Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups
Register | Login

Surfshark VS OpenVPN

Compare Surfshark VS OpenVPN and see what are their differences

PlexTrac
PlexTrac is the #1 AI-powered platform for pentest reporting and threat exposure management, helping cybersecurity teams efficiently address the most critical threats and vulnerabilities. featured
Contents:
  1. » Base Details
  2. » Videos
  3. » Reviews
  4. » Alternatives

Surfshark logo Surfshark

Surfshark is an award-winning, secure VPN that encrypts your online data to help you stay private & protected every day, hassle-free.

OpenVPN logo OpenVPN

OpenVPN - The Open Source VPN
  • Surfshark Landing page
    Landing page //
    2024-05-06
  • OpenVPN Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-19

Surfshark features and specs

  • Affordability
    Surfshark offers competitive pricing and often provides discounts for longer subscription periods, making it a cost-effective VPN solution.
  • Unlimited Devices
    One of Surfshark's unique features is that it allows unlimited simultaneous connections on a single account, supporting families and multiple-device households without extra costs.
  • Strong Encryption and Security Features
    Surfshark employs AES-256-GCM encryption and offers features like CleanWeb (ad-blocking), MultiHop (double VPN), and a Kill Switch for strong online security.
  • No Logs Policy
    Surfshark operates under a strict no-logs policy, ensuring that they don’t track your online activities, which is crucial for privacy-conscious users.
  • Wide Server Network
    With over 3,200 servers in 65 countries, Surfshark provides excellent global coverage for unblocking geographically restricted content.
  • 24/7 Customer Support
    Surfshark offers around-the-clock customer service via live chat and email, providing assistance whenever needed.
  • Bypasser (Split Tunneling)
    This feature allows users to choose which apps or websites go through the VPN and which connect to the internet directly, offering greater flexibility.

OpenVPN features and specs

  • Security
    OpenVPN uses robust encryption standards like AES-256, providing a high level of security for data transmission.
  • Open Source
    Being open-source, OpenVPN allows users to verify its code for vulnerabilities, ensuring transparency and reliability.
  • Flexibility
    OpenVPN can run on various platforms, including Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android, offering extensive compatibility.
  • Customizability
    Users can configure OpenVPN according to their specific needs, allowing advanced network setups and policies.
  • Performance
    OpenVPN offers strong performance with efficient handling of large data transmissions and support for high and stable speeds.
  • Community Support
    A large and active community provides ample resources, including tutorials, forums, and user support.
  • Cost
    As a free and open-source solution, OpenVPN significantly reduces the cost compared to many commercial VPN offerings.

Possible disadvantages of OpenVPN

  • Complex Setup
    Setting up OpenVPN can be complex and may require technical expertise, particularly for advanced configurations.
  • Resource Intensive
    OpenVPN can be resource-intensive compared to some other VPN protocols, potentially impacting the performance of older or lower-spec hardware.
  • Client Software
    The official OpenVPN client software has a less user-friendly interface compared to some commercial VPNs, possibly deterring less tech-savvy users.
  • Mobile Experience
    Although OpenVPN supports mobile devices, the user experience on mobile can be less streamlined compared to desktop environments.
  • Initial Learning Curve
    New users may find the initial learning curve steep due to the multitude of configuration options and the need for understanding networking concepts.
  • Support
    While community support is strong, there may not be as much immediate or personalized support as found with some commercial VPN services.

Surfshark videos

+ Add

SurfShark VPN Review 2020 - IN-DEPTH & DETAILED SurfShark Review

More videos:

  • Review - Trust DNS - unblocks websites and even that
  • Review - Surfshark VPN Review: What's the Catch? It's not what you think!
  • Review - 5 Reasons Not to Buy Surfshark VPN!
  • Review - Surfshark VPN Review 2024 - The Only Surfshark Review You'll Need! 🔥
  • Review - HONEST Surfshark review | Is it worth trying Surfshark VPN?
  • Review - Surfshark VPN Review 2024 - The Only Surfshark Review You'll Need! 🔥
  • Review - Surfshark VPN Review: Everything Revealed in 6 Minutes (PROS & CONS)

OpenVPN videos

+ Add

OpenVPN Overview

More videos:

  • Tutorial - How to setup OpenVPN on Windows | macOS | Android | iOS - Smart DNS Proxy

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Surfshark and OpenVPN)

Surfshark

OpenVPN

VPN
16 16%
VPN
84% 84
Security & Privacy
16 16%
Security & Privacy
84% 84
Cloud VPN
10 10%
Cloud VPN
90% 90
Privacy
100 100%
Privacy
0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using Surfshark and OpenVPN. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Surfshark and OpenVPN

Surfshark Reviews

The Best Top 10 VPNs for Spotify 2025
Surfshark’s Nexus technology allows users to specify entry and exit servers for MultiHop connections, providing additional security. With speeds fast enough for 4K video streaming, Surfshark is an excellent choice for Spotify users.
Source: thespotifypremiumapks.com
NordVPN vs Surfshark Comparison
NordVPN and Surfshark are both highly acclaimed VPNs, with the former having over ten years of experience and Surfshark over five. Interestingly, in 2022, NordVPN merged with Surfshark, but parent Nord Security keeps the businesses separate and intact.
Source: bestreviews.net
Best 5 Psiphon Alternatives in 2023
Last on the list is Surfshark, another name you’ve probably been hammered to death with. Surfshark’s biggest selling point is the support for an unlimited number of devices. Unlike basically all other VPNs, Surfshark allows you to connect as many devices to its service, on all of its plans! While the monthly subscription rates aren’t the cheapest, you do get some good bang...
Source: www.getdroidtips.com
Surfshark vs CyberGhost Comparison
There are a number of examples of funnily named VPN providers in the industry, and Surfshark is another entry on that list. Headquartered in the British Virgin Islands, it doesn’t just sound cool but it brings with it some pretty handy features, too, such as CleanWeb – a malware tracker and ad blocker – a kill switch, Wi-Fi protection, and more. But perhaps the most...
Source: vpn-services.bestreviews.net
The Best NordVPN Alternatives in 2022
Aside from Surfshark’s awesome private DNS and leak protection features and AES-256-GCM encryption, it boasts of an ad-blocking feature and split tunneling capability to remove your selected apps or websites from the VPN connection.
Source: www.alphr.com

OpenVPN Reviews

The top 10 alternatives to OpenVPN
OpenVPN is an open-source software application that provides virtual private network (VPN) services. It allows the creation of secure network connections over the internet, using a custom security protocol that utilizes SSL/TLS for key exchange. OpenVPN is capable of traversing network address translators (NATs) and firewalls, providing users with the ability to securely...
Source: www.twingate.com
Best Top 20 OpenVPN Alternatives (Pros and Cons)
OpenVPN is a virtual private network system used to create trusted end-to-end connection configuration and remote access services. As with any other VPN service, OpenVPN also has its own drawbacks. For instance, its inability to bypass particular proxy servers and complexities in user journeys lead to less user-friendliness. Therefore, we will be discussing a few...
Source: cloudinfrastructureservices.co.uk
6 Types of VPN Protocols, Compared: Which is the Best to Use?
In most cases, OpenVPN or WireGuard will be your best bet. PPTP is a protocol we don’t recommend using because of its relatively low-level encryption. However, you could try this protocol when privacy and security are not your highest priorities, such as for unblocking streams. If OpenVPN is not supported or does not work well for whatever reason, you could consider using...
Source: vpnoverview.com
OpenVPN vs WireGuard: Which protocol is best?
OpenVPN was first released in May 2001. Although the PPTP protocol had been around for five years already at this point, OpenVPN became popular because it offered stronger encryption without too much of a drop in speed. Over the years, vulnerabilities were patched and new clients were developed that brought OpenVPN support to a greater range of devices. This previously...
Source: www.comparitech.com
9 Best NordVPN Alternatives You Must Use In 2022
The next alternative to NordVPN on our list is OpenVPN. OpenVPN allows you to establish a point-to-point secure connection between your device and the Internet. It is a flexible VPN solution that can cater to business needs as well.
Source: wethegeek.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Surfshark might be a bit more popular than OpenVPN. We know about 48 links to it since March 2021 and only 40 links to OpenVPN. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Surfshark mentions (48)

  • World Rugby U20 Championship round 2 fixtures (Times=GMT+2)
    VPN will sort you out with the geo-blocking. I use SurfShark. Hasn't let me down yet. Cheap, fast, reliable and can be used on as many devices as you like. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Catch the Surfshark wave: with exciting new milestones and updates for June 🗞️
    Our homepage just got a facelift! It's part of our ongoing rebranding to make things easier for you. Drop by and see the new look at https://surfshark.com/! Source: almost 2 years ago
  • I’m in Canada and this is what Surfshark looks like in my apple profile when I look at my subscription. Is this odd?
    Mine looks the same way, and I also can no longer access surfshark.com. Source: about 2 years ago
  • I AM OUTRAGED
    I would recommend getting a VPN. I use Surfshark (which is good because it doesn't block torrenting, meaning, if you want to, you can pirate stuff to without the eyes of the PAP on you). Source: over 2 years ago
  • Unable to connect to Surfshark on Windows (JioFiber - India)
    VPNs which do not have servers in India are already being banned it seems. Cannot access surfshark.com without a VPN (ironic). Source: over 2 years ago
View more

OpenVPN mentions (40)

  • Ask HN: Who is hiring? (October 2023)
    OpenVPN is hiring! https://openvpn.net/ C++ Developer in the United States. Full-time| Fully remote| Flexible work schedules Link to look at vacancy details and apply:. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Are there any work arounds for the Netflix new "household" system?
    How you connect to your modem will depend on the device you are using, but for windows laptops as an example you download the OpenVPN program and input your modem details there, much like you would any other vpn service. I think there would be some guides on youtube. https://openvpn.net/. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Can i use PFSense to control incoming user connections (without a vpn?)
    I just started playing with CloudConnexa for remotely managing my second pFSense. Really nice and is free for up to 3 concurrent users. https://openvpn.net. Can also self-host OpenVPN access server with a free 2 concurrent license. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Is the 7spotlight Markle family interview airing now? Is anyone watching and can provide comment? 👀📺
    If anyone is being blocked check out free OpenVPN. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Is it possible for a sysadmin to block only some packets from a VPN connection ?
    I too haven't used the client-nat directive in some years (I currently implement 1:1 NAT with pfsense to access my network because I'm too lazy to change the networks subnet from the default) so I decided to retest and it does appear that OpenVPN Connect clients do not properly support the client-nat directive but the traditional OpenVPN server/clients still do. I've just tested this on OpenVPN 2.6.3 Server,... Source: about 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Surfshark and OpenVPN, you can also consider the following products

NordVPN - NordVPN offers VPN technology that encrypts data twice.

ProtonVPN - ProtonVPN is a security focused FREE VPN service, developed by CERN and MIT scientists. Use the web anonymously, unblock websites & encrypt your connection.

ExpressVPN - ExpressVPN is the worlds fastest VPN service.

Hotspot Shield - Hotspot Shield is a software application developed by AnchorFree, Inc.

Psiphon - Psiphon is circumvention software for Windows and Mobile platforms that provides uncensored access to Internet content. Read more about Psiphon.

Fireside VPN - FireSide VPN: Secure, Fast, and Reliable VPN Service

Loading...