Same parent company: what that means
Surfshark's about page says that in 2022 Surfshark and Nord Security merged under one holding company and continue to operate independently. It says Surfshark is based in the Netherlands, with offices in Lithuania, Poland and Germany. [1] NordVPN's support centre says NordVPN operates under the jurisdiction of Panama and that its parent, Nord Security, is based in the Netherlands. [2] Nord Security's own site lists NordVPN among its products and does not mention Surfshark. [3]
Surfshark says the two operate independently. If your reason for switching is to leave the Nord Security group, though, moving between these two will not do it. This comparison uses each company's documentation and pricing pages as of 30 October 2026. We have not tested either service.
| Area | NordVPN | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Ownership | Nord Security (Netherlands); service under Panama jurisdiction [2] | Merged with Nord Security under one holding company in 2022; based in the Netherlands [1] |
| Simultaneous devices | 10; router uses one slot [4] | Unlimited [5] |
| Per-server rule | Five devices per server, one per protocol [4] | None stated on the pricing page |
| GL.iNet login setup | WireGuard and OpenVPN [7] | WireGuard [7] |
| Money-back | 30 days, first purchase only [13] | 30 days on all three plans [5] |
| Trial | 7 days on 1- and 2-year plans in 15 countries [12] | Trials limited to 3 devices [5] |
Device limits for a travelling household
NordVPN allows up to 10 devices at once and counts a router as one device, however many phones and laptops sit behind it. Devices on the same server must use different protocols, with TCP and UDP counted separately, so at most five devices can share one server. [4] Surfshark's pricing page lists unlimited devices and unlimited simultaneous connections on its plans. [5]
With a travel router, the difference shrinks. A family of four with eight gadgets behind one router uses one NordVPN slot, leaving nine for phones that leave the hotel room. Surfshark's unlimited allowance matters more when many devices each run their own app, for example a group trip where everyone installs the VPN separately.
Router setup on GL.iNet
GL.iNet's VPN client documentation lists both NordVPN and Surfshark among the providers you can add by logging in for WireGuard. NordVPN is the only provider listed with login-based OpenVPN. [7] For manual setup, NordVPN's Nord Account offers OpenVPN files (UDP or TCP) and WireGuard (NordLynx) files from its server recommendation tool, and NordVPN recommends Verified servers. [9] NordVPN's own GL.iNet guide uses an OpenVPN file plus the separate service credentials shown in Nord Account. [10]
For Surfshark, GL.iNet documents a manual WireGuard route. Log in to Surfshark, choose Router then WireGuard, select 'I don't have a key pair', generate a new key pair, then download the configuration for the location you want. [8] Either way, the router gets a WireGuard tunnel. NordVPN additionally offers OpenVPN, which helps on networks that block WireGuard. NordVPN notes that its obfuscated servers now run on NordWhisper and cannot be reached with a manual OpenVPN connection, so obfuscation stays an app feature, not a router one. [14]
| Setup path | NordVPN | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| GL.iNet login, WireGuard | Yes [7] | Yes [7] |
| GL.iNet login, OpenVPN | Yes [7] | Not listed [7] |
| Manual WireGuard file | NordLynx config from Nord Account [9] | Generated key pair and config [8] |
| Manual OpenVPN file | UDP or TCP .ovpn plus service credentials [9][10] | Not covered in the GL.iNet docs we checked |
| Obfuscation on router | Not via manual OpenVPN [14] | Not documented in the sources checked |
Pricing and renewal
Surfshark's pricing page on 30 October 2026 showed its 24-month plans with 3 extra months. Starter and One were each $67.23 for the first 27 months ($2.49 a month), and One+ was $107.73 ($3.99 a month). VAT may apply. The page carried a Black Friday banner and tagged One as the Black Friday deal, so these first-term prices may change when that promotion ends; no coupon code is needed or published. [5] Surfshark's pricing terms say plans renew automatically at the full standard price, that it emails you 30 days before the end date except on 1-month plans, and that renewal prices may be part of A/B testing. The renewal-price section did not show amounts when we checked. [6]
NordVPN offers 2-year, 1-year and 1-month plans. Longer plans are paid in full upfront, and prices are updated regularly on its pricing page. [11] Plans renew at the applicable renewal price, and NordVPN emails you about changes before renewal. [16] NordVPN's pricing page blocked our checker on 30 October 2026, so this guide does not quote NordVPN prices. Compare both checkouts on the same day, and note the first-term total and the stated renewal price for each.
| Item | NordVPN | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Plan lengths | 2-year, 1-year, 1-month [11] | 24-month (+3 months) shown; other terms on the page [5] |
| First-term price | Not quoted here; see checkout [11] | Starter/One $67.23, One+ $107.73 for 27 months [5] |
| Renewal | Applicable renewal price; email before changes [16] | Full standard price; email 30 days before end [6] |
| Billing | Longer plans paid in full upfront [11] | Taxes added; renewal in first-payment currency [6] |
Trials, refunds and travel features
NordVPN offers a 7-day free trial for new users on 1-year and 2-year plans in 15 listed countries, with a credit card or PayPal required. It also has a separate 3-day Google Play trial for first-time Android users. [12] Its 30-day money-back guarantee covers only the first purchase, and renewals are not refundable unless local law requires otherwise. [13] Surfshark's pricing page lists a 30-day money-back guarantee on all three plans and says free trials are limited to 3 devices. [5]
For restrictive networks such as hotel, campus or office Wi-Fi, NordVPN recommends NordWhisper and uses NordLynx (WireGuard-based) by default for speed. [15] This guide does not compare Surfshark's app features in detail, because the Surfshark pages we checked covered pricing and company information only.
Who should pick which
For a family travelling with one GL.iNet router, the device limit rarely decides it, because a router counts once on NordVPN. [4] Router setup flexibility and price are the more practical deciders.
- Pick Surfshark if you need many devices each running their own app at once, or want the lower published first-term price. [5]
- Pick NordVPN if your travel router needs OpenVPN as well as WireGuard by login on GL.iNet, or you want obfuscated servers in the apps for restrictive networks. [7][14][15]
- Pick NordVPN if you want to try before paying and qualify for its 7-day trial. [12]
- Pick neither if your goal is to leave the Nord Security group: the two share a holding company. [1]
- Whichever you choose, record the renewal date on day one; both renew automatically. [6][16]
Questions before you decide
Are NordVPN and Surfshark the same company?
They share an owner. Surfshark says it and Nord Security merged under one holding company in 2022 and continue to operate independently. NordVPN says its parent, Nord Security, is based in the Netherlands, and Surfshark says it is based in the Netherlands too.
Which one works better on a GL.iNet travel router?
Both can log in directly on GL.iNet firmware for WireGuard. GL.iNet's VPN client page also lists login-based OpenVPN for NordVPN only. For manual setup, NordVPN offers WireGuard (NordLynx) and OpenVPN files in Nord Account, and GL.iNet documents generating a Surfshark WireGuard key pair and config file.
How many devices can I use?
NordVPN allows 10 simultaneous devices, and a router uses one slot. It also limits each server to five devices, each on a different protocol. Surfshark's pricing page lists unlimited devices and simultaneous connections, with free trials limited to 3 devices.
What will I pay at renewal?
Both renew automatically. Surfshark says introductory prices renew at the standard rate and that it emails you 30 days before the end date, except on 1-month plans. NordVPN says you pay the applicable renewal price and it emails you about changes before renewal. Check each checkout page for the exact renewal amount.
Sources & verification
Product details and prices can change. Check the linked provider before buying.
- Surfshark: About us Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- NordVPN Support: Where is NordVPN based Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Nord Security: About us Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- NordVPN Support: How many devices can I use with NordVPN? Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Surfshark pricing (USD) Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Surfshark: Pricing terms (renewal) Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- GL.iNet Router Docs 4: VPN Client Profile Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- GL.iNet Router Docs 4: How to get configuration files from WireGuard service providers Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- NordVPN Support: How to find various server configuration files for NordVPN Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- NordVPN Support: GL.iNet setup with NordVPN Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- NordVPN Support: How to check the plans and prices of NordVPN? Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- NordVPN Support: Does NordVPN have a free trial? Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- NordVPN Support: What is your refund policy? Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- NordVPN Support: NordVPN Obfuscated Servers are getting an upgrade - what changed? Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- NordVPN Support: Which NordVPN protocol should I choose Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- NordVPN Support: How much will I need to pay upon renewal? Accessed 30 Oct 2026
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