At a Look
Professional’s Score
Professionals
- Limitless connections
- Nice speeds
- Audited no-logs coverage
Cons
- No IPv6 help
- Value doubles on subscription renewal
Our Verdict
Surfshark is a wonderful selection for those who’re after a VPN. It’s good worth, gives nice speeds, unblocks streaming companies and now has an audited no-logs coverage.
Value When Reviewed
From $2.49 per 30 days
Greatest Costs Right this moment: Surfshark
Whether or not you’re conversant in the title or not, Surfshark is a great-value VPN service.
It was purchased by Nord Safety, NordVPN’s mother or father firm, which additionally additionally owns AtlasVPN.
This implies Surfshark sits within the center when it comes to worth, making it the candy spot for anybody that doesn’t need to pay NordVPN’s present costs.
Surprisingly, Surfshark (and Atlas VPN) don’t place any limits on what number of units you’ll be able to connect with their respective VPN service at anyone time, whereas NordVPN does. Nevertheless, it’s uncommon you’ll ever hit NordVPN’s restrict, so this isn’t essentially the bonus you may assume it’s.
Importantly, Surfshark’s no-logs coverage has been independently audited. Deloitte confirmed in January 2023 that the corporate sticks by its coverage, so there’s no want to easily take the corporate’s phrase for it any longer.
Options & apps
- Limitless connections
- 3200 servers in 65 international locations
- Blocks adverts + trackers
- Nexus (with Dynamic Multi-Hop)
Surfshark ticks loads of bins and gives quite a bit options past the core VPN service. However to be clear, these don’t embrace Alert, Search or Antivirus, three extra options you’ll be able to pay individually for if you take out a Surfshark subscription. The bundle known as Surfshark One, however right here we’re trying solely on the VPN service.
There are Surfshark apps for a lot of units together with the principle 4 – Home windows, Mac, Android and iPhone / iPad – plus Linux (Ubuntu or Debian) and Amazon Hearth TV and Android TV apps, which each use sensible DNS to unblock streaming companies, somewhat than the VPN service0. You can even set up the Android app on a Chromebook that helps Android apps.
There are over 3200 servers throughout 100 international locations (35 greater than after we final checked). Each server runs totally in RAM and doesn’t write any knowledge to arduous drives. That’s higher for privateness, because it means no knowledge persists if a server was seized by authorities. That is one factor that was verified within the no-logs audit.
Mathilde Vicente / Foundry
A few of these servers are digital, which suggests they’re not bodily positioned of their named nation, however will provide you with an IP deal with that can place you – just about – in that nation and digital servers are clearly marked with a V within the listing.
The apps themselves are mild and clean-looking, and make it easy to pick out a location and connect with it.
There are three lists: Areas, Static IP and MultiHop. Whether or not or not there’s a person server or group of servers at every location, there isn’t a approach to see: if you click on on a location you’re related to it routinely. And there’s no approach to see how busy every location is, nor the ping you’ll be able to anticipate, so your selection is simply primarily based on location.
There’s no indication of which to hook up with for any streaming service both.
Fortuitously, none of this actually issues as you’ll see after we get to Surfshark’s efficiency shortly.
In case you’re questioning, Static IP is a not the identical as devoted IP, an add-on that sure different VPNs supply. It’s a collection of servers that everybody can use. Whenever you join to those servers, you get the identical IP deal with each time, which may also help if you want to use a service that requires you to register an IP deal with with the intention to use it.
They’re accessible within the US, UK, Japan, Germany and Singapore.
Jim Martin / Foundry
The MultiHop listing features a listing of pre-defined routes that your connection can take via two servers, corresponding to Netherlands > US – Dallas. This gives further safety and higher masking of your true location as a result of even when a web site have been capable of establish your IP deal with from the second server, it’s virtually unattainable to hint this again to the primary server and – in the end – to your actual IP deal with and site.
Just lately, this characteristic has been expanded because of Surfshark’s Nexus. It is a basic change in how its VPN service operates. As a substitute of the same old, and easy – route out of your gadget to a server after which to a web site or different on-line service, Nexus is successfully a mesh community of all Surfshark’s servers.
Now, you’ll be able to create your individual MultiHop connections, choosing not solely an ‘exit level’ – the identical factor as selecting a server in most VPN apps – however you’ll be able to specify an ‘entry level’ and, in future, some extent in between.
It’s not the best idea to elucidate, which is the place this diagram is available in:
Nexus brings different advantages, corresponding to common IP deal with modifications (a characteristic sure different VPNs already supply). That is already in Surfshark’s apps referred to as Rotating IP.
Kill swap, break up tunnelling & extra
Dig deeper into the apps’ settings and also you’ll discover loads of different options.
CleanWeb blocks adverts and as many trackers as it might whilst you browse web sites, whereas Bypasser (accessible on Home windows and Android) helps you to permit particular apps and web sites to bypass the VPN. That is referred to as break up tunnelling by different VPN companies and might be helpful for those who don’t need video games or data-heavy apps to run through the VPN.
It isn’t accessible on Macs, iPhones or iPads, although.
The Kill Change is accessible on iOS and macOS in addition to Home windows and Android. It was a plain on/off swap, however now you get the choice (in Home windows at the very least) to decide on comfortable or strict.
Jim Martin / Foundry
GPS spoofing is a characteristic distinctive to Surfshark, however is discovered solely within the Android app. Usually, apps will know you’re probably not within the US, Japan or some other location even for those who’re related to a VPN server as a result of your telephone’s GPS offers the sport away.
Spoofing that location to match the VPN server location is one other instrument within the toolbox that may assist to beat regional blocks and reclaim privateness. This doesn’t work with location-based video games corresponding to Pokémon GO, although.
Lastly, there are the browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox and Edge. These, as with many from different VPN companies, are confusingly marketed as VPNs. The truth is, they use proxy servers (as a result of an internet browser can’t set up a VPN connection).
Some measures are used, corresponding to HTTPS, to guard your privateness and safety, however they don’t encrypt all of your knowledge as a VPN does. We requested Surfshark, together with different VPN companies, to make it clear that these extensions usually are not a part of the VPN service, however regardless of saying it will accomplish that, has not.
Surfshark One
Surfshark gives further options which aren’t a part of the VPN service: the One bundle prices further on prime of your VPN subscription.
The primary is Alert. That is an ID safety service the place you’ll be able to enter e mail addresses, credit score / debit card numbers and social safety numbers and Surfshark will monitor them and notify you if any are ever leaked in an information breach.
Search, which is a bit like DuckDuckGo in that it helps you to search the online in privateness, and with no adverts. As no filtering occurs, you’ll see solely natural outcomes. Just lately this has been improved and is way much less clunky than it was.
Observe that if you use this, Surfshark will file the aggregated variety of carried out searches. It received’t retailer what you seek for or any web sites you go to, although.
The newest addition is Antivirus. With conventional safety firms corresponding to Norton, Bitdefender and McAfee all including VPNs to their suites, VPN firms at the moment are including malware safety. However as of but, not one of the fundamental check labs have printed outcomes on whether or not Surfshark’s safety is as much as scratch.
Privateness & jurisdication
If you wish to allow 2FA to guard your Surfshark account, you are able to do so through the web site or within the settings part of the app. There are two strategies of getting a code: Google Authenticator or e mail.
Undoubtedly, this does add a little bit of inconvenience every time you need to log in, however since that occurs fairly occasionally, it’s effectively price enabling because it helps to stop anybody else signing into your Surfshark account.
However what concerning the privateness of the service itself? Surfshark was registered within the British Virgin Islands, which is exterior of the jurisdiction of the 14-eyes – international locations which share intelligence with one another.
Pretty lately, however earlier than it was purchased by Nord, Surfshark switched to the Netherlands, citing “its favorable enterprise, financial and political setting, in addition to no-logs-friendly authorized jurisdiction”.
Though a 9-eyes nation, the truth that a courtroom struck down its obligatory knowledge retention coverage in 2015 signifies that Surfshark can proceed to function its no-logs coverage as earlier than.
It collects your e mail deal with and billing info if you arrange an account, and its Privateness Coverage states “We don’t accumulate any details about what you do on-line (your visited IP addresses, searching historical past, session info, used bandwidth, connection time stamps, community visitors or some other related info).”
“Our servers do retailer details about your connection to a specific VPN server (person ID and connection time stamps), BUT this info is routinely deleted inside quarter-hour after termination of your session. And be assured that no info is saved concerning the web sites you go to.”
So, general, the change in jurisdication isn’t a difficulty.
And as we’ve lined, the no-logs coverage has been audited, which gives lots of reassurance.
Efficiency & unblocking
On the subject of testing a VPN’s efficiency there are various elements and variables concerned. And since WireGuard permits such excessive speeds, you want a really quick web connection to check it.
We used a synchronous gigabit connection in San Francisco, which on the time of testing was reporting these speeds:
Jim Martin / Foundry
When related to numerous servers all over the world, utilizing WireGuard, Surfshark managed the next speeds. Clockwise from top-left, these are New York, London, Dubai and Tokyo.
Jim Martin / Foundry
These are spectacular numbers. A lot of Surfshark’s rivals – together with those who value extra, don’t supply anyplace close to these speeds. And so they’re quicker than lots of house broadband connections, that means you’ll discover little to no slowdown in any respect.
Connection occasions are comparatively swift and, as soon as related, we discovered they have been dependable, too. There’s extra excellent news, too. We discovered no IP or DNS leaks whereas testing the service.
The one niggle, which is strictly that and never a deal-breaker, is that Surfshark doesn’t help IPv6. This implies it is going to block all IPv6 visitors and pressure your units to make use of IPv4. Surfshark beforehand stated it will add IPv6 help in 2021, however it didn’t occur as a result of its priorities shifted. As of January 2023, there’s nonetheless no phrase on when this will probably be applied. For extra, see does it matter in case your VPN doesn’t help IPv6?
Unblocking
As for getting round regional blocks and accessing content material with Surfshark, we have been completely satisfied to seek out it unblocked BBC iPlayer and ITV Hub when related to a UK server. Initially, iPlayer gave us the same old error, however opening an incognito tab in Chrome sorted the issue.
Mathilde Vicente / Foundry
It’s additionally capable of unblock 15 Netflix areas and plenty of different companies corresponding to Disney+ and Amazon Prime (however keep in mind you’ll be able to solely unblock the area your Amazon account is about to). Total, Surfshark is a good selection for streaming video.
Assist
Each time we’ve tried the 24/7 on-line chat, a consultant has replied inside a minute and has been capable of reply our questions rapidly and effectively with a pleasant and cheerful angle. Simply observe that chat is obtainable on Surfshark’s web site, not within the apps, and you need to scroll to the underside on the help web page to seek out the “Chat with us” button.
Value & plans
Surfshark, like all VPN companies, gives massive reductions for those who join a 12 months or extra. On the time of writing, it was providing 82% off its one-month subscription worth if you join a two-year subscription.
See Surfshark plans.
That prices £58.37 / $59.76, which works out as £2.43 / $2.30 per 30 days – and also you get two months further free, a complete of 26 months. The UK costs right here embrace VAT, which is why they’re increased than the costs proven on Surfshark’s web site, which don’t.
Sadly, as with NordVPN, there’s a nasty shock when the subscription renews: roughly the identical quantity is then billed yearly, making it twice as costly.
We’d counsel cancelling the subscription earlier than it renews and getting one other VPN deal.
If you’d like the additional options in Surfshark One, they value £1.34 / $1.49 per 30 days
There’s no free trial however a 30-day a refund assure gives a approach to attempt Surfshark and get a refund for those who’re not happy with the service. Cost choices embrace bank card, PayPal and Google Pay in addition to cryptocurrency choices for many who need to pay anonymously. All fee strategies say they are often refunded, even crypto.
Verdict
We’ve at all times stated that Surfshark gives nice worth, and that’s nonetheless true in 2023 because the service is markedly higher than it was when it launched in 2018.
With new options corresponding to Dynamic MultiHop and Rotating IP that goes together with it, plus nice speeds, succesful unblocking, plus the very fact there’s no restrict to the variety of units you should utilize with the VPN service, there’s little to complain about.
Simply do not forget that some options aren’t accessible in some apps and we’d actually like Surfshark to make it quite a bit clearer that the browser extensions don’t supply VPN safety.
Nevertheless, for the overwhelming majority of people that simply need a VPN for unblocking and a few further privateness on-line, Surfshark is a wonderful selection.
For options to Surfshark, see our suggestions of the perfect VPNs.