Surfshark VPN review
Surfshark is considered one of the most innovative premium VPNs on the market.
Its team continually introduces industry-first technologies, such as 100 Gbps servers, Everlink, MultiHop, FastTrack, and more.
On top of that, Surfshark offers everything you’d expect from a top-tier VPN: fast connection speeds, thousands of servers across one hundred countries, and top-grade encryption—all of that for as little as $3 per month with an annual plan.
But that’s not all.
Surfshark also comes with an entire suite of cybersecurity products, like antivirus protection, alternative emails, and more.
It’s not surprising that Surfshark is often named the best pick for those who want top protection without breaking the bank.
But you don’t have to take our word for it—you can see for yourself.
Keep reading for an in-depth look at Surfshark VPN.
Keep reading for an in-depth look at Surfshark VPN.
| Pros | Cons |
| ✅ Affordable pricing on 12-month and 24-month plans ✅ Unlimited devices on one account ✅ 3 connection protocols (WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2) ✅ Broad country coverage (100) ✅ Useful extras: antivirus, data breach alert, and more ✅ Clean and intuitive app | ⛔ Best prices require a long‑term plan ⛔ Total server count is smaller than some rivals’ ⛔ Some extras are available on more expensive plans only |
In short
Surfshark is a fast, secure, and affordable VPN that you can use on an unlimited number of devices. With 4,500 servers spread across 100 countries, it provides a reliable connection wherever you go. Each plan includes full VPN functionality along with some extras like ad blocking and a masked email generator. You can also unlock an antivirus tool, data breach alerts, or a data removal service with higher-tier plans.Surfshark is a solid choice for those seeking online privacy without overspending.
An overview of Surfshark VPN
Here’s a quick overview of Surfshark’s most important metrics:
| Pricing | ▶️ 1 month: $15.45–$20.85 ▶️ 12 months: $3.19–$6.29 per month ▶️ 24 months: $1.99–$4.19 per month |
| Number of servers | ▶️ 4,500 servers ▶️ 100 countries |
| Number of devices | ▶️ Unlimited |
| Device compatibility | ▶️ All major operating systems: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Android TV, Apple TV, and as a browser extension |
| Main use cases | ▶️ Browsing the web more securely ▶️ Using public WiFi safely ▶️ Accessing subscriptions when traveling ▶️ Preventing targeted advertisement…and more |
| Effect on internet speed | ▶️ 10% lower download speed when connected to the fastest server (943 mbps → 842 mbps)* ▶️ 5% lower upload speed when connected to the fastest server (307 mbps → 293 mbps)* |
| Extra products | ▶️ Antivirus ▶️ Alternative email & persona generator ▶️ Alternative phone number (paid add-on) ▶️ Ad blocker ▶️ Data breach alert ▶️ Privacy-focused search engine |
| Returns policy | ▶️ 30-day money-back guarantee ▶️ 7-day free trial |
All prices are up to date as of 1 November, 2025, based on information published at surfshark.com/pricing.
*Based on multiple tests conducted using Speedtest.net and Google’s speed testing tool.
Pricing, plans, and the extras that come with them
If you want an affordable VPN, Surfshark is a great pick—especially if you sign up for a 12‑ or 24‑month plan.
The longer plans offer the biggest savings compared to the monthly price (up to an 88% discount).
Let’s take a closer look at the plans.
Surfshark has three tiers: Starter, One, and One+.
All tiers include the full VPN (with all of its security features) and an unlimited number of simultaneous connections. The differences are in the extra security tools each tier adds.
Surfshark Starter (the base plan) includes all the essentials: the VPN with all its security features, unlimited devices, Alternative ID, and CleanWeb.
Let’s have a closer look at these features:
- The VPN includes all of Surfshark’s core security and performance tools, such as the kill switch, MultiHop, Everlink, and more.
- Alternative ID generates proxy email addresses and alternative personas (names and addresses), making it especially useful for creating online accounts while keeping your real identity private.
- CleanWeb is Surfshark’s ad and tracker blocker, available as a browser extension.
It’s a solid choice if you mainly want a VPN.
Here’s a quick look at the plan and its pricing:
| Surfshark Starter | ||
| Monthly subscription $15.45 | 12 months subscription $3.19 (-79%) | 24 months subscription $1.99 (-87%) |
| ☑️ Full VPN service. ☑️ Unlimited devices. ☑️ Alternative ID. ☑️ Essential features (kill switch, etc.). ☑️ CleanWeb. All prices are up to date as of 1 November, 2025, based on information published at surfshark.com/pricing. | ||
Surfshark One: the right choice for users looking for more than just internet protection
If Surfshark Starter feels a bit limited, Surfshark One may prove to be a better fit.
For a small additional cost, Surfshark One adds more privacy tools on top of the Starter plan.
With Surfshark One, you get three extra products:
- Antivirus
- Data breach monitoring (Surfshark Alert)
- Private search engine (Surfshark Search).
You can manage all these tools from the Surfshark app, so everything stays in one place—nice and organized.
The antivirus covers the basics most people need: real‑time protection, malware scanning, web protection, webcam protection, and full or quick scans.
Data breach monitoring checks your information against known breach databases and alerts you if it finds a match.
Private search lets you search without ads or tracking, helping keep your queries more private than typical search engines.
Apart from these “main tools,” Surfshark One also includes a few more extras:
- Email scam checker that scans your inbox for potential phishing attempts.
- Web content blocker that blocks access to certain categories of websites.
Here’s a quick look at the plan and its pricing:
| Surfshark One | ||
| Monthly subscription $17.95 | 12 months subscription $3.39 (-81%) | 24 months subscription $2.19 (-88%) |
| Surfshark Starter, plus: ☑️ Antivirus. ☑️ Data breach monitoring. ☑️ Private search engine. ☑️ Web content blocker. ☑️ Email scam checker. All prices are up to date as of 1 November, 2025, based on information published at surfshark.com/pricing. | ||
Surfshark One+: the top choice for anyone seeking complete protection for their online activities, devices, and personal data
Finally, we’ve arrived at Surfshark One+.
This tier adds one critical extra: data removal with Incogni.
In short, Incogni is a standalone service that focuses on one thing only: removing your personal information from data brokers—companies that collect and trade your data.
Incogni automatically scans the databases of 420+ brokers and takes care of the removal process if your information is found.
Surfshark One+ bundles three types of security services, offering one of the most comprehensive protection packages available online:
- A fully featured VPN for secure and private internet browsing
- An antivirus to protect your devices from malware and other threats
- Incogni to reduce your personal data exposure across the web.
On top of that, you get extras like Alternative ID, data breach monitoring, a private search engine, and browser extensions—all designed to give you full control over your online privacy.
If you want to read more about Incogni, see this comprehensive review.
| Surfshark One+ | ||
| Monthly subscription $20.85 | 12 months subscription $6.29 (-70%) | 24 months subscription $4.19 (-80%) |
| Surfshark One, plus: ☑️ Personal info removal from data brokers (Incogni). All prices are up to date as of 1 November, 2025, based on information published at surfshark.com/pricing. | ||
Now that we’ve seen the plans, let’s explore what using Surfshark actually feels like day-to-day.
Everyday use: privacy and security, access, and speed
What can you use a VPN for, really?
Let’s look at a recent Security.org survey for clues—and see if Surfshark is a good fit.
Top VPN use cases in 2025**:
- For general privacy: 60%
- For general security: 57%
- To use public Wi‑Fi more securely: 37%
- To prevent tracking by search engines or social media: 32%
- For greater security when online shopping: 25%
- To access media content not available in your country: 23%
- For work in activism/journalism/whistle-blowing/research: 6%.
**We skipped some use-cases; for complete results, visit the source page linked above.
Can Surfshark help with these? The short answer is yes.
If you’re interested in learning which of Surfshark’s features allow for that, keep reading.
These use cases essentially fall into three buckets: (1) privacy and security, (2) access, and (3) speed.
Let’s go through these and see how Surfshark VPN facilitates them.
1) Privacy and security: public WiFi, research, and general activity
A VPN’s main job is to create a secure, encrypted connection between your device and the internet.
It lets you use public WiFi more safely, reduces tracking by websites and apps, and adds a layer of privacy when you browse the web.
This is essential not only for using the internet at airports or shopping without being tracked, but also for high-stakes research—like activism, journalism, or whistle-blowing.
How Surfshark helps:
- Uses top-grade encryption to protect your traffic activity.
- Has an auto kill switch (that pauses internet access) to prevent accidental exposure when the VPN connection drops.
- Features Everlink technology, the industry’s first self-healing server infrastructure that ensures a continuous, uninterrupted connection.
- Runs RAM-only servers (without hard drives), so data is kept in short-term memory, used only for processing current activities and is cleared on reboot.
- Has a verified no-logs policy, meaning online activity and IP addresses aren’t saved or stored.
How Surfshark compares:
Surfshark’s encryption and kill switch match what other top VPNs offer. Similarly, the RAM-only servers and no-logs policy place Surfshark VPN next to leading brands like ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and Proton VPN.However, Surfshark’s patented Everlink technology puts it a step ahead of the competition.You can also check out Surfshark’s own comparison of VPN providers.
2) Access: media, apps, and services while traveling
A VPN isn’t only about security. It’s also about access.
Many US websites—including government sites—restrict access from outside the country. Similarly, popular services may block users with IP addresses from certain regions.
For example, when traveling outside the US, you may have trouble entering some websites because you’re connecting from a foreign IP address. Connecting to a US server through a VPN solves this problem.
A more extreme example would be a journalist working in a conflict-affected country where some services are blocked (due to sanctions, for example). In that case, a VPN connection is necessary to access everyday tools like editing software or even maps.
When you travel, a VPN with servers in the right location can help you access your usual sites and subscriptions.
The rule is simple: the more countries available, the better—giving you greater flexibility.
How Surfshark helps:
- Operates 4,500+ servers in 100 countries, providing broad coverage and a higher chance of stable connections worldwide.
- Includes NoBorders and stealth VPN modes to help maintain connections on restrictive networks that attempt to block VPN traffic.
- Dedicated IP (paid add-on) allows access to websites that block shared IP addresses—the industry standard—by assigning a unique IP address to a single user.
How Surfshark compares:
Surfshark’s country coverage is among the broadest, but there are some other services—like NordVPN and Proton VPN—with higher server counts. Stealth VPN and Dedicated IP features are on par with other top services.
3) Speed: downloads, browsing, and using services that require an internet connection
Access alone isn’t enough—you also need a fast, reliable connection.
Let’s return to the example of a journalist working from a country where many services are unavailable due to sanctions or other restrictions.
Getting access to their usual toolkit is one thing. But that VPN also needs to be fast and stable enough to keep those tools running smoothly.
Server coverage and distance can impact performance. Usually, the closer the server, the lower the latency and the faster the connection.
Server load matters too: when fewer people are using a server, performance is typically better, so a larger network of servers helps distribute traffic more evenly.
But that’s not the whole story.
The protocol—the method used to connect and encrypt data—also plays a role, with newer options often delivering faster speeds.
Our tests show an average drop of just 10% in download speed and 5% in upload speed, placing Surfshark among the fastest VPNs available.
For a more thorough analysis, see this ranking.
How Surfshark helps:
- Operates 4,500+ servers across 100 countries, helping reduce distance to servers and spread load.
- Uses a selection of protocols, including WireGuard, which is known for faster speeds and reduced latency.
- FastTrack technology routes VPN traffic through a network of servers instead of just a single one (industry practice), increasing speeds by even up to 70%.
- Offers a quick‑connect option to connect to the closest or fastest locations to target lower latency.
How Surfshark compares:
Surfshark delivers fast, low-latency connections in independent tests (usually placing it in the top 10), performing similarly to competitors.
Device compatibility
Surfshark’s VPN app is compatible with all major operating systems and device types—you can use it on your smartphone, tablet, or computer.
You can download the Surfshark app for:
- Windows
- macOS
- Linux
- Android
- iOS
- AppleTV
- Android TV
What’s more, Surfshark VPN is also available as a browser extension. Currently, the supported browsers are:
- Chrome (and all Chromium-based browsers, like Brave and Vivaldi)
- Firefox
- Edge.
To learn more about device compatibility, we recommend checking out Surfshark’s download page.
And what about smart TVs or other devices that can’t run the Surfshark app?
The news is bittersweet.
The bitter part is that if your system doesn’t support VPN apps, you won’t be able to run it.
The sweet part is that you can still connect to VPN servers—not through the app on your device, but via your internet router.
It’s called a VPN router.
It may take a little extra effort to set up, but once it’s running, you’ll have secure internet access on all devices connected to it.
Customer support and returns policy
Surfshark’s customer support comes with all the essentials you might need to have your questions answered or issues resolved.
Here’s what Surfshark offers:
- 24/7 live chat
- 24/7 email support
- A dedicated help center with useful articles, including how-to guides and FAQs.
At the moment, Surfshark doesn’t provide phone support.
As for their return policy, things are fairly standard.
Surfshark comes with a 30-day, money-back guarantee—so you can get your money back anytime within the first month of your initial purchase.
That said, there’s no dedicated “refund” button to click. If you want your money back, you’ll need to reach out to customer support manually—through live chat or email, for instance.
You can also try Surfshark without buying a subscription, thanks to its free trial that’s available on all devices—including Windows and macOS.
It may sound obvious, but most VPNs limit free trials to mobile devices, giving Surfshark an edge—especially for users who want to test the service fully before committing to an annual plan.
To learn more, check out Surfshark’s 7-day free trial page.
And what if you want to stop your subscription?
You can cancel your subscription renewal at any time straight from the Surfshark webapp—no need to get customer service involved.
Just look for the “cancel auto-renewal” button under “subscriptions” on the webapp.
Once you cancel, Surfshark won’t charge you again when your current subscription period ends, and you can continue using Surfshark normally until then.
However, keep in mind that when you cancel your subscription, you’re actually canceling the renewal—which means you won’t be refunded for the remaining period.
The bottom line: is Surfshark VPN the right choice for you?
Surfshark checks all the right boxes: strong encryption, reliable performance, broad coverage, and low latency—precisely the mix you’d expect from a premium VPN.
But here’s where Surfshark really takes the lead over its competitors: total value.
It offers all the essentials—on par with other big names—but at a much more affordable price.
That makes Surfshark VPN a great choice for those who want a dependable, fully featured VPN without overspending.
There’s more to the story, though.
Surfshark goes beyond being “just a VPN.”
Antivirus protection, a proxy email generator, data breach alerts, and a data removal service already sound pretty impressive—and that’s not even the full list of extra products it offers.
These extras will increase the price somewhat, but if you’re looking for a service that covers all your privacy and security needs, Surfshark gives you that option as well.
And if you just need a strong VPN, Surfshark gives you full access to its core features even with the entry-level plan.
