Surfshark vs ExpressVPN: Which VPN is better in 2023? – Tech Lapse

Surfshark and ExpressVPN are among the most popular VPNs on the market. It may seem as if theres no difference between them, but there are many things that make them distinct from each other.

We tested the two VPNs to see how much they differ from one another. During our tests, there were a multitude of factors we took into consideration, namely, connection speed, security features, privacy policy, servers, and reliability.

In our Surfshark vs. ExpressVPN review, youll learn the key features the two VPNs offer and by the end of the article, youll know which one you should use. Below, youll see a table that summarizes the differences between Surfshark and ExpressVPN in different categories.

Surfshark

ExpressVPN

Location

The Netherlands

British Virgin Islands

Servers

3200+ in 100 countries

3000+ in 94 countries

Log policy

No log

No log

Price

Starting from $2.05 per month

Starting from $6.67 per month

Money-back guarantee

30 days

30 days

Compatibility

Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, Fire TV, and routers

Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Fire TV, and routers

Streaming

Most major platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, and Hulu

Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, and more

Number of devices

Unlimited

5

24/7 support

Yes

Yes

Website

surfshark.com

expressvpn.com

Surfshark wins when it comes to encryption and security. Both VPNs use multiple protocols, but Surfsharks WireGuard is faster and more widely used than ExpressVPNs proprietary protocol Lightway. Surfshark also offers more security features such as NoBorders mode, CleanWeb, and Double VPN servers.

Heres a table that summarizes the key differences between Surfshark and ExpressVPNs security features:

Surfshark

ExpressVPN

Encryption

AES-256 and ChaCha20 encryption

AES-256 encryption

RAM servers

Yes

Yes

Kill switch

Yes (System-wide)

Yes (System-wide and application-level)

Ad and tracker blocker

Yes

Only blocks trackers

DNS leak protection

Yes

Yes

Both Surfshark and ExpressVPN use military-grade AES-256 encryption, which is virtually impossible to crack. Surfshark integrated WireGuard tunneling protocol into its infrastructure in 2020. Its the same protocol thats used by NordVPN and many other VPNs. As youll see in our speed tests below, WireGuard is faster than ExpressVPNs proprietary protocol Lightway.

Surfsharks WireGuard tunneling protocol is faster and safer than ExpressVPNs Lightway.

ExpressVPN is currently the only VPN on the market which uses Lightway, which means the company still has a long way to go if it wants to establish trust and promote adoption among users. Its faster than OpenVPN, but its no match for WireGuard.

Surfshark and ExpressVPN both have kill switch and split tunneling functionalities. Surfshark has a system-wide kill switch, which means it disconnects your entire device from the Internet when your VPN connection drops. You dont get to exclude specific apps from it.

ExpressVPNs kill switch is called Network Lock. You have the option to select specific apps that remain connected to the Internet when the VPN connection goes down. Kill switch is enabled by default in ExpressVPN and you cant disable it on the router app. On Surfshark, you have to enable it in the settings after downloading the app.

Split tunneling on Surfshark is called Bypasser. On both VPN services, split tunneling is available on Windows, macOS, Android, and routers. Currently, theres no VPN that has split tunneling on iOS due to restrictions by Apple. You can use the feature to exclude certain apps and traffic from passing through the VPN tunnel.

The only worthwhile additional feature ExpressVPN has is Threat Manager. Its a tool that prevents sites from tracking your browsing habits. As a result, you stop seeing targeted ads. Surfshark has a similar feature called CleanWeb, but it doesnt just stop sites from tracking you, it also blocks ads.

Surfshark has more security features than ExpressVPN.

Surfshark also has Double VPN and static IP servers. Double VPN means your traffic is routed through two servers, encrypting your data twice and giving you extra protection. This is similar to NordVPNs Multi-Hop routing.

A static IP server gives you the same IP address every time you connect to it. Its different from a dedicated IP because the IP address youre assigned on a static server is shared with other users and not used exclusively by you.

ExpressVPN and Surfshark both work in China, but the latter has a feature called NoBorders which is made specifically for regions where the Internet is restricted. It turns on automatically if the VPN detects your network is being restricted.

When it comes to privacy, ExpressVPN has an edge over Surfshark because its based in the British Virgin Islands. Both have a proven no-log policy and RAM-only servers, but Surfshark is located in the Netherlands, a member of the 14 Eyes alliance.

Weve added a table below to show how Surfshark and ExpressVPN differ in terms of privacy:

Surfshark

ExpressVPN

Logging policy

No logs

No logs

Location

The Netherlands

British Virgin Islands

Member of 14 Eyes alliance

Yes

No

External audits

Yes

Yes

ExpressVPN is located in the British Virgin Islands, a region outside of the jurisdiction of the 5/9/14 Eyes alliances. Surfshark, on the other hand, is based in the Netherlands, a 14 Eyes country where VPN companies have to follow data retention laws. Surfsharks no-log policy is just as good as ExpressVPNs, so its very unlikely for the VPN provider to share data with the government.

Both VPN services are at the top of their game when it comes to having a no-log policy. Theyve had multiple external audits. Unlike most other VPNs that store their data on disk, ExpressVPN and Surfshark both have RAM-only servers, which means any data thats retained while youre connected to the VPN is erased as soon as you disconnect from it. ExpressVPN calls its RAM servers TrustedServers.

ExpressVPNs RAM-only servers are called TrustedServers. (Source: expressvpn.com)

Surfshark is one of the cheapest VPNs out there, which is why its the winner in this round. ExpressVPNs price is its biggest disadvantage because its more expensive than most VPN services. They both have a 30-day money-back guarantee and give you the option to pay with cryptocurrency.

As always, heres a table to help you understand the pricing structure of both Surfshark and ExpressVPN:

Surfshark

ExpressVPN

Monthly price

$12.95 per month

$12.95 per month

Semi-annual plan

None

$9.99 per month

1-year plan

$3.99 per month

$6.67 per month

More:

Surfshark vs ExpressVPN: Which VPN is better in 2023? - Tech Lapse