Proton VPN & Pass vs Surfshark: Which Security & VPN Tool Is Better in 2026?

Proton VPN & Pass

From $4.99

Surfshark

From $2.19

Quick verdict

Overall pick: Tie

Pick Proton VPN & Pass if you want a single privacy ecosystem that bundles a zero-knowledge password vault with the VPN, and you value a free entry tier and Swiss jurisdiction. Pick Surfshark if budget and device count matter most: it starts at $2.19 versus $4.99 and is positioned for households with unlimited simultaneous devices. Both cover the core security checklist, so the decision comes down to whether the password vault and free plan justify Proton's higher starting price.

Surfshark's entry plan ($2.19) is 56% cheaper than Proton VPN & Pass's ($4.99).
Proton VPN & Pass has a free plan; Surfshark does not.
Only Proton VPN & Pass offers: zero-knowledge encrypted password vault.

Try Proton VPN & Pass →Try Surfshark →

Cost calculator

Team size: 5 users

Tool	Monthly	Yearly
Proton VPN & Pass · flat	$4.99	$60
Surfshark · flat	$2.19	$26

Based on entry-level paid plans. Prices change, so check the vendor before you buy.

Which one should you choose?

If you need…	Pick	Why
Buyer who wants VPN and password manager from one vendor	Proton VPN & Pass	Proton VPN & Pass includes a zero-knowledge encrypted password vault; Surfshark does not offer a password vault.
Price-sensitive buyer comparing starting subscriptions	Surfshark	Surfshark starts at $2.19 versus $4.99 for Proton VPN & Pass, both on flat billing.
Household covering many devices at once	Surfshark	Surfshark is positioned for households and unlimited devices on a budget, at the lower starting price.
Buyer who wants to test the service before paying	Proton VPN & Pass	Proton VPN & Pass offers a free plan; Surfshark does not.
Team needing centralized admin and developer access	Tie	Both list a centralized team admin console and developer CLI/API access.

Feature comparison: Proton VPN & Pass vs Surfshark

Feature	Proton VPN & Pass	Surfshark
Free plan	✅	❌
Starting price	$4.99 /mo	$2.19 /mo
Independent no-logs security audit	✅	✅
Automatic kill switch & DNS leak shield	✅	✅
Multi-hop double encryption routing	✅	✅
Zero-knowledge encrypted password vault	✅	—
Biometric / hardware security key 2FA	✅	✅
Dark web breach monitoring & alerts	✅	✅
Centralized team admin console	✅	✅
Developer CLI & API access	✅	✅

Highlighted rows are where the tools differ.

Pros and cons

Proton VPN & Pass

Includes a zero-knowledge encrypted password vault alongside the VPN
Offers a free plan, unlike Surfshark
Covers the full feature checklist: no-logs audit, kill switch, multi-hop, biometric 2FA, dark web monitoring, team console, and API
Swiss-based, founded 2014, aimed at activists and journalists

Starting price of $4.99 is more than double Surfshark's $2.19
No stated unlimited-device positioning like Surfshark's household focus

Try Proton VPN & Pass →

Surfshark

Lowest starting price at $2.19 on flat billing
Positioned for households and unlimited devices on a budget
Covers core security features: no-logs audit, kill switch, multi-hop, biometric 2FA, dark web monitoring, team console, and API

No zero-knowledge encrypted password vault
No free plan to trial before subscribing
Founded 2018, later than Proton's 2014

Try Surfshark →

COMMUNITY POLL

Which tool would you pick for your stack?

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At a glance

Proton VPN & Pass

Swiss-based privacy ecosystem featuring high-speed VPN and end-to-end encrypted password vault.

Founded 2014 · From $4.99 · 8/8 tracked features

Best for: strict Swiss privacy laws, activists & journalists

See Proton VPN & Pass alternatives →

Surfshark

Feature-packed budget VPN with unlimited simultaneous device connections and CleanWeb.

Founded 2018 · From $2.19 · 7/8 tracked features

Best for: households, unlimited devices on a budget

See Surfshark alternatives →

FAQ

Is Proton VPN & Pass cheaper than Surfshark?

No. Proton VPN & Pass starts at $4.99, while Surfshark starts at $2.19; both use flat billing.

Does Surfshark include a password manager?

No. Surfshark does not list a zero-knowledge encrypted password vault, while Proton VPN & Pass does.

Do both offer a free plan?

No. Proton VPN & Pass has a free plan; Surfshark does not.

Do both have independent no-logs audits and kill switches?

Yes. Both list an independent no-logs security audit, an automatic kill switch with DNS leak shield, and multi-hop double encryption routing.

Which is better for teams?

Both list a centralized team admin console and developer CLI/API access, so team features do not separate them; price and the password vault do.

Related comparisons

Data last reviewed: pending verification. All Security & VPN tools →