SonicWall SMA vs Surfshark One comparison

SonicWall and Surfshark are both solutions in the SSL VPN category. SonicWall is ranked #6 with an average rating of 9.0, while Surfshark is ranked #13. SonicWall holds a 6.8% mindshare in SV, compared to Surfshark’s 3.4% mindshare. Additionally, 91% of SonicWall users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Surfshark users who would recommend it.

SonicWall SMA

Read 15 SonicWall SMA reviews

2,766 Views
1,189 Comparison Views

91% willing to recommend

Surfshark One

Read 2 Surfshark One reviews

583 Views
583 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

SonicWall SMA

Surfshark One

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on May 21, 2025

SonicWall SMA and Surfshark One compete in digital security. SonicWall SMA shows technical strength, while Surfshark One is versatile and user-friendly.

Features: SonicWall SMA provides advanced secure remote access, in-depth threat protection, and robust network security, highlighting its focus. Surfshark One offers a VPN, antivirus, and privacy tools, showcasing its all-in-one security approach.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: SonicWall SMA has a more complex setup process with specialized support, suited for large enterprises needing customization. Surfshark One's straightforward deployment and accessible support are attractive to individual users and small businesses.

Pricing and ROI: SonicWall SMA involves a higher initial cost aimed at enterprises, ensuring robust ROI over time. Surfshark One is priced lower, offering immediate affordability and a quicker return for consumers seeking comprehensive security.

To learn more, read our detailed SonicWall SMA vs. Surfshark One Report (Updated: August 2026).

Buyer's Guide

SonicWall SMA vs. Surfshark One

August 2026

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Helped 909,725 peers since 2012

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

SonicWall SMA

Ranking in SSL VPN

6th

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

5.6

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Universal Access Gateways (2nd), Enterprise Infrastructure VPN (16th)

Surfshark One

Ranking in SSL VPN

13th

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

6.6

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of August 2026, in the SSL VPN category, the mindshare of SonicWall SMA is 6.8%, up from 4.5% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Surfshark One is 3.4%, up from 1.6% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

SSL VPN Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
SonicWall SMA	6.8%
Surfshark One	3.4%
Other	89.8%

SSL VPN

Featured Reviews

Barry Arendt

Owner at ThinkEzIT

Security enhances through autonomous protection and strong support while multi-factor authentication secures access

I haven't utilized the high availability and scalability features of SonicWall SMA yet because I've never had a need to. I don't know where they can focus their energy on continuous improvements, as I haven't been looking at what they're releasing. We're a small shop, so we drop stuff in and manage it and do what we need to do to maintain it. If we run into an issue, we contact support. There's a learning curve, but it comes down to getting support to train you on the product, and then once you have the training you need, you're able to make the changes and updates that you need to.

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Wai Kok Cheng

Head of Information Security at K2 Baseline Sdn Bhd

Offers ease of use and has an initial setup phase that is straightforward

The tool's performance is quite good till now, so I have no complaints about it. The tool still blocks IP addresses for certain websites, making it an area of concern that requires improvements. This may be because some websites don't accept VPN connections from non-VPN servers, so sometimes, users are blocked from accessing certain sites.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"The most valuable feature of this solution is they have IT consultants that know SonicWall."

"My advice to others is this solution is reliable, feature-rich, and reasonable-priced."

"These are very nice appliances and they give us all that we need for our work in the hospital."

"Secure remote access is now available from home offices."

"I like the load balancing capability, it is very fast and it has a simple interface."

"The product is extremely flexible, the program is easy to use, the performance is good, and the solution is very stable."

"The SonicWall SSL-VPN solution offers the best protection with the least effect on services."

"It is faster than other security options when using remote connections."

More SonicWall SMA pros

"It did what I needed it to do. It was easy to use."

"The solution's most valuable feature is its ease of use."

Cons

"SonicWall SMA is difficult to use and it does not provide easy access to different parts of the network."

"The solution has 2FA, it will generate a token and send it to an email, but multifactor authentication is not available. I would suggest that there should be MFA integration and provided with the appliance."

"This solution is very slow, and the competitors have much higher speeds."

"This is an expensive solution and I think that the price could be improved."

"The only thing that they could try to improve is the support for enterprise customers. Normally enterprises and SMBs can create a ticket, but for enterprises, SonicWall SMA needs to provide a global view, and this is what's currently missing. It's not even a question of timing. It's a question of the global vision because currently, it's lacking. They concentrate on the topic, but not on the means and not on the global picture. In most cases, there's something wrong with the integration of SonicWall SMA with other products, so that could also be improved."

"The product's technical support services could be improved."

"I'd like to see the product maybe polish keyboards in Bookmark."

"SonicWall's reporting isn't good. Reports should be part of a data plan. The login mechanism should be improved. It would be helpful if the client could use an agent to log in. An agent-server model would improve the performance of the RDB, which consumes a lot of bandwidth."

More SonicWall SMA cons

"The tool still blocks IP addresses for certain websites, making it an area of concern that requires improvements."

"There is room for improvement in stability."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"All the costs are included in a bundled license."

"The platform has medium pricing."

"This solution is priced well and we currently have the maximum number of licenses allowed."

"The cost of the licensing is based on the maximum number of concurrent users, and it costs a lot to add them."

"Our licenses are stackable and can be anywhere from five users to a million users."

"I don't know about the pricing of the SSL-VPN box. I know the SSL-VPN software is free. Global VPN client, by comparison, is licensed for around $150 or something like that. But the SSL-VPN software is free. It is already built-in with the box."

"There is a need to pay towards the licensing charges attached to the product. The product is reasonably priced."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Manufacturing Company

13%

Construction Company

10%

Financial Services Firm

10%

Computer Software Company

No data available

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	12
Midsize Enterprise	2
Large Enterprise	2

No data available

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for SonicWall SMA?

The pricing for the solution could be a lot less.

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What needs improvement with SonicWall SMA?

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What is your primary use case for SonicWall SMA?

I have experience with the SonicWall SMA; we have rolled it back into our stack. We use SonicWall SMA for all of our clients that need VPNs, including doctor's offices and lawyer offices. Our clien...

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Compared 12% of the time

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Compared 11% of the time

Sangfor SSL VPN vs SonicWall SMA

Compared 10% of the time

SonicWall Netextender vs SonicWall SMA

Compared 7% of the time

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Compared 53% of the time

Cisco IOS SSL VPN vs Surfshark One

Compared 25% of the time

Citrix Gateway vs Surfshark One

Compared 8% of the time

Norton Small Business vs Surfshark One

Compared 7% of the time

Sangfor SSL VPN vs Surfshark One

Compared 6% of the time

More Surfshark One Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

SonicWall SMA

July 2026

Download SonicWall SMA product report

Buyer's Guide

SSL VPN

July 2026

Download Surfshark One product report

Also Known As

SonicWall Aventail, SonicWall SMA SSL-VPN, SonicWall Secure Mobile Access

No data available

Overview

SonicWall SMA provides fast and secure remote access, serving remote desktop needs with flexibility and ease of management. Its proprietary technologies assure reliable performance and integration capabilities, ideal for scalable and diverse environments.

Renowned for its efficient remote desktop options and robust security features, SonicWall SMA is designed to streamline secure connections to internal networks. It supports home offices, mobile integrations, and multisite connectivity. Its management tools and setup ease ensure seamless operations, bolstered by advanced threat protection and endpoint control. Compatibility with federal markets adds to its scalability. Suggestions for improvement include refining menu structures, pricing competitiveness, and enhanced security like multifactor authentication, improved network handling, and better support services.

What are key features of SonicWall SMA?

Efficient Remote Desktop: Provides seamless remote desktop access with minimal delay.
File Sharing: Simplifies secure file transfer and collaboration.
Integration Capabilities: Easily integrates with existing systems for streamlined operations.
Advanced Threat Protection: Protects against modern threats with proprietary technologies.
Scalability: Supports growing businesses with flexible and scalable solutions.
Federal Market Compatibility: Adheres to standards required for federal use.

What benefits should users consider?

Ease of Use: User-friendly interface for simplified management and operations.
Performance: Reliable network performance with efficient load balancing.
Flexibility: Supports diverse environments and connectivity needs.
Affordability: Offers cost-effective remote access solutions.
Improved Security: Enhances data protection through advanced technologies.

SonicWall SMA's secure VPN connections are crucial for industries needing robust data protection. Cooperative banks leverage it for safe access to core banking systems. Service providers rely on it to secure web and desktop applications for clients.

SonicWall

Surfshark One offers a comprehensive suite of tools designed to enhance online security and privacy for users. Known for its versatile applications, it provides robust protection with a user-friendly approach that appeals to tech-savvy individuals.

Surfshark One combines advanced security protocols with cutting-edge technology to deliver a seamless online experience. It integrates multiple tools such as VPN, Antivirus, Search, and Identity Protection to ensure a complete safety net against digital threats. Users can navigate the internet securely, enjoying anonymity and peace of mind. Its design caters to privacy-conscious users who prioritize data security without compromising on speed or efficiency.

What are the key features of Surfshark One?

VPN: Ensures anonymous browsing by masking IP addresses.
Antivirus: Protects devices from malware and potential threats.
Search: Offers a private search engine free from tracking.
Identity Protection: Monitors for data breaches and alerts users.

What benefits or ROI should users look for in reviews?

Enhanced Privacy: Users find value in comprehensive privacy protection.
Cost-Effectiveness: Affordable pricing combined with extensive features.
User Experience: Seamless interface resulting in user satisfaction.
Reliability: Consistent performance across different devices.

In the healthcare and finance sectors, Surfshark One is implemented to secure sensitive data and maintain regulatory compliance. Its features aid in protecting confidential information, preventing cyber attacks, and ensuring industry-specific safeguard requirements are met for business continuity.

Surfshark

Sample Customers

UnitedStack, Newport City Homes, Faith Lutheran College Redlands, PRIME aerostructures GmbH, Celtic Manor Resort

Information Not Available

Buyer's Guide

SonicWall SMA vs. Surfshark One

August 2026

Free Report: SonicWall SMA vs. Surfshark One

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