Comparison

Surge 5 vs NextVPN

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Surge 5

This advanced network utility allows developers to intercept, process, and forward network traffic. It offers deep control over connections, including URL redirection, local file mapping, and HTTPS decryption. Ideal for debugging and network analysis.

Highlights
  • Network connection takeover
  • Modify network requests/responses
  • Forward traffic to other proxies
  • Intercept and save network data
  • Decrypt HTTPS traffic
  • Rule-based forwarding
  • Ad blocking by domain
Features
Read full description

Surge is an advanced network toolbox and proxy utility. It is designed for developers and therefore requires professional knowledge to use. These four capabilities form the core workflow of Surge: · Takeover: Take over the network connections sent by the device. Surge supports both proxy service and virtual NIC takeover, capturing HTTP, HTTPS, TCP, and UDP traffic from any app — even those ignoring proxy settings. All features work on the cellular network. · Processing: Modify the requests and responses that have been taken over: URL rewrite, header and body rewrite, local file mapping, custom DNS answers, and JavaScript-based modification. · Forwarding: Forward requests to proxy servers, either globally or driven by a flexible rule system. Policy groups select the best server automatically by latency, availability, or learned connection quality. · Intercept: Record and inspect requests and responses, including headers and bodies, and decrypt HTTPS traffic with MITM. Highlighted Features · Proxy protocols: HTTP/HTTPS, SOCKS5, SOCKS5-TLS, HTTP2 CONNECT, TrustTunnel, Shadowsocks, Snell, Trojan, Hysteria 2, AnyTLS, and SSH, with UDP relay support. · Used as a WireGuard or Tailscale client, converting the L3 VPN into a proxy policy. · Rules based on domain match/suffix/keyword/wildcard, CIDR IP range, GeoIP, ASN, protocol, port, and logical combinations; reusable rule sets hosted locally or remotely. · Policy groups: manual selection, automatic latency testing, fallback, load balancing, and the self-learning Smart group. · Complete DNS suite: DNS-over-HTTPS, DNS-over-HTTP/3, DNS-over-QUIC, DNS-over-TLS, and concurrent queries for the fastest answer. · Local DNS mapping (equivalent to /etc/hosts) with wildcards, aliases, and per-domain DNS servers. Switch your app between production and development environments without changing any code. · Decrypt HTTPS traffic with Man-in-the-Middle and a built-in CA certificate generator. · Record and display HTTP requests and responses with JSON, text, image, and video viewers for the captured body; album mode for the request list; pre-filter for capturing. · Raw L3 packet capture. · Scripting: extend Surge with JavaScript — modify requests and responses, write custom rules, customize DNS answers, and run scheduled tasks. · Block unwanted requests by rules with high-performance pre-matching. · Measure traffic usage and network speed on Wi-Fi, cellular, and proxy connections. · Remote Dashboard: observe and debug traffic in real time from a Mac via Wi-Fi or USB, including cellular traffic. · Surge Ponte: access your home or office network remotely via your own devices, with no third-party service involved. · HTTPS proxy protocol supports client-side TLS certificate validation. · Safari extension to add rules; widgets and Information Panel for quick control. · Sync profiles across devices with iCloud Drive or Dropbox. · Full IPv6 support, TLS 1.3, HTTP/2, and QUIC. · High performance and industrial-grade stability, suitable for intensive use. Surge does not provide any proxy or VPN service; you need to configure your own servers. You may read the online manual for more information: https://nssurge.com/support Terms and Conditions: https://nssurge.com/legal/terms Privacy Policy: https://nssurge.com/legal/privacy

About

NextVPN

Experience ultra-fast, secure internet access with military-grade encryption. This app offers optimized servers for streaming and gaming, with a strict no-logs policy and one-tap simplicity. Protect your data on public Wi-Fi and enjoy unlimited bandwidth.

Highlights
  • Ultra-fast global servers
  • Military-grade encrypted connection
  • Streaming optimized
  • Gaming grade performance
  • No registration required
  • Bank-grade security on public Wi-Fi
Features
Read full description

Ultra-Fast Global Servers. Zero Buffering. No Registration Required. NextVPN is a next-generation high-speed tunnel powered by advanced V2Ray and Xray protocols. Designed for users who refuse to compromise on speed or security, NextVPN offers a military-grade encrypted connection for truly private internet access. Why 500,000+ Users Trust NextVPN: • Streaming Optimized: Specifically tuned for high-definition video. Watch your favorite global streaming platforms in Ultra-HD without the "spinning circle." • Privacy First (No-Logs): No email, no sign-up. We don't just say it; we live it. Your digital footprint belongs to you alone. • Gaming Grade: Reduced ping and jitter for a competitive edge in global online games. • One-Tap Simplicity: One big button, one secure world. Advanced technology made simple for everyday use. • Bank-Grade Security: Protect your passwords and sensitive info on public Wi-Fi (Cafes, Airports, Hotels) with AES-256 encryption. Unlimited & Stable With unlimited bandwidth and 24/7 server uptime, NextVPN ensures you stay connected to the content you love, no matter where you are in the world. Join over 500,000+ satisfied users with a 4.7-star rating. Get NextVPN today! Privacy Policy: https://pages.flycricket.io/next-vpn/privacy.html Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula

Screenshots

Surge 54 screens
NextVPN3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: NextVPN at 4.7 against Surge 5's 4.1. NextVPN also leads on update cadence (weekly vs monthly) and ratings volume (45K vs 1K). Surge 5's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and chart position (#6 vs #18). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Surge 5 sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per year and NextVPN sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $4.49 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

NextVPN holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: NextVPN has 45K ratings behind it against 1K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 52% of Surge 5's written reviews are positive against 67% of NextVPN's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Surge 5 ships an update monthly, NextVPN weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
Surge 5 versus NextVPN: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSurge 5NextVPN
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.1 (1K ratings)4.7 (45K ratings) — better
Positive reviews51.7% of reviews66.6% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1K45K — better
Update frequencyMonthlyWeekly — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#6 — better#18
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple TV — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS17.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size73 MB212 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSurge Networks Inc.Surf Safe Network Ltd

Customer experience

Surge 5

All ratings1,005 ratings
Positive77.3%
Neutral2.4%
Negative20.3%
Written reviews451 reviews
Positive51.7%
Neutral4.2%
Negative44.1%

NextVPN

All ratings44,952 ratings
Positive91.1%
Neutral3.5%
Negative5.5%
Written reviews470 reviews
Positive66.6%
Neutral7.2%
Negative26.2%

Bugs and requests

Surge 5

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

NextVPN

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Frequent disconnections
  • Ads causing connection issues
  • Startup failures requiring reinstallation

Requested features

4 requests
  • Ability to manually select servers
  • More server locations
  • Lower-cost subscription options
  • Improved compatibility with older devices

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Surge 5

Subscriptions1
  • Feature Subscription$14.991 Year
One-time1
  • Surge Pro$49.99
4 purchases

NextVPN

Subscriptions4
  • NextVPN Premium(1 Week)$4.497 Days
  • NextVPN Premium(1 Month)$6.991 Month
  • NextVPN Premium 1 Week$6.997 Days
Show 1 more
  • NextVPN Premium 1 Month$12.991 Month

Questions

Is Surge 5 free?
Surge 5 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is NextVPN free?
NextVPN is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Surge 5 or NextVPN?
NextVPN is rated higher. Surge 5 averages 4.1 out of 5 from 1K ratings, while NextVPN averages 4.7 from 45K ratings.
Do Surge 5 or NextVPN have ads?
NextVPN shows ads; Surge 5 does not.
Which is updated more often, Surge 5 or NextVPN?
Surge 5 ships an update monthly, and NextVPN weekly. Most recently, Surge 5 was updated on October 29, 2026 and NextVPN on October 30, 2026.
Which is more popular, Surge 5 or NextVPN?
Surge 5 currently peaks at #6 in the App Store charts, and NextVPN at #18. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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