Surfshark vs Proton VPN Pricing (2026)

Surfshark vs Proton VPN

VPN pricing comparison · 2026

Surfshark pricing ranges from $1.99–$20.85/month, while Proton VPN ranges from $0–$12.99/month. Surfshark is typically 14% more affordable, though your actual cost depends on tier and team size.

VPN

Surfshark

$1.99–$20.85
/month
9 plans
Full pricing breakdown →
VS
VPN

Proton VPN

$0–$12.99
/month
7 plans · Free tier
Full pricing breakdown →

Surfshark and Proton VPN both operate in the vpn category. This page compares their list pricing.

Plan-by-Plan Pricing

Plan Surfshark Proton VPN
Starter (Monthly) $15.45 /month Free /month
Starter (1-Year) $3.19 /month $9.99 /month
Starter (2-Year) $1.99 /month $4.99 /month
One (Monthly) $17.95 /month $2.99 /month
One (1-Year) $3.39 /month $12.99 /month
One (2-Year) $2.49 /month $9.99 /month
One+ (Monthly) $20.85 /month $7.99 /month
One+ (1-Year) $5.09 /month
One+ (2-Year) $4.29 /month

Cost at Scale

Total cost of ownership — licenses, implementation, and hidden costs included.

Surfshark

4 scenarios
$1.99/mo ($53.73 for 27 months)
Large Household - Starter 2-Year Plan
Unlimited devices means every family member is covered, making it the cheapest per-device VPN option.
$2.49/mo ($59.13 for 27 months)
Security-Focused Individual - One 2-Year Plan
Replaces separate antivirus (~$40/year) and breach monitoring (~$10/mo) subscriptions.
$5.09/mo ($76.35/year for 15 months)
Privacy Maximalist - One+ 1-Year Plan
Includes Incogni, which would cost $6.49/mo if purchased separately.
See all 4 scenarios →

Proton VPN

7 scenarios
$0/mo
Budget-Conscious User - Free Plan
. Limited to 1 device, 5 countries, and medium speeds, but includes unlimited data and no ads.
$2.99/mo (billed as a 2-year term)
Privacy Advocate - VPN Plus 2-Year Plan
Access to 17,200+ servers, 10 devices, NetShield, and Stealth protocol.
$9.99/mo ($119.88/year)
Proton Ecosystem User - Unlimited 1-Year Plan
Replaces separate VPN, email, and password manager subscriptions.
See all 7 scenarios →

Market Intelligence

Surfshark

Median annual cost
$180
Based on
53 deals

Proton VPN

Median annual cost
$199
Based on
23 deals

Hidden Costs

Beyond the sticker price — what catches buyers off guard.

Surfshark 2 hidden costs

medium
Renewal Price Increases 50-80% of initial subscription cost
medium
Monthly Plan Premium $13-$19/month vs $2-$4/month on long-term plans
See all Surfshark hidden costs →

Proton VPN 3 hidden costs

medium
Free Plan Speed Throttling 50-70% speed reduction vs paid
medium
Auto-Renewal Without Clear Notice $9.99/month unexpected charge
medium
Free Plan Server Limitations Requires $4.99-$9.99/month upgrade for server choice
See all Proton VPN hidden costs →

Contract Terms

Term Surfshark Proton VPN
Auto-renewal Yes Yes
Cancellation 30 days for money-back guarantee 30 days money-back guarantee on new subscriptions
Minimum commitment Monthly, 1-year, or 2-year options available Month-to-month available, or 1-2 year plans
Price escalation Promotional pricing applies only to first term; renewal at standard rates Renewal at standard pricing after promotional period ends
Can downgrade No Yes