A quick VPN for informal customers

Surfshark is without doubt one of the youngest main VPNs, however it’s grown quickly over the past seven years. Since 2018, it is expanded its community to 100 international locations, added a collection of apps to its Surfshark One package deal and experimented with superior touches like servers that always rotate your IP tackle.

Previously a finances VPN, Surfshark remains to be fairly reasonably priced however the price of a one-month subscription is manner too excessive. As of late, it is extra fascinated about innovation than affordability. Its options could not at all times be cutting-edge — Nexus is principally Tor and Everlink is a barely higher kill change — however it’s uncommon to seek out both applied so effectively in a business VPN. Plus, obtain and add speeds are implausible.

All of it provides as much as probably the greatest VPNs for informal customers, even when in comparison with others in its weight class. However these already deeply accustomed to VPNs may journey over some features. For this evaluate, I studied 11 totally 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 top for my ultimate verdict.

Editors’ word: We’re within the technique of rebooting all of our VPN opinions from scratch. As soon as we do a recent move on the highest companies, we’ll be updating every evaluate with a ranking and extra comparative info.

Desk of contents

Findings at a look

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

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 best way 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 have got the most recent and most full model. The downloader asks you to click on “Sure,” however principally handles itself, and finally ends 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 in the event you’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 details and settings — however it stays manner too reliant on unskippable pop-ups to offer info. Messages appeared once I tried to cancel a caught connection, once I turned settings on and off and even once I tried to shut the app. It is often necessary info, however displaying a message that freezes each different button is a nasty transfer.

It is a disgrace, as a result of every part else works high-quality. The settings tabs do an admirable job of packing a number of, semi-related apps right into a single UI. Simply take word that a variety 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 generally the identical as its Home windows app, for higher or worse. It is acquired the identical split-second obtain and set up and the identical clear group of tabs with well-explained options. It is also acquired 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 would not reinvent the wheel, however Surfshark’s design language seems to be very straightforward to compress into cellular — besides that it is dark-mode by default, whereas all the opposite three are mild. I discovered every part I wanted inside moments. Android even removes virtually all of the full-screen stop-everything notifications.

One factor to pay attention to: whenever 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 high of the display. That stated, you are able to do virtually every part it’s essential 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 cellular platforms, however Surfshark switches up its design from Android to iOS. Every part now lives in 4 tabs on the underside of the window. The settings tab is nice, largely as a result of it appears to be like like how preferences do on Mac and Home windows.

The primary VPN window is a bit jankier. It really works high-quality, however so as to make the server listing always 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 listing that is already open. I freely admit that is only a private criticism, however it nonetheless baffles me.

Browser extensions

Surfshark’s browser extensions for Firefox and Chromium are virtually clones of its desktop apps, with a couple of variations. The Alert tab tells you if the location you are on has suffered a safety breach just lately. CleanWeb 2.0 is the principle motive so as to add Surfshark to your browser; it is a a lot stronger blocker that even works on some video insert adverts.

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. One of the best VPNs handle to maintain the drops as small as potential. I used speedtest.net to see how rapidly my obtain speeds declined at six of Surfshark’s server areas — 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 gadget can ship information (necessary for torrenting). My outcomes are within the desk.

When it comes to 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. If you happen to take a look at the Indonesia row, you may see I really acquired a better add pace than I did with out the VPN energetic. That most likely has extra to do with pure fluctuations from my ISP than something Surfshark did, however it nonetheless signifies how little this VPN weighs down your shopping.

Latency is extra of a blended bag. Jumps in ping time are anticipated throughout lengthy distances, however I additionally noticed a pretty big soar on a server in the identical state as me. Surfshark might not be splendid for fast-paced on-line video games, however its speeds are nearly good for some other process.

Surfshark safety check: Easy however efficient protocols

To find out whether or not Surfshark can preserve you protected, I will be taking a look at 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 expertise, 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 isn’t any proprietary protocol with shady supply code, nor any outdated legacy choices that may pose a danger in the event you choose them. My solely criticism is that OpenVPN is not accessible on Mac.

Every of those protocols does the identical factor: set up communication between your gadget, 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’ll be able to change to a different — or simply choose the automated protocol choice possibility, which labored high-quality throughout my assessments. If you wish to choose for your self, use the desk under 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 totally different sorts of leaks utilizing ipleak.net. Surfshark has its personal DNS servers, so DNS leaks are unlikely — these often 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 would not assist IPv6. It recommends turning it off as an alternative, 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 laptop. On all 5 servers, the IPv6 check couldn’t run. This means that Surfshark actively blocks IPv6, which (till extra of the web begins working on the brand new protocol) is a high-quality method to forestall IPv6 leaks.

The leak testing device additionally checks for WebRTC leaks, so I ran every check with a Google Meet name energetic, however that did not leak both. Briefly, Surfshark did not spring a leak irrespective of what number of instances 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 analyzing 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’ll be able to’t get any info 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 — rather a lot like its sister model NordVPN, however with the choices per tier a bit of extra coherent. It is available in three subscription sorts, every of which is on the market at three durations. The desk under reveals the entire vary of prices.

Word that the 24-month plans are introductory solely. You’ll be able to solely renew for one month or 12 months. The costs under additionally consider further months you may get whenever you join the primary time, which are not accessible in renewals.

Surfshark’s value drops steeply from its shortest to its longest subscriptions. $15.45 is manner overpriced (even for a service we fairly like), however $1.99 monthly is in regards to the least you may pay for any VPN price recommending. The soar from Starter (which solely consists of the VPN service) to One (which incorporates every part 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’ll be able to’t make the most of it. To our thoughts, the 12-month subscription to Surfshark One is extraordinarily good worth, offered 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 dwell chat dialog to get your a refund. That is solely allowed as soon as each six months.

You can too 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. Nevertheless, 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 aspect apps and bundles

Here is what you will get from Surfshark other than its VPN service. To be able to preserve our give attention to the VPN, we did not have time to scrupulously check all these, however we have included the fundamental info that can assist you make your resolution.

Different ID

Different 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 every part, an electronic mail masks is not for decreasing spam. As a substitute, it permits you to preserve your actual electronic mail tackle secret when signing up for on-line companies — since offering your precise tackle runs the danger of leaking it. For an additional $2.89 monthly, you may also get an alternate cellphone quantity that works equally.

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

Surfshark Antivirus

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

AV-Check gave it a perfect score in safety. A high rating (6 out of 6) means Surfshark Antivirus caught 100% of malware thrown at it, each recognized threats and zero-day assaults. It additionally acquired 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 in style 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 might verify for electronic mail addresses, usernames, passwords, bank card numbers and authorities IDs. It might additionally warn you when malware in your laptop 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 presents an a variety of benefits over Google, together with being completely ad-free (a perk of being backed by subscription). You can too 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 removing service, is the one function restricted to Surfshark One+ plans. It searches information brokerages to see if they’ve any of your info, then contacts them so that you can request they purge the info. Brokers do not need to honor all deletion requests, however it by no means hurts to strive. Incogni retains looking out so long as your subscription is energetic, so it may possibly 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 with out a Surfshark account.

Shut-reading Surfshark’s privateness coverage

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

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

Surfshark is predicated within the Netherlands, which makes it topic to the European Union’s Common Information 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 businesses cannot spy on a VPN’s customers until that VPN is already saving activity logs — and whether it is, it is acquired a lot larger issues than the place it is primarily based.

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 motive to fret about servers being seized or searched.

Which means the one danger is that Surfshark itself may make the most of its entry to your info. It does, sadly, declare the precise to view info 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 whenever you use the VPN, nor digging into your precise shopping exercise — which, as we have seen, would not exist after quarter-hour.

Impartial privateness audits

Though we won’t conclusively confirm any VPN’s privateness coverage, since that entails the logically not possible feat of proving a unfavorable, we are able to get very shut by checking unbiased audits. Third-party auditors can confirm a VPN’s public statements by means of a mix of interviews, doc evaluate 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 are able to say that any VPN is non-public, Surfshark is non-public. It could not cease all customized adverts, however it can not less than preserve your private info secret.

Can Surfshark change your digital location?

If you happen to 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 choose 5 check areas, join to a few totally different servers in every and cargo Netflix. If I get in cleanly with out error messages, and really see totally different reveals than I’d with out a VPN, I will know Surfshark convincingly modified my location. (As a reminder, when unblocking with any VPN, at all times be sure to’re logged into your streaming account first.)

Surfshark carried out extraordinarily effectively on this check, not solely unblocking each location not less than twice but additionally sustaining quick sufficient speeds to maintain the movies from stuttering. The one failure was that one server in Japan acquired spied out as a VPN and blocked. Nevertheless, merely disconnecting and reconnecting was sufficient to get me over the hurdle.

Any failure to vary digital location counts in opposition to a VPN, however even the very best companies cannot preserve their servers off 100% 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, keep in mind ExpressVPN and Proton VPN each have good scores.

Investigating Surfshark’s server community

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

The desk under reveals the proportions of server areas in every area, so you’ll be able to determine whether or not Surfshark is prone to be helpful for the place you’re. Yow will discover a full listing on Surfshark’s website, although solely the apps present which servers are literally digital.

These numbers are attention-grabbing in a couple of 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 with out a single bodily server. This makes Surfshark an excellent selection to ensure usable web speeds whereas globetrotting.

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

Surfshark units itself aside from 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 applied effectively, fairly than outright improvements like NordVPN’s Meshnet — however there’s a variety of chance for thrilling new instructions.

Underlying expertise: Surfshark Nexus and Everlink

Surfshark has two technological improvements beneath 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 online of interconnected paths, a lot like the Tor network, besides proprietary to at least one firm.

Whenever you select a server location, you are solely deciding on 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 potential to choose the 2 steps in a double-hop connection (see “Dynamic MultiHop” under).

Everlink is a more recent expertise 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 principally one step up from a kill change. As a substitute of reducing off your connection, Everlink switches it to the following server as an alternative. This makes it tough to check — the best way to verify a kill change is to simulate a server drop by reducing off your individual web connection, which makes Everlink’s operate not possible. Nevertheless, I can not less than 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 units can join by means of your account. In concept, one subscription is sufficient for you, your family and any associates that wish to borrow it.

In follow, 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 tons of of Surfshark connections.

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

Bypasser break up tunneling

Bypasser permits you to break up your web connection so sure apps or web sites undergo the VPN whereas others stay outdoors. This will get you higher speeds on websites and apps that do not contain any delicate info. Additionally, each time a service requires your actual IP tackle, you’ll be able to preserve utilizing the VPN for every part else. Torrenting is a traditional use case — you’ll be able to preserve BitTorrent protected within the background when you do one thing innocuous with out VPN safety, enhancing speeds for each processes.

Bypasser break up tunneling is on the market on all of Surfshark’s desktop and cellular shoppers, 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 outdoors the VPN tunnel, and “Route by way of VPN,” wherein solely the listed websites and apps keep throughout the VPN tunnel.

Dynamic MultiHop

Many VPNs have a double-hop possibility, which routes connections by means of two VPN servers to maintain you protected in case one breaks. Nevertheless, most of them prohibit you to set paths of two servers. Surfshark is the one VPN that permits 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 selecting an entry node close to your actual location, then selecting your exit node primarily based on what it’s essential unblock. If you happen to aren’t unblocking something particularly, your greatest guess is to easily select two nodes in your individual 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, however it would not seem to have been modified. Surfshark’s obfuscation known as Camouflage Mode. So long as you are related by way of OpenVPN, it is energetic robotically. So, in the event you suspect an outdoor firewall is stopping you from getting on-line whereas working Surfshark, switching to OpenVPN may remedy the issue.

NoBorders mode

NoBorders is an alternative choice for getting on-line with Surfshark beneath 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 could activate once more if it detects potential restrictions, so verify the setting once more in the event you discover your speeds slower than common.

CleanWeb

CleanWeb, Surfshark’s advert blocker, is on the market in two kinds. The essential model of CleanWeb, which blocks banner adverts and trackers, comes with all Surfshark apps.

CleanWeb 2.0 comes as a browser extension, which implies it solely works in-browser. Nevertheless, it is a a lot stronger blocker, able to cancelling video adverts on streaming and YouTube. It additionally robotically rejects non-vital cookies on each web site 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 an inventory of static IP addresses at no further 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 unique IP. With out this, you may end up hitting CAPTCHAs extra typically. You can too preserve your house gadget related to a static IP server and use that to entry your house community remotely.

For an additional price, Surfshark additionally presents 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 unhealthy consumer’s conduct; a non-public devoted IP removes that danger.

Different options

A couple of 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’ll be able to set the VPN to attach robotically besides on trusted networks, and might select the situation to which it auto-connects.

If it’s essential briefly work with out the VPN, you’ll be able to 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 the moment. You clearly do not wish 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. If you happen to 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 basically 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 principle assist web page.

When you’re right here, you may discover a useful set of articles that make good design decisions to place the typical consumer comfortable. “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 subjects like “I am unable to connect with Surfshark” or “I am getting an error,” then present a sequence of DIY options.

The one class with out a clear course is “Surfschool,” which gathers a disparate bunch of function explanations, superior suggestions and fundamental VPN info beneath 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 an alternative of digging round in Surfschool.

The dwell assist expertise

To achieve dwell assist, scroll to the underside of the principle assist web page, then click on “Chat with us.” A chat window will open within the nook of your display. I used the dwell chat assist to ask about receiving a hyperlink to the check account I used to jot down this evaluate. As is now commonplace, 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 immediately.

The e-mail ticket system is for tough issues that may’t be resolved in a single trade, so I made a decision to check it with one thing a bit of extra difficult. I requested in regards to the standing of IKEv2, which Surfshark promised to remove in 2022 however has solely faraway from Home windows (that is in truth 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 stated that “at the moment, Surfshark doesn’t have plans to take away IKEv2 from all working methods.” See the following part for particulars about that danger.

Surfshark background verify: 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” under).

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

The trusted root certification authority danger

The one potential error I can level to hasn’t compromised anybody but, however could sooner or later. In 2022, Surfshark was certainly one of 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 gadget utilizing Surfshark’s ID badge. There isn’t any report of the certificates really 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 advised me in an electronic mail that they do not use trusted root CAs on these platforms, so there is not any danger.

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 targets whereas maintaining the autonomy of our operations.”

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

That stated, 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 advised Engadget that Surfshark at the moment “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 beneath one company roof.

Last verdict

In a variety of methods, Surfshark works onerous 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 might not be completely implicated, however they do have tangible outcomes that point out they’re much more than simply advertising and marketing gimmicks. Each are optimistic indicators of a VPN supplier genuinely attempting to face out in a crowded discipline.

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