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Neither service wins outright. NordVPN is the stronger choice if kill-switch behavior in independent testing and streaming access matter most to you. Surfshark is the stronger choice if you need unlimited simultaneous devices or the lowest advertised long-term price.
The headline promises 12 tests and one clear winner. We have not run 12 tests on either service, and the sources available do not document a 12-part test matrix. This article covers the points where published figures and independent test results do exist, names the source and date for each, and marks where the evidence stops.
Which VPN fits your situation
Choose NordVPN if
- Kill-switch behavior in independent testing is your top concern.
- Reliable access to streaming platforms is your main reason for using a VPN.
- A 10-device connection limit is enough for everything you plan to connect at once.
Choose Surfshark if
- Your household or office connects more devices at once than NordVPN allows.
- The lowest advertised rate on a one- or two-year term matters more to you than anything else.
The headline’s single winner therefore depends on which of these factors you weight most. Put kill-switch behavior and streaming first and NordVPN leads; put device count and entry price first and Surfshark leads.
Price: what the advertised numbers do and do not tell you
Surfshark’s comparison page, updated June 11, 2026, lists the rates below for each provider’s entry tier. The page carries this caveat: “Note: The comparison was updated on June 11, 2026, and the information listed is subject to change.”
#1 Best Overall
- 【Five Gigabit Ports】1 Gigabit WAN Port plus 2 Gigabit WAN/LAN Ports plus 2 Gigabit LAN Port. Up to 3 WAN ports optimize bandwidth usage through one device.
- 【One USB WAN Port】Mobile broadband via 4G/3G modem is supported for WAN backup by connecting to the USB port. For complete list of compatible 4G/3G modems, please visit TP-Link website.
- 【Abundant Security Features】Advanced firewall policies, DoS defense, IP/MAC/URL filtering, speed test and more security functions protect your network and data.
- 【Highly Secure VPN】Supports up to 20× LAN-to-LAN IPsec, 16× OpenVPN, 16× L2TP, and 16× PPTP VPN connections.
- Security - SPI Firewall, VPN Pass through, FTP/H.323/PPTP/SIP/IPsec ALG, DoS Defence, Ping of Death and Local Management. Standards and Protocols IEEE 802.3, 802.3u, 802.3ab, IEEE 802.3x, IEEE 802.1q
| Billing term (advertised, shown per month) | Surfshark (Starter tier as listed) | NordVPN (Basic tier as listed) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly plan | $16.45 | $14.99 |
| One-year plan | $3.39 | $5.49 |
| Two-year plan | $2.49 | $3.49 |
NordVPN’s listed monthly rate is lower than Surfshark’s. On one- and two-year terms, Surfshark’s listed per-month rate is lower. These are vendor-listed comparison prices, not verified checkout totals. Renewal rates, taxes, regional plan terms, and refund conditions are not established by this comparison. Multi-year plans may be billed up front, so the per-month figure understates the amount you pay at purchase. Confirm the billing terms on each provider’s checkout page before you buy.
Speed, leaks, and kill switches: RTINGS results
RTINGS, which labels its methodology v0.11, updated its NordVPN page on July 10, 2026 and its Surfshark page on July 30, 2026. Its comparison reports the following results.
Rank #2
- 【AC1200 Dual-band Wireless Router】Simultaneous dual-band with wireless speed up to 300 Mbps (2.4GHz) + 867 Mbps (5GHz). 2.4GHz band can handles some simple tasks like emails or web browsing while bandwidth intensive tasks such as gaming or 4K video streaming can be handled by the 5GHz band.*Speed tests are conducted on a local network. Real-world speeds may differ depending on your network configuration.*
- 【Easy Setup】Please refer to the User Manual and the Unboxing & Setup video guide on Amazon for detailed setup instructions and methods for connecting to the Internet.
- 【Pocket-friendly】Lightweight design(145g) which designed for your next trip or adventure. Alongside its portable, compact design makes it easy to take with you on the go.
- 【Full Gigabit Ports】Gigabit Wireless Internet Router with 2 Gigabit LAN ports and 1 Gigabit WAN ports, ideal for lots of internet plan and allow you to connect your wired devices directly.
- 【Keep your Internet Safe】IPv6 supported. OpenVPN & WireGuard pre-installed, compatible with 30+ VPN service providers. Cloudflare encryption supported to protect the privacy.
| Test | NordVPN | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Speed score | 7.2 | 7.3 |
| IP and DNS leaks in the displayed checks | None shown | None shown |
| Kill-switch robustness score | 8.0 | 2.0 |
| Leak during a system reboot | No leak recorded | Leak recorded |
What these results mean
- Speed is effectively a tie. A 0.1-point gap on RTINGS’ scale is too small to rank one service above the other.
- The kill switch is the largest difference. It reflects one reboot scenario in RTINGS’ test, not every way a connection can drop. Still, a kill switch that fails during a reboot matters to anyone who relies on it to keep traffic off an open connection.
- Leak checks did not separate the two. RTINGS showed no IP or DNS leak for either service in the checks it displays.
- Speed setup details are limited here. The baseline connection, protocol, and device behind each score are set out in RTINGS’ own methodology, which is the place to check them before drawing conclusions about your connection.
Network size and streaming access
Server and country counts
Surfshark’s comparison lists more than 4,500 servers across 100 countries. It lists more than 9,400 servers for NordVPN, without a matching country figure. Tom’s Guide says NordVPN has locations in 127 countries, based on its VPN guide as checked on October 7, 2026. The two country counts may use different definitions, so they are not directly comparable. Server counts do not measure speed or privacy on their own.
Streaming
Tom’s Guide says NordVPN comes out ahead for unlocking streaming platforms. That is an editorial assessment, and the streaming results were not re-run for this article. Platform libraries and blocking change often, so check whether your specific service works on each provider’s current servers before you subscribe.
Rank #3
- New-Gen WiFi Standard – WiFi 6(802.11ax) standard supporting MU-MIMO and OFDMA technology for better efficiency and throughput.Antenna : External antenna x 4. Processor : Dual-core (4 VPE). Power Supply : AC Input : 110V~240V(50~60Hz), DC Output : 12 V with max. 1.5A current.
- Ultra-fast WiFi Speed – RT-AX1800S supports 1024-QAM for dramatically faster wireless connections
- Increase Capacity and Efficiency – Supporting not only MU-MIMO but also OFDMA technique to efficiently allocate channels, communicate with multiple devices simultaneously
- 5 Gigabit ports – One Gigabit WAN port and four Gigabit LAN ports, 10X faster than 100–Base T Ethernet.
- Commercial-grade Security Anywhere – Protect your home network with AiProtection Classic, powered by Trend Micro. And when away from home, ASUS Instant Guard gives you a one-click secure VPN.
Simultaneous devices
NordVPN states a limit of 10 simultaneous connections. Surfshark advertises unlimited simultaneous connections. If every phone, laptop, tablet, and TV in your home needs to stay connected at once, the 10-device ceiling becomes the deciding factor. Confirm whether any plan terms or fair-use conditions apply to Surfshark’s unlimited claim, since those terms were not established here.
Audits and no-logs claims
Both companies point to independent reviews of their infrastructure or no-logs practices. An audit is not a guarantee, and the two providers’ reviews cover different ground. We have not read the full reports. What follows is what each company or the cited outlet reports.
Rank #4
- 【DUAL BAND WIFI 7 TRAVEL ROUTER】Products with US, UK, EU, AU Plug; Dual band network with wireless speed 688Mbps (2.4G)+2882Mbps (5G); Dual 2.5G Ethernet Ports (1x WAN and 1x LAN Port); USB 3.0 port.
- 【NETWORK CONTROL WITH TOUCHSCREEN SIMPLICITY】Slate 7’s touchscreen interface lets you scan QR codes for quick Wi-Fi, monitor speed in real time, toggle VPN on/off, and switch providers directly on the display. Color-coded indicators provide instant network status updates for Ethernet, Tethering, Repeater, and Cellular modes, offering a seamless, user-friendly experience.
- 【OpenWrt 23.05 FIRMWARE】The Slate 7 (GL-BE3600) is a high-performance Wi-Fi 7 travel router, built with OpenWrt 23.05 (Kernel 5.4.213) for maximum customization and advanced networking capabilities. With 512MB storage, total customization with open-source freedom and flexible installation of OpenWrt plugins.
- 【VPN CLIENT & SERVER】OpenVPN and WireGuard are pre-installed, compatible with 30+ VPN service providers (active subscription required). Simply log in to your existing VPN account with our portable wifi device, and Slate 7 automatically encrypts all network traffic within the connected network. Max. VPN speed of 100 Mbps (OpenVPN); 540 Mbps (WireGuard). *Speed tests are conducted on a local network. Real-world speeds may differ depending on your network configuration.*
- 【PERFECT PORTABLE WIFI ROUTER FOR TRAVEL】The Slate 7 is an ideal portable internet device perfect for international travel. With its mini size and travel-friendly features, the pocket Wi-Fi router is the perfect companion for travelers in need of a secure internet connectivity on the go in which includes hotels or cruise ships.
Surfshark
- Deloitte assurance work confirming adherence to its no-logs policy, in 2023 and 2025, according to Surfshark’s trust center.
- A 2026 Cure53 audit covering infrastructure and the Dausos protocol.
- A 2025 SecuRing audit covering infrastructure.
NordVPN
Tom’s Guide reports a NordVPN audit in December 2025 and a sixth NordVPN audit in February 2026. The scope of those audits is not established in this comparison, so their results cannot be set directly against Surfshark’s Deloitte, Cure53, and SecuRing reviews.
Features, protocols, and add-ons
- Surfshark lists Clean Web, Bypasser, and Multi Hop as extras.
- NordVPN offers Threat Protection and Threat Protection Pro. Tom’s Guide describes Threat Protection Pro as desktop-only and available on Plus and above.
- Both list 10 Gbps servers and offer dedicated IP add-ons. Surfshark’s comparison also compares dedicated IP starting rates and country availability. Check current add-on prices at checkout.
Extras do not map one-to-one between the two services. Confirm that the feature you need is included in your plan and on your platform.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Next-Gen Gigabit Wi-Fi 6 Speeds: 2402 Mbps on 5 GHz and 574 Mbps on 2.4 GHz bands ensure smoother streaming and faster downloads; support VPN server and VPN client¹
- A More Responsive Experience: Enjoy smooth gaming, video streaming, and live feeds simultaneously. OFDMA makes your Wi-Fi stronger by allowing multiple clients to share one band at the same time, cutting latency and jitter.²
- Expanded Wi-Fi Coverage: 4 high-gain external antennas and Beamforming technology combine to extend strong, reliable, Wi-Fi throughout your home.
- Improved Battery Life: Target Wake Time helps your devices to communicate efficiently while consuming less power.
- Improved Cooling Design: No heat ups, no throttles. A larger heat sink and redefined case design cools the WiFi 6 system and enables your network to stay at top speeds in more versatile environments.
What this comparison does not settle
- Current checkout prices, renewal rates, taxes, regional plan terms, and refund conditions.
- Protocol-level security, and speed on your own connection and protocol.
- Usability and customer support, which the sources here do not compare.
- The full contents and scope of each audit report.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
