: Surfshark Wins Easily
| Plan | ExpressVPN | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly | $12.95/mo | $15.45/mo |
| 1-year | $6.67/mo | $2.99/mo |
| 2-year | $3.49/mo | $1.99/mo ✅ |
| Devices | 8 | Unlimited ✅ |
Choose ExpressVPN If…
- You need the fastest possible speeds
- You want router-level VPN (best-in-class support)
- You’re in a country with heavy censorship (Lightway obfuscation)
- You prefer RAM-only server technology (TrustedServer)
Choose Surfshark If…
- You want the best price ($1.99/mo on 2-year)
- You need unlimited simultaneous connections
- You’re covering a whole family or household
- Budget is the primary factor
Verdict
For pure performance, ExpressVPN wins. For value and unlimited devices, Surfshark wins. Both reliably unblock streaming services and have passed independent audits. See our full Best VPN 2026 comparison for all tested services.