Surfshark is a relatively new VPN service that prides itself in offering privacy, speed, and security for its users when surfing the web. At surface level, this sounds like an amazing deal: the VPN provider offers secure VPN protocols such as OpenVPN and IKEv2, a decent server coverage, and unlimited torrenting.
However, our VPN review is never based on claims made by a provider. This is why we decided to pass Surfshark through extensive tests, to determine how it fares when faced with some of the best VPN services out there. In this review, we provided answers to questions such as:
- Is Surfshark secure?
- Does Surfshark unblockstreaming services and allow P2P?
- How good is Surfshark’s customer support?
- Is Surfshark any good?
Before we provide answers to these questions, let us consider some Surfshark pros and cons:
Pros
- Impressive download speeds
- Over 3,200 servers spread over 65 countries
- Supports torrenting on every server
- Strict no logging policy
- NoBorders feature enables torrenting in China and Russia
- Multiple security features for added protection
- Unlocks streaming services like Netflix and BBC iPlayer
- Compatible with Vuze, eMule, uTorrent, Deluge, BitTorrent, qBittorrent, BitLord
- User-friendly apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Chrome, Firefox, routers
Cons
- Some servers are slower than expected
- Impressive download speeds
- Over 3,200 servers spread over 65 countries
- Supports torrenting on every server
- Strict no logging policy
- NoBorders feature enables torrenting in China and Russia
- Multiple security features for added protection
- Unlocks streaming services like Netflix and BBC iPlayer
- Compatible with Vuze, eMule, uTorrent, Deluge, BitTorrent, qBittorrent, BitLord
- User-friendly apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Chrome, Firefox, routers
- Some servers are slower than expected
Work With
Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Sky, HBO, Torrenting, Kodi
Available on
Best Price
Speed and Reliability Test
Great VPN Speeds but Intermittently Inconsistent
Server speed defines the value of a VPN service, and this is what makes Surfshark stand out.
Before connecting to Surfshark:
When connected to Surfshark:
Our speed test results from our physical London location using a London test server.
Before connecting to Surfshark:
- 98.71Mbps (download)
- 53.00Mbps (upload)
When connected to Surfshark:
- 48.99Mbps (download)
- 21.48Mbps (upload)
According to our tests from our location in the UK, here are the average speeds you can expect when in these locations:
| DOWNLOAD AVERAGE | UPLOAD AVERAGE | |
|---|---|---|
| USA | 34 Mbps | 40 Mbps |
| Germany | 56 Mbps | 76 Mbps |
| Singapore | 25 Mbps | 8 Mbps |
| Australia | 19 Mbps | 3 Mbps |
According to our tests from our location in the UK, here are the average speeds you can expect when in these locations:
- USA: 34Mbps (download) & 40Mbps (upload)
- Germany: 56Mbps (download) & 76Mbps (upload)
- Singapore: 25Mbps (download) & 8Mbps (upload)
- Australia: 19Mbps (download) & 3Mbps (upload)
Decent Server Network
800 Servers Spread Across 53 Countries
Though Surfshark is well behind VPN services like NordVPN in terms of total number of servers, it still sits at the high end of the mid-range. This is especially due to its fair distribution of servers. Surfshark covers 53 countries around the globe, meaning that you’d more than likely find a nearby server at home or when you travel.
Unsurprisingly, Surfshark provides good coverage to some of the most popular destinations, including Europe and North America. But we were especially pleased by its above-average coverage in South America – an area some VPN services ignore. That said, we’d like to see an expansion on its single server coverage in Africa.
Streaming and Torrenting
Allows Torrenting and Unblocks Netflix
Some VPNs fail when it comes to providing access to Netflix. Fortunately, unblocking Netflix is listed on Surfshark’s websites as one of the VPN’s main features. This is much more than just a marketing pitch, as we were able to gain access to Netflix via Surfshark VPN.
What’s more, Surfshark also unblocks Netflix with ease, giving us access from the two city-level servers in the UK.
- Torrenting
Surfshark is a P2P-friendly VPN service. Its impressive speeds, minimal logging policy and range of privacy features make it a great choice for torrenters.
Encryption and Security: Strong Security and Privacy Features
Surfshark currently offers two top level VPN protocols: IKEv2/IPsec and OpenVPN. IKEv2 is a common protocol for many VPN services as a result of the loads of features it offers. Still, OpenVPN is our favorite VPN protocol as it is near impenetrable, and offers balance between speed and functionality.Other noteworthy features include the AES-256, a very secure encryption method which ensures your online activity is totally private.
Surfshark also has a VPN kill switch which masks your true IP in the event of a connection drop, though this feature is only available for Windows, MacOS, and iOS.
Logging Policy
Minimal Logs Collected
Surfshark claims to store no logs. However, we discovered the VPN service collects three logs – billing information, diagnostics like crash reports, and an email address for the management of the account. Still, you shouldn’t be worried as none of these data can be used to personally identify you as a user.
- Jurisdiction
Surfshark is based in the British Virgin Islands – a safe location beyond the data retention laws of the 14 Eyes. This means that Surfshark users can rest assured their information is safe from prying eyes. More so, Surfshark’s privacy policy is such that there can be no foul play.
Ease of Use
Apps are Easy and Simple to Use
Simplicity is important for a VPN service, especially as many users are beginners. Thankfully, Surfshark’s simplicity level is just one click – all you need do is launch the app, sign in, and click on ‘Quick Connect’.The Quick Connect option automatically connects you to Surfshark server and chooses the most optimized server available for you. However, you can still manually select the server of your choice.
Customer Support
Fast and Responsive Live Chat Support
You can reach Surfshark’s customer support team via the live chat feature or email.
The email support is really disappointing, though. We sent a few mails covering various topics to test this feature, but there was no response. Surfshark claims to respond to queries within 24 hours, but we got no such answers.
The live chat feature, on the other hand, is very fast and responsive. The customer support agents are very knowledgeable and respond to queries within a minute or two. We were especially happy with the live chat support as we didn’t receive any generic responses – the agents expatiate on any information they provide and any question you ask.
Pricing
Plans and Payment Methods
Like many competitors in the VPN industry, Surfshark’s plans are cheaper on longer subscriptions. The standard monthly plan costs $11.95, but this value is halved if you subscribe to the yearly plan which would set you back around $5.99 per month. The 2-year plan is the cheapest at $1.99 per month.
Surfshark accepts a range of payment methods, including credit card, PayPal, Alipay, cryptocurrency, Tenpay, and Dragonpay.
There is also a 30-day money-back guarantee on all subscription plans, giving users enough time to test out the service and decide if it is worth the spend.