Is It Value The Worth?

Surfshark VPN makes a compelling argument as a bang-for-buck VPN in 2024. It presents spectacular VPN speeds and quite a lot of security measures — all at pretty inexpensive costs with its long-term plans.

It additionally helps limitless simultaneous gadget connections, including much more worth for customers with a number of gadgets. Even and not using a devoted free model, there’s no denying Surfshark’s spectacular price-to-performance ratio.

Is Surfshark free?

No, Surfshark shouldn’t be free and doesn’t have a free model. There’s a seven-day free trial, however it is just obtainable for Android, iOS, and macOS customers. Sadly, this leaves Home windows customers with out entry to the free trial — which I hope is resolved within the close to future.

SEE: Surfshark vs Norton Safe VPN (2024): Which VPN Is Higher? (TechRepublic)

Take word that Surfshark’s seven-day free trial requires fee info to entry. So, you’ll have to present credit score/debit card, PayPal, or different fee knowledge to check out Surfshark VPN.

If you happen to’re not eager on the free trial, Surfshark supplies a 30-day money-back assure for all its subscription plans, on all platforms. This allows you to refund your preliminary subscription inside a 30-day interval. If this selection is offered to you, I feel it is a good option to check Surfshark’s service since you possibly can at all times refund your buy if it doesn’t suit your wants.

Surfshark VPN pricing

Surfshark has three subscription tiers: Starter, One, and One+. Every tier has a month-to-month, one-year, and two-year contract possibility. Beneath is a rundown of pricing and have variations for every plan:

When it comes to which subscription to go for, I like to recommend Surfshark One’s annual subscription. At $4.09 monthly, it presents a very good steadiness between having additional options whereas not going overboard with a protracted contract.

SEE: AVG Safe VPN vs Surfshark (2024): Which VPN Is Higher? (TechRepublic)

It’s additionally very inexpensive in comparison with the competitors. For instance, NordVPN’s 1-year Plus plan is priced at $5.99 monthly, whereas ExpressVPN’s annual subscription fluctuates between $6.67 and $8.33, relying in your location.

If you happen to’re particularly on the lookout for a month-to-month subscription, I recommend wanting elsewhere. At $15.45 to $20.65 monthly, Surfshark’s month-to-month plans are on the costly aspect in the marketplace. My suggestion can be to contemplate both Proton VPN’s one-month Plus plan at $9.99 monthly or CyberGhost VPN’s month-to-month subscription at $12.99, particularly in case you’re on a tighter finances.

One factor to look out for is Surfshark’s tough renewal pricing. Within the small print beneath its subscription costs, Surfshark states that costs will differ after the preliminary subscription interval.

I’d have most well-liked if Surfshark had secure pricing, even after the renewal interval. This is able to make the buying choice much less complicated and make its inexpensive plans much more attractive.

To be truthful, Surfshark isn’t the one VPN asking for a distinct worth upon renewal. Nevertheless, it’s price having a look at for the needs of this assessment.

Safety: Is Surfshark VPN protected?

Sure, Surfshark VPN is a protected and safe VPN. It makes use of top-tier AES-256 encryption — well known as one of the safe encryption algorithms obtainable.

For its VPN protocols, Surfshark carries WireGuard, IKEv2, and OpenVPN. I commend Surfshark for giving customers flexibility in having the choice between a security-focused tunneling protocol like OpenVPN and extra speed-oriented ones like WireGuard.

SEE: Surfshark vs IPVanish (2024): Which VPN Ought to You Select? (TechRepublic)

As well as, Surfshark has a no-logs coverage, which states that it doesn’t log any consumer’s on-line exercise akin to looking historical past or knowledge transfers. Whereas it’s simple to make guarantees, Surfshark’s no-logs coverage has been independently audited by Deloitte in December 2022.

In response to Deloitte, Surfshark’s “configuration of IT methods and administration of the supporting IT operations is correctly ready, in all materials respects, in accordance with Surfshark’s description of its no-logs coverage.”

Surfshark additionally makes use of RAM-only servers for its server fleet, which signifies that all knowledge is wiped each time one among their VPN servers is rebooted. This additional secures consumer knowledge, decreasing the danger of knowledge breaches and unauthorized entry.

SEE: Why Your Enterprise Wants Cybersecurity Consciousness Coaching (TechRepublic Premium)

One small nitpick I’ve is how Surfshark’s most up-to-date audit was printed again in 2022 — which is already two years previous. It could be preferrred if Surfshark adopted swimsuit with different distributors, like NordVPN or ExpressVPN, whose most up-to-date audits are from 2023. Nevertheless, I don’t fault them an excessive amount of, particularly contemplating how different VPNs outright don’t have a third-party audit to talk of.

Key options of Surfshark VPN

On prime of with the ability to encrypt your web site visitors, Surfshark supplies a wholesome quantity of options that cater to varied wants and circumstances.

Dynamic MultiHop

A spotlight characteristic from Surfshark is Dynamic MultiHop. That is Surfshark’s double VPN characteristic that allows customers to attach through two VPN server areas, including an additional layer of safety to your knowledge. In essence, this hides your knowledge and on-line exercise behind two servers — providing double the safety you’d in any other case get from a single VPN server.

I significantly like how Surfshark supplies concrete situations the place MultiHop could be a useful gizmo. In response to the VPN supplier, MultiHop may be helpful for individuals like political activists or journalists who need elevated on-line anonymity as they reside in additional restrictive areas of the world.

Whereas these are extra area of interest use instances, I applaud Surfshark for bringing distinctive options like this alongside its most important VPN.

Surfshark Search

As a author who does a ton of on-line analysis, Surfshark Search is my private favourite amongst Surfshark’s options. It supplies a custom-made search engine that robotically blocks all focused advertisements and trackers in your search outcomes.

SEE: Surfshark vs CyberGhost (2024): Which VPN Is Higher? (TechRepublic)

Usually, in case you search one thing like “greatest password supervisor” on a search engine, you’re greeted with a ton of sponsored posts, like within the picture beneath.

With Surfshark Search, all of the sponsored posts and advertisements are faraway from the search outcomes solely. This supplies a a lot cleaner and fewer intrusive looking expertise. Beneath is a glimpse of me wanting up the identical “greatest password supervisor” — however now utilizing Surfshark Search.

As soon as I clicked search, I used to be redirected to a Surfshark Search web page with a cleaner set of queries, all full of extra natural posts and net pages.

I envision this to be helpful to people who do lots of analysis and are uninterested in sifting via tons of advertisements to get to a top quality webpage.

Limitless gadget connections

With Surfshark, you get limitless simultaneous gadget connections that enable customers to attach a vast variety of gadgets to a VPN server on the identical time.

This enables households or small companies to attach as many gadgets as they wish to a VPN server with out having to buy a further subscription.

Whereas not the flashiest characteristic, I discover limitless gadgets to be a major value-add. That is very true in case you use various laptops, computer systems, and smartphones and want to join all of them to a safe VPN server.

Efficiency: How briskly is Surfshark VPN?

I used to be completely impressed with Surfshark’s VPN speeds, as they had been each quick and dependable throughout my testing. This concerned doing my ordinary workflow as a author: having a number of tabs open for analysis, doing work on Google Workspace apps like Drive and Docs, and attending the occasional on-line video assembly.

Whereas related to Surfshark servers, I skilled nearly zero lower in real-world pace. Websites and webpages loaded shortly and looking on-line felt snappy. I additionally didn’t encounter any drops in connectivity, as my VPN connection remained secure from begin to end.

The story was the identical when it got here to hurry testing. For downloads, Surfshark solely recorded a lower of about 12.5% in comparison with my web service supplier — which is superb since round a 20-30% drop is taken into account good. For uploads, Surfshark really offered quicker speeds, having a 49.6% enhance when in comparison with my ISP.

With this, in case you want a fast-performing VPN that provides prime pace and reliability, I’m assured Surfshark will do the job properly.

Surfshark VPN servers and areas

With regards to VPN servers, Surfshark is available in with a stable 100-country server fleet of three,200+ servers. When it comes to the variety of servers, Surfshark’s 3,200-server community is above common in comparison with the competitors.

What’s extra attention-grabbing to me is the variety of VPN server areas or nations. At 100 nations, Surfshark stands on par with different prime VPN suppliers in 2024. Simply to match, CyberGhost VPN additionally presents a 100-country server fleet, whereas NordVPN has servers throughout 111 nations.

In 2024, having round 100 nations in a VPN server community is trying to be the usual. Personally, I assist this pattern because it offers customers extra alternative when it comes to unblocking geo-restricted content material. It additionally presents advantages when it comes to pace, because it will increase the probability of getting VPN servers nearer our location — decreasing latency and growing total pace.

Happily, Surfshark supplies a publicly obtainable abstract of all its energetic VPN server areas. This lets you verify if their VPN has the server areas you propose to make use of.

Surfshark on-line server community overview. Picture: Surfshark

You may go to the server checklist right here.

Surfshark VPN app expertise

For in-app expertise, I had a principally optimistic expertise with Surfshark’s utility. For this assessment, I examined Surfshark’s desktop app for Home windows. Total, I discovered the Surfshark app to be well-designed and straightforward to make use of.

The app itself felt trendy, and I recognize the trendy strategy it took when it comes to design. I additionally thought every little thing was properly organized, as I had no points on the lookout for options or essential settings whereas testing.

One space of enchancment I’ve for Surfshark is that a few of its options had been a bit clunky at first use. Particularly, I had some bother getting Surfshark’s Bypasser cut up tunneling characteristic to work for the primary time.

Bypasser permits you to select particular apps or web sites to route through the VPN or to bypass the VPN altogether.

After I first tried Bypasser, it initially didn’t have Microsoft Edge bypass the VPN server as I meant. Nevertheless, a fast restart of the app and Bypasser did the trick. I additionally had the identical expertise after I first used Surfshark’s Dynamic MultiHop characteristic, the place it appeared a bit clunky to make use of firstly.

Surfshark does inform the consumer {that a} restart of the connection or the app itself is required. Nevertheless, I selected to notice it right here because it type of breaks the in any other case seamless app expertise I had with Surfshark for many of my testing.

Surfshark VPN buyer assist

Surfshark VPN has a very good quantity of buyer assist choices. It supplies e-mail assist, a ticketing system, stay chat, an AI chatbot, and a information base with intensive guides and tutorials.

After I tried Surfshark’s AI chatbot, it offered respectable solutions to easy questions pretty shortly. Nevertheless, it did wrestle with extra difficult queries, so you must set expectations when utilizing it to resolve a problem.

In different information, I discovered their assist articles to be legitimately useful. The content material and guides had been in-depth, and so they even supplied articles for particular working methods and gadgets.

I personally recognize how the assist articles, just like the above concerning setup, had screenshots for every step — not assuming the technical information of the reader. It even has a video tutorial alongside the article, offering an impressively complete information.

Surfshark VPN execs

• Limitless gadget connections.
• Very inexpensive long-term plans.
• Intuitive and well-designed interface.
• Quick and dependable VPN speeds.
• Dynamic MultiHop double VPN.
• Servers throughout 100 nations.
• Advert-free search engine software.

Surfshark VPN cons

• Some options could also be clunky firstly.
• Renewal pricing is a bit complicated.
• No Home windows free trial.
• Month-to-month plans are costly.

Who’s Surfshark VPN for?

Surfshark is for customers who need a value-laden VPN that provides nice efficiency and quite a lot of considerate security measures — at inexpensive costs.

To me, Surfshark’s spectacular VPN speeds are its most noteworthy characteristic. All through testing, it offered quick speeds and a secure connection throughout a number of VPN servers and areas. If you happen to’re particularly on the lookout for a fast-performing VPN, Surfshark is a superb choose.

As well as, Surfshark is an efficient alternative for small groups that want a VPN that may accommodate a number of gadgets. With its limitless simultaneous gadget connections, Surfshark can deal with various computer systems, smartphones, and different gadgets with out requiring a further subscription for all of them.

Options to Surfshark VPN

Whereas Surfshark is a superb VPN, there are different choices that provide totally different options it’s possible you’ll wish to think about. I’ve listed three VPN options you possibly can discover:

NordVPN

For safety fanatics, I recommend taking a look at NordVPN. NordVPN has constructed a repute for providing a variety of safety capabilities with its VPN. It consists of built-in net safety in opposition to trackers, advertisements, and malware; a novel encrypted file-sharing system; and a devoted darkish net monitor to maintain observe of leaked credentials.

To be taught extra, learn our full NordVPN assessment.

CyberGhost VPN

If you happen to’re on the lookout for optimized servers, I like to recommend CyberGhost VPN. CyberGhost VPN well categorizes its servers relying on what you’ll use them for — whether or not it’s for streaming, torrenting, or gaming. With its giant server fleet that spans 100 nations, it’s a stable choose in case your major use for a VPN is unblocking geo-restricted content material on-line.

To be taught extra, learn our full CyberGhost VPN assessment.

ExpressVPN

With regards to having a clean consumer expertise, I discover ExpressVPN to be among the finest. It makes use of a clear UI that’s well-designed and straightforward to navigate. ExpressVPN additionally boasts a formidable quantity of third-party safety audits, displaying its dedication to providing high-quality safety to its customers.

To be taught extra, learn our full ExpressVPN assessment.

Overview methodology

My assessment of Surfshark VPN concerned a complete analysis of its options, value, and real-world efficiency. I had hands-on time with Surfshark VPN via a one-year Surfshark Starter subscription.

To evaluate Surfshark VPN, I scored it on every little thing from its server community to pricing. Particularly, I took into consideration 5 most important pillars, every having corresponding weights:

• Pricing (20%).
• Core VPN options (30%).
• Ease of use (15%).
• Buyer assist (30%).
• Professional evaluation (5%).

From this rubric, Surfshark VPN acquired a score of 4.6 out of 5 stars. I additionally regarded into consumer testimonials and different respected critiques to spherical out my remaining suggestions for this assessment.

For pace and efficiency, I used Ookla’s public Speedtest to measure obtain and add speeds. I additionally ran Surfshark VPN via DNSLeakTest a number of instances to verify for any DNS leaks. Lastly, I took into consideration which varieties of companies or particular person customers would greatest profit from utilizing Surfshark VPN.

To be taught extra about how we assessment VPNs, learn our full VPN Overview Methodology.