Surfshark VPN Review: Is It the Right Choice for You?

One of the best VPNs since its launch in 2018 is Surfshark VPN. Right now, it comes in at number two on our ranking of the top VPNs.

It has 3,200 servers in 100 places around the world. It keeps your internet safe using strong security and different ways to connect. One big benefit is that you can use it on as many devices as you want with one account.

Surfshark also gives you helpful tools like warning you if your personal data is leaked and creating a fake email and phone number to keep your real info private.

In this review, we’ll look at what Surfshark can do how easy it is to use and why it’s a great VPN choice.

Surfshark VPN Full Specification

Category	Details
Launched	2018
Rank	#2 among top VPNs
Servers	3,200+
Locations	141+
Countries Covered	100
Simultaneous Devices	Unlimited
Money-Back Guarantee	30 Days

💸 Surfshark Pricing & Plans

Plan	1 Month	1 Year	2 Years	Included Features
Starter	$15.45/month	$47.84 total ($2.99/month for 16 months)	$55.72 total ($2.19/month for 27 months)	✅ VPN access ✅ Alternative ID
One	$17.95/month	$54.24 total ($3.39/month for 16 months)	$69.72 total ($2.49/month for 28 months)	✅ Everything in Starter ✅ Ad blocker ✅ Antivirus ✅ Data breach alerts
One+	$20.65/month	$95.84 total ($5.99/month for 16 months)	$119.70 total ($3.99/month for 30 months)	✅ Everything in One ✅ Incogni (data removal from brokers)

🔐 Privacy & Security Features

Feature	Details
No-Logs Policy	Verified by Deloitte
Encryption	AES-256
Kill Switch	Yes
Split Tunneling	Yes
Multi-Hop VPN	Yes
Alternative ID	Creates fake name, email, and more
Surfshark Alert	Warns of data leaks
Surfshark Search	Private web searching
Static IP (optional)	Available at extra cost
Independent Audits	Passed by Cure53 & Deloitte

⚡ Speed & Performance

Metric	Surfshark Result
Peak Speed	950+ Mbps
UK-US Speed	950+ Mbps
OpenVPN Top Speed	460 Mbps
Competitor Speeds	NordVPN: 950 Mbps ProtonVPN: 950 Mbps ExpressVPN: 898 Mbps PIA: 436 Mbps
Streaming (4K Ready?)	Yes – Needs ~30 Mbps only

🌍 Server Network

Region	Locations
Europe	58 locations in 46 countries
Asia-Pacific	31 locations in 27 countries
Americas	41 locations in 18 countries
Middle East & Africa	9 locations in 9 countries
Total Servers	3,200+
Physical & Virtual Servers	Mix of both; stable performance

📺 Streaming & Unblocking

Service	Unblocked by Surfshark?
Netflix (US, UK, AU, CA, JP)	✅ Yes
Disney+	✅ Yes
Amazon Prime Video	✅ Yes
BBC iPlayer	✅ Yes
ITVX	✅ Yes
9Now	✅ Yes
10 play	✅ Yes
Dedicated Streaming Servers	❌ No (but still works well)
Torrenting	✅ Yes – auto-detects and switches
Port Forwarding	❌ Not supported

🛡️ Antivirus by Surfshark

Test Category	Score
Protection	6/6
Usability	6/6
Performance	5.6/6
Rated By	AV-Test (Germany)

📱 Surfshark Apps & Extensions

Platform	Key Features
Android App	Multihop, Whitelister, Bypasser, auto-connect on public Wi-Fi
iOS App	Multihop, Bypasser added, simple UI
Browser Extension	Prevents WebRTC leaks, hides IP, integrates with Alternative ID
Compatibility	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, Chrome, Firefox
Unlimited Devices	✅ Yes

💬 Customer Support

Support Type	Details
Support Center	Guides, tutorials, FAQs
Live Chat	24/7, fast and helpful
Email Support	Available
User Experience	Great for beginners, slightly limited for advanced users

Surfshark VPN Pricing and Plans: Affordable Long-Term Savings

Surfshark offers three main subscription plans: Starter, One and One+. One of the best VPNs since its launch in 2018 is Surfshark. Right now, it comes in at number two on our ranking of the top VPNs.

1. Surfshark Starter

Perfect for basic VPN use.

• 1 Month – $15.45/month
• 1 Year – $47.84 ($2.99/month for 16 months)
• 2 Years – $55.72 ($2.19/month for 27 months)

Includes:
✅ Full VPN access
✅ Alternative ID (creates fake online identities)

2. Surfshark One

Ideal for users who want extra security.

• 1 Month – $17.95/month
• 1 Year – $54.24 ($3.39/month for 16 months)
• 2 Years – $69.72 ($2.49/month for 28 months)

Includes everything in Starter, plus:
✅ Ad blocker
✅ Antivirus & anti-malware
✅ Data breach alerts

3. Surfshark One+

Best for complete online privacy.

• 1 Month – $20.65/month
• 1 Year – $95.84 ($5.99/month for 16 months)
• 2 Years – $119.70 ($3.99/month for 30 months)

Includes everything in One, plus:
✅ Incogni – removes your personal data from data brokers

Is Surfshark Worth It?

Yes, Surfshark offers strong features at a lower price than many top competitors. Its long-term plans are some of the cheapest in the VPN market, but keep in mind that prices increase when your subscription renews.

The best part? You can try Surfshark risk-free with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Surfshark VPN Features: Privacy, Security, and Value

Surfshark offers a solid combination of price, privacy, and security, making it a great choice for budget-conscious users. Although it doesn’t have as many features as some higher-priced competitors, it still provides everything most users need.

With 3,200 servers across 100 countries, Surfshark ensures fast connections, no matter where you are. It also includes helpful features like a kill switch, split tunneling, and multi-hop/double-VPN as standard. If you need a static IP address (Dedicated IP), you can add it to your plan for an extra fee.

Depending on your subscription level, you also get access to additional privacy and security features, including:

• Surfshark Alert for dark web and data breach monitoring
• Surfshark One for malware and antivirus protection
• Surfshark Search for private web searching

One standout feature is Alternative ID, which creates a fake identity (including a name, gender, age, address, and email) to use online without revealing your real personal data.

While Surfshark is great for basic online protection, it doesn’t perform as well as some competitors in areas like malware and phishing protection. It struggled to block phishing and malware sites in tests, though its ad blocking was better and comparable to other VPNs. If you’re looking for a more robust security solution, standalone products may be more effective.

Surfshark offers great value for privacy and security, but still has room to improve in some areas.

Surfshark Server Network: Reliable and Fast Connections

A strong server network is key to a VPN’s performance. While Surfshark has fewer servers than some competitors, its 3,200 servers in 141 locations across 100 countries still provide excellent coverage.

Although NordVPN offers over 7,300 servers, Surfshark’s smaller network hasn’t been an issue in real-world use. During testing, servers remained fast and reliable, with no noticeable slowdowns or congestion.

In terms of server distribution, Surfshark focuses on:

• Europe: 58 locations in 46 countries
• Asia-Pacific: 31 locations in 27 countries
• Americas: 41 locations in 18 countries
• Middle East & Africa: 9 locations in 9 countries

While coverage in Africa and the Middle East is limited, this is common among VPN providers. Some of Surfshark’s servers are virtual rather than physical, but they still deliver fast and stable connections worldwide.

Surfshark’s server network is well-optimized for speed and reliability, making it a great choice for most users.

Surfshark Streaming and Unblocking: Access Global Content

Surfshark VPN is excellent for unblocking streaming content, making it one of the best VPNs for streaming. In our tests, it easily unblocked popular services like Netflix (US, UK, Australia, Canada, Japan), Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, ITVX, 9Now, and 10 play.

Compared to pricier VPNs like NordVPN and ExpressVPN, Surfshark performs just as well in terms of unblocking content, offering great value for money.

With 3,200 servers in 105 countries, Surfshark makes it easy to find a server that works for your desired streaming service. It also has a handy Apple TV app for easy access to streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+.

While Surfshark doesn’t have dedicated streaming servers like some competitors, it still works great for streaming. It also offers torrenting-optimized servers, which it switches to automatically when it detects torrenting activity, ensuring smooth downloads.

However, Surfshark does not support port forwarding, which may be an issue for users who need to seed torrents and maintain a good upload/download ratio. Otherwise, Surfshark provides fast, reliable speeds for streaming and torrenting.

Surfshark VPN Speed and Performance

When choosing a VPN, speed is a key factor. You don’t want to experience slow browsing, buffering, or lag when streaming or gaming. This is where Surfshark excels—it’s one of the fastest VPNs available.

Speed Test Results:

• Peak Speed: 950+ Mbps
• UK-US Speed: 950+ Mbps
• Top Speed (OpenVPN): 460 Mbps

Comparison with Competitors:

• Surfshark: 950+ Mbps (Peak Speed)
• NordVPN: 950 Mbps
• Proton VPN: 950 Mbps
• ExpressVPN: 898 Mbps
• Private Internet Access: 436 Mbps

What’s Important in VPN Speed?

1. Upload Speed: The speed at which data uploads to the internet. Slow upload speeds mean longer wait times for tasks like posting photos or videos.
2. Download Speed: The speed at which data downloads to your device. A higher download speed means faster website loading, smooth HD streaming, and faster downloads.
3. Latency: Also known as “ping,” this is the delay in data reaching its destination. It’s crucial for gaming—higher latency means a slower game response time.

With Surfshark, you won’t experience issues with speeds or latency. For example, to stream 4K video, you need a download speed of around 30 Mbps, which Surfshark easily handles. You can stream, download, and game without any noticeable lag or buffering.

Surfshark VPN Privacy and Security

Surfshark claims to be a “no-logs” VPN, meaning it doesn’t track or store your browsing activities or personal information. While Surfshark’s servers briefly collect user ID and IP address data, it deletes this information within 15 minutes after a session ends. It does not store session details, websites visited, or data usage.

To back up its no-logs policy, Surfshark has passed multiple audits by trusted security firms. It has been audited twice by Cure53, a cybersecurity company, and its no-logs claims were verified by Deloitte, a global auditing firm. These audits confirm that Surfshark does not gather or sell your data.

Surfshark VPN Antivirus

In addition to its VPN, Surfshark’s antivirus has also been tested for security. It was rated highly by AV-Test, a German testing organization. The antivirus was evaluated in three areas:

1. Protection: How well it defends against malware and attacks.
2. Performance: How it affects the device’s speed.
3. Usability: How user-friendly and effective it is, with minimal false alarms.

Surfshark’s antivirus scored top marks in protection and usability, with a solid 5.6/6 for performance, making it one of the best bundled antivirus options available.

Surfshark VPN Apps

One of the best features of Surfshark is its consistent design across all devices, including desktop clients, phone apps, and browser extensions. This makes it easy to switch between using it on your phone and desktop without confusion, especially if you use multiple devices at once (thanks to Surfshark’s unlimited simultaneous connections).

All of Surfshark’s apps are available for download on its website, including for Android, iOS, Windows, and browser extensions.

Mobile Apps (Android and iOS):

• Surfshark’s Android app offers features like Multihop, app blocking, whitelisting, and split tunneling (called Bypasser). It also lets you connect to the VPN automatically in certain situations, like when connecting to public Wi-Fi.
• The iOS app is just as powerful and now includes the Bypasser feature, which was previously unavailable. Both apps are easy to set up and use.

Browser Extensions:

• One of the best browser extensions for protecting your real IP address is Surfshark which has unique features including preventing WebRTC leaks and eliminating cookie consent ads.
• Additionally, the browser extension integrates smoothly with the Alternative ID function, which lets you construct a fictitious identity and use it to automatically fill out forms.

While Surfshark’s apps are simple and user-friendly, they may not be customizable enough for users who want more advanced settings. However, if ease of use is your priority, Surfshark’s apps are well-designed and efficient.

Surfshark VPN Review: Customer Support

Answers to frequently asked questions can be found on Surfshark’s useful support site. Mostly aimed at assisting you with setting up and using the VPN, it contains tutorials, step-by-step instructions, and frequently asked questions.

Even if the support information is great for beginners, more seasoned users with more complex needs could find it inadequate.

If you need more help, Surfshark also offers live chat support. The team is really helpful and quick to respond so you can get personalized help anytime you need it.

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Pros and Cons of Surfshark VPN

✅ Pros	❌ Cons
⚡ Very fast speeds	💸 Price increases after first term
📺 Works with all streaming sites	🌍 Some servers not in real locations
📱 Use on unlimited devices	🛡️ Ad/malware blocker could be better
🆔 Extra privacy tools (like Alternative ID)	⚙️ Not many settings to customize
💬 Helpful 24/7 live chat support	–

Surfshark Review: Conclusion

With its robust features, quick speeds and apps for all main devices, Surfshark is excellent VPN. In addition to being less expensive than most of its rivals, it unblocks every streaming service we tested and enables you to connect as many devices as you like simultaneously.

Surfshark provides all features you truly need, like robust security, privacy and excellent streaming capabilities while other VPNs might provide additional services. It’s easy to suggest Surfshark if you’re looking for a dependable VPN that functions well across all of your devices.