A quick VPN for informal customers

Surfshark is without doubt one of the youngest main VPNs, however it’s grown quickly during the last seven years. Since 2018, it is expanded its community to 100 nations, added a collection of apps to its Surfshark One bundle and experimented with superior touches like servers that continually rotate your IP handle.

Previously a price range VPN, Surfshark continues to be fairly inexpensive however the price of a one-month subscription is method too excessive. Today, it is extra excited about innovation than affordability. Its options might not all the time be cutting-edge — Nexus is principally Tor and Everlink is a barely higher kill swap — however it’s uncommon to seek out both applied so effectively in a industrial VPN. Plus, obtain and add speeds are incredible.

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 aware of VPNs may journey over some elements. For this evaluation, I studied 11 completely different angles on Surfshark’s service, some via hands-on checks and others with old style journalism. Try the sections most necessary to you, then head to the top for my last verdict.

Editors’ observe: We’re within the strategy of rebooting all of our VPN evaluations from scratch. As soon as we do a contemporary move on the highest companies, we’ll be updating every evaluation with a ranking and extra comparative info.

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 evaluation.

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 troublesome it’s to put in, what you need 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 will get it via the Microsoft retailer, however going straight via the Surfshark web site makes certain you could have the newest 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 case 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 via the app. The entrance web page is sensibly organized and organized so I may see all of the information and settings — however it stays method too reliant on unskippable pop-ups to offer info. 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 info, 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 observe that lots 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 infrequently sticky connections. If it will get hung up at 95 p.c, simply wait — it is nonetheless working.

Android

The Surfshark Android app, out there via 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 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 pay attention to: if 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 stated, you are able to do virtually all the pieces it’s essential do irrespective of which web page you are on.

iOS

It is uncommon to see a giant distinction between a VPN’s apps on the 2 cellular platforms, however Surfshark switches up its design from Android to iOS. All the things 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 principle VPN window is a bit jankier. It really works superb, however so as to make the server record continually 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 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 number of variations. The Alert tab tells you if the positioning you are on has suffered a safety breach not too long ago. CleanWeb 2.0 is the primary 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 take a look at: 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 shortly 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 seemed for latency, which impacts real-time communication with one other server (necessary for avid gamers) and add pace, which impacts how shortly your machine 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. Should you take a look at the Indonesia row, you will see I truly acquired a better add pace than I did with out the VPN lively. That in all probability 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 combined bag. Jumps in ping time are anticipated throughout lengthy distances, however I additionally noticed a reasonably large soar on a server in the identical state as me. Surfshark might not be excellent for fast-paced on-line video games, however its speeds are nearly excellent for another job.

Surfshark safety take a look at: 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 handle 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 checks 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 case you decide them. My solely criticism is that OpenVPN is not out there on Mac.

Every of those protocols does the identical factor: set up communication between your machine, VPN servers and the web. They deal with the steps in another way, however the common consumer is barely more likely to see small variations. If one protocol is not working, you may swap to a different — or simply decide the automated protocol choice choice, which labored superb throughout my checks. If you wish to decide for your self, use the desk under for reference.

Leak take a look at

Subsequent, I picked 5 of the servers I did not use for the pace take a look at 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 handle in any of the checks.

There’s extra potential for IPv6 leaks, as Surfshark would not assist IPv6. It recommends turning it off as a substitute, and has guides on doing that. To completely put Surfshark via its paces, although, I ran my checks with IPv6 nonetheless lively on my pc. On all 5 servers, the IPv6 take a look at 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 approach to stop IPv6 leaks.

The leak testing software additionally checks for WebRTC leaks, so I ran every take a look at with a Google Meet name lively, 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 take a look at

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 information 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 may’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 extra coherent. It is available in three subscription sorts, every of which is offered at three durations. The desk under exhibits the entire vary of prices.

Be aware that the 24-month plans are introductory solely. You may solely renew for one month or 12 months. The costs under additionally think about additional months you will get if you join the primary time, which are not out there in renewals.

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

Surfshark is sort of definitely doing this to juice lively consumer numbers — however that does not imply you may’t reap the benefits 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 stay chat dialog to get your a reimbursement. 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 you need to enter a cost technique for this — and it is not accessible on Home windows — the 30-day interval is mostly extra handy.

Surfshark aspect apps and bundles

Here is what you may get from Surfshark except for its VPN service. With a view to preserve our concentrate on the VPN, we did not have time to scrupulously take a look at all these, however we have included the essential info that will help 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 e mail generator and private element generator.

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

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

Surfshark Antivirus

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

AV-Take a look at gave it a perfect score in safety. A prime 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 practically no influence on downloading apps or copying information, however slowed down in style web sites by round 30 p.c on common.

Surfshark Alert

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

Surfshark Search

You will get entry to Surfshark Search, a search engine akin to Google, with a One or One+ subscription. It provides a number of advantages over Google, together with being completely ad-free (a perk of being sponsored 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 characteristic 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 information. Brokers do not need to honor all deletion requests, however it by no means hurts to attempt. Incogni retains looking so long as your subscription is lively, so it could possibly mechanically ship a number of requests to the identical dealer if needed.

Saily eSIM

A number of VPNs now present their customers with Saily eSIM reductions, which can be utilized to get common telephone service in international nations. Surfshark grants numerous reductions via 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 exhibits us its outward perspective 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 a substitute use loopholes, vagueries and incomplete statements to make privateness guarantees it would not plan on preserving.

Against this, a VPN service price your cash might 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 too far to be helpful, so it is into the complete textual content I’m 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 greater 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 evident 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.

Meaning the one danger is that Surfshark itself may reap the benefits 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 if you use the VPN, nor digging into your precise shopping exercise — which, as we have seen, would not exist after quarter-hour.

Unbiased privateness audits

Though we will not conclusively confirm any VPN’s privateness coverage, since that entails the logically unattainable feat of proving a destructive, we will get very shut by checking unbiased audits. Third-party auditors can confirm a VPN’s public statements via a mixture of interviews, doc evaluation 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 techniques 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 personal, Surfshark is personal. It might not cease all personalised adverts, however it’ll a minimum of preserve your private info secret.

Can Surfshark change your digital location?

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

The process is easy: I decide 5 take a look at places, join to a few completely different servers in every and cargo Netflix. If I get in cleanly with out error messages, and really see completely different exhibits 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 be sure you’re logged into your streaming account first.)

Surfshark carried out extraordinarily effectively on this take a look at, not solely unblocking each location a minimum of 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 alter digital location counts in opposition to a VPN, however even the most effective 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 excellent scores.

Investigating Surfshark’s server community

Surfshark has a complete of 100 server places in 141 nations. 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 situated. There’s little safety tradeoff, however speeds might differ relying on how far you might be from the server’s precise place. The one rely in opposition to Surfshark right here is that it would not make clear the place its digital servers are actually situated, so utilizing them is a pace crapshoot.

The desk under exhibits the proportions of server places in every area, so you may resolve whether or not Surfshark is more likely to be helpful for the place you might be. Yow will discover a full record on Surfshark’s website, although solely the apps present which servers are literally digital.

These numbers are attention-grabbing in a number of methods. First, Surfshark’s server community is barely 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 principally 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 rivals, so it is spectacular that it is constructed such an intensive community in half the time. The desk reveals a VPN service that is excited about increasing, however will not accomplish that 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 applied effectively, quite than outright improvements like NordVPN’s Meshnet — however there’s lots of risk 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 lively 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 at least one firm.

If 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 offers each consumer extra choices for a working connection path, and permits Surfshark to frequently rotate your obvious IP handle so exercise on one masked identification 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 know-how that Surfshark calls a “self-healing VPN infrastructure.” Any time you are related to Surfshark via 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 swap. As an alternative of slicing off your connection, Everlink switches it to the subsequent server as a substitute. This makes it troublesome to check — the way in which to verify a kill swap is to simulate a server drop by slicing off your individual web connection, which makes Everlink’s perform unattainable. Nevertheless, 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 will frequently hear about Surfshark is that it places no limits on what number of gadgets can join via your account. In principle, one subscription is sufficient for you, your family and any associates that wish to borrow it.

In observe, although, “limitless” is a stretch. A support article acknowledges that some individuals might abuse the privilege by reselling entry, or by masking unlawful botnet exercise behind lots 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 could possibly be locked if an automatic system detects fraud. Should you 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 cut up tunneling

Bypasser permits you to cut 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 handle, you may preserve utilizing the VPN for all the pieces else. Torrenting is a basic use case — you may preserve BitTorrent protected within the background when you do one thing innocuous with out VPN safety, enhancing speeds for each processes.

Bypasser cut up tunneling is offered on all of Surfshark’s desktop and cellular shoppers, although iOS customers can solely cut up by web site, not by app. Home windows and Android customers can even select between two types of cut up: “Bypass VPN,” which retains all listed websites and apps outdoors the VPN tunnel, and “Route by way of VPN,” by which solely the listed websites and apps keep inside the VPN tunnel.

Dynamic MultiHop

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

For the most effective 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. Should you aren’t unblocking something specifically, your greatest wager 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 handle not your actual one, however it would 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 lively mechanically. So, in case you suspect an outdoor firewall is stopping you from getting on-line whereas operating Surfshark, switching to OpenVPN may remedy 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 handle from the subsequent nation over.

The issue with NoBorders is that it is lively by default, which can limit 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 potential restrictions, so verify the setting once more in case you discover your speeds slower than common.

CleanWeb

CleanWeb, Surfshark’s advert blocker, is offered 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 suggests it solely works in-browser. Nevertheless, it is a a lot stronger blocker, able to cancelling video adverts on streaming and YouTube. It additionally mechanically 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 additional cost, one other rarity amongst main VPNs. A static IP means you will have the identical handle each time you connect with the VPN, so you will not look suspicious for frequently opening the identical service with a distinct IP. With out this, you will end up hitting CAPTCHAs extra typically. You can too preserve your house machine related to a static IP server and use that to entry your house 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 unhealthy consumer’s habits; a non-public devoted IP removes that danger.

Different options

Just a few different options are price noting. Surfshark has a kill swap 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 mechanically 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 may 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 handle is at the moment. You clearly do not wish to use this whereas your telephone 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 characteristic. Should you go to the settings tab and click on Get Assist after which Browse Guides, you will see a number of hyperlinks to FAQ articles in regards to the model of the VPN consumer you are utilizing. Clicking any hyperlink opens the web page in your default browser. Leaping straight from the app to the related information is actually 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 will discover a useful set of articles that make good design selections to place the typical consumer relaxed. “Getting began” consists of setup guides for each Surfshark app, with plentiful screenshots. Assist articles are successfully written from the consumer’s perspective. As an alternative of technical descriptions of issues, they begin with matters like “I can not 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 characteristic explanations, superior suggestions and primary VPN info 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 stay assist expertise

To achieve stay 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 stay chat assist to ask about receiving a hyperlink to the take a look at account I used to jot down this evaluation. As is now commonplace, I needed to work my well beyond a chatbot first, however that did not take too lengthy. As soon as I reached an actual particular person, they resolved my drawback straight away.

The e-mail ticket system is for troublesome issues that may’t be resolved in a single alternate, so I made a decision to check it with one thing a bit 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 reality 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 techniques.” See the subsequent 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 flawed but. Nevertheless, that does not imply it is inevitable that Surfshark will screw up sooner or later. Up to now, 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 might sooner or later. In 2022, Surfshark was one in every 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 machine utilizing Surfshark’s ID badge. There isn’t any report 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 out there on all OSes besides Home windows, however a Surfshark rep informed me in an e mail that they do not use trusted root CAs on these platforms, so there is no danger.

Connection to NordVPN

In 2022, Surfshark announced a merger with NordVPN, although each corporations 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 preserving the autonomy of our operations.”

As of 2025, nothing appears particularly merged about NordVPN and Surfshark. Publicly, they’re nonetheless utterly completely different manufacturers with few mentions of the opposite on their respective web sites. In an e mail, a Surfshark consultant informed me that “Surfshark and Nord Safety function as autonomous corporations counting on separate infrastructures, completely 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. Ultimately, a Surfshark consultant informed Engadget that Surfshark at the moment “operates independently” of Tesonet. Be that as it might, the mix of Surfshark and NordVPN is yet one more instance an more and more consolidated VPN business, the place rivals like Kape Technologies and Ziff Davis function a number of digital service manufacturers underneath one company roof.

Ultimate verdict

In lots 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 making an attempt to face out in a crowded discipline.

It is also a terrific signal that Surfshark responded to the trusted root CA danger with a focused intervention. I want they’d discovered a approach to run IKEv2 on Home windows with out as a lot danger (different VPNs handle it), however I can not deny they appear critical about addressing potential points earlier than they turn into crises. It is good that I can enthusiastically suggest Surfshark for its consideration to safety in addition to its speeds and simple options.