Will it work on your OS? A practical VPN compatibility guide.

Start with your operating system, not the discount

A VPN subscription is only useful if it fits the devices you use. Windows and macOS buyers usually start with a desktop app. Linux buyers need to check a few more details: distribution, release, desktop environment, processor architecture, and whether they want a graphical app or terminal commands.

This guide compares NordVPN and Surfshark using official documentation checked on September 8, 2026. We have not installed or tested either VPN across these systems. The recommendations below are our interpretation of their documented support, not compatibility test results.

Windows, Mac, and mobile at a glance

Both providers offer apps for the main desktop and mobile platforms, but an available legacy download does not mean the current app supports that OS. Here is what their published requirements say.

Sources: NordVPN OS requirements, Surfshark Windows requirements, Surfshark Android support, and Surfshark Apple support.

An Apple documentation caveat: Surfshark describes a rolling four-release policy, but the version list on that same page is not fully consistent with it. Treat the listed minimums as a snapshot of the documentation, and confirm your exact version with the current store listing or provider support before subscribing. VPN app compatibility also does not extend the operating system vendor’s security support.

Linux: which distributions are listed?

“Works on Linux” can mean three different things: an officially listed native app, a community installation, or a manual connection through another VPN client. Those are different support commitments.

This table keeps native-app support separate from manual alternatives. “Not listed” means the provider’s cited app requirements do not name that distribution; it does not mean a connection is technically impossible.

Native-app sources: NordVPN’s confirmed distributions and Surfshark’s Linux installation requirements. Manual alternatives: Surfshark WireGuard for Linux and its WireGuard setup directory, including Raspberry Pi.

Do not infer official support for every derivative from its parent distribution. For example, sharing Ubuntu’s package format does not by itself confirm an elementary OS or Pop!_OS installation. Check the exact release and environment. Published minimum versions are not recommendations to install an old distribution.

Desktop environment and package format matter too

NordVPN names GNOME and KDE as supported desktops. Its GUI uses the CLI underneath and can be used alongside it; the provider describes DEB, RPM, and Snap installation options. Community distributions may work with limited troubleshooting for distro-specific problems. NordVPN Linux GUI documentation.

Surfshark names GNOME, KDE, and XFCE, with AMD64 or ARM64 processors and systemd or SysVinit. Its Linux download page also specifies NetworkManager 1.20.0 or newer. The setup guide links to Snapcraft and Flathub as well as a Debian-family installation method. Surfshark Linux requirements, installation options.

An RPM, Snap, or Flatpak being available is not a promise that every distribution or desktop session receives the same support. If you use a different compositor or a 32-bit ARM system, ask about that exact setup rather than relying on the word “Linux.”

GUI versus terminal: what changes day to day?

A GUI, or graphical user interface, gives you windows, buttons, and a visible location selector. A CLI, or command-line interface, lets you control the connection by typing commands. Using a terminal to install an app does not mean you have to keep using the terminal to connect.

These are workflow recommendations. Choose the interface you will comfortably use and troubleshoot; the presence of a terminal does not itself make a connection faster or more secure.

NordVPN: a GUI and a provider CLI

NordVPN’s Linux GUI exposes most, rather than necessarily all, CLI functionality. You can start with the window and use the terminal when you need a documented command. See its GUI guide.

After installing the official client and completing login, the basic terminal workflow is:

nordvpn connect
nordvpn status
nordvpn disconnect

Run these individually: connect starts the connection, status reports it, and disconnect ends it. This is a usage example, not an installation script. The official CLI guide covers installation, commands, and settings.

For a machine without a graphical session, NordVPN documents login using an account token. Generate the token through your account as instructed and treat it as a secret; do not paste it into shared scripts or support screenshots.

Surfshark: a GUI, with manual terminal alternatives

For a supported desktop, Surfshark’s current Linux setup guide centers on its graphical app. For terminal use, the provider documents manual OpenVPN and manual WireGuard, rather than the NordVPN CLI workflow above. Do not assume an old tutorial for a Surfshark CLI describes the current app.

Its WireGuard guide covers both terminal and NetworkManager setup. You obtain a configuration through your Surfshark account and use a standard client. That is a useful documented route for Arch, Manjaro, or Fedora users who are comfortable managing configuration, but it is not evidence of a native Surfshark GUI being officially supported there.

With a manual connection, verify DNS handling, routing, reconnection, and what happens if the tunnel stops. Do not assume the provider app’s kill switch, location selection, or other extras are inherited simply because the tunnel connects. Keep downloaded configurations containing private keys private.

Which setup would we choose?

Ubuntu, Debian, or Mint with a supported desktop: shortlist both native apps, using the version table above. If you prefer clicking, there is no need to rule out NordVPN on the assumption that it is terminal-only.

Fedora with a preference for a native app: NordVPN has the clearer documented fit on Fedora 43 or newer. Surfshark offers a documented manual WireGuard route; decide whether you want that maintenance responsibility.

Arch or Manjaro: Surfshark explicitly documents manual WireGuard for both. Treat community app packages as a separate choice, with their own packaging and troubleshooting considerations.

Headless Linux: NordVPN’s provider CLI and token login are worth considering. Surfshark’s manual connections are another option. Plan how you will retain remote access before changing routes on a machine reached over SSH.

Before buying, write down your OS version, Linux desktop if applicable, and processor architecture. Then confirm the specific app or manual method you intend to use. Once compatibility is settled, our NordVPN versus Surfshark comparison helps you compare device limits and subscription commitments.

Follow a setup walkthrough

Ready to configure one machine? These documentation-based guides focus on a specific setup:

• NordVPN on Fedora: GUI installation and connection checks.
• Surfshark on Manjaro: WireGuard with terminal or GUI controls.
• NordVPN on headless Ubuntu Server: token login and remote-access checks.