Best 3 VPN services in 2024: ExpressVPN vs. Surfshark vs. NordVPN reviews - Comparison table - VPN24X7

You type into Google: "best VPN services 2024.” You read many VPN reviews, but you still can't make a decision about which one to buy.

I was in the exact same situation. The Internet is overburdened with reviews, articles, and blog posts on this topic, and after reading many of reviews, you still might find it hard to make a decision. Yes, I know, it isn't easy.

I decided to buy different VPN subscriptions and test them. In my view, it's pointless to purchase VPN service from VPN companies that keep logs (such as of your IP address or browsing history) or from companies that are incorporated in countries that don’t take privacy seriously. After excluding such subscription options, I created this short list of the best 3 VPN services on offer in 2024.

If you have time, read my comprehensive reviews of the 3 best VPN services in 2024 below. If you don't have the patience to read long text, I created an ExpressVPN vs. Surfshark vs. NordVPN comparison table at the end of the review section.

ExpressVPN review

ExpressVPN: Company

ExpressVPN is operated by Express VPN International Limited founded by Dan Pomerantz and Peter Burchhardt. It is a privately held British Virgin Islands company. The British Virgin Islands is a jurisdiction with strong privacy legislation and without data retention laws. Since September 2021, Kape Technologies has been the proprietor of ExpressVPN.

ExpressVPN started its work in 2009, and it is currently, one of the world's largest VPN services today.

ExpressVPN: Servers and server locations

ExpressVPN offers more than 3,000 VPN servers in 160 VPN server locations in 105 countries.

• Americas: 24 countries
• Europe: 47 countries
• Asia Pacific: 27 countries
• Middle East & Africa: 8 countries

ExpressVPN: Server speed test

My internet speed without VPN:

Here is the ExpressVPN speed test. I chose the servers that were closest to me.

I measured ExpressVPN’s speed with speedtest.net. Here are the results:

92.80 Mbps, 93.51 Mbps, 92.66 Mbps, 92.84 Mbps, 92.68 Mbps, 92.84 Mbps, 92.31 Mbps, 92.44 Mbps, 92.71 Mbps, 92.74 Mbps

ExpressVPN: Security, encryption, and protocols

ExpressVPN uses AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) with 256-bit keys. This is a standard that governments and companies around the world use to protect their data. This kind of encryption is unbreakable by brute force. There are 1.1 x 10^77 (115,​792,​089,​237,​316,​195,​423,​570,​985,​008,​687,​907,​853,​269,​984,​665,​640,​560,​000,​000,​000,​000,​000,​000,​000,​000) combinations. Can you even imagine the true size of this number?

ExpressVPN offers 6 protocols: PPTP, L2TP, OpenVPN (TCP and UDP), IKEv2, WireGuard, and SSTP.

It's really easy to switch between the different protocols. But still, they recommend using their automatic setting. This option will automatically select optimal settings for your security and speed.

Alongside popular OpenVPN and IKEv2 protocols, ExpressVPN offers the Lightway protocol. With HTTPS standard, there are centralized registrars named certificate authorities (CAS). Certificates signed by these certificate authorities will be trusted. Lightway works based on a different principle. Lightway doesn't need an external certificate to validate the authenticity of what it is examining. Your VPN client has a pre-loaded certificate with which to authenticate a VPN server.

Besides all these protocols, they also offer HMAC authentication. HMAC (Message Authentication Code) is a protection against data being modified in transit by attackers.

Using the Galois/Counter Mode (GCM) in conjunction with AES, high-speed communication can be achieved with inexpensive hardware. This process allows for the encryption of multiple packages at once so that the connection never hangs.

As of 2019, ExpressVPN doesn't use hard drives to store data. Data are stored on RAM and are deleted with every reboot.

Because it's risky to have hardware for VPN servers in some countries, 3% of all servers they offer are virtual servers.

ExpressVPN: Supported platforms and their download page.

Platforms supported: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, Apple TV, BlackBerry, Kindle Fire, Nook, routers, consoles (MediaStreamer), Amazon Fire TV Stick, Windows Phone, Boxee, Chromebook

Does ExpressVPN work with Netflix?

ExpressVPN is a great choice for unblocking Netflix. Besides Netflix, you can also unblock Hulu and Amazon Prime.

Does ExpressVPN keep logs?

ExpressVPN doesn't keep activity logs and doesn't store information on which website you visit, connection timestamps, session duration, or which IP addresses you use.

In December 2017 Turkish investigators seized an ExpressVPN server. Turkish authorities weren't able to find any logs with which to help their investigation in the connected criminal case. This unexpected event was great proof that ExpressVPN has a no-log policy.

ExpressVPN: Kill Switch

ExpressVPN offers the Kill Switch feature. As you can see in the image below, they named it Network Lock. Network Lock (Kill Switch) blocks all outgoing and incoming traffic associated with your device if your VPN connection is interrupted. Network Lock protects your information from being exposed to your ISP (Internet Service Provider).

Network Lock prevents the leaking of your location or IP address and the sending of any of your unencrypted data. With Network Lock, communication and identity can't be intercepted and observed by third parties. Network Lock is activated in these cases:

• Your ISP has an outage
• You put your computer to sleep or close your laptop
• You turn off or turn on your internet connection
• You switch between your signal flickers or Wi-Fi networks

ExpressVPN: DNS leak test

DNS is the most important part of the internet. Your browser uses it to find the servers that operate the websites that you want to access. The queries from your devices are sent to a DNS server, and the server sends back the necessary information. When you type the name of the desired website into your browser, DNS servers translate a domain name into an IP address so that you can see the content of the desired website.

DNS leak is a security flaw that allows DNS requests to be seen by ISP DNS servers, regardless of attempts by a VPN service to conceal them.

We didn't detect any DNS leaks using ExpressVPN.

How many devices can use ExpressVPN simultaneously?

You can connect up to 9 devices with one subscription in same time.

Does ExpressVPN work in China?

As you already probably know internet traffic is heavily censored in China. The system of internet censorship and restrictions in China is called: China's Great Firewall. It creates a big problem for travelers and Chinese immigrants. They can't access Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Gmail, Yahoo, DuckDuckGo, Wikipedia, or many other websites. All these websites are blocked by China's Great Firewall.

If you want to bypass all these restrictions you have to use a VPN service. Many VPN services don't work in China but that isn't the case with ExpressVPN. ExpressVPN is possibly the most popular VPN provider in China.

Bear in mind that the ExpressVPN website is blocked in China. If you want to use ExpressVPN in China, you have to install VPN before you travel to the country.

ExpressVPN: Torrent

The biggest problem with P2P file sharing applications such as uTorrent and other P2P file-sharing applications is that other users on the network can see your IP address, location, and metadata while you share files.

ExpressVPN is a great choice if you want to hide your IP address during torrenting sessions. Turn on the ExpressVPN application. Choose the desired location or let the Smart Location feature choose the optimal location for you. Turn on uTorrent and start to use it.

Check your IP address before you use uTorrent in order to be sure that your real IP is concealed. Just type in Google, "what is my IP address", and you'll see a bunch of websites where you can check what your current IP address is. Don't forget to use the ExpressVPN Kill Switch feature: Network Lock. If the VPN server connections unexpectedly drops, Network Lock (Kill Switch) stops any traffic from leaving your device.

Many people use Proxy servers to hide their true IP addresses while torrenting, but this isn't enough if you want to protect your privacy. VPN services such as ExpressVPN offer better privacy protection with their strong encryption, Network Lock (Kill Switch), 160 server locations, no activity logs, and support features.

In my tests, ExpressVPN showed great results in speed tests across several different servers.

ExpressVPN: Kodi

Kodi is a very useful, open-source, home media center software. With Kodi software, you can watch movies, play games, and listen to music. Kodi is a better option than Apple TV or Chromecast because it's a free and customizable multi-platform, home-theater application. Kodi's plugins help users access streaming media content via online services such as Pandora Internet Radio, Amazon Prime Instant Video, Spotify, Crackle, Rhapsody, and YouTube. Skins can change Kodi's appearance very easily, and with different themes and custom backgrounds, a personalized viewing experience is one of the advantages offered by this software.

So why is ExpressVPN useful if you use it with Kodi? There are add-ons that aren't available in some countries or censored by some networks. With ExpressVPN, you can easily solve this problem.

One of the biggest problems is that ISPs may collect and store logs of your internet activity. This includes content you view through Kodi. This won't happen if you use ExpressVPN.

If the VPN connection suddenly drops while you use Kodi, ExpressVPN's Network Lock (Kill Switch) plays a very important role. It will protect your connection from leaking outside of the VPN tunnel.

Setting up ExpressVPN with Kodi is very easy. Turn on the ExpressVPN application, connect to the desired location, check your current IP address in order to be sure that your real IP isn't exposed, and run Kodi. On the ExpressVPN website, you can read guides on how to use VPN and Kodi on different devices, and the process is explained very well.

ExpressVPN: Android

I tested Express VPN on a phone with Android OS. The installation process was easy and simple. In the picture below, you can see the ExpressVPN user interface for Android.

Is ExpressVPN user-friendly?

When you register on the ExpressVPN website and buy their service, you can see the page where you can download their applications for different devices. It's easy to install their applications, and they all have very user-friendly interfaces.

ExpressVPN: Support

On the support page of their website, you will see a very useful and comprehensive list of troubleshooting guides. They cover many topics. Whether you have a problem with the connection, with your account, or with whatever else might be related to ExpressVPN, I'm sure these troubleshooting guides will be able to help you.

Besides their very useful troubleshooting guides, I should also mention their tutorials. These tutorials will show you how to install and use ExpressVPN on all available devices. Tutorials for Windows, Mac, iOS (iPhone, iPad & iPod) App, Android, Routers, Linux, Chromebook, browser extension, e-book readers, streaming media consoles, manual router configurations, Network-attached Storage (NAS), sharing VPN connection, DDNS, BlackBerry, streaming services, smart TV and other setups are all included.

If you still can't find a solution for the problem you’re experiencing, their support team is available 24/7 via live chat and email.

I tested their live chat, and their response time was 2 minutes. That was very fast.

ExpressVPN: Plans and pricing

ExpressVPN is a bit pricier than other VPNs on our list. They offer 3 subscription plans: 1-month plan: $12.95; 6-month plan: $9.99 per month; 12-month plan: $6.67 per month. You can try their service risk-free because each subscription comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. You can pay with PayPal, cards, or Bitcoin.

ExpressVPN: News and Development

• In February 2022, ExpressVPN offered a $100,000 reward to anyone who could hack its in-house technology, TrustedServer.
• ExpressVPN unveiled Aircove, a Wi-Fi 6 router featuring a built-in VPN, in September 2022, providing high speeds of up to 1,200 Mbit/s and coverage for areas up to 1,600 sq feet, powered by a quad-core 64-bit processor.

NordVPN review

NordVPN: Company

The NordVPN company was founded by 4 childhood friends in 2012. They presented an Android app and an iOS app in 2016. In 2017. they launched a browser extension for Google Chrome. Currently, NordVPN is under the ownership of Nord Security (NordSec Ltd.).

NordVPN is incorporated in Panama. Panama is privacy friendly country, because Panama doesn't have data retention laws and isn't included in the Five Eyes and/or Fourteen Eyes alliances.

NordVPN: Servers and server locations

There are 5883 NordVPN servers in 60 countries worldwide.

• Americas: 8 countries
• Europe: 37 countries
• Asia Pacific: 11 countries
• Africa, Middle East, and India: 5 countries

NordVPN: Server speed test

My internet speed without VPN:

Here is the NordVPN speed test. I chose the servers that were are closest to me.

I measured NordVPN’s speed with speedtest.net. Here are the results:

94.66 Mbps, 94.76 Mbps, 94.40 Mbps, 94.57 Mbps, 94.44 Mbps, 94.07 Mbps, 94.77 Mbps, 94.72 Mbps, 94.75 Mbps, 94.73 Mbps

NordVPN: Security, encryption, and protocols

As with ExpressVPN, NordVPN uses AES(Advanced Encryption Standard) with 256-bit keys. NordVPN uses three different security protocols: OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec, and NordLynx.

OpenVPN is an open-source, actively developed, and widely supported software that supports many different strong encryption algorithms. There are 2 versions of OpenVPN: TCP and UDP. UDP is the faster version, but the TCP version is more secure. NordVPN recommends this protocol "for the most security-conscious users."

IKEv2/IPsec is one of the newest, most advanced and fastest security protocols currently available. IKEv2/IPsec is used by default in the NordVPN applications for macOS and iOS.

Starting in 2020, NordVPN users can also choose NordLynx, which was created around the WireGuard protocol. WireGuard protocol is a faster protocol than the other two mentioned above. WireGuard protocol has only 4,000 lines of code compared to the 400,000 lines of code of OpenVPN. Because WireGuard protocol can't ensure complete privacy, NordVPN team developed and implemented a double NAT (Network Address Translation) system.

NordVPN offers anonymity solutions to everyone seeking real privacy. One of these solutions is Double VPN. Double VPN means that the traffic is routed through at least two hops before it reaches the internet.

One more interesting feature is Tor over VPN. When using this feature, your traffic is encrypted within a NordVPN layer and is then sent to the Tor network and exits to the internet through one of the Tor exit relays.

I also like their Obfuscated Servers feature. ISPs can detect that you use a VPN service, but they can't see what you do online. The Obfuscated Servers feature is very useful in heavily restricted countries where governments block VPN connections. The Obfuscated Servers feature allows for making a VPN not look like a VPN.

All of these security solutions give great anonymity and encryption and are well known for their reliability and security.

NordVPN: Supported platforms and their download page.

Supported platforms: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, Fire TV, Android TV, Xbox, PlayStation, Firefox, Chrome

Does NordVPN work with Netflix?

NordVPN works great with American Netflix US, Netflix UK, Netflix CA, Netflix AU, Netflix JP. Fast NordVPN servers will enable streaming in 4K.

Does NordVPN keep logs?

NordVPN doesn't keep logs of your online activities. Their zero-logs policy means that they don't store: session information, connection timestamps, traffic data, bandwidth usage, IP addresses.

The NordVPN company is audited by one of the biggest auditing firms: PricewaterhouseCoopers AG, Zurich, Switzerland. This auditing company confirmed that NordVPN's no-log policy description is accurate.

NordVPN: Kill switch

When your internet traffic isn't protected by NordVPN, Kill Switch is a very useful feature that will prevent access to the internet.

As you can see in the image below, you can enable Kill Switch to block connections to the internet if your connection is unprotected or if you disconnect manually. Your connection to the internet will be blocked until the VPN connection is restored or if you simply disable the Kill Switch feature.

Also, with 'App Kill Switch' you can choose which application will close when the connection drops or you disconnect from the VPN.

NordVPN: DNS leak test

When you want to access any website by typing its domain name into your browser, the query is being sent to the DNS server. After that, the DNS server gives the IP address of the requested website, and that's how you are able to access website content.

A DNS leak is a security flaw that exposes DNS requests to the Internet Service Provider even when a VPN is being used. This can be a big problem. So, I did a DNS leak test on NordVPN servers.

We didn't detected any DNS leak using NordVPN.

How many devices can use NordVPN simultaneously?

With one NordVPN account, you can connect six different devices simultaneously.

Does NordVPN work in China?

The Great Firewall in China prevents users from accessing many foreign websites. Many popular social networks and news websites are blacklisted. Today, we can't even imagine our life without many of the different internet services we frequently use. Just imagine yourself in a foreign country where you can't access your favorite websites. If you want to travel to China and if you want to access all those blocked websites while you’re there, you will need a good VPN. NordVPN is a great VPN service for unblocking blocked websites in China.

As I mentioned in "NordVPN: Security, Encryption, and Protocols", NordVPN offers an advanced security feature: The Obfuscated Servers feature. ISP can't see which websites you visit but can see that you are using a VPN. The Obfuscated Servers feature hides the fact that you are using a VPN. This feature is very useful if you want to use a VPN in China.

There are a few methods with which VPN providers can obfuscate data. Data packets can be hidden by implementing additional SSL/SSH encryption, or data can simply be scrambled so that VPN-blocking firewalls can't detect that you are using a VPN.

NordVPN: Torrent

Torrent is a peer-to-peer protocol that enables the sharing of files over the internet. Many people around the world use Torrent to share their own videos with their friends and families because it's the fastest and the easiest way to share big files.

One of the biggest problems with torrenting is that many ISPs throttle torrent traffic. There are two main reasons for such behavior. The first reason is that torrenting uses a large amount of bandwidth on their network. The second reason is that it can create legal issues. By using NordVPN, you will be able to avoid problems associated with the throttling of torrent traffic.

If you appreciate your privacy and want to protect it, you should use a VPN service. One of the best VPN services for torrenting is NordVPN.

With their fast servers and military-grade encryption, torrenting will be protected from snooping.

I downloaded Linux distros with uTorrent, and I didn't notice any problems. I'm more than satisfied with NordVPN and its speed.

Always be sure that Kill Switch is enabled in the NordVPN application settings and always check the current IP address before torrenting.

NordVPN: Kodi

Kodi as media player software has gained popularity over the last several years. Kodi enables you to stream music, videos, movies, and images.

Many popular ad-dons for Kodi are geo-restricted. It means that they don't work in every country.

Also, Kodi content can be blocked by laws in some countries or blocked by ISPs.

With NordVPN you can unblock geo-restricted ad-dons and access your favorite content.

With NordVPN, you can enjoy content on Kodi without annoying buffering.

The test showed that NordVPN is a great choice for Kodi because of its military-grade encryption, fast servers, and no log policy.

Using NordVPN with Kodi is easy. Download NordVPN, connect to a server in the chosen location, run Kodi, and enjoy.

NordVPN: Android

I tested NordVPN with a phone with Android OS. The installation process is very easy. In the picture below, you can see the NordVPN user interface for Android.

Is NordVPN user-friendly?

When you register on NordVPN and pay for their service, you can see the page where you can download their applications for different devices. You can see below an example of how it's easy to install their application on Windows.

NordVPN: Support

Their FAQ is packed with useful and detailed information. Almost everything you need to solve your problem with the NordVPN service you use can be found on that page.

Useful tutorials will help you to set up your VPN on different devices.

If you still have a problem and you can't find the right answer on their FAQ page, feel free to contact their support.

NordVPN offers 24/7 customer support. You can contact them via email or live chat.

NordVPN: Plans and pricing

They offer 3 subscription plans. Depending on which plan you will use (Complete, Plus, Standard) and the length of the subscription period, you will pay $12.99, $13.79 or $14.99 for one month; for one year: $4.99, $5.79 or $6.99 per month; for 24-month plan: $3.19, $3.99, $5.19 per month. You can try their service risk-free because each subscription comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. You can pay with PayPal, credit card, cryptocurrency, AmazonPay, Sofort, prepaid card, through iTunes or Google Pay.

NordVPN: News and Development

• In early 2022, NordVPN included antivirus features within their regular VPN service. The added Threat Protection option thwarts web trackers, alerts users about risky websites, and prevents the download of malware-infected files. This function is accessible through the Windows and macOS applications, even without an active VPN connection.
• During mid-2022, NordVPN unveiled the Meshnet feature, enabling users to establish a private network connecting up to 60 devices. This functionality facilitates various activities like file sharing across multiple devices, multiplayer gaming, and virtual routing.

Surfshark review

Surfshark: Company

This Netherland based company introduced itself with some basic features in 2018. Firstly, the company introduced the app for the IOS in 2018, And an app for the Android called Trust DNS (which works as DNS resolver) in 2019. Later, the team wanted to add more to these apps. So, after a year, they introduced more new features.

As with ExpressVPN, the SurfsharkVPN company is located in the British Virgin Islands. In the British Virgin Islands, there is no data retention law, so they don't have to store logs.

Surfshark: Server locations

The Surfshark company offers 3200+ servers in 100 countries.

• Americas: 18 countries
• Europe: 46 countries
• Asia Pacific: 26 countries
• The middle East and Africa: 9 countries

Surfshark: Server speed test

My internet speed without VPN:

Here is the Surfshark speed test. I chose the servers that were closest to me.

I measured Surfshark’s speed with speedtest.net. Here are the results:

94.65 Mbps, 94.69 Mbps, 94.89 Mbps, 94.69 Mbps, 94.54 Mbps, 94.81 Mbps, 94.80 Mbps, 94.76 Mbps, 94.81 Mbps, 94.69 Mbps

Surfshark: Security, encryption, and protocols

If you are looking for an affordable but yet reliable VPN service, then Surfshark is a great choice.

As with ExpressVPN and NordVPN, Surfshark VPN relies on a powerful and unbreakable AES-256(Advanced Encryption Standard) algorithm. To provide some context, if you take the fastest computer in the world, you will need billions of years to brute force your way through AES-256. Galois/Counter Mode (GCM) allows achieving high speeds with cheap hardware.

With Surfshark, you can use 4 protocols and you can switch between them at any time. Those 4 protocols are OpenVPN, IKEv2 (Internet Key Exchange version 2), WireGuard, and Shadowsocks.

OpenVPN is a virtual private network method that creates secure site-to-site or point-to-point connections. OpenVPN is an open source protocol opened for various experts to improve its code and security. It works best with long-distance servers.

The second most popular protocol is the IKEv2 protocol. IKEv2 is used to set up a security association (SA) in the IPsec protocol suite. IKEv2 protocol was developed by Microsoft and Cisco and is popular among mobile users.

The third protocol they have is Shadowsocks. Shadowsocks was made with one intention: to bypass the censorship of the Great Firewall of China. If you don't live in a restrictive country then there is no need to use this protocol.

The fourth protocol is WireGuard. I've already written about the WireGuard protocol in "Security, encryption, and protocols" for NordVPN, so there is no need to write about it again.

The most interesting option which Surfshark offers is a multihop VPN. If you want an additional layer of security and protection you can send internet traffic not only through one but through two different servers in different countries.

One more great feature of Surfshark is their Obfuscation feature, which they named Camouflage mode. Camouflage mode gives you the ability to hide the fact that you use a VPN server. This mode is automatically activated whenever you use OpenVPN TCP or OpenVPN UDP protocols. If your country blocks VPN ports, Camouflage mode can help you to bypass these restrictions.

Surfshark upgraded its infrastructure to 100% RAM-only servers in 2020. It means that all data on their servers are deleted automatically whenever a server is turned off.

Surfshark: Supported platforms and their download page.

Supported platforms: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, Fire TV, Apple TV, other TVs, Xbox, PlayStation, Firefox, Chrome

Does Surfshark work with Netflix?

The fact is that Surfshark is relatively new to the market, but it has been shown that Surfshark servers can unblock Netflix. The speed of its servers are good for 4k. If you need a VPN provider to unblock Netflix at an affordable price, then Surfshark is an excellent choice.

Does Surfshark keep logs?

Under Surfshark's no-log policy, they don't store the following information: session information, IP address, browsing history, network traffic, used bandwidth, connection timestamps.

Surfshark: Kill switch

In Surfshark’s applications list, you will find a Kill Switch feature too. Enabling of the Kill Switch is simple. Just click 'settings', then select 'connectivity', and just as you see in the image below, you can then enable it.

When you choose to enable it, you will see pop-up window with the message: "You're about to turn on Kill Switch. Kill Switch keeps you safe by only allowing internet access while Surfshark is connected". Press the continue button, and that's it.

Surfshark: DNS leak test

If you use unreliable VPN applications, your DNS queries can become visible to your ISP. This is called DNS Leak. This won't happen with Surfshark.

The test shows that there is no DNS leak with Surfshark.

How many devices can use Surfshark simultaneously?

With a single Surfshark subscription you can connect all your devices simultaneously. The number of connected devices with one subscription does not affect the connection speed because Surfshark doesn't have bandwidth limitations.

Does Surfshark work in China?

I have to take some time to explain why free VPNs aren't a good choice for bypassing restrictions.

Sensitive user data from 7 free Hong Kong based VPN providers, with no-log policies were exposed online in 2020. Comparitech's Bob Diachenko found 894GB of records in an unsecured cluster. All that data belonged to the (free) UFO VPN. These records include home addresses, connection logs, payment info, passwords, and website activity. 20 million users worldwide were affected by this data breach. Similar things have happened with the other 6 free VPNs in Hong Kong. Many VPN companies have servers in Hong Kong, serving users in the mainland who want to hide their real online activity or access websites blocked by the Chinese authority. Now you get how it can be dangerous to use unreliable and free VPNs. It is scary when you think about how criminals can use all these collected data.

Surfshark is another reliable company alongside ExpressVPN and NordVPN that offers bypassing of censorship in China.

With their upgrade of their servers in Hong Kong to RAM-only, with obfuscated servers that enable you to hide the fact that you are using a VPN, Surfshark is the best choice in the category of affordable VPNs.

The NoBorders feature will give you a list of servers that work the best under network restrictions. It can be activated manually, or you can set it to turn on automatically when needed.

The Shadowsocks protocol is a free and open-source tunneling proxy created in 2012 by a Chinese programmer named "clowwindy". It's mainly used by users in restricted countries such as China.

If it is impossible to connect with IKEv2, OpenVPN, or Wireguard protocols, then try with Shadowsocks protocol as the last option. Shadowsocks covers browser traffic data only, causing it to look like HTTPS traffic, and it was created for bypassing censorship, not for security and privacy. If you don't live in a restricted country, don't use this protocol.

Surfshark's Camouflage mode will make your connections look like a regular internet connection, not like a VPN connection. Bear in mind that this mode will be automatically activated only if you connect with OpenVPN TCP or OpenVPN UDP protocols.

Surfshark: Torrent

Surfshark servers are P2P-friendly which ensures secure and fast connections for torrents.

I tested Torrent speed downloading free Linux distros and I have to say that I'm very satisfied with its speed.

Here is how you can use Surfshark VPN with uTorrent.

Get a Surfshark VPN subscription; download Surfshark; install it; connect to a server; enable Kill Switch if it isn't enabled (I have to repeat it again because this is very important). Run Torrent.

Surfshark: Kodi

With Surfshark VPN, you can access Kodi from anywhere in the world. If you simply ensure that the Surfshark VPN is enabled and connect to the desired server, you will be able to enjoy popular Kodi addons.

Surfshark: Android

The user interface of the Surfshark Android app is simple and intuitive as you can see in the images below.

Is Surfshark user-friendly?

The installation process was easy, and the applications are user-friendly. You can see screenshots of the Surfshark application for Windows. The user interface looks modern and attractive.

Surfshark: Support

On their support page, you will see 4 links. The first link is pointed at the page where you will get information on how to install apps and set up the VPN on smart devices, routers, and other devices. On the second page named Troubleshoot issues, you will find solutions for login, connectivity, streaming, and other issues. The third page contains an FAQ about accounts and billing. On the fourth page, you will read the general info FAQ. You can contact support via Live chat and email.

Surfshark: Plans and pricing

Surfshark offers affordable subscriptions. Depending on which plan you will use (Surfshark starter, Surfshark One, Surfshark One+) and the length of the subscription period, you will pay $15.45, $17.95 or $20.65 for one month; for 12 months: $3.99, $4.09, $6.49 per month; for 24 months: $2.49, $3.19, $4.97 per month. Surfshark is the best VPN in the category of affordable VPNs. You can get a refund within 30 days of purchasing your subscription.

Surfshark: News and Development

• In the spring of 2022, Surfshark introduced a Linux Graphical User Interface (GUI), incorporated real-time protection to Surfshark Antivirus, and integrated a pause feature into the VPN application.
• During the late summer of 2022, Surfshark integrated a manual WireGuard connection feature into their service, offering users increased control over their VPN connections.

ExpressVPN, NordVPN and Surfshark comparison table

FAQ (ExpressVPN vs. Surfshark vs. NordVPN)

What is the fastest VPN of all 3 reviewed VPNs?

The winners are NordVPN and Surfshark. During the test, they showed almost the same results and great speeds. ExpressVPN was slightly (and insignificantly) slower. I can say that all 3 companies offer very fast servers.

I need to connect 10 devices simultaneously. Which one should I choose?

The winner in this category is Surfshark. You can connect an unlimited number of devices with one Surfshark subscription.

Which one is the most user-friendly VPN from the list?

All listed VPNs are very user-friendly.

Which VPN is the best for torrenting and Kodi?

All these VPNs are Kodi-friendly and torrent-friendly. They have a Kill Switch feature, leak protection, a no-log policy, and allow for payment via Bitcoin.

I need a VPN with a large number of available servers.

In this category the winner is NordVPN. They have 5883 servers at this moment.

Verdict

I hope my list of the best VPN services in 2024 will help you to make your decision when trying to choose the right VPN. If you still find yourself hesitating, I think it would be a smart move to purchase any VPN subscription from the list and test it. ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and Surfshark all offer a 30 day money-back guarantee.

Here are the best deals: