
Let’s start with the Surfshark VPN review, though it is one of the best and most affordable VPNs on the market in 2023. Its competitive pricing, unlimited simultaneous connections, and wide range of features make it a great choice for anyone who wants to protect their privacy. and online security. Also, Surfshark does not keep any logs of your online activity. This means that your browsing history, downloads, and other activities are completely private.

But is this VPN up to the task of delivering the real value for money it claims? Surfshark also offers thousands of servers worldwide, excellent connection speeds, next-generation AES encryption, unlimited concurrent connections, DNS leak protection, and an ad-blocking feature. However, users have been questioning its jurisdiction and whether it is as private as it appears to be.
Despite the popularity, some questions still remain: Is Surfshark still as good and safe in 2023? Can you protect your online traffic, unblock streaming services, and deliver consistent performance and stable speeds? There is only one way to find out.
So, in this Surfshark review, we test every aspect, including features, speeds, and compatibility with Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and more. All to provide insight into how this VPN stacks up against other leading VPNs and answer any and all questions you may have.
Surfshark VPN Review Hosting Overview:
⭐ Rating: | 4.7 ★★★★★ |
🥇 Overall rank: | #2 out of #39 |
📖 No logs policy: | No logs |
💵 Price: | From $2.30/month |
🖥️ Servers: | 3200+ servers in 100 countries |
🍿 Streaming services: | Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and more |
Pros & Cons Of Surfshark VPN
Surfshark VPN – short overview
Overall, Surfshark is a powerful VPN that offers one of the best value for money.
- Surfshark is one of the cheapest VPN options on the market. Its starting price is $2.30/month for a 2-year subscription plan. It offers a 7-day free trial, a 30-day money-back guarantee, and a variety of monthly and yearly plan options.
- By choosing Surfshark, you can protect unlimited devices simultaneously.
- Surfshark uses advanced AES-256 encryption for your online traffic. It’s industry-leading encryption that makes your data impossible for prying eyes to access.
- Regarding privacy, Surfshark does not keep any log of your online activity. This means that your browsing history, downloads, and other activities are completely private.
- Surfshark has shown some spectacular results in speed tests. With WireGuard tunneling protocol enabled, it hit 1269 Mbit/s while connected to the UK server.
- Surfshark stands out for its features as an ad-blocker (CleanWeb) – it blocks ads, trackers, and malware.
- Unlike most VPNs, Surfshark uses RAM-only servers. Therefore, your data is erased once the server is shut down.
- Surfshark has servers in 100 countries, which is the most of any popular VPN service. Consequently, you will have a good Internet connection wherever you are.
Is Surfshark VPN safe?
Yes, Surfshark VPN is one of the most secure providers available. It offers a variety of user privacy and security features: AES-256 encryption, a kill switch, and RAM-only servers. Multiple independent audits of no-logs policies found that Surfshark ensures that your online activities are not tracked or stored. Additionally, it allows you to choose your preferred encryption standard, giving you control over the security of your data. By using the most secure tunneling protocols, namely WireGuard and OpenVPN, Surfshark ensures that your Internet traffic remains protected against potential threats. Let’s take a look at some of the main features.
Encryption protocols
Surfshark offers AES-256-GCM encryption which is currently the strongest option on the market. It protects your data transfers from possible interruptions.
On Android, there is also an option for ChaCha20 encryption – it is very similar and just as secure. The main difference between them will be speed: some newer devices with AES hardware acceleration will enjoy better speeds with AES-256, while older phones will be better off with ChaCha20.
Meanwhile, your authentication is protected by SHA-512 encryption. That means it will be encoded in 512 binary digits and then matched against the login details stored on their servers, giving you a green light if the passwords match.
Most VPNs use SHA-256. Here Surfshark goes a step beyond the industry standard.
Tunneling protocols
With Surfshark, you can choose from several tunneling protocol options. These include WireGuard Advanced Tunneling, OpenVPN, and IKEv2. Almost all of them are available on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS.
Protocol | Best for |
---|---|
WireGuard | Best Overall Tunneling Protocol Option |
OpenVPN | General security, bypassing geoblocks |
IKEv2 | Mobile devices, mobile data/Wi-Fi |
- WireGuard – The fastest modern tunneling protocol. It is not only efficient, but also very safe. Also, Surfshark is the first VPN provider to set WireGuard as the primary protocol in all key applications. Also, you can configure this tunneling protocol manually; this is beneficial for those who need to bypass VPN usage restrictions.
- OpenVPN (TCP/UDP) – One of the most popular tunneling protocols. Although it was released almost two decades ago, it is still very secure and fast. Also, Surfshark obfuscates the protocol by default and makes it perfect for bypassing government VPN restrictions.
- IKEv2 – One of the most common tunneling protocols. Its support is widespread and speeds are comparable to WireGuard. It is perfect for weaker devices and works well on weak internet connections. Unfortunately, this tunneling protocol is no longer available in Windows applications.
Kill switch
Surfshark has a kill switch that will block all your internet traffic unless you are connected to a VPN. This will help prevent information leaks in case a secure encrypted connection is lost.

Compared to other VPN service providers, this approach may seem a bit strict. Other VPNs mostly trigger the kill switch when the link to the VPN servers is broken.
While great, this feature could use some improvements. When all your connection is closed, you don’t get any notification about what is happening. This can confuse you: thinking that your internet connection is down, while it’s just Surfshark’s kill switch doing its job.
Pro Tip:
Losing an encrypted VPN connection can compromise your security and privacy, especially if you’re dealing with sensitive information or doing something that requires complete anonymity. To avoid accidents due to loss of secure connection, always keep the kill switch on when using Surfshark.
RAM-only servers
Surfshark has RAM-only servers that purge data every time the server shuts down so it can’t be recovered. This way, you receive complete anonymity online.
By contrast, most VPN service providers rent their servers from data centers; this is how they maintain a high number of servers. However, that also means that they rely on the security of the servers at each location.
In fact, some servers may be less secure. Even if the records are instantly deleted from the hard drive, the data can still be recovered. Additionally, they may have private keys that could be stolen if hackers gain access to them. Those factors are the main built-in vulnerabilities of such a setup.
Audits
For cybersecurity companies, transparency is crucial for trust. To ensure trust can be built, Surfshark has been independently audited. Three times.
Camouflage Mode
Camouflage mode is one of Surfshark’s many security features, also known as obfuscation or obfuscated servers.
It will make your VPN traffic look like normal network traffic, allowing you to stay undetected. The mode is automatically activated when using the OpenVPN UDP and TCP protocols.
The feature is useful in situations where your school or office blocks Internet traffic or when your country blocks VPN ports. It renders most VPN blocking measures useless and can provide free internet access in extreme situations.
MultiHop
Looking to improve your security and privacy? Consider MultiHop, also known as a double VPN, which establishes connections through two VPN servers. With this configuration, you benefit from dual data encryption and increased privacy.

When you go to the MultiHop section, you can see which countries will be involved in the process. Choose the first country based on which one is closest, while the second should be the one whose location you want to fake. The speed drops will be pretty severe, but it adds more peace of mind, if that’s what you’re looking for.
Search
Surfshark also offers a completely private and secure search tool that is ad-free, will not be affected by previous searches, and does not collect any user information at all. That’s full incognito mode, which paid users can access from s.surfshark.com or their VPN panel.

You can use it to search for videos, images or web pages. From our perspective, it looks a lot like Bing – if you’ve seen it, Surfshark search will look very familiar.
DNS leak protection
Once you connect to any of Surfshark’s servers, DNS leak protection kicks in instantly. It ensures that all DNS requests coming from your device are blocked. Also, all DNS servers are owned by the provider itself. As a result, there will be no activity or connection logging, zero third-party interference, and you will receive end-to-end encryption for all traffic.
Although there are several reasons why your DNS could be leaking, for example a failed manual VPN setup, the consequences remain the same. Your online traffic can be tracked by third parties, including your ISP, and it simply exposes your browsing activity.
Nexus
Nexus is Surfshark’s newest security feature. It is a technology that uses software-defined networking (SDN) to connect VPN servers in a consolidated network. Nexus technology connects all existing VPN servers, meaning traffic is routed through an entire network of servers instead of just an encrypted VPN tunnel.
This feature not only hides the traffic from the user but also provides more stability to the overall performance and can improve the speed of the VPN connection.
What is Surfshark best at?
Surfshark is a truly versatile VPN service that excels in several aspects, making it a top choice for users all over the world. Its comprehensive features and strong performance make it one of the best VPNs available.
How much does Surfshark VPN cost?
See how Surfshark’s ranking compares to other market leaders:
Version | Price |
---|---|
1-month plan | $12.95/month |
1-year plan | $3.99/month |
2-year plan | $2.30/month |
Surfshark VPN has three plan options: 1-month, 1-year, and 2-year plans. The best deal comes with the 2-year subscription – it’s the cheapest, costing just $2.30/month, making it a fantastic deal.
The 1-year plan is a bit more expensive, but still a great price of $3.99/mo. Surfshark VPN’s shortest subscription costs $12.95 per month, a standard entry fee when it comes to VPNs. When it comes to renewal pricing, you will be able to get a 1-year subscription for $59.76/year or a 2-year plan for $95.52/year.
Regarding payment options, this is how you can pay for Surfshark services:
Don’t forget that you will be able to use Surfshark on unlimited devices, as the service offers unlimited simultaneous connections.
Better yet, with the risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee, you can safely give Surfshark VPN a try to see if this VPN is the best fit for you.
Can you get Surfshark for free?
Yes, you can easily get Surfshark for free with the 7-day free trial. The trial version is available on Google Play and the Apple App Store. The trial version is available on the Surfshark and macOS mobile apps, and once you activate it on one device, you can try it on other devices as well. If you have some problems, you can refer to our guide on how to claim Surfshark free trial.
Alternatively, you can also make use of Surfshark’s 30-day money-back guarantee.
How to download Surfshark?

Speed: How fast is Surfshark VPN?
Surfshark is one of the fastest VPNs we’ve tested. Our speed test tool showed excellent results in many places. Of course, it also depends on the location you are in: the closer you are to the server, the faster the speed.
- Data period: 06.17 – 07.01
Download retention | Upload retention | |
---|---|---|
![]() | 31% (304 Mbit/s) | 29 % (284 Mbit/s) |
![]() | 75% (718 Mbit/s) | 70 % (669 Mbit/s) |
![]() | 89% (853 Mbit/s) | 86 % (828 Mbit/s) |
![]() | 100% (1,000 Mbit/s) | 83 % (793 Mbit/s) |
![]() | 63% (602 Mbit/s) | 56 % (533 Mbit/s) |
In general, in our tests, Surfshark has achieved great speed performance. Presumably, it is thanks to the modern, fast and secure WireGuard protocol. On average across these 5 locations, Surfshark retained most of our original download speed – around 90%. That gave us a buffer-free Netflix streaming experience that was more stable than other leading providers like ExpressVPN.
Surfshark performance with other protocols
Naturally, Surfshark has more to it than just WireGuard. If you look at NordVPN vs Surfshark, you’ll notice that Surfshark implements similar protocols and competes with fast speeds. However, overall VPN performance will largely depend on the protocol you use, and these are Surfshark’s average download and upload speeds across different protocols, combining 10 locations around the world.
Protocol | Speed | Security | Connection stability |
---|---|---|---|
WireGuard | Highest 🏆 | High | Medium |
IKEv2 | High | Medium | High |
OpenVPN (TCP) | Low | High | High |
OpenVPN (UDP) | High | High | Medium |
And to get a better understanding of how fast Surfshark really is, here’s how it stacks up against a couple of other well-known VPN providers.
Provider | Average download speed |
---|---|
Surfshark | 88% 🏆 |
ExpressVPN | 66% |
PIA | 54% |
Overall, Surfshark is definitely a fast VPN. We were impressed with its overall performance, and while certain protocols are slower than others, if you’re looking for good speeds, you’ll find them here.
Surfshark servers and locations
It’s important that a VPN offers a solid variety of servers and server locations – and this VPN delivers. Surfshark offers more than 3,200 servers in 100 countries. If we compare these numbers with NordVPN, another very popular VPN provider that has 5,700 servers in 60 countries, it is clear that while Surfshark has fewer servers, the location coverage is higher in major regions of the world.
Regions | Number of countries |
---|---|
Europe | 38 countries |
Americas | 9 countries |
Asia and Oceanic region | 14 countries |
Africa | 4 countries |
Some of the available countries will also offer options for different cities, with multiple options for Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, India, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
While Africa and the Middle East can’t boast good coverage (a common theme among most VPNs), the rest of the world is spoiled for choice. It won’t be hard to find a fast server nearby.

The connection happens automatically when you click on the desired location, and it takes just a few seconds.
Does Surfshark VPN work in China?
Yes, Surfshark works in both Hong Kong and mainland China, and it is possible to use this VPN to bypass internet restrictions. You might even be lucky enough to unblock Netflix.
Surfshark’s Camouflage Mode feature is automatically available, as long as you’re using the OpenVPN protocol, giving you added peace of mind. As long as you have it on, you’re fine. This is one of the many benefits of Surfshark.
But don’t just take this humble reviewer’s word for it: here’s what Surfshark’s customer support had to say about it.

If you want to use a different protocol and still use Surfshark in China, you can still do so – there is a Borderless mode available on Windows and mobile devices. Enable it in the settings and you will be able to get through the firewall even with a different protocol.

However, keep in mind that the Great Firewall of China works in cycles. This means that there are periods when the blocks are strengthened and mitigated.
That said, there may be times when the client doesn’t work and you’ll need to set up a manual connection or try a different server. It should work without a problem, even in cases where the client crashes. That’s why Surfshark earned its place among our best VPNs for China.
Is Surfshark good for streaming?
Platform | Does it work? |
---|---|
Netflix | ✅ Yes |
Apple TV | ✅ Yes |
BBC iPlayer | ✅ Yes |
Youtube TV | ✅ Yes |
Max | ✅ Yes |
Disney+ | ✅ Yes |
Hulu | ✅ Yes |
Surfshark is well equipped to be one of the best VPNs for streaming. It has many advanced features that will enhance your movie nights. First, there’s Smart DNS – you can set it up on any device, even ones that don’t natively support VPN. When enabled, it will unblock geo-restricted US content without a VPN.
It is possible to use Surfshark with the Kodi app and set it up on the Amazon Fire TV device. Minimum requirements are 2nd generation or 4K Fire TV devices.
And if you’re wondering if Netflix works with Surfshark, it does. Testing Surfshark’s streaming and unblocking capabilities, it had no issues with various Netflix libraries including the US, UK, Germany, and Japan. It also unblocked other platforms, including Disney+, Hulu, Max, YouTube TV, and more. Everything was running smoothly, and there were no noticeable drops in resolution or latency.
Putting it all together, Surfshark is terrific for streaming. Not only can you stream all the popular movies and TV shows on various devices, but the videos also come in Full HD.
Surfshark also works perfectly with accessing geo-blocked websites in your region, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Twitch, and other social media platforms blocked by schools, workplaces, or the government.
Is Surfshark good for torrenting?
Yes, Surfshark is a good option for torrenting: their servers are fully optimized for P2P downloads. We had no problems torrenting from various locations around the world; It seems that all Surfshark servers are optimized for torrenting.

It worked on all of our tested torrent clients, including:
With no bandwidth caps or data caps, we’ve also noticed some big dropdowns on speeds – they’ll still mostly relate to your original download connection and number of seeders. All in all, Surfshark really deserves its place on our list of the best VPNs for torrenting.
Interface and ease of use
Surfshark VPN’s ease of use across different applications is excellent overall. Both the Surfshark desktop and mobile apps look great and are easy to use. While the Android and iOS versions are virtually identical, the desktop apps have quite a list of differences.
- Windows version: clear configuration and easy to use.
- macOS version: It has a clean interface and is easy to install. However, there are no split tunnels or NoBorders functions.
- Linux version: Attractive graphical app, offering everything you would need from a VPN app.
- Mobile versions: very attractive, easy to use, ideal for beginners. However, the iOS app lacks a split tunneling feature.
- Browser versions: complete, with many practical functions, easy to use.
Let’s take a deeper look at each of the available versions.
Platform | Experience |
---|---|
Windows | Full Surfshark experience |
macOS | Two different versions of the app with limited features |
Linux | Modern and easy to use Surfshark app |
Mobile | Solid apps for iOS and Android |
Browser | Browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox, with cookie blocking functionality |
Windows
Surfshark has a slick Windows client that looks pretty good and is pretty intuitive to find your way around. From the main screen, you can choose one of the categories: Locations, Features, or Settings. Each one is self-explanatory, and even novice users won’t have a hard time finding what they need. Even when it comes to advanced settings.

There is no map interface, but the list of countries has flags and you can use the search function, so it’s not a problem.
Although I found it a bit annoying that the countries are arranged alphabetically, the cities seem to be ordered randomly. However, each server has a marker indicating how much load it is currently supporting. So if you need better speeds, you have a simple way to filter them out.
Overall, this Windows app has just about every feature Surfshark has to offer – it’s the best option out of all here.
macOS
In general, the macOS version of Surfshark is much less extensive than the Windows version: it lacks certain features. However, that can also depend on the version you have downloaded.
There are two different versions of Surfshark: one downloaded from the Surfshark website and one from the Apple App Store.
Surprisingly, it is the version of the Surfshark site that is inferior. It only offers the IKEv2 and WireGuard protocols.

Meanwhile, the version downloaded from the Apple App Store also offers options for OpenVPN.

But even then, the macOS Surfshark app lacks certain features. Split tunneling (known as Whitelister), intended to disable VPN for specific apps, is not available on macOS.
Neither is NoBorders, which makes it easy for you to bypass VPN restrictions, set by various governments.
While there’s no way around the lack of split tunneling, you can still bypass VPN restrictions on macOS; You will only need to use the OpenVPN protocol, which is only available in the Apple App Store version.
In general, Mac VPN users really get the worst of it here with Surfshark. It’s still a very solid VPN, but not even close enough to the full Windows experience.
Linux
Although Linux users are probably already used to not having a visual interface with VPN apps, Surfshark has decided to pamper the operating system and develop a beautiful GUI. With this first graphical VPN app for Linux among popular VPNs, you can finally enjoy the service to the fullest!

The developers have gone to great lengths to provide you with a user-friendly interface combined with reliable VPN functionality. So what can you expect from this app besides its added convenience?
For starters, you can set up your favorite servers, view recently used ones, and access all the other essential features, like a kill switch or MultiHop, and other static options. But that is not all! Along with the release of this GUI, Linux users finally received the WireGuard tunneling protocol. You know what that means: a great combination of fast speeds and top-notch security.
While Ubuntu 20.04 LTS, Debian 11, and Mint 20 users can only enjoy the Linux GUI, Surfshark promises to release the app for other distros in the near future.
Android
The Surfshark Android app definitely borrows elements from the desktop versions. If you turn on dark mode system-wide, apps will adjust and show you the appropriate theme.

The Android version of Surfshark has the same features that are available on the Windows client, with the addition of a GPS spoofing feature. There is also the convenient split tunnel option: you can select which apps are excluded and/or included in the VPN connection.
In general, the Surfshark Android app is not lacking in any way and is very easy and pleasant to use.
iOS
The Surfshark iOS app interface is almost identical to the Android one. The app adjusts its theme based on device settings, so you can have both light and dark theme interfaces.

However, compared to the Android client, the Surfshark iOS app lacks certain features. For example, there is no GPS spoofer, and the Whitelister feature is also unavailable.
However, compared to the Android client, the Surfshark iOS app lacks certain features. For example, there is no GPS spoofer and the Whitelister feature is also unavailable.
However, the iOS app has several features rarely found in mobile VPNs, such as a kill switch and WireGuard protocol support for better security and speed.
Browser Extensions
In addition to its VPN app, Surfshark also offers browser extensions for Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Edge.
These have basic features like hiding your real IP address, encrypting your connection, split tunneling, and unblocking restricted websites. But also, there is a new feature that makes this extension stand apart from the rest.
Surfshark CleanWeb is an ad blocker with the ability to block malware, ads, cookie popups, monitor websites data breach history.

Also, keep in mind that the extension will only encrypt traffic from your selected browser.
What’s new with Surfshark?
Launched in 2018, Surfshark has come a long way to become one of the most secure VPNs on the market. It started as a VPN service with only the most important features and now offers a versatile security package that includes not only a VPN, but also antivirus and identity protection.
- February 2020: Surfshark added the 2FA security method to the login process.
- July 2020: The provider has upgraded over 3,200 servers to RAM only, which is a 100% diskless server network.
- October 2020: The open source WireGuard protocol that ensures fast speeds without compromising security is available in Surfshark apps.
- August 2021: Surfshark announced Surfshark One – a bundle of their VPN and a new antivirus service.
- February 2022: The provider introduced Surfshark Nexus, a VPN innovation based on SDN (Software Defined Networks), which routes traffic through multiple servers, improving stability and security.
- May 2022: Surfshark became the first popular VPN to release a feature-rich, graphical app for Linux.
- September 2022: September 2022 – Surfshark removed support for legacy iOS and macOS. This means that Surfshark is only compatible with the latest four versions of iOS and macOS.
- October 2022: The service increased the number of server country locations and became the first premium VPN to offer servers in more than 100 countries.
- November 2022: Surfshark Nexus won CyberSecurity Breakthrough’s “VPN Solution of the Year” award.
- January 2023: Surfshark approved another no-logs assurance report with auditing firm Deloitte.
- June 2023: The Independent Advisor awarded Surfshark Best Value VPN – 2023.
Surfshark features
Surfshark has grown not only in popularity, but also in tools for online security. Here are some of the features that make Surfshark what it is today:
Surfshark Antivirus

Surfshark’s integrated antivirus tool is more than just a basic website blocker tool offered by lots of VPN providers. It’s a full-fledged antivirus program, similar to the ones created by the likes of Avast and Bitdefender.
Surfshark’s built-in antivirus tool is more than a basic website blocking tool that many VPN providers offer. It is a complete antivirus program, similar to those created by Avast and Bitdefender.
The feature will protect your device from all types of malware, including worms, trojans, backdoors, and other types of viruses. All you need to do is scan your device like you would with any other antivirus tool, and Surfshark AV will detect and remove the threats.
Right now, the feature is available on Windows, macOS, and Android devices. Hopefully iOS users will also get their hands on Surfshark Antivirus very soon.
The tool is included in the Surfshark One package and will cost you $3.98 per year when you get the 12-month plan (Alert and Search tools come as an added bonus).
The feature will protect your device from all sorts of malware, including worms, trojans, backdoors, and other types of viruses. All you need to do is scan your device as you would with any other antivirus tool, and Surfshark AV will detect and eliminate the threats.
Right now, the feature is available on Windows, macOS, and Android devices. Let’s hope iOS users will get their hands on Surfshark Antivirus pretty soon as well.
The tool is included in the Surfshark One bundle and will cost you $3.98 per year when getting the plan for 12 months (Alert and Search tools come as an additional bonus).
NoBorders

NoBorders is a unique extra feature that allows you to use VPN in heavily restricted countries. If your client detects restrictions imposed by your network, it toggles NoBorders automatically to bypass them. It also then switches your server list to those that perform best under such circumstances. You can also turn this mode on manually, whenever you need it. Available on Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android.
Smart DNS
For those using PlayStations or Smart TVs or other smart devices that don’t natively support a VPN, Smart DNS can be a deal breaker. Removes the ability to unblock geo-restricted media streaming sites like Disney+ or Hulu on your preferred device.
Surfshark Smart DNS can be configured on many types of devices, even those that do not support VPN clients. You will need to activate it from your main account control panel and they will generate DNS addresses that you can then configure on your devices. By default, it allows you to unlock US programs and libraries that are often not available to users on other continents.
Whitelister
Sometimes keeping a VPN on at all times can be a hassle. For example, your banking page may recognize the IP of a different country and flag it or not display the proper local version. Or maybe you want to access your local streaming library, but use a different country’s VPN for something else. For that, you need a split tunnel, and Surfshark’s version is called Bypasser.

It works both ways: by routing only some apps through a VPN connection or by routing the entire connection through VPN and adding exclusions. This means that you will connect directly without the need to disconnect or change servers when connecting to your added websites.
During our tests, Surfshark routed all data where you would expect it to go. There were no problems.
Alerts
Surfshark aims to protect your security not only through VPN connections. They have added the ability to use alerts that warn you if your data is leaked for all your subscribers.

Alerts work with emails, credit cards, and IDs after you enter them and add them to the list. The use of two-factor authentication is mandatory to protect your data. When a major breach occurs and data is leaked to dark web marketplaces, you will be warned.
A regular newsletter option informs you about data breaches that have recently occurred and notifications only in cases where your accounts are affected.
CleanWeb
CleanWeb is Surfshark’s proprietary DNS feature that blocks ads from loading and various online trackers from collecting your data. It is not enabled by default. To do so, you will need to head into the settings.
When enabled, it will block IP addresses that are blacklisted. This means that known ad servers will not be able to load, so you will not see their popups. The same goes for hosts that distribute malware or collect user data. During our tests, it worked on par with other ad-blockers like uBlock origin, so it can be a substitute.
GPS spoofing
If you are an Android user, with Surfshark, you can spoof your IP address and physical GPS location. Most apps installed on your phone have access to your location data, making it one of the most collected pieces of information about any user.

Spoofing your location not only allows you to match your VPN IP with the corresponding GPS data for privacy reasons. You can take advantage of this by catching creatures in Pokemon Go or swiping on Tinder.
Pause VPN function
With a VPN, you can unblock a lot of global content that you want to access. However, there are cases where you need to disconnect from a VPN for a bit if you need your original location. Fortunately, Surfshark has something called a Pause VPN feature that will disable the connection for 5 minutes, 30 minutes, or 2 hours. Also, you can enable a VPN connection during pause. Although the feature is only available on Android devices now, it will soon knock on the doors of other operating systems as well.
IP rotator
First Surfshark Nexus feature available: an IP rotator. With it, your online privacy and security are taken to a whole other level. While a simple VPN connection gives you a single IP address per session, with an IP rotator enabled, your IP address will constantly change without disconnecting you from a secure connection. Meaning, your ISP will be even less likely to track your online activity!
Dedicated IP
Another new IP related development in Surfshark features is Dedicated IP. A dedicated or static IP can be beneficial if you need to access networks related to your work or connect to services that don’t take frequent IP changes lightly, such as banking, gaming, cryptography, and others. Also, a dedicated IP can help avoid excessive captchas and reduces the chances of the IP address being blocked by streaming platforms and other services.
You can get your own dedicated IP on macOS, Windows, Android, and iOS in six locations: New York, San Jose, Los Angeles, Dallas, London, and Amsterdam. Surfshark advises that some locations may not always be available due to the limited number of dedicated IPs. The dedicated IP option is available to Surfshark One subscribers or as an additional purchase to your subscription.
Incogni
Isn’t it annoying (and even a little scary) that the Internet is full of your personal information? Well Surfshark is here to help you with that. The service has recently released a new tool called Incogni.
Once you purchase a separate subscription, Incogni will contact the online data brokers on your behalf and request that they remove all of your personal information (such as name, phone number, and email address) from their databases. This way, you’ll start getting fewer targeted ads, spam calls, and spam emails.
Customer support
Surfshark has a variety of customer support options for you to choose from. You can receive human assistance or try to solve the problems yourself. In general, there will be no unanswered questions with this VPN provider.
Surfshark | |
---|---|
24/7 live chat | ✅ |
✅ | |
Phone line | ❌ |
Guides or articles | ✅ |
FAQs | ✅ |
For those who like to tackle problems themselves, the knowledge base is a great starting point that includes many helpful guides. For many topics, there are already several solid text and video guides. You can find related topics with a click and learn a thing or two at Surfschool.
For more complicated questions, they have a 24/7 live chat. After bypassing the boring chatbot canned responses, it only took me a few seconds to get through to a live chat agent. The agents were friendly, helpful and genuinely prompt, answering all my queries with ease. Full points for Surfshark there.
FAQs
Is Surfshark VPN reliable?
Yes, Surfshark is a great VPN that offers incredible value and strong, reliable security. It has been independently audited and offers a strong no-logging policy, so you can browse without worry.
Which is better: NordVPN or Surfshark?
NordVPN is a slightly more comprehensive service for all platforms. With Surfshark, you’ll get a somewhat better deal if you’re an Android or Windows user.
Is Surfshark a free VPN?
Surfshark does not have a free mode, but it does have a 7-day free trial that you can get from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store. Once you create an account, you can log in with your credentials on any device and enjoy your free trial.
What is Surfshark dark mode?
Surfshark dark mode is a dark theme for your app interface. It does not add any additional features, it just changes the background to black to save battery life.
Is Surfshark a good VPN?
Yes, Surfshark is a good VPN for both security and entertainment. Whether you want to use it for streaming, torrenting, or bypassing geo-restrictions, it does everything it throws at you. You can also use this service on unlimited devices, which is a great value proposition.
Is Surfshark good to play?
Yes, Surfshark VPN is a solid choice for gaming, offering fast upload and download speeds as well as very low latency. Overall, it’s a solid option if you want to use a VPN while gaming.
Is Surfshark legal in the US?
Yes, using Surfshark is completely legal in the US. Using a VPN service like Surfshark is legal in most countries, including the US. However, it is important to note that while VPNs are legal, their use for illegal activities is not. We encourage you to always ensure that your use of VPNs is compliant with local law.
Who owns Surfshark?
Surfshark is owned by Nord Security. The Surfshark and Nord Security merger was set for early 2022. However, both brands continue to operate independently. Surfshark’s headquarters are in the Netherlands, with additional offices throughout Europe.
Thanks for visiting our Website. If you appreciate our work, kindly show us some support in our comments section.
Did you have some experience in any of these hosting companies? If so, please leave a review, positive or negative, below.
To read more similar articles, Click here.