ExpressVPN vs Surfshark Affiliate Programs: VPN Commission Comparison

VPN affiliate programs compete in the privacy and security market, with ExpressVPN and Surfshark representing different positioning strategies: premium quality versus budget-friendly alternatives.

ExpressVPN commands premium pricing with strong brand recognition and higher affiliate payouts, typically offering $50+ per sale with their established market position.

Surfshark positions as the budget-friendly alternative with competitive features at lower prices, making conversions easier but with lower per-sale commission values.

Both serve the growing privacy-conscious market, but with different approaches to pricing and affiliate compensation.

ExpressVPN Affiliate Program:

• Higher commission rates (typically $50+ per sale)
• Premium brand recognition and trust
• 30-day cookie duration
• Higher annual plan values improve commissions
• Established market leader position
• Strong conversion rates despite higher prices

Surfshark Affiliate Program:

• Competitive commission rates on lower-priced plans
• Budget-friendly pricing improves conversion rates
• 30-day cookie duration
• Unlimited device connections as selling point
• Aggressive pricing and promotional offers
• Growing market share with value positioning

ExpressVPN's higher price point typically generates more commission per sale, while Surfshark's lower prices may result in higher conversion rates for price-sensitive audiences.

ExpressVPN Affiliate Pros:

• Higher commission rates per sale
• Premium brand recognition and trust
• Strong performance and reliability reputation
• Higher annual plan values
• Established market presence
• Better conversion rates despite premium pricing

ExpressVPN Affiliate Cons:

• Higher prices may deter budget-conscious users
• Highly competitive affiliate market
• One-time commission with no recurring income
• Saturated premium VPN space

Surfshark Affiliate Pros:

• Budget-friendly pricing improves conversions
• Unlimited devices feature appeals to families
• Growing brand with expanding market share
• Competitive features at lower prices
• Less saturated affiliate market

Surfshark Affiliate Cons:

• Lower per-sale commission values
• Less brand recognition than premium competitors
• Budget positioning may reduce trust
• One-time payments with no recurring income

Choose ExpressVPN if your audience values premium quality and is willing to pay higher prices for proven performance. The higher commission rates make each sale more valuable.

Choose Surfshark if your audience is price-sensitive or needs multiple device protection. The lower prices may result in higher conversion rates, especially for international audiences.

Both programs offer one-time commissions, so success depends on constantly finding new customers rather than building recurring income.

While ExpressVPN and Surfshark compete with one-time affiliate bounties, RankRocket Pro offers 50% recurring for 12 months, serving agencies and creators who build the content that VPN affiliates need to succeed.

Successful VPN affiliate marketing requires systematic content creation — comparison articles, security guides, privacy tutorials, and SEO-optimized reviews. RankRocket Pro addresses this content scaling challenge with better long-term affiliate income.

A $99/month RankRocket Pro customer generates $49.50 monthly for 12 months ($594 total), while even a successful $50 VPN sale is finished after one payment. You'd need 12+ VPN sales to match one RankRocket Pro referral.

Plus, RankRocket Pro serves agencies and content creators who often have higher lifetime value and build sustainable businesses rather than relying on constant new customer acquisition.

The 50% founding rate won't last forever, but it currently provides superior recurring income compared to any VPN affiliate program's one-time bounty structure.