Surfshark Review 2024: Cheap Price but Is It Any Good?

 Speed — Fast Servers Across the Network

I ran several speed tests on Surfshark’s servers in Berlin, London, New York, and Perth from the Netherlands on my Windows laptop, with a baseline speed of 197.26 Mbps. My Ookla SpeedTest results showed that Surfshark doesn’t drop speeds too much.

Speed Test Results

Every Surfshark server I tested supported high-bandwidth activities like streaming and torrenting large files. Even its distant servers were faster than many other VPNs I’ve tested and stayed well beyond the minimum of 25Mbps required for UHD streaming. If you’re looking for even better speeds, ExpressVPN is the fastest VPN I’ve tested and recommend. I first selected the ‘Fastest server’ and ‘Nearest country’ options, both of which connected me to a Surfshark server in Germany. The speed dropped a mere 9%, so I could torrent, game, and watch UHD videos without experiencing any lag. I found Surfshark’s server in Australia to be the slowest, but this was understandable since it’s a long way from the Netherlands and my data had to travel further. However, the speed drop was negligible on nearby servers in Germany and the UK. I also had the fastest speeds when I used the WireGuard protocol. However, you shouldn’t expect fast connections with Surfshark’s Dynamic MultiHop servers, as they decreased my speeds by almost 50%. This was unsurprising since my traffic was routed to 2 different servers and encrypted twice for maximum security.

Gaming Speed — Fast Enough With Nearby Locations

To test Surfshark’s suitability for gaming, I connected to a London server, launched Left 4 Dead 2 on Steam, and ran a speed test. My ping was 22ms, which is very good for a server 300 miles from my location. These low ping rates helped me keep up with my party during the game. I didn’t even have to lower the game resolution to improve speeds. Generally, ping under 100ms is acceptable, but I wasn’t so lucky with Surfshark’s distant servers in Australia. With ping nearing almost 300ms, it was impossible to keep up with my party. There are better VPNs for gaming, especially if you play fast-paced games like Warzone. But no VPN will be able to give you low ping on distant servers.

Surfshark has servers in many countries, compared to a lot of other VPNs. It includes physical and virtual servers, as well as optimized connections for P2P file-sharing.

 Server Network — Global Network of 3,200+ Servers in 100 Countries

With a network of this size, you’ll always be able to find a Surfshark server nearby. It’s not the biggest number I’ve seen, but it’s not too small that you’ll frequently run into crowded servers, either. In some countries like India, Egypt, and Mexico, Surfshark offers virtual servers to provide a local IP address without needing to abide by the countries’ less-than-ideal privacy laws. Many other VPNs remove servers altogether when regional laws change, which threatens their ability to maintain their no-log promises. Surfshark’s virtual servers are available in roughly 40 countries. There are also free static servers in the US, UK, Netherlands, Japan, Singapore, and Germany, allowing you to use the same IP address every time you connect. Though it helps access sites that are sensitive to IP changes without extra verification, static IPs are shared by other users and can be flagged as belonging to a VPN quite easily. Alternatively, you can try Surfshark’s dedicated IP addresses for a small fee. These are exclusive IP addresses only you can use — helpful for avoiding CAPTCHAs and VPN blocks since there are no other previous (suspicious) activities by another user.

 Torrenting — Supports P2P Traffic

Surfshark doesn’t impose data or bandwidth limits when downloading files, and it’s compatible with popular torrenting clients like qBittorrent and uTorrent. Plus, it has a kill switch and leak protection that ensures no one can snoop on your activities, even if the VPN connection is lost unexpectedly. The Surfshark website states that you’ll be automatically connected to a P2P server in a torrent-friendly country once you launch a BitTorrent client. But when I connected to a regular server in Turkey and started torrenting on qBittorrent, I was still on the same server. Since I’d already begun torrenting and was concerned about my privacy, I contacted customer support over 24/7 live chat. The agent asked me to run tests on IPLeak.net, and I saw my IP address was still in Turkey, but the DNS server had changed to the Netherlands. According to the agent, I’d already been rerouted to a P2P server as the DNS address had changed. To avoid this confusion, you can connect to a P2P server, but these servers aren’t labeled or listed anywhere. To find them, type ‘P2P’ in the search bar on the Location tab — you’ll see the servers available that allow P2P file sharing, including servers in the US and UK.

 China — Surfshark Doesn’t Work Reliably in China

Despite the NoBorders mode that it claims to work in restrictive regions, Surfshark didn’t work in China. During testing, my colleagues could only connect to 1 server in Ireland, but it failed after 30 seconds. Even after troubleshooting, my colleagues couldn’t use Surfshark. A customer support agent recommended using the Shadowsocks protocol but that didn’t work either. If this is crucial for you, I recommend ExpressVPN as it works reliably in China. It comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it risk-free and get a refund with no questions asked. I don’t condone using a VPN to commit illegal acts, so please understand the local laws and know what’s allowed before connecting in China.

 Security Features

Compared to some of the best VPNs in 2024, Surfshark has many advanced features beyond the standard encryption, IP leak protection, and kill switch.

Encryption — Uses the Most Secure Cipher in the Industry

Surfshark uses the industry-leading encryption algorithm, AES-256, to protect your online data against hackers and online snoops. The military-grade cipher would take billions of years to decrypt with the current computers. It also uses a 2048-bit version of the RSA algorithm to secure data transmissions. The encryption standard also supports Perfect Forward Secrecy to generate a unique session key and discard it once the session ends. By doing this, your privacy and security remain intact — even if an attacker gains access to the encryption keys, they cannot decrypt your VPN sessions in the past or future.

VPN Protocols — Choose Between OpenVPN, IKEv2, and WireGuard

Surfshark offers WireGuard with all its apps, while IKEv2 is available for iOS, Android, and macOS devices. However, OpenVPN is not available on macOS.

• OpenVPN — one of the most secure protocols in the industry. It’s safe for online banking and shopping but can be slow. Anti-VPN networks usually block OpenVPN connections.
• WireGuard — a newer protocol designed to be lighter than OpenVPN, faster, and secure enough for sensitive activities.
• IKEv2 — popularly used on mobile devices as it supports auto-reconnect during interruptions, especially when your device switches from cellular data to WiFi. It’s also fast and provides stable connections.

Kill Switch — Soft and Strict Options Provide More Flexibility

Surfshark has a kill switch on all its apps, but it’s not turned on by default. A kill switch shuts off your internet if your VPN gets disconnected for whatever reason. This makes sure your data isn’t accidentally leaked. Unlike most VPNs, Surfshark gives you ‘soft’ and ‘strict’ kill switches to handle different network conditions. The strict kill switch only allows internet access when the VPN is connected. The soft version kills internet access if you lose connection by accident or your device is switching between networks.

Leak Protection — No DNS, WebRTC, or IPv6 Leaks Found

Although many VPNs have strong encryption, they can accidentally leak your private data to the sites you visit and allow others to spy on you without proper leak protections in place. I tested Surfshark’s built-in leak protection by connecting to random servers in the US, Australia, and Germany, and I found that my actual IP address was always secure. This is contrary to some users’ claim that Surfshark’s virtual servers expose data. I didn’t find any evidence to support this, as none of its virtual servers in Vietnam, India, Saudi Arabia, Argentina, or The Bahamas leaked during my tests. Unfortunately, your IPv6 data may potentially leak with Surfshark, as it’s a new IP format that the VPN does not yet support. It’s better to disable IPv6 traffic on your device if your network supports it and you wish to use Surfshark. The good news is that Surfshark didn’t cause any DNS or WebRTC leaks during my tests.

Split Tunneling — Only on Windows and Android Apps

Surfshark’s split tunneling functionality is called Bypasser, and it’s useful for making traffic from specific websites and apps bypass the VPN connection. I could do this on my Windows laptop from the ‘Settings’ panel. Unfortunately, it’s not available for macOS and iOS devices.

Ad and Malware Blocker — CleanWeb Blocks Ads, Malware, and Trackers

Many premium VPNs now offer built-in blockers against ads, malware, and trackers, but not all of them work well. However, CleanWeb blocked all pop-up, video, and banner ads on news sites like the Mirror and even on YouTube TV. Sites and videos also loaded faster as a result.

Additional Features — Plenty of Extras for Advanced Users

• Camouflage and NoBorders Modes — hides the fact that you’re using a VPN so you can use Surfshark in restrictive countries. Camouflage works with the OpenVPN protocol, while NoBorders detects restrictions on your network and lists the best servers so you can access the full web in places like the UAE and Turkey.
• Nexus technology — provides access to a pool of servers instead of creating a direct tunnel with a single server to enable features like IP Rotator and Dynamic MultiHop.
• IP Rotator — changes your IP address every few minutes without dropping your connection to make tracking your activities harder.
• Dynamic MultiHop — these connections encrypt your data twice for extra security by routing it through 2 servers of your choice instead of 1.
• GPS Override — Surfshark’s location spoofing feature automatically updates your Android device’s location data to match the location of the server you’re connected to.
• Invisible to Devices — allows you to become invisible to other devices on your Local Area Network (LAN) — available on Windows and Android devices.
• Smart DNS — stream on devices that don’t support VPNs, such as some smart TVs, gaming consoles, and Apple TVs.
• Pause VPN — Surfshark has a ‘Pause’ option that allows you to disable the connection for 5 minutes, 30 minutes, or 2 hours.
• 2FA Authentication — this option is available on all apps, where Surfshark asks for extra authentication upon login for your own security.
• TrustDNS — a standalone app for iOS and Android devices that connects you to a public DNS server instead of a DNS server assigned by your ISP.
• Surfshark One — this refers to a bundle of services, including VPN, a data breach alert system, and a private search engine for an additional fee. It’s available for Android, Windows, and macOS apps.
• Incogni — deletes your data from online databases to minimize spam and marketing emails. Only available in the US, UK, the European Union, Switzerland, and Canada.
• Alternative ID — generates a new online identity and email address to prevent cyber stalking and identity theft.

 Privacy Features — Not the Most Reassuring Policy or Jurisdiction

Although Surfshark claims it doesn’t store data, its privacy policy shows it might do so temporarily. It’s also headquartered in a 9-Eyes Alliance country that shares online intelligence with other member countries.

No-Logs Policy — Claims No-Logs, but Stores Important Data for 15 Minutes

Going through Surfshark’s privacy policy, I found the opening promising, with the assurance it doesn’t collect or store identifiable data. However, further down, the VPN clarified that some information, like user ID, IP address, and connection timestamps are stored by the servers and deleted within 15 minutes after you terminate your session. If your main reason for using Surfshark is privacy, this can be worrying, especially if you stay connected for many hours while downloading torrents or binge-watching TV shows. On the other hand, Surfshark uses RAM-based servers that delete all your data and browsing history as soon as they’re rebooted. Additionally, Surfshark publishes a warrant canary on its website to indicate if the company has received a subpoena for user data from a government or law enforcement authority. While Surfshark stresses that the no-log policy prevents it from saving browsing history, I like knowing whether a security letter, gag order, or government warrant has been issued.

Company Jurisdiction — Based in the Netherlands

Surfshark was initially headquartered in the much more privacy-friendly British Virgin Islands but has since relocated to the Netherlands. Though it’s a member of the 9 Eyes Alliance, the Netherlands doesn’t have any data retention laws. This means that Surfshark is not obligated to log any data about you, so the no-log policy remains in effect.

Independent Audits — Passed Independent Security Audits

Like many VPNs, Surfshark has invested in third-party audits to verify its privacy and security claims. This includes an independent Mobile App Security Assessment. It passed all audits to provide the final confirmation and peace of mind that Surfshark doesn’t log data. In 2018, Cure53 conducted an independent audit of Firefox and Chrome browser extensions. The German IT security firm also did an infrastructure audit and security assessment on Surfshark’s servers in 2021. Recently, Deloitte audited Surfshark’s no-log policy and validated the claim. I also read the reports and saw no significant security or privacy flaws.

I was satisfied with Surfshark’s customer support. You can contact Surfshark over email, an online form, or live chat. The customer support team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. However, if you prefer troubleshooting problems yourself, you can check out the website’s setup guides, tutorials, and FAQs. I tested all the options to see how effectively the company resolved issues and found that live chat is the best way to receive fast help and detailed explanations. For most questions, however, I didn’t look much further than Surfshark’s website.

24/7 Live Chat — Get Help in Less Than a Minute

During my review, I tested the 24/7 live chat feature multiple times as I experienced minor technical difficulties. For example, a teammate couldn’t stream Netflix while connected to a US–Detroit server, and I struggled to connect to a specialty P2P server when torrenting. I was impressed by the friendly and fast responses.   Conveniently, you can access Surfshark’s live chat directly on the Windows and Android apps. All you have to do is go to ‘Settings’ and then ‘Get Instant Help’ for one-to-one assistance. Unfortunately, this feature isn’t available yet on iOS or Mac.

Email Support — Good Alternative Support Channel

I also tested Surfshark’s email support by asking about some of its features. For comparison, I also used an email address not connected to my Surfshark account to see if there would be a difference in response time. Fortunately, there wasn’t and I received detailed responses in less than an hour every time. Though the response times were fast, I recommend contacting Surfshark over 24/7 live chat. It’s much quicker as you can speak to a customer support representative directly, especially when you’re facing an urgent technical issue.

Comprehensive Online Resources and FAQs

Many VPNs have websites with help sections that are poorly organized that they’re barely usable. Surfshark’s “Help” section on its website is comprehensive and regularly updated. Most of the time, I didn’t need to contact customer service as I could find answers to my questions. Topics are divided into 4 sections: installation, troubleshooting, account, and general inquiries. You can find step-by-step instructions for installation and troubleshooting, complete with screenshots and even some video tutorials.