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8 Surfshark Alternatives for Windows, Ranked (2026)

Explore 8 alternatives to Surfshark — vetted by our editors with real user reviews, pricing, and feature comparisons.

Best Surfshark alternatives, ranked and compared

Quick answer

The quick answer: the best Surfshark alternatives are CyberGhost VPN, Private Internet Access VPN and PureVPN. CyberGhost VPN tops the list with a SpotScore of 9.6 and a 4.89★ rating. Compare all 8 on score, rating, and pricing below.

Not every team clicks with Surfshark, and that's fine. These 8 vpn software alternatives give you real choices on price, features, and usability. We rank them by SpotScore, which combines real-user satisfaction with market presence, then layer in ratings and pricing. Scan the comparison table first, then read the detail for each pick.

ProductSpotScoreRatingPricingBest for
CyberGhost VPNSecure your online presence with encrypted protection.9.6★★★★★ 4.89(4406)Subscriptionteams of all sizes
Private Internet Access VPNSafeguard your online privacy with top-notch VPN.9.6★★★★★ 4.74(3535)Subscriptionsmall businesses
PureVPNProtect your privacy and unlock the internet.9.5★★★★★ 4.86(4534)from $2.91/moteams of all sizes
FastestVPNSecure your online presence with blazing fast speeds.9.2★★★★☆ 4.45(544)from $1.11/moteams of all sizes
IPVanish VPNSecure your digital world with IPVanish.9.2★★★★★ 4.81(2495)Freefrom $3.75/moteams of all sizes
Hotspot ShieldSecurely access the internet without limitations.9.2★★★★★ 4.7(489)Freefrom $7.99/moteams of all sizes
ProtonVPNProtect your online privacy and security with ProtonVPN.9.2★★★★★ 4.54(50)Freefrom $4/moteams of all sizes
PrivateVPNSecurely connect to your home network from anywhere.9.1★★★★★ 4.94(3043)Freefrom $2.50/moteams of all sizes

9.6

SpotScore

CyberGhost VPN - VPN Software

CyberGhost VPN

Secure your online presence with encrypted protection.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Get Pricing Details

4.9

4406 verified reviews

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What is CyberGhost VPN?

CyberGhost VPN is easy-to-install VPN software that protects your Internet connection by encrypting all of the data that you send and receive. It permits you to select specific applications through which to channel your protected traffic. In this way, you can protect sensitive data (such as ...

Read more about CyberGhost VPN

9.6

SpotScore

Private Internet Access VPN - VPN Software

Private Internet Access VPN

Safeguard your online privacy with top-notch VPN.

Best for: SMB teams

Get Pricing Details

4.7

3535 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is Private Internet Access VPN?

Private Internet Access VPN service offers you more security and privacy. This VPN software protects your Internet connection and helps to hide your personal information, identity, IP address. It also encrypts all of your Internet traffic, preventing third parties from monitoring or logging ...

Read more about Private Internet Access VPN

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9.5

SpotScore

PureVPN - VPN Software

PureVPN

Protect your privacy and unlock the internet.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Get Pricing Details

4.9

4534 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is PureVPN?

PureVPN has created the leading VPN software to protect your privacy, unblock websites and encrypt your connection. PureVPN is a virtual private network that extends across a public network or wide area network (WAN/LAN). It is designed to permit users to send and receive data across shared or ...

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9.2

SpotScore

FastestVPN - VPN Software

FastestVPN

Secure your online presence with blazing fast speeds.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Get Pricing Details

4.5

544 verified reviews

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What is FastestVPN?

FastestVPN includes a stylish and workable application. It's encrypted connection tunneling and highly secured servers are very useful for online privacy, security and completely protect you on public WiFi or any unknown network. It allows you to access blocked websites, social media sites ...

Read more about FastestVPN

9.2

SpotScore

IPVanish VPN - VPN Software

IPVanish VPN

Secure your digital world with IPVanish.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

4.8

2495 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is IPVanish VPN?

IPVanish is a fast and secure VPN network that enables you to bypass all geo-restrictions on websites, apps, and services. It hides your location data when online, prevents hackers from stealing passwords and banking information, secures public Wi-Fi connections to prevent eavesdropping and ...

Read more about IPVanish VPN
Free TrialTry Free →

9.2

SpotScore

Hotspot Shield - VPN Software

Hotspot Shield

Securely access the internet without limitations.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Try for Free

4.7

489 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is Hotspot Shield?

Hotspot Shield is a VPN service popular with frequent travelers and streaming enthusiasts who need to reliably unblock geo-restricted content and secure public Wi-Fi connections across multiple devices. Its large server network and straightforward app make it easy to switch regions for ...

Read more about Hotspot Shield

9.2

SpotScore

ProtonVPN - VPN Software

ProtonVPN

Protect your online privacy and security with ProtonVPN.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Try for Free

4.5

50 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is ProtonVPN?

ProtonVPN is the world's most advanced VPN software. Based in Switzerland, ProtonVPN is designed for users who wish to maintain their online privacy and security without sacrificing performance. Users can connect to the secure VPN servers of ProtonVPN while simultaneously enjoying full internet ...

Read more about ProtonVPN

9.1

SpotScore

PrivateVPN - VPN Software

PrivateVPN

Securely connect to your home network from anywhere.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

4.9

3043 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is PrivateVPN?

PrivateVPN lets you instantly access your home network from anywhere in the world. This software-based solution provides you with a secure and anonymous Internet connection through the usage of a virtual private network (VPN). The safety of WiFi connections, online bank transactions and credit ...

Read more about PrivateVPN
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What each tool does well

CyberGhost VPN9.6Best for teams of all sizes

Affordable pricing with excellent price-performance ratio.

Watch for: Limited compatibility with certain devices, like Apple TV or gaming consoles (e.g., PS5).

Private Internet Access VPN9.6Best for small businesses

Reliable and consistent service, with strong security features that increase confidence in online privacy.

Watch for: Customer support can be hard to reach, with delays in responses occasionally reported.

PureVPN9.5Best for teams of all sizes

Reliable and stable VPN performance with consistently fast connections, ideal for streaming, torrenting, and secure browsing.

Watch for: Occasional issues with connecting or renewing the subscription, though typically resolved quickly by support.

FastestVPN9.2Best for teams of all sizes

Lifetime subscription offers exceptional value and avoids recurring payments.

Watch for: Connectivity issues are reported occasionally, requiring users to contact support.

IPVanish VPN9.2Best for teams of all sizes

Reliable and consistent service with minimal downtime, ensuring a secure and smooth user experience.

Watch for: Limited advanced features for more tech-savvy users who expect deeper customizations or integrations.

Hotspot Shield9.2Best for teams of all sizes

Connections are fast, stable, and reliable.

Watch for: Occasional connectivity issues, including difficulty connecting or unexpected disconnections.

ProtonVPN9.2Best for teams of all sizes

Offers top-notch security features, including military-grade AES-256 encryption and reliable protocols like OpenVPN and IKEv2/IPSec, ensuring user privacy and safety.

Watch for: Fewer server locations compared to competitors, limiting connection versatility, especially in some regions like Latin America.

PrivateVPN9.1Best for teams of all sizes

Easy access to home network

Watch for: Limited server locations

Why teams look for a Surfshark alternative

Before comparing options, it helps to name why teams leave Surfshark in the first place:

  • Initial setup or installation issues can occur, especially with antivirus or VPN configurations.
  • Limited functionality with certain features, as some users report missing desired options or advanced utilities.
  • The support bot is often unhelpful, requiring users to escalate to human representatives for effective solutions.
  • VPN connections occasionally encounter issues, such as location-specific connectivity problems.

What makes a good Surfshark replacement

Here's the data-driven picture across all 8 vpn software alternatives: 4 offer a free tier; paid plans run $1.11–$7.99, with FastestVPN the cheapest entry point; and PrivateVPN is the highest rated at 4.94★ across 3043 reviews.

What drives the order.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Stuck on something? We're here to help with all the questions and answers in one place.

The top-rated alternatives to Surfshark are PrivateVPN (4.9★), CyberGhost VPN (4.9★), PureVPN (4.9★). Compare all 8 alternatives side-by-side above.

When evaluating alternatives to Surfshark, prioritize: Peer-to-Peer, Multi-Protocol, Multi-language Browsing, Kill Switch, DNS Leak Protection, transparent pricing, free trial availability, and integrations with your existing tools. Use the filters above to compare by feature, budget, and team size.

Surfshark starts from $2.49 /Month. Many alternatives offer similar functionality at different price points — some with free tiers, others with more flexible per-seat pricing. Use the filters above to narrow by budget.

Migration difficulty depends on how deeply Surfshark is integrated into your workflows. Most alternatives offer data export/import tools and dedicated onboarding support. We recommend shortlisting 2–3 options, running a free trial, and checking each vendor's migration guides before committing.

The right Surfshark alternative for your situation

  • On a budget / just exploring: start with a free tier — IPVanish VPN, Hotspot Shield and ProtonVPN let you evaluate without paying upfront.
  • If real-user ratings matter most: PrivateVPN has the strongest star rating (4.94★) among the options with verified reviews.
  • Want the safest pick: CyberGhost VPN has the highest Spotsaas Score (9.6) in this list — a strong default if you're unsure.

How to move on from Surfshark

A safe move off Surfshark starts with the basics: export your data and test the import into your new tool. Make sure the workflows you depend on are covered, run a short pilot, and keep Surfshark active until the migration is finished. Free tiers above make trialing easy.

Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].