NordVPN vs ExpressVPN vs Surfshark: I Paid for All Three and Used Them for 30 Days Each
Every VPN comparison article I found online in 2025 read like it was written by someone who never actually used the products. Spec sheets, bullet points from press releases, and affiliate disclaimers longer than the actual content. So I did something slightly unhinged: I bought annual subscriptions to NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Surfshark, then used each one exclusively for 30 days as my daily driver. Same devices, same routine, same streaming habits. Here's what actually happened. The Testing Setup Before we get into results, here's how I tested to keep things fair: Devices: MacBook Pro M3, iPhone 15 Pro, Windows 11 desktop, Android tablet Internet: 500 Mbps fiber (Verizon Fios) Activities tested: General browsing, streaming (Netflix, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, YouTube), gaming, torrenting, video calls, speed tests Locations tested: US servers, UK servers, Japan servers, and "fastest available" auto-select Speed tests: Ookla Speedtest, run 3x daily (morning, afternoon, ...