No major VPN offers a traditional free trial in 2026 — they learned that free tiers get abused for temporary privacy needs and never convert to paying customers. Instead, NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Surfshark all operate on 30-day money-back guarantees: you pay upfront, get full access, and receive a complete refund if you cancel within 30 days. Functionally, this is a better deal than a capped trial, since you get the full experience without artificial feature limits.
The Short Answer
If you want our recommendation before the full breakdown:
- Best overall: NordVPN — fastest speeds, largest server network, best security features, reasonable price on 2-year plans.
- Best for streaming: ExpressVPN — best track record unblocking geo-restricted content across the most platforms.
- Best for unlimited devices: Surfshark — the only major VPN with no simultaneous connection limit.
NordVPN: The Benchmark
NordVPN is the most-tested VPN in independent reviews, and it consistently comes out at or near the top on speed benchmarks. With 6,300+ servers in 111 countries, it has the largest network of the three — and the technical infrastructure to match.
Speed
NordVPN uses NordLynx, a proprietary protocol built on WireGuard, the fastest modern VPN protocol. In independent tests, NordVPN typically delivers 70-80% of unprotected connection speeds over WireGuard. For most users on standard broadband, you won't notice a speed difference browsing, streaming, or on video calls.
Security Features
Beyond standard VPN encryption, NordVPN includes:
- Threat Protection: Blocks ads, trackers, and malware at the DNS level — no browser extension needed.
- Double VPN: Routes traffic through two servers for maximum anonymity (slower, but available).
- Onion Over VPN: Combines NordVPN with the Tor network for high-security use cases.
- Dark Web Monitor: Alerts you if your email appears in data breaches.
Pricing
NordVPN's 2-year plan runs $3.09/month ($74.16 billed upfront). Month-to-month is $12.99/month. The 30-day money-back guarantee applies regardless of plan. Try NordVPN risk-free for 30 days →
Best For
Power users, remote workers handling sensitive data, and anyone who wants a VPN that does more than basic connection encryption. Threat Protection alone is worth the subscription for many users.
ExpressVPN: The Streaming Specialist
ExpressVPN was the first major VPN to invest heavily in streaming unblocking, and it still leads the field. If your primary use case is accessing Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, or other geo-restricted platforms, ExpressVPN has the highest success rate and the most consistent track record.
Speed
ExpressVPN uses its own Lightway protocol, which rivals WireGuard in speed and is particularly efficient on unstable connections (like mobile data). Speed performance is close to NordVPN on most connections, with some independent tests giving ExpressVPN a slight edge on servers in Southeast Asia.
Server Network
ExpressVPN operates 3,000+ servers in 105 countries — smaller than NordVPN's network, but more strategically distributed for streaming access. ExpressVPN has historically been faster at adding new server locations when platforms shift their geo-blocking.
Pricing
ExpressVPN is the most expensive of the three: $6.67/month on a 12-month plan ($79.99 billed annually), or $12.95/month on a 6-month plan. The 30-day money-back guarantee applies to all plans. The higher price is harder to justify unless streaming unblocking is your primary use case.
Best For
Travelers, expats accessing home-country streaming libraries, and users who regularly switch between Netflix regions. ExpressVPN is also the most router-friendly VPN, with native apps for most major router firmware.
Surfshark: Best Value for Households
Surfshark's defining advantage is its connection limit: unlimited simultaneous devices on one subscription. Every other major VPN caps connections at 5-10. For a household with multiple laptops, phones, tablets, and smart TVs, Surfshark eliminates the "which devices are connected?" management overhead entirely.
Speed
Surfshark added WireGuard protocol support in 2022, which closed most of the speed gap with NordVPN. Current benchmarks put Surfshark within 5-10% of NordVPN on most server locations — not quite as fast, but fast enough for streaming and browsing without noticeable lag.
Features
Surfshark includes a built-in ad and malware blocker (CleanWeb), a Camouflage Mode that disguises VPN traffic as regular HTTPS traffic (useful in restrictive countries), and Multi-hop servers for double encryption. The full package is competitive with NordVPN on features, though NordVPN's Threat Protection is generally rated better than CleanWeb.
Pricing
Surfshark's 2-year plan is $2.49/month ($59.76 billed upfront with a one-time account setup fee). Month-to-month is $15.45/month. The 30-day money-back guarantee applies to all plans. At the 2-year price, it's the cheapest of the three. Browse our Security & VPN category for current pricing and all available deals.
Best For
Families, shared households, and anyone with more than 6 devices to protect. Also a strong pick for budget-conscious users who want full-featured VPN protection at the lowest long-term cost.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| NordVPN | ExpressVPN | Surfshark | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Servers | 6,300+ in 111 countries | 3,000+ in 105 countries | 3,200+ in 100 countries |
| Speed Protocol | NordLynx (WireGuard) | Lightway | WireGuard |
| Simultaneous Devices | 6 | 8 | Unlimited |
| Best for Streaming | Good | Best | Good |
| 2-Year Price | $3.09/mo | $6.67/mo | $2.49/mo |
| Money-Back Guarantee | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days |
How to Actually Test a VPN During the 30-Day Window
The money-back guarantee is only useful if you use it to properly evaluate the VPN. Here's what to test:
- Speed test with your actual use case — if you stream 4K video, test that. If you're mostly browsing, run a speed test at the server location you'll use most.
- Test the streaming platforms you care about — connect to a server in the US (or wherever the content is hosted) and try to play something. Confirm it actually works before the refund window closes.
- Test the kill switch — this is the feature that cuts your internet if the VPN drops. Disconnect your VPN manually while on a test connection and confirm traffic stops. A VPN without a working kill switch offers false security.
- Check for DNS leaks — visit ipleak.net while connected and confirm your real IP and DNS servers aren't exposed.
- Test customer support — send a support ticket with a real question during the trial. Support quality matters if something breaks at a critical moment.
Bottom Line
For most users, NordVPN is the right default: the fastest speeds, the most features, and 30 days to change your mind. If streaming is your priority, try ExpressVPN instead. If you're covering an entire household or want the lowest long-term cost, Surfshark wins on value.
All three offer complete refunds within 30 days — no questions asked, no tricks. Start with NordVPN or browse all VPN and security tools on TryRiskFree.