Which VPN Ought to You Select?

TotalAV and Surfshark each provide reasonably priced pricing plans that mix VPN instruments with antivirus software program, main many potential patrons to weigh the professionals and cons of TotalAV VPN and Surfshark. That will help you select the most effective VPN for your enterprise or private use, I’ve reviewed each Surfshark and TotalAV VPN and in contrast them beneath.

• TotalAV VPN: Finest for a easy VPN bundled with antivirus safety and a password supervisor.
• Surfshark: Finest 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 provide three tiers of pricing plans, however there are some key variations between them. Most significantly, TotalAV solely provides a VPN on its two most costly plans, whereas antivirus safety is offered on all three. Surfshark’s plans provide the inverse: antivirus safety is barely accessible on its two most costly plans, whereas the VPN is offered on all three.

SEE: All the pieces You Have to Know in regards to the Malvertising Cybersecurity Menace (TechRepublic Premium)

TotalAV VPN pricing

TotalAV provides three yearly subscription plans. The primary tier, TotalAV VPN, doesn’t embody a VPN, solely antivirus safety, so it’s not a very good comparability to Surfshark. The 2 dearer tiers do embody a VPN along with different options. Month-to-month, quarterly, and biannual subscriptions are additionally accessible, however you could contact TotalAV for pricing data. The pricing for every yearly subscription is as follows:

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

TotalAV does provide a free trial via the Google Play Retailer, which means that solely Android customers can make the most of it. This implies iPhone customers gained’t get the advantage of a free trial. To enroll in the trial, you could first obtain the app to your machine via the Google Play Retailer. After making an account, you could choose a premium paid plan, after which select the choice for the seven-day free trial.

TotalAV additionally provides 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. Nevertheless, some customers report issue with getting a refund if they alter their minds. See the part “Surfshark vs TotalAV VPN on Reddit” beneath for first-hand person accounts.

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

Surfshark pricing

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

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

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

For extra data, take a look at the full Surfshark assessment and the information that explains easy methods to use Surfshark.

Surfshark vs TotalAV VPN: Characteristic comparability

VPN

Winner: Surfshark

Surfshark is broadly thought to be one of many higher VPNs in the marketplace as we speak, supporting limitless simultaneous gadgets whereas offering reasonably priced pricing plans. It additionally provides greater than 3,200 servers throughout 100 nations, making it attainable to rapidly connect with servers around the globe. It has a strict no-logs coverage and provides 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 reveals. TotalAV solely has servers in 30 nations, so solely a 3rd of the areas that Surfshark covers. Moreover, TotalAV solely has 50 servers complete in comparison with Surfshark’s 3,200 servers, which is a big distinction. This smaller server community can result in longer load occasions, 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 provide a VPN kill swap (a typical function offered by Surfshark and different high VPNs), nevertheless it calls it a “circuit breaker” for some motive, 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 disenchanted to see. TotalAV doesn’t provide break up tunneling or a devoted IP deal with possibility, whereas Surfshark does.

Since TotalAV’s VPN helps fewer nations, servers, and gadgets than Surfshark, the latter is a transparent winner on this class. In case you are in search of a VPN that’s value the associated fee (versus antivirus software program), then I strongly advocate Surfshark over TotalAV.

Antivirus safety

Winner: TotalAV

Whereas TotalAV makes the VPN really feel like an afterthought, the other is true with regards to 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 recognition. That being mentioned, Surfshark has began introducing new antivirus options that deliver it extra according to devoted AV software program, comparable to webcam safety.

TotalAV provides 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 respectable scores from unbiased testing organizations comparable to AV-test and AV-Comparatives, however not excellent rankings.

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

In contrast to the VPN device, 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.

When you’re solely evaluating TotalAV and Surfshark’s antivirus choices, then I’d give TotalAV a slight edge resulting from its greater machine limits, iOS machine safety, and disk cleaner device. Nevertheless, in the event you’re in search of really strong antivirus safety, then I really advocate going with an alternate that provides much more options and better testing scores.

For my part, each TotalAV and Surfshark provide light-weight antivirus options which will suffice for some shoppers. However I like to recommend that companies contemplate going the additional mile to guard their delicate data with additional security measures like firewalls and behavior-based detection. Take a look at our picks for the finest malware elimination software program for some options.

Ease of use

Winner: Surfshark

Surfshark’s VPN interface is well-designed and simple to make use of. The primary panel reveals the standing of the server you’re presently related to and an inventory of obtainable servers to select from. I used to be capable of filter the servers to point out which of them provide Static IP or MultiHop, and I might favourite my high servers to freeze them on the high of the checklist. 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 provides many different options in addition to the VPN device. 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 ought to be the primary possibility listed underneath the “Web Safety” or “Privateness” part, which is situated 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 related to. Click on on the “Quickest” connection button to attach immediately, or discover a particular server by clicking “Choose a Location” and looking out within the popup window. You can even star your high servers to favourite them.

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

TotalAV VPN execs and cons

Professionals of TotalAV VPN

• Bundled along with primary antivirus software program.
• Easy person interface.
• Password supervisor included in the most costly plan.
• Antivirus safety accessible for each Android and iOS film gadgets.

Cons of TotalAV VPN

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

Surfshark execs and cons

Professionals of Surfshark

• Limitless gadgets supported on all plans.
• Probably the most reasonably priced VPNs in the marketplace.
• VPN has far more servers and nations than TotalAV.
• Light-weight antivirus software program for shoppers.

Cons of Surfshark

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

Surfshark vs TotalAV VPN on Reddit

Earlier within the article, I discussed that some customers, comparable to @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 prompt that different customers steer clear of the platform. That is one thing to bear in mind in case you are on the fence about TotalAV VPN.

As for the platforms general, TotalAV VPN will get blended Reddit opinions for its software program bundle. Many Reddit customers advocate utilizing the built-in Microsoft Defender in the event you’re in search of primary safety for Home windows gadgets. Others prompt selecting a extra well-regarded answer, comparable to ESET or Bitdefender in the event you’re in search of safer antivirus software program.

Many customers had related ideas on Surfshark’s antivirus software program, however the VPN device will get glorious opinions general. 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 like that I can join as many gadgets as I would like. The additional options are actually helpful, and it’s tremendous simple to make use of,” wrote person @sasht in a remark.

Ought to your enterprise use TotalAV VPN or Surfshark?

Select TotalAV VPN if:

• You have to safe iOS gadgets with antivirus safety.
• You’re in search of a primary VPN with out many bells and whistles.
• You desire a disk cleaner and system tune-up instruments.
• You’d like for a password supervisor to be included.

Select Surfshark if:

• You’re in search of a best-in-class VPN device with quick speeds.
• You want additional VPN options like break up tunneling and a devoted IP deal with.
• You want a VPN that may help limitless gadgets directly.
• You need to use a service with a transparent no-logs coverage.

Methodology

To check Surfshark vs. TotalAV VPN, I signed up totally free trials, consulted product documentation, reviewed outcomes from unbiased testing organizations, and sourced person suggestions from Reddit. I thought of the variety of servers, nations, 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, comparable to advert blockers and password managers. Lastly, I weighed extra elements comparable to pricing, interface design, and ease of use.