VPNs can enhance your on-line privateness by routing all of your internet site visitors by way of an encrypted connection to a distant server, however that safety comes at a worth within the case of Surfshark VPN, one of the crucial costly providers we have examined. The corporate is nice at justifying that price, nonetheless, with limitless gadget connections, an bettering and increasing product, and wonderful apps. In a crowded subject, Surfshark VPN continues to impress, making it an Editors’ Selection winner. Anybody contemplating Surfshark VPN however daunted by the value must also take a look at Proton VPN and Mullvad VPN, that are each inexpensive.
How A lot Does Surfshark VPN Price?
Surfshark VPN’s subscription prices $12.95 per 30 days, in contrast with a mean of $9.80 per 30 days amongst providers we have examined. This places Surfshark among the many most costly VPNs we have reviewed, far past the $9.99 per 30 days for Mozilla’s VPN or the 5 euros ($5.38 at time of writing) per 30 days charged by Mullvad VPN, our most inexpensive Editors’ Selection VPN.
Like many VPNs, Surfshark VPN incentivizes long-term commitments with steep reductions. An annual plan begins at $47.88 and renews the next yr for $59.76. A two-year plan prices $59.76 as effectively however renews at that very same worth each yr after the primary two. Whereas that is a bit complicated, that annual renewal worth continues to be lower than the $66.28 common for VPNs we have reviewed.
Lengthy-term plans completely prevent cash, however we advocate beginning with the shortest doable subscription to ensure the VPN works for you, and solely then transferring to an extended subscription plan for those who just like the service.
If Surfshark VPN is simply too wealthy to your blood, there are quite a few low-cost VPNs and even a couple of worthy free VPNs to contemplate. Proton VPN is likely one of the solely free VPNs that does not impose an information restrict on person site visitors. Additionally, remember that different providers akin to IVPN—an inexpensive Editors’ Selection winner famous for its concentrate on transparency and privateness—and Mullvad VPN go as far as to simply accept money funds so you should utilize them with out revealing private info.
Whereas the month-to-month plan is pricey, Surfshark VPN does supply wonderful worth for cash. Not like the overwhelming majority of VPNs, Surfshark VPN helps you to use a limiteless variety of gadgets with one account. Most firms restrict you to 5 simultaneous connections. Atlas VPN, Avira Phantom VPN, IPVanish VPN, Personal Web Entry VPN, and Editors’ Selection winner TunnelBear VPN are the one different VPNs we have examined that do not restrict simultaneous connections.
(Editors’ Word: IPVanish is owned by Ziff Davis, PCMag’s mother or father firm.)
What Do You Get for Your Cash With Surfshark VPN?
Surfshark’s actual strengths are the hardly ever seen options it offers. Bypasser, as an illustration, is a cut up tunneling device that allows you to determine which apps and web sites use the VPN. It is useful as a result of some websites block entry through VPN, so it is advisable to disable yours to achieve them. Surfshark’s resolution is tidy and much simpler to make use of than rivals. The function will not be out there on iOS, Linux, or macOS, nonetheless.
One other function usually absent from VPN providers is multi-hop connectivity, which creates a VPN connection to a server after which bounces your site visitors to a second VPN server for elevated safety. Surfshark VPN has revamped this function and now helps you to create multi-hop connections between any two server places.
One uncommon function Surfshark at the moment does not supply is entry to Tor through VPN, which is out there by way of NordVPN and ProtonVPN. You do not want a VPN to make use of Tor, however this sort of push-button entry is handy.
Many VPN firms supply extra-cost add-ons. NordVPN and others provide personal, static IP addresses, helpful whenever you discover your VPN connection blocked. Surfshark VPN doesn’t supply devoted IP addresses, nevertheless it does enable prospects to entry static servers free of charge. Anybody who makes use of a Surfshark static server shares an IP deal with with everybody else on the identical server.
Surfshark VPN offers a customized DNS service referred to as Good DNS and an ad-blocker branded as CleanWeb. Each of those are pretty widespread options. Extra rarefied is Surfshark Alert, which is very similar to HaveIBeenPwned and alerts you to compromised accounts, and a privacy-respecting search device referred to as Surfshark Search. Word that each Surfshark Alert and Surfshark Search price an extra $0.99 per 30 days.
Along with its privateness instruments, the corporate additionally gives Surfshark One. This safety suite bundles the core VPN with antivirus for less than barely extra: $14.44 per 30 days or $77.64 per yr (discounted to $65.76 for the primary yr). Surfshark One goes past the standard claims VPNs make of detecting malicious websites, offering real-time safety and on-demand virus scanning. We discovered these options lukewarm in our evaluation of Surfshark One, although.
For $12.99 a month or $77.88 per yr, Surfshark Incogni will work to take away your private info from the clutches of knowledge brokers. We discovered this service to be wonderful; you’ll be able to learn extra in our Surfshark Incogni evaluation.
Surfshark VPN’s most intriguing new options are behind the scenes. The corporate is working to rework its fleet of discrete servers right into a single community referred to as Surfshark Nexus. This lets you leap to a brand new VPN server with out fully disconnecting. Nexus additionally allows IP Rotator, which assigns you a brand new IP deal with periodically with out breaking your connection. We’re advised extra options are forthcoming.
Whereas VPNs are highly effective, they cannot clear up all of your privateness issues. There’s a variety of how to trace you on-line. We advocate utilizing the privateness instruments constructed into most browsers and a stand-alone ad- or tracker-blocker. Word additionally that the free Tor anonymization community makes it even tougher to trace your on-line exercise. We extremely advocate creating distinctive and complicated passwords with a password supervisor, enabling multi-factor authentication wherever doable, and utilizing antivirus software program.
Surfshark’s VPN Protocols
There are various methods to create a VPN connection. We favor OpenVPN, as its open-source roots imply it has been picked over for potential vulnerabilities. The inheritor obvious to OpenVPN appears to be WireGuard. Like OpenVPN, WireGuard is open-source, nevertheless it makes use of newer know-how and is reportedly a lot quicker than different protocols.
Surfshark gives the OpenVPN protocol and WireGuard protocol in its Android, iOS, macOS, Linux, and Home windows apps. The IKEv2 protocol can also be out there on Android, iOS, macOS, and Home windows.
Surfshark VPN additionally offers a browser extension that features as a proxy—that means it encrypts solely your browser site visitors with TLS however does route that site visitors by way of its community of servers.
Surfshark Servers and Server Places
Surfshark lately introduced it now has VPN servers in 100 international locations, effectively above common and much more than the 94 international locations lined by ExpressVPN and the 96 by Hotspot Defend VPN. It is a main milestone, however the firm’s declare it’s the “first premium business VPN” with entry to 100 international locations is a bit far-fetched. HMA VPN has lengthy boasted having VPN servers in 190 international locations, and PureVPN claims to have servers in 140 international locations. (There are 195 on the planet.)
What’s indeniable is that Surfshark has a formidable record of server places. With 6 places in Africa and 12 in South America, the corporate has wonderful protection in two areas usually fully ignored by VPN suppliers. We might prefer to see extra rivals following Surfshark’s instance. Having numerous server places throughout the globe to select from means you are extra more likely to discover one near dwelling or wherever you could be touring, and it offers loads of choices for spoofing your location.
Surfshark additionally gives servers in international locations with repressive web insurance policies, together with China (Hong Kong), Turkey, and Vietnam. The corporate not has servers in Russia however does have servers in Ukraine.
Some VPNs use so-called digital servers and digital places. Digital servers are software-defined, that means a single bodily server can play host to a number of digital ones. Many firms use these to accommodate surges in demand. Digital places are servers (digital or bodily) configured to seem someplace apart from their bodily location. Neither is inherently problematic, however we favor firms be clear about the place and the way their servers function.
Surfshark advised PCMag that each one its servers are bodily machines. We’re happy that the corporate’s web site clearly labels its digital places (Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, India, Philippines, and South Korea). A consultant tells us these servers are bodily positioned in Colombia, Hong Kong, and the Netherlands.
Surfshark says it depends on “trusted third-party knowledge facilities” to offer its server infrastructure. The corporate makes use of tamper-resistant RAM-only servers. This implies if somebody have been to bodily take away the server to get on the knowledge inside, the server could be instantly wiped. A weblog submit from the corporate additionally particulars how diskless servers forestall personal encryption keys from being stolen from server configurations. A number of firms, akin to ExpressVPN, made this variation way back.
Is Surfshark VPN Reliable?
Surfshark VPN has extraordinarily readable Privateness Coverage and Phrases of Service paperwork, with breakout sections explaining ideas in plain English. Editors’ Selection winner TunnelBear VPN has an analogous method and different firms ought to emulate this apply. Nonetheless, we observed some quirks within the newest model of the Privateness Coverage and Phrases of Service, which Surfshark VPN ought to deal with.
In its coverage paperwork, Surfshark VPN stresses it doesn’t log IP addresses, searching historical past, quantity of bandwidth used, or community site visitors. That is precisely what you wish to hear from a VPN firm. The corporate confirmed to us that it solely generates cash from the sale of subscriptions, not from the sale of buyer knowledge.
The insurance policies additionally say the corporate doesn’t log connection timestamps, however that is solely partly true. The doc goes on to say that the corporate does log connection timestamps with a person ID however deletes them quarter-hour after you have terminated your connection. That is apparently to stop somebody from abusing the corporate’s limitless simultaneous connections by connecting absurd numbers of machines. That is sensible, however Surfshark VPN ought to make clear its documentation of this obvious contradiction. The corporate does acquire some extra info, together with anonymized mixture analytical knowledge, account info, and billing historical past. Whereas we respect that timestamps are deleted, different VPNs police abuse of their providers with out gathering this info. Mullvad VPN, for instance, gathers far much less knowledge than its rivals by providing no recurring subscription funds.
Surfshark VPN additionally notes it receives promoting IDs from third events, citing Google Play for example. These are identifiers you’ll be able to reset your self. The corporate notes that its apps don’t have adverts inside them. Elsewhere in its coverage, Surfshark VPN explains each cookie on its web site and analytics service it makes use of. We respect the hassle towards transparency, though the sheer quantity of the record and the scope of the information is intimidating.
Surfshark VPN is owned by the Surfshark BV firm, which was established within the Netherlands. The corporate was beforehand included within the British Virgin Islands, however an organization consultant defined that it continues to function below BVI regulation for the sake of consistency. Surfshark VPN merged with NordVPN in 2022. Each firms are owned by a Netherlands-based holding firm referred to as Our on-line world. The corporate was initially based in Lithuania and now operates workplaces in Amsterdam, Berlin, Vilnius, and Warsaw.
The corporate has a stay Warrant Canary on its transparency report. If contacted by regulation enforcement for info, the corporate says it might be unable to determine a person person.
Many VPN firms fee third-party audits to confirm firm statements about buyer privateness and safety. Surfshark VPN was audited twice by Cure53. The primary audit, in 2018, centered on the Surfshark VPN browser extension, whereas the second audit, from 2021, checked out Surfshark’s infrastructure and VPN configuration. Lastly, in January 2023, the corporate accomplished an audit by Deloitte that confirmed Surfshark was complying with its acknowledged coverage to not maintain person exercise logs. Whereas they’re imperfect instruments, a dedication to audits is a invaluable step a VPN can take towards establishing belief. TunnelBear VPN, as an illustration, has dedicated to annual audits of its service. We’re pleased to see the constructive outcomes from this new audit and hope Surfshark continues to do such audits sooner or later.
We spoke to Surfshark VPN in regards to the privateness implications of its new Surfshark Nexus know-how. Among the options, akin to optimized site visitors routing, sound like they might erode person privateness. The corporate assured us that is not the case, which we respect. That mentioned, we would prefer to see that assurance backed up by new audits of those infrastructure adjustments.
Arms On With Surfshark VPN for Home windows
We examined Surfshark on an Intel NUC 11 (NUC11PHKi7C, ‘Phantom Canyon’) desktop operating the newest model of Home windows 11. On Home windows, Surfshark VPN gives a small, trendy app with flat shades of blue and a wise design that expands and contracts to indicate roughly info. We particularly like that it has a transparent, apparent method to instantly get on-line. It isn’t fairly as pleasant as TunnelBear VPN, nevertheless it’s clear in the way in which the most effective cellular apps are.
Apparently, you’ll be able to resize the window and the app adjusts its structure, just like a responsive web site. A smaller model of the app might be summoned from the system tray, and its out there features might be personalized.
A fast connection button will get you on-line instantly, and we like that it transforms right into a Pause button that robotically reconnects you at a selected interval. The app has a number of different connection choices. Close to the highest left of the display is a button to attach you to the closest location outdoors your nation, and above {that a} button to pick the situation that the app determines is the quickest. Above that’s the menu for selecting a shared static IP, and subsequent to that the controls for multi-hop connections. We particularly like that Surfshark VPN will allow you to create your personal multi-hop route along with choosing from a listing of predetermined paths.
The underside left of the primary display is stuffed with a prolonged record of all Surfshark VPN’s server places. You may choose a server on the nation or metropolis stage and may favourite a location for future use. You can not see particular person servers, simply the out there cities. That is not a vital function, however it’s helpful for anybody seeking to entry on-line content material by spoofing their location.
A Kill Change function prevents your laptop from sending internet site visitors within the clear ought to the VPN develop into disconnected. Additionally notable is the choice to dam or enable native community site visitors, which is useful for streaming to different gadgets or accessing community printers.
Surfshark VPN gives a shocking variety of superior options. There’s Bypasser and the multi-hop functionality talked about above. Bypasser is a little more highly effective than the typical cut up tunneling device. With it, you’ll be able to require an app’s site visitors undergo the VPN or outdoors the VPN connection. Bypasser additionally works with URLs, however you’ll be able to solely set URLs to journey outdoors the VPN connection. Additionally of notice is NoBorders Mode, which disguises your VPN site visitors as regular HTTPS internet site visitors. Different VPNs embrace this function below completely different names (TunnelBear VPN calls it GhostBear, as an illustration), and it is particularly helpful for those who’re in a area that blocks using VPNs. Word that the corporate additionally gives obfuscated servers referred to as Camouflage Mode.
One of many new Surfshark Nexus options to debut on Home windows 11 is IP Rotator. When enabled, this seamlessly adjustments your IP deal with each 5 to 10 minutes or so. Once we tried to check this function, the app generated an error message saying that rotating IPs weren’t out there. It tried valiantly to vary our IP over the course of testing, however failed every time. Once we final examined the app, we favored that it included a countdown to the following IP rotation proper within the UI, and we confirmed our public IP deal with was efficiently modified. Sadly, there is no method to change the interval.
A priority with VPNs is that they could leak your DNS info or IP deal with. Utilizing the DNS Leak Take a look at device, we confirmed that, a minimum of on the server we have been utilizing, Surfshark didn’t leak any DNS info and efficiently hid our IP deal with.
Throughout testing, we had no hassle streaming from Netflix whereas linked to a US VPN server. Take into account, nonetheless, that Netflix is locked in a cat-and-mouse sport with VPN firms because it tries to implement its regional licensing agreements. A service that works at this time could not work tomorrow.
Arms On With Surfshark VPN for Android
Once we final examined Surfshark’s Android VPN app, we put in it on a Samsung A71 operating Android 10. The Android app seems clear, with a flat white interface whereas disconnected and a teal gradient that seems whenever you connect with a VPN server.
Surfshark’s Android app features a wealth of options, together with auto-connect, CleanWeb (an advert and malware blocker), a Kill Change, the brand new IP Rotator function described above, and even a setting to cloak your gadget from discovery by different gadgets linked to a neighborhood space community.
Maintaining your info personal is a key function of any VPN. We examined the service by visiting DNSLeakTest.com and operating an prolonged check on a server primarily based in Toronto, Canada. SurfShark efficiently modified our IP deal with and didn’t leak our DNS info.
To check the app’s efficiency on Android, we went to YouTube.com and loaded a few movies. The movies all loaded and performed immediately, with out buffering or stuttering. We additionally went to Twitch.television and watched a stay stream. The stream loaded rapidly, and the video high quality regarded nice with no noticeable lag or buffering.
Arms On With Surfshark VPN for iPhone
Surfshark VPN’s iOS app is great for newbie VPN customers searching for a lovely and easy-to-use app. Once we final examined the app, we used an iPhone XS operating iOS 14.8.1.
Reasonably than greeting first-time customers with a skippable tutorial like Privado VPN’s app, the Surfshark VPN app provides descriptive labels to every factor so customers find out how a VPN works. For instance, after logging in, customers see a white and grey dashboard that includes the Surfshark VPN brand and an alert studying: “Unprotected: Join to remain secure.” After tapping the Fast-Join button, the alert adjustments to “Protected: Your connection is secure.”
There are additionally clickable horizontal tabs with labels assuring you your location is hidden and your on-line exercise is encrypted. Once you click on the tabs, a window opens, explaining what encryption means and that your IP deal with is hidden. After opening the app, select from a listing of nations and cities the place Proton VPN servers are positioned.
An attention-grabbing new function is the IP Rotator. It adjustments your IP deal with at varied intervals whereas linked to the VPN. When this function is enabled, an extra horizontal tab seems on the dashboard, with a timer exhibiting when your IP deal with is scheduled to vary. Different options embrace auto-connect, a Kill Change, NoBorders mode, and CleanWeb, which blocks adverts, malware, and trackers whilst you’re linked to a VPN.
We visited DNSLeakTest.com and ran an prolonged check to see whether or not or not Surfshark VPN was leaking our actual IP deal with or DNS requests. We didn’t discover any leaks whereas linked to a server in Antwerp.
The VPN server connection was secure and speedy. We might watch Twitch streams and YouTube movies with none buffering or different interruptions whereas linked to a server primarily based in Montreal.
Arms On With Surfshark for Mac
Once we final examined the Surfshark VPN macOS VPN app, it was straightforward to seek out and set up a MacBook Air (2020) operating Massive Sur 11.2.2. The app is in each the App Retailer and on the seller’s web site. Just like the iOS model, the app has a principally flat, white design with teal accents.
The app’s dwelling display encompasses a record of VPN server places. When selecting a VPN server, you’ll be able to solely choose the nation, and in some circumstances town the place your VPN server is positioned. The app additionally has the CleanWeb mode and a Kill Change function.
It’s necessary for a VPN to do its job and shield your personal info. We carried out an prolonged DNS leak check by visiting DNSLeakTest.com whereas linked to a server in Sao Paolo, Brazil. This server didn’t leak our DNS info and efficiently hid our actual IP deal with.
Whereas we have been nonetheless linked to the server in Brazil, we loaded up a couple of YouTube movies they usually all performed immediately, with none lag or interruptions. We additionally visited Twitch.television and watched a number of minutes of a stay stream, and it loaded extremely quick and displayed high-quality video.
Arms On With Surfshark on Chrome OS
Once we final examined Surfshark VPN on Chrome OS, we downloaded the Android app onto a Dell Chrome 3100 with an Intel Celeron Processor.
SurfShark VPN on Chrome OS is an easy-to-use utility with plenty of useful options. Customers can select to connect with the quickest server out there after logging in, or they’ll select the nation nearest to their dwelling location. Servers with static IP addresses and multi-hop servers are additionally out there.
Options embrace a Kill Change, a cut up tunneling function referred to as Bypasser, and CleanWeb, a function that blocks adverts, malware, and trackers when linked to the VPN. There are additionally some attention-grabbing person choices within the Superior Settings menu akin to the flexibility to be invisible to different gadgets on the native space community, the flexibility to override your GPS location, and a rotating IP deal with.
Arms On With Surfshark VPN on Linux
Whereas many VPNs assist varied Linux distributions, not many supply a full-fledged app with a graphic person interface. Surfshark VPN is likely one of the few that does. Once we final examined the app, we discovered it was easy to put in. We downloaded a file from the Surfshark VPN web site that added the software program repository to our Lenovo ThinkPad X270 operating Ubuntu 22.04 (LTS). Then it took just some instructions within the Terminal and the app was put in. It was straightforward sufficient however could be far simpler for customers if the app was merely within the bundled Ubuntu app retailer.
We’re happy to see the visible type of its different desktop and cellular apps has discovered its method to the Ubuntu model. Surfshark VPN has all the time had an excellent eye for design, and it actually elevates the general expertise. We’re much more happy to see that WireGuard was additionally included, together with multi-hop connections. Getting on-line was easy, and we additionally like that Surfshark VPN features a toolbar menu icon for straightforward entry.
Utilizing the DNS Leak Take a look at device, we confirmed Surfshark VPN was not leaking our DNS info. We additionally confirmed our public IP deal with was modified whereas the VPN was linked.
Surfshark Velocity and Efficiency
Usually, utilizing a VPN lowers your add and obtain speeds whereas rising your latency. To get a way of that degradation, we calculate a % change between batches of assessments run with a VPN and people with out, utilizing the Ookla Speedtest device. To get into the nitty-gritty about how we collect and interpret this knowledge, do learn How We Take a look at VPNs.
(Editors’ Word: Ookla is owned by PCMag’s writer, Ziff Davis.)
Surfshark VPN’s outcomes have been pretty dramatic. It carried out significantly better within the obtain assessments, the place it diminished outcomes by solely 4.8%. Its add outcomes have been considerably worse than our final check, nonetheless. We discovered that Surfshark VPN diminished add Speedtest outcomes by 61.2%. Its latency numbers have been additionally uninspiring. We discovered that Surfshark VPN elevated latency by 275.3%.
These outcomes have been particularly shocking as a result of the final time we examined Surfshark VPN’s speeds, we discovered that it truly diminished latency very barely. Though we will not make sure why the outcomes have been so completely different this time, there are two large variables in our velocity testing. First, we let the VPN app select what it thinks is the most effective VPN server for the job, except that selection could be very clearly problematic—abroad, for instance. It is probably that the Surfshark VPN app selected a server that’s bodily positioned removed from the PCMag workplaces in Manhattan. That appears probably as a result of the second variable in our testing is that the Ookla Speedtest device selects what it thinks would be the better of its servers to make use of for every check. For this batch of assessments, Ookla persistently used servers in Ashburn, Virginia. This may additionally clarify Surfshark VPN’s lackluster add speeds on this spherical of testing.
You may see how Surfshark VPN compares with the competitors within the chart beneath. We replace these outcomes all year long with new outcomes and new merchandise, so what you see is the newest testing knowledge.
Take into account our outcomes got here from utilizing this VPN at a specific time of day and at a specific place. Your outcomes will certainly differ, so we don’t advocate buying a VPN primarily based on velocity testing alone.
Is Surfshark a Good VPN?
There’s so much to love about Surfshark VPN. It has a beneficiant limitless gadgets coverage, letting you hook up as many gadgets as you want, and it offers cut up tunneling in addition to the hardly ever seen multi-hop connection device. Surfshark has additionally regarded past VPNs and built-in a bunch of extra providers, akin to antivirus, breach detection, and elimination of private info from knowledge brokers. With an all-around wonderful product, Surfshark VPN stays an Editors’ Selection award winner. It stands alongside the co-winners on this class, Proton VPN, IVPN, Mullvad VPN, NordVPN, and TunnelBear VPN.
