NordVPN vs Surfshark vs ExpressVPN: After Testing All Three for 30 Days, Here's What I Found

I've been using VPNs for six years, mostly for streaming and occasionally for privacy on public Wi-Fi. Last month I ran all three major VPN services simultaneously — different devices, same tests — to settle the debate in my own head.

The short version: NordVPN wins for speed and reliability, Surfshark wins for value, ExpressVPN wins for ease of use and loses for price.

Speed Test Results

I ran speed tests from the same location (residential broadband, 500 Mbps down) to servers in the US, UK, and Germany over two weeks.

VPN	US Server (avg)	UK Server (avg)	Germany (avg)	Speed Loss
NordVPN	420 Mbps	380 Mbps	350 Mbps	~16%
Surfshark	390 Mbps	330 Mbps	310 Mbps	~22%
ExpressVPN	370 Mbps	320 Mbps	290 Mbps	~26%

These numbers are good across the board — you're not going to notice the difference at home unless you're doing something bandwidth-intensive. On a slower connection (hotel Wi-Fi, for example), NordVPN's lower overhead does make a noticeable difference.

Streaming: What Actually Gets Unblocked

This is why most people buy a VPN, so I'll be specific.

Netflix: All three unblocked Netflix US, UK, and Japan without issue. NordVPN was slightly more reliable — I had one Surfshark server flagged and blocked by Netflix during testing, though switching servers fixed it immediately.

Disney+: NordVPN and Surfshark both worked. ExpressVPN had a detection issue with Disney+ UK during one test session.

BBC iPlayer: All three worked consistently. If you use iPlayer regularly, any of these will do.

Hulu: NordVPN and Surfshark worked. ExpressVPN required a specific server selection.

Bottom line: for casual streaming, you won't notice a difference. For reliability at scale, NordVPN edges out the others.

Privacy and Security

I'm not going to pretend I audited their source code. What I can tell you is what their policies say and what independent audits have found:

NordVPN has had third-party audits of its no-logs policy (by PricewaterhouseCoopers) and has passed. It had a server breach in 2018 that they disclosed, which actually speaks well of their transparency even if the incident itself was bad.

Surfshark has no-logs audits by Cure53. Based in the Netherlands (outside 5/9/14 Eyes, technically in a good jurisdiction).

ExpressVPN had a co-founder arrested in connection with a UAE surveillance operation — not directly related to user data, but it understandably made privacy-conscious users nervous.

If privacy is your primary concern: Surfshark or NordVPN. If you're mainly using it for streaming and price matters: Surfshark by a significant margin.

Pricing Comparison

This is where Surfshark absolutely dominates.

VPN	1 Month	1 Year	2 Years
NordVPN	$12.99	$59.88	$83.76
Surfshark	$15.45	$47.88	$53.76
ExpressVPN	$12.95	$99.95	Not offered

Surfshark's two-year deal is genuinely exceptional. If you're committing long-term, Surfshark at $2.19/month for 2 years beats everything else. NordVPN's annual plan is good value. ExpressVPN is just expensive.

Another thing: Surfshark allows unlimited simultaneous connections — you can run it on every device you own with one account. NordVPN allows 10 devices. ExpressVPN allows 8.

My Verdict

Get NordVPN if: You want the fastest speeds, best streaming reliability, and a solid track record. The 2-year plan brings the price down to reasonable.

Get Surfshark if: You want the best price, especially for a family or if you have many devices. The 2-year deal at roughly $2/month is hard to argue with.

Skip ExpressVPN unless you specifically need their browser extension UI or want the most polished mobile app and price isn't a concern.

I personally use NordVPN. But I genuinely recommend Surfshark to anyone who asks — the value is that good.