Surfshark

With VPNs, you tend to get what you pay for. That made me skeptical about Surfshark’s rave reviews. To see if it could actually live up to these claims, the team and I tested its speeds, security features, streaming abilities, network reliability, device compatibility, privacy policy, and customer support.

Overall, I would recommend Surfshark because it offers strong value for $1.99/month. It comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it without committing long term. The Financial Times also ranked Surfshark 47th in its fastest-growing companies in Europe list.^¹

Try Surfshark Risk-Free

[pro_con_v0][/pro_con_v0]

[features-overview-table]

Can Surfshark Stream in 4K? — 30+ Platforms Tested

Surfshark delivered 4K playback in our tests, and we successfully watched content on over 30 services. A few needed small adjustments before playing smoothly.

The fixes were simple:

• Trying a few different servers
• Switching to Static IP servers
• Trying another browser
• Changing protocols when a service was inconsistent
• Asking Surfshark’s chatbot or 24/7 live agents for setup tips

Which Streaming Platforms Worked With Surfshark?

The services in the table played on the first attempt, and we checked multiple locations for consistency. BBC iPlayer, which can be tricky with VPNs, worked with all 4 UK locations. There was no buffering, and episodes loaded almost immediately using the WireGuard protocol.

[imageEditor template_id=”5344″]

Netflix US also worked with multiple US locations, including Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, and New York. We tested the same platforms on an iPhone 16 using IKEv2, which handled switching between data sources well.

[imageEditor template_id=”5345″]

ExpressVPN requires less troubleshooting to reach the best quality, but Surfshark’s lower price helps balance that trade-off if you’re comfortable with occasional manual tweaks. It’s also more practical than Proton VPN’s free plan for streaming because it avoids single-device limits and gives access to its full server network.

How Fast Is Surfshark? — Speed Test Results

Surfshark performed well on nearby and distant servers. Nearby connections were quick enough that we didn’t notice any slowdowns, and locations several thousand miles away were still suitable for most online activities. That’s not surprising, considering that all 4.500 servers are 10Gbps.

There’s also a handy Fastest location button at the top of the server list, which was useful. It didn’t connect us to the nearest location, but our tests confirmed that it picked the quickest option. Numerous factors determine a server’s performance, including user load and your ISP’s route. Because of this, a VPN can sometimes even improve your speeds slightly.

How Does Surfshark Stack Up Against Its Competitors?

[markup type=”VPN Speed comparison table” hash=”2509″][/markup]

Surfshark’s speeds were above what we usually see from a VPN. ExpressVPN was still faster overall, but Surfshark stayed competitive, especially on faraway servers, where some VPNs can slow you down by over 80%.

Methodology note: Our VA checks all VPNs from the same US location, using the same connection, to keep results fair. We measure download speed, upload speed, and ping on local and international servers using each VPN’s fastest protocol, then compare those results to our baseline without a VPN connected.

Is Surfshark Good for Gaming?

Surfshark is a good choice for online gaming on local servers because it kept ping low in our tests. Ping measures the responsiveness of your commands to the on-screen action. It’s tracked in milliseconds, and under 100ms is generally considered optimal for gaming; anything higher can make many games feel delayed or unresponsive.

[imageEditor template_id=”5346″]

I loaded Steam to play Brawlhalla, and an update downloaded quickly before the match started. The game ran without lag, and the controls felt similar to playing without a VPN. Since Surfshark hides your real IP address, it can also reduce exposure to DDoS attacks.

How Large Is Surfshark’s Server Network?

Surfshark doesn’t have the largest server count, but it gives you plenty of location choice: 4.500 servers in 100 countries. Most of its servers are in the US, spread across 24 locations, and it also has a strong presence in Europe, especially the UK, France, Germany, and Spain. In 12 countries, you can select servers in specific cities, which helps if you need a more precise location. PIA has more servers overall, but Surfshark offers wider country coverage.

[imageEditor template_id=”5347″]

It also offers a few useful options:

• Static IPs: Free and shared, helping reduce CAPTCHAs triggered by rotating IPs.
• Dedicated IPs: Exclusive to you and better at avoiding blocklists, but they cost extra.
• MultiHop: Lets you create your own double VPN combo from Surfshark’s server network.
• Virtual locations: Clearly marked in the server list, which is helpful because some VPNs don’t disclose them.
• RAM-only servers: Hosted in trusted third-party data centers and wiped on reboot.

Here’s a list of countries where it has dedicated IP locations:

Note: Dedicated IP locations are subject to change.

Does Surfshark Work in China? No

Customer support confirmed that Surfshark doesn’t work in China, Russia, or Turkey. However, it does work in Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.

For Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, Surfshark’s website suggests cycling through different server and protocol combinations until you find one that connects. Manual VPN setup is another option, but it’s more technical.

[imageEditor template_id=”5348″]

VPNs are difficult to use in China because the Great Firewall blocks many websites and services, including many VPN connections. Most VPNs are banned there, but there are no public reports of visitors being prosecuted for using a non-approved VPN. If China access is a priority, there are a few VPNs that have proven to work more reliably.

Surfshark Security — Strong Encryption and Advanced Controls

Surfshark offers strong security for everyday privacy, with industry-standard encryption and customizable features. Forbes reported that 147 countries asked Surfshark for user data in 2022.² Despite this, no user data was given out.

It uses 256-bit keys for encryption. Surfshark applies AES-256 with IKEv2 and OpenVPN, and ChaCha20 with WireGuard. This is the same level of encryption used by governments and militaries to protect private data, so your ISP and other third parties won’t be able to read your online activity while the VPN is connected.

Compared with VPNs that focus more on core VPN features, such as CyberGhost, Surfshark includes more built-in privacy tools, including Alternative ID, IP Rotator, Dynamic MultiHop, and breach monitoring.

VPN Protocols and When to Use Them

Surfshark lets you choose between WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2 on Mac, depending on whether you want quicker performance or more stability.

[imageEditor template_id=”5349″]

The protocol options are:

• WireGuard: The industry-standard protocol for faster connections across all operating systems.
• OpenVPN UDP: Faster than TCP, so it’s better for video calls, streaming, and gaming.
• OpenVPN TCP: Slower, but more stable on unreliable networks.
• IKEv2: Available on Mac, works best on nearby servers, but is slower over long distances.

Leak Protection: What It Shields

Surfshark passed our leak test on 10 servers, including locations in the UK, US, and Germany. No IP, WebRTC, or DNS leaks were detected, which means Surfshark kept identifying details hidden during the checks.

The leak results matter because:

• DNS leaks: Can allow your ISP to see the websites you visit.
• IP leaks: Can reveal your real IP address and location.
• WebRTC leaks: Can expose your IP address through the browser.

The kill switch is easy to access and helps protect your traffic if Surfshark disconnects unexpectedly. It temporarily deactivates your internet connection, then reconnects automatically once the VPN tunnel is active again, so your traffic isn’t exposed while the VPN reconnects.

Camouflage Mode and NoBorders: What They Do on Restricted Networks

Camouflage Mode and NoBorders help Surfshark on networks that block or flag VPN traffic, such as school, work, or public WiFi.

• Camouflage Mode: Hides VPN use through obfuscation, making your connection look more like normal traffic. It can help with public WiFi firewalls, but you need to select the OpenVPN protocol to activate it, which isn’t immediately obvious in the app.
• NoBorders: Shows servers designed for restrictive environments. You can activate it by going to Settings > Advanced in the Surfshark app. Once enabled, it reduces the server list to locations that can get around the firewall you’re facing.

Nexus: How Does It Work With IP Rotator and Dynamic MultiHop?

Nexus routes your connection through Surfshark’s wider VPN infrastructure before sending it to your chosen server. Unlike a traditional VPN connection, which usually uses a single tunnel, Nexus supports features that can rotate your IP address or send traffic through two locations.

Surfshark uses Nexus for two features:

• IP Rotator: Periodically changes your IP address without disconnecting the VPN. This makes it harder for your ISP or unwanted third parties to track you through one fixed VPN IP.
• Dynamic MultiHop: Lets you manually choose any 2 servers in Surfshark’s network, adding another encrypted hop before your traffic reaches its final VPN location.

Extra Security Tools: What Else Does Surfshark Include?

Surfshark includes a few extra tools beyond the core VPN, mainly for blocking unwanted sites, reducing email exposure, and checking whether personal details appear in known breaches.

• CleanWeb: Built-in ad and malware blocker. I tested CleanWeb on Forbes.com, and the ads I saw with it turned off disappeared once I enabled it. It also detects and blocks malicious websites linked to malware and phishing scams.
• Alternative ID: Lets you create an online alias using details like name, gender, birth date, and country, then generates a new email address. Emails sent to that proxy address are forwarded to your real inbox. For an extra fee, you can also get a US phone number. Surfshark advises using it ethically and within legal or platform rules.
• Data Leak Checker: Free one-time scan for breaches tied to email addresses, credit card numbers, and passwords. It helps check existing exposure, but it doesn’t provide ongoing monitoring.
• Surfshark Alert: Adds continuous breach monitoring and sends alerts if new leaks include your personal details.

No-Logs Policy: Audit and 9 Eyes Caveat

Surfshark has a strict no-logs policy that was audited in 2022. It doesn’t store identifiable data, but it’s based in the Netherlands, which is part of the 9 Eyes Alliance. That jurisdiction isn’t ideal for privacy, but since Surfshark doesn’t keep identifiable activity logs, it shouldn’t have those records to share if requested.

Surfshark App Data: What It Collects and Deletes

Surfshark’s privacy policy says its servers temporarily process your user ID, IP address, and connection timestamps, but this data is deleted after 15 minutes.

[imageEditor template_id=”5350″]

It also stores your email, encrypted password, and basic billing details to create your account. The app can collect diagnostic reports and anonymous analytics, which you can opt out of in settings. Auto-Connect uses location data to choose a connection, but Surfshark says this isn’t shared with third parties.

For extra signup privacy, you can use a burner email and pay with cryptocurrency.

Independent Audits: Deloitte, MASA, and Cure53

Surfshark has undergone several independent audits, with its main no-logs review completed by Deloitte in December 2022. Deloitte examined Surfshark’s IT systems, interviewed employees, and confirmed that its no-logs policy matched its privacy claims. It’s worth noting that this audit came 4 years after Surfshark launched, which put it behind some competitors at the time.

In December 2023, Surfshark’s Android app passed the MASA audit, confirming its safety and compliance with global data-handling standards. Cure53 also reviewed Surfshark’s Chrome and Firefox extensions in 2018 and its server infrastructure in 2021. The extension audits found no major privacy or security issues, while the server review found only minor issues that were promptly fixed.

Jurisdiction and Ownership: Netherlands and Nord Security

Surfshark is based in the Netherlands, which is part of the 9 Eyes data-sharing alliance. That’s still a privacy drawback, but the company says Dutch law doesn’t force it to retain user data and that it would move again if local laws changed.

The audit and warrant canary help balance that concern. If Surfshark were ordered to hand over information, its logging policy should limit what it could provide.

In 2022, Surfshark merged with Nord Security, the company behind NordVPN, to form one holding company. However, Surfshark still operates separately.

Torrenting: Fast Downloads, Less Clear P2P Labels

Surfshark works for torrenting and was quick in my tests, but finding P2P servers isn’t as intuitive as it should be. It has 110 P2P-supported servers. If you’re connected to a non-P2P server, Surfshark automatically moves you to a supported location when you open a torrent client.

To check this, I connected to the Czech Republic server, which isn’t P2P-optimized. IPleak.net showed my IP and DNS locations in Prague. After opening BitTorrent and running IPleak again, both changed to the Netherlands, which supports P2P.

Customer support told me to type “p2p” into the search bar to show torrenting servers, and Surfshark’s website now includes a P2P column. CyberGhost is simpler here because it has a separate “downloading” tab in its app.

File transfers were quick once connected. A 2.5 GB public-domain file took 4 minutes on the Netherlands server and 2 minutes on a UK P2P server. Surfshark’s kill switch, encryption, and no-logs policy cover the main P2P safety basics, but the interface is less convenient than VPNs that allow torrenting on every server or clearly label P2P locations in-app.