Surfshark

Surfshark is the budget option that stopped being a compromise. One subscription covers unlimited devices, which no other major VPN offers.

What it does well

Unlimited simultaneous connections. Every phone, laptop, tablet and TV in a household on one account, which reframes the price entirely once you have more than three devices. Speeds on WireGuard are competitive with NordVPN, and the no-logs claim has been independently audited.

CleanWeb ad blocking is decent, and the apps are noticeably simpler than Nord's.

What it costs

Around $2 to $3 a month on a two-year plan billed upfront, making it one of the cheapest credible VPNs. Renewal roughly triples, which is the standard trick in this market. Higher tiers add antivirus and data-breach alerts of limited value.

Where it falls short

Streaming unblocking is less consistently reliable than NordVPN or ExpressVPN, and which servers work changes month to month. The server network is smaller. Since the Nord Security merger it shares ownership with its main rival, which is worth knowing if provider independence matters to you.

Who it's for

Households and anyone with many devices, plus price-sensitive buyers who still want audited privacy rather than a free VPN selling their traffic. If streaming a specific service is the whole reason you are buying, test it first.