Affiliate disclosure: VPN Vetted is reader-supported. Some links below are affiliate links (marked “sponsored”): if you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We rank by published features, documentation and price, not by what we earn. NordVPN and Surfshark both belong to Nord Security (Surfshark’s merger announcement); the two brands say they operate independently. We hold both to the same criteria.
Prices and features checked October 25, 2026, between 01:08 and 01:12 BRT, on the official US pages, in USD, before sales tax.
Short answer: a VPN and an antivirus do different jobs, so a bundle can make sense, but only if the antivirus part is real. Our pick is Surfshark One: it adds an actual antivirus app with on-device scans (up to 5 devices) to a VPN with unlimited devices, and right now it costs the same $67.23 for 27 months as the VPN-only Starter plan. NordVPN Complete is the pick if you want Nord’s VPN plus a password manager and cloud storage, but its anti-malware is desktop only and it renews at $219.48 a year. If you’re on Windows and careful, the built-in Windows Security may already cover the antivirus side.
Do you need both?
Here’s the split:
- A VPN encrypts the connection between your device and the VPN server. It protects you on public Wi-Fi, hides your browsing from your ISP and hides your home IP address from sites. It does not scan files.
- An antivirus looks at what’s on your device or about to land on it: downloads, files, apps. It doesn’t encrypt your connection.
Surfshark’s own antivirus page puts it plainly: it’s “best to run a VPN together with an antivirus.” NordVPN draws the line in a similar place. It says “traditional antivirus software focuses on what’s already on your device,” while its next-gen antivirus “focuses on what happens before” a threat gets there: dangerous downloads, sites and links.
So you need both kinds of protection. The question is whether you need to pay for the antivirus part, and whether a bundle is the cheapest way to get it.
Bundle table: what’s included
| Surfshark One | NordVPN Complete | Windows Security | |
|---|---|---|---|
| VPN | Yes, unlimited devices | Yes, 10 devices | No (VPN apps sold separately) |
| Antivirus type | Antivirus app with quick, full and scheduled scans, webcam protection | “Anti-malware & browsing protection powered by next-gen antivirus” | Microsoft Defender Antivirus, real-time |
| Antivirus platforms | Windows 10+, macOS 11+, Android 10+ (not Windows ARM) | Desktop only | Windows 10 and 11 |
| Antivirus devices | Up to 5 | Not stated per device; plan covers 10 | The PC it’s on |
| Malicious site blocking | Clean Web | Scam & phishing protection (all plans) | Microsoft Defender SmartScreen |
| Extras | Alert (breach alerts), Search, Alternative ID | Password manager, 1 TB cloud storage, ad & tracker blocker, email protection | Windows Firewall, Smart App Control |
| First-term price | $67.23 for 27 months | $107.73 for 27 months | Included with Windows |
| Renewal | $99.00/year | $219.48/year | — |
| Link | Check Surfshark price | Check NordVPN price | Windows Security |
Best antivirus + VPN bundles
1. Surfshark One: best value bundle
Surfshark One packs the VPN together with Antivirus, Alert (alerts when your email, IDs or cards show up in data breaches), Search (an ad-free search engine), Alternative ID and the Clean Web blocker. Surfshark’s antivirus FAQ says it isn’t sold on its own: asked about a standalone purchase, it answers “Currently — no. Surfshark Antivirus only comes in the Surfshark One bundle with a VPN, Alert, and Search.” Its renewal-terms page, though, lists a standalone “Antivirus” at $99.00 a year and a “Surfshark One add-on” (Antivirus, Alert and Search) at $1.49 a month or $17.88 a year. We could not confirm whether new customers can buy either one, so check at checkout.
The antivirus is a proper scanning app. Surfshark lists support for up to 5 devices, a malware database “updated every 3 hours,” webcam protection and customizable scans. It runs on Windows 10 and later, macOS Big Sur 11 and later, and Android 10 or later, but it’s “not compatible with Windows ARM” or non-64-bit Android devices. If you’re on an ARM laptop or iPhone, the antivirus part won’t help you.
Price is the strong point today. Surfshark One is $2.49/mo, $67.23 for the first 27 months, the same as the VPN-only Starter plan during its current deal. It renews at $99.00 a year (vs $79.00 for Starter). Surfshark One+ adds Incogni data-broker removal (420+ brokers) and identity theft coverage for $107.73 for 27 months, renewing at $119.00 a year. All plans cover unlimited devices for the VPN and have a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Pros: real on-device antivirus; same first-term price as VPN-only right now; clear published renewal.
- Cons: antivirus limited to 5 devices; no Windows ARM or iOS antivirus; renewal is $20/year more than Starter ($99.00 vs $79.00).
2. NordVPN Complete: best for an all-in-one Nord account
NordVPN’s plans changed shape. Every plan, including Basic, has “Scam and phishing protection,” which filters dangerous sites through DNS while you’re connected to the VPN. The heavier protection, “Anti-malware & browsing protection powered by next-gen antivirus,” is listed as “Desktop only” and comes with Complete and Prime, not Basic.
Nord describes that next-gen antivirus (formerly Threat Protection Pro) as a malware scanner for downloads, a vulnerability scanner, a malicious website blocker and email protection. Its page says that “when enabled, it runs even without a VPN connection,” while the DNS-based blocking needs the VPN on. We’re describing it the way Nord does. We haven’t run our own malware tests.
Complete also adds an ad and tracker blocker (desktop), email protection for Gmail and Yahoo (desktop), a password manager and 1 TB of cloud storage. Prime adds identity theft insurance up to $1M (US, except New York) and credit monitoring.
Prices: Complete is $3.99/mo, $107.73 for the first 27 months, then $219.48 a year. Prime is $188.73, then $296.28 a year. Basic, without the anti-malware, is $94.23, then $139.08 a year. All plans cover 10 devices with a 30-day money-back guarantee, and Nord says renewal can be billed up to 14 days before your term ends.
- Pros: password manager and cloud storage in the same account; protection works without the VPN on; Prime adds US identity insurance.
- Cons: anti-malware is desktop only; renewal more than doubles Surfshark One’s; 10-device cap.
What about Norton or Bitdefender?
Both sell security suites that include a VPN. We didn’t verify their current prices and plan contents on their official pages today, so we’re not ranking them here.
Built-in protection (Windows Security) vs paid
If you use Windows 10 or 11, you already have an antivirus. Microsoft says the Windows Security app “includes features such as Microsoft Defender Antivirus, Windows Firewall, and Smart App Control,” built into Windows and providing “real-time protection against viruses, malware, and other security threats.” Microsoft Defender SmartScreen warns you about “potentially malicious” websites and downloads. If you’re a Microsoft 365 Family or Personal subscriber, Microsoft adds its Microsoft Defender app for Windows, Mac, iOS and Android.
What Windows doesn’t include is a VPN of its own; Microsoft points you to VPN apps in the Microsoft Store.
That gives you three sensible setups:
- Windows Security + a VPN-only plan. Cheapest for a single Windows PC. Surfshark Starter or NordVPN Basic covers the connection side.
- Surfshark One. Worth it if you also want antivirus on a Mac or Android phone, or one app that handles both. Today it costs no more than Starter for the first term.
- NordVPN Complete. Worth it if you’ll actually use the password manager and cloud storage, not only for the anti-malware.
Renewal prices
Bundles look cheap on the first term and less cheap afterwards. These are the official renewal prices we found:
| Plan | First term | Then |
|---|---|---|
| Surfshark Starter (VPN only) | $67.23 for 27 months | $79.00/year |
| Surfshark One | $67.23 for 27 months | $99.00/year |
| Surfshark One+ | $107.73 for 27 months | $119.00/year |
| NordVPN Basic (no anti-malware) | $94.23 for 27 months | $139.08/year |
| NordVPN Complete | $107.73 for 27 months | $219.48/year |
| NordVPN Prime | $188.73 for 27 months | $296.28/year |
Surfshark notes that 2-year plans renew on a 1-year term. The same table lists a standalone Antivirus ($99.00/year) and a One add-on ($17.88/year); Surfshark’s FAQ says the antivirus only comes with One, so we can’t say whether new customers can buy these separately. Set a calendar reminder before renewal and check whether a new deal beats the renewal price.
How we evaluated
We didn’t run lab or malware tests, and we don’t quote detection rates. We compared what each provider officially publishes (checked October 25, 2026, 01:08–01:12 BRT):
- Is the antivirus real? On-device scanning vs web and DNS filtering only.
- Platform coverage: which operating systems the antivirus part supports.
- Device limits: for the VPN and the antivirus separately.
- Price and renewal: first-term price and the published renewal rate.
- Extras you’d use: breach alerts, password manager, storage.
- Free baseline: what Windows already includes.
For more on the identity side of these bundles, see our guides to the best identity theft protection, the best data removal service and the best password manager for families.
FAQ
Do I need antivirus if I have a VPN?
Yes. A VPN encrypts your connection; it doesn’t scan files or apps. Surfshark’s own page says it’s “best to run a VPN together with an antivirus.” On Windows, the built-in Microsoft Defender Antivirus can cover the antivirus side.
Is Windows Security enough?
For many careful home users on Windows 10 or 11, it’s a reasonable baseline: Microsoft says it gives “real-time protection against viruses, malware, and other security threats,” plus a firewall and SmartScreen. It doesn’t include a VPN, and it doesn’t cover your Mac or Android phone.
Which antivirus includes a VPN?
Of our picks, Surfshark One includes a full antivirus app (up to 5 devices) with its VPN, and NordVPN Complete and Prime include desktop anti-malware with the VPN. Surfshark’s FAQ says its antivirus only comes with Surfshark One, but its renewal terms list a standalone Antivirus ($99.00/year) and a One add-on ($17.88/year); we couldn’t confirm that new customers can buy either, so check at checkout. NordVPN Basic includes only DNS-based scam and phishing protection.
Are bundles cheaper than buying separately?
Sometimes. Today Surfshark One costs the same $67.23 for 27 months as Surfshark’s VPN-only plan, so the antivirus adds nothing to the first-term price; it then renews $20 a year higher ($99.00 vs $79.00). Surfshark’s renewal table also lists a standalone Antivirus at $99.00/year and a One add-on at $17.88/year, but we couldn’t confirm that new customers can buy them, so check at checkout before assuming a cheaper route. NordVPN Complete costs $13.50 more than Basic up front and renews $80.40 a year higher, but also adds a password manager and cloud storage.
Verdict
Surfshark One is the best antivirus-plus-VPN bundle for most people right now: a real antivirus app on up to 5 Windows, Mac or Android devices, a VPN with unlimited devices, and a first-term price no higher than VPN-only. Choose NordVPN Complete if the password manager and 1 TB of storage matter to you and you mostly need protection on desktop. If you only use one Windows PC, Windows Security plus a VPN-only plan is the cheapest honest answer.
Check Surfshark price · Check NordVPN price
Sources (official pages, checked on October 25, 2026)
- Surfshark pricing: https://surfshark.com/pricing (~01:09 BRT)
- Surfshark renewal prices: https://surfshark.com/terms-of-service/pricing (~01:10 BRT; re-read ~01:37 BRT)
- Surfshark One: https://surfshark.com/one (~01:09 BRT)
- Surfshark Antivirus: https://surfshark.com/antivirus (~01:09 BRT; FAQ re-read ~01:37 BRT)
- Surfshark and Nord Security merger: https://surfshark.com/blog/surfshark-merges-with-nord-security
- NordVPN pricing (US/USD): https://nordvpn.com/pricing/ (~01:09 BRT)
- NordVPN next-gen antivirus: https://nordvpn.com/features/threat-protection/ (~01:09 BRT)
- Microsoft Support, Windows Security app: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/stay-protected-with-the-windows-security-app-2ae0363d-0ada-c064-8b56-6a39afb6a963 (~01:11 BRT)
- Microsoft, Windows 11 security: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/comprehensive-security (~01:11 BRT)