Surfshark vs. VyprVPN – At a Glance
Surfshark
Surfshark sports a budget-friendly price while providing a large server network, comprehensive device support, and top-notch online security and privacy protections.
Extra protective services are available for a reasonable added fee, including antivirus protection, truly private search, and data breach alerts.
VyprVPN
VyprVPN is a Swiss-based Virtual Private Network provider that was founded in 2011. The provider claims over 2 million customers worldwide.
The provider performs well in the privacy and security protection categories, while its connection speeds and app support could use a boost.
How to Choose a VPN
When in search of reliable VPN protection, you should carefully consider what each provider offers.
In this article, I’ll take a look at two VPN providers (Surfshark and VyprVPN). I’ll compare the two VPNs head-to-head in each category, and then declare a winner. After I’ve taken a look at each category, I’ll then determine the total scores and declare an overall champion.
By the time you reach the end of this article, you’ll have enough information to allow you to make an informed decision about which VPN you should subscribe to.
Surfshark vs. VyprVPN – Features
In this section, I’ll take a look at the features everyone should consider when deciding on a VPN. Potential users should carefully consider each feature.
Connection Speeds
No matter what your favorite online activity, a fast connection is your best friend. This is especially true if you stream video and music, play games online, or share files.
I periodically perform VPN connection speed tests, performing the tests with the Speedtest.net app. I run the tests as follows:
- I use a Windows server that uses a gigabit Ethernet connection based in North America.
- Both providers are tested by connecting to VPN servers in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Hong Kong, at three different times of day over the course of three days.
- The Windows version of the providers’ apps are used for testing, and the app is configured to connect using the OpenVPN protocol over UDP when available.
- The Speedtest app is run after connecting to each VPN server location, shutting down the Speedtest app following each test.
Both VPNs performed well during my connection speed testing. That said, one provider performed much better than its competitor.
VyprVPN’s download speeds measured in at 44.2 Mbps.
Meanwhile, Surfshark’s download speeds were MUCH faster, averaging in at 323.6 Mbps.
Both providers are a good option for users that enjoy streaming, online gaming, and file sharing. As you might expect, you’ll see better performance when using Surfshark.
It should be noted that the connection speeds you’ll experience will be different from my results, as they’ll depend on your usual ISP-provided connection speeds, your geographic location, and the location of the VPN server you connect to.
Average Connection Speed Winner: Surfshark
| Provider | Avg. Connection Speed | Link |
| Surfshark | 323.6 Mbps | Visit Site |
| VyprVPN | 44.2 Mbps | Visit Site |
Pricing
If you’ve gone grocery shopping recently you know that inflation is real. This means that most of us are looking for ways to save a few dollars here and there. However, you should never subscribe to a VPN based solely on its price.
While some low-priced VPNs may seem like a bargain, look closer. Bargain basement VPNs may deliver slower connections, lack important protective features, or not support several popular devices. So, you should always carefully consider a provider’s performance and features versus its price.
Surfshark is a budget-priced provider, charging about the price of a decent cup of coffee per month. Meanwhile, VyprVPN’s monthly fee is about a dollar more per month.
Both Surfshark and VyprVPN offer a 30-day money-back guarantee.
I don’t include exact pricing in my articles, as VPNs change their pricing structure and offer special deals on a regular basis. Visit a provider’s website for their most current pricing.
Pricing Winner: Surfshark
| Provider | Money-Back Guarantee Period | Link |
| Surfshark | 30 Days | Visit Site |
| VyprVPN | 30 Days | Visit Site |
Privacy
If you’ve been online recently, you can be certain that you’ve left evidence of your travels. You can also be certain that there are plenty of individuals and groups that would like a look at that evidence. This makes a VPN’s privacy protections an important way to prevent records of your online travels from being kept.
Consider the following when researching a VPN’s privacy protections:
- Is the provider located in a privacy-respecting country?
- Does the provider save any type of user activity logs on their servers?
- Does the provider accept Bitcoin and other privacy-protecting types of payment?
Surfshark is based in the British Virgin Islands. The provider takes full advantage of that country’s privacy laws, saving no types of user activity logs. Surfshark also accepts cryptocurrency to keep your payment privacy undercover when used with a disposable email address.
All Surfshark servers are run 100% from RAM, writing no data to a physical hard drive or SSD. This ensures that all data is securely and completely wiped when any of the provider’s servers are rebooted, turned off, or unplugged from the wall.
Unfortunately, Surfshark uses a third-party provider for its customer support chat feature, which introduces a privacy concern. I’ll discuss that later.
VyprVPN is based in Switzerland and takes full advantage of that country’s privacy laws, keeping no user logs of any kind. The provider doesn’t accept any type of cryptocurrency.
Privacy Winner: It’s a tie.
| Provider | Privacy Ranking | Site |
| Surfshark | 4.5 | Visit Site |
| VyprVPN | 4.5 | Visit Site |
Security
In addition to wanting to see records of your online travels, there are plenty of folks that would love to be able to follow you around in real-time. This makes a VPN provider’s connection protections an important feature to consider.
Surfshark uses banking-grade encryption and kill switch protection to keep your online activities incognito. OpenVPN, WireGuard, and IPSec/IKEv2 connection protocols are available. “Camouflage Mode” disguises your VPN traffic, making it appear to be normal browser traffic.
Meanwhile, VyprVPN uses military-level encryption, backed up by a kill switch to keep any third parties from detecting your online antics. The provider uses the WireGuard, OpenVPN, L2TP/IPSec, and PPTP protocols. In addition, premium users have access to the company’s proprietary Chameleon protocol, which defeats VPN blocking by disguising your VPN usage as normal internet traffic.
Security Winner: It’s a tie.
| Provider | Overall Security Score | Link |
| Surfshark | 5.0 | Visit Site |
| VyprVPN | 5.0 | Visit Site |
Simultaneous Connections
How many connected devices do you use on a daily basis? I myself have tablets, smartphones, computers, streaming, and gaming devices, any of which I may use today. This is why it is important to consider a VPN provider’s concurrent connections allowance.
Surfshark puts no limit on the number of devices that can be simultaneously connected to its servers.
VyprVPN allows its users to connect up to five devices at once to its servers.
Simultaneous Connections Winner: Surfshark
| Provider | Simultaneous Connections Allowed | Link |
| Surfshark | Unlimited | Visit Site |
| VyprVPN | 5 | Visit Site |
Streaming Support
There are what seems like hundreds of available streaming services. However, many popular streaming services are either available only in certain countries or limit the availability of their content to certain regions.
Happily, a VPN has the ability to temporarily assign a new IP address to your connected device. This makes it appear as if you are connecting to the internet from another region of the globe. This opens access to streaming content that might normally be unavailable in your country.
Surfshark delivers access to Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, ITV Hub, All 4, Hotstar, HBO, Sky, and numerous other streaming services.
VyprVPN also delivers access to multiple streaming services, including Netflix US, Netflix UK, Netflix Canada, MLB.tv, DAZN, Amazon Prime, Hulu, HBO Max, ESPN, and others.
Streaming Support Winner: Tied
| Provider | # of U.S. Streaming Services VPN Unblocks | # of International Services VPN Unblocks | Link |
| Surfshark | 10+ | 8+ | Visit Site |
| VyprVPN | 10+ | 8+ | Visit Site |
BitTorrent Support
BitTorrent is an easy way to share files and documents with other users. While file sharing is not illegal – several legitimate organizations use the technology to share documents – it is illegal to use it to share copyrighted materials, such as movies and music.
Thanks to pressure from the entertainment industry, many ISPs will throttle or block your internet connection if you engage in file sharing activity, whether or not the files you’re sharing are legal.
A VPN encrypts your internet connection and temporarily assigns a new IP address to your sharing device. This means no one can detect your file sharing nor see your real IP address.
Surfshark allows P2P file sharing on its entire server network.
VyprVPN also allows the activity on its server network.
BitTorrenting Winner: Tied
| Provider | # of Countries Where VPN Allows BitTorrents | Link |
| Surfshark | All of them | Visit Site |
| VyprVPN | All of them | Visit Site |
Global Server Coverage
A VPN provider’s global server coverage is always an important feature to consider, as the larger a VPN’s server network, the better access you’ll have to content in other parts of the world.
Surfshark has 3,200+ servers stationed in 100+ countries worldwide.
VyprVPN also boasts a good-sized global server network, with 700+ servers located in more than 80 countries around the world.
Global Server Coverage Winner: Surfshark
| Provider | Server Count | Countries | Link |
| Surfshark | 3,200+ | 100 | Visit Site |
| VyprVPN | 700+ | 80+ | Visit Site |
Multi-Platform Support
Since many of my readers use more than one connected device, a VPN provider’s app selection is an important consideration.
Surfshark’s native app support options include offerings for iOS, macOS (with native M1/M2 app support), Android, Android TV, Windows, Linux, and Amazon Fire TV device platforms. Extensions for the Chrome, Edge, and Firefox browser platforms are also available. Comprehensive router support includes pre-configured routers through Flashrouters.com.
VyprVPN offers native app support for iOS, macOS, Android, Linux, and Windows device platforms. A Chrome browser extension is available. The provider also offers compatibility with select routers. (Pre-configured routers are available through Flashrouters.com.)
Multi-Platform Support Winner: Surfshark
| Provider | Platforms Supported | Browser Extensions? | Router Support? |
Link |
| Surfshark | 7 | Yes (Chrome, Edge, Firefox) | Yes – Manual setup. Also includes Flashrouter options. | Visit Site |
| VyprVPN | 5 | Yes (Chrome) | Yes – Manual setup. Also includes Flashrouter options. | Visit Site |
Customer Support
You’ll find that both of these VPN services are easy to use, providing reliable protection. However, you may still have an occasional question, even if it’s just a billing inquiry.
Surfshark offers 24/7 support, with always-available live chat, email support, and a searchable support library. It should be noted that Surfshark uses third-party contractor Zendesk for its live agent chat feature. Any time a third party is included there is an increased privacy risk.
VyprVPN also offers round-the-clock support, with live chat, email support, and a searchable support library.
Customer Support Winner: VyprVPN
| Provider | Customer Support Rating | Link |
| Surfshark | 4.5 | Visit Site |
| VyprVPN | 5.0 | Visit Site |
And The Winner Is…
Both providers provide quality internet protection and enhancement. Unfortunately, only one VPN can be named the victor.
Surfshark is the overall winner this time around, thanks to its performance in the connection speed, pricing, multi-platform support, simultaneous connections, and global server coverage service columns.
VyprVPN won in one service category, customer support.
The providers tied in the privacy, security, streaming, and BitTorrent support columns.
For more information or to purchase a subscription, visit Surfshark.
