Surfshark Review 2026: Budget VPN Worth the Hype?

Surfshark has positioned itself as the budget-friendly alternative to premium VPNs like NordVPN and ExpressVPN. But can a VPN that costs under $3/month actually compete with providers charging twice as much? We spent two months testing Surfshark’s speed, streaming capabilities, and security features to find out.

The short answer: Surfshark punches well above its price point, but it’s not perfect.

Quick Verdict

Surfshark’s unlimited device policy is the real differentiator here. While NordVPN limits you to 6 connections and ExpressVPN to 8, Surfshark lets you protect every device you own—and share with family—on a single subscription. Combined with competitive speeds and reliable streaming access, it’s an excellent value proposition.

Bottom line: If budget matters and you have multiple devices (or a household to protect), Surfshark delivers premium features at mid-tier pricing. The trade-off is a smaller server network and occasional support delays.

Speed Test Results

We tested Surfshark on a 1 Gbps fiber connection using the WireGuard protocol across servers in 8 countries over 60 days:

Server Location	Speed Retention	Average Download
United States (NYC)	92%	920 Mbps
United Kingdom	89%	890 Mbps
Germany	85%	850 Mbps
Netherlands	94%	940 Mbps
Japan	72%	720 Mbps
Australia	68%	680 Mbps
Canada	88%	880 Mbps
Brazil	75%	750 Mbps

Surfshark’s WireGuard implementation delivers impressive results. On nearby servers, we saw speed retention above 85%—barely noticeable during everyday use. The average speed reduction across all tested locations was around 19%, which places Surfshark among the fastest VPNs available.

Long-distance connections to Asia-Pacific show more significant drops (28-32%), but still fast enough for 4K streaming and large downloads.

Protocol Comparison

Protocol	Download Retention	Best Use Case
WireGuard	81%	General use, streaming
OpenVPN UDP	62%	Gaming (lower latency)
OpenVPN TCP	7%	Restricted networks only
IKEv2	74%	Mobile connections

Streaming Performance

Surfshark reliably unblocks major streaming platforms. We tested weekly access throughout our review period:

• Netflix: US, UK, Japan, Australia, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Brazil libraries accessible
• Disney+: Works consistently—New York servers performed best
• BBC iPlayer: UK servers work reliably
• Amazon Prime Video: US and UK libraries functional
• HBO Max: US-only, worked without issues
• Hulu: US servers required, worked in our tests

We encountered occasional blocks on specific servers, but Surfshark’s Smart DNS feature provides an alternative for devices that don’t support VPN apps natively—PlayStation, Xbox, Apple TV, and some smart TVs can use it to access geo-restricted content.

Security and Privacy

Jurisdiction Concern

Surfshark is headquartered in the Netherlands, which falls within the Nine Eyes and Fourteen Eyes surveillance alliances. This is a legitimate concern for privacy-focused users. However, the Netherlands doesn’t have mandatory data retention laws for VPNs, so Surfshark isn’t legally required to store user activity logs.

Independent Audits

Surfshark has undergone multiple third-party security assessments:

• Deloitte (June 2025): Second no-logs policy verification under ISAE 3000 standards
• Deloitte (2023): First no-logs audit confirming no user activity stored
• Cure53 (2018, 2021): Browser extension security audits

The June 2025 Deloitte audit is particularly notable—it verified that Surfshark’s no-logs policy applies to all server types (standard, static, and multiport) and is enforced consistently across the infrastructure.

Technical Security Features

• AES-256 Encryption: Industry-standard encryption across all protocols
• RAM-Only Servers: All data wiped on every server reboot
• Kill Switch: Blocks all traffic if VPN connection drops
• DNS/IPv6 Leak Protection: Built-in and enabled by default
• Camouflage Mode: Obfuscation to hide VPN traffic from ISPs
• NoBorders Mode: Automatically activates on restrictive networks

Key Features Deep-Dive

Unlimited Simultaneous Connections

This is Surfshark’s killer feature. While competitors limit you to 5-8 devices, Surfshark places no restrictions. Protect your laptop, phone, tablet, smart TV, router, and share with family members—all on one subscription.

For households with multiple people and devices, this alone can justify choosing Surfshark over premium competitors.

CleanWeb

Surfshark’s built-in ad and malware blocker works at the DNS level, blocking:

• Intrusive advertisements
• Tracking scripts
• Malware domains
• Phishing attempts

It’s not a replacement for dedicated antivirus software, but it adds a useful layer of protection and can speed up page loads by blocking resource-heavy ads.

MultiHop (Double VPN)

Route your traffic through two VPN servers in different countries for extra privacy. Unlike fixed pairs offered by some competitors, Surfshark’s Dynamic MultiHop lets you choose your entry and exit locations manually.

Use cases:

• Journalists or activists needing extra anonymity
• Adding distance between your real location and final destination
• General privacy enthusiasts

Everlink Technology

Launched in June 2025, Everlink is Surfshark’s “self-healing infrastructure.” Unlike a traditional kill switch that disconnects you entirely when a server fails, Everlink automatically reroutes your connection to another server without dropping your internet access.

This means uninterrupted streaming, downloads, and browsing even if your current server experiences issues.

Bypasser (Split Tunneling)

Choose which apps or websites bypass the VPN connection. Useful for:

• Banking apps that block VPN connections
• Local services that need your real IP
• Reducing VPN load for non-sensitive browsing

Apps and Ease of Use

Surfshark offers apps for:

• Windows, macOS, Linux
• iOS, Android
• Chrome, Firefox, Edge extensions
• Fire TV, Android TV
• Router configurations

The interface is cleaner than NordVPN’s, with a simpler layout that works well for VPN beginners. The main screen shows a quick-connect button and server list—no overwhelming map interface.

That said, some features are buried in settings menus. Finding options like protocol selection, kill switch, or CleanWeb requires some exploration.

Mobile apps are particularly well-designed, with the same feature set as desktop versions (not always the case with VPN providers).

Pricing

Surfshark’s pricing is where it shines brightest:

Plan	Monthly Cost	Total Cost	Savings
1 Month	$15.45	$15.45	-
1 Year	$2.99/mo	$35.88	81%
2 Years	$2.19/mo	$52.56	86%

The 2-year plan represents exceptional value at $2.19/month—significantly cheaper than NordVPN ($3.59/mo) and ExpressVPN ($6.67/mo) on equivalent terms.

All plans include:

• 30-day money-back guarantee
• Unlimited simultaneous connections
• All apps and features
• 24/7 support

Surfshark vs. NordVPN: Quick Comparison

Feature	Surfshark	NordVPN
Price (2-year)	$2.19/mo	$3.59/mo
Simultaneous Connections	Unlimited	6
Server Count	3,200+	6,400+
Countries	100	111
Speed (WireGuard)	81% retention	85% retention
Independent Audits	2	5
Jurisdiction	Netherlands (9 Eyes)	Panama (outside alliances)

Choose Surfshark if: Budget is a priority, you have many devices, or you’re sharing with family.

Choose NordVPN if: You want a larger server network, more audits for peace of mind, or a jurisdiction fully outside surveillance alliances.

Who Should Use Surfshark?

Surfshark is a good fit if you:

• Have multiple devices or a household to protect
• Want premium features at budget pricing
• Need reliable streaming access without paying premium prices
• Value simplicity over advanced customization

Consider alternatives if you:

• Prioritize jurisdiction outside surveillance alliances (look at NordVPN, ExpressVPN)
• Need the largest possible server network (look at NordVPN, CyberGhost)
• Want maximum transparency and audit history (look at ExpressVPN)
• Need open-source apps (look at ProtonVPN)

Final Verdict

Surfshark delivers on its value proposition: near-premium performance at budget-friendly prices, with the unlimited device policy as a genuine differentiator. The Deloitte-verified no-logs policy and RAM-only servers provide solid privacy assurances, though the Netherlands jurisdiction may concern the most privacy-conscious users.

Speed and streaming performance match or exceed expectations for this price tier. The 81% speed retention with WireGuard is competitive with more expensive alternatives.

The main drawbacks are a smaller server network compared to NordVPN and customer support that can be slower than premium competitors. Neither is a dealbreaker for most users.

Our Rating: 4.5/5

For users who don’t need the absolute maximum in privacy jurisdiction or server count, Surfshark offers the best balance of features, performance, and price available in 2025.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Surfshark safe to use in 2025?

Yes. Surfshark’s no-logs policy has been verified twice by Deloitte (a Big Four auditing firm), most recently in June 2025. The company uses RAM-only servers, AES-256 encryption, and has a bug bounty program for security researchers. The main caveat is their Netherlands headquarters within the Nine Eyes alliance, though the country has no mandatory VPN data retention laws.

Does Surfshark work with Netflix?

Surfshark reliably unblocks Netflix in approximately 9 confirmed regions including the US, UK, Japan, Australia, and Canada. Some servers may occasionally get blocked, but switching to another server in the same country typically resolves the issue within seconds.

How many devices can I use with Surfshark?

Unlimited. Unlike competitors who limit you to 5-8 simultaneous connections, Surfshark allows you to connect as many devices as you want on a single subscription. This makes it ideal for families or users with many devices.

Is Surfshark faster than NordVPN?

They’re comparable. In our testing, NordVPN showed slightly better speed retention (85% vs. 81% with WireGuard), but the difference is negligible for most use cases. Both are fast enough for 4K streaming, gaming, and large downloads.

Does Surfshark offer a free trial?

Surfshark offers a 30-day money-back guarantee rather than a free trial. This lets you test all features risk-free—if you’re not satisfied, you can request a full refund within 30 days. There’s also a 7-day free trial available on iOS and Android app stores.

Is Surfshark good for torrenting?

Yes. Surfshark allows P2P traffic on all servers and doesn’t throttle torrent connections. The WireGuard protocol provides fast speeds for large file transfers, and the kill switch ensures your real IP isn’t exposed if the VPN connection drops.

Why is Surfshark so cheap?

Surfshark keeps costs low through efficient operations and aggressive long-term pricing strategies. The 2-year commitment requirement for the lowest price helps them predict revenue. Despite the low price, they maintain the same security features (encryption, protocols, audits) as premium competitors.

Does Surfshark work in China?

Surfshark offers NoBorders mode and Camouflage (obfuscation) features designed for restrictive networks. However, VPN reliability in China varies, and no provider guarantees consistent access. If you specifically need China access, research current user reports closer to your travel date.