Surfshark Review

flag Ultra-fast speeds
  • 3200+ servers in 65 countries

  • Unlimited simultaneous connections

  • Strict no-logs policy

  • Affordable pricing

Pros & Cons

  • Keeps no logs
  • Unlimited devices access
  • Private DNS
  • MultiHop double VPN chain
  • Whitelister
  • Often unreliable kill switch

Plans & Pricing

Currently, Surfshark offers 3 different packages. All include everything Surfshark has to offer, the only difference is the length of the subscription period. The best deal offered is the 24-month plan, which gives users an incredible 81% saving over the 1-month plan. This plan is billed every 24 months and works out as the most economical package that they have at just $2.49/month. The standard offer is a $12.95 package per month and is their month-to-month package deal. This gives you access to all of their services and is for unlimited devices. The second option is the 6-month plan available for $6.49 per month. All the plans feature a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can purchase this service with confidence.

1 Month
$12.95
6 Months
$6.49/mo
24 Months
$2.49/mo

Overview

VPNs are a great way for users to enhance their safety while surfing the internet, while keeping things simple and easy to use. Not all VPNs are easy to use, however, with some requiring advanced setup actions and an understanding of basic networking. This is not the case with a relative newcomer to the VPN market: Surfshark. They have created a product that is easy to use and very simple to understand. Many of the actions that Surfshark undertakes, such as choosing the best internet connection for you (Ethernet or Wi-Fi), are done automatically. All that the user needs to do is simply click the mouse on the appropriate option.

Rating

  • "Price"
    10 /10
  • "Privacy"
    10 /10
  • "Ease Of Use"
    8 /10
  • "Customer Support"
    8 /10

Features & Functionality

Kill Switch

If your connection is ever compromised, Surfshark will keep you and your identity safe by implementing its kill switch. It accomplishes this by ceasing all traffic over your internet connection when the VPN tunnel is no longer connected, which keeps your traffic safe and secure. Only once the VPN is restored will your computer start transmitting data again, reestablishing your safety and security.

CleanWeb

This is a handy feature which basically acts as an ad blocker. In addition to blocking annoying banners and pop ups, CleanWeb also blocks trackers, malware, and prevents from phishing attacks. If used on mobile devices, this helps to save loads of mobile data and increase browsing speed as those ads are not being downloaded to your device at all.

Whitelister

Also known as split tunneling, it’s quite a rare feature in the VPN market, especially for Android platforms. Surfshark’s Whitelister allows to select apps which you do not want to route via VPN tunnel. It is extremely useful for some apps (ex. banking apps) as they tend not to work when VPN is on. In Surfshark for Windows, this feature also works in URL level, so you can even select pages which do not need to be routed through VPN.

MultiHop

MultiHop is a series of concurrent connections that constantly changes, masking your current location by changing servers. This acts like a double VPN chain which increases privacy and safety while maintaining good speeds.

Multi-Platform Support

Surfshark is truly global with compatibility functionality options. There is an Android OS client, an iOS client, a Microsoft Windows client, a MacOS client, a Linux client, and even web browser plugins for Google Chrome and Firefox.

 

Privacy and Security

Surfshark is based in the Virgin Islands, and as a result the company is not compelled to keep any user activity logs or client history, which means that you are guaranteed safety when using their service. They use diamond level encryption which includes OpenVPN, IKeV2 as well as military grade AES 256 encryption for added safety. Other safety features include protected Wi-Fi operation, giving you the freedom to connect to public Wi-Fi connections without fear of being targeted.

Customer Support

Surfshark has a 24/7 helpdesk that is quite responsive. They are contactable via a query form on the website, and live chat. There are setup guides and tutorials available from the support website as well. https://support.surfshark.com/hc/en-us

Speed

Speed is one of Surfshark’s main selling points, as they have invested a lot of time and effort into developing the application’s speed capabilities. Surfshark reckons that you won’t feel any differences between their connection and your standard internet connection, and they have released some screengrabs to prove it.

Ease of Use

Installing and using this application is really easy, regardless of the platform that you are using. When using it as a web plugin, the seamless integration into your browser makes it extremely easy to use. The Windows and Mac OS clients are automatic, prompting you to ask if you would like to activate your VPN or continue browsing.

Android and iOS versions of Surfshark are perhaps the easiest versions to use, as the user only needs to open the application and then click on the connect button, which literally takes only a second or two. Installation is done via an automated setup, which guides users through every step in Mac OS and Windows. iOS and Android users can install it via the Play Store and iTunes, while Google Chrome users can install it via a downloaded plugin installer, or through the Google Chrome Web Store. At the same time, their app for Amazon Fire TV and Android TV can be found in Amazon App Store and Play Store for Android TV respectively.

  • Live Online Chat
    There is an online chat feature available to reach customer service.
  • Email
    You can email the company from their website at any time.
  • FAQ
    A FAQ section is present on the company website.

Final Word

Surfshark has created an application that operates more like a light-weight plugin, rather than a fully-fledged application, freeing up vital system resources on your computer, tablet or smartphone. Even though the application itself is slim and nimble, its features are still impressive, allowing it to perform well for torrents, gaming, online streaming and more. Firing up the application is as simple as clicking on the Surfshark logo in the application and watching the connectivity progress until you establish a connection. It has all of the makings of a great VPN, and in time it will get even better as it grows.

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Dilip Prashad>
Dilip Prashad
author

Dilip is a technology journalist and blogger, with an intuitive understanding of what makes a great piece of consumer software. He may speak tech as a first language, but he’s also an expert at breaking down even the most complex concepts in a way that anyone can understand.

We make the best effort to present up-to-date information; however, the terms of each offer can be revised according to the service provider’s discretion. The above shall not be considered as an expert or professional advice for any matter.
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