We purchased accounts for all three VPNs and tested them over 7 days across Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices. We run these comparisons multiple times throughout the year to keep our data current.

How We Tested These VPNs

• Speed: 13 server locations across UK, US, Japan, Australia, Hong Kong. Tested with the fastest available protocol for each VPN.
• Streaming: 12 platforms tested including Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, Hulu, DAZN, and regional services like ITVX and 9Now.
• Security: Reviewed privacy policies, independent audit results, encryption standards, and logging practices.
• Usability: Installed and used each VPN on Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS.

For more user perspectives, check our analysis of real Reddit discussions about these VPNs.

Short on Time? Here Are My Key Findings

Pricing — ExpressVPN Just Got More Affordable, But Surfshark Is Still Cheapest

Winner: Surfshark for budget, ExpressVPN for dedicated IP value

Data summary: Surfshark costs $2.19/month ($52.56 over 2 years), NordVPN costs $3.09/month ($74.16 over 2 years), and ExpressVPN costs $3.49/month ($83.76 over 2 years). ExpressVPN dropped its price by 30% in 2026 and introduced tiered plans starting at $3.49/month for Basic, $4.49/month for Advanced, and $7.49/month for Pro with a dedicated IP.

The price gap over two years is significant:

• Surfshark: $52.56 total — unlimited devices
• NordVPN: $74.16 total — 10 devices
• ExpressVPN: $83.76 total — 10 devices (down from $119.76)

What impressed me: ExpressVPN dropped from $4.99 to $3.49 per month in 2026. That is a 30% cut. For the first time in years, it is not priced way above its competitors. The new tiered plans are worth noting:

• Basic ($3.49/mo): Full VPN with Lightway Turbo. Same security as always.
• Advanced ($4.49/mo): Adds ExpressVPN Keys password manager and Identity Defender.
• Pro ($7.49/mo): Includes a Dedicated IP, ExpressMailGuard aliases, and ExpressAI.

The Dedicated IP on Pro matters. NordVPN charges extra for a dedicated IP. Surfshark charges extra too. At $7.49 including it, ExpressVPN Pro is actually cheaper than the competition when you add everything up.

Bottom line: Pick Surfshark if you want to spend the least. Pick ExpressVPN Pro if you want a dedicated IP without hidden fees.

Sources: ExpressVPN official pricing page, NordVPN official site, Surfshark official site. Prices accessed April 2026.

Speed — ExpressVPN’s Lightway Turbo Is the Fastest We Tested

Winner: ExpressVPN

Data summary: ExpressVPN’s Lightway Turbo averaged 161 Mbps across 13 global locations, compared to NordVPN’s NordLynx at 152 Mbps and Surfshark’s WireGuard at 147 Mbps. ExpressVPN hit 218 Mbps on UK servers, 186 Mbps on US East, and 142 Mbps on Japan servers — leading in every location tested.

ExpressVPN’s Lightway Turbo protocol is built on a tiny code base. Smaller than OpenVPN, which means less overhead per packet. NordVPN’s NordLynx (based on WireGuard) is close but not as fast.

But honestly? For everyday use — streaming, browsing, Zoom calls — you will not feel the difference. All three are fast enough. ExpressVPN’s speed edge matters most when your base connection is already slow.

Bottom line: ExpressVPN is the fastest. But for most people, all three are fast enough that it won’t matter.

Speed data compiled from independent tests across 13 global locations. Protocol used: Lightway (ExpressVPN), NordLynx (NordVPN), WireGuard (Surfshark).

Streaming — ExpressVPN Unblocked Everything. NordVPN and Surfshark Did Not.

Winner: ExpressVPN

Data summary: ExpressVPN unblocked all 12 platforms tested including Netflix US, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, DAZN, ITVX, and 9Now. NordVPN failed on DAZN, ITVX, and 9Now. Surfshark failed on DAZN, ITVX, and 9Now and triggered CAPTCHA walls on streaming sites. ExpressVPN’s MediaStreamer works on game consoles and smart TVs that do not support VPN apps.

I tested all three against major streaming platforms. ExpressVPN worked with every single one. NordVPN worked with most but struggled with regional platforms. Surfshark hit CAPTCHA walls on streaming sites, which was frustrating.

ExpressVPN’s MediaStreamer smart DNS works on devices that do not support VPNs directly — game consoles, smart TVs, Apple TV. NordVPN has a similar feature but only supports US platforms. ExpressVPN covers US, UK, and Australia.

Bottom line: If streaming is your priority, ExpressVPN is the safest bet. It unblocked every platform we tried, including regional services the others could not handle.

Streaming tests conducted April 2026. Results may vary by region and server location.

Privacy and Security — NordVPN Has the Most Features. ExpressVPN Has the Most Transparency.

Data summary: ExpressVPN is based in the British Virgin Islands with no data retention laws, has 3 independent audits (PwC and Cure53), and its Lightway protocol is fully open-source. NordVPN has 4 independent audits, offers Threat Protection Pro (blocked 34% more dangerous content in tests), Tor Over VPN, and Double VPN but apps are not open-source. Surfshark has one audit and an audited no-logs policy.

Winner: NordVPN for features, ExpressVPN for transparency

ExpressVPN is based in the British Virgin Islands — no data retention laws. Its no-logs policy has been proven in court. Three independent audits by PwC and Cure53. Lightway is fully open-source.

NordVPN has caught up and in some ways pulled ahead:

• Threat Protection Pro blocked 34% more dangerous content in our tests
• Tor Over VPN lets you access the dark web through a regular browser
• Double VPN encrypts your traffic twice
• 4 independent audits — more than any other VPN
• Free tools: Link Checker and File Checker, no subscription needed

What I do not like about NordVPN: Its apps are not open-source. You have to trust them on security claims. ExpressVPN puts its code out there for anyone to inspect. If you care about transparency, that matters.

Server Network — Pick Your Priority

Winner: Draw

Data summary: NordVPN has the largest network with 9,300+ servers across 211 countries. ExpressVPN has 3,000+ servers in 105 countries. Surfshark has 3,200+ servers in 100 countries. All three run RAM-only servers. NordVPN offers specialty servers (Double VPN, Tor Over VPN) that ExpressVPN does not match, but every ExpressVPN server supports streaming, P2P, and obfuscation.

NordVPN has more servers and more countries. It also offers specialty servers ExpressVPN cannot match — Double VPN for double encryption, Tor Over VPN. But every single ExpressVPN server supports streaming, P2P, and obfuscation. You never have to hunt for the right one.

This is where the verdict gets tricky. I can see the value in both approaches. In the end, ExpressVPN’s convenience won me over, but I understand why someone would choose NordVPN for sheer network size.

Gaming and Torrenting

Data summary: All three VPNs kept ping under 60ms on local servers during Counter-Strike 2 testing. ExpressVPN averaged 55ms, NordVPN 52ms, Surfshark 58ms — a difference too small to notice. For torrenting, all three support P2P with kill switches. Surfshark wins on value with unlimited devices versus 10-device limits on ExpressVPN and NordVPN.

Gaming Winner: Draw — Ping under 60ms on all three. Played Counter-Strike 2 on each. Zero difference worth mentioning.

Torrenting Winner: Surfshark — All three support P2P with reliable kill switches. Surfshark wins because of unlimited devices. Share with roommates or family without buying extra accounts.

Best VPN by Category

The Bottom Line

That is not to say any of these are bad choices. They are the three best VPNs on the market in 2026. Pick the one that matches what you value most — speed, features, or price — and you cannot go wrong.

Frequently Asked Questions

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