5 Best Surfshark Alternatives for Travel in 2026

Why Look Beyond Surfshark?

Surfshark is genuinely one of the best-value VPNs on the market — unlimited device connections, a clean app, and solid speeds make it hard to dismiss. But after testing 40+ VPNs, our team found consistent gaps that push certain travelers toward alternatives. The monthly plan costs around $15.45/month, which is steep if you only need short-term coverage. Gaming and P2P performance lags behind purpose-built competitors. And if you need anonymous account creation or a flat-rate no-nonsense pricing model, Surfshark simply doesn't offer that.

Below are the seven best Surfshark alternatives for travelers, each selected for a specific advantage over Surfshark — not just because they're popular.

The 7 Best Surfshark Alternatives for Travelers in 2026

1. NordVPN — Best Overall Security for Travelers

NordVPN is the most direct Surfshark upgrade for travelers who prioritize security without sacrificing speed. Its proprietary NordLynx protocol (built on WireGuard) consistently delivers faster speeds than Surfshark's IKEv2 implementation on long-distance connections — critical when you're routing through servers in Southeast Asia or South America.

• Server network: 8,900+ servers across 130 countries
• Simultaneous connections: 10 devices
• Standout feature: Pre-configured Double VPN (multi-hop) requires no manual setup — just select a paired server and your traffic routes through two countries automatically
• Onion Over VPN: Routes through the Tor network for maximum anonymity; useful in high-censorship countries
• Obfuscated servers: Disguises VPN traffic as regular HTTPS — effective in China, UAE, and Russia
• Pricing: $3.99/month on a 2-year plan, $13.99/month on monthly
• Money-back guarantee: 30 days

What it does better than Surfshark: The Double VPN feature is pre-routed and requires zero configuration. Surfshark's MultiHop is comparable, but NordVPN's server-pairing logic is more refined for travelers crossing borders frequently.

2. ExpressVPN — Best for Speed and Router Compatibility

ExpressVPN is the go-to choice if you need consistent speeds across regions and plan to set up a VPN on your hotel router or travel router. Its Lightway protocol achieves connection times under 2 seconds and maintains speeds even on congested hotel Wi-Fi networks.

• Server network: 3,000+ servers across 105 countries
• Simultaneous connections: 8 devices
• TrustedServer technology: All servers run entirely on RAM — no data is ever written to a hard drive
• Router app: ExpressVPN offers a dedicated router firmware (Aircove router support included) — Surfshark requires manual OpenVPN setup on most routers
• Split tunneling: Available on Windows, Mac, Android, and router (Surfshark limits split tunneling on iOS)
• Pricing: $6.67/month on a 2-year plan, $12.95/month on monthly
• Money-back guarantee: 30 days

What it does better than Surfshark: ExpressVPN's dedicated router app and Aircove support make it far easier to protect every device on a travel network simultaneously. If you carry a travel router, this is the most compatible option.

3. Private Internet Access — Best for Torrenting and P2P

Private Internet Access (PIA) is the strongest Surfshark alternative for travelers who also use P2P networks. While Surfshark technically allows torrenting on all servers, it offers no P2P-specific tools. PIA built its entire infrastructure around P2P support.

• Server network: 35,000+ servers across 91 countries, including all 50 US states
• Simultaneous connections: Unlimited
• P2P features: SOCKS5 proxy included, port forwarding available, and all 35,000+ servers support torrenting
• Open-source: Full codebase is publicly audited — Deloitte completed an independent audit in 2022
• Ad blocker: MACE blocks ads, trackers, and malware domains at the DNS level
• Pricing: $1.98/month on a 2-year plan, $11.99/month on monthly
• Money-back guarantee: 30 days

What it does better than Surfshark: At $1.98/month, PIA is cheaper than Surfshark's 2-year plan ($2.49/month) and includes port forwarding — a feature Surfshark removed in 2022. The open-source code is a significant transparency advantage.

4. CyberGhost VPN — Best for Gaming and Streaming

CyberGhost builds dedicated server categories for streaming, torrenting, and gaming — something Surfshark doesn't offer. For travelers who game on the road or need reliable Netflix/Disney+ unblocking, CyberGhost's activity-optimized servers reduce guesswork.

• Server network: 9,078 servers across 91 countries
• Simultaneous connections: 7 devices
• Gaming servers: Low-latency servers specifically optimized for gaming traffic
• SmartDNS: Allows console setup (PS5, Xbox) without installing a VPN app — critical for travelers gaming on hotel consoles or smart TVs
• RAM-only servers: Data is wiped on every reboot, same as Surfshark
• Pricing: $2.03/month on a 2-year plan, $12.99/month on monthly
• Money-back guarantee: 45 days — the longest of any major VPN

What it does better than Surfshark: The 45-day money-back guarantee gives travelers more time to test performance across multiple destinations. SmartDNS setup for consoles is also substantially simpler than Surfshark's manual router configuration.

5. Proton VPN — Best for Privacy-First Travelers

Proton VPN operates out of Switzerland (outside the 14 Eyes alliance) and is the only major VPN with a fully functional free tier that has no data caps. For travelers concerned about jurisdiction and surveillance, Proton is the strongest no-compromise option.

• Server network: 3,000+ servers across 67 countries
• Simultaneous connections: 10 devices
• Secure Core: Routes traffic through privacy-hardened servers in Iceland, Switzerland, and Sweden before exiting — provides multi-hop protection without a premium add-on
• Free tier: Unlimited bandwidth, 3 server locations (no credit card required)
• Open-source: All apps are fully open-source and independently audited
• Pricing: $4.99/month on a 2-year plan, $9.99/month on monthly
• Money-back guarantee: 30 days

What it does better than Surfshark: Swiss jurisdiction means Proton has no legal obligation to comply with EU or US data requests. Secure Core multi-hop is included in the base plan — Surfshark charges extra for its comparable MultiHop on some plan tiers.

6. Mullvad VPN — Best for Anonymous Account Creation

Mullvad uses a unique account model: you receive a randomly generated account number and never provide an email address or personal information. It accepts cash payments by mail. For travelers in restrictive regions who need maximum anonymity, no other mainstream VPN comes close.

• Server network: 700+ servers across 46 countries
• Simultaneous connections: 5 devices
• Account system: No email, no username — just a 16-digit account number
• Payment: Accepts cash, Bitcoin, Monero, and standard cards
• DAITA: Defense Against AI-guided Traffic Analysis — pads traffic patterns to defeat AI-based surveillance
• Pricing: Flat €5/month (approximately $5.50/month) — no annual discounts, same price for everyone
• Money-back guarantee: No formal policy, but first-month refunds are typically honored

What it does better than Surfshark: Mullvad's flat pricing and anonymous account system are unmatched. Surfshark requires a valid email address at signup. For journalists, activists, or travelers entering high-surveillance countries, this distinction matters enormously.

7. IPVanish — Best for Unlimited Devices on a Budget

IPVanish allows unlimited simultaneous connections — matching Surfshark — but at a lower price point on the 2-year plan, and it includes a SOCKS5 proxy with every subscription at no additional cost.

• Server network: 2,200+ servers across 75+ countries
• Simultaneous connections: Unlimited
• SOCKS5 proxy: Included at no extra cost — useful for torrenting clients that support proxy rather than VPN
• US server coverage: Servers in all 50 states, better than most competitors for US-based travelers abroad
• Pricing: $2.19/month on a 2-year plan, $12.99/month on monthly
• Money-back guarantee: 30 days

What it does better than Surfshark: IPVanish includes a SOCKS5 proxy that Surfshark charges as part of a bundle upgrade. US city-level server selection is more granular, which matters for travelers trying to access region-locked US content.

Surfshark Alternatives Comparison Table

Migration Tips: Switching from Surfshark

Canceling Surfshark and Maximizing Your Refund Window

Surfshark offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on all plans. Before canceling, sign up for your chosen alternative and test it thoroughly — particularly in the destination country you travel to most. Cancel Surfshark through the account portal (not the app store, which uses a separate billing system that doesn't qualify for the VPN's own refund policy).

Settings to Recreate on Your New VPN

• Kill switch: All seven alternatives above include a kill switch — enable it immediately after installation. Look for "Network Lock" (ExpressVPN) or "Kill Switch" in security settings.
• Split tunneling: If you used Surfshark's split tunneling to exclude banking apps, recreate this on the new app. Note that Mullvad calls this feature "Split Tunneling" and it's available on Windows and Android only.
• Startup behavior: Set your new VPN to launch on startup and auto-connect on untrusted Wi-Fi — critical for travel security.
• Protocol selection: Default to WireGuard or the provider's proprietary equivalent (NordLynx, Lightway) for best performance. Fall back to OpenVPN TCP in countries that block WireGuard.

Compatibility Notes for Common Travel Devices

• Apple TV / Smart TVs: CyberGhost and ExpressVPN both offer SmartDNS that works without a VPN app installed — the best solution for hotel TVs.
• Travel routers (GL.iNet, etc.): ExpressVPN and NordVPN both have router firmware. PIA and Mullvad support OpenVPN router configuration manually.
• Chromebooks: NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and CyberGhost all have dedicated Chrome extensions that also secure browser traffic on ChromeOS.
• Linux: PIA and Mullvad have the most fully featured Linux GUI apps — Surfshark's Linux app lacks a GUI, so this is a genuine upgrade for Linux travelers.

Which Surfshark Alternative Should You Choose?

• Best overall security upgrade: NordVPN — more servers, pre-built Double VPN, and NordLynx performance
• Best for travel router setup: ExpressVPN — dedicated router app and Aircove compatibility
• Best for P2P and torrenting: Private Internet Access — 35,000+ servers, port forwarding, open-source code
• Best for gaming on the road: CyberGhost — dedicated gaming servers, SmartDNS for consoles, 45-day guarantee
• Best for maximum privacy: Proton VPN — Swiss jurisdiction, Secure Core multi-hop, open-source apps
• Best for anonymous sign-up: Mullvad — no email, cash payments accepted, DAITA traffic obfuscation
• Best unlimited devices on a budget: IPVanish — same unlimited connections as Surfshark at a lower 2-year price with SOCKS5 included

If you're genuinely on the fence, NordVPN at $3.99/month covers the widest range of travel use cases — speed, security, server coverage, and obfuscation — in a single subscription. The extra dollar per month over Surfshark's 2-year plan is worth it for the larger server footprint and pre-built security features. But if your primary driver is cost and unlimited devices, Private Internet Access at $1.98/month is the sharpest value on this list.