VPN Comparison
BlackVault vs Surfshark
TL;DR: Surfshark has carved out a niche as the budget-friendly VPN with unlimited simultaneous devices and its CleanWeb ad blocker, operating 4,500+ servers across 100 countries. BlackVault offers a more focused VPN experience at a consistently lower €1.99/mo price point - with dual protocol support, granular split tunneling, and biometric security that Surfshark lacks.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | BlackVault | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Encryption Standard | AES-256-GCM | AES-256-GCM |
| VPN Protocol | WireGuard + OpenVPN | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2 |
| Simultaneous Devices | Multi-device | Unlimited devices |
| Split Tunneling | Per-app (macOS), IP/CIDR (iOS) | All platforms |
| Custom DNS | 8 providers + DoH + custom | Private DNS |
| Always-On VPN | ✓ | ✓ |
| App Lock (Biometrics) | Face ID / Touch ID | - |
| Ad/Malware Blocker | - | CleanWeb |
| No-Logs Policy | ✓ | Audited by Deloitte (2025) |
| Kill Switch | ✓ | ✓ |
| Server Count | 50+ curated servers | 4,500+ servers in 100 countries |
| MultiHop (Double VPN) | - | ✓ |
| GPS Spoofing (Android) | - | ✓ |
| Monthly Price | €1.99/mo | ~€2–5/mo (intro rate) |
| Consistent Renewal Pricing | ✓ | - |
| Bundled Antivirus/Identity Tools | - | Surfshark One bundle |
Pricing Comparison
Surfshark
~€2–5/mo (intro pricing on 2-year plans; renewals higher)
BlackVault
€1.99/mo - consistent pricing, no renewal surprises
Pros & Cons
Surfshark does well
- •Unlimited simultaneous device connections - ideal for large households
- •CleanWeb ad and malware blocker included at no extra cost
- •Competitive intro pricing on 2-year plans, approaching BlackVault's price point
- •GPS spoofing on Android for location-dependent app access
- •MultiHop (Double VPN) routes traffic through two servers for additional obfuscation
Potential trade-offs
- •Intro pricing jumps significantly on renewal - advertised €2/mo can become €5+/mo
- •Many bundled features (antivirus, identity protection, email masking) that basic VPN users won't use
- •Newer company with a shorter track record than NordVPN or ExpressVPN
- •Merged with Nord Security in 2022 - independence as a separate product is evolving
Where BlackVault stands out
- •Consistently lowest price at €1.99/mo - no intro-to-renewal price increases
- •Dual protocol (WireGuard + OpenVPN) - Surfshark also offers both, but BlackVault adds granular DNS control
- •8 DNS providers + DNS-over-HTTPS vs Surfshark's basic private DNS
- •Biometric app lock with Face ID / Touch ID - not available on Surfshark
- •Per-app split tunneling on macOS with domain exclusions
- •Transparent single-plan pricing - what you see is what you pay, every month
- •No corporate merger complexity - independent, privacy-first operation
Who It's Best For
Surfshark
Families and households who need unlimited simultaneous devices, users who want integrated ad blocking via CleanWeb, and bargain hunters comfortable with intro-rate pricing on long-term commitments.
BlackVault
Individual users and small households who want dual-protocol VPN with biometric security, custom DNS, and granular split tunneling at a guaranteed €1.99/mo - without renewal surprises or bundled extras.
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