A quick VPN for informal customers

Surfshark is without doubt 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 nations, added a set of apps to its Surfshark One package deal and experimented with superior touches like servers that continually rotate your IP deal with.

Previously a finances VPN, Surfshark continues to be fairly inexpensive however the price of a one-month subscription is manner too excessive. Today, it is extra curious about innovation than affordability. Its options might 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 nicely in a industrial VPN. Plus, obtain and add speeds are incredible.

All of it provides as much as among the best VPNs for informal customers, even when in comparison with others in its weight class. However these already deeply conversant in VPNs may journey over some facets. For this evaluate, I studied 11 completely different angles on Surfshark’s service, some by means of hands-on checks and others with old school journalism. Take a look at the sections most necessary to you, then head to the top for my ultimate verdict.

Editor’s word (9/25/25): We have overhauled our VPN protection to offer extra detailed, actionable shopping for recommendation. Going ahead, we’ll proceed to replace each our best VPN list and particular person opinions (like this one) as circumstances change. Most not too long ago, we added official scores to all of our VPN opinions. Take a look at how we test VPNs to study extra concerning the new requirements we’re utilizing.

Desk of contents

Findings at a look

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

Putting in, configuring and utilizing Surfshark

For this part, I will be going over the way it feels to make use of Surfshark. I am going to take a look at how simple or tough it’s to put in, what it’s important to do to set it up and whether or not the consumer interface (UI) helps out or will get in the best way on every platform.

Home windows

Surfshark is straightforward to obtain and set up on Home windows. You will get it by means of the Microsoft retailer, however going immediately by means of the Surfshark web site makes positive you’ve gotten the most recent and most full model. The downloader asks you to click on “Sure,” however largely handles itself, and winds 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 when you’ve by no means used a VPN earlier than. When you have, its repeated insistence on sending you thru the tour can get aggravating.

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

It is a disgrace, as a result of every little 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 word that loads 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 usually the identical as its Home windows app, for higher or worse. It is bought the identical split-second obtain and set up and the identical clear group of tabs with well-explained options. It is also bought the identical relentless popups, settings on by default and sometimes sticky connections. If it will get hung up at 95 %, simply wait — it is nonetheless working.

Android

The Surfshark Android app, out there by means of 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 little thing I wanted inside moments. Android even removes nearly all of the full-screen stop-everything notifications.

One factor to pay attention to: while 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 little thing you’ll want to 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. Every part 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 principle VPN window is a bit jankier. It really works effective, however with a purpose 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 a couple of variations. The Alert tab tells you if the positioning you are on has suffered a safety breach not too long ago. CleanWeb 2.0 is the primary 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 take a look at: Tremendous quick with some latency

All VPNs add to your net browser’s workload, so it is regular to see speeds drop. The most effective VPNs handle to maintain the drops as small as potential. I used speedtest.net to see how shortly 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 giant recordsdata.

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

When it comes to 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. In the event you take a look at the Indonesia row, you will see I really bought 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 looking.

Latency is extra of a combined bag. Jumps in ping time are anticipated throughout lengthy distances, however I additionally noticed a pretty big bounce on a server in the identical state as me. Surfshark will not be splendid for fast-paced on-line video games, however its speeds are nearly excellent for every other job.

Surfshark safety take a look at: Easy however efficient protocols

To find out whether or not Surfshark can hold you protected, I will be three components: 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 know-how, however I’ve run sensible checks 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 is not any proprietary protocol with shady supply code, nor any outdated legacy choices that may pose a threat when you decide them. My solely grievance is that OpenVPN is not out there 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 consumer is simply more likely to see small variations. If one protocol is not working, you may swap to a different — or simply decide the automated protocol choice possibility, which labored effective throughout my checks. If you wish to decide for your self, use the desk under for reference.

Leak take a look at

Subsequent, I picked 5 of the servers I did not use for the pace take a look at and checked all of them for 3 completely 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 checks.

There’s extra potential for IPv6 leaks, as Surfshark would not assist IPv6. It recommends turning it off as an alternative, and has guides on doing that. To totally put Surfshark by means of its paces, although, I ran my checks with IPv6 nonetheless energetic on my laptop. On all 5 servers, the IPv6 take a look at 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 take a look at with a Google Meet name energetic, however that did not leak both. Briefly, Surfshark did not spring a leak regardless of what number of instances I poked it. I am ready to name it watertight.

Encryption take a look at

To be completely positive I used to be recommending a protected VPN, I used WireShark (no relation) and HTTP Forever to see whether or not its encryption works. From inspecting the information stream earlier than and after connecting to a Surfshark server, it is clear that encryption is really being utilized. Have a look for your self — the truth that you may’t get any info 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 — so much like its sister model NordVPN, however with the choices per tier just a little extra coherent. It is available in three subscription varieties, every of which is offered at three durations. The desk under reveals the entire vary of prices.

Notice that the 24-month plans are introductory solely. You’ll be able to solely renew for one month or 12 months. The costs under additionally think about further months you will get while you join the primary time, which are not out there 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 monthly is concerning the least you will pay for any VPN price recommending. The bounce from Starter (which solely contains the VPN service) to One (which incorporates every little thing else besides Incogni) can be tiny on the 12-month plan — solely an additional $0.20.

Surfshark is nearly definitely doing this to juice energetic consumer numbers — however that does not imply you may’t reap the benefits 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 dwell chat dialog to get your a reimbursement. That is solely allowed as soon as each six months.

You can too 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. Nonetheless, since it’s important to enter a fee methodology for this — and it is not accessible on Home windows — the 30-day interval is mostly extra handy.

Surfshark aspect apps and bundles

This is what you may get from Surfshark apart from its VPN service. With a view to hold our give attention to the VPN, we did not have time to scrupulously take a look at all these, however we have included the essential info that can assist you make your resolution.

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 little thing, an e-mail masks is not for decreasing spam. As an alternative, it allows you to hold 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 monthly, you can too get an alternate cellphone quantity that works equally.

Private element generator creates faux names, addresses and birthdays you should use to enroll in any web sites you are unsure about. You should definitely 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 actually scan recordsdata as you obtain them and can even scan your entire system for malware, checking in opposition to a listing 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 100% of malware thrown at it, each recognized threats and zero-day assaults. It additionally bought an ideal usability rating for completely avoiding false positives, and a 5.5 out of 6 on efficiency — it had practically no affect on downloading apps or copying recordsdata, however slowed down standard web sites by round 30 % on common.

Surfshark Alert

Surfshark Alert, which can 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 actually verify for e-mail addresses, usernames, passwords, bank card numbers and authorities IDs. It could actually additionally warn you when malware in your laptop 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 affords an a variety of benefits over Google, together with being completely ad-free (a perk of being backed by subscription). You can too change the area from which you get outcomes. Surfshark claims that each one outcomes are completely natural, with no trackers or studying from logged searches.

Incogni

Incogni, an automatic knowledge removing service, is the one function restricted to Surfshark One+ plans. It searches knowledge brokerages to see if they’ve any of your info, then contacts them so that you can request they purge the information. Brokers do not should 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 will possibly mechanically ship a number of requests to the identical dealer if vital.

Saily eSIM

A number of VPNs now present their customers with Saily eSIM reductions, which can be utilized to get common cellphone service in international nations. Surfshark grants numerous reductions by means of the coupon code surfshark5, which seems to be usable even and not using a Surfshark account.

Shut-reading Surfshark’s privateness coverage

Surfshark’s privateness coverage reveals us its outward angle towards consumer privateness. Whereas it is potential for a VPN supplier to lie outright in its posted coverage, they like to not for legal responsibility causes. An unreliable service will as an alternative use loopholes, vagueries and incomplete statements to make privateness guarantees it would not plan on protecting.

Against this, a VPN service price your cash shall be as particular as potential 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 nicely over 5,000 phrases lengthy. The web page contains summaries, however they’re pared down just a little 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 Information 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 companies cannot spy on a VPN’s customers except that VPN is already saving activity logs — and whether it is, it is bought a lot larger 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 threat is that Surfshark itself may reap the benefits of its entry to your info. It does, sadly, declare the correct to view info 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 while you use the VPN, nor digging into your precise looking exercise — which, as we have seen, would not exist after quarter-hour.

Unbiased privateness audits

Though we will not conclusively confirm any VPN’s privateness coverage, since that entails the logically unimaginable feat of proving a adverse, we will get very shut by checking impartial audits. Third-party auditors can confirm a VPN’s public statements by means of a mix of interviews, doc evaluate 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 techniques 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 will say that any VPN is personal, Surfshark is personal. It might not cease all personalised adverts, however it’s going to at the least hold your private info secret.

Can Surfshark change your digital location?

In the event you primarily want a VPN for streaming, that is the part for you. Right here, I take a look at whether or not Surfshark can change your location convincingly sufficient so that you can see content material from different nations, with out getting caught and blocked by streaming platforms.

The process is straightforward: I decide 5 take a look at areas, join to 3 completely different servers in every and cargo Netflix. If I get in cleanly with out error messages, and truly see completely different reveals than I’d and not using a VPN, I am going to know Surfshark convincingly modified my location. (As a reminder, when unblocking with any VPN, all the time be sure you’re logged into your streaming account first.)

Surfshark carried out extraordinarily nicely on this take a look at, not solely unblocking each location at the least twice but in addition sustaining quick sufficient speeds to maintain the movies from stuttering. The one failure was that one server in Japan bought spied out as a VPN and blocked. Nonetheless, merely disconnecting and reconnecting was sufficient to get me over the hurdle.

Any failure to vary digital location counts in opposition to a VPN, however even the perfect providers cannot hold their servers off 100% 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 nations. Of these areas, 47 are digital and 92 are bodily. A digital VPN server provides you an obvious digital location completely different from the place it is actually situated. There’s little safety tradeoff, however speeds might range relying on how far you might be from the server’s precise place. The one depend in opposition to Surfshark right here is that it would not make clear the place its digital servers are actually situated, so utilizing them is a pace crapshoot.

The desk under reveals the proportions of server areas in every area, so you may determine whether or not Surfshark is more likely 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 a couple of methods. First, Surfshark’s server community is simply about one-third digital, the bottom proportion of any main VPN I’ve reviewed up to now. There’s additionally no continent and not using a single bodily server. This makes Surfshark an excellent alternative to ensure usable web speeds whereas globetrotting.

As normal, servers are largely in Europe and North America, though there is a truthful quantity of Asia represented by the digital areas. Surfshark is newer than most of its rivals, 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 curious about increasing, however will not achieve this on the expense of creating high quality areas that truly work.

Additional options of Surfshark

Surfshark units itself aside from the VPN pack with a number of options, some seen to the consumer and a few working behind the scenes. Principally, its options are acquainted ideas carried out nicely, somewhat than outright improvements like NordVPN’s Meshnet — however there’s loads of risk for thrilling new instructions.

Underlying know-how: 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 online of interconnected paths, a lot like the Tor network, besides proprietary to at least one firm.

If you select a server location, you are solely choosing the final node in a sequence. Surfshark software program selects the entry level and the trail to your chosen exit. This provides each consumer extra choices for a working connection path, and permits Surfshark to often rotate your obvious IP deal with so exercise on one masked identification cannot hint again to you. It is also what makes it potential to choose the 2 steps in a double-hop connection (see “Dynamic MultiHop” under).

Everlink is a more moderen know-how that Surfshark calls a “self-healing VPN infrastructure.” Any time you are linked to Surfshark by means of the WireGuard protocol, you are additionally linked 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 reducing off your connection, Everlink switches it to the following server as an alternative. This makes it tough to check — the best way to verify a kill swap is to simulate a server drop by reducing off your personal web connection, which makes Everlink’s perform unimaginable. Nonetheless, I can at the least say I am cautiously enthusiastic about Everlink’s potential energy to negate server drops.

Limitless simultaneous connections

One factor you will often hear about Surfshark is that it places no limits on what number of gadgets can join by means of your account. In concept, one subscription is sufficient for you, your family and any buddies that wish to borrow it.

In observe, although, “limitless” is a stretch. A support article acknowledges that some folks might abuse the privilege by reselling entry, or by masking unlawful botnet exercise behind lots 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. In the event you use a excessive variety of simultaneous connections, even legitimately, you could possibly be flagged — although you could possibly 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 info. Additionally, at any time when a service requires your actual IP deal with, you may hold utilizing the VPN for every little thing else. Torrenting is a basic use case — you may hold BitTorrent protected within the background whilst you do one thing innocuous with out VPN safety, bettering speeds for each processes.

Bypasser cut up tunneling is offered 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 can even select between two types of cut up: “Bypass VPN,” which retains all listed websites and apps exterior the VPN tunnel, and “Route through VPN,” by which solely the listed websites and apps keep inside the VPN tunnel.

Dynamic MultiHop

Many VPNs have a double-hop possibility, which routes connections by means of two VPN servers to maintain you protected in case one breaks. Nonetheless, most of them limit you to set paths of two servers. Surfshark is the one VPN that permits you to select each steps, due to Nexus pre-establishing paths between all of the servers.

For the perfect efficiency, I like to recommend selecting an entry node close to your actual location, then selecting your exit node primarily based on what you’ll want to unblock. In the event you aren’t unblocking something particularly, your finest wager 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 is known as Camouflage Mode. So long as you are linked through OpenVPN, it is energetic mechanically. So, when you suspect an outdoor firewall is stopping you from getting on-line whereas operating Surfshark, switching to OpenVPN may 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 limit 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 potential restrictions, so verify the setting once more when you discover your speeds slower than normal.

CleanWeb

CleanWeb, Surfshark’s advert blocker, is offered in two types. The essential model of CleanWeb, which blocks banner adverts and trackers, comes with all Surfshark apps.

CleanWeb 2.0 comes as a browser extension, which implies it solely works in-browser. Nonetheless, it is a a lot stronger blocker, able to cancelling video adverts on streaming and YouTube. It additionally mechanically rejects non-vital cookies on each web site 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 a listing of static IP addresses at no further cost, one other rarity amongst main VPNs. A static IP means you will have the identical deal with each time you connect with the VPN, so you will not look suspicious for often opening the identical service with a unique IP. With out this, you will end up hitting CAPTCHAs extra typically. You can too hold your private home machine linked to a static IP server and use that to entry your private home community remotely.

For an additional price, Surfshark additionally affords devoted IPs, that are the identical as static IPs besides you are the one individual utilizing them. Typically, a static IP can get blocked due to one unhealthy consumer’s conduct; a personal devoted IP removes that threat.

Different options

A couple of different options are price 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’ll be able to set the VPN to attach mechanically besides on trusted networks, and may select the situation to which it auto-connects.

If you’ll want to briefly work with out the VPN, you may pause Surfshark for 5 minutes, half-hour or two hours. Lastly, Android customers can have their VPN server override their GPS location, shifting 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 assist choices

Surfshark features a few hyperlinks to troubleshooting pages immediately within the app, a tantalizingly unfinished function. In the event you go to the settings tab and click on Get Assist after which Browse Guides, you will see a number of hyperlinks to FAQ articles concerning 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 admittedly handy, but when your drawback is not one of many 5 most typical, you are out of luck — simply click on Extra Guides to go to the primary assist web page.

When you’re right here, you will discover a useful set of articles that make good design decisions to place the typical consumer comfy. “Getting began” contains setup guides for each Surfshark app, with plentiful screenshots. Assist articles are successfully written from the consumer’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 and not using a clear route is “Surfschool,” which gathers a disparate bunch of function explanations, superior suggestions and primary VPN info 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 an alternative of digging round in Surfschool.

The dwell assist expertise

To succeed in dwell assist, scroll to the underside of the primary assist web page, then click on “Chat with us.” A chat window will open within the nook of your display screen. I used the dwell chat assist to ask about receiving a hyperlink to the take a look at account I used to jot down this evaluate. 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 individual, they resolved my drawback straight away.

The e-mail ticket system is for tough issues that may’t be resolved in a single alternate, so I made a decision to check it with one thing just a little extra difficult. I requested concerning the standing of IKEv2, which Surfshark promised to get rid of in 2022 however has solely faraway from Home windows (that is in reality 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 techniques.” See the following part for particulars about that threat.

Surfshark background verify: 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” under).

Its youth could also be why there are few critical blemishes on Surfshark’s report. Like Proton VPN, which is only a 12 months older, it merely hasn’t had time to place a foot fallacious but. Nonetheless, that does not imply it is inevitable that Surfshark will screw up sooner or later. To date, it seems to be studying from its predecessors and avoiding their errors.

The trusted root certification authority threat

The one potential error I can level to hasn’t compromised anybody but, however might 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, might let an attacker sneak malware onto a consumer’s machine utilizing Surfshark’s ID badge. There is not any report of the certificates really 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 out there 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 threat.

Connection to NordVPN

In 2022, Surfshark announced a merger with NordVPN, although each firms repeatedly burdened that nothing about both service would change. In line with Surfshark’s announcement on the time, “The thought behind the deal is to align on a tactical degree in reaching mutual objectives whereas protecting the autonomy of our operations.”

As of 2025, nothing appears particularly merged about NordVPN and Surfshark. Publicly, they’re nonetheless utterly completely 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 firms counting on separate infrastructures, completely different product growth plans and separate buyer bases.”

That mentioned, it is price 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 mixture of Surfshark and NordVPN is one more instance an more and more consolidated VPN business, the place rivals like Kape Technologies and Ziff Davis function a number of digital service manufacturers beneath one company roof.

Remaining verdict

In loads of methods, Surfshark works onerous 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 gimmicks. Each are optimistic indicators of a VPN supplier genuinely making an attempt to face out in a crowded area.

It is also an amazing signal that Surfshark responded to the trusted root CA threat with a focused intervention. I want they’d discovered a solution to run IKEv2 on Home windows with out as a lot threat (different VPNs handle it), however I am unable to deny they appear critical about addressing potential points earlier than they turn out to be crises. It is good that I can enthusiastically advocate Surfshark for its consideration to safety in addition to its speeds and simple options.