At a Glance

Expert’s Rating

Pros

• Unlimited simultaneous machine connections
• Works nicely with Netflix
• Built-in extras resembling advert tracker and malware blocking
• Low worth on long-term plans

Cons

• Indicators for ping or server load are usually not available
• Based within the Netherlands and topic to authorities information sharing requests

Our Verdict

Surfshark has firmly established itself on the earth of VPNs, providing good speeds, limitless connections, a clear and easy-to-use Windows app, and a large server unfold. It additionally presents some handy additional privateness options. All of that is included in an inexpensive bundle, making Surfshark a terrific worth VPN choice for most individuals.

Price When Reviewed

From $2.30 per thirty days (charged at $59.76 upfront for 26 months)

Best Prices Today: Surfshark

Surfshark briefly:

• P2P allowed: Yes
• Simultaneous machine connections: Unlimited
• Business location: The Netherlands
• Number of servers: 3,200+
• Number of nation places: 100
• Cost: $12.95 per thirty days, or $59.76 for a two yr subscription

Surfshark has, in the previous few years, catapulted from fundamental VPN firm to one-stop store for all issues private online-security. The firm now presents a top-tier VPN product that continues to enhance on itself with every new iteration. And since its merger with NordVPN beneath the mum or dad firm Cyberspace, Surfshark has pushed into creating cutting-edge private safety features by way of its Nexus know-how. This all sounds nice, however are all of those options actually price it in a VPN service? We took Surfshark for a spin to search out out.

Further studying: See our roundup of the best VPNs to find out about competing merchandise.

Surfshark VPN options and providers

When you initially open Surfshark you discover that the interface is clear and easy. On the left rail you’ve choices for VPN, Alert, Antivirus, and Settings. In the center there’s a checklist of all server places listed alphabetically by nation and on the proper there’s a button to hook up with the chosen server. It’s nothing fancy, however the minimalist, simple interface was straightforward and intuitive to each navigate and use.

Surfshark prides itself on the variety of servers it offers, which is nicely over 3,200 throughout 100 completely different nation places. There are admittedly lots of nations that solely have one server to hook up with, however extra widespread places such because the U.S., Canada, and Australia provide a number of server places unfold all through. In addition to all of those server choices, Surfshark permits limitless simultaneous machine connections. This is an enormous draw since most different VPN suppliers restrict subscribers to 5 or 6 simultaneous connections.

Sam Singleton

On the principle display screen, above the accessible servers, you’re in a position to decide on between three choices: Locations, StaticIP, and MultiHop. Locations is a listing of all the accessible nation servers you may connect with. StaticIP permits you to connect with shared servers with IP addresses that by no means change. MultiHop permits you to additional obfuscate your precise location by routing your site visitors by multiple exterior server. While many VPN providers now provide multi-hop connections, Surfshark stands out by permitting the consumer to not solely select a predetermined route, but additionally create their very own multi-hop route. This is a nifty characteristic that provides energy customers and people involved with privateness extra autonomy in securing and optimizing their connections.

Surfshark

Surfshark additionally offers an advert, tracker, and malware blocker referred to as ClearWeb—although it’s not turned on by default. It additionally presents a split-tunneling characteristic, which it calls Whitelister, that permits you the choice to route apps and web sites by the VPN or preserve one or the opposite linked individually. This is an efficient choice for individuals who want to preserve their net searching safe by way of a VPN whereas holding on-line video games exterior the VPN connection so as to reduce potential latency points.

Additionally, Surfshark offers a kill-switch operate that may routinely disable your web connection ought to your VPN connection drop for no matter purpose. There can be a characteristic referred to as NoBorders, enabled by default, which is its personal model of obfuscated servers. NoBorders permits customers in nations that usually limit VPN connections to take care of entry to Surfshark.

Overall, it’s a well-designed app that’s straightforward to navigate, with a very good characteristic set and loads of helpful instruments. The solely situation we might discover with the service typically was the truth that when searching connections, there’s no straightforward solution to discover ping instances or server-load indicators. We in the end discovered this data within the choices menu beneath Speed Test, however this data can be handy to have listed beneath every server location.

Sam Singleton

Surfshark can be working laborious to convey new and progressive concepts to the VPN scene. It’s set to roll out its unique Nexus VPN network all through 2023. Nexus is a single community made up of Surfshark VPN servers. There are large potential safety and privateness boosts from this know-how. It will permit for rotating IP addresses with out disconnecting your lively VPN connection, additional obfuscating your searching exercise. Nexus can even use a Dynamic MultiHop characteristic to attach you to the quickest accessible entry server and exit at any desired location, presumably optimizing connection speeds throughout the board. As of this writing, solely the IP rotator characteristic is obtainable, with the entire characteristic set due later this yr.

How does Surfshark VPN carry out?

During our testing we rated connection speeds throughout Surfshark’s servers in 5 completely different nations all over the world after which in contrast them to our baseline web velocity. Surfshark server speeds have been stable, if not significantly excellent. They averaged simply over 61 p.c of the bottom obtain velocity and a barely extra spectacular 72 p.c of the bottom add velocity. That isn’t the most effective we’ve seen, however relying by yourself residence web, it must be sufficient to stream HD video with none points.

For these trying to make use of the service to bypass location restrictions on streaming web sites, our testing confirmed that Surfshark was overwhelmingly profitable. Across each server we examined and for all main streaming providers the VPN was in a position to unblock every part. This included providers resembling Netflix, Amazon Prime, HBO Max, Hulu, and Disney Plus. That outcome places Surfshark amongst our very best VPNs for streaming Netflix proper together with NordVPN and ExpressVPN.

Surfshark VPN safety and privateness

Surfshark states that it doesn’t gather any of your on-line exercise, together with searching historical past, session data, bandwidth used, connection time stamps, community site visitors, or IP addresses. This no-logs coverage declare was verified by the corporate Deloitte throughout an unbiased audit of Surfshark on the finish of 2022. These are precisely the steps customers ought to count on from a high VPN firm and it goes a great distance in direction of backing up Surfshark’s privateness claims.

The service additionally retains privateness in thoughts throughout setup. When signing up for a Surfshark subscription you solely want to provide an e-mail deal with. Furthermore, the corporate accepts funds by way of bank cards, PayPal, Google Pay, and numerous cryptocurrencies. 

One factor of be aware is that Surfshark has moved its headquarters from the British Virgin Islands to the Netherlands lately. This shouldn’t be an excessive amount of of a priority because the Netherlands’ information retention legal guidelines are usually privacy-friendly. However, the Netherlands remains to be topic to Nine Eyes jurisdiction, which signifies that the federal government can power Surfshark to share sure details about clients.

Sam Singleton

In regards to safety, Surfshark makes use of commonplace AES 256-bit encryption. It additionally presents choices for a number of VPN protocols together with OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKEv2—relying in your working system.

Is Surfshark VPN price it?

Surfshark presents limitless machine connections, good speeds, compatibility with main streaming providers, and a formidable variety of nation connections. The Windows app is nicely designed and straightforward sufficient to know. It additionally has some good extras resembling advert, tracker, and malware blocking in addition to split-tunneling and multi-hop.

With all of those nice options, Surfshark is a stable all-around VPN service. If you opt for the two-year contract you’re additionally getting all of this for a cut price worth. And with the longer term addition of its Nexus community, Surfshark stands to probably overtake its principal rivals available in the market. Overall, whether or not it’s getting round area blocks or simply having fun with a extra non-public and safe searching expertise, Surfshark stays considered one of our favorites.

Editor’s be aware: Because on-line providers are sometimes iterative, gaining new options and efficiency enhancements over time, this overview is topic to alter so as to precisely mirror the present state of the service. Any modifications to textual content or our ultimate overview verdict shall be famous on the high of this text.