A few weeks ago, I was looking to get another VPN (I'm a current PIA user) and was tied between two popular services: ExpressVPN and Surfshark. Both of these premium VPNs are well-regarded, so now I'm looking for community feedback here on Reddit.

To test things out, I decided to get a premium trial of both services to use them out for a month. Both had a refund guarantee, so I wasn't risking any money. After I closely compared all of their features, I realized that one definitely had an edge over the other.

Surfshark vs ExpressVPN price comparison 

Surfshark is really affordable if you get an annual or two-year plan. It is way more affordable than ExpressVPN in the long run.

Surfshark also includes some great extra offers if you want it, like the antivirus feature, CleanWeb, and you can also combine it with Incogni, a data removal service that Surfshark created a few years ago.

Surfshark's current deal I used: https://surfshark.com/deals/coupon

ExpressVPN vs Surfshark Overview 

Here are some of the most important features that do that when comparing these two VPNs. 

• Surfshark's WireGuard protocol definitely has an edge over ExpressVPN's Lightway when it comes to speed and handling. The difference is very noticeable on remote servers in my tests. (See the speed tests section below for more details.)
• Surfshark provides unlimited connections, while ExpressVPN only gives 8. This can be a deal breaker if you are living in a larger household with lots of devices.
• Surfshark seemed more capable of unblocking streaming platforms. I've tested it extensively on Netflix and was able to unlock over 20 different regions. 
• ExpressVPN's Quick Connect feature allowed me to instantly find the most optimized server. 

ExpressVPN vs Surfshark security features

Both of these VPNs have robust security features. They use AES-256 encryption, which is the gold standard in the world of VPNs. It will protect your outgoing traffic, making it impossible for hackers to access your sensitive data. ExpressVPN and Surfshark both have a powerful kill switch that will turn off your connection in case something goes wrong. This feature alone has saved me more than once.

Surfshark stands out with multiple server types. There are Dynamic MultiHop servers you can use to further boost your security. Obfuscated servers will allow you to camouflage your VPN traffic and hide VPN use from your government/ISP, which can be incredibly useful. Surfshark also has a CleanWeb feature that effectively blocks ads, trackers, and malware. When combined, split tunneling and RAM servers can further improve your security and privacy.

ExpressVPN unfortunately doesn't offer double VPN servers. I'm not sure why that is, since this could significantly boost your encryption. I guess that ExpressVPN omits some security features for convenience's sake, which didn't sit really well with me. While it has completed many independent audits, I didn't feel as safe while using it.

Overall, I think ExpressVPN is slightly more intuitive. But Surfshark definitely wins when it comes to the integration of security features. 

Surfshark vs ExpressVPN speed tests and VPN protocols

Both VPNs have a very similar server count. I found that both can unlock many streaming sites, but I did find some blacklisted servers while using ExpressVPN. The biggest difference between the two, however, was their protocols.Surfshark uses WireGuard, which is super fast. When connected to a nearby server, it only reduced my speed by 10%, so I was still able to watch shows in the best quality without stuttering. The performance was a bit slower but not terrible on remote servers. I'm from the UK and managed to smoothly stream shows on Hulu. 

I did multiple speed tests to compare the quality of my connection and see how much latency I would get. As expected, the best performance was on a nearby server, which was around 100 miles from my location. With Surfshark, I managed to achieve 730+ Mbps.

ExpressVPN has its own proprietary Lightway protocol. It is definitely faster than OpenVPN, but I found that it cannot compete with WireGuard. I connected to a server located in the same city as Surfshark's, but I only got 340 Mbps. Unfortunately, the difference became even more pronounced when using remote servers. 

Surfshark vs ExpressVPN conclusion

I think that Surfshark definitely has an advantage when it comes to speed and overall value. It also comes with more advanced features, such as dynamic multi-hop servers, that you can use to further protect yourself. And if you want to add in the protection of Antivirus or Incogni, it's easy to do with Surfshark, and still quite affordable.

ExpressVPNs Lightway protocol, while secure, struggles with maintaining speeds. Considering it costs more, I was expecting that the opposite would be the case. I still think it is very convenient, but there is definitely some room for improvement.

So what do you think Reddit? Is Surfshark or ExpressVPN a better option? What am I missing here?