NordVPN 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.
40–100% of first payment + 30% on renewals · 30 days cookie
Strong — best for privacy, streaming and tech content
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
NordVPN — 75/100
NordVPN wins by 9 points on stronger earnings structure, 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 | NordVPN | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Commission | 40–100% of first payment + 30% on renewals | 40%+ of first payment (CPA options) |
| Model | Hybrid (bounty + recurring) | One-time bounty |
| Cookie duration | 30 days | 30 days |
| Est. $/first referral | ~$55 ✓ | ~$40 |
| Network | In-house | In-house |
| Payout threshold | $10 | $100 |
| Payout methods | PayPal, wire, crypto | 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 NordVPN
- Highest-converting VPN brand
- Renewal commissions are rare in VPN
- Constant discount campaigns to promote
Watch out
30-day cookie
Full NordVPN 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 →