Surfshark VPN Review

Surfshark VPN Review – Affordable VPN with Exceptional Features: Are you thinking about subscribing to Surfshark for your VPN needs? In this review, we’ll dive into Surfshark’s VPN services to determine if it’s the right choice for you.

Although relatively new to the VPN scene, having launched in 2018, Surfshark has quickly made a name for itself. It’s now one of the most affordable premium VPN options available, giving some of the bigger names in the industry serious competition.

Surfshark doesn’t make extravagant claims. Instead, it focuses on delivering solid privacy and security features. While it also highlights speed and access to geo-blocked content, the real question is: does it live up to these promises? As with all VPNs we review, we’ll start by evaluating the core aspects, including their value proposition. We’ve tested Surfshark’s security measures, speed from various locations, and other crucial features to ensure we cover “everything that matters.”

What is a VPN?

To begin this review, let’s first define what a VPN is. VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. It safeguards your online privacy by masking your IP address, encrypting your data, and keeping your browsing activities confidential.

A VPN encrypts your internet traffic and reroutes it through its server. During this process, it assigns a new IP address to your connection, which is untraceable to your original ISP address. This ensures that your connection remains private and secure.

Who Owns Surfshark?

Surfshark is owned by a company based in the British Virgin Islands (BVI). The BVI is not part of the 14 Eyes Jurisdiction, which means they are not legally required to share information gathered from users. This ensures that your online activities remain completely private when using Surfshark VPN.

Top Features of Surfshark

Unlimited simultaneous connections
CleanWeb – blocks trackers, ads, phishing attempts, and malware
Whitelisted – lets specific apps and websites bypass the VPN
Kill switch – cuts off internet access if the VPN drops, preventing leaks
Private DNS and leak protection
Camouflage Mode – hides the fact that you’re using a VPN from your ISP
NoBorders Mode – bypasses censorship and geo-restrictions
Multihop – routes traffic through two servers to further mask your footprint
No-log policy
Secure protocols – OpenVPN/IPsec/IKEv2
Top-tier encryption – AES256

Jurisdiction: Where Is Surfshark VPN Based?

Surfshark is located in Tortola, British Virgin Islands (BVI). Although BVI is a self-governing territory of the UK, the UK is responsible for its defense. The UK is part of the 14 Eyes Alliance, a group of 14 countries that share intelligence. This includes the US, the UK, Canada, Australia, and others. While being part of this alliance means a VPN could be compelled to share user data, it’s important to note that if a VPN doesn’t keep logs, there’s nothing to disclose.

How We Test a VPN

When evaluating a VPN, we focus on several key areas:

Whether it successfully hides your IP address
If there are any DNS leaks
How fast the internet connection is while using the VPN
The ease of accessing and streaming content, including on platforms like Netflix

Does Surfshark Hide Your IP?

One of the core functions of a VPN is to mask your IP address, ensuring both privacy and security online. It’s essential that your VPN performs this task effectively.

Why Hide Your IP?

There are various reasons why hiding your IP is crucial, particularly for security. When connected to public Wi-Fi, your device becomes vulnerable to hackers who may try to steal your personal information. Masking your IP helps protect against this.

Additionally, many users want to safeguard their internet activities from government surveillance and other unwanted eyes. With a VPN, you can enjoy a private online experience without someone monitoring your every move. For those who stream content, masking your IP ensures that your online activity remains secure and private, reducing risks while enjoying entertainment.

Testing Surfshark’s IP Masking Capabilities

To test Surfshark’s ability to hide your IP, you can compare your IP address when connected to the VPN to when you’re not. Simply search “What is my IP?” on Google, and you should see a different IP address when using Surfshark VPN. This confirms that your IP is effectively masked, protecting your personal information and ensuring a private online experience.

DNS Leaks and Why It’s Essential to Hide Them with a VPN

DNS leaking prevention is a critical feature that VPN providers implement to ensure users’ online safety and privacy.

What is DNS Leaking?

DNS, or Domain Name System, is responsible for translating domain names into numerical IP addresses. These addresses enable your device to connect to the websites you visit. However, DNS can be used to track your online activities. When your VPN connection experiences a DNS leak, your Internet Service Provider (ISP) can still view the DNS requests you make, even though they should be protected.

Why is Hiding Your DNS Important?

DNS leaks directly compromise your anonymity online. They allow your ISP to track your browsing activity. Like an unmasked IP address, DNS leaks leave you vulnerable to hacking and potential doxing attacks.nAdditionally, marketers can access your browsing data and target you with ads based on your recent searches.

When using an active VPN service, your DNS traffic is routed through an anonymity server provided by the VPN, ensuring your privacy and reducing your vulnerability to cyberattacks.

Does Surfshark Prevent DNS Leaks?

In our tests, Surfshark successfully prevents DNS leaks. We did not encounter any DNS leaks during our assessments. For instance, the results from dnsleaktest.com, a trusted DNS leak testing site, clearly show that Surfshark hides DNS requests effectively.

DNS Test Results:

Without Surfshark VPN: Your DNS requests are visible.
With Surfshark VPN: Your DNS information is concealed, and no leaks are detected.

Multiple tests confirmed that Surfshark does not leak DNS data, ensuring a secure and private browsing experience.

How Does Surfshark Prevent DNS Leaks?

Surfshark utilizes a combination of IPv4 and IPv6 IP configurations when changing your IP address. This broadens the pool of possible IP combinations, making it more difficult for anyone to replicate or steal your IP. Additionally, the two IP formats are incompatible, which means your device can still connect to the VPN server regardless of which format is being used.

These precautions ensure that Surfshark delivers a private and secure online experience for its users.

VPN Speed: How a VPN Affects Internet Speed

Using a VPN typically results in a slight decrease in internet speed due to the extra layers of security the data must pass through. However, the real question is: how much does it impact your speed, and is it sufficient for activities like streaming, torrenting, or casual web browsing?

Why Does VPN Use Affect Speed?

While internet speeds have dramatically improved, VPNs introduce additional factors that can slow things down. When you use a VPN, your internet requests are first sent to the VPN’s server, where your data is encrypted, masking your IP and DNS. This encryption process can cause a slight delay, leading to slower speeds compared to a direct connection.

That being said, premium VPN services, like Surfshark, strive to minimize these speed drops, especially for paid users.

What Do Speed Tests Measure?

A speed test typically measures three key aspects of internet performance:

Download Speed: How quickly data is transferred to your device.
Upload Speed: How fast data can be sent from your device to others or a server.
Ping: The time it takes for a request to be sent to a server and for a response to return. A lower ping is better for real-time activities like gaming.

How Does Surfshark Perform on Speed Tests?

Surfshark consistently provides fast connections, whether you’re streaming, torrenting, or browsing. Servers in London and the US are typically the fastest, but even long-distance servers provide sufficient speeds for HD/4K streaming and downloading. There are no bandwidth limits, making it ideal for video streaming.

Here are some results from our tests:

Before using Surfshark: 42.67 Mbps download speed and 27.42 Mbps upload speed.
After using Surfshark (German server in Nuernberg): 30.11 Mbps download and 13.29 Mbps upload. This represents a 29.4% drop in download speed and a 51.5% drop in upload speed.

Speed Test Results for Various Surfshark Servers:

New York Server: 28.42 Mbps download, 13.55 Mbps upload.
Boston Server: 29.65 Mbps download, 14.98 Mbps upload.
Chicago Server: 27.11 Mbps download, 11.26 Mbps upload.
London Server: 31.73 Mbps download, 6.92 Mbps upload (best speeds).
Mumbai Server: 15.15 Mbps download, 7.13 Mbps upload.

While some servers may be slightly slower, Surfshark’s speeds remain sufficient for all online activities, including 4K streaming, gaming, and torrenting.

Streaming and P2P File Sharing with Surfshark

Surfshark’s network includes optimized servers for torrenting, and P2P traffic is automatically rerouted to these servers. This allows for seamless torrenting on any of the VPN’s servers.

Surfshark also unblocks popular streaming services like Netflix, HBO GO, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, and Hulu. With high-speed servers and no bandwidth limits, you can stream videos in HD and 4K without issues. Additionally, the CleanWeb feature helps block ads, malware, and trackers, making streaming even more enjoyable.

Netflix and Geo-Restrictions

Surfshark works effectively with Netflix, allowing you to access content from any region, including countries where Netflix is typically restricted. This makes it an excellent choice for streaming, as Surfshark easily bypasses geo-blocks.

The NoBorders feature in Surfshark helps bypass geo-restrictions and censorship, making it suitable for accessing restricted content in countries like China.

Surfshark’s Ability to Block Unwanted Ads

Many users are frustrated with the constant onslaught of online advertisements. Surfshark addresses this with its CleanWeb feature, which blocks unwanted ads, trackers, and malware.

Server Locations and Global Coverage

Surfshark operates over 1,700 servers in 63 countries, allowing users to choose from a wide range of server locations. This helps mask your IP address and provides greater online privacy without sacrificing speed. If you want to optimize for speed, Surfshark makes it easy to select the fastest server closest to your location, ensuring privacy without significant speed loss.

User-Friendly Interface

Surfshark’s interface is simple and intuitive, making it accessible for both beginners and experienced users. Features like easy server switching, one-click toggles, and straightforward settings allow you to customize your VPN experience with minimal hassle.

Surfshark VPN Pricing and Plans

Surfshark offers affordable pricing options for its feature-rich VPN service. The vendor provides three plans:

Monthly Plan: Ideal for those unsure about long-term commitment.
Yearly Plan: More affordable for regular VPN users.
2-Year Plan: The most cost-effective option for long-term users.

Additionally, Surfshark offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, making it a risk-free choice for users.

Key Features of Surfshark

Kill Switch: Automatically disables your internet connection if the VPN disconnects, ensuring your data remains private.
Camouflage Mode: Hides your VPN usage from your ISP, ensuring complete privacy.
24/7 Chat Support: Accessible customer service for any queries or issues.

FAQs

Is Surfshark safe to use on public Wi-Fi?

Yes, Surfshark is a safe choice for public Wi-Fi. It encrypts your internet traffic and masks your IP address, which protects your personal data from hackers and potential snooping when connected to unsecured networks like those in airports, cafes, or hotels.

Can Surfshark be used for gaming?

Absolutely. Surfshark provides low ping and stable connections across many of its servers, making it a good option for online gaming. While some distant servers may slightly increase latency, local servers typically perform well enough for real-time multiplayer games.

Does Surfshark work in countries with heavy internet censorship?

Yes, Surfshark is designed to work in restrictive environments. Its NoBorders mode helps users bypass internet censorship in countries like China, Russia, and the UAE, allowing open access to the internet even where VPN use is restricted.

Is Surfshark a good VPN for beginners?

Surfshark’s interface is very beginner-friendly. It offers simple setup, one-click connections, and intuitive navigation, making it ideal for users who are new to VPNs but still want access to powerful security and privacy tools.

How does Surfshark compare to more expensive VPNs?

Despite its budget-friendly price, Surfshark competes well with higher-priced VPNs. It offers premium features such as unlimited device connections, ad-blocking, strong encryption, and excellent streaming support—often matching or even exceeding what more expensive services provide.

Can Surfshark be installed on smart TVs and other devices?

Yes, Surfshark supports a wide range of devices beyond just computers and smartphones. It can be installed on smart TVs, Amazon Fire Stick, gaming consoles (via Smart DNS), and even routers, allowing you to secure all your home devices with a single account.

Conclusion

Surfshark is an affordable, feature-packed VPN offering strong security, fast speeds, and a user-friendly interface. With unlimited connections, no bandwidth limits, and excellent unblocking capabilities for streaming, it’s one of the best VPNs on the market today. Whether for privacy, security, or streaming, Surfshark provides a solid, reliable solution.

Surfshark VPN Review – Cheapest VPN with Top-Notch Features