BambooVPN focuses on simplicity: a one-tap app with weekly and yearly plans, a free version with no ads and servers grouped by what you're doing. Surfshark offers 4,500+ servers in 100 countries, unlimited devices, a stealth mode and independently audited no-logs policies. Pick BambooVPN for everyday, year-round protection on the yearly plan (with a 7-day free trial), a weekly plan for a short trip, or a free start. Pick Surfshark if you need unlimited devices for a large family or a server in a specific country.
Disclosure: we make BambooVPN. Surfshark facts come from Surfshark's own website, checked on 21 October 2026, and we cover what each VPN does best.
BambooVPN vs Surfshark at a glance
| BambooVPN | Surfshark | |
|---|---|---|
| Plans | Weekly or yearly (iPhone and Android) | Monthly, 1-year or 2-year |
| Free trial | 7 days on the yearly plan (App Store, Google Play) | 7 days on 1- and 2-year plans, any platform |
| Free version | Yes, with no ads | No |
| Money-back | Through Apple's or Google's refund process | 30 days |
| Network | 50+ locations | 4,500+ servers in 100 countries |
| Devices at once | 10 | Unlimited |
| Protocols | WireGuard, OpenVPN | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, Dausos |
| Stealth mode | No | NoBorders and obfuscated servers |
| Multi-hop | Secure Core | Dynamic MultiHop |
| Ad and malware blocking | BambooShield (Pro) | CleanWeb |
| Kill switch | Yes | Yes |
| Split tunneling | Android | Yes (Bypasser) |
| Independent no-logs audit | Not yet | Deloitte, 2023 and 2025 |
| Company based in | USA | Netherlands |
Prices aren't compared because they change often. See BambooVPN's plans and Surfshark's pricing.
What BambooVPN does best
- Weekly and yearly plans. Use the yearly plan, with a 7-day free trial, for everyday protection all year, or the weekly plan for a short trip. Surfshark's plans start at one month.
- A free version. BambooVPN has free servers with no ads. Surfshark isn't a free service.
- Servers grouped by use. Choose streaming, gaming, social media, music or work, and the app recommends a server.
- One tap, simple setup. BambooVPN is built for people who want to connect and go. Pro includes BambooShield for blocking ads, trackers, malware and phishing sites.
What Surfshark offers
- Unlimited devices. One Surfshark account covers every phone, tablet and laptop in the house.
- A large network. 4,500+ servers in 100 countries.
- Obfuscation. Surfshark's NoBorders mode and obfuscated servers are built for restrictive networks.
- Independent audits. Deloitte audited Surfshark's no-logs policy in 2023 and 2025, and Cure53 ran a separate security audit in 2026.
- Extras. A rotating IP option and a dedicated IP add-on.
Plans, trials and refunds
BambooVPN is billed through the App Store or Google Play, with weekly and yearly plans. The yearly plan includes a 7-day free trial, and refunds go through Apple's or Google's normal process.
Surfshark sells 1-month, 12-month and 24-month plans in Starter, One and One+ tiers. Its 12- and 24-month plans include a 7-day free trial on any platform, and there's a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Privacy and security
Both have no-logs policies. BambooVPN's privacy policy says it doesn't log browsing activity, connection timestamps, IP addresses, DNS queries or the traffic that passes through the VPN. Surfshark backs its policy with independent Deloitte audits.
Both include a kill switch, multi-hop routing and a built-in blocker for ads and malicious sites.
Which should you choose?
- Choose BambooVPN for everyday, year-round protection on the yearly plan and its 7-day free trial, a weekly plan for a short trip, a free version to start with, or an app that picks the right server for what you're doing.
- Choose Surfshark if you want one account for the whole family, need servers in many countries, travel where VPNs are blocked, or want an audited no-logs policy.
Still deciding? See our comparison of 7 travel VPNs.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better for a family, BambooVPN or Surfshark?
Both work well for families. BambooVPN covers up to 10 devices at once, enough for most households' phones, tablets and laptops. If your family has more than 10 devices, Surfshark's unlimited devices cover them all.
Does Surfshark have a free version or a weekly plan?
No. On 21 October 2026, Surfshark's shortest plan was one month, with a 7-day trial on its longer plans and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Can I try BambooVPN for free?
Yes. You can use BambooVPN's free servers, which have no ads, and the yearly plan includes a 7-day free trial through the App Store or Google Play.
Sources
Checked on 21 October 2026: Surfshark pricing, free trial, servers, features and trust center; BambooVPN App Store, Google Play and privacy policy.
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