Surfshark is a new VPN service that debuted this year. Surfshark is getting a lot of attention despite being a new player in the VPN market. In our tests for this Surfshark review, we found that it achieved impressive speeds and a high level of security.
However, we did find a few downsides. Read on to learn about the benefits and drawbacks of Surfshark VPN and decide if it is right for you or if you should look elsewhere.
Summarizing our Surfshark evaluation as a whole:
Pros of Surfshark VPN
- Unlimited connections and support for all devices and OS systems
- enforceable privacy protection laws
- characteristics for safe encryption and leak prevention
- WireGuard assistance (with fast speeds)
- passed a third-party security inspection
- a vast, secure server network that runs on RAM-disk
- Features of Whitelister (split tunneling) and CleanWeb (ad blocker)
- With Netflix and other streaming providers, Surfshark is compatible.
- Additional features include multi-hop VPN
- Excellent pricing and a refund policy
- 24/7 live chat assistance
Cons of Surfshark
- OpenVPN speeds on average
- Limited router support for VPN
Pros of Surfshark VPN
Unlimited connections and support for all devices and OS systems
Despite being a more recent VPN provider, Surfshark already offers a fantastic selection of applications that support all popular devices and operating systems. This is crucial, especially in light of the rising popularity of online multimedia streaming on a variety of devices. Surfshark excels in this area with apps for all kinds of gadgets.
Reminder: Don’t mistake your operating system’s dedicated VPN client for browser extensions or smart DNS. In short, unlike a VPN, which encrypts all traffic on your operating system, a browser extension only operates within the browser. And a Smart DNS does not encrypt any traffic; it merely modifies your DNS settings.
Background check with Surfshark
Since it debuted in 2018, Surfshark has had a dazzling track record. This VPN has gained popularity over time by providing top-notch features, safe mobile applications, fantastic performance, and all for a reasonable price.
The news in 2022 that Surfshark was merging with Nord Security was one of the largest developments for the company. Fortunately, it appears like Surfshark will continue to run independently while also receiving support from a significant security firm, offering the VPN additional long-term reliability.
On the one hand, we oppose consolidation since it reduces the number of independent VPNs available to users. On the plus side, we’re thrilled with Nord Security as a business since it keeps innovating and providing new security solutions like WordPress and NordLocker, a secure cloud storage tool and file encryption tool.
Similarly, we observe Surfshark expanding its product and service offerings outside the VPN. As part of this, a new antivirus program will be released with a private search engine, an ad-blocking function, and an identity theft alarm tool. With the collaboration of Nord Security and Surfshark, the future looks promising.
Infinite numbers of active connections at once
Unlimited simultaneous connections are another significant benefit of using Surfshark. In the VPN business, the majority of providers have five simultaneous connection maximum, give or take a few. Although Perfect Privacy provides an infinite number of connections, it is substantially more costly than Surfshark.
Strong privacy protection policies
In terms of protecting client privacy, Surfshark excels. As we observed in the ExpressVPN review, this VPN’s previous location was the British Virgin Islands. Surfshark, however, said in October 2021 that they will be moving to The Netherlands, mostly for professional reasons.
While other European nations are less problematic, we highly advise avoiding the US and UK jurisdictions (as well as other 5 Eyes countries). We nevertheless advise services (especially secure email services) headquartered in other European nations, such as Belgium, Germany, and The Netherlands, all of which are formally a part of the “14 Eyes” organization, after carefully reviewing privacy regulations as well as actual privacy test cases.
We don’t think it’s a problem that Surfshark is now officially situated in The Netherlands because there are no data retention rules there and it’s generally a good place for privacy. We would be quite concerned if Surfshark relocated to the US or the UK, but that is not the case.
A Surfshark account is never recorded.
In preparation for writing this evaluation of Surfshark, I studied their Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. Both are rather wordy. Noteworthy insights include the following:
- Surfshark does not record any information that may be used to discover who uses the service or what they do online. (We don’t track users’ IP addresses or other information.)
- If your SurfShark app fails, you may send in a “crash report” and get some insight into what went wrong. This is concealed and may be turned off in the preferences menu.
Bear in mind that many VPNs have a crash reporting feature inside their programs. Disabling this feature in the options menu is possible if you feel uneasy about it. There might be a unique identifier for advertisements within the Surfshark mobile apps. You may turn this off in the preferences if it’s causing problems for you.
Regarding VPN logs, it’s important to steer clear of services that have a track record of handing over user information to the authorities.
Protection against leaks and secure encryption
Surfshark employs the RSA-2048 key exchange and the standard industry-accepted AES-256-GCM (Galois/Counter Mode) cipher for its encryption. In addition, Surfshark supports the subsequent Virtual Private Network protocols:
- When it comes to virtual private networks (VPNs), OpenVPN is often regarded as the “gold standard” due to its high performance, accessibility, and security.
- The newest feature of Surfshark, WireGuard, boasts the highest download rates and most advanced encryption methods. Surfshark’s VPN applications include built-in support for WireGuard (no extra configuration needed.)
- The Internet Key Exchange version 2 (IKEv2) is a protocol that is both highly secure and fast. Its performance often exceeds that of OpenVPN, however, it is not open source, which is a downside.
Select a VPN protocol from the settings menu of your Surfshark app. In its current iteration, Surfshark is compatible with the WireGuard VPN protocol on Windows, Mac OS, Linux, Android, and iOS.
Successful completion of a third-party security review
Many VPN services are undergoing third-party audits to gain users’ confidence in this expanding market. With this (good) tendency, Surfshark agrees. To ensure its security, it was tested by Cure53, a prominent German cybersecurity agency. Cure53 said:
The results of this Cure53 evaluation of the Surfshark VPN extensions paint a glowing picture of the product due to the minimal number of findings and the limited ramifications of those findings. In November 2018, two members of the Cure53 team reviewed the scope and concluded that the tested apps give off a very strong impression and are not vulnerable to any flaws in the privacy or general security domains.
This is in excellent shape for a third-party security examination. Take into account that only the mobile browser extensions for Android and iOS were tested. Here you will find the whole audit report.
A select number of VPN services claim to keep no logs and have even been subjected to third-party audits to prove it. (At this time, Surfshark has not implemented this.) A few of the most popular VPNs have had their no-logs claims independently verified. In our comparison of NordVPN and ExpressVPN, we explore two such cases.
Extensive RAM-disk-based server network with a high level of security
Surfshark’s network has expanded rapidly during the past year, with the addition of hundreds of new servers. It presently has 3,200 servers located in 63 different countries.
You can see from the above that all Surfshark servers use Private DNS, are P2P-friendly, and adhere to a no-logs policy.
Can I connect to Surfshark via a virtual server?
To begin, let’s agree on a common definition for the terms we’ll be using. When a VPN server claims to be situated in Chile, for example but is actually in the United States, this is known as a virtual server location. There are benefits and drawbacks to using virtual server locations, which we have already discussed.
As this Surfshark review would attest, Surfshark does make use of several virtual server sites for out-of-the-way locales. Surfshark doesn’t hide the fact that its programs might take you to fictitious places; rather, it advertises this knowledge openly (unlike HideMyAss for example). Inside the Surfshark client, the virtual sites are denoted by a little “V” for virtual so you can always tell them apart.
Using a virtual server is not a deal breaker, by the way. It’s not only ExpressVPN that uses simulated locales to help out in far-flung places; others do too.
Incorporating both CleanWeb (an ad blocker) and Whitelister (split tunneling)
This Surfshark review is the result of my exploration of the program’s many handy extras. We’ll start by taking a look at CleanWeb.
Cleaning up the web is a breeze using Surfshark’s CleanWeb filter. This function filters out potentially harmful content, such as advertisements, trackers, malware, phishing sites, and “strange URLs” that have been flagged as malicious. VPN ad blockers are preferable to browser add-ons because they may effectively block domains at the VPN server by making DNS queries.
CleanWeb support may be activated in Surfshark’s preferences. All of the mobile apps—for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS—support this function. The CleanWeb functionality was successfully tested on the Windows client and is presented here for your perusal and evaluation in this review.
I did some testing by going to ad-heavy pages while using CleanWeb. It appears to have been successful, as all advertisements were successfully filtered out.
Besides NordVPN, we also evaluated the ad-blocking capabilities of other VPNs, such as CyberSec.
The whitelisting function (split tunneling)
Whitelist, like CleanWeb, may be enabled straight from the Surfshark app’s configuration menu. Using this software, you will have the ability to “Select applications or websites & IPs to bypass VPN.”
In some situations, this might prove helpful. Bypassing the VPN with only one app might be useful if, say, your streaming service is being blocked by the VPN.
Streaming providers like Netflix may use Surfshark as well
Surfshark is a great Virtual Private Network (VPN) to use with Netflix. They provide access to the libraries of 16+ different Netflix territories, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, France, Japan, Korea, and more. Surfshark’s ability to unblock the US and UK Netflix libraries passed the test I set for it. Check out the video below to show me using Surfshark’s London-based server to watch British Netflix:
Similarly, there were zero hiccups in the streaming quality. The high speeds and consistent connections make this a reasonable expectation.
In addition to Netflix, Surfshark is a fantastic all-around VPN for streaming due to its compatibility with a wide variety of other providers.
Additional (paid) functions
In addition to what has already been discussed, Surfshark has a few other useful functions. Among these qualities are:
- Get real-time alerts from Surfshark when your email or passwords are at risk of being hacked.
- Surfshark Search is a genuine anonymous search engine.
- The antivirus feature is another service that Surfshark provides.
The Surfshark One package combines the VPN with the Alert, Search, and Antivirus tools, and is ideal if you want everything in one place. If you already have a VPN subscription, this add-on will cost you an additional $1.49 per month.
These options are available during the purchasing process and can be added to your VPN service.
Perhaps the extra cost per month is justified by the value you get from this bundle. But there are a plethora of free, specialized private search engines out there. Although identity theft protection services exist, they tend to be quite pricey.
Superb deals with a full refund assurance
If you’re looking for a VPN that won’t break the bank but yet offers good performance, Surfshark is your best bet. We think you’ll agree that the price is superb.
Compared to other major (high-quality) VPN services, Surfshark is the most cost-effective option.
Credit cards, PayPal, Google Pay, Amazon Payments, and Cryptos are all accepted payment methods on Surfshark.
Refunds are available for a full 30 days with Surfshark
At Surfshark, you may cancel at any time within the first 30 days and get your money back. As opposed to the one-week grace period offered by many VPNs, this is a generous return policy.
In reading the fine print, I noticed a few caveats about mobile apps and gift cards: “Our 30-day satisfaction guarantee allows us to issue a refund if you are not satisfied. Unless you bought using a gift card or prepaid card purchased from the iTunes Store. We have no control over this.”
These kinds of exemptions occur often. When it comes to returns, check with your preferred mobile retailer.
You may think of the 30-day refund period as a free VPN trial of sorts, as you can cancel at any moment and get your money back.
There is always someone online to talk with you
There were several communications with Surfshark’s support staff as I worked on this assessment. Fast and friendly assistance is what I experienced while contacting support. The website has round-the-clock, seven-day-a-week live chat help for any questions you may have.
The Surfshark website is another one that I found to be quite informative. You may find dozens of tips and lessons on the official support website.
Cons of Surfshark VPN
Typical OpenVPN Transfer Rates
For this Surfshark evaluation, I conducted many speed tests. All the successful test results for the WireGuard protocol may be seen up top.
However, speeds do come with one major downside. The performance of the OpenVPN protocol was subpar, in my experience. Anybody can use WireGuard, although others would rather use OpenVPN for various reasons. Multi-hop functionality is only available for OpenVPN.
You can see below that the OpenVPN speeds were subpar in a few areas.
My OpenVPN connection to a server in Los Angeles averages 81 Mbps.
The OpenVPN connection to the UK server was similarly disappointing at 79 Mbps.
When compared to WireGuard, OpenVPN is not likely to perform as well. In any case, using OpenVPN and a fast VPN provider, you may easily get rates of 150–200 Mbps. When I use NordVPN, for instance, I often have download rates of above 200 Mbps.
WireGuard is preferable to OpenVPN if you don’t have any other VPN needs, and it works admirably with Surfshark.
Fewer VPN routers are supported.
The lack of a VPN router app is another issue I had when using Surfshark. ExpressVPN and VyprVPN are just two VPN services that provide router-specific apps that work with the appropriate firmware. Once you have the proper router, setting up the VPN couldn’t be simpler.
The Surfshark VPN router app is, unfortunately, not available. However, Surfshark may still be used with a router, albeit with some added complexity. How about these Surfshark router configurations?
- You may purchase a VPN router that has already been set up by a company like Flashrouters, Sabai Technology, or Vilfo.
- OpenVPN support should be baked into your router, so make sure you get one that has it. The newest models from Asus are my top pick in this category.
- Use a VPN-compatible firmware update to transform your current router into a VPN-ready device. This can be difficult, and there is also some danger involved. Please use care.
You can see that there are still a lot of ways to make Surfshark work with a VPN router, but it would be much better if they made a VPN router software just for that purpose.
Surfshark FAQ
Can Torrents be downloaded with Surfshark?
I was wondering if anyone knew whether Surfshark supported torrenting.
Indeed, Surfshark isn’t the top VPN service for torrenting, but it’s still a great option.
There are no P2P-unfriendly servers in the Surfshark network, the site claims.
Surfshark is an excellent choice because of its fast speeds (when using WireGuard), leak prevention options, lack of logs, and secure applications.
The fact that Surfshark operates out of the Netherlands, where it is not subject to DMCA regulations, may provide some measure of comfort to torrent users. That being said, Surfshark users shouldn’t be affected in any way by legal notices or copyright demands. Because of the serious consequences of copyright infringement, a VPN should be used whenever possible.
Is Surfshark accessible in China?
NoBorders is a built-in feature of Surfshark that the company created to assist customers in bypassing VPN limitations and restrictions. In China, this will be quite helpful. This function is known by a variety of names among VPNs, including VyprVPN’s Chameleon protocol.
It’s simple to activate Surfshark’s NoBorders functionality within the app itself. If the VPN is blocked in your location, such as in China, this should allow you to continue using it.
The Surfshark applications provide this functionality, making them a potentially useful VPN for China.
Please take note that Surfshark’s “Camouflage mode” might disguise VPN data. OpenVPN is necessary for this function to function (UDP and TCP). This is related to but distinct from the “NoBorders” function.
Could I use Surfshark to play games?
Many gamers have found that using a virtual private network (VPN) improves their experience, but there are a lot of factors to think about. An effective virtual private network for gaming requires:
- Incredibly Quick Servers
- a huge network capable of sustaining constant data transfer rates
- all gaming platforms need access to dependable Virtual Private Network (VPN) programs
This Surfshark evaluation has shown that the service satisfies these three criteria. It’s a fantastic VPN service, and it ought to function splendidly for online gaming.
This Surfshark review has shown that the service satisfies these three criteria. This virtual private network (VPN) service is ideal for online gaming and should perform admirably.
Can Linux users access Surfshark?
With the release of a dedicated desktop client for Linux, Surfshark VPN is now compatible with Linux.
The introduction of a Linux graphical user interface software is a huge step forward for Surfshark. We put it through its paces when compiling our guide to the top Linux VPNs in the middle of 2022. Surfshark, a leading player in this space, has released a new software for Linux that provides complete support for the WireGuard VPN protocol. Test results for the Surfshark Linux software are shown in this screenshot:
The lack of a kill switch was arguably the biggest problem with the Surfshark Linux app. The Surfshark team kept their promise, though, and integrated the kill switch into the Linux software.
Results of the 2022 Surfshark Analysis
When compared to other premium VPN services, Surfshark’s pricing is quite low. If you’re looking for a VPN that won’t break the bank, Surfshark is a great option. Here are the main features of Surfshark VPN to review quickly. :
- Extensive support for the most popular platforms and devices with top-notch software
- A Limitless Number of Available Links
- To be located in a reputable jurisdiction that does not need any kind of record-keeping
- Robust encryption and a kill button to prevent leaks.
- It’s a Multi-Hop VPN Server (13 to choose from)
- Ads, trackers, malware, and phishing sites may all be thwarted by using CleanWeb.
- Split tunneling capability (Whitelist)
- Excellent compatibility with Netflix and other video-streaming services
- With a 30-day money-back guarantee and live chat available around the clock.
Among the VPNs I’ve used, Surfshark ranks well, and it’s presently one of our top recommendations.
Other sites like Surfshark
As an alternative to Surfshark, here is a short selection of some of the best available options. Check out the reviews by clicking the links.
- NordVPN review
- ExpressVPN review
- OVPN review
- VyprVPN review
Please share your personal experience with Surfshark VPN in the comments below, both positive and negative.
