NordVPN vs Surfshark: Best Budget VPN for Australia?
NordVPN vs Surfshark comparison. Price, features, speed. Which budget VPN is better for Australians?
By Australian VPN
Quick Verdict
NordVPN is better for Australian users. More servers, better support, only slightly more expensive.
Surfshark is best if money is tight. Cheapest option, unlimited simultaneous connections, good streaming.
Comparison Table
| Feature | NordVPN | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Price (yearly) | $4.99/mo | $2.19/mo |
| Australian servers | 30+ | 30+ |
| Speed (overall) | Very fast | Good |
| Simultaneous connections | 6 devices | Unlimited |
| Streaming unblocking | Excellent | Good |
| Support | Good (email) | Good (chat) |
| Money-back guarantee | 30 days | 30 days |
Price Comparison
Winner: Surfshark (cheapest)
Surfshark: $2.19/month on 2-year plan. NordVPN: $4.99/month on 2-year plan. Surfshark is 56% cheaper. Over 2 years, that's $67.20 savings.
But: The $2.80/month difference is negligible for most Australians. Not worth sacrificing features.
Australian Servers
Tie.
Both have 30+ Australian servers (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth). Equal coverage.
Speed & Performance
Winner: NordVPN
NordVPN is consistently faster in speed tests. Surfshark is good (no complaints) but noticeably slower than NordVPN. For streaming 4K or downloading large files, NordVPN wins.
Simultaneous Connections
Winner: Surfshark (unlimited)
Surfshark: Unlimited devices simultaneously. NordVPN: 6 devices. If you want to protect phone, laptop, tablet, AND help a friend/family member = Surfshark wins.
Streaming (Stan, 7Plus, etc.)
Winner: NordVPN (slightly)
Both unblock Australian streaming reliably. NordVPN has better track record with consistent unblocking. Surfshark occasionally has blocks that resolve with server switching. Not a huge difference, but NordVPN is more reliable.
Customer Support
Tie.
NordVPN: Email support (responsive). Surfshark: Live chat and email. Both adequate. Surfshark slightly better for immediate help.
Who Should Choose NordVPN?
- Want faster speeds (streaming, gaming)
- Want more reliable streaming unblocking
- Don't need unlimited connections
- Priority is reliability over lowest price
Who Should Choose Surfshark?
- Budget is extremely tight ($2.19/month is great)
- Need unlimited simultaneous connections
- Want to protect whole family on one subscription
- Speed doesn't matter as much (SD streaming is fine)
Recommendation
For most Australians: NordVPN
Only $2.80/month more than Surfshark for noticeably better speeds and reliability. Worth the investment.
For extreme budget (or large families): Surfshark
If you need unlimited connections for 5+ people, Surfshark's unlimited simultaneous connections pay for itself.
Try Both Risk-Free
Both have 30-day money-back guarantees. Subscribe to NordVPN first (it's the safer choice). If speeds aren't good enough, try Surfshark and save money. Worst case, you get a full refund.
Full Reviews
Related Reading
Ready to protect your privacy?
Check out our VPN reviews and find the right one for you.
View VPN Reviews →Australian VPN Team
Expert VPN reviewers helping Australians protect their privacy and access content since 2016. We independently test every VPN we recommend — checking speed, security, streaming, and value from Australian servers.
Related Articles
NordVPN vs ExpressVPN: Which Is Better for Australia?
NordVPN vs ExpressVPN comparison. Speed, price, features.
Read more →Best VPN for Netflix Australia 2026
Which VPNs work. Unblock overseas. Netflix blocking explained.
Read more →How to Unblock Kayo & Stan with VPN
Which VPNs work. What doesn't. Pro tips.
Read more →