Surfshark VPN Review (2025): 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

Surfshark does not collect identifying information such as IP addresses or browsing activity. The only data temporarily logged is the user ID and connection timestamps, which are erased within 15 minutes.

In addition to its strict no-logs policy, Surfshark enhances your privacy with:

• Diskless RAM Servers: Surfshark operates exclusively on RAM-only servers, ensuring no data is written to physical hard drives. This setup makes it impossible to recover data from a seized or decommissioned server.
• Independent Audits: A Deloitte audit verified Surfshark’s no-logs policy, reinforcing trust in its commitment to user privacy.
• Anonymous Payments: Supports cryptocurrency payments, allowing users to avoid sharing personal financial information.
• Transparency Reports: Publishes regular reports to disclose any government or third-party data requests.

Jurisdiction: The Netherlands (EU)

Surfshark is owned by Cyberspace B.V., the result of a merger with Nord Security (parent company of NordVPN). Its headquarters are in the Netherlands, an EU member state with strict data retention laws and intelligence-sharing agreements.

However, Surfshark’s use of diskless RAM servers ensures that no data is stored, mitigating jurisdictional risks. While some hardcore privacy advocates may prefer a VPN based in a privacy haven like Panama, we are confident in Surfshark’s ability to protect user privacy despite its EU location.

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 VPN stands out for its comprehensive security features, offering both advanced VPN-specific protections and broader tools to safeguard your online presence. Here’s a closer look at what makes Surfshark a secure choice:

VPN-Specific Security Features

• AES-256 Encryption: Surfshark uses AES-256, a military-grade encryption standard trusted by governments and cybersecurity experts worldwide. It ensures your data is virtually unbreakable.

• VPN Protocols: Choose from multiple secure protocols, including the high-speed WireGuard, the versatile OpenVPN, and the stable IKEv2. This flexibility ensures you can balance speed, security, and compatibility based on your needs.

• Leak Protection: Surfshark protects against DNS, IPv6, and WebRTC leaks, ensuring no sensitive information is accidentally exposed while you’re connected.

• Kill Switch: If your VPN connection drops unexpectedly, Surfshark’s kill switch instantly cuts off internet access to prevent any data leakage.

• Diskless Servers: Surfshark operates RAM-only servers, meaning no data is stored on physical hard drives, and all information is wiped after each reboot.

• Multi-Hop Servers: Enhance your privacy by routing your connection through multiple servers in different locations, making tracking nearly impossible.

• Private DNS: Every server comes equipped with private DNS, ensuring that your DNS queries are secure and not accessible to third parties.

• Static IP Servers: For users needing a consistent IP address, Surfshark offers static IP servers without compromising privacy.

• Dedicated IP Servers: Get a unique IP address that only you use, ideal for accessing sensitive services or bypassing geo-restrictions.

Broader Security Features

• Surfshark Alert: Monitor your email addresses for data breaches, ensuring you can act quickly if your credentials are compromised.

• Antivirus: Surfshark’s built-in antivirus offers real-time protection, full and quick scans, ransomware shields, webcam protection, and even scans external storage devices like USB drives and hard drives.

• Private Search Engine: Conduct searches without tracking or ads with Surfshark’s no-logs private search feature.

• Alternative ID: Protect your identity by generating alternative email addresses, names for social media, and phone numbers for deliveries, helping you avoid spam and phishing attempts.

• Incogni: Take control of your personal data by allowing Surfshark to contact data brokers on your behalf and request the removal of your information.

Surfshark combines industry-leading VPN technology with a full suite of additional security tools, offering a holistic solution for protecting your digital life.

Servers

Surfshark boasts an impressive server network with coverage in 100 countries, far outpacing most competitors. In the US alone, users can choose from servers in 25 cities, providing flexibility for optimized connections.

Server congestion is practically a non-issue, thanks to Surfshark’s policy of capping server usage at 40% capacity—a rare and user-focused feature in the VPN market.

In terms of ethical decisions, Surfshark has taken a strong stance for user privacy. In March 2022, it shut down servers in Russia and followed suit in June 2022 with India, after both governments demanded that VPNs log user data.

Surfshark also offers advanced server options:

• Static IP: Provides a consistent IP address each time you connect, which improves speed and simplifies access to geo-restricted content. However, it does come with a slight trade-off in privacy.
• Multi-Hop: Also called Double VPN, this feature routes your traffic through two servers for enhanced privacy. While it bolsters security, it may impact connection speeds.

The service uses a mix of physical and virtual servers. Virtual servers, marked with a small ‘v’ in the app, let you connect to countries even if the actual hardware is elsewhere. This can expand your options for bypassing geo-blocks but may lead to performance issues if the physical server is too far from your location.

Surfshark’s thoughtful balance of server variety, capacity management, and transparency makes it a standout choice for both casual and privacy-conscious users.

Prices

Surfshark delivers an exceptional balance of price and quality in the VPN industry.

No other VPN under €25 ($25) per year offers such advanced features. While competitors in this price range, like Norton and CyberGhost, provide solid options, they fall short of Surfshark’s innovative capabilities.

In fact, Surfshark competes effectively even with premium VPNs like NordVPN and Bitdefender, which cost around €35 ($35) per year.

User reviews

We analyzed user reviews across all major VPN brands, focusing on ratings and review counts from TrustPilot, a leading platform for customer feedback.

Surfshark consistently receives glowing reviews from users. Customers frequently praise its exceptional customer support and competitive pricing, making it a standout choice in the VPN market.

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.