Surfshark Review 2024: Is It Good and Safe?

Surfshark is a popular VPN on the market, known for its affordable price. While its price point does make this VPN provider attractive, the question remains if Surfshark is a quality service that’s worth the bargain, as opposed to its more expensive competitors.

In a time where people are more online than ever, using the internet for everything from work to watching movies and TV shows, to playing games and more. Using a VPN service is an important part of that online landscape, and you want to make sure that the VPN you’re using fulfills all the important roles that you are looking for in a VPN.

Can this VPN keep me safe and secure? Can it unblock Netflix? Can it help me access other blocked sites without slowing me down? These are all important questions to ask yourself. To answer them, we analyzed every detail of Surfshark to determine if it’s the best VPN for you in this Surfshark VPN review.

Surfshark pros and cons

Surfshark: What is new?

Surfshark was first released in 2018, and since then, it has grown and expanded to include many top-notch features, including several new and improved elements in the last couple of years.

• February 2022. Surfshark added Surfshark Nexus, a feature that reroutes traffic through multiple servers to improve stability and security.
• May 2022. Surfshark paved the way by introducing an excellent app for Linux well ahead of any of its competitors.
• September 2022. Surfshark made adjustments so that it only supports the latest iOS and Mac software.
• October 2022. Surfshark expanded its server network to encompass 100 countries.
• November 2022. The “VPN Solution of the Year” was awarded to Surfshark Nexus by CyberSecuirty Breakthrough.
• January 2023. After an audit from the firm Deloitte, Surfshark passed a no-logs assurance report.
• June 2023. Surfshark VPN won “Best Value VPN-2023” from The Independent Advisor.
• August 2023. Surfshark released a new Alternative ID feature and expanded its dedicated IP addresses.
• October 2023. Alternative ID was improved to support multiple emails, and they released a Social Engineering 101 cybersecurity course.

Surfshark overview

Surfshark has become one of the most popular VPNs on the market that offers plenty of great features at a great bargain price. It boasts 3,200+ servers in 100 countries, giving you plenty of servers to choose from around the world to help change your IP address. It has strong security features and fast speeds and also has the bonus of unlimited simultaneous connections.

Surfshark has strong encryption, a zero-log policy, fully audited servers, antivirus software, a kill switch, RAM-only servers, and more. It also utilizes some of the industry’s best tunneling protocols, WireGaurd and OpenVPN. With this VPN, you’ll have plenty of rich features to ensure a safe and stable internet connection.

Why choose Surfshark

Surfshark is a top-rated VPN, and these are some of the reasons why its customers have been very happy with their choice of VPN providers:

• Cost. With prices starting at just $2.19 per month, this VPN offers a very affordable price compared to most of its competitors on the market and does it without skimping on all the features that you want from a VPN.
• Unlimited device connections. With just one subscription, you can use Surfshark on as many devices as you want, so your whole house and family can be protected without needing to purchase extra subscriptions.
• Advanced encryption. Surfshark uses military-grade AES-256 encryption to ensure that your data is being kept safe from any hackers.
• RAM-only server network. With its completely RAM-only server network, all of your connection data gets wiped away when the VPN’s servers shut down.
• No-logs policy. You’ll never have to worry about Surfshark logging any of your online activities, so they remain private.
• Speed. Speed tests concluded that Surfshark has super-fast speeds that can compete with other products on the market using their WireGaurd protocol, so you’ll have no problem with your VPN connection.
• Large server network. Surfshark offers a large server network of 3,200+ servers spread across 100 countries.
• Ad-blocker. Surfshark offers a strong ad-blocking feature to help prevent pop-up ads, malware, and trackers.

Surfshark cost

Surfshark comes with three possible subscription plans to choose from.

• Surfshark Starter. This is Surfshark’s basic plan that starts at $2.19 per month for a 2-year plan. Or you can get it for $3.99 for a one year plan or $10.99 per month with a monthly plan.
• Surfshark One. This plan includes everything in the basic plan, plus antivirus protection and a private search engine. Prices start at $2.69 per month for a 2-year plan, $4.09 per month for a one-year plan, and $14.99 per month for a 1-month plan.
• Surfshark One+. To really upgrade your experience, you can try this plan that uses Incogni to add data removal capabilities. Prices start at $3.99 per month for a 2-year plan, $6.49 per month for a one-year plan, and $21.99 per month for a 1-month plan.

Can you get Surfshark for free?

While Surfshark is a subscription service, there are ways that you can try it for free.

If you are using Surfshark on iOS, MacOS, or Android devices, you can try Surfshark with a free 7-day trial period. It also offers its users a 30-day money-back guarantee, so no matter what device you have, you can try out Surfshark for 30 days risk free before needing to commit to a paid Surfshark subscription plan.

Is Surfshark safe?

Yes, Surfshark is a safe and secure VPN. It is chock full of robust security features and has become known as one of the most secure VPNs in the industry. The features include strong encryption, a kill switch, a no-logs policy, RAM-only servers, and more. It also lets you choose your preferred encryption standard so that you can control your data security. Read on for a closer look at some of Surfshark’s top security features.

Encryption protocols

Surfshark has top-of-the-line encryption, AES-256-GCM encryption, which is considered military-grade level, and there isn’t any better in the industry. This encryption protects all of your data from possible threats.

If you are using an Android app, then there is also the option to use a ChaCha20 cipher, which is very similar. However, the AES-256 encryption tends to have better speeds when it comes to newer devices.

Surfshark VPN also has SHA-512 encryption, which will secure your authentication, so hackers will struggle to log in.

Kill switch

Surfshark features an automatic kill switch, which will essentially block internet traffic if you’re not connected to a VPN. This way, if your VPN connection goes down, causing your encryption to disappear, the kill switch will ensure that your private information still doesn’t leak.

Surfshark’s kill switch is a bit more intense than its competitors, but it certainly gets the job done. The drawback of it is that you don’t get notified when the whole connection goes down, so it can be confusing figuring out if the VPN connection dropped or if the internet connection overall dropped.

Camouflage mode

Camouflage mode is Surfshark’s version of obfuscation and obfuscated servers. This feature allows you to use your VPN undetected by making your VPN traffic seem like regular network traffic and kicks in automatically when using OpenVPN protocol.

If you’re in a location that blocks VPN servers or blocks internet traffic, then this feature is particularly useful so that you can bypass most of those blocks.

MultiHop

Surfshark’s MultiHop is their version of double VPN. This can improve your privacy and security by establishing connections through two VPN servers, allowing you to benefit from increased privacy and dual data encryption.

If you don’t mind your speed dropping a bit, you can use the Dynamic MultiHop feature to create custom server configurations according to your needs and pick your preferred countries to enter and exit from.

DNS leak protection

DNS leak protection is automatically activated when you use Surfshark, and it makes sure to block any DNS requests coming from your device. As an added bonus, all DNS servers are owned by Surfshark, which means you’ll never have to worry about third parties being involved and be fully protected by the encryption.

We tested Surfshark VPN for DNS leaks and, after an in-depth process, found that this VPN doesn’t have any DNS leak issues.

WebRTC leak protection

WebRTC leak protection is an important aspect of VPN connections that can stop your IP address from leaking. It is tested in a similar manner to DNS leak tests, and Surfshark passed the test with flying colors.

Nexus

Nexus is a feature unique to Surfshark that uses SDN (Software Defined Networking) to connect VPN servers into one consolidated network. Nexus brings your VPN servers together so that your traffic has to go through many networks instead of just one encryption tunnel.

By using this feature, you can improve your connection speed, enhance stability, and hide your traffic.

Logging policy

Surfshark has a strict no-logs policy, which means they don’t keep any logs of your online activity. The service was audited for its no-logs policy by Deloitte in 2023, and the findings of the audit confirmed that Surfshark doesn’t keep any logs of its customers’ activity, nor do they share any of their users’ information or data with third parties.

Furthermore, with their RAM-only server infrastructure, it is impossible for them to store their users’ connection data long-term.

Jurisdiction

Surfshark is based in the Netherlands and is a member of the 9-eyes Surveillance Alliance. Countries in this alliance have a deal to share information, which could make some users uneasy about using VPN companies with jurisdiction in one of these countries. However, just because Surfshark is based in the Netherlands doesn’t mean they will automatically collect your data and share it with authorities. Be assured the company does everything it can to protect your privacy.

Surfshark speed: How fast is this VPN?

Speed tests confirm that Surfshark is one of the fastest VPNs on the market and has been proven to stay fast in multiple locations. By using the WireGuard protocol, Surfshark’s speeds stay fast, stable, and secure. The average retention rate was impressively 86% of its original speed, with a baseline of 500 Mbps for upload and download speeds.

However, your location can affect the speed. The closer you are to one of the server locations, the better your speeds will be. Most VPNs will slow down your speed anyway, but with Surfshark, the difference in speed is barely noticeable, and most streaming experiences should be buffer-free. After testing various server locations, this is what we found:

• US servers had a download retention of 90% and an upload retention of 83%.
• UK servers had a download retention of 94% and an upload retention of 82%.
• Canada servers had a download retention of 86% and an upload retention of 80%.

	Download retention	Upload retention
US (NY)	90%	83%
UK server	94%	82%
Canadian server	86%	80%

Surfshark server network & locations

It is very important for a VPN to be able to offer you a broad server network with many locations, which is why we appreciate that Surfshark has 3000+ servers in 100 countries. Having a large variety of server locations can be particularly useful when you’re looking to connect to a VPN server in a specific place. Surfshark’s coverage breaks down in the following way:

• Americas: 18 countries
• Europe: 46 countries
• Asia and Oceania: 26 countries
• Africa and the Middle East: 9 countries

Some countries have servers available in multiple cities, like Australia, Italy, the UK, Spain, Canada, France, Germany, Belgium, India, Poland, and Portugal. The US, in particular, has over 600 servers located in 25 different cities, including major cities such as New York, Boston, Miami, Las Vegas, Seattle, and Detroit.

While some areas, like the Middle East, are more limited with their servers, there’s still a wide variety to choose from in other places, so you’re sure to find a server that works for you and your needs.

It’s important to note that in India, instead of physical servers, they have virtual servers due to data regulations that have led to many VPN providers shutting down their physical servers. However, that shouldn’t impact the user experience beyond taking a few extra seconds to connect.

How to download and install Surfshark VPN

If you’re looking to download and install the Surfshark app onto your device, the process is very simple. Depending on your device, you could choose to go directly to the Surfshark website to find the app or go to your device’s app store. To install Surfshark VPN, follow these steps:

1. Go to Surfshark and choose a subscription plan that best suits your needs.
2. Follow the instructions for signing up and subscribing to Surfshark.
3. Download Surfshark on your device and follow the instructions for installing the app.
4. Launch Surfshark and log in with your details. Then you’re good to go!

How to use Surfshark VPN

Surfshark is very user-friendly, and the Surfshark app has an interface that is easy for even beginners to figure out, ensuring a smooth experience. To begin using Surfshark, follow these steps:

1. Make sure you’ve installed the Surfshark app on your device, and then log in to your Surfshark account.
2. Go to the Settings section.
3. Make sure to enable the kill switch feature and the WireGuard tunneling protocol.
4. Go back to the server list on the main menu.
5. Search for, and then select the server location that you would like to connect to, and click on it. Then, continue your online activities as usual.

Is Surfshark VPN good for streaming?

Are you looking for a VPN so that you can stream movies and TV shows from other countries? Well, the good news is that Surfshark is one of the best VPN services when it comes to streaming. When we tested Surfshark, the service easily bypassed geographical restrictions and had no problem unblocking most of the major streaming platforms, including Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max, YouTube TV, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime Video.

And with its fast speeds, you won’t have to worry about buffering interrupting your streaming experience, and everything stays in high resolution.

Surfshark also has a SmartDNS feature that can be set up on devices that don’t usually support VPNs. With SmartDNS, you can unblock geo-restricted content without a VPN.

Does Surfshark work with Netflix?

Yes, Surfshark works great with Netflix. It can unblock many Netflix libraries around the world, including in countries such as the UK, the US, Germany, and Japan.

Is Surfshark VPN good for torrenting?

Yes. Surfshark VPN is a secure and reliable VPN for torrenting. It has fully optimized servers for P2P downloads and can torrent from multiple locations with ease. It has worked with most torrenting platforms, such as uTorrent, Transmission, BitTorrent, Deluge, Torrentz3, and qBitTorrent.

There is also very little reduction in speed because of their unlimited bandwidth and data caps.

Other Surfshark prominent features

Surfshark is rich in features that are always improving, with more being added all the time. These are some of the features you can expect to experience for yourself with Surfshark:

Surfshark antivirus

Surfshark offers an integrated antivirus tool that is a full-fledged antivirus program on a broader scope than most other VPN providers.

The antivirus tool can help protect you from malware like trojans, worms, backdoors, and many other types of viruses. All it takes is a quick scan from the tool to detect and eliminate any threats.

CleanWeb

Surfshark’s proprietary DNS feature, CleanWeb, blocks ads using trackers to gather your data. When activated, the feature will block blacklisted IP addresses, so ad-hosts cannot load, and you won’t have to deal with pop-ups. The same holds true for hosts trying to distribute malware or mine user data.

This ad blocker keeps your browsing safe, and on browser extensions, it will also monitor for data breaches.

SmartDNS

Not every device supports VPNs, such as Smart TVs, PlayStations, and other smart devices. This is where a SmartDNS feature comes into play, so you can still unblock streaming sites for the US, such as Disney+ or Hulu.

SmartDNS can be set up on many devices regardless of if they support VPN services. You can use your main account dashboard to activate it, and it will give you DNS addresses to set up on your device.

NoBorders

If you’re in a heavily restricted country, the unique NoBorders feature will allow you to use a VPN undetected. If the VPN starts to detect restrictions imposed by your network, it switches on NoBorders automatically to bypass them.

It will also switch your VPN server list to ones that perform best under the circumstances. This feature is available on macOS, Android apps, iOS, and Windows.

Bypasser

Bypasser is Surfshark’s version of a split tunneling feature. It allows you to route only some apps through a VPN connection, or you can route the whole connection through a VPN and add exclusions.

This is useful if you’re finding it annoying to have a VPN on all the time because some applications or websites, like for your bank, might need to be on a different IP address. Or if you need to access the library of one country while needing the VPN IP address in a different location. With Bypass, you can connect directly without needing to disconnect or switch the server when connecting to other sites online.

Alerts

Surfshark offers its subscribers the possibility to use alerts to warn you if your data gets leaked, even if it’s not through a VPN. Using two-factor authentication to protect your data, alerts work with emails, IDs, and credit cards once you add them to the list. If your data gets leaked, you will receive a warning, and you’ll be regularly kept up to date via a newsletter about recent data breaches.

GPS spoofing

This is specifically for Android app users, which allows you to spoof your physical GPS location and your IP address. Spoofing your location lets you match your VPN IP with corresponding GPS data for privacy reasons and can be useful for activities like swiping on dating apps or playing Pokemon Go.

Alternative ID

The Alternative ID feature is brand new to the cybersecurity market. With this feature, after providing Surfshark with specific information, it will generate a fake online identity and email address for you, which can be huge when it comes to online privacy.

With a fake online identity, you can use the fake credentials when registering for websites that you’re unsure of, thereby keeping you safe and helping you avoid data leaks.

This feature is not available with Surfshark’s basic plan. The Alternative ID feature is only available with Surfshark One and Surfshark One+ plans. You can download a browser extension for it on browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, and Microsoft Edge.

Incogni

If you have Surfshark One+, you can enjoy the Incogni tool, or you can purchase it as a separate product. Incogni will reach out to online data brokers on your behalf and force them to remove all of your personal info from their databases, including your email address, name, and phone number.

With Incogni, you are in control of whether or not your data can be stored and seen online. It enhances online privacy and prevents advertisers, scammers, or anyone else from accessing and manipulating your personal information.

Dedicated IP

A dedicated IP address or static IP address is useful if you need to access networks related to your work or need to connect to services that don’t usually respond favorably to frequent IP changes, such as banking, gambling, crypto, etc. It can also help you avoid nonstop captchas and lower the chances of your IP address being blocked by streaming platforms and other websites.

A dedicated IP address is available on macOS, Android, iOS, and Windows in 7 countries:

• Germany (Frankfurt)
• South Africa (Johannesburg)
• UK (London)
• Netherlands (Amsterdam)
• Japan (Tokyo)
• Australia (Sydney)
• USA (Los Angeles, New York, Dallas, San Jose)

IP rotator

An IP rotator is one of the Nexus features that takes your online security and privacy to the next level. With this feature enabled, your IP address will be constantly changed without disconnecting you from your secure connection, so the ISP will be much less likely to track your online activities.

Pause VPN

Sometimes, you need to use your original location and turn off your VPN for a moment. With the Pause VPN function, you can choose to disable your connection for 5 minutes, 30 minutes, or 2 hours, and you are allowed to enable a VPN connection during the pause.

At the moment this function is only available for Android users, but should be supported by more devices soon in the future.

Apps and devices: What does Surfshark support?

Surfshark has user-friendly apps that generally have easy-to-use interfaces. It supports most standard devices, although the apps may all be slightly different.

Windows & macOS

The setup on Windows is fairly straightforward and intuitive. It is largely self-explanatory and ideal for beginners. While it doesn’t offer a map interface, its search function for finding countries works fine. Countries are sorted alphabetically, but cities seem to be a bit more random. Windows app more or less includes everything that Surfshark has to offer and is the best device you could use it on.

MacOS is similar to the Windows interface, but it does lack some of the features and is less extensive. With MacOS, there are two versions of Surfshark that you can choose from: the application from Apple’s App Store or the version downloaded directly from the Surfshark website.

The website version only offers the IKEv2 and WireGuard protocols. However, the version downloaded from Apple includes extra OpenVPN tunneling protocol options.

Linux

Unlike other VPN services, Surfshark actually offers a visual interface for Linux. It has many perks and benefits, including setting your favorite servers, viewing servers you recently used, and accessing many other great features, including the kill switch and MultiHop.

At the moment the Linux graphical interface can only be used by Ubuntu 20.04 LTS, Debian 11, and Mint 20 users, however, Surfshark promises to release the app for other distros soon.

iOS and Android apps

Surfshark’s mobile apps try to mimic aspects of desktop apps so that if you use both, you’ll have some familiarity.

The Android app has all of the same features that you can expect from their Windows app, but with the added addition of the Geo-spoofing feature, and includes the split tunneling option.

The iOS app is very similar to the Android app and adjusts its theme depending on your preferred device settings so that you can have interfaces with both light and dark themes. However, like macOS, iOS lacks certain features but still does have a kill switch and WireGaurd protocol, which is impressive for a VPN phone app.

Browser Extensions

Surfshark has browser extensions for Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Microsoft Edge. The extension has basic functions that include split tunneling, encrypting your connection, unblocking restricted sites, and hiding your real IP address. It also includes a basic version of CleanWeb to help you block pesky ads and malware.

Does Surfshark offer a 3-year deal?

Surfshark is known as one of the most affordable VPNs on the market and is known for some of its great deals. Unfortunately, their 3-year deal is no longer available, but you can get a fantastic 2-year deal, which offers a deal of just $1.99 per month over the course of 2 years, and you get 4 months free.

Surfshark: Customer support

Sometimes, no matter how good a product is, you still need some help, and luckily, Surfshark offers great customer support services. There are several customer support options available to you with this VPN, including:

• 24/7 live chat
• Email
• Guides and articles
• FAQ

The guides are useful if you’re someone who likes to problem solve on your own, but if you feel you need a human to answer your questions, then the live chat and email can help you.

Surfshark: Good alternatives 

While Surfshark is a great VPN at the top of its field, there are other good VPN providers that we recommend as good alternatives:

ExpressVPN. ExpressVPN is one of the most popular choices on the market today, and for good reason. It promises strong security and fast speeds and is great for streaming.

NordVPN. NordVPN is on everyone’s list of top VPNs in the industry, known for its top-notch encryption, unblocking capabilities, and all-around reliable service.

CyberGhost. CyberGhost is a solid choice among VPNs that has a broad server network, good unblocking capabilities, and offers an impressive 45-day money-back guarantee.

FAQ

Is Surfshark legit?

Yes, Surfshark is legit. It is a legitimate VPN provider with a strong background that is worth subscribing to.

Is Surfshark a good VPN?

Surfshark is a very good VPN. It is considered one of the best VPNs in the industry with its strong encryption, fast speeds, impressive features, and more.

Does Surfshark work in China? 

China can be a tricky country to use a VPN in, as the Chinese government is constantly updating geo-blocks to block websites and VPNs. But the good news is that, yes, Surfshark does work in China.

However, while it does work in China, it is slightly less reliable. Nevertheless, many VPNs struggle in China, and overall, Surfshark is successful in the region.

Does Surfshark offer a free trial?

Yes, Surfshark offers a 7-day free trial, and you can try it for 30 days risk-free before asking for a refund, so you can use it to test out Surfshark and decide if the service is right for you.

Is Surfshark legal in the USA?

Yes. VPNs, in general, are legal to use in the USA, and that includes Surfshark VPN.

Where is Surfshark based?

Surfshark is based in the Netherlands, which is part of the 9-eyes Surveillance Alliance.

Conclusion

After this Surfshark review, it is clear that Surfshark VPN is trustworthy and reliable. It has servers in 100 countries around the world, giving you plenty of options for servers to connect to. It’s one of the best VPNs on the market that is rich in features, and all come at an affordable price that won’t break the bank.

Surfshark has plenty of top-rated security features that will keep all of your online activities safe and secure and protect your privacy from any cyber threats. Additionally, you’ll never have to worry about lag time or annoying buffering with this VPN, thanks to its super-fast speeds. With Surfshark, you can bypass geo-restrictions on websites with ease and access streaming platforms like Netflix, no matter where you are in the world. You can also torrent and play games to your heart’s content, among many other activities.

If you’re looking for a good VPN to choose from, you can’t go wrong with choosing Surfshark for your VPN needs.