ExpressVPN vs Surfshark
Both ladders below were read from the vendors’ own pricing pages, in this market, on the dates shown. Nothing is converted: what you see is what each page showed a reader here.
What each one is
ExpressVPNsite ↗pricing ↗
A consumer VPN focused on speed and ease of use, with apps across desktop, mobile and routers. Paid plans start at $2.99/mo (Basic); no free plan is published. The ladder we hold runs 3 paid tiers, topping out at $7.49/mo (Express Pro). It bills by country — entry £2.19/mo to a UK reader and €2.49/mo in the eurozone, from our same-day reads. Its published prices moved on 2026-08-27 — the change log holds the rows.
Surfsharksite ↗pricing ↗
A consumer VPN that allows unlimited devices on one account, sold alongside an antivirus and identity-monitoring bundle. Paid plans start at $2.49/mo (Surfshark Starter); no free plan is published. The ladder we hold runs 3 paid tiers, topping out at $4.49/mo (Surfshark One+). It bills by country — entry £1.79/mo to a UK reader and €2.49/mo in the eurozone, from our same-day reads.
The two ladders
ExpressVPNsite ↗pricing ↗
read 2026-08-29 · USD
| Plan | Price | What the page says |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | $2.99/mo | |
| Advanced | $4.49/mo | |
| Express Pro | $7.49/mo |
Surfsharksite ↗pricing ↗
read 2026-08-29 · USD
| Plan | Price | What the page says |
|---|---|---|
| Surfshark Starter | $2.49/mo | |
| Surfshark One | $2.49/mo | |
| Surfshark One+ | $4.49/mo |
Where they differ
- Cheapest way in: Surfshark at $2.49/mo, against ExpressVPN at $2.99/mo. That is the entry price in this market on the dates shown, not a judgement about which suits you.
- Free plans: neither publishes one. Any free access here is a trial, which is a deadline.
- How far each ladder goes: ExpressVPN tops out at $7.49/mo, Surfshark at $4.49/mo. A deeper ladder is not a worse deal — it is a bill that keeps climbing if you keep growing.
- Recently moved: ExpressVPN (2026-08-27). A change only counts once a second clean read agrees.
- ExpressVPN: It bills by country — entry £2.19/mo to a UK reader and €2.49/mo in the eurozone, from our same-day reads.
- Surfshark: It bills by country — entry £1.79/mo to a UK reader and €2.49/mo in the eurozone, from our same-day reads.
How to choose in this category
- The intro price is not the price — renewal rates run higher and commitment terms stretch past two years in this set.
- Compare the renewal row, not the banner figure.
- A refund window is not a free tier — look for a plan actually priced at zero.