Surfshark VPN offers a high-quality VPN that can encrypt your browsing activities, unblock international Netflix libraries, and maintain your speed for an affordable price. It offers unlimited simultaneous connections, so you can cover all the devices in your home with one subscription.
Surfshark barely impacted our internet speeds and unblocked all the Netflix libraries we tested with ease. We don’t love that Surfshark is headquartered in a country that’s part of a global surveillance network. But Surfshark has a strict no-logs policy that was audited by Deloitte in January 2023.
Learn more about our experience with Surfshark and why it’s one of our favorite VPNs.
How we test and rate VPNs
We complete standardized hands-on tests for each VPN we review so we can put their claims to the test. This includes vigorous third-party testing by comparing our internet speed while connected to different servers, checking for DNS leaks, making sure the kill switch actually works, and more. We also make sure we can comfortably access popular streaming sites, like Netflix, and still do our day-to-day work without interruption.
Once we’ve completed the testing, our editorial rating is calculated by taking into account key features you’d expect from a good product. We score each VPN in the following categories and use a weighted average to calculate the final rating out of 5 stars: price, server count, speed, security, and features.
To learn more about how we test, check out our full VPN methodology here.
We last tested Surfshark on April 1, 2025.
Our experience
Every step of using Surfshark is easy, thanks to its user-friendly setup and interface. We added the desktop app to our laptop running Windows 11.
From the main dashboard, you can connect to the virtual private network (VPN), select recommended servers for you, and view specialized server options.
We went ahead and selected the fastest location for Surfshark to optimize our connection, but you can also pick nearest country. It keeps a list of recently used locations and you can search for locations with the search bar at the top.
Surfshark also lists its specialty servers (static IP, multihop, and dedicated IP) at the top of the VPN app if you’re looking for a more specialized connection.
Even if you only have the Surfshark Starter plan, you get some handy extras with your subscription. Surfshark CleanWeb is one of our favorite ad blockers as it’s able to easily block YouTube ads and clean up our browsing. You can also create alternate IDs to avoid spam and keep your true email address private.
Among the many VPNs we’ve reviewed, Surfshark stands out for its clean dashboard and ease of use.
Mobile experience
We also like to test VPN mobile apps to see how well it works across devices. So, we downloaded the Surfshark app onto our Android and found a near-identical interface, making it easy for anyone to swap from one device to another.
Note that Surfshark recommended we turn off the battery optimizer setting on our phone, as it can slow down your speeds and cause stutters. Although we kept the battery optimizer turned on, Surfshark only averaged a 34% drop in download speeds.
Who is Surfshark best for?
Recommended for people who want a high-speed, secure, and affordable VPN that offers loads of bonus features, unblocks streaming libraries, and provides unlimited simultaneous connections.
Surfshark is relatively new to the virtual private network (VPN) world, but it’s taken the industry by storm. Surfshark uses top-grade AES-256-GCM encryption with some of the most secure protocols (OpenVPN, WireGuard, and IKEv2) to keep your activity private and protected.
With a strict no-logs policy, you can feel confident that your data isn’t being tracked or logged. Surfshark backs up its no-logs policy by being located in the Netherlands, a country with no obligatory data retention laws.
Surfshark also has a warrant canary that states it hasn’t been compromised or been the victim of a data breach. In full transparency, Surfshark lets everyone know that users’ information has never been disclosed or seized.
For its everyday user experience, Surfshark is hard to beat. It retains high speeds, offers unlimited device connections (which is a rarity among popular VPNs), and provides tons of additional features.
Prices and subscriptions
Surfshark offers three plan tiers and three subscription lengths, with plans ranging in price from $1.99–$20.65/mo. You can choose a monthly, one-year, or two-year subscription.
Most VPN providers lower the overall cost of their services if you choose longer subscription options. Surfshark follows the same pricing strategy.
The cheapest option for Surfshark: Two-year plan for $1.99/mo (billed every two years)
The most expensive option for Surfshark: One-month plan for $15.45/mo
Paying under $3.00/mo is one of the cheaper options available for top VPN apps. For example, ExpressVPN gets as low as $4.99/mo (billed every two years) for a two-year subscription. NordVPN is cheaper than ExpressVPN, but it’s still more expensive than Surfshark with a starting price of $3.39/mo (billed every two years).
Overall, Surfshark has the features and reliability the average VPN user needs. You can dig into the value this VPN brings even more in our review of Surfshark’s prices.
