Head to head · Updated August 13, 2026
Surfshark vs Windscribe
Surfshark takes it by 8.5 points, 75.5 against 67.0. That margin is worth reading past — Windscribe wins 1 of the seven criteria outright.
Surfshark
75.5The cheapest credible option per device, weakened by a Nine Eyes jurisdiction and common ownership with NordVPN.
- From
- $2.49/mo
- Based in
- Netherlands
- Devices
- Unlimited
- Audits
- 2
We earn nothing from Surfshark. This link is included because the ranking says it belongs here.
Windscribe
67.0Unusually honest about its own incidents, but Canadian jurisdiction and a three-day refund window are real costs.
- From
- $5.75/mo
- Based in
- Canada
- Devices
- Unlimited
- Audits
- 1
We earn nothing from Windscribe. This link is included because the ranking says it belongs here.
Criterion by criterion
Surfshark wins 4, Windscribe wins 1, 2 tied. Each row shows the raw score out of ten and the weighted contribution to the total.
| Criterion | Weight | Surfshark | Windscribe | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent audit | 20 | 8/10 (16.0) | 6/10 (12.0) | Surfshark |
| Jurisdiction and ownership | 15 | 5/10 (7.5) | 3/10 (4.5) | Surfshark |
| Protocol and crypto stack | 15 | 9/10 (13.5) | 9/10 (13.5) | Tied |
| Leak protection | 15 | 8/10 (12.0) | 8/10 (12.0) | Tied |
| Transparency | 15 | 5/10 (7.5) | 8/10 (12.0) | Windscribe |
| Price and refund terms | 10 | 9/10 (9.0) | 6/10 (6.0) | Surfshark |
| Platform coverage | 10 | 10/10 (10.0) | 7/10 (7.0) | Surfshark |
| Total | 100 | 75.5 | 67.0 | Surfshark |
Where each one actually wins
Surfshark is ahead on
- Independent audit. Deloitte assured the no-logs claim in 2023; the Cure53 work covered extensions and infrastructure rather than the full apps.
- Jurisdiction and ownership. The Netherlands participates in the Nine Eyes agreement, and the company is now under the same ownership group as NordVPN.
- Price and refund terms. Lowest effective monthly rate here at $2.49 on a 2-year term, with unlimited devices and a 30-day refund.
- Platform coverage. Native apps on every major platform including TV, and unlimited simultaneous connections.
Windscribe is ahead on
- Transparency. Open-source clients, signup possible without an email, and the 2021 server seizure was disclosed publicly by the company itself.
Choose Surfshark if
Households or shared accounts covering many devices on one subscription.
Choose Windscribe if
Readers who need a free tier or want to pay only for two or three specific locations.
Reasons to pick neither
Skip Surfshark if: Jurisdiction matters to your threat model, or you want a provider independent of Nord Security.
Skip Windscribe if: You want a long trial period before committing. Three days and 10 GB is the tightest refund policy in this dataset.
Questions
- Is Surfshark or Windscribe better?
- Surfshark scores higher overall, 75.5 against 67.0, a gap of 8.5 points out of 100. The cheapest credible option per device, weakened by a Nine Eyes jurisdiction and common ownership with NordVPN.
- Which is cheaper, Surfshark or Windscribe?
- Surfshark, at $2.49/mo against $5.75/mo. Both rates require committing to the provider’s longest term; the monthly rates are considerably higher.
- Which one has been audited more recently?
- Surfshark, most recently in 2023 against Windscribe’s 2022.
- Does jurisdiction differ between them?
- Yes. Surfshark operates from Netherlands and Windscribe from Canada. Windscribe is outside the Fourteen Eyes agreement; the other is not.
Related comparisons
Comparison generated from the same dataset as the ranking. Emphasis criterion definitions are on the rubric page. Criterion labels: Independent audit, Jurisdiction and ownership, Protocol and crypto stack, Leak protection, Transparency, Price and refund terms, Platform coverage.