Worth
$11 per 30 days, $48 for the primary 12 months (or $59.54 for 2yrs)
Newest Exams
No leaks detected, 17% pace loss in 2023 checks
Community
3,200-plus servers in 100 nations
Jurisdiction
Netherlands
Usability 8/10Worth 9/10Velocity 9/10Privateness 8/10Options 9/10
Surfshark is a superb, well-rounded digital non-public community that constantly ranks as one in all CNET’s greatest VPNs. If you would like a premium VPN at a budget-friendly value, then give Surfshark a glance as a result of it has significantly cheaper long-term subscription plans than different high gamers like ExpressVPN and NordVPN, whereas delivering comparable performance. Surfshark is simple to make use of, boasts tons of options and is great for streaming. It is also made spectacular strides by way of privateness and pace since my final evaluation.
I evaluated Surfshark’s VPN providing by way of in depth hands-on testing, analysis and conversations with Surfshark’s staff through e mail and video convention. With the assistance of CNET’s lab testing staff in Kentucky, we ran a whole lot of pace checks on Surfshark’s worldwide servers to benchmark its efficiency. I attempted Surfshark on numerous platforms, together with MacOS, Home windows, iOS, Android and Amazon Fireplace TV Stick. I examined for leaks and assessed Surfshark’s streaming capabilities throughout platforms and numerous streaming providers. I combed by way of Surfshark’s Privateness Coverage and analyzed its current no-logs audit report.
I discovered that Surfshark isn’t simply probably the greatest suppliers out there, nevertheless it’s additionally constantly enhancing. Positive, there are nonetheless alternatives to develop and get higher — for instance, I’d wish to see a extra concerted and deliberate push towards elevated transparency from Surfshark. However due to Surfshark’s general progress, I like to recommend it as a stable, budget-friendly different to NordVPN and ExpressVPN.
Surfshark is a superb budget-friendly VPN
I’m completely impressed with Surfshark’s pace enhancements over the previous 12 months. Surfshark rebounded tremendously from our earlier pace checks, the place it underwhelmed as an inconsistent slowpoke, sputtering alongside like a boxy 1989 minivan trying to merge onto the freeway. In our newest pace checks, Surfshark was paying homage to a Method One racer, conserving tempo with different speedsters like NordVPN and ExpressVPN.
In November 2023, we examined Surfshark’s speeds from Ohio and Kentucky to servers in New York, the UK, Australia, Germany, France and Singapore, connecting by way of OpenVPN and WireGuard on Mac and Home windows gadgets. We ran 600 particular person pace checks on Surfshark’s world VPN servers to calculate a 17% common pace loss throughout servers, gadgets and protocols.
The 17% common pace loss we calculated in our newest checks of Surfshark’s speeds is a monumental enchancment over the 40% pace loss we calculated in February 2023. Shopping and streaming have been noticeably smoother on my Home windows laptop computer than they have been beforehand. The general high quality of the streams from sure areas like Australia was sporadic, with titles taking eternally to load and continually buffering. Nonetheless, throughout my current checks, I bumped into no such points.
In our earlier checks, Surfshark’s speeds have been frustratingly inconsistent and sluggish, particularly utilizing the OpenVPN protocol on Home windows, the place I misplaced a whopping 77% of my common web speeds. I introduced the difficulty as much as Surfshark then, and an organization consultant promised that engineers would examine and tackle it. I’m pleased to report that our newest checks registered a way more acceptable 28% pace loss on Home windows by way of OpenVPN. On MacOS by way of OpenVPN, we calculated a 19% pace loss. As anticipated, speeds by way of the lighter-weight WireGuard protocol have been quicker than OpenVPN on Home windows and MacOS, at 13% and 9%, respectively.
I used to be additionally impressed with the general consistency of Surfshark’s pace efficiency. Speeds didn’t spike or dip from one check to the subsequent like they have been vulnerable to do beforehand. General, the pace readings from our testing places have been largely as anticipated and constant throughout the board. Speeds to New York and the UK have been usually the quickest, unbiased of what protocol or system we have been utilizing. Speeds to France and Germany have been additionally quick, however not fairly as fast as New York or the UK. As anticipated, speeds to Australia and Singapore — the farthest distance from our testing places — have been usually the slowest.
Though speeds to Australia and Singapore have been usually quick, the lone outlier was with MacOS by way of OpenVPN to Australia, the place obtain speeds hovered between 50 and 60 Mbps on a 140 Mbps web connection in Kentucky. In any other case, speeds to Australia have been on different platforms, and protocols have been advantageous — normally round 120 to 130 Mbps.
However, Surfshark’s 17% common pace loss solidifies it as one of many quickest VPNs on the planet, alongside NordVPN (a median 11% pace loss) and ExpressVPN (25% pace loss).
Surfshark’s month-to-month plan is now probably the most costly within the {industry} at $15.45 per 30 days. The corporate has been experimenting with pricing not too long ago: That month-to-month value has bounced between $11 and $14 for the previous 12 months or so. Its two-year subscription was briefly priced at $54 for the primary two years, however Surfshark not too long ago bumped the value again as much as $60 for the primary two years. At present, its yearly subscription prices $48 for the primary 12 months and its two-year subscription prices $60 for the primary two years mixed.
The annual and two-year subscription costs are low cost for a VPN service, however Surfshark doesn’t make it adequately clear that these two subscription plans improve in value dramatically after the primary time period of the subscription. The annual subscription renews at $60 per 12 months and the two-year subscription renews yearly at $60 after the preliminary two-year time period — however you wouldn’t know that except you probably did some poking round on Surfshark’s web site.
Whereas the Pricing web page mentions (in microscopic lettering) that the value listed is for the preliminary time period of the subscription, there’s no different indication that the value will improve, or by how a lot. Even as soon as you choose the plan you need and get to the checkout web page, Surfshark doesn’t instantly present that the value will increase — solely that the yearly subscription renews mechanically annually and that the two-year plan renews mechanically yearly after the preliminary two-year time period. To see the pertinent renewal data, it’s essential to find an not noticeable drop-down menu on the backside of the checkout web page that claims “Subscription, Computerized Renewal, and different Phrases.” From there, you’ll want to seek out the hyperlink that takes you to the Subscription Renewal Costs web page to see the renewal costs for every subscription plan. It’s a multi-step journey simply to seek out out that your annual subscription will get significantly dearer after the primary 12 months and that your “two-year” subscription successfully doubles in value after the primary two years. The Phrases of Service web page doesn’t even point out that the annual and two-year plans characteristic introductory pricing, solely that the renewal value can change and that any change will probably be communicated to you upfront. The Phrases of Service web page additionally features a hyperlink to the Subscription Renewal Costs web page.
Many VPNs use introductory pricing to get folks within the door, however that is not my challenge with Surfshark’s pricing. When an organization employs sneaky techniques meant to deliberately obfuscate important subscription data, it could result in an erosion of belief within the firm. Surfshark’s sister firm, NordVPN, is considerably extra clear, as a result of its checkout web page no less than shows an asterisk subsequent to the value, directing the consumer to the advantageous print on the backside of the web page which incorporates the hyperlink to its subscription renewal value web page. IPVanish takes it a step additional, prominently together with the hyperlink to its subscription renewal value web page proper within the “Overview your subscription” dialogue field at checkout. I’d wish to see Surfshark take a stab at being upfront about its renewal pricing — there are methods to be clear about pricing with out scaring off potential clients.
Surfshark’s questionable pricing techniques however, the usual $60 annual fee remains to be considerably cheaper than the usual yearly costs from ExpressVPN ($100), NordVPN ($100), IPVanish ($90) or Proton VPN ($72).
Like its rivals, together with Proton and Nord, Surfshark is regularly increasing its providing right into a complete on-line privateness/safety suite. Surfshark’s Starter tier contains the VPN, ad-blocker and cookie pop-up blocker. The costs listed above correspond to the Starter tier, however bundles can be found at an extra value that embrace instruments like antivirus, non-public search, knowledge removing, breach alerts and alternate ID generator.
You can even buy a devoted IP tackle for an extra $3.75 per 30 days. If you happen to purchase a devoted IP from Surfshark, you’ll get a private IP tackle, slightly than sharing the identical IP tackle with different customers. That is useful if you wish to entry your checking account on-line from overseas. It might additionally make it easier to keep away from working into IP blacklists and cut back the variety of CAPTCHAs you need to navigate. Surfshark’s devoted IPs are at present out there in 10 nations, together with the US, UK, Germany, France and Australia.
Nonetheless, remember that utilizing a shared IP tackle is normally the higher transfer from a privateness standpoint as a result of with so many individuals utilizing the identical IP tackle, it turns into way more troublesome to pinpoint any exercise to a single particular person. With a devoted IP tackle, that IP tackle is used solely by you, so that you run the chance of somebody tracing the exercise related to that IP tackle again to you. To fight this threat, Surfshark presents an nameless devoted IP possibility, the place the IP tackle is totally separated from the consumer’s e mail tackle and can’t be traced again to any particular particular person. I requested Surfshark in an interview why anybody would select the non-anonymous devoted IP possibility. Justas Pukys, Surfshark’s VPN Product Lead, advised me that in addition to being a a lot simpler setup, the non-anonymous devoted IP possibility is refundable, whereas the nameless possibility is far tougher to refund as a result of the IP tackle isn’t tied to a consumer in Surfshark’s database. My recommendation for anybody contemplating Surfshark’s devoted IP is to decide on the nameless possibility, despite the harder setup course of. Simply know that you just’re primarily waiving your alternative for a refund — so ensure you want it earlier than buying the add-on.
Apps can be found for Home windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS and Amazon Fireplace TV. In my expertise, Surfshark’s apps usually labored properly and delivered a constant expertise throughout the board. Nonetheless, I discovered that Surfshark usually took a number of makes an attempt to connect with a server, particularly with its MacOS and Home windows apps — which might constantly take upwards of 30 seconds to ascertain a profitable connection. The Android and iOS apps sometimes related rapidly, however the expertise was irritating on MacOS and Home windows. Whereas 30 seconds isn’t all that a lot time within the grand scheme of issues, fashionable know-how ought to reply to our instructions instantaneously. Different VPNs, like ExpressVPN and NordVPN don’t have such points.
Surfshark not too long ago launched a graphical consumer interface (GUI) for Linux — which is equally straightforward to make use of as its apps on different platforms, however isn’t but fairly as feature-rich. Surfshark’s Linux app contains some fundamental privateness options, together with Dynamic Multihop, however doesn’t embrace options like its CleanWeb advert and malware blocker, NoBorders mode, split-tunneling or a kill swap like its different apps do. Pukys advised CNET in an interview that there are plans to doubtlessly make the devoted IP characteristic out there to Linux customers, however extra options will not be within the works at the moment. Though Surfshark’s Linux app remains to be slightly barebones, it’s a step above many different VPN suppliers who solely provide Linux customers the choice to attach through a command line interface (CLI) which isn’t as user-friendly for novices.
If you wish to use a VPN to stream content material on-line, Surfshark is a stable selection — particularly if you wish to get essentially the most out of your Netflix subscription. Throughout my checks, I used to be capable of entry content material from numerous Netflix libraries from around the globe, together with the US, UK, Germany, Belgium, Japan, Denmark and Hungary. I effortlessly streamed Disney Plus content material by way of Surfshark as properly — an enchancment, contemplating I bumped into points with it beforehand. I’m pleased to report that I used to be capable of stream episode after episode of The Simpsons on Disney Plus in 4K with none points. Streaming on Amazon Prime Video was additionally seamless on all platforms I examined. Nonetheless, I encountered a couple of points utilizing Surfshark to stream content material on Hulu. It labored properly by way of Surfshark’s Fireplace TV Stick app however not through iOS. And once I tried streaming Hulu on my Mac, I used to be capable of entry the positioning, however the titles refused to load till I disconnected from the VPN.
Buyer assist is obtainable across the clock through reside chat if in case you have questions or run into points. Surfshark’s Assist Heart is full of useful articles, troubleshooting guides and tutorials for folk preferring to research issues on their very own.
You possibly can attempt the service commitment-free, as a result of a 30-day money-back assure backs all of Surfshark’s subscription plans — and there’s even a 7-day free trial when you join by way of Apple’s App Retailer or the Google Play Retailer. You possibly can pay on your Surfshark subscription through bank card, PayPal, Google Pay, Amazon Pay or numerous cryptocurrencies.
All issues thought-about, Surfshark presents tons of worth wrapped up in a bundle that’s cheaper than many different top-tier VPN choices, so long as you select both the one or two-year plan.
I’m inspired by how Surfshark continues to make strides in its dedication to consumer privateness. Nonetheless, it’s nonetheless not fairly on the extent of ExpressVPN, Non-public Web Entry or Proton VPN by way of transparency — ExpressVPN has an in depth belief middle and is unmatched by way of its third-party audit rely, and PIA and Proton are each totally open-source and commonly publish transparency stories.
Maybe essentially the most noteworthy privateness initiative Surfshark has been engaged on over the previous couple of years is its proprietary Nexus community. With its Nexus know-how, Surfshark can join its total community of servers collectively and deploy a couple of progressive VPN privateness options within the course of. Basically, Surfshark’s Nexus know-how helps route customers’ VPN connection by way of a number of servers all through the community as an alternative of only one. Surfshark is ready to leverage Nexus to assist options like its IP Rotator and Dynamic Multihop options, including extra layers of privateness. Pukys mentioned that the know-how has boosted stability on the community, leading to fewer dropped connections.
The IP Rotator characteristic modifications your IP tackle each couple of minutes whereas staying related to the identical location and with out breaking the connection. This could present extra privateness by making it tougher for anybody to trace you or pinpoint you to a single IP tackle. Rotator labored properly throughout my testing, and I maintained a steady connection all through a number of IP modifications. There was no noticeable disruption in my connection or web exercise as one IP tackle was swapped out for an additional.
Surfshark’s Dynamic Multihop is one other straightforward technique to increase your privateness whereas utilizing the VPN. Whereas multihop VPN connections aren’t new or unique to Surfshark, Dynamic Multihop takes the concept of double-VPN and enhances it. Historically, VPN suppliers — like NordVPN, for instance — who provide multihop connections restrict customers’ decisions to a handful of preset double-VPN connections. That is nice and gives an additional layer of privateness, however the out there preset picks might not be supreme for all customers. Surfshark’s Dynamic Multihop permits you to select any two servers you need to route your connection by way of. Due to this fact, you shouldn’t have any points selecting two servers shut by for optimizing your speeds whereas doubling the safety you get from the VPN. That’s advantageous as a result of a multihop connection usually slows your speeds much more than a typical VPN connection. If in case you have important privateness wants, Dynamic Multihop is a straightforward technique to increase your privateness with Surfshark whereas sustaining extra of your web obtain speeds.
Surfshark has additionally been teasing a more recent Nexus characteristic it calls IP Randomizer. Because the title suggests, IP Randomizer randomizes your IP tackle — not each couple of minutes just like the IP Rotator, however each time you connect with a distinct web site — with out disconnecting you from the VPN server. Surfshark’s web site lists the characteristic is “coming quickly,” however Pukys advised us in an interview that the corporate is placing it on maintain in the interim to focus extra on “speeds and content material accessibility.” At present, there isn’t a timetable for IP Randomizer’s launch.
Like different high VPNs, Surfshark presents the total lineup of industry-standard privateness protections like a kill swap, DNS leak safety and a no-logs coverage. Its kill swap labored as anticipated throughout my testing and I detected no leaks.
In its Privateness Coverage, Surfshark claims that it doesn’t accumulate “any details about what you do on-line (your visited IP addresses, looking historical past, session data, used bandwidth, connection time stamps, community visitors or another related data).” A no-logs coverage is important for any reliable VPN supplier to declare, however these assertions are unattainable to confirm with 100% certainty. Nonetheless, Surfshark handed its first-ever unbiased no-logs audit in late 2022. Though the unbiased auditing social gathering can solely confirm its findings all through its audit, this serves as a serious belief sign to the general public that the VPN supplier is true to its phrase when it says it doesn’t log consumer exercise. Surfshark’s no-logs audit is a promising step in the fitting path for transparency, nevertheless it’s nonetheless not in the identical ballpark as ExpressVPN, which accomplished a formidable 12 audits in 2022. When requested about audit cadence going ahead, Pukys wasn’t capable of decide to a timeline however talked about that future audits could be forthcoming, not better than each two years.
One other vital belief sign for a VPN is an annual or bi-annual transparency report that discloses what number of court docket orders, subpoenas and authorities requests the supplier has been served with and what, if any, data the VPN supplied. Surfshark at present doesn’t publish a transparency report. Nonetheless, Surfshark representatives advised us that the corporate is “exploring the probabilities” of publishing transparency stories sooner or later and is shifting in that path however can not decide to an ETA now. They did notice that the corporate has “not obtained any subpoenas that might have required [it] to reveal any knowledge.” That mentioned, the corporate has a Belief Heart on its web site and has printed an Annual Wrap-Up for 2022 that gives extra perception into Surfshark’s stance on privateness and safety. Nonetheless, I’d have preferred to have seen extra of an specific dedication from Surfshark to publishing a transparency report, particularly when different VPN suppliers like Non-public Web Entry submit them commonly.
Surfshark’s Netherlands jurisdiction may additionally be a priority for some customers. If in case you have heightened on-line privateness wants, chances are you’ll be leery of signing on with a VPN supplier headquartered in a rustic that’s a part of the so-called 14 Eyes data-sharing alliance.
Extra privateness options embrace obfuscated servers, a RAM-only server infrastructure and an advert and malware blocker. Additionally, Surfshark not too long ago launched its CleanWeb 2.0 adblocker performance for its browser extensions.
“CleanWeb 2.0 was particularly launched for the app for our browser extension. And now, our browser extension not solely acts as a VPN, nevertheless it additionally works as a full-fledged ad-blocking instrument,” Pukys advised us in an interview. “We additionally carried out such options as malware detection the place we give alerts for the customers if some particular web site that the consumer is visiting has some potential malware on it, or it had some particular knowledge breaches.”
Surfshark makes use of industry-standard AES 256-bit encryption for OpenVPN and IKEv2 connections, with ChaCha20 encryption for the WireGuard protocol.
On the time of this evaluation’s unique publication in November 2023, I identified a doubtlessly harmful design flaw in Surfshark’s app that would quickly expose your true IP tackle. Throughout my testing, I seen that once I jumped from one server to a different, the DNS leak-testing instrument I used to be utilizing displayed my house IP tackle earlier than switching to the IP tackle of the server I jumped to.
Although displaying my unmasked IP tackle doesn’t technically represent a DNS leak, it may be simply as harmful when you’re unaware of the dangers of exposing your true IP tackle and unencrypted visitors for even a cut up second. Neither is it a bug, per se. The truth is, it’s typical conduct for a lot of VPNs, nevertheless it did uncover a doubtlessly harmful design flaw in Surfshark’s VPN app on the time. In that model of the app, if a consumer jumped from one server to a different, a dialogue pop-up indicated that the VPN was disconnecting earlier than the shopper established the subsequent connection. The issue was that the warning solely appeared after the consumer had already initiated the change, and was unable to cease the disconnection. The warning was already too late by that time, and the consumer could have already leaked their true IP tackle, web exercise, location and identification.
Whereas a seasoned VPN consumer could anticipate this conduct and shut out of something delicate earlier than making the soar, some customers could not — and should inadvertently put their on-line privateness at severe threat. To fight this challenge, some VPNs briefly kill the web connection whereas establishing the brand new VPN connection. NordVPN can reconfigure the present tunnel as an alternative of opening a brand new one, eliminating the disconnect altogether. ExpressVPN does neither, nevertheless it points a pop-up warning previous to initiating the soar, alerting the consumer that their visitors might not be safe through the server swap.
I introduced the matter as much as the Surfshark staff throughout our interview, and so they acknowledged the difficulty on the time. Shortly thereafter, the staff deployed a short lived repair whereas they started working on constructing out a everlasting answer. The newest model of Surfshark’s app features a notification pop-up that warns you that the app might want to disconnect you from the server earlier than reconnecting. You could verify that you just need to proceed previous to switching servers. By displaying the warning previous to the disconnect/server swap as an alternative of after, the app is best capable of shield customers who might not be conscious of the dangers. Surfshark is engaged on a long-term answer to the difficulty, which would require extra time for improvement and testing, however the warning pop-up is a welcome short-term repair. I used to be impressed with the urgency with which Surfshark sprang into motion to handle the difficulty and assist preserve customers protected.
Ensure to replace to the newest model of the app to make sure you’re reminded of the disconnect that happens throughout a server swap. Both method, at all times make certain to terminate any delicate on-line exercise chances are you’ll be engaged in earlier than leaping from one server to a different.
I’m pleased with Surfshark’s enhancements relating to transparency and consumer privateness general. I’m additionally impressed with how responsive the staff was to my issues and the way rapidly they acted to start addressing them to make their VPN product safer. There’s nonetheless some work to be executed on that entrance, however I believe Surfshark is headed in the fitting path. In any case, Surfshark is a superb possibility for budget-conscious VPN customers who take pleasure in streaming content material and need an inexpensive VPN that’s progressive in terms of privateness.
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