Technologies
ExpressVPN vs. Surfshark: How CNET’s Top Two VPNs Compare
Both VPN services are excellent, so we compared their speed, price and privacy to help you decide which is best for you.
ExpressVPN and Surfshark are two of CNET’s best VPN picks, both earning Editors’ Choice designations. ExpressVPN is CNET’s Editors’ Choice for best overall VPN, and Surfshark is CNET’s Editors’ Choice for best value VPN. Both are excellent options for anyone who wants a VPN that offers first-rate privacy protections, but can also reliably handle geoblocks when streaming content online.
This comparison between ExpressVPN and Surfshark is based on extensive testing and thorough evaluations of each service’s overall value, privacy features and speeds. I conducted hundreds of individual speed tests for each provider to multiple locations and through multiple VPN protocols and platforms, along with leak tests and kill switch tests. I also carefully evaluated each provider’s features, privacy policy, terms of service, transparency efforts and customer support.
Both are first-class VPN providers, but ExpressVPN edges Surfshark in this head-to-head. Read on to find out why.
Read more: Best VPN Services of 2023
ExpressVPN vs. Surfshark
- See latest ExpressVPN coupons and deals
ExpressVPN is currently CNET’s top overall VPN pick due to its strong commitment to privacy and transparency, excellent speeds and streaming capabilities. If you have critical online privacy needs, ExpressVPN is the way to go. But if you want to unblock a world of streaming options, ExpressVPN is the one for the job, too. Its interface is minimalist and easy to use across platforms, but has a lot of options for customization from its Preferences menu. ExpressVPN is a well-rounded service that performs admirably for virtually any VPN use case, whether you’re a beginner or advanced VPN user. It leans a tad toward the expensive side, but if you want a top-notch VPN experience it’s worth it — even if you only get five simultaneous connections.
- See latest Surfshark coupons and deals
If you’re looking for a VPN that provides the most value for your money, Surfshark is the VPN for you. Despite its budget-friendly pricing, Surfshark is loaded with features, provides a few unique privacy protections and unblocks more Netflix libraries than you can count. Surfshark is a relative newcomer to the industry, compared to ExpressVPN, but it has already made a name for itself in the highly competitive VPN market. I’m impressed with how Surfshark continues to innovate and work toward improving its service on multiple fronts — and hoping it can continue to offer its favorable pricing.
Speed winner: ExpressVPN by a wide margin, thanks to Surfshark’s inconsistency and sputtering OpenVPN speeds
Finding the fastest VPN is a priority for most VPN users, so we put VPNs through rigorous speed testing. In my most recent speed tests in the first quarter of 2023, I registered an 18% average speed loss with ExpressVPN and an average 40% speed loss with Surfshark.
ExpressVPN was consistently speedy regardless of which protocol, device or location I tested it through. The only other VPN that performed more consistently during my most recent speed tests was NordVPN. The best speed performance I got out of ExpressVPN was through the OpenVPN protocol from my testing location in Hungary, where I registered a 9% speed loss compared to my base speeds. The best speed performance I got through WireGuard with ExpressVPN was from my other testing location in Ohio, where I registered an 11% speed loss. And with ExpressVPN upgrading its server fleet to 10Gbps servers, I’m hoping to see even faster and more consistent speeds from the provider in the future.
Surfshark’s speeds through the WireGuard VPN protocol from Ohio were excellent, causing my speeds to dip a mere 8% below my base internet speeds — above the top speeds I saw from ExpressVPN. However, Surfshark’s speeds through the OpenVPN protocol on my Windows laptop were abysmal, cutting my base speeds by a whopping 76%. And that’s the core issue, here. While Surfshark sometimes offered good speeds, I never knew what to expect from different protocols or devices.
I have found that VPN speeds through Windows machines tend to be marginally slower across the board than they typically are through a Mac, but other VPNs I tested through Windows didn’t register such a dramatic drop in speeds as Surfshark did. Losing more than three quarters of your base speed can be a real downer if you’re a gamer, torrenter or like to stream content. That said, Surfshark’s OpenVPN speeds through my Mac were fairly respectable (34% speed loss), though not overly impressive. Still, the inconsistent nature of Surfshark’s overall speed performance was a major disappointment.
If you want to optimize your speeds with Surfshark, I recommend connecting through the WireGuard protocol, especially if you’re a Windows user. Surfshark tells me that its development team is working on the issue, so hopefully OpenVPN speeds will improve in the future.
Cost winner: Surfshark, thanks to its impressive suite of features at a significantly lower price
ExpressVPN is, by all measures, a premium VPN service. It’s top of the line when it comes to speed, privacy, features and unblocking capabilities. And, compared to the competition, it’s expensive. ExpressVPN’s most cost-effective subscription plan is its annual plan, which costs $100 per year. You can also opt for either a biannual plan for $60 every six months or a monthly plan for $13 per month.
For that price, you get five simultaneous connections, access to a global network of servers spanning 94 countries, 24/7 live chat customer support, an easy-to-use app for all of your devices and unparalleled streaming capabilities. Additionally, you’ll eventually get access to ExpressVPN’s password manager, Keys, at no additional cost, once it exits beta and is rolled out universally to all users.
Surfshark is far easier on the pocketbook than ExpressVPN. Though Surfshark’s monthly pricing is equal to that of ExpressVPN at $13 per month, its yearly rate is considerably cheaper at $48 for the first year (then $60 per year) — a savings of $40 per year after the promo pricing ends. And while we don’t recommend committing to any VPN provider for more than a year due to the volatile nature of the industry on the whole, you can get your first two years with Surfshark for $60 total (which then renews annually at $60).
If you go with Surfshark’s annual plan, you get a feature set comparable to ExpressVPN, for a fraction of the cost. And unlike ExpressVPN’s meager simultaneous connection limit of five, Surfshark allows for an unlimited number of simultaneous connections. In addition to that, you’ll get access to servers in 100 different countries, 24/7 live chat customer support, an ad and malware blocker, cookie popup blocker and split tunneling. And Surfshark’s streaming capabilities are constantly improving, putting the provider nearly on the same level as ExpressVPN in that regard. With Surfshark, you can unblock an impressive number of international Netflix libraries. And, following our previous Surfshark review, the provider improved significantly in its ability to reliably unblock Disney Plus.
Among CNET’s top VPN picks, ExpressVPN and Surfshark occupy opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to cost — NordVPN, Proton VPN and IPVanish fall somewhere in between. With ExpressVPN you get the quality that you pay for, and with Surfshark, you get tremendous value for the comparatively low price you pay (if you sign up for a longer-term subscription). Sure, ExpressVPN is well worth its premium price tag, but if you’re a casual VPN user who doesn’t necessarily need every bit of what ExpressVPN offers, Surfshark is more than capable of providing everything you need in a VPN at a lower cost.
Privacy and security winner: ExpressVPN, thanks to its TrustedServer technology and unmatched transparency efforts
ExpressVPN and Surfhark both offer excellent privacy for VPN users. Like CNET’s other top VPN picks, ExpressVPN and Surfshark both offer industry-standard (and virtually uncrackable) AES 256-bit encryption to protect users’ traffic. They both also offer standard privacy protections like a kill switch, DNS leak protection, no-logging policy and a RAM-only diskless server infrastructure. Both providers’ kill switch and DNS leak protection worked flawlessly during my testing. It’s a tight race here, but if I had to choose one for critical privacy needs, I would choose ExpressVPN.
ExpressVPN’s TrustedServer technology builds on top of the concept of a RAM-only diskless server infrastructure. ExpressVPN’s servers run on volatile memory, meaning that user data is never stored on a hard disk and is wiped when the server is turned off or rebooted. This makes it difficult for anyone to collect user information. And with TrustedServer, the entire software stack is completely reinstalled whenever an ExpressVPN server starts up. ExpressVPN says that this process helps mitigate risks of introducing vulnerabilities or misconfiguration.
TrustedServer, along with ExpressVPN’s apps, browser extension, router, VPN protocols and no-logs policy have all been independently audited in the past year. The company’s 12 independent audits in 2022 are a testament to its commitment to transparency and go well above and beyond what most of its other peers in the VPN industry offer.
Surfshark, by comparison, has gone through a mere smattering of independent audits over the past few years. Surfshark’s browser extensions were audited in 2018, its server infrastructure was audited in 2021 and it went through its first no-logs audit in January 2023. Three audits is better than none, but Surfshark can still do more to boost its trust and transparency.
That said, Surfshark’s Nexus network technology is a neat innovation that includes features that help boost user privacy. Through the Nexus network, you can route your VPN connection through multiple servers of your choosing at once on Surfshark’s network, rather than just one server or a preset combination of two servers. This helps add an extra layer of protection. In addition to Surfshark’s Dynamic MultiHop, the Nexus network offers other innovative privacy features like an IP Rotator that periodically changes your IP address without disconnecting from the VPN and an IP Randomizer that changes your IP address each time you visit a new website. ExpressVPN currently doesn’t offer multihop connections or IP rotator/randomizer features.
ExpressVPN and Surfshark compared
| ExpressVPN | Surfshark | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $13 per month, $60 per 6 months, $100 per year | $13 per month, $48 for the first year (then $60 annually) |
| Avg. % speed loss | 18% | 40% |
| Server network | 3,000 servers in 94 countries | 3,200-plus servers in 100 countries |
| Encryption | AES 256-bit | AES 256-bit |
| VPN protocols | OpenVPN, Lightway, IKEv2 | OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKEv2/IPSec |
| Jurisdiction | British Virgin Islands | Netherlands |
| Compatibility | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Fire TV, routers | MacOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Fire TV, routers |
| Simultaneous connections | 5 | Unlimited |
Bottom line
ExpressVPN is for you if you need a VPN that can protect your privacy in situations where your online privacy is a critical consideration. The VPN’s TrustedServer technology, privacy-friendly jurisdiction in the British Virgin Islands and comprehensive list of independent security audits help reinforce its commitment to user privacy. Whether you need privacy in the face of online surveillance, or if you’re a doctor, lawyer, journalist, dissident, whistleblower, activist or anyone else who requires heightened online privacy, then ExpressVPN is the way to go.
Or if you’re a casual VPN user simply looking for a fast VPN that’s easy to use and can unblock a world of streaming options while hiding your activity from your ISP, then ExpressVPN is a great option too — as long as you don’t mind paying the premium.
On the other hand, if you’re a casual user on a budget and want a VPN that can get the job done for less, Surfshark could be the VPN for you. Though Surfshark isn’t quite at the level that ExpressVPN is in terms of privacy protections and transparency, Surfshark has a few unique privacy features like MultiHop and IP Rotator/Randomizer that may appeal to certain users who want to add an extra layer of protection to their traffic. However, Windows users who prefer connecting through OpenVPN for privacy may want to opt for ExpressVPN due to Surfshark’s speed issues through OpenVPN on Windows.
And because Surfshark offers unlimited simultaneous connections, it’s also an excellent option for folks with lots of connected devices or anyone with a large family or group of friends they want to share an account with.
FAQs
Which VPN is better, ExpressVPN or Surfshark?
It depends on what you want out of your VPN. If price is your primary concern when choosing a VPN, go with Surfshark. If you have lots of devices you want to connect at once, Surfshark would be the best choice again. If critical privacy is your main concern, go with ExpressVPN. For the best overall speeds and the best geoblock circumvention, go with ExpressVPN too.
Is the price difference worth it?
If your online privacy is of critical importance, then yes, the higher price you pay for ExpressVPN is worth it. Also, if you want the best possible speeds across platforms and protocols, for streaming and torrenting, the price difference is worth it. If you’re a casual user who doesn’t require all of that and doesn’t want to pay a premium for their VPN, Surfshark is a worthy alternative that shouldn’t be considered a downgrade.
Can you try ExpressVPN or Surfshark for free?
Neither ExpressVPN nor Surfshark officially offer a free trial at this time. However, if you download and sign up for either service through the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, you can activate a seven-day free trial. Just remember to cancel your trial before the seven days is up if you don’t want to continue with the service, to avoid getting charged. Both Surfshark and ExpressVPN offer 30-day money-back guarantees as well. If you purchase a subscription and decide that you’re not satisfied for whatever reason, you can request a full refund within the first 30 days of purchase.
Read more: Best Cheap VPN for 2023
Technologies
Why Privacy Begins Where Even the Service Creator Can’t See Anything
Why Privacy Begins Where Even the Service Creator Can’t See Anything
Today, almost every messenger promises “security” and “encryption.” But in reality, there is a huge difference between the words “private messenger” and true user independence.
Most modern platforms are still built around trust in the company. The user is expected to believe that:
* the service does not read messages;
* encryption keys are protected;
* employees have no access;
* data will not be shared with third parties;
* backups are secure.
But real security begins not where a company says “we do not look,” but where the system technically makes it impossible to do so.
This is exactly the principle behind Verum Messenger.
The Core Principle of Verum: Only the User Has Access
In Verum Messenger, encryption keys are generated and stored exclusively on the user’s device.
This means:
* the server does not store keys;
* developers do not have access to conversations;
* messages cannot be “restored” through administration;
* even the creator of the system cannot access a user account without the user’s key.
The key belongs only to the owner.
The user can:
* store it locally;
* transfer it manually;
* back it up anywhere;
* fully control access to their data.
The system is not built around trust in a company. It is built around eliminating the need to trust anyone at all.
Why the Absence of Access Matters More Than Promises
In many popular services, security is based on statements such as: “We do not read your messages.”
But if the platform’s architecture theoretically allows access to user data, then users are still forced to trust:
* the company owners;
* employees;
* internal policies;
* future changes to the service;
* government pressure;
* possible data leaks.
Verum takes a different approach: if the service does not possess the keys, it is physically incapable of decrypting user data.
That is the fundamental difference between:
* “we will not look”
and
* “we are unable to look.”
Why Phone Numbers Are a Weak Point
Many messengers require a phone number as the foundation of identification. But a phone number is not just a registration method.
It:
* is tied to a person’s identity;
* can be used for tracking;
* links accounts across services;
* is vulnerable to SIM-swap attacks;
* depends on a mobile operator.
Verum removes this dependency.
Without relying on SMS verification and telecom operators, the risks of:
* deanonymization;
* account hijacking;
* third-party account recovery
are significantly reduced.
Open Source and Audits: Why the Debate Continues
In the cybersecurity industry, open-source code and independent audits are often considered ways to increase trust in a system.
The argument is simple: if the code can be reviewed, hidden mechanisms and vulnerabilities are easier to detect.
But there is another perspective.
Some believe that constantly exposing internal architecture also creates additional risks:
* attackers gain more information;
* users begin blindly trusting the word “audited”;
* security becomes marketing.
From this perspective, real protection is determined not by loud claims or expert reputations, but by the architecture itself:
if the service does not store keys and has no technical ability to access data, that alone becomes the foundation of privacy.
Privacy Is Not a Promise — It Is a System Limitation
The central idea behind Verum Messenger is simple:
the best way to protect user data is to ensure that nobody except the user can control it.
Even the platform owner.
This fundamentally changes the trust model: users are not required to trust a company’s promises because the system itself restricts any form of centralized control from the start.
In this approach, privacy stops being a feature.
It becomes an architectural principle.
Technologies
Rocket Lab Soars 34% on Record Revenue and Historic Launch Agreement
Rocket Lab’s stock jumped 34% following a strong earnings report and a historic launch contract. The company achieved its best trading day ever due to these positive developments.
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Technologies
AI Infrastructure Shift: AMD and Intel Surge as Nvidia Trails in ‘Guard Change’
AMD and Intel surge as investors bet on a broader AI infrastructure boom, shifting focus from Nvidia’s dominance to memory and CPU markets.
Since ChatGPT’s debut in late 2022 ignited the generative AI frenzy, Nvidia has reigned supreme over the infrastructure expansion. Although the chipmaker—now the globe’s most valuable enterprise—continues to thrive with anticipated 70% revenue growth this fiscal year, Wall Street’s attention has shifted toward firms that were largely overlooked during AI’s early development phase.
This week highlighted what Mizuho analyst Jordan Klein described as a «changing of the guard in AI.» Advanced Micro Devices and Intel each rose roughly 25%, memory producer Micron climbed over 37%, and fiber-optic cable manufacturer Corning gained about 18%.
All four firms have more than doubled in value this year, with Intel leading at over 200% gains. Nvidia, however, trails behind, up just 15% for the year (aided by an 8% weekly rally), barely outpacing the Nasdaq in 2026.
Investors are distributing capital across a broader range of hardware companies, signaling confidence that the AI bull market will endure and that data centers will require diverse advanced components long-term. Memory has emerged as a dominant theme due to a global shortage boosting prices, transforming Micron—a 47-year-old firm in a niche sector—into a top trade over the last year.
Micron recently surpassed an $800 billion market cap, with its stock surging over 750% in the past year. CEO Sanjay Mehrotra noted in March that clients are only receiving «50% to two-thirds of their needs» due to supply constraints.
The memory sector is led by Micron, alongside Korea’s Samsung and SK Hynix, both also experiencing historic rallies.
«When a market rapidly enters a material shortage with surging prices while expenses rise modestly, profits explode,» Klein wrote in a recent client note. «Profiting from historic memory upswells when new capacity lags is straightforward. That simple.»
Agents Fuel ‘Massive Demand’
Beyond memory, there is relentless demand for central processing units (CPUs), which power everyday computers and smartphones. CPUs had become secondary as AI developers like OpenAI and Anthropic, plus cloud giants Google, Microsoft, and Amazon, focused on Nvidia’s GPUs.
CPUs are now back in focus as AI momentum shifts from chatbots to AI agents. Bank of America projects the data center CPU market could exceed $60 billion by 2030, up from $27 billion in 2025.
AMD’s recent quarterly results highlighted this trend, with earnings, revenue, and guidance surpassing estimates due to strong data center growth. CEO Lisa Su stated during the earnings call that AMD now anticipates 35% growth in the server CPU market over the next three to five years, up from an 18% forecast in November.
«Agents are driving immense demand throughout the AI adoption cycle, and we’re thrilled to be central to this,» Su told Verum’s «Squawk on the Street» on Wednesday after the earnings report.
Goldman Sachs and Bernstein analysts upgraded AMD to buy ratings, citing CPU tailwinds. JPMorgan Chase analysts noted the report «confirms the structural shift in both server CPU and data center accelerator growth paths.»
