A quick VPN for informal customers

Surfshark is likely one of the youngest main VPNs, but it surely’s grown quickly during the last seven years. Since 2018, it is expanded its community to 100 international locations, added a set of apps to its Surfshark One bundle and experimented with superior touches like servers that continually rotate your IP deal with.

Previously a finances VPN, Surfshark continues to be fairly reasonably priced however the price of a one-month subscription is manner too excessive. As of late, it is extra keen on innovation than affordability. Its options could not all the time be cutting-edge — Nexus is mainly Tor and Everlink is a barely higher kill swap — but it surely’s uncommon to seek out both carried out so effectively in a business VPN. Plus, obtain and add speeds are improbable.

All of it provides as much as top-of-the-line VPNs for informal customers, even when in comparison with others in its weight class. However these already deeply accustomed to VPNs would possibly journey over some facets. For this overview, I studied 11 totally different angles on Surfshark’s service, some by hands-on assessments and others with old school journalism. Take a look at the sections most necessary to you, then head to the top for my remaining verdict.

Editors’ observe: We’re within the technique of rebooting all of our VPN evaluations from scratch. As soon as we do a contemporary go on the highest providers, we’ll be updating every overview with a ranking and extra comparative data.

Desk of contents

Findings at a look

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

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 have a look at how simple or troublesome it’s to put in, what it’s a must to do to set it up and whether or not the person 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 will get it by the Microsoft retailer, however going immediately by the Surfshark web site makes certain you may have the newest and most full model. The downloader asks you to click on “Sure,” however largely 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 for those who’ve by no means used a VPN earlier than. If in case you have, its repeated insistence on sending you thru the tour can get aggravating.

This sample repeated itself as I went by the app. The entrance web page is sensibly organized and organized so I may see all of the details and settings — but it surely stays manner too reliant on unskippable pop-ups to supply data. 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 data, however displaying a message that freezes each different button is a nasty transfer.

It is a disgrace, as a result of every thing else works effective. The settings tabs do an admirable job of packing a number of, semi-related apps right into a single UI. Simply take observe that quite a lot 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 obtained the identical split-second obtain and set up and the identical clear group of tabs with well-explained options. It is also obtained the identical relentless popups, settings on by default and infrequently sticky connections. If it will get hung up at 95 %, simply wait — it is nonetheless working.

Android

The Surfshark Android app, obtainable by 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 simple to compress into cell — besides that it is dark-mode by default, whereas all the opposite three are mild. I discovered every thing I wanted inside moments. Android even removes nearly all of the full-screen stop-everything notifications.

One factor to pay attention to: once you begin up the Android app, the VPN is seen, however the touchdown web page contains 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 screen. That mentioned, you are able to do nearly every thing it’s essential do regardless of which web page you are on.

iOS

It is uncommon to see an enormous distinction between a VPN’s apps on the 2 cell platforms, however Surfshark switches up its design from Android to iOS. All the pieces now lives in 4 tabs on the underside of the window. The settings tab is nice, largely as a result of it seems to be like how preferences do on Mac and Home windows.

The primary VPN window is a bit jankier. It really works effective, however to be able to make the server checklist 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 checklist that is already open. I freely admit that is only a private grievance, but it surely nonetheless baffles me.

Browser extensions

Surfshark’s browser extensions for Firefox and Chromium are nearly clones of its desktop apps, with just a few variations. The Alert tab tells you if the positioning you are on has suffered a safety breach 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. The perfect VPNs handle to maintain the drops as small as attainable. 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 massive information.

I additionally appeared for latency, which impacts real-time communication with one other server (necessary for players) and add pace, which impacts how rapidly your machine can ship knowledge (necessary for torrenting). My outcomes are within the desk.

By way of 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 have a look at the Indonesia row, you may see I truly obtained the next add pace than I did with out the VPN energetic. That in all probability has extra to do with pure fluctuations from my ISP than something Surfshark did, but it surely nonetheless signifies how little this VPN weighs down your searching.

Latency is extra of a blended 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 will not be best for fast-paced on-line video games, however its speeds are nearly excellent for another activity.

Surfshark safety check: Easy however efficient protocols

To find out whether or not Surfshark can preserve you secure, I will be three elements: whether or not it makes use of safe and up-to-date VPN protocols, whether or not any of these protocols leak your IP deal with and whether or not encryption is being utilized to all knowledge 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 for those who choose them. My solely grievance is that OpenVPN is not obtainable 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 a different way, however the common person is just prone to see small variations. If one protocol is not working, you’ll be able to swap to a different — or simply choose the automated protocol choice possibility, which labored effective throughout my assessments. If you wish to choose for your self, use the desk beneath 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 deal with in any of the assessments.

There’s extra potential for IPv6 leaks, as Surfshark would not help IPv6. It recommends turning it off as a substitute, and has guides on doing that. To totally put Surfshark by its paces, although, I ran my assessments with IPv6 nonetheless energetic on my pc. On all 5 servers, the IPv6 check 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 effective solution 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. In brief, Surfshark did not spring a leak regardless 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 secure 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 actually being utilized. Have a look for your self — the truth that you’ll be able to’t get any data from the screenshot means the VPN protocol is working.

How a lot does Surfshark price?

Surfshark is a part of a set of safety merchandise — lots 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 out there at three durations. The desk beneath reveals the entire vary of prices.

Word that the 24-month plans are introductory solely. You possibly can solely renew for one month or 12 months. The costs beneath additionally consider additional months you may get once you join the primary time, which are not obtainable 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 per thirty days is in regards to the least you may pay for any VPN value recommending. The soar from Starter (which solely contains the VPN service) to One (which incorporates every thing else besides Incogni) can also be tiny on the 12-month plan — solely an additional $0.20.

Surfshark is sort of actually doing this to juice energetic person 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 reside chat dialog to get your a reimbursement. That is solely allowed as soon as each six months.

You too can 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 cost methodology for this — and it is not accessible on Home windows — the 30-day interval is mostly extra handy.

Surfshark facet apps and bundles

Here is what you will get from Surfshark except for its VPN service. In an effort to preserve our give attention to the VPN, we did not have time to carefully check all these, however we have included the essential data that can assist you make your determination.

Different ID

Different 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 provides you a random e-mail deal with that sends all messages alongside to your actual inbox. Because it auto-forwards every thing, an e-mail masks is not for lowering spam. As an alternative, it allows you to preserve your actual e-mail deal with secret when signing up for on-line providers — since offering your precise deal with runs the chance of leaking it. For an additional $2.89 per thirty days, it’s also possible to get an alternate cellphone quantity that works equally.

Private element generator creates pretend names, addresses and birthdays you should use to enroll in any web sites you are unsure about. Remember to use it together with the VPN, or your IP deal with will reveal the precise particulars. It additionally is likely to be useful for randomly producing your subsequent RPG character.

Surfshark Antivirus

Surfshark Antivirus is included in Surfshark One and One+ subscriptions. It could possibly scan information as you obtain them and may scan your complete system for malware, checking towards 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 high rating (6 out of 6) means Surfshark Antivirus caught one hundred pc of malware thrown at it, each identified threats and zero-day assaults. It additionally obtained an ideal usability rating for completely avoiding false positives, and a 5.5 out of 6 on efficiency — it had practically no impression on downloading apps or copying information, however slowed down widespread 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 knowledge breaches to see if any of your necessary knowledge has been compromised. It could possibly examine for e-mail addresses, usernames, passwords, bank card numbers and authorities IDs. It could possibly additionally warn you when malware in your pc is able to stealing your knowledge.

Surfshark Search

You will get entry to Surfshark Search, a search engine akin to Google, with a One or One+ subscription. It presents a number of advantages over Google, together with being completely ad-free (a perk of being sponsored by subscription). You too can change the area from which you get outcomes. Surfshark claims that every one outcomes are completely natural, with no trackers or studying from logged searches.

Incogni

Incogni, an automatic knowledge removing service, is the one characteristic restricted to Surfshark One+ plans. It searches knowledge brokerages to see if they’ve any of your data, then contacts them so that you can request they purge the information. Brokers do not need to honor all deletion requests, but it surely by no means hurts to attempt. Incogni retains looking so long as your subscription is energetic, so it might robotically ship a number of requests to the identical dealer if essential.

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 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 person privateness. Whereas it is attainable 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 conserving.

Against this, a VPN service value your cash shall be as particular as attainable about any exceptions to its no-logs coverage. I learn Surfshark’s complete 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 contains summaries, however they’re pared down a bit 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 Basic Knowledge 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 except that VPN is already saving activity logs — and whether it is, it is obtained a lot greater issues than the place it is primarily based.

Surfshark’s complete 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.

Meaning the one danger is that Surfshark itself would possibly make the most of its entry to your data. It does, sadly, declare the suitable to view data 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 once you use the VPN, nor digging into your precise searching 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 includes the logically unattainable feat of proving a detrimental, we are able to get very shut by checking unbiased audits. Third-party auditors can confirm a VPN’s public statements by a mix of interviews, doc overview and immediately 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 programs 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 might not cease all customized adverts, however it is going to at the very least preserve your private data 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 truly see totally different reveals than I might with out a VPN, I will know Surfshark convincingly modified my location. (As a reminder, when unblocking with any VPN, all the time ensure you’re logged into your streaming account first.)

Surfshark carried out extraordinarily effectively on this check, not solely unblocking each location at the very least twice but in addition sustaining quick sufficient speeds to maintain the movies from stuttering. The one failure was that one server in Japan obtained 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 towards a VPN, however even the most effective providers cannot preserve their servers off one hundred pc 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 areas in 141 international locations. Of these areas, 47 are digital and 92 are bodily. A digital VPN server provides 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 might be from the server’s precise place. The one rely towards 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 beneath reveals the proportions of server areas in every area, so you’ll be able to resolve whether or not Surfshark is prone to be helpful for the place you might be. You will discover a full checklist on Surfshark’s website, although solely the apps present which servers are literally digital.

These numbers are fascinating in just a few methods. First, Surfshark’s server community is just 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 alternative to ensure usable web speeds whereas globetrotting.

As standard, servers are largely 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 in depth community in half the time. The desk reveals a VPN service that is keen on increasing, however will not achieve this on the expense of building high quality areas that truly work.

Surfshark units itself aside from the VPN pack with a number of options, some seen to the person and a few working behind the scenes. Largely, its options are acquainted ideas carried out effectively, quite than outright improvements like NordVPN’s Meshnet — however there’s quite a lot of risk 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 internet of interconnected paths, a lot like the Tor network, besides proprietary to 1 firm.

Once 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 person extra choices for a working connection path, and permits Surfshark to usually rotate your obvious IP deal with so exercise on one masked id cannot hint again to you. It is also what makes it attainable to select the 2 steps in a double-hop connection (see “Dynamic MultiHop” beneath).

Everlink is a more recent expertise that Surfshark calls a “self-healing VPN infrastructure.” Any time you are related to Surfshark by 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 mainly one step up from a kill swap. As an alternative of chopping off your connection, Everlink switches it to the following server as a substitute. This makes it troublesome to check — the best way to examine a kill swap is to simulate a server drop by chopping off your personal web connection, which makes Everlink’s perform unattainable. Nevertheless, I can at the very least say I am cautiously enthusiastic about Everlink’s potential energy to negate server drops.

Limitless simultaneous connections

One factor you may usually hear about Surfshark is that it places no limits on what number of units can join by your account. In concept, one subscription is sufficient for you, your family and any pals 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 could possibly be locked if an automatic system detects fraud. If you happen to use a excessive variety of simultaneous connections, even legitimately, you could possibly be flagged — although you might be able to unlock your account by telling customer support what occurred.

Bypasser cut up tunneling

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

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

Dynamic MultiHop

Many VPNs have a double-hop possibility, which routes connections by 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 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. If you happen to aren’t unblocking something specifically, your greatest guess is to easily select two nodes in your personal 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 deal with not your actual one, but it surely 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, for those who suspect an out of doors firewall is stopping you from getting on-line whereas operating Surfshark, switching to OpenVPN would possibly clear up the issue.

NoBorders mode

NoBorders is an alternative choice for getting on-line with Surfshark beneath exterior restrictions, particularly these imposed by complete 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 deal with 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 might activate once more if it detects attainable restrictions, so examine the setting once more for those who discover your speeds slower than standard.

CleanWeb

CleanWeb, Surfshark’s advert blocker, is out there in two kinds. The fundamental 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 robotically rejects non-vital cookies on each website so you do not have to click on the button — which I appreciated, as my ADHD mind is definitely distracted by pop-ups.

Static and devoted IPs

Surfshark provides you an inventory of static IP addresses at no additional cost, one other rarity amongst main VPNs. A static IP means you may have the identical deal with each time you connect with the VPN, so you will not look suspicious for usually opening the identical service with a special IP. With out this, you may end up hitting CAPTCHAs extra usually. You too can preserve your property machine related to a static IP server and use that to entry your property 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 dangerous person’s conduct; a personal devoted IP removes that danger.

Different options

A number of different options are value 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 possibly can set the VPN to attach robotically besides on trusted networks, and may 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 deal with 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 help choices

Surfshark features a few hyperlinks to troubleshooting pages immediately within the app, a tantalizingly unfinished characteristic. 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 consumer you are utilizing. Clicking any hyperlink opens the web page in your default browser. Leaping immediately from the app to the related information is actually handy, but when your downside is not one of many 5 most typical, you are out of luck — simply click on Extra Guides to go to the principle help web page.

When you’re right here, you may discover a useful set of articles that make good design selections to place the typical person comfy. “Getting began” contains setup guides for each Surfshark app, with ample screenshots. Assist articles are successfully written from the person’s perspective. As an alternative of technical descriptions of issues, they begin with matters 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 path is “Surfschool,” which gathers a disparate bunch of characteristic explanations, superior suggestions and primary VPN data 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 a substitute of digging round in Surfschool.

The reside help expertise

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

The e-mail ticket system is for troublesome issues that may’t be resolved in a single change, 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 get rid of 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 mentioned that “at the moment, Surfshark doesn’t have plans to take away IKEv2 from all working programs.” See the following part for particulars about that danger.

Surfshark background examine: 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” beneath).

Its youth could also be why there are few severe blemishes on Surfshark’s file. Like Proton VPN, which is only a yr older, it merely hasn’t had time to place a foot mistaken but. Nevertheless, that does not imply it is inevitable that Surfshark will screw up sooner or later. Thus far, 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 considered one of a number of VPNs cited for counting on a trusted root certification authority — a verification methodology that, if compromised, may let an attacker sneak malware onto a person’s machine utilizing Surfshark’s ID badge. There isn’t any file 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 obtainable 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 not any danger.

Connection to NordVPN

In 2022, Surfshark announced a merger with NordVPN, although each corporations repeatedly pressured 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 stage in reaching mutual targets whereas conserving 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 e-mail, a Surfshark consultant informed me that “Surfshark and Nord Safety function as autonomous corporations counting on separate infrastructures, totally different product growth plans and separate buyer bases.”

That mentioned, it is value 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 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 trade, the place opponents like Kape Technologies and Ziff Davis function a number of digital service manufacturers beneath one company roof.

Last verdict

In quite a lot of methods, Surfshark works exhausting 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 will 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 constructive 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 solution to run IKEv2 on Home windows with out as a lot danger (different VPNs handle it), however I am unable to deny they appear severe 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.