ExpressVPN vs Surfshark
Two vpn & security affiliate programs, compared field by field on verified terms. Every figure below was checked against the official program page; each profile links the source. Scoring follows our public rubric.
$13–$36 CPA by plan length · 90 days cookie
Good — best for review sites ranking for "is X VPN worth it" queries
Surfshark
Budget VPN + security suite · VPN
40%+ of first payment (CPA options) · 30 days cookie
Good — best for deal-focused and budget-tech audiences
The verdict
ExpressVPN — 74/100
ExpressVPN wins by 8 points on a longer attribution window (90 days vs 30 days), lower payout friction, stronger brand conversion. Surfshark still makes sense for a specific fit: deal-focused and budget-tech audiences.
Verified terms, side by side
| Field | ExpressVPN | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Commission | $13–$36 CPA by plan length | 40%+ of first payment (CPA options) |
| Model | One-time bounty | One-time bounty |
| Cookie duration | 90 days ✓ | 30 days |
| Est. $/first referral | ~$28 | ~$40 ✓ |
| Network | In-house | In-house |
| Payout threshold | $50 | $100 |
| Payout methods | PayPal, wire | PayPal, wire |
| Payment terms | Monthly, ~NET 30 | Monthly, ~NET 30 |
| Geo focus | Global | Global |
| Terms verified | 2026-08 | 2026-08 |
Score breakdown
Subscores are 1–10, weighted per the methodology.
Earnings power (35%)
Attribution window (20%)
Trust & conversion (20%)
Payout reliability (15%)
Ease of entry (10%)
Why pick ExpressVPN
- 90-day cookie — triple the VPN norm
- Premium brand converts affluent traffic
- Long-running, stable program
Watch out
Flat CPA caps upside
Full ExpressVPN profile →Why pick Surfshark
- Cheapest major VPN — easy conversion
- Bundled antivirus/alert products lift cart value
- Responsive affiliate team
Watch out
No renewal share
Full Surfshark profile →