We first tested Surfshark when it came out in 2018, and we saw strong potential in it. It made our annual list of the top VPNs that same year. We’ve been testing Surfshark every year since. Now that it has had time to polish its software, where does Surfshark stand in our VPN standings? Well, it’s up there. It made our 2024 list of the best VPNs with a 9.5 out of 10 rating.
If we’ve learned anything from reviewing VPNs though, it’s that when it comes to choosing a VPN, the user’s personal needs and preferences comes first. That means no matter how good we think Surfshark is, only you can say if it’s the right VPN for you. So here, we’re going to share our personal Surfshark experience with you to help you decide that. What does the #2 ranked VPN of 2024 offer?
FYI: Surfshark may be objectively better than a lot of VPNs, but its 9.5 rating didn’t overcome NordVPN’s 9.7 out of 10 score. See our NordVPN review to find out why it’s our top pick.
Surfshark Features Overview
| Kill switch | Available |
|---|---|
| Split tunneling | Available |
| Servers | 3,200+ in 100 countries (all RAM-based) |
| Obfuscation | Camouflage Mode and NoBorders Mode |
| VPN protocols | WireGuard and OpenVPN |
Editor's Rating
Gabe Turner Chief Editor
How We Review
Overall Rating
9.5
- No-logs VPN company based in the Virgin Islands
- Allows unlimited connections, double VPN, and split tunneling
- Choice of OpenVPN, WireGuard, and IKEv2
Video Review
Company Background
It’s always a good idea to do a background check about the VPN company you’re planning to deal with. You never know; what if they are actually out to profit off of your data instead of protecting it?
Surfshark’s location in the Netherlands puts it in a good position. The Netherlands is privacy-friendly. However, the country is part of an international band of countries that share data with one another. And these countries can even force companies under their jurisdiction to share sensitive customer information.
It’s a good thing Surfshark has a “no-logs” policy. Under this policy, it won’t capture any sensitive browsing data – what files you downloaded or websites you visited – while you’re connected to the service. Concerningly, though, Surfshark does log the IP address of users connecting to its VPN. Most trustworthy VPNs don’t do that.
In Surfshark’s defense, it deletes that information within 15 minutes after you disconnect. That was confirmed by a third-party auditing firm that evaluated Surfshark’s servers.1 Plus, knowing your IP address by itself isn’t harmful. As long as Surfshark doesn’t know what websites you visited, there’s no way your IP address can be used to backtrack your VPN activity. In short, Surfshark is trustworthy, despite its logging of IP addresses.
Note From Our Experts: While we’re fine with Surfshark’s IP address logging, there are better VPNs than Surfshark in this area. Our roundup of the best “no-logs” VPNs includes options like NordVPN, Private Internet Access, ExpressVPN, and PureVPN.
Surfshark Features
Now that you know Surfshark as a company, it’s time to get to know Surfshark as a VPN. We tested Surfshark on multiple devices and saw a VPN capable of encrypting web activity and hiding IP addresses from websites and online services. We proved that with the DNS and WebRTC leak tests we performed on the VPN.
Most VPNs today, however, offer features to improve privacy, the user experience, and the encrypted network’s performance. While these are secondary to their main job of encrypting web traffic and hiding IP addresses, they are factors to consider when choosing a VPN.
Let’s see how Surfshark fares.
Torrenting and Streaming
We use VPNs primarily to protect our privacy, but there’s no harm in using them for a little entertainment, right? Surfshark let us torrent from our favorite torrent sites and stream on Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and a bunch more services. In fact, it was one of the best torrenting VPNs and best VPNs for streaming we’ve ever tested.
Here’s why that’s important: Our government frowns upon the use of torrenting services because torrenting is often used for piracy, so using a VPN when torrenting is necessary. It keeps your online activity hidden away from Big Brother’s watchful eyes, so you can download torrent files to your heart’s content.
On the other hand, streaming from a streaming platform with a VPN allows you to unlock regional libraries outside your own. For example, if you connect to a server in Australia, the streaming service will see your Australia-based IP address, so you’ll gain access to, let’s say, Netflix Australia. Surfshark changed our Netflix region in a snap.
It’s also worth noting that Surfshark has an Apple TV app now. It was already one of the best Apple TV VPNs even before the app, back when Apple TV still didn’t have native support for VPN apps. And now that the Surfshark app for tvOS is live, it’s now even easier to connect Apple TVs to Surfshark for streaming.
Expert Tip: A lot of internet-connected devices don’t support VPN apps, including gaming consoles like PlayStation and Xbox. For such devices, Surfshark is a great option as you can set up Surfshark on a Windows laptop and use it as a virtual router. Having a dedicated VPN router is another way, although setting up a VPN router takes some technical know-how.
Camouflage and No-Borders Mode
Back to the more serious stuff. Camouflage Mode and No-Borders Mode are both Surfshark settings that make it easier and safer to connect to a VPN when you’re in a more restrictive country. There are countries that ban the use of VPNs, and while using Surfshark can land you in jail in those countries, it has features that can help you evade detection.
Camouflage Mode, otherwise known as obfuscation, makes your VPN traffic look like normal traffic so that governments don’t detect that you’re using a VPN. This is helpful in countries or territories where using a VPN is illegal or frowned upon by the government. Essentially, aside from hiding your browsing activity, Surfshark hides that you’re using a VPN, which is why Surfshark was one of the VPNs we tested that worked in China.
No-Borders Mode, on the other hand, automatically kicks in when Surfshark detects that you’re in a restrictive country, and will limit your selection of servers to those designed to bypass censorship specifically.
Just remember that these features aren’t fool-proof, so use it at your own risk. Better still, stay on the good side of the law and don’t use a VPN when you’re in a restrictive country unless absolutely necessary.
Pro Tip: Traveling? A VPN is a must-have travel companion. Surfshark is one of the best VPNs for travel because of its 100 server locations, easy to use apps, and impressive privacy features.
Kill switch
No VPN is perfect, and dropping a connection unexpectedly every once in a while is normal. However, if that happens, it could expose your online traffic to your ISP. That’s where the kill switch feature comes in. It automatically disrupts all your internet traffic to prevent it from ever leaking out in case of dropped VPN connections.
Many VPNs have a built-in kill switch, including Surfshark. It’s a necessary VPN feature. For instance, when our Wi-Fi dropped unexpectedly during one of our tests, the kill switch immediately stopped our internet connection while waiting for Surfshark to reconnect. It saved us because we were doing our torrent download test at the time, which could have resulted in another piracy notice from our ISP if not for the kill switch.
Split tunneling
Through a feature called Whitelister, you can configure certain apps or websites to bypass Surfshark’s VPN tunnel. This is useful if you’re using services that don’t allow connections through a VPN, such as online banking. Instead of turning off Surfshark, which would compromise all the other tabs you have open on your browser, you can simply whitelist the online banking website to access it outside Surfshark’s VPN tunnel.
For Surfshark’s browser extensions, split tunneling is available through a setting called bypass list. There, you’ll list all the websites and domains you want to bypass Surfshark’s encryption, so that next time you open those sites, they’ll automatically connect outside the encrypted tunnel.
Dedicated IP Address
This feature wasn’t included in our subscription, but it’s an optional add-on service for an additional $3.75 per month. It’s quite pricey, but it’s something you might need.
As we explained earlier, using a VPN changes your IP address to that of the VPN server. Normally, you won’t be able to control which IP address will be assigned to you. This will change every time you connect. That’s called a dynamic IP address.
>> Learn More: Dynamic and Static IP Addresses
Moreover, VPN IP addresses are shared, so if you and another user connect to the same server, it’s possible you’ll have the same VPN IP address. That’s fine for most users, although it could cause some minor inconveniences. For example, if Google detects that more than a handful of users are connecting to its services using the same IP address, it might require them to solve a CAPTCHA before letting them proceed. Even worse, Google and websites could blacklist a shared IP address.
A dedicated IP address solves that. If you buy a subscription to one, Surfshark will give you an IP address only you can use. The IP address can be either in the U.S., the U.K., or the Netherlands. And with your own VPN IP address, you won’t have to worry about IP blacklisting anymore.
MultiHop and Dynamic MultiHop
Want some extra security and privacy? MultiHop, otherwise known as a double VPN, connects you to not just one but two VPN servers. That means twice the data encryption and double the privacy.
Surfshark’s Dynamic MultiHop feature goes the extra length to provide a pleasant experience. Most VPNs that offer multi-hop have limited and pre-selected server pairings that determine the first and second servers for you. That seriously limits your options. With Surfshark, you’re free to choose your server pairings from a list of servers that support Dynamic MultiHop. Not all its servers support Dynamic MultiHop, though, but it’s still a whole lot better than having a fixed menu of pairings.
FYI: Surfshark is sunsetting its classic MultiHop feature in favor of Dynamic MultiHop. Newer versions of the app no longer have the old MultiHop feature.
Alternative ID
This isn’t a VPN feature per se, but it helps protect your privacy and anonymity. And with Surfshark, you get this feature no matter which package you go for.
Alternative ID does exactly what its name implies. It gives you an alias. Let’s say for example you’re signing up for a company’s email newsletter to hear about their latest deals. You could provide your real name and email address, but that’s risky if you don’t read their privacy policy. They might be selling data to third parties and advertisers, or worse, they might not have enough data security in place, opening up their databases to breaches.
With Alternative ID, you can create a fake online persona complete with a name, email address, and even birthday that you can use to sign up. In case of a data breach, your real personal information will be safe.
Surfshark added the Alternative ID feature in 2023 as part of the Surfshark One package, which we’ll discuss next. But in January 2024, it made the feature available to all Surfshark subscribers.
Surfshark One
Lastly, Surfshark One is an all-in-one digital security subscription that includes access to the Surfshark VPN, antivirus software, secure search engine, and identity monitoring service.
Surfshark One is designed to enhance your online privacy and identity protection using a combination of those features. The antivirus software protects you from malware that could be used to steal digital data. The identity monitoring service monitors the internet for breaches that contain your personal data. The secure search engine offers an alternative to popular search engines that can be risky to your privacy, such as Google.
Surfshark One comes in two levels. The standard Surfshark One plan costs $3.49 if you pay for a two-year subscription. This plan includes all the features mentioned above. The advanced plan called Surfshark One+ costs $6.49 per month, again, if you pay for two years. It adds in personal data removal from people search sites and data broker lists, enhancing your identity protection.
FYI: To learn more about Surfshark’s antivirus software, read our Surfshark Antivirus review. This year, it made our list of the best antivirus software.
How Fast Is Surfshark?
It’s no secret that using a VPN tends to slow down your internet speed, as your online traffic has to go through encryption and be routed through a VPN server. Fast VPNs, however, can keep the speed loss to a minimum.
To test Surfshark’s speed, we connected both a Macbook Pro running macOS and an Acer laptop with Windows 10 to the VPN and performed a few speed tests. It performed better on the Macbook, but its performance on Windows wasn’t half bad either.
However, speed is determined by a large number of factors, including your distance to the server, device make and model, operating system, browser type, and more, so take our speed tests with a grain of salt.
Later, we tested Surfshark again against other VPNs, and we used a more comprehensive testing process this time around. While Surfshark didn’t come out the fastest, its performance was solid, delivering high download speeds, passable upload speeds, and a consistent latency. You can read more about this test on our VPN speed test page.
| Devices tested on | MacBook Pro 2011 | Acer Aspire 5 (Windows 10) |
|---|---|---|
| Ping without VPN (in ms) | 54 | 7 |
| Ping with VPN (in ms) | 53 | 199 |
| Ping difference | 2% | 2742% |
| Macbook download speed without VPN (in mbps) | 16.21 | 23.69 |
| Download speed with VPN (in mbps) | 11.87 | 19.61 |
| Download speed difference | 31% | 17% |
| Upload speed without VPN (in mbps) | 22.01 | 24.09 |
| Upload speed with VPN (in mbps) | 24 | 10.58 |
| Upload speed difference | 9% | 56% |
How Secure Is Surfshark?
If your VPN isn’t taking good care of your data, you may be experiencing a “the call is coming from inside the house” situation. But have no fear: we walked around this proverbial house checking under every bed frame, and here’s what we came out with.
Encryption Methods
Using outdated encrypted methods is kind of like using an old lock on a safe; sure, it’s better than nothing, but we want better protection for our valuables. So, after some digging, we found that Surfshark encrypted our information using AES 256-bit, which is what we expect from VPNs in 2024.
On top of that, Surfshark encrypted our traffic through multiple servers, hiding our web traffic even more. This isn’t usually the case for even the best VPNs on the market, so we feel good about Surfshark protecting our web activity.
Logging Policy
But that wasn’t enough for us. No, we wanted to actually read the fine print of Surfshark’s privacy policy to see what data of ours they kept and vice versa. Our findings?
- What Surfshark logs: There are two types of data logging in VPNs. The first one is when you sign up for the service, and the data logged for this one usually consists of email address, subscription information, and payment information. Surfshark collects all those, but they are absolutely necessary for creating a VPN account. The second type is the data logged while using the service i.e. when you’re connected to Surfshark. And while Surfshark has a “no-logs” policy, its servers do store user ID and IP address information, but deletes them no more than 15 minutes after a session ends.
- What Surfshark doesn’t log: Surfshark didn’t keep our session information, browsing history, the times we connected, the amount of bandwidth we used while connected to the VPN, our network traffic, etc.
You might be worried about Surfshark’s IP address tracking – and you have good reasons to. Hiding one’s IP address is one of the core functions of a VPN, so if your VPN records your real IP address, it defeats the purpose of using a VPN in the first place.
Surfshark only keeps IP addresses for a maximum of 15 minutes after a session ends. It doesn’t permanently store that information.
The IP address also doesn’t have much use without other relevant VPN usage data. To track a VPN user, someone would need both the IP address they used to connect to the VPN, the VPN server they connected to, and the browsing history from that server. By not logging any of those other types of information, Surfshark keeps its users private.
| Data | Does Surfshark log it? |
|---|---|
| IP addresses | Yes, but immediately removes it after a session |
| Browsing history | No |
| Session information | No |
| Used bandwidth | No |
| Time stamps | No |
| Network traffic | No |
| User’s email address | Yes |
| User’s password | Yes |
| Payment data | Yes, unless you use anonymous payment methods such as cryptocurrency |
>> Learn More: The Best “No-Logs” VPNs
DNS Leak Tests
A DNS is a domain name server, meaning, the common name that comes with an IP address; think Security.Org (our domain name) as opposed to 13.35.89.25, one of our website’s IP addresses.
Of course, if a VPN isn’t hiding our DNS when connected, something is off, which is why we tested it out. Fortunately for us, the test showed a different IP address when connected versus not connected. That means Surfshark hid our web activity when we tested it out on both our Mac and Windows computers. Checkmate!
WebRTC Leak Tests
Finally, we also performed a WebRTC leak test using Surfshark. A little background info: whenever we video chat with friends, transfer files, or live stream Netflix, our computers use something called WebRTC, which is basically a collection of technologies that let web browsers communicate directly with each other as opposed to going through a middle-man server.
Sure, this creates faster speeds and rids us of excessive lag, but it also requires the two devices to know each other’s private IP address; no thank you. The question remained: did Surfshark leak our private IP addresses?
The short answer is: no, it didn’t. Even while we chatted on video, Surfshark hid our real IP addresses. So as far as privacy and security are concerned, Surfshark is at the top of its game.
Tip: Firefox, Opera, Chrome, and Microsoft Edge all default to WebRTC, making them more vulnerable to WebRTC leaks. If you’re streaming content, video chatting or transferring files on any of these browsers, make sure to connect to a VPN beforehand.
Surfshark Pricing Overview
Obviously, to enjoy all those features, you need a subscription. And here’s the thing: Surfshark can both be affordable and pricey, depending on how long you’re planning to use the service. Here’s a quick overview of Surfshark’s pricing for its VPN:
| Surfshark Starter | 1 Month | 1 Year (+3 Months Free) | 2 Years (+3 Months Free) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total price | $15.45 | $41.85 | $59.13 |
| Average monthly cost | $15.45 | $2.79 | $2.19 |
All those subscriptions offer the same features, so all you have to consider is whether you want to use Surfshark for a month or a year or two. Surfshark is notably pricey if you’re looking to buy a one-month subscription. That $15.45 per month adds up to $185 in a year. Fortunately, you can opt to buy a one-year or two-year subscription for much less than that.
It’s worth noting that’s usually the case for VPN subscriptions. For example, if we look at NordVPN’s pricing, the monthly average cost drops down to $3.49 per month from $12.99 if you purchase a two-year plan. We can also see that while Surfshark’s monthly plan is more expensive than NordVPN, Surfshark is more affordable in the long run. Of course, there are other factors to consider besides price, so give our Surfshark vs. NordVPN comparison a read for a more in-depth look at how they compare.
FYI: Students registered with Student Beans can get 15 percent off a Surfshark subscription. We recommend signing up for two years to get the lowest rates.
With prices as low as $2.19 a month for its two-year package, Surfshark isn’t only secure; it’s also about as cheap as VPNs come. For more information, read our Surfshark subscription page, or read about Surfshark deals and Surfshark Black Friday deals.
Find out if Surfshark can protect your home like other VPNs
We tested Surfshark and compared it side-by-side with other brands to give you the full picture.
- IPVanish vs. Surfshark
- Norton Secure VPN vs. Surfshark
- TotalVPN vs. Surfshark
- Private Internet Access Vs. Surfshark
- CyberGhost vs. Surfshark
>> Discover: Our Favorite Surfshark VPN Alternatives
Our Surfshark Research and Data
The following is the data and research conducted for this review by our industry-experts. Learn More.
Encryption
| In Transit | Yes |
|---|---|
| At rest? | Yes |
| All network communications and capabilities? | Yes |
Security Updates
| Automatic, regular software/ firmware updates? | Yes |
|---|---|
| Product available to use during updates? | No |
Passwords
| Mandatory password? | Yes |
|---|---|
| Two-Factor authentication? | Yes, must opt in |
| Multi-Factor authentication? | Yes |
Vulnerability Management
| Point of contact for reporting vulnerabilities? | [email protected] |
|---|---|
| Bug bounty program? | Yes |
Privacy Policy
| Link | https://surfshark.com/privacy-policy |
|---|---|
| Specific to device? | No |
| Readable? | Yes |
| What data they log | Email address, billing info, diagnostic reports, advertising ID, IP address, connection time stamps |
| What data they don’t log | Visited IP addresses, browsing history, session information, used bandwidth, network traffic |
| Can you delete your data? | Yes |
| Third-party sharing policies | Shares information with third parties for marketing, payment processing, and other services. |
Surveillance
| Log camera device/ app footage | n/a |
|---|---|
| Log microphone device/ app | n/a |
| Location tracking device/ app | No |
Parental Controls
| Are there parental controls? | No |
|---|
Company History
| Any security breaches/ surveillance issues in past? | No |
|---|---|
| Did they do anything to fix it? | n/a |
Additional Security Features
| Anything like privacy shutters, privacy zones, etc.? | n/a |
|---|
Recap
Like any other VPN, Surfshark has its flaws, but they’re very minimal and the benefits definitely outweigh the costs, financial and otherwise. With military-grade encryption, an impressive privacy policy, and extremely low prices, Surfshark is a good fit for most people who want to hide their web activity.
We’d recommend Surfshark if you want…
- A strict logging policy
- Netflix and torrenting
- VPN service with optional antivirus, identity monitoring, and secure browser
But Surfshark is not for you if any of the following are deal-breakers…
- Slow speeds on Windows
- Servers store IP addresses but deletes them shortly after disconnecting
Using a VPN isn’t the only way to protect yourself online. Check out our list of the best digital security practices for more tried and tested methods.
Surfshark FAQs
Surf’s up! We’re not done riding the wave of Surfshark, so sit back, relax and enjoy the answers to our most frequently asked questions.
- Is the Surfshark VPN any good?
Surfshark is a very good VPN and is among one of the best VPN services, with AES-256 bit encryption, a kill switch, split tunneling, Netflix, and torrenting access, plus a headquarters outside of the Five Eyes alliance. And with more than 3,200 VPN servers in 65 countries, it can work for users around the world with fast speeds, particularly on Macs.
- Is Surfshark better than NordVPN?
Surfshark is not better than NordVPN. Both VPNs include thousands of servers in over 60 countries each, but NordVPN has about 2,000 more servers overall. Also, both VPNs include split tunneling, torrenting and Netflix access, kill switches, AES-256 encryption, static IP addresses, and 30-day money-back guarantees, but NordVPN has better mobile apps on both iOS and Android than the Surfshark app on either operating system. If you want a better Android app and browser extensions, choose NordVPN over Surfshark.
- Is Surfshark a Chinese company?
Surfshark is not a Chinese company nor a company based in Hong Kong. Rather, its parent company, Surfshark Ltd., is based in the Netherlands and was founded in 2018.
- Is Surfshark better than ExpressVPN?
They’re close, but ultimately, Surfshark is better than ExpressVPN. Surfshark is more user-friendly, having responsive and intuitively-designed apps, easy-to-use features such as double VPN, and a much lower price range. Surfshark plans cost as low as $2.49 per month, whereas ExpressVPN costs at least $6.67 per month even with discounts.
