Compare GOOSE VPN and Surfshark on capabilities, jurisdiction, assurance, and fit for European buyers.
Both listed as alternatives to: ExpressVPN
Netherlands· VPN Services
Needs review
Shortlist GOOSE when you want a simple Dutch B.V. consumer VPN with multi-platform apps, optional Cyber Alarm threat alerts, and prepaid/lifetime packaging. Skip when you need independent no-logs audits, WireGuard-first fleets, or strict anonymity ops—prefer Mullvad, Proton VPN, or AirVPN instead.
Netherlands· VPN Services
Needs review
Shortlist Surfshark when you need unlimited concurrent devices, a large RAM-only commercial VPN network, and optional Surfshark One suite tools under a Dutch legal entity. Skip when you need ownership diversification away from the Nord Security group, open-source clients, cash-only anonymous accounts, or hard EU-only account processing without US-group SaaS — consider Proton VPN or Mullvad instead.
Highlighted rows differ between the two products.
| Feature | GOOSE VPN | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Country of origin | Netherlands | Netherlands |
| Category | VPN Services | VPN Services |
| Open source | No | No |
| Self-hosted | No | No |
| Headquarters | Netherlands | Netherlands |
| Legal entity | GOOSE B.V. (KvK 34278975), Treubstraat 31, 2288 EH Rijswijk | Surfshark B.V. (Kabelweg 57, 1014BA Amsterdam, the Netherlands) |
| Governing law | Dutch law; competent court Rotterdam (terms) | Netherlands / EU GDPR as controller per Privacy Policy |
| US parent / control | No known US parent | No known US parent |
| CLOUD Act exposure (indicative) | Medium | Medium |
| Hosting / residency | Vendor claims VPN server network owned/administered by Goose B.V. (NL) with 100+ exits in ~30 countries including US and other non-EU regions. No public DC/subprocessor register for infrastructure. Website/support path cookies name Cloudflare, Google Analytics, Facebook, LiveChat, Trustpilot, and affiliate tooling (US-group/global SaaS). | Global RAM-only VPN server network (vendor: 4,500+ servers / 100+ countries). Account/support/analytics/payments subprocessors per Privacy Policy include Google (Firebase Analytics, BigQuery), Cloudflare, Zendesk, Stripe and other PSPs, AppsFlyer, Iterable, Purchasely, Telnyx, plus group companies in EEA, UK, and the United States. Transfers use SCCs or adequacy. |
| Summary | Dutch GOOSE B.V. VPN for consumers: multi-platform apps, IKEv2/OpenVPN, optional Cyber Alarm threat alerts, streaming and P2P-labelled servers, subscription or lifetime packaging. | Dutch-registered VPN and Surfshark One cybersecurity suite: unlimited devices, RAM-only servers, audited no-logs claims, and optional antivirus, leak alerts, and identity tools. |
| Tags |
| At a glance | GOOSE VPN | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| HQ | Rijswijk, Netherlands (GOOSE B.V.) | Not listed |
| Founded | Around 2016 (company materials) | Not listed |
| Protocols | IKEv2 (default), OpenVPN, L2TP/IPSec, PPTP | Not listed |
| Network | 100+ servers / ~30 countries (vendor) | Not listed |
| Open source | No | No (closed-source clients) |
| Self-host | No (SaaS VPN) | Not listed |
| Commercial model | Subscription + lifetime; device tiers; 30-day refund | Not listed |
| HQ / legal entity | Not listed | Surfshark B.V., Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Ownership | Not listed | Merged holding with Nord Security (2022); brands operate separately |
| Deployment | Not listed | Cloud VPN / SaaS suite (not self-hosted) |
| Device model | Not listed | Unlimited simultaneous connections (paid plans) |
| VPN network | Not listed | 4,500+ RAM-only servers, 100+ countries (vendor-stated) |
| Primary audits | Not listed | Deloitte no-logs 2023/2025; Cure53; SecuRing |
| Key capabilities | GOOSE VPN | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Dutch GOOSE B.V. | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-platform apps | Yes | Not listed |
| IKEv2 + OpenVPN | Yes | Not listed |
| Cyber Alarm (optional) | Yes | Not listed |
| Lifetime plan option | Yes | Not listed |
| Unlimited devices | Not listed | Yes |
| RAM-only servers | Not listed | Yes |
| Deloitte no-logs (claimed) | Not listed | Yes |
| VPN + One suite | Not listed | Yes |
| Closed source | Not listed | Yes |
Dutch-operated multi-platform VPN apps
Native clients for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Android TV, and many routers under GOOSE B.V. (Rijswijk). One-click connect with autopilot for trusted networks. Plan tiers cap simultaneous devices (commonly 1/5/10)—confirm the current package before multi-device rollouts.
IKEv2 default plus OpenVPN, L2TP, and PPTP
Official FAQ lists IKEv2 as the standard protocol, with OpenVPN (harder to block, more HTTPS-like), L2TP/IPSec (routers), and legacy PPTP. WireGuard is not listed on the primary protocol FAQ—teams standardising on WireGuard should verify client builds or consider another provider.
Streaming- and P2P-labelled server map
GOOSE advertises 100+ servers across about 30 countries (including EU exits plus US, Canada, Asia, Oceania, and Brazil). Dedicated streaming labels and P2P-allowed nodes; terms ban P2P on servers marked No P2P and may terminate accounts for violations.
Cyber Alarm in-tunnel threat notifications
Optional Cyber Alarm analyses traffic inside the VPN tunnel against a malware/ransomware database (updated frequently) and pushes alerts plus a dashboard/weekly report. Vendor FAQ: not fully anonymous while Cyber Alarm is on; switch to a normal VPN server for stricter anonymity.
Kill switch and stated 256-bit encryption
Marketing and product pages claim AES-style 256-bit encryption and a kill switch that blocks traffic if the VPN drops. Useful on public Wi-Fi; still validate DNS/IPv6 leak behaviour on your OS stack—GOOSE does not publish a third-party security audit PDF.
Unlimited simultaneous VPN connections
One subscription covers every concurrent device the account can run — phones, laptops, TVs, routers — without the 5–12 device caps common on rival plans. Best for households and multi-device freelancers; confirm current ToS limits for free trials.
RAM-only global VPN network with modern protocols
Vendor-stated 4,500+ RAM-only servers across 100+ countries; WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, and in-house Dausos. Nexus features include MultiHop, IP Rotator, Everlink self-healing, and FastTrack routing. Server counts and locations change — verify live map before region-critical use.
Surfshark One security suite (beyond the tunnel)
Optional bundling of antivirus (AV-TEST scored), Alert leak monitoring, Alternative ID (disposable persona/email/number), private Search, and Incogni data-broker removal on higher tiers. Suite tools process extra personal data by design — read the Privacy Policy scopes before enabling them.
Nexus MultiHop, IP Rotator, and CleanWeb
Dynamic MultiHop for entry/exit pairing, periodic IP rotation without full disconnect, CleanWeb ad/tracker blocking, plus kill switch and bypass controls. Useful for privacy-sensitive browsing and shared networks; not a substitute for endpoint hardening on high-risk devices.
Audited no-logs posture and public security tests
Deloitte no-logs assurance reported for 2023 and 2025 (account-gated full reports); public Cure53 and SecuRing assessment PDFs for infrastructure/apps. Treat as strong consumer-grade transparency, not automatic enterprise ISO/SOC coverage.
| Assurance & compliance | GOOSE VPN | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Independent security / no-logs audit | Not found Privacy policy claims no activity/DNS/connection-IP logging on VPN path; no public third-party audit PDF located | Vendor claimed Deloitte no-logs assurance reports for 2023 and 2025 (ISAE 3000 framing per vendor; full reports account-gated). Public Cure53 and SecuRing security/infrastructure PDFs also published on Trust Center. |
| ISO 27001 | Not found | Not found Not found as a primary advertised company-wide certification on Trust Center pages reviewed for this draft. |
| SOC 2 / SOC 3 | Not found | Not found Not found as a primary advertised company-wide certification on Trust Center pages reviewed for this draft. |
| GDPR / EU data protection | Vendor claimed Dutch controller GOOSE B.V.; privacy policy cites GDPR Art. 6 bases and data-subject rights via contact form | Vendor claimed Dutch B.V. controller; Privacy Policy cites GDPR, DSAR rights, SCCs/adequacy for transfers. Not legal advice. |
| US CLOUD Act exposure (indicative) | Partial EU entity / no known US parent, but public site uses Cloudflare, Google Analytics, Facebook, LiveChat and similar US-group SaaS; VPN exits include US locations. Not legal advice. | Partial EU entity / no known US parent, but Privacy Policy lists US-group subprocessors (Google analytics/storage, Cloudflare, Zendesk, Stripe, AppsFlyer, Telnyx, US group companies) for account/support/marketing/payments paths. VPN no-logs claims do not eliminate account-data exposure. Indicative only — not legal advice. |
| Data processing agreement (B2B) | Not found Privacy policy mentions processor agreements with subprocessors; no public B2B DPA download/portal found | Not found No clear public self-serve B2B DPA package found on primary pages; Teams is sales/quote-driven. Confirm contract language before enterprise use. |
| EU AI Act | Not applicable Consumer VPN / threat filter product, not an AI system offering under typical AI Act scoping | Not applicable Consumer VPN/security suite; AI-assisted scam-check features exist but product is not AI-centric as primary category. |
| VPN Trust Initiative seal | Not listed | Vendor claimed Vendor displays VTI certification/seal on About and Trust materials; confirm current listing on vpntrust.net if required. |
| Considerations & known limitations | GOOSE VPN | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| No public independent no-logs audit | High Security and privacy claims rest on first-party policy language. High-sensitivity buyers should demand audit evidence or choose an audited peer. | Not listed |
| US-group website and support subprocessors | Medium Cookie/privacy tables list Cloudflare, Google Analytics, Facebook, LiveChat and others on the marketing/support path—separate from the claimed self-run VPN tunnel but relevant for account and support data. | Not listed |
| PPTP and L2TP still offered | Medium Official FAQ still documents PPTP and L2TP/IPSec. Misconfiguration can weaken security; enforce OpenVPN or IKEv2 in managed environments. | Not listed |
| Cyber Alarm reduces anonymity | Medium Vendor states Cyber Alarm analyses tunnel traffic and is not fully anonymous. Enable only when threat alerts outweigh anonymity goals. | Not listed |
| Netherlands Fourteen Eyes jurisdiction | Low Dutch HQ is EU/GDPR-friendly for many buyers but is not a classic privacy-haven jurisdiction. Align with your threat model. | Not listed |
| Fair-use bandwidth policy | Low Terms allow GOOSE to contact heavy users (about 1% of network bandwidth) to reduce use or pay more despite unlimited marketing language. | Not listed |
| Shared holding with Nord Security | Not listed | Medium After the 2022 merger, Surfshark and Nord brands sit under one industry group even if infrastructure is separate. Shortlists that need ownership diversification should not treat NordVPN as an independent alternative. |
| US-group SaaS in account data path | Not listed | Medium Privacy Policy names Google, Cloudflare, Zendesk, Stripe, AppsFlyer, Telnyx and US group companies among recipients. Practical impact: account, support, billing, and marketing data may be reachable via US legal process even when VPN activity is claimed unlogged. |
| Limited public enterprise certs / DPA | Not listed | Medium Strong consumer-facing audit marketing (Deloitte, Cure53, SecuRing) but ISO 27001/SOC 2 and a self-serve DPA were not found on primary pages. Regulated buyers need extra contract and evidence work. |
| Suite features expand personal data processing | Not listed | Low Alert, Alternative ID/number, email scam checker, and Incogni process additional identifiers or content by design. Enabling the full One suite widens the privacy surface beyond pure VPN tunneling. |
| Closed-source client applications | Not listed | Low Clients are not open source; buyers who require public code review of VPN apps should prefer peers with OSS clients. |
When: You need audit-led no-logs evidence and anonymous account options
Consider: Mullvad
Stronger independent reputation and cash/crypto-style anonymity culture than GOOSE's retail model
When: You want an EU brand with broader suite integration and published security programme depth
Consider: Proton VPN
Better fit when VPN is part of a wider EU privacy stack
When: You need power-user configuration, port forwarding, and community-driven server transparency
Consider: AirVPN
Prefer when GOOSE's consumer simplicity is not enough
When: You want open-source clients, a free tier option, and a privacy stack outside the Nord/Surfshark group
Consider: Proton VPN
Smaller device cap than Surfshark’s unlimited concurrent connections; stronger open-source posture.
When: You prioritize account-number privacy, minimal identity linkage, and a tunnel-focused product
Consider: Mullvad
Fewer lifestyle suite tools; different commercial and account model.
When: You want peer-reviewed AirVPN-style advanced networking features and a non-Nord ownership path
Consider: AirVPN
Different audience and ops model; check current catalog status and docs.
When: You already standardize on Nord products and only need another brand under the same holding
Consider: NordVPN
Sibling brand after 2022 merger — not ownership diversification.