Surfshark vs Windscribe:Which is more popular?

Name: Surfshark vs Windscribe: Which is searched more?
Creator: Brandwave
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

In September 2026, Surfshark had more branded searches than Windscribe among VPN services worldwide. Surfshark had about 673,000 branded searches, while Windscribe had 450,000. Surfshark made up 17% of all VPN service searches we track, and Windscribe accounted for 11.4%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about VPN services, Surfshark appeared in four of the five answers and Windscribe in two. Surfshark was mentioned before Windscribe in three out of four answers that named either.

Among VPN services worldwide in September 2026

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Top VPN services in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Surfshark was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Windscribe was mentioned in two out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in both Google AI Overviews. Surfshark was listed before Windscribe in three out of four answers that named either.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

How many AI answers named each brand
Brand	ChatGPT	Google	Answers that named it
NordVPN	Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 2 of 2 Google AI Overviews	5 of 5
Mullvad	Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 2 of 2 Google AI Overviews	5 of 5
Surfshark	Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 2 of 2 Google AI Overviews	4 of 5
ExpressVPN	Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 1 of 2 Google AI Overviews	2 of 5
Windscribe	Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 2 of 2 Google AI Overviews	2 of 5
CyberGhost	Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 0 of 2 Google AI Overviews	0 of 5

NordVPN5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Mullvad5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Surfshark4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
ExpressVPN2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Windscribe2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
CyberGhost0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about VPN services

5 answers

Asked ChatGPT
“Which VPN service should I use?”
1. 1NordVPN
2. 2Mullvad
3. 3Surfshark
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best VPN services?”
1. 1NordVPN
2. 2Surfshark
3. 3ExpressVPN
4. 4Mullvad
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best VPN service for online privacy?”
1. 1Mullvad
2. 2NordVPN
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best vpn”
1. 1NordVPN
2. 2Surfshark
3. 3Windscribe
4. 4Mullvad
Searched Google, AI Overview
“vpn service”
1. 1Windscribe
2. 2NordVPN
3. 3Surfshark
4. 4ExpressVPN
5. 5Mullvad

Not named in any answer:

CyberGhost

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.

Is Surfshark or Windscribe more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Surfshark and Windscribe by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all six VPN services we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Surfshark and Windscribe among VPN services worldwide, by month

Month	NordVPN	Surfshark	ExpressVPN	Windscribe	Mullvad	CyberGhost
Oct 2025	48%	17.6%	17.6%	7.9%	5.3%	3.5%
Nov 2025	49.6%	18.2%	14.9%	8.2%	5.4%	3.7%
Dec 2025	47.5%	17.4%	17.4%	7.8%	6.4%	3.5%
Jan 2026	47.2%	17.3%	17.3%	9.5%	5.2%	3.5%
Feb 2026	51.7%	15.5%	15.5%	8.5%	5.7%	3.1%
Mar 2026	47.8%	17.5%	17.5%	7.8%	6.4%	2.9%
Apr 2026	46.9%	17.3%	17.3%	9.4%	6.3%	2.8%
May 2026	48.5%	17.8%	14.6%	9.7%	6.5%	2.9%
Jun 2026	46.6%	17.1%	17.1%	9.4%	6.3%	3.4%
Jul 2026	50.1%	15.1%	15.1%	10.1%	6.7%	3%
Aug 2026	50.4%	15.1%	15.1%	10.1%	6.8%	2.5%
Sep 2026	46.3%	17%	13.9%	11.4%	6.2%	5.1%

How has the Surfshark and Windscribe comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings

Surfshark was ahead of Windscribe in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Surfshark’s share of searches among VPN services worldwide moved from 17.6% to 17%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 823K to 673K.
Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Windscribe’s share of searches among VPN services worldwide moved from 7.9% to 11.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 368K to 450K.

How did search popularity change for VPN services worldwide in September 2026?

2 changes

In September 2026, Surfshark overtook ExpressVPN to rank 2nd among VPN services worldwide, with 17% of the searches.
In September 2026, Windscribe gained share of searches among VPN services worldwide, from 10.1% to 11.4%.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Surfshark’s and Windscribe’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.