Surfshark VPN vs. The Rest: Why Unlimited Devices Is a Killer, and Why Most VPNs Are Trash

#ai #tech #productivity

Most VPNs Are Overpriced Garbage That Slow You Down

Let's cut the crap. You're not buying a VPN for "digital privacy"—you're buying it to stream Netflix from another country, avoid ISP throttling, or maybe not get your data sold. And 90% of VPNs fail at this because they're bloated, slow, or cost a fortune. I've tested dozens, and I've lost count of how many times a "premium" VPN crashed during a critical work call, leaving me exposed. Surfshark isn't perfect, but it does one thing that makes it a beast: unlimited devices on one plan. That alone saves you from the subscription hell most competitors push.

Key Differences That Actually Matter

1. Unlimited Devices vs. The Rip-off Limits: NordVPN and ExpressVPN cap you at 6-10 devices. For a family with phones, laptops, and smart TVs, that's a joke. Surfshark lets you connect everything—I have it on my phone, laptop, tablet, and even my mom's old iPad, all without paying extra. It's a no-brainer for anyone with more than two gadgets.

2. Price vs. Performance: Surfshark starts at $2.29/month for a 2-year plan. ExpressVPN charges $8.32/month for their annual plan and feels slower in my tests. I tried streaming 4K on both, and Surfshark handled it without buffering, while ExpressVPN stuttered like it was on dial-up. Don't pay for a brand name when the cheaper option works better.

3. The Annoying Details: Surfshark's kill switch is trash—it sometimes fails to activate on Windows, leaving your IP exposed for a few seconds. I noticed this when my connection dropped during a torrent download, and I had to manually check it. Compare that to NordVPN's kill switch, which is rock-solid but comes with a higher price tag. It's a trade-off: save money and stay vigilant, or pay up for peace of mind.

💡 Pro Tip: Always test the kill switch yourself. Disconnect from the VPN while downloading a large file (like a Linux ISO) and see if your real IP leaks. Do this on day one—it saved me from a potential DMCA notice.

The Data: Raw Comparison

Feature	Surfshark VPN	NordVPN	ExpressVPN
Price (Monthly, 2-Year Plan)	$2.29	$3.99	N/A (Annual: $8.32)
Device Limit	Unlimited	6	8
Server Count	3,200+	6,000+	3,000+
Kill Switch Reliability	Mediocre	Excellent	Good
Streaming Support	Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer	Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer	Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer

The Verdict: Stop Overthinking It

Buy Surfshark if you have more than 5 devices or are on a tight budget. It's a beast for families and power users who need coverage everywhere without extra fees. Avoid it if you're paranoid about security—go with NordVPN for its better kill switch, but be ready to pay nearly double. For everyone else, Surfshark delivers 90% of the performance at half the cost, and that's a win in my book.

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