A fast VPN for casual users

Surfshark is likely one of the youngest main VPNs, nevertheless it’s grown quickly during the last seven years. Since 2018, it is expanded its community to 100 international locations, added a collection of apps to its Surfshark One bundle and experimented with superior touches like servers that continuously rotate your IP tackle.

Previously a funds VPN, Surfshark continues to be fairly reasonably priced however the price of a one-month subscription is approach too excessive. As of late, it is extra eager about innovation than affordability. Its options could not all the time be cutting-edge — Nexus is mainly Tor and Everlink is a barely higher kill change — nevertheless it’s uncommon to search out both carried out so properly in a industrial VPN. Plus, obtain and add speeds are incredible.

All of it provides as much as the most effective VPNs for informal customers, even when in comparison with others in its weight class. However these already deeply acquainted with VPNs would possibly journey over some facets. For this assessment, I studied 11 completely different angles on Surfshark’s service, some by means of hands-on assessments and others with old style journalism. Take a look at the sections most necessary to you, then head to the tip for my remaining verdict.

Editors’ be aware: We’re within the technique of rebooting all of our VPN opinions from scratch. As soon as we do a recent go on the highest providers, we’ll be updating every assessment with a score and extra comparative data.

Surfshark

A quick, secure VPN with distinctive options and good consideration to safety.

Professionals

• Very quick speeds
• Cut up tunneling on all apps
• Can select your personal multihop paths

Cons

• Single-month pricing is extreme
• A lot of popups on desktop
• NoBorders Mode helpful however can activate needlessly

$53.73 for 27 months at Surfshark

Desk of contents

Findings at a look

This desk summarizes all the pieces I found about Surfshark. For particulars on any bullet level, see its part within the full assessment.

Putting in, configuring and utilizing Surfshark

For this part, I will be going over the way it feels to make use of Surfshark. I will take a look at how straightforward or tough it’s to put in, what it’s a must to do to set it up and whether or not the consumer interface (UI) helps out or will get in the way in which on every platform.

Home windows

Surfshark is simple to obtain and set up on Home windows. You may get it by means of the Microsoft retailer, however going straight by means of the Surfshark web site makes certain you could have the most recent and most full model. The downloader asks you to click on “Sure,” however largely handles itself, and winds up in a short while.

The primary level that may divide informal customers and VPN veterans comes when you open the app for the primary time. Surfshark insists on taking you thru a guided setup course of for all its options. That is extraordinarily useful for those who’ve by no means used a VPN earlier than. When you have, its repeated insistence on sending you thru the tour can get aggravating.

This sample repeated itself as I went by means of the app. The entrance web page is sensibly organized and organized so I may see all of the information and settings — nevertheless it stays approach too reliant on unskippable pop-ups to supply data. Messages appeared after I tried to cancel a caught connection, after I turned settings on and off and even after I tried to shut the app. It is normally necessary data, however displaying a message that freezes each different button is a nasty transfer.

It is a disgrace, as a result of all the pieces else works superb. The settings tabs do an admirable job of packing a number of, semi-related apps right into a single UI. Simply take be aware that quite a lot of stuff is enabled by default, together with auto-connect and NoBorders, which can make the VPN behave in methods you do not want.

Mac

Surfshark’s app for macOS is usually the identical as its Home windows app, for higher or worse. It is received the identical split-second obtain and set up and the identical clear group of tabs with well-explained options. It is also received the identical relentless popups, settings on by default and sometimes sticky connections. If it will get hung up at 95 %, simply wait — it is nonetheless working.

Android

The Surfshark Android app, accessible by means of the Google Play Retailer, is prepared after you merely obtain and login. It does not reinvent the wheel, however Surfshark’s design language seems to be very straightforward to compress into cell — besides that it is dark-mode by default, whereas all the opposite three are gentle. I discovered all the pieces I wanted inside moments. Android even removes virtually all of the full-screen stop-everything notifications.

One factor to concentrate on: while you begin up the Android app, the VPN is seen, however the touchdown web page consists of all of the options of Surfshark One. To get the VPN-only entrance web page, click on the arrow throughout from “VPN” on the prime of the display. That mentioned, you are able to do virtually all the pieces it’s essential to do irrespective of which web page you are on.

iOS

It is uncommon to see an enormous distinction between a VPN’s apps on the 2 cell platforms, however Surfshark switches up its design from Android to iOS. The whole lot now lives in 4 tabs on the underside of the window. The settings tab is nice, largely as a result of it seems to be like how preferences do on Mac and Home windows.

The primary VPN window is a bit jankier. It really works superb, however so as to make the server record continuously seen (pointless IMO), it relegates the precise VPN connection to a floating field that appears like an afterthought. It even features a button to open the server record that is already open. I freely admit that is only a private grievance, nevertheless it nonetheless baffles me.

Browser extensions

Surfshark’s browser extensions for Firefox and Chromium are virtually clones of its desktop apps, with just a few variations. The Alert tab tells you if the location you are on has suffered a safety breach not too long ago. CleanWeb 2.0 is the primary cause so as to add Surfshark to your browser; it is a a lot stronger blocker that even works on some video insert advertisements.

Surfshark pace check: Tremendous quick with some latency

All VPNs add to your net browser’s workload, so it is regular to see speeds drop. The most effective VPNs handle to maintain the drops as small as doable. I used speedtest.net to see how rapidly my obtain speeds declined at six of Surfshark’s server places — that is a measure of how briskly a browser can load net pages, buffer movies and obtain giant information.

I additionally regarded for latency, which impacts real-time communication with one other server (necessary for avid gamers) and add pace, which impacts how rapidly your system can ship information (necessary for torrenting). My outcomes are within the desk.

By way of obtain and add speeds, Surfshark is the quickest VPN I’ve examined up to now, beating out ExpressVPN, Proton VPN and NordVPN — and none of these are precisely sluggish. In case you take a look at the Indonesia row, you may see I truly received a better add pace than I did with out the VPN energetic. That in all probability has extra to do with pure fluctuations from my ISP than something Surfshark did, nevertheless it nonetheless signifies how little this VPN weighs down your searching.

Latency is extra of a blended bag. Jumps in ping time are anticipated throughout lengthy distances, however I additionally noticed a reasonably large leap on a server in the identical state as me. Surfshark is probably not ultimate for fast-paced on-line video games, however its speeds are nearly excellent for every other process.

Surfshark safety check: Easy however efficient protocols

To find out whether or not Surfshark can maintain you protected, I will be three components: whether or not it makes use of safe and up-to-date VPN protocols, whether or not any of these protocols leak your IP tackle and whether or not encryption is being utilized to all information packets. The primary is a matter of researching the know-how, however I’ve run sensible assessments for the opposite two.

VPN protocols

Surfshark makes use of the VPN protocols WireGuard, OpenVPN (over TCP or UDP) and IKEv2. All of those are field-tested protocols that depend on uncracked encryption and confirmed authentication strategies. There is not any proprietary protocol with shady supply code, nor any outdated legacy choices that may pose a threat for those who decide them. My solely grievance is that OpenVPN is not accessible on Mac.

Every of those protocols does the identical factor: set up communication between your system, VPN servers and the web. They deal with the steps otherwise, however the common consumer is simply prone to see small variations. If one protocol is not working, you possibly can change to a different — or simply decide the automated protocol choice choice, which labored superb throughout my assessments. If you wish to decide for your self, use the desk beneath for reference.

Leak check

Subsequent, I picked 5 of the servers I did not use for the pace check and checked all of them for 3 completely different sorts of leaks utilizing ipleak.net. Surfshark has its personal DNS servers, so DNS leaks are unlikely — these normally come from a VPN utilizing public servers to resolve DNS requests. As anticipated, DNS requests did not reveal my IP tackle in any of the assessments.

There’s extra potential for IPv6 leaks, as Surfshark does not assist IPv6. It recommends turning it off as a substitute, and has guides on doing that. To completely put Surfshark by means of its paces, although, I ran my assessments with IPv6 nonetheless energetic on my pc. On all 5 servers, the IPv6 check couldn’t run. This means that Surfshark actively blocks IPv6, which (till extra of the web begins operating on the brand new protocol) is a superb technique to forestall IPv6 leaks.

The leak testing instrument additionally checks for WebRTC leaks, so I ran every check with a Google Meet name energetic, however that did not leak both. In brief, Surfshark did not spring a leak irrespective of what number of occasions I poked it. I am ready to name it watertight.

Encryption check

To be completely certain I used to be recommending a protected VPN, I used WireShark (no relation) and HTTP Forever to see whether or not its encryption works. From inspecting the info stream earlier than and after connecting to a Surfshark server, it is clear that encryption is really being utilized. Have a look for your self — the truth that you possibly can’t get any data from the screenshot means the VPN protocol is working.

How a lot does Surfshark price?

Surfshark is a part of a collection of safety merchandise — loads like its sister model NordVPN, however with the choices per tier a little bit extra coherent. It is available in three subscription sorts, every of which is out there at three durations. The desk beneath reveals the entire vary of prices.

Word that the 24-month plans are introductory solely. You may solely renew for one month or 12 months. The costs beneath additionally consider additional months you may get while you join the primary time, which are not accessible in renewals.

Surfshark’s worth drops steeply from its shortest to its longest subscriptions. $15.45 is approach overpriced (even for a service we fairly like), however $1.99 per 30 days is in regards to the least you may pay for any VPN price recommending. The leap from Starter (which solely consists of the VPN service) to One (which incorporates all the pieces else besides Incogni) can also be tiny on the 12-month plan — solely an additional $0.20.

Surfshark is nearly definitely doing this to juice energetic consumer numbers — however that does not imply you possibly can’t reap the benefits of it. To our thoughts, the 12-month subscription to Surfshark One is extraordinarily good worth, supplied you already know you need Surfshark VPN.

Each plan comes with a 30-day money-back assure. At any level earlier than 30 days have elapsed, you can begin a reside chat dialog to get your a reimbursement. That is solely allowed as soon as each six months.

You may as well get a free trial for seven days by putting in the Surfshark app from the Apple or Android app retailer, creating an account, then selecting the plan that features the 7-day free trial. Nonetheless, since it’s a must to enter a fee technique for this — and it isn’t accessible on Home windows — the 30-day interval is usually extra handy.

Surfshark facet apps and bundles

This is what you may get from Surfshark other than its VPN service. With the intention to maintain our give attention to the VPN, we did not have time to scrupulously check all these, however we have included the fundamental data that can assist you make your choice.

Various ID

Various ID is included together with VPN service in a Surfshark Starter plan. It consists of two options: masked electronic mail generator and private element generator.

Masked electronic mail generator offers you a random electronic mail tackle that sends all messages alongside to your actual inbox. Because it auto-forwards all the pieces, an electronic mail masks is not for decreasing spam. As a substitute, it helps you to maintain your actual electronic mail tackle secret when signing up for on-line providers — since offering your precise tackle runs the chance of leaking it. For an additional $2.89 per 30 days, you can even get an alternate cellphone quantity that works equally.

Private element generator creates faux names, addresses and birthdays you need to use to join any web sites you are unsure about. You’ll want to use it together with the VPN, or your IP tackle will reveal the precise particulars. It additionally is likely to be useful for randomly producing your subsequent RPG character.

Surfshark Antivirus

Surfshark Antivirus is included in Surfshark One and One+ subscriptions. It could possibly scan information as you obtain them and also can scan your entire system for malware, checking towards a listing of undesirable packages it claims to replace each three hours.

AV-Check gave it a perfect score in safety. A prime rating (6 out of 6) means Surfshark Antivirus caught one hundred pc of malware thrown at it, each recognized threats and zero-day assaults. It additionally received an ideal usability rating for completely avoiding false positives, and a 5.5 out of 6 on efficiency — it had almost no impression on downloading apps or copying information, however slowed down well-liked web sites by round 30 % on common.

Surfshark Alert

Surfshark Alert, which can also be a part of Surfshark One and One+, scans the data launched in information breaches to see if any of your necessary information has been compromised. It could possibly test for electronic mail addresses, usernames, passwords, bank card numbers and authorities IDs. It could possibly additionally warn you when malware in your pc is able to stealing your information.

Surfshark Search

You may get entry to Surfshark Search, a search engine akin to Google, with a One or One+ subscription. It provides an a variety of benefits over Google, together with being completely ad-free (a perk of being sponsored by subscription). You may as well change the area from which you get outcomes. Surfshark claims that each one outcomes are completely natural, with no trackers or studying from logged searches.

Incogni

Incogni, an automatic information elimination service, is the one function restricted to Surfshark One+ plans. It searches information brokerages to see if they’ve any of your data, then contacts them so that you can request they purge the info. Brokers do not need to honor all deletion requests, nevertheless it by no means hurts to attempt. Incogni retains looking out so long as your subscription is energetic, so it will probably robotically ship a number of requests to the identical dealer if mandatory.

Saily eSIM

A number of VPNs now present their customers with Saily eSIM reductions, which can be utilized to get common cellphone service in overseas international locations. Surfshark grants varied reductions by means of the coupon code surfshark5, which seems to be usable even and not using a Surfshark account.

Shut-reading Surfshark’s privateness coverage

Surfshark’s privateness coverage reveals us its outward angle towards consumer privateness. Whereas it is doable for a VPN supplier to lie outright in its posted coverage, they like to not for legal responsibility causes. An unreliable service will as a substitute use loopholes, vagueries and incomplete statements to make privateness guarantees it does not plan on retaining.

In contrast, a VPN service price your cash can be as particular as doable about any exceptions to its no-logs coverage. I learn Surfshark’s whole privateness coverage to see which sort of VPN it’s — no small feat, because it’s properly over 5,000 phrases lengthy. The web page consists of summaries, however they’re pared down a little bit too far to be helpful, so it is into the complete textual content I am going.

Surfshark relies within the Netherlands, which makes it topic to the European Union’s Normal Knowledge Safety Regulation (GDPR). That is excellent news, since GDPR does not permit any company to retain data with out justifying it. The Netherlands is probably going a part of the 9 Eyes intelligence-sharing settlement, however companies cannot spy on a VPN’s customers until that VPN is already saving activity logs — and whether it is, it is received a lot larger issues than the place it is based mostly.

Surfshark’s whole server community runs on RAM-only infrastructure, so any saved exercise is erased at common intervals. Even higher, the coverage is obvious that your exercise on any server is deleted inside quarter-hour. If we take Surfshark at its phrase, there’s little or no cause to fret about servers being seized or searched.

Which means the one threat is that Surfshark itself would possibly reap the benefits of its entry to your data. It does, sadly, declare the correct to view data gathered by third-party trackers, such because the cookies utilized by social media websites to trace advert efficiency. However none of these trackers are watching what you do while you use the VPN, nor digging into your precise searching exercise — which, as we have seen, does not exist after quarter-hour.

Impartial privateness audits

Though we will not conclusively confirm any VPN’s privateness coverage, since that includes the logically not possible feat of proving a unfavorable, we will get very shut by checking impartial audits. Third-party auditors can confirm a VPN’s public statements by means of a mixture of interviews, doc assessment and straight tinkering with the infrastructure.

Surfshark handed its most up-to-date audit in June 2025, which — at time of writing — leaves little or no room for interference. Deloitte, the audit agency, concluded that “the configuration of IT methods and administration of the supporting IT operations is correctly ready, in all materials respects in accordance with the Surfshark’s description set out within the Appendix I.”

I checked that description and located that it matches as much as Surfshark’s public privateness coverage. So, as a lot as we will say that any VPN is non-public, Surfshark is non-public. It might not cease all customized advertisements, however it can a minimum of maintain your private data secret.

Can Surfshark change your digital location?

In case you primarily want a VPN for streaming, that is the part for you. Right here, I check whether or not Surfshark can change your location convincingly sufficient so that you can see content material from different international locations, with out getting caught and blocked by streaming platforms.

The process is straightforward: I decide 5 check places, join to 3 completely different servers in every and cargo Netflix. If I get in cleanly with out error messages, and truly see completely different reveals than I might and not using a VPN, I will know Surfshark convincingly modified my location. (As a reminder, when unblocking with any VPN, all the time ensure you’re logged into your streaming account first.)

Surfshark carried out extraordinarily properly on this check, not solely unblocking each location a minimum of twice but in addition sustaining quick sufficient speeds to maintain the movies from stuttering. The one failure was that one server in Japan received spied out as a VPN and blocked. Nonetheless, merely disconnecting and reconnecting was sufficient to get me over the hurdle.

Any failure to alter digital location counts towards a VPN, however even the very best providers cannot maintain their servers off one hundred pc of blocklists. NordVPN, one other top-five VPN, scored the same 14/15. So far as I am involved, that is a passing grade for streaming — but when it is a dealbreaker for you, bear in mind ExpressVPN and Proton VPN each have excellent scores.

Investigating Surfshark’s server community

Surfshark has a complete of 100 server places in 141 international locations. Of these places, 47 are digital and 92 are bodily. A digital VPN server offers you an obvious digital location completely different from the place it is actually positioned. There’s little safety tradeoff, however speeds could range relying on how far you’re from the server’s precise place. The one rely towards Surfshark right here is that it does not make clear the place its digital servers are actually positioned, so utilizing them is a pace crapshoot.

The desk beneath reveals the proportions of server places in every area, so you possibly can resolve whether or not Surfshark is prone to be helpful for the place you’re. You’ll find a full record on Surfshark’s website, although solely the apps present which servers are literally digital.

These numbers are attention-grabbing in just a few methods. First, Surfshark’s server community is simply about one-third digital, the bottom proportion of any main VPN I’ve reviewed up to now. There’s additionally no continent and not using a single bodily server. This makes Surfshark an excellent selection to ensure usable web speeds whereas globetrotting.

As common, servers are largely in Europe and North America, though there is a honest quantity of Asia represented by the digital places. Surfshark is newer than most of its opponents, so it is spectacular that it is constructed such an in depth community in half the time. The desk reveals a VPN service that is eager about increasing, however will not achieve this on the expense of creating high quality places that really work.

Surfshark units itself other than the VPN pack with a number of options, some seen to the consumer and a few working behind the scenes. Principally, its options are acquainted ideas carried out properly, fairly than outright improvements like NordVPN’s Meshnet — however there’s quite a lot of chance for thrilling new instructions.

Underlying know-how: Surfshark Nexus and Everlink

Surfshark has two technological improvements underneath the hood that make its VPN comparatively distinctive. The primary is Nexus, which has been energetic since 2022. Nexus connects all Surfshark’s servers collectively right into a tighter community than most VPNs use. All its servers are nodes in an internet of interconnected paths, a lot like the Tor network, besides proprietary to 1 firm.

While you select a server location, you are solely choosing the final node in a sequence. Surfshark software program selects the entry level and the trail to your chosen exit. This provides each consumer extra choices for a working connection path, and permits Surfshark to commonly rotate your obvious IP tackle so exercise on one masked id cannot hint again to you. It is also what makes it doable to choose the 2 steps in a double-hop connection (see “Dynamic MultiHop” beneath).

Everlink is a more moderen know-how that Surfshark calls a “self-healing VPN infrastructure.” Any time you are related to Surfshark by means of the WireGuard protocol, you are additionally related to Everlink — a parallel infrastructure that watches your VPN connection. If it ever drops, Everlink immediately reconnects you to a different server close by, theoretically so quick you will not discover the outage.

That is mainly one step up from a kill change. As a substitute of chopping off your connection, Everlink switches it to the following server as a substitute. This makes it tough to check — the way in which to test a kill change is to simulate a server drop by chopping off your personal web connection, which makes Everlink’s perform not possible. Nonetheless, I can a minimum of say I am cautiously enthusiastic about Everlink’s potential energy to negate server drops.

Limitless simultaneous connections

One factor you may commonly hear about Surfshark is that it places no limits on what number of gadgets can join by means of your account. In concept, one subscription is sufficient for you, your family and any pals that need to borrow it.

In apply, although, “limitless” is a stretch. A support article acknowledges that some folks could abuse the privilege by reselling entry, or by masking unlawful botnet exercise behind a whole lot of Surfshark connections.

The article does not explicitly say Surfshark will restrict or ban abusers, however questions to the support team revealed that an account could possibly be locked if an automatic system detects fraud. In case you use a excessive variety of simultaneous connections, even legitimately, you could possibly be flagged — although you might be able to unlock your account by telling customer support what occurred.

Bypasser break up tunneling

Bypasser helps you to break up your web connection so sure apps or web sites undergo the VPN whereas others stay exterior. This will get you higher speeds on websites and apps that do not contain any delicate data. Additionally, every time a service requires your actual IP tackle, you possibly can maintain utilizing the VPN for all the pieces else. Torrenting is a traditional use case — you possibly can maintain BitTorrent protected within the background whilst you do one thing innocuous with out VPN safety, bettering speeds for each processes.

Bypasser break up tunneling is out there on all of Surfshark’s desktop and cell purchasers, although iOS customers can solely break up by web site, not by app. Home windows and Android customers also can select between two types of break up: “Bypass VPN,” which retains all listed websites and apps exterior the VPN tunnel, and “Route by way of VPN,” wherein solely the listed websites and apps keep inside the VPN tunnel.

Dynamic MultiHop

Many VPNs have a double-hop choice, which routes connections by means of two VPN servers to maintain you protected in case one breaks. Nonetheless, most of them prohibit you to set paths of two servers. Surfshark is the one VPN that allows you to select each steps, because of Nexus pre-establishing paths between all of the servers.

For the very best efficiency, I like to recommend choosing an entry node close to your actual location, then selecting your exit node based mostly on what it’s essential to unblock. In case you aren’t unblocking something specifically, your greatest guess is to easily select two nodes in your personal nation.

Camouflage Mode obfuscation

VPN obfuscation refers to VPNs hiding the truth that they’re VPNs in any respect — so not solely is your IP tackle not your actual one, nevertheless it does not seem to have been modified. Surfshark’s obfuscation is known as Camouflage Mode. So long as you are related by way of OpenVPN, it is energetic robotically. So, for those who suspect an out of doors firewall is stopping you from getting on-line whereas operating Surfshark, switching to OpenVPN would possibly resolve the issue.

NoBorders mode

NoBorders is another choice for getting on-line with Surfshark underneath exterior restrictions, particularly these imposed by whole governments (just like the Nice Firewall of China). If Surfshark detects restrictions on web utilization, NoBorders prompts and switches you to a server well-placed to get round these restrictions — for instance, an IP tackle from the following nation over.

The issue with NoBorders is that it is energetic by default, which can prohibit you to sure servers when you do not want the assistance. I like to recommend switching NoBorders off within the settings for higher efficiency. It might activate once more if it detects doable restrictions, so test the setting once more for those who discover your speeds slower than common.

CleanWeb

CleanWeb, Surfshark’s advert blocker, is out there in two kinds. The essential model of CleanWeb, which blocks banner advertisements and trackers, comes with all Surfshark apps.

CleanWeb 2.0 comes as a browser extension, which suggests it solely works in-browser. Nonetheless, it is a a lot stronger blocker, able to cancelling video advertisements on streaming and YouTube. It additionally robotically rejects non-vital cookies on each website so you do not have to click on the button — which I appreciated, as my ADHD mind is well distracted by pop-ups.

Static and devoted IPs

Surfshark offers you a listing of static IP addresses at no additional cost, one other rarity amongst main VPNs. A static IP means you may have the identical tackle each time you connect with the VPN, so you will not look suspicious for commonly opening the identical service with a special IP. With out this, you may end up hitting CAPTCHAs extra usually. You may as well maintain your private home system related to a static IP server and use that to entry your private home community remotely.

For an additional price, Surfshark additionally provides devoted IPs, that are the identical as static IPs besides you are the one particular person utilizing them. Typically, a static IP can get blocked due to one dangerous consumer’s habits; a personal devoted IP removes that threat.

Different options

Just a few different options are price noting. Surfshark has a kill change that cuts off your web connection in case your VPN server ever drops — that is largely out of date with Everlink, however stays within the background as an additional precaution. You may set the VPN to attach robotically besides on trusted networks, and may select the situation to which it auto-connects.

If it’s essential to briefly work with out the VPN, you possibly can pause Surfshark for 5 minutes, half-hour or two hours. Lastly, Android customers can have their VPN server override their GPS location, transferring it to wherever their IP tackle is at present. You clearly do not need to use this whereas your cellphone is navigating you someplace, however in any other case it is helpful for privateness.

Surfshark buyer assist choices

Surfshark features a few hyperlinks to troubleshooting pages straight within the app, a tantalizingly unfinished function. In case you go to the settings tab and click on Get Assist after which Browse Guides, you may see a number of hyperlinks to FAQ articles in regards to the model of the VPN shopper you are utilizing. Clicking any hyperlink opens the web page in your default browser. Leaping straight from the app to the related information is de facto handy, but when your drawback is not one of many 5 most typical, you are out of luck — simply click on Extra Guides to go to the primary assist web page.

When you’re right here, you may discover a useful set of articles that make good design decisions to place the common consumer comfy. “Getting began” consists of setup guides for each Surfshark app, with ample screenshots. Assist articles are successfully written from the consumer’s perspective. As a substitute of technical descriptions of issues, they begin with matters like “I am unable to connect with Surfshark” or “I am getting an error,” then present a sequence of DIY options.

The one class and not using a clear course is “Surfschool,” which gathers a disparate bunch of function explanations, superior ideas and fundamental VPN data underneath one heading. If you cannot discover what you want within the different sections, it might be simpler to make use of the search bar as a substitute of digging round in Surfschool.

The reside assist expertise

To achieve reside assist, scroll to the underside of the primary assist web page, then click on “Chat with us.” A chat window will open within the nook of your display. I used the reside chat assist to ask about receiving a hyperlink to the check account I used to put in writing this assessment. As is now customary, I needed to work my well past a chatbot first, however that did not take too lengthy. As soon as I reached an actual particular person, they resolved my drawback instantly.

The e-mail ticket system is for tough issues that may’t be resolved in a single alternate, so I made a decision to check it with one thing a little bit extra sophisticated. I requested in regards to the standing of IKEv2, which Surfshark promised to eradicate in 2022 however has solely faraway from Home windows (that is actually what they promised to do, however I wasn’t conscious of that but).

I heard again about 22 hours later with a speedy and relevant reply: a consultant mentioned that “at present, Surfshark doesn’t have plans to take away IKEv2 from all working methods.” See the following part for particulars about that threat.

Surfshark background test: No actual blemishes

Surfshark was founded in 2018, making it a relative newcomer to the safety scene, and the VPN was its first product. Alert and Search debuted in 2019, whereas Antivirus and Incogni joined them in 2021. For the primary two years of its existence, Surfshark was part of the Tesonet group, a Lithuanian startup incubator that additionally helped launch NordVPN (see “Connection to NordVPN” beneath).

Its youth could also be why there are few critical blemishes on Surfshark’s document. Like Proton VPN, which is only a yr older, it merely hasn’t had time to place a foot improper but. Nonetheless, that does not imply it is inevitable that Surfshark will screw up sooner or later. To this point, it seems to be studying from its predecessors and avoiding their errors.

The trusted root certification authority threat

The one potential error I can level to hasn’t compromised anybody but, however could sooner or later. In 2022, Surfshark was one in all a number of VPNs cited for counting on a trusted root certification authority — a verification technique that, if compromised, may let an attacker sneak malware onto a consumer’s system utilizing Surfshark’s ID badge. There is not any document of the certificates truly being exploited, and Surfshark claimed it was essential to allow the IKEv2 protocol.

In response to the report, Surfshark deprecated IKEv2 from its Windows app, which was the one one which used trusted root CAs for IKEv2. It is nonetheless accessible on all OSes besides Home windows, however a Surfshark rep informed me in an electronic mail that they do not use trusted root CAs on these platforms, so there is no threat.

Connection to NordVPN

In 2022, Surfshark announced a merger with NordVPN, although each firms repeatedly harassed that nothing about both service would change. Based on Surfshark’s announcement on the time, “The thought behind the deal is to align on a tactical degree in reaching mutual objectives whereas retaining the autonomy of our operations.”

As of 2025, nothing appears particularly merged about NordVPN and Surfshark. Publicly, they’re nonetheless fully completely different manufacturers with few mentions of the opposite on their respective web sites. In an electronic mail, a Surfshark consultant informed me that “Surfshark and Nord Safety function as autonomous firms counting on separate infrastructures, completely different product improvement plans and separate buyer bases.”

That mentioned, it is price noting that Surfshark and Nord have a shared lineage in Tesonet, the Lithuania-based tech incubator that, with Nord, shares Tom Okman and Eimantas Sabaliauskas as co-founders, and nurtured Surfshark for the primary two years of its life. In the long run, a Surfshark consultant informed Engadget that Surfshark at present “operates independently” of Tesonet. Be that as it might, the mixture of Surfshark and NordVPN is yet one more instance an more and more consolidated VPN trade, the place opponents like Kape Technologies and Ziff Davis function a number of digital service manufacturers underneath one company roof.

Last verdict

In quite a lot of methods, Surfshark works exhausting to earn your belief. Its reliance on brick-and-mortar servers testifies to that, as do its speeds, common privateness audits and refusal to relaxation on its laurels. Nexus and Everlink is probably not completely implicated, however they do have tangible outcomes that point out they’re much more than simply advertising and marketing gimmicks. Each are constructive indicators of a VPN supplier genuinely attempting to face out in a crowded subject.

It is also an excellent signal that Surfshark responded to the trusted root CA threat with a focused intervention. I want they’d discovered a technique to run IKEv2 on Home windows with out as a lot threat (different VPNs handle it), however I am unable to deny they appear critical about addressing potential points earlier than they turn out to be crises. It is good that I can enthusiastically suggest Surfshark for its consideration to safety in addition to its speeds and easy options.