Surfshark VPN Review (2026): Is it the right choice?

Surfshark VPN Review

Surfshark offers the best value for money. It excels in privacy, speed, streaming, security, and price, making it the best choice for budget-conscious users.

• Privacy: 100%. Surfshark has a strict no-logs policy, verified by multiple audits. Your privacy will be protected.
• Streaming: 100%. Surfshark offered easy access Netflix, Disney+, Max, Hulu, Prime, and BBC iPlayer in our tests.
• Speed: 100%. Surfshark is one of the fastest VPNs we’ve tested, perfect for streaming, gaming, and downloading.
• Security: 100%. With advanced protcols, RAM-only servers, and built-in antivirus, Surfshark One delivers robust security.

Thanks to the 30-day return policy, you can try it risk-free.

Privacy

When we tested Surfshark, we found its privacy standards to be among the best in the VPN industry.

Intendent Audits

The company enforces a strict no-logs policy, which was independently verified by Deloitte in 2022.

Deloitte’s audit involved a review of Surfshark’s IT systems and staff interviews, confirming that the provider stores no identifiable user data. Surfshark passed this audit successfully, proving that its claims hold up under external scrutiny.

Beyond the Deloitte review, Surfshark has undergone several other independent audits. In 2018, Cure53 inspected its Chrome and Firefox extensions and found no major issues. A second Cure53 audit in 2021 examined the VPN’s server infrastructure, discovering only minor vulnerabilities, which Surfshark promptly fixed.

In 2023, a MASA audit confirmed that Surfshark’s Android app complies with data handling and security standards, reinforcing its credibility across platforms.

RAM Servers

From a technical standpoint, Surfshark uses RAM-only servers, which run entirely on volatile memory. This means all data is wiped automatically upon reboot, ensuring no persistence of user information.

Data Collection

 While connected, Surfshark temporarily stores a minimal set of operational data — user ID, connected server, and connection timestamps — but this information is automatically deleted within 15 minutes of disconnection. Importantly, the service does not log IP addresses, browsing history, VPN server IPs, device identifiers, or bandwidth usage.

Account data collection is intentionally minimal. Surfshark stores only an email address, registration date, encrypted password, Smart DNS usage, and, if the Auto-Connect feature is enabled, the WiFi name — all of which are necessary for account management or app functionality.

 The VPN also gathers diagnostic reports and anonymous analytics, which users can easily opt out of. Notably, location data for Auto-Connect is processed locally on the device and never transmitted externally. For those seeking full anonymity, Surfshark supports cryptocurrency payments.

Transparency

Surfshark demonstrates an ongoing commitment to transparency. It regularly publishes transparency reports and a warrant canary, disclosing any government data requests. To date, it has no record of privacy controversies or data breaches.

The company is headquartered in the Netherlands, a member of the 9-Eyes intelligence alliance. However, Surfshark states that Dutch law does not mandate data retention, and it has publicly committed to relocating should this change. It was previously based in the British Virgin Islands, known for its strong privacy protections.

Surfshark is owned by Cyberspace B.V., founded by Vytautas Kaziukonis from Lithuania, and since 2022, it has operated under shared ownership with Nord Security (the parent company of NordVPN). Despite the merger, Surfshark continues to operate independently, maintaining its own infrastructure, policies, and leadership.

Conclusion

In our experience, Surfshark’s transparent audits, RAM-only infrastructure, and verified no-logs policy make it a trustworthy choice for privacy-focused users.

Streaming

Surfshark is an outstanding VPN for streaming, excelling at bypassing geo-restrictions on major international platforms. It reliably unblocks services like Amazon Prime, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, HBO Max, Hulu, and Netflix. Using its Smart DNS feature, Surfshark extends its compatibility to devices that don’t support VPN apps.

Speed

Surfshark delivers consistently fast performance, making it a solid choice for activities like streaming and gaming. In our tests, nearby servers reduced download speeds by just 4-5%, while long-distance connections averaged a 14% speed loss—competitive, though slightly trailing the fastest VPNs like Hotspot Shield.

The tests were conducted using a 100Mbps internet connection. Even over long distances, Surfshark maintained respectable performance, with average speed drops on a US-to-Singapore connection.

Surfshark’s speeds are bolstered by features like capping server loads at 40% and upgrading many servers to 10Gbps. These enhancements ensure stable speeds, minimal congestion, and fewer CAPTCHAs.

Security

Surfshark meets every major VPN security standard we look for. During our tests, it used AES-256 encryption with OpenVPN and IKEv2, and ChaCha20 with WireGuard, all with 256-bit keys. These ciphers are considered unbreakable by modern standards. The VPN supports WireGuard, OpenVPN (TCP/UDP), and IKEv2, while older, insecure options like PPTP have been wisely retired.

Features

All Surfshark servers are RAM-only (diskless), meaning they can’t permanently store data and are automatically wiped on reboot. The provider also runs its own first-party DNS servers, preventing DNS leaks and limiting exposure to third-party systems. Independent audits have confirmed the platform’s security posture, and in our leak tests, we found no IP, DNS, or WebRTC leaks across multiple servers.

A kill switch is available on all apps and worked effectively in our tests, instantly blocking internet access if the VPN connection dropped. However, it’s not enabled by default, and we observed occasional leaks on macOS when switching servers. Notably, Surfshark’s Android TV app includes a built-in kill switch, which is a rare and welcome addition.

While IPv6 connections aren’t supported, Surfshark prevents potential leaks by rerouting traffic to IPv4. This setup works well in most cases, though it may cause compatibility issues on IPv6-only networks.

Modes

Surfshark also includes several advanced security features. Camouflage Mode (available via OpenVPN) obfuscates VPN traffic to hide usage from network filters, and NoBorders Mode helps bypass restrictions in places like schools, workplaces, and public Wi-Fi networks.

Nexus

The provider’s Nexus network is a standout feature. It routes your traffic through multiple VPN servers dynamically, enhancing both security and performance. Within Nexus, IP Rotator periodically changes your IP address without disconnecting, while Dynamic MultiHop lets you manually chain two servers for double encryption.

Extra Privacy Tools

Beyond core VPN protection, Surfshark adds valuable privacy tools. CleanWeb blocks ads, trackers, and malware, while Alternative ID generates an alias identity with secure proxy email forwarding and even an optional US phone number. The built-in Data Leak Checker lets you perform a one-time scan for breached personal data, and Surfshark Alert offers continuous breach monitoring with instant notifications.

According to Surfshark’s transparency report, the company has never shared user data with authorities, despite receiving 147 data requests across 147 countries as of 2022.

Conclusion

Overall, Surfshark’s security foundation is excellent. Its encryption, protocols, and leak protection are world-class, and the Nexus network introduces meaningful innovation. To stay ahead, we’d like to see open-sourced apps and quantum-resistant server technology in the future — but even today, Surfshark delivers a highly secure VPN experience.

Servers

When we tested Surfshark, we found that its server network spans an impressive 100 countries in total, including both physical and virtual servers. This makes it one of the most globally diverse VPNs we’ve reviewed.

Unfortunately, Surfshark does not disclose how many of these locations are physical servers, which makes it harder to assess the exact distribution of its infrastructure. Among the top 10 VPN brands we compared, only five publish their physical server counts, highlighting a general lack of transparency in the industry.

To clarify, physical servers are real, tangible machines located in data centers. In contrast, virtual servers are software-based instances running on shared hardware. Virtual servers can offer more flexibility and lower costs, but physical servers typically provide better speed consistency and data integrity. Because Surfshark doesn’t specify the ratio of physical to virtual servers, it’s difficult to fully evaluate its performance predictability compared to transparency leaders like NordVPN or CyberGhost.

Surfshark offers several specialized server types that cater to different use cases:

• Standard servers: The default option for most users, optimized for speed and security.
• Dynamic Multihop servers: Route your traffic through two VPN servers instead of one, providing an extra layer of privacy.
• Static servers: Provide a consistent IP address each time you connect, which can be useful for remote access or account management.
• Dedicated IP servers: Offer a unique IP address that only you use, ideal for secure business connections or avoiding CAPTCHA issues.
• P2P servers: Optimized for torrenting and file sharing, ensuring fast and secure transfers.

Overall, Surfshark’s network is versatile and privacy-focused, though we’d appreciate more transparency regarding its physical infrastructure.

Prices

When comparing 12-month entry-level VPN plans (without extras like antivirus, password managers, or cloud storage), Surfshark comes in at $47.85 for the first year, which is cheaper than the top 10 VPN average of $53.47. However, its renewal price jumps to $231.75, more than double the average renewal cost of $102.85. This steep increase makes Surfshark one of the pricier long-term options in our tests.

Budget-conscious users might prefer alternatives like Norton, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost, Bitdefender, TotalVPN, and Avast, all of which maintain lower renewal rates. Meanwhile, Surfshark, NordVPN, and ExpressVPN occupy the premium end of the pricing spectrum, reflecting their focus on performance, privacy tools, and feature-rich ecosystems.

While Surfshark offers excellent value in the first year, we recommend checking renewal terms closely to avoid surprises when your subscription renews.

User reviews

Surfshark performs very well in customer satisfaction metrics. On Trustpilot, it holds an impressive 4.4 out of 5 rating based on 27,500 reviews, surpassing the top 10 VPN average score of 4.1 and average review count of 22,000.

In our experience and in user feedback, Surfshark is often praised for its user-friendly apps, reliable connections, and responsive customer support. Some reviewers mention concerns about the price increase upon renewal, but overall sentiment is overwhelmingly positive.

This strong Trustpilot performance suggests that Surfshark not only delivers solid technical performance but also maintains a trustworthy relationship with its users — an important factor in any VPN choice.

Ownership

Surfshark was founded in 2018 by Vytautas Kaziukonis, who continues to lead the company. Since its inception, Surfshark has demonstrated a commitment to innovation and growth:

• 2019: Expanded its offerings with Surfshark Alert and Surfshark Search.
• 2020: Transitioned to RAM-only servers, enhancing privacy and security.
• 2021: Introduced new tools like Surfshark Antivirus and Incogni.
• 2022: Merged with Nord Security, achieving unicorn status with a $1.6 billion valuation.
• 2023: Passed a no-logs policy audit by Deloitte, reinforcing trust in its privacy claims.
• 2024: Ranked 47th on the Financial Times’ list of the 1000 fastest-growing companies in Europe.

These milestones highlight Surfshark’s rapid evolution and its commitment to delivering cutting-edge privacy and security solutions.