Which VPN Ought to You Select?

TotalAV and Surfshark each supply reasonably priced pricing plans that mix VPN instruments with antivirus software program, main many potential consumers to weigh the professionals and cons of TotalAV VPN and Surfshark. That can assist you select the very best VPN for your corporation or private use, I’ve reviewed each Surfshark and TotalAV VPN and in contrast them under.

• TotalAV VPN: Greatest for a easy VPN bundled with antivirus safety and a password supervisor.
• Surfshark: Greatest for a highly-rated VPN that provides quick speeds and an express no-logs coverage.

TotalAV VPN vs Surfshark: Comparability desk

TotalAV VPN vs Surfshark: Pricing

Each TotalAV and Surfshark supply three tiers of pricing plans, however there are some key variations between them. Most significantly, TotalAV solely presents a VPN on its two costliest plans, whereas antivirus safety is on the market on all three. Surfshark’s plans supply the inverse: antivirus safety is barely out there on its two costliest plans, whereas the VPN is on the market on all three.

SEE: The whole lot You Have to Know in regards to the Malvertising Cybersecurity Risk (TechRepublic Premium)

TotalAV VPN pricing

TotalAV presents three yearly subscription plans. The primary tier, TotalAV VPN, doesn’t embrace a VPN, solely antivirus safety, so it’s not an excellent comparability to Surfshark. The 2 dearer tiers do embrace a VPN along with different options. Month-to-month, quarterly, and biannual subscriptions are additionally out there, however it’s essential to contact TotalAV for pricing info. The pricing for every yearly subscription is as follows:

• TotalAV Antivirus Professional: $29 for the primary 12 months and as much as 4 gadgets.
• TotalAV Web Safety: $39 for the primary 12 months and as much as 6 gadgets.
• TotalAV Complete Safety: $49 for the primary 12 months and as much as 8 gadgets.

TotalAV does supply a free trial by means of the Google Play Retailer, that means that solely Android customers can reap the benefits of it. This implies iPhone customers received’t get the good thing about a free trial. To enroll in the trial, it’s essential to first obtain the app to your machine by means of the Google Play Retailer. After making an account, it’s essential to choose a premium paid plan, after which select the choice for the seven-day free trial.

TotalAV additionally presents a 30-day money-back assure for the annual subscription and a 14-day money-back assure for the month-to-month, quarterly, or biannual subscriptions. Nonetheless, some customers report issue with getting a refund if they modify their minds. See the part “Surfshark vs TotalAV VPN on Reddit” under for first-hand person accounts.

For extra normal details about VPN pricing, see our article that explains how a lot a VPN prices on common.

Surfshark pricing

Surfshark presents three ranges of plans for people. Surfshark Starter contains the VPN plus advert and cookie pop-up blockers however not antivirus safety, so it’s not a precise comparability to TotalAV. Surfshark One provides real-time breach alerts and antivirus safety, whereas Surfshark One+ contains information elimination. The pricing for every particular person subscription is as follows:

• 24 months:
  • Surfshark Starter: $1.99 per thirty days + 4 additional months.
  • Surfshark One: $2.49 per thirty days + 4 additional months.
  • Surfshark One+: $3.99 per thirty days + 4 additional months.
• 12 months:
  • Surfshark Starter: $2.99 per thirty days + 4 additional months.
  • Surfshark One: $3.39 per thirty days + 4 additional months.
  • Surfshark One+: $5.99 per thirty days + 4 additional months.
• Month-to-month:
  • Surfshark Starter: $15.45 per thirty days.
  • Surfshark One: $17.95 per thirty days.
  • Surfshark One+: $20.65 per thirty days.

Surfshark presents each a seven-day free trial and a 30-day money-back assure, however some strings are hooked up to each of them. The seven-day free trial might be accessed by way of each the App Retailer and the Google Play Retailer, and follows steps just like the free trial sign-up for TotalAV.

Surfshark additionally presents a 30-day money-back assure. Nonetheless, the phrases of service state that subscriptions made by way of iTunes/App Retailer/Amazon, with a pay as you go card/reward card, or an nameless Devoted IP choice are usually not eligible for the 30-day money-back assure.

For extra info, take a look at the full Surfshark overview and the information that explains learn how to use Surfshark.

Surfshark vs TotalAV VPN: Characteristic comparability

VPN

Winner: Surfshark

Surfshark is broadly thought to be one of many higher VPNs available on the market at present, supporting limitless simultaneous gadgets whereas offering reasonably priced pricing plans. It additionally presents greater than 3,200 servers throughout 100 international locations, making it attainable to shortly hook up with servers world wide. It has a strict no-logs coverage and presents a number of safety protocols: WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2 VPN. Throughout my testing, I discovered utilizing Surfshark’s VPN to be simple and quick, on par with NordVPN and different high VPNs that I’ve examined.

In the meantime, TotalAV’s VPN is a little bit of an afterthought in comparison with its antivirus software program, and it exhibits. TotalAV solely has servers in 30 international locations, so solely a 3rd of the areas that Surfshark covers. Moreover, TotalAV solely has 50 servers whole in comparison with Surfshark’s 3,200 servers, which is a big distinction. This smaller server community can result in longer load instances, which is a standard criticism. I’d be remiss if I didn’t additionally level out once more that TotalAV additionally caps the variety of gadgets.

TotalAV does supply a VPN kill swap (an ordinary function supplied by Surfshark and different high VPNs), but it surely calls it a “circuit breaker” for some purpose, a alternative I discovered a bit odd. TotalAV depends on normal safety protocols (IKEv2 and OpenVPN) however doesn’t have an express no-logs coverage like Surfshark, which I used to be dissatisfied to see. TotalAV doesn’t supply break up tunneling or a devoted IP tackle choice, whereas Surfshark does.

Since TotalAV’s VPN helps fewer international locations, servers, and gadgets than Surfshark, the latter is a transparent winner on this class. If you’re searching for a VPN that’s value the associated fee (versus antivirus software program), then I strongly suggest Surfshark over TotalAV.

Antivirus safety

Winner: TotalAV

Whereas TotalAV makes the VPN really feel like an afterthought, the other is true in the case of antivirus software program. TotalAV began with antivirus safety and created a VPN at a later date, whereas Surfshark solely just lately launched antivirus options after their VPN rose to reputation. That being stated, Surfshark has began introducing new antivirus options that deliver it extra in keeping with devoted AV software program, reminiscent of webcam safety.

TotalAV presents normal antivirus options, together with zero-day cloud scanning, phishing rip-off and ransomware safety, advert blockers, a PC cleaner, a browser supervisor and cleaner, and safety for iOS and Android gadgets. It will get first rate scores from unbiased testing organizations reminiscent of AV-test and AV-Comparatives, however not good rankings.

Surfshark gives an advert blocker and cookie pop-up blocker with all plans, however you’ll must improve to a minimum of Surfshark One to get 24/7 antivirus safety (the database is up to date each three hours with new threats). This plan contains antivirus, anti-spyware, and malware safety. Just like TotalAV, Surfshark’s antivirus has gotten good-but-not-perfect scores from unbiased testing organizations.

Not like the VPN software, Surfshark’s antivirus plan is capped at 5 gadgets at a time, in comparison with 6-8 gadgets for TotalAV. Surfshark antivirus safety extends to Home windows, macOS, or Android gadgets — however not iOS gadgets, which TotalAV does shield. Surfshark additionally lacks a tool cleaner, which many PC customers admire.

If you happen to’re solely evaluating TotalAV and Surfshark’s antivirus choices, then I’d give TotalAV a slight edge resulting from its larger machine limits, iOS machine safety, and disk cleaner software. Nonetheless, for those who’re searching for actually strong antivirus safety, then I really suggest going with another that provides much more options and better testing scores.

In my view, each TotalAV and Surfshark supply light-weight antivirus options that will suffice for some customers. However I like to recommend that companies take into account going the additional mile to guard their delicate info with additional security measures like firewalls and behavior-based detection. Take a look at our picks for the greatest malware elimination software program for some ideas.

Ease of use

Winner: Surfshark

Surfshark’s VPN interface is well-designed and simple to make use of. The principle panel exhibits the standing of the server you’re presently linked to and a listing of accessible servers to select from. I used to be capable of filter the servers to indicate which of them supply Static IP or MultiHop, and I may favourite my high servers to freeze them on the high of the record. For entry to extra superior options, such because the kill swap, all I needed to do was head to the settings web page and toggle choices on and off.

TotalAV’s interface is a little more difficult, though its VPN is extra restricted than Surfshark, since TotalAV presents many different options in addition to the VPN software. The names for the menus additionally differ relying on which model of TotalAV you’re utilizing, which might make it more durable to search out. Complete VPN needs to be the primary choice listed underneath the “Web Safety” or “Privateness” part, which is positioned beneath the “Antivirus” or “Malware” part.

After you navigate to the VPN web page in TotalAV, the principle panel will present the standing of the server you’re linked to. Click on on the “Quickest” connection button to attach immediately, or discover a particular server by clicking “Choose a Location” and looking within the popup window. You can even star your high servers to favourite them.

Total, I discovered Surfshark’s interface to be just a bit bit simpler to make use of, and I prefer it presents way more documentation than TotalAV does. The VPN documentation in TotalAV’s data base is fairly sparse — solely 5 pages whole — so it’s not that useful for troubleshooting if one in every of its very restricted options does go flawed. In distinction, Surfshark presents greater than 200 assist articles for its VPN product.

TotalAV VPN execs and cons

Professionals of TotalAV VPN

• Bundled along with fundamental antivirus software program.
• Easy person interface.
• Password supervisor included in the costliest plan.
• Antivirus safety out there for each Android and iOS film gadgets.

Cons of TotalAV VPN

• VPN has fewer servers and international locations than Surfshark.
• Solely helps 6-8 gadgets relying on pricing plan.
• No VPN supplied with the most affordable plan.
• Pricing info is barely public for the annual subscription.

Surfshark execs and cons

Professionals of Surfshark

• Limitless gadgets supported on all plans.
• One of the reasonably priced VPNs available on the market.
• VPN has far more servers and international locations than TotalAV.
• Light-weight antivirus software program for customers.

Cons of Surfshark

• No antivirus safety with the most affordable plan.
• No machine cleaner included.
• Antivirus safety not out there for iOS gadgets.

Surfshark vs TotalAV VPN on Reddit

Earlier within the article, I discussed that some customers, reminiscent of @DICE_PLS_ on Reddit, have struggled to get a refund from TotalAV, regardless of the money-back assure. “I requested a refund after experiencing a technical problem that I couldn’t resolve, however the agent ended the chat with out issuing the refund I requested,” wrote @DICE_PLS_. They had been ultimately capable of get a refund after a number of makes an attempt and instructed that different customers keep away from the platform. That is one thing to bear in mind in case you are on the fence about TotalAV VPN.

As for the platforms total, TotalAV VPN will get combined Reddit opinions for its software program bundle. Many Reddit customers suggest utilizing the built-in Microsoft Defender for those who’re searching for fundamental safety for Home windows gadgets. Others instructed selecting a extra well-regarded answer, reminiscent of ESET or Bitdefender for those who’re in search of safer antivirus software program.

Many customers had comparable ideas on Surfshark’s antivirus software program, however the VPN software will get wonderful opinions total. Reddit customers particularly admire Surfshark’s quick velocity, reasonably priced costs, and limitless gadgets coverage. “It’s cheaper, which is all the time superior, and I really like that I can join as many gadgets as I need. The additional options are actually useful, and it’s tremendous simple to make use of,” wrote person @sasht in a remark.

Ought to your corporation use TotalAV VPN or Surfshark?

Select TotalAV VPN if:

• You could safe iOS gadgets with antivirus safety.
• You’re searching for a fundamental VPN with out many bells and whistles.
• You need a disk cleaner and system tune-up instruments.
• You’d like for a password supervisor to be included.

Select Surfshark if:

• You’re searching for a best-in-class VPN software with quick speeds.
• You want additional VPN options like break up tunneling and a devoted IP tackle.
• You want a VPN that may help limitless gadgets directly.
• You wish to use a service with a transparent no-logs coverage.

Methodology

To check Surfshark vs. TotalAV VPN, I signed up without cost trials, consulted product documentation, reviewed outcomes from unbiased testing organizations, and sourced person suggestions from Reddit. I thought of the variety of servers, international locations, and gadgets supported by every VPN, in addition to different options like a kill swap and break up tunneling. I additionally in contrast their 24/7 antivirus safety and associated instruments, reminiscent of advert blockers and password managers. Lastly, I weighed extra components reminiscent of pricing, interface design, and ease of use.