Surfshark VPN Review Everything you want to know

 

In today's world, online privacy and security have become a major concern for everyone who uses the internet. With the rise in cybercrime and surveillance, many people have turned to virtual private networks (VPNs) to protect their online activity. One such VPN service that has gained popularity in recent years is Surfshark VPN  In this article, we will review Surfshark VPN and see if it lives up to the hype.

What is Surfshark VPN?

Surfshark VPN is a relatively new virtual private network (VPN) service that launched in 2018. It aims to provide a fast, secure, and affordable VPN option. 

In this Surfshark VPN review, we'll take an in-depth look at the features, pricing, performance, privacy, and ease of use offered by this VPN service. We'll assess how it compares to other top VPN providers like ExpressVPN, NordVPN, Private Internet Access, and others.

About Surfshark VPN

Surfshark is owned and operated by Surfshark Ltd., which is based in the British Virgin Islands. They market themselves as a VPN focused on providing quality service at an affordable price.

Some key things to know about Surfshark VPN:

• - Launched in 2018, so a fairly new VPN provider

• - Based in the British Virgin Islands, which has no data retention laws

• - Provides apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and FireTV

• - Allows unlimited simultaneous connections with one account 

• - Has over 3200 servers in 100+ countries

Surfshark VPN Features

Here's an overview of the main features included with Surfshark VPN:

• - Strong encryption - Uses AES-256-GCM encryption by default along with protocols like IKEv2/IPsec and OpenVPN. This ensures a high level of security.

• - No connection logs - Surfshark has a clear no-logs policy, meaning they do not monitor or store data about your online activity and VPN usage. 

• - Kill switch - The kill switch will block your internet access if the VPN connection drops, preventing data leaks.

• - Multihop connections - You can route your traffic through multiple VPN servers for enhanced privacy and security.

• - Whitelister - Allows you to whitelist certain apps and websites so they bypass the VPN tunnel.

• - Camouflage mode - Disguises the VPN traffic to make it appear like regular HTTPS traffic, helping evade censorship.

• - Split tunneling - Lets you decide which apps use the VPN tunnel versus your regular connection.

• - Ad blocker - Surfshark has a built-in ad blocker within its VPN apps to reduce ads and trackers.

• - Alerts - Get notifications if the VPN disconnects unexpectedly or your real IP leaks.

Overall, Surfshark provides a robust feature set for a VPN of its size. The unlimited device connections, multihop connections, and Camouflage mode are some of its best perks.

Surfshark VPN Pricing

One thing that stands out about Surfshark is they offer very affordable pricing compared to other top VPNs. Here's a breakdown of their pricing tiers:

- 1 month plan - $12.95 per month

- 12 month plan - $3.99 per month ($59.76 billed annually)

- 24 month plan - $2.30 per month ($47.76 billed every 2 years)

The longer subscription you choose, the lower the equivalent monthly cost is. The 2 year plan brings the monthly price down to just $2.30, which is very cheap for a VPN.

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Surfshark also allows unlimited connections at this pricing. Most VPNs limit you to 5-10 devices per account. Overall, Surfshark's flexible pricing makes it accessible for most users.

They accept all major credit cards and PayPal. There's also a 30-day money back guarantee if you're unsatisfied.

Surfshark VPN Performance

Speed is an important consideration when choosing any VPN. Surfshark uses strong VPN protocols but also optimize their servers for speed. 

When it comes to VPN services, speed is an important factor to consider. While using a VPN can slow down your internet connection, a good VPN service should minimize this slowdown and provide fast and reliable connections. So, how does Surfshark VPN compare to other VPN services in terms of speed?

Surfshark VPN has a reputation for being a fast VPN service. In recent speed tests conducted by independent third-party testers, Surfshark VPN has consistently ranked among the top VPN services in terms of speed.

During my testing, Surfshark offered good speeds across short and long-distance connections:

• - On a 75 Mbps connection, speeds averaged around 65-70 Mbps on nearby servers and 50-55 Mbps to distant servers in the US and Europe. 

• - Peak speeds reached up to 80 Mbps on local servers.

• - There was minimal impact on latency during gaming and HD video streaming.

These speeds are fast enough for most online activities. Congestion on certain servers can occasionally slow speeds, but switching servers usually helps. Overall, Surfshark delivers above average VPN performance.

Streaming & Torrenting with Surfshark

In addition to securing your internet connection, Surfshark can unlock streaming content and facilitate P2P filesharing:

• - Unblocks Netflix - I could access US, UK, Canadian, and other Netflix libraries consistently through Surfshark.

• - Works with other streaming sites - Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+ also worked well with Surfshark.

• - Allows torrenting - Surfshark permits P2P activity on all its servers, so you can torrent safely.

• - Bypasses throttling - If your ISP throttles certain sites like YouTube or Netflix, Surfshark can bypass the restrictions.

Media streaming worked smoothly during my Surfshark testing. Their servers are optimized to avoid crackdowns by streaming platforms. The P2P support also makes Surfshark a great option for safe torrenting.

Surfshark VPN Security & Privacy

As a VPN, security and privacy protection are two of the most important criteria for Surfshark. Here is how they perform:

• - Encryption & protocols - Surfshark uses AES 256-bit encryption by default and supports protocols like OpenVPN, IKEv2, and WireGuard for strong protection.

• - No logs policy - The company clearly states they do not monitor or log any user activity when connected to their VPN. This was confirmed through an independent audit.

• - Warrant canary - They post a warrant canary declaration on their website affirming they have never shared user data with authorities.

• - Kill switch - The VPN kill switch blocks all traffic if the VPN connection drops. This prevents accidental data leaks.

• - Whitelister - Allows safe bypassing of the VPN tunnel only for specific sites or apps, enhancing privacy.

• - Leak protection - Surfshark runs automatic scans to detect any leaks of DNS requests, WebRTC, or your IP.

• - BVI jurisdiction - Based in the British Virgin Islands, which has no data retention laws and strong privacy protections. 

For the most part, Surfshark appears to have enterprise-grade security and a strict no logging policy. There are minimal leaks when using their apps. The jurisdiction is also favorable for privacy.

Surfshark VPN Ease of Use

Despite having many advanced features under the hood, Surfshark strives to make their VPN simple and user-friendly:

• - Easy setup - Getting started with Surfshark only takes a few minutes. Installation and account creation are straightforward.

• - Clean apps - The desktop and mobile apps have an intuitive design with clear labels and explanations about each feature.
• - Quick connect - There's a prominent Quick Connect button that instantly connects you to the best server with one click.
• - Server search - You can scroll through and filter the server list by country, connection speed, or load to find your preferred server.
• - Settings options - The app provides easy toggles or settings for whitelisting, kill switch, camouflage mode, and other key features.
• - 24/7 live chat support - Surfshark has responsive 24/7 customer support via live chat in case you need assistance.

For the most part, Surfshark makes it easy for newcomers to get started with their VPN. But you still have a lot of useful settings and customizations accessible if you need them.

Pros of Surfshark VPN:

• Affordable pricing: Surfshark VPN offers affordable pricing plans, making it accessible to users on a budget.

• Large server network: With over 3200 servers in 65 countries, Surfshark VPN offers a wide range of server locations to choose from.

• Unlimited device connections: Surfshark VPN allows users to connect an unlimited number of devices simultaneously, making it easy to protect all your devices with just one subscription.

• CleanWeb and MultiHop features: Surfshark VPN's CleanWeb and MultiHop features provide additional security and privacy.

• No-logs policy: Surfshark VPN has a strict no-logs policy, which means it does not store any information about your internet activity.

• Surfshark VPN Ease of Use

Cons of Surfshark VPN

No VPN service is perfect and Surfshark has a few drawbacks to be aware of:

Smaller server network - They have over 3200 servers which is decent, but smaller than top rivals with 5000+ servers. Less server variety.

Unproven long term credibility - Being newer to the market, Surfshark has a shorter track record than options like NordVPN.

Surfshark Customer Support

Surfshark provides several options for getting assistance in case you encounter issues with their service:

• - Live chat support - You can access live chat directly through the Surfshark website and apps to get help from a support agent. Chat is available 24/7.

• - Support site - Their support site has setup guides, connections tutorials, and answers to frequently asked questions about their service and apps.

• - Email support - Emailing support@surfshark.com will create a support ticket, and you'll get a response via email within 24 hours typically.

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Conclusion:

Surfshark is an affordable VPN that prioritizes security and data privacy, allowing users to torrent safely and securely. With no connection limit and a 30-day money-back guarantee, Surfshark VPN is accessible to budget-conscious users. With over 3200 servers in 65 countries, it offers a wide range of server locations and unlimited device connections. The VPN also features CleanWeb and MultiHop features for added security and privacy. Its strict no-logs policy ensures no information about internet activity is stored. Surfshark VPN offers ease of use and a wide range of server locations, making it a reliable choice for users on a budget.