Software Alternatives & Startups

Surfshark VS CloudLinux

Compare Surfshark VS CloudLinux and see what are their differences

Surfshark

Surfshark is an award-winning, secure VPN that encrypts your online data to help you stay private & protected every day, hassle-free.

Rating
0 reviews
CloudLinux

Making Linux secure, stable, and profitable for thousands of hosting providers and data centers worldwide.

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source
Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, Surfshark seems to be more popular. It has been mentioned 49 times since March 2021.

social mentions
49 vs 0
VPN popularity
100% vs 0%

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

Surfshark
CloudLinux
Website surfshark.com cloudlinux.com
Pricing
Open source
Platforms
Android
—
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Surfshark 7 features
CloudLinux 5 features
  • Affordability
    Surfshark offers competitive pricing and often provides discounts for longer subscription periods, making it a cost-effective VPN solution.
  • Unlimited Devices
    One of Surfshark's unique features is that it allows unlimited simultaneous connections on a single account, supporting families and multiple-device households without extra costs.
  • Strong Encryption and Security Features
    Surfshark employs AES-256-GCM encryption and offers features like CleanWeb (ad-blocking), MultiHop (double VPN), and a Kill Switch for strong online security.
  • No Logs Policy
    Surfshark operates under a strict no-logs policy, ensuring that they don’t track your online activities, which is crucial for privacy-conscious users.
  • Wide Server Network
    With over 3,200 servers in 65 countries, Surfshark provides excellent global coverage for unblocking geographically restricted content.
  • 24/7 Customer Support
    Surfshark offers around-the-clock customer service via live chat and email, providing assistance whenever needed.
  • Bypasser (Split Tunneling)
    This feature allows users to choose which apps or websites go through the VPN and which connect to the internet directly, offering greater flexibility.

Possible disadvantages

  • Newer in the Market
    As a relatively new entrant in the VPN market, Surfshark's long-term reliability and user trust aren't as established as older providers.
  • Inconsistent Speeds
    Some users report variable connection speeds depending on server location and time, which can affect activities like streaming or gaming.
  • Limited Advanced Features
    While Surfshark offers many basic but essential features, it lacks some advanced customization options found in more established VPNs.
  • Fewer Server Locations
    Although it has a wide server selection, some competing VPN services offer more locations, which may impact users needing very specific geographies.
  • Enhanced Server Stability
    CloudLinux uses its lightweight virtualization technology (LVE) to isolate each tenant on a shared hosting server, preventing any single user from consuming excessive resources and crashing the server for everyone else. This ensures consistent uptime and performance.
  • Improved Security with HardenedPHP and KernelCare
    CloudLinux offers HardenedPHP, which patches old and unsupported PHP versions against known vulnerabilities, and KernelCare, which provides live kernel patching without requiring server reboots. These features significantly enhance server security posture.
  • Resource Limit Management
    Administrators can set granular resource limits (CPU, memory, I/O, number of processes, etc.) per user account using LVE Manager. This makes it easy to manage shared hosting environments and ensure fair resource distribution among tenants.
  • CageFS File System Virtualization
    CageFS creates a virtualized file system for each user, preventing them from seeing other users on the server, viewing sensitive configuration files, or exploiting server vulnerabilities. This adds an important layer of isolation and security.
  • Wide Compatibility with Hosting Panels
    CloudLinux integrates seamlessly with popular hosting control panels such as cPanel, Plesk, and DirectAdmin, making it straightforward for hosting providers to adopt without overhauling their existing infrastructure or workflows.

Possible disadvantages

  • Additional Licensing Cost
    CloudLinux requires a paid monthly or annual license on top of the base server cost. For smaller hosting providers or individual server owners, this additional expense can add up and may not always be justifiable compared to free alternatives.
  • Limited to CentOS/RHEL-Based Systems
    CloudLinux is built on top of RHEL/CentOS and does not support other Linux distributions like Ubuntu or Debian. This limits its adoption for hosting providers who prefer or already run non-RHEL-based environments.
  • Learning Curve for Configuration
    While CloudLinux provides powerful resource management tools, properly configuring LVE limits, CageFS, PHP Selector, and other features requires a solid understanding of the platform. Misconfiguration can lead to users being unnecessarily restricted or resources being poorly allocated.
  • Potential Performance Overhead
    The additional layers of virtualization, resource monitoring, and file system isolation introduced by CloudLinux can impose a slight performance overhead on the server compared to running a bare, unmodified Linux distribution without these controls.
  • Dependency on CloudLinux Ecosystem
    Adopting CloudLinux means relying on their ecosystem for kernel updates, PHP patches, and security fixes. If the company experiences delays in releasing patches or changes its pricing/licensing model, hosting providers may find themselves locked into a dependency that is difficult to migrate away from.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

Surfshark
CloudLinux

Overall verdict

  • Surfshark is a strong choice for those seeking a cost-effective VPN with robust security features and excellent performance. It offers great value for money and is suitable for a variety of online privacy and security needs.

Why this product is good

  • Surfshark is considered good due to its affordable pricing, unlimited device connections, strong encryption, and a no-logs policy. It also offers features like a kill switch, MultiHop for additional security, and CleanWeb for ad and malware blocking. Additionally, it has a user-friendly interface and provides fast server speeds, making it a reliable choice for both beginners and advanced users.

Recommended for

  • Users looking for a budget-friendly VPN with strong security.
  • Individuals or families who want to use a VPN on multiple devices simultaneously.
  • Anyone interested in advanced features like MultiHop and CleanWeb.
  • Users who need reliable access to geo-restricted content, such as streaming services.

Overall verdict

  • CloudLinux is a well-regarded, mature Linux OS distribution and toolset specifically designed for shared hosting and multi-tenant server environments, offering strong isolation, resource management, and security features that make it a solid choice for hosting providers.

Why this product is good

  • Provides LVE (Lightweight Virtual Environment) technology for per-tenant resource isolation, preventing 'bad neighbor' effects on shared servers
  • Enhances server stability and security by isolating users so that one account's issues (crashes, resource spikes) don't affect others
  • Offers extended lifecycle support (longer than standard CentOS/RHEL support windows), which is valuable for legacy systems
  • Includes tools like CloudLinux OS Shield, Imunify360 integration, and hardened kernel options for improved security
  • Compatible with popular control panels like cPanel and Plesk, making it easy to integrate into existing hosting stacks
  • Backed by an established company with a long track record in the hosting industry and responsive support
  • Offers granular control over CPU, memory, I/O, and other resources per user account
  • Provides PHP Selector and multiple PHP version support, useful for hosting providers serving diverse client needs

Recommended for

  • Web hosting companies running shared or reseller hosting environments
  • Hosting providers needing to isolate customer accounts on the same physical server
  • Businesses requiring extended OS support lifecycles beyond standard RHEL/CentOS EOL dates
  • Enterprises using cPanel or Plesk that want tighter security and resource control
  • Hosting companies looking to reduce support tickets caused by noisy-neighbor resource contention
  • IT teams managing multi-tenant infrastructure who need governance and monitoring tools built into the OS layer

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Surfshark 10 videos + Add
CloudLinux 3 videos + Add

Trust DNS - unblocks websites and even that

More videos

  • - SurfShark VPN Review 2020 - IN-DEPTH & DETAILED SurfShark Review
  • - Surfshark VPN Review: What's the Catch? It's not what you think!
  • - 5 Reasons Not to Buy Surfshark VPN!
  • - Surfshark VPN Review 2024 - The Only Surfshark Review You'll Need! 🔥
  • - HONEST Surfshark review | Is it worth trying Surfshark VPN?
  • - Surfshark VPN Review 2024 - The Only Surfshark Review You'll Need! 🔥
  • - Surfshark VPN Review: Everything Revealed in 6 Minutes (PROS & CONS)

When To Use Cloudlinux On Your Virtual Private Server (VPS)

More videos

  • - CloudLinux OS+ in a minute: Explore Features
  • - How CloudLinux Plans to Keep CentOS 6 Alive

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
Surfshark
CloudLinux
100% 100%
VPN
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%

User comments

Share your experience with using Surfshark and CloudLinux. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

Surfshark no reviews yet
CloudLinux no reviews yet
  • The Best Top 10 VPNs for Spotify 2025

    Surfshark’s Nexus technology allows users to specify entry and exit servers for MultiHop connections, providing additional security. With speeds fast enough for 4K video streaming, Surfshark is an excellent choice for...

  • NordVPN vs Surfshark Comparison
    bestreviews.net · Dec 2024

    NordVPN and Surfshark are both highly acclaimed VPNs, with the former having over ten years of experience and Surfshark over five. Interestingly, in 2022, NordVPN merged with Surfshark, but parent Nord Security keeps...

  • Best 5 Psiphon Alternatives in 2023
    www.getdroidtips.com · Jan 2023

    Last on the list is Surfshark, another name you’ve probably been hammered to death with. Surfshark’s biggest selling point is the support for an unlimited number of devices. Unlike basically all other VPNs, Surfshark...

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We have no reviews of CloudLinux yet. Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

Surfshark 49 mentions
CloudLinux 0 mentions
  • Building With Symfony: Scaling Surfshark’s Backend
    Launched in 2018, Surfshark is a prominent cybersecurity company that provides a range of online privacy and security solutions. Best known for its VPN service, Surfshark has a team of over 500 employees spread globally and has been... - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • World Rugby U20 Championship round 2 fixtures (Times=GMT+2)
    VPN will sort you out with the geo-blocking. I use SurfShark. Hasn't let me down yet. Cheap, fast, reliable and can be used on as many devices as you like. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Catch the Surfshark wave: with exciting new milestones and updates for June 🗞️
    Our homepage just got a facelift! It's part of our ongoing rebranding to make things easier for you. Drop by and see the new look at https://surfshark.com/! Source: over 3 years ago

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Tracking CloudLinux since Mar 2021.

Alternatives to Surfshark and CloudLinux

When comparing Surfshark and CloudLinux, you can also consider the following products.