Surfshark VPN review for 2025

Surfshark has solidified its position as one of the best VPNs of 2025, known for its consistent performance and robust feature set. Over the past five years, we’ve closely tracked Surfshark’s evolution, documenting its consistent improvements and additions. The Antivirus and Alternative ID features are particularly noteworthy, offering users additional layers of security beyond typical VPN services. On the other hand, Surfshark has some concerns worth examining, such as its nuanced no-logs policy and legal jurisdiction.

In this review, I delve into Surfshark’s privacy policy, key features, platform compatibility, and overall value for money to help you decide if it’s right for your online security.

Surfshark VPN review – overview

To thoroughly assess Surfshark VPN, I narrowed down some key information in the table:

Rating	4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Price	From $1.99/month
Overall rank	#2 out of #41
Encryption	256-bit AES or ChaCha20
VPN protocol	WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2
Logging policy	No logs
Speed retention rate	86%
Server network	3200 servers in 100 countries
Simultaneous connections	Unlimited
Compatible with	Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS
Supported browsers	Chrome, Firefox, Brave, Opera
Unblocks	Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and more
Jurisdiction	The Netherlands
Support	Knowledge base, 24/7 live chat, email support
Best deal	Now up to 87% OFF Surfshark + 3 months FREE

Our opinion about Surfshark VPN

Surfshark is a privacy-focused VPN that’s ideal for users who want unlimited connections and great value for money. While it’s especially attractive for individuals and families thanks to its budget-friendly and long-term plans, it also offers advanced privacy tools suitable for more security-conscious users.

Is Surfshark safe?

Yes, Surfshark is safe, thanks to its excellent standard and unique features. For starters, it employs industry-standard AES-256 encryption and a strict no-logs policy to secure users. Secondly, it goes above and beyond the usual VPN capabilities by including Alternative ID and Antivirus features in the mix.

It is based in the Netherlands, which, while part of the Nine Eyes alliance, imposes no mandatory data retention laws. With these measures, Surfshark provides a secure environment for browsing, streaming, and online transactions.

Encryption

Surfshark employs cutting-edge encryption protocols, such as AES-256-GCM and ChaCha20, which are widely recognized as industry gold standards. AES-256-GCM is renowned for its near-impenetrability, making it the encryption of choice for governments and top-tier cybersecurity solutions. ChaCha20, used in specific situations, is equally robust and optimized for devices with lower computational power.

One standout feature is Perfect Forward Secrecy, which generates a unique encryption key for every session. This ensures that even if malicious programmers intercept one session, they cannot access previous or future communications. Combined, these encryption methods create a secure shield around your online activities, safeguarding sensitive information like passwords, personal data, and financial details.

This level of encryption means users can confidently connect to public Wi-Fi, browse securely, and conduct transactions without fear of being intercepted. Surfshark’s implementation prioritizes user security and maintains optimal speeds, ensuring that advanced encryption doesn’t slow you down. Whether you’re working remotely, streaming content, or simply browsing, Surfshark’s encryption guarantees peace of mind.

No-logs policy

Like most VPN services, Surfshark claims to have a no-logs policy. I read the provider’s privacy policy in April 2025 to check whether that’s the case, and for the most part, it’s true. However, there is a potential issue, albeit a reasonably insignificant one.

The document’s first section is called “1. What information is collected and why?” and it mentions a concerning detail. Namely, Surfshark VPN servers store information (user ID, IP address, connection time stamps) about your connection to a particular VPN server. Thankfully, this information is automatically deleted within 15 minutes after finishing your session. Moreover, the VPN doesn’t log any other data that would tell the provider anything about your online activities.

Here’s a table summarizing what information Surfshark collects:

Data	Does Surfshark store it?
IP address	Temporarily, for 15 minutes
Customer’s email address	✅ Yes
Customer’s encrypted password	✅ Yes
Payment data	✅ Yes (if provided)
Browsing history	❎ No
Session information	❎ No
User bandwidth	❎ No
Network traffic	❎ No

As you can see, Surfshark VPN collects and stores only the most essential details it needs to provide its service. For example, the provider will have your account information, like email address, encrypted password, and payment data, since these are critical to creating an account and paying for the subscription.

Conversely, details like browsing history, session information, bandwidth, and other specifics about VPN usage aren’t logged. The temporary IP address storage is the only concern here, but I wouldn’t worry about it too much. After all, the IP address information will be deleted once you disconnect from the VPN, meaning Surfshark won’t be able to share that information with third parties in the future. However, if this detail is a red flag for you, consider NordVPN, which doesn’t store your IP address while using the VPN.

Surfshark DNS leak tests

The domain name system (DNS) is responsible for attributing website IP addresses with their domain names. This is done using DNS servers, which are assigned to users by their internet service providers.

A DNS leak occurs when you connect to a VPN, but your device still communicates with the default DNS servers assigned by your ISP. When that happens, your online activities remain exposed, thus negating the benefits of using a VPN.

The research team tested Surfshark for DNS leaks using various DNS leak checkers and found no issues whatsoever. As such, it’s safe to conclude that Surfshark VPN is free from DNS leaks.

Surfshark WebRTC leak tests

WebRTC (web real-time communication) is a set of technologies that enables browsers to facilitate real-time communications more efficiently. It allows browsers to connect with each other directly without intermediary servers to reduce lag while making video calls. However, WebRTC only works when the browsers know each other’s IP addresses, which could lead to privacy issues.

Thankfully, you can use services like browserleaks.com to check for WebRTC leaks. We did precisely that while Surfshark was enabled, and the results showed no leaking issues. That means Surfshark VPN is safe to use for real-time communications without leaks.

Advanced security features

As expected, Surfshark offers many of the standard security features you’d expect from a reliable VPN. These include a kill switch, DNS leak protection, ad blocking, and more. However, Surfshark is evolving into a comprehensive cybersecurity tool with extra features like Alternative ID and Antivirus, which grant security benefits that other VPNs don’t. Let’s quickly overview Surfshark’s main security features.

Feature	How it works
Kill Switch	Shuts off your internet connection in case the VPN connection fails, thus preventing data exposure
DNS leak protection	Ensures your DNS requests are handled by the VPN service to properly mask your activities from your ISP
MultiHop (double VPN)	Allows connecting to two VPN servers for more encryption and greater security
Alternative ID	Generates alternative data for personal details like names and email addresses to improve your online anonymity
Antivirus	Protects your device in real time from common cyberthreats like malware, scams, and dangerous websites
Surfshark Search	A private, ad-free search engine that shows organic results without tracking, storing data, or showing personalized ads
CleanWeb	Eliminates online ads and trackers to improve your online browsing experience
NoBorders Mode	Allows secure VPN usage even on networks with strict limitations on VPN services
Camouflage Mode	Makes your VPN traffic appear as regular HTTPS traffic to minimize suspicion in certain circumstances
Bypasser (split tunneling)	Lets you pick which apps or websites should pass through or avoid the VPN tunnel
WireGuard protocol	Facilitates swift and secure connections no matter which VPN server you use
Private DNS	Boosts anonymity by redirecting your DNS requests through Surfshark’s private servers
Unlimited connections	You can connect an unlimited number of devices using one Surfshark account

Surfshark Antivirus

Surfshark is an exceptional VPN because it offers the option to include antivirus capabilities alongside its standard security suite. Note that Antivirus isn’t available in the most affordable Starter subscription tier – you must choose the One or One+ plan to gain this perk.

However, if you’re looking for something that’s more than just a VPN, Surfshark is definitely a worthwhile option. For example, independent antivirus labs like AV-TEST rank it highly among other antivirus providers. The most recent June 2024 evaluation gave the service near-perfect scores, with only a tiny detraction in the performance category. It’s even part of the Microsoft Virus Initiative, highlighting Surfshark's commitment to adhere to top antivirus standards.

The Surfshark Antivirus package includes typical antivirus features, such as real-time protection and device scanning capabilities, to safeguard your gadgets. You also gain webcam protection and extensive customization options to adjust the antivirus to your needs. You’ll find more details about its tools in our Surfshark Antivirus review.

On the other hand, the service lacks a few features that are sometimes included alongside antivirus features. I’m referring to tools like parental controls and device cleanup, which aren’t really related to cybersecurity. I’m actually glad that Surfshark doesn’t have such tools because they could negatively impact device performance. Instead, the service includes just the essentials without any bloat.

Alternative ID

As the name suggests, Alternative ID creates substitute details you can use instead of your actual personally identifiable information. The feature is available with all subscription plans, meaning every Surfshark customer benefits from it. However, you can pay extra if you want an alternative phone number, although this feature is still in beta.

My favorite feature of Alternative ID is the ability to mask my actual email address. I can use the alternative email when creating new online accounts, meaning the services won’t know my real email address. Meanwhile, messages to the alt email will be redirected to my main inbox, meaning I won’t lose any functionality. This also ensures that my actual email remains unaffected if these websites are struck by data leaks. Another benefit of it perk is seeing which online services are responsible for spam emails.

Then there’s alt persona, which is basically an entirely new identity you can use online. It generates a full name, date of birth, and an address. You can use these details to fill in various online forms to stay completely anonymous and to keep online trackers off your trail.

Overall, I’m a big fan of this feature and commend Surfshark for including it on the cheapest subscription plan. It adds an extra layer of anonymity that other VPNs don’t while also enhancing your protection against data leaks.

Bypasser (split tunneling)

Split tunneling is a common VPN feature that allows you to select apps and websites to bypass the VPN tunnel. With Surfshark, this feature is called Bypasser, and it’s included with all subscription plans since it’s an essential VPN feature.

Most VPN services include this feature on their Windows and Android apps since it’s easiest to implement on those operating systems. Meanwhile, Surfshark offers Bypasser on its Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS apps, which is pretty rare. As far as I know, only PIA also offers split tunneling on all of these platforms.

Split tunneling allows you to pick apps or websites that should avoid the VPN tunnel, thus allowing them to see your actual IP address and location. This is helpful when you want to access your online bank without encountering restrictions or causing unnecessary alarms. Alternatively, you can set it up to protect only a particular app, such as your torrenting client, while the rest of your traffic is unaffected by the VPN to retain speedy connections.

Surfshark VPN price

Surfshark offers versatile and competitive pricing that caters to different user needs while maintaining an excellent cost-to-value ratio. Here's an overview of its three subscription tiers.

	Starter	One	One+
Monthly cost	$15.45/month	$17.95/month	$20.65/month
Annual cost	$3.19/month	$3.39/month	$6.09/month
Two-year cost	$1.99/month	$2.49/month	$3.99/month
Servers and countries	3200+ servers in 100 countries	3200+ servers in 100 countries	3200+ servers in 100 countries
Cookie pop-up blocker	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Strict no-logs policy	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
DNS leak prevention	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Kill switch/always-on VPN	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
VPN with unlimited simultaneous connections	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Real-time email breach alerts	❌ No	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Personal data security reports	❌ No	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Malware and ad-blocker	❌ No	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Data removal from company databases and people search sites	❌ No	❌ No	✅ Yes

Surfshark Starter plan

Surfshark’s Starter plan is an excellent starting point, offering robust VPN features that include multiple tunneling protocols, specialty servers, and an ad blocker. At just $1.99/month for a two-year subscription, it provides core security tools without breaking the bank. However, remember that this plan doesn't include advanced features like antivirus protection or breach monitoring.

Surfshark One plan

For those seeking enhanced privacy and security, the One plan adds antivirus protection, credit card and ID breach alerts, and webcam protection to the Starter package. Priced at $2.49/month for a two-year subscription, it’s a comprehensive privacy solution ideal for users looking to secure their digital life beyond VPN capabilities.

Surfshark One+ plan

The One+ plan offers the ultimate package, including all the features of Surfshark One and a data removal service to erase personal data from third-party databases. At $3.99/month for a two-year subscription, this tier caters to privacy-conscious users prioritizing maximum digital security.

All Surfshark plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee for risk-free testing. Mobile users can also take advantage of a 7-day free trial to explore Surfshark’s features before committing.

Payment options and discounts

Surfshark supports various payment methods, including traditional options like credit and debit cards and privacy-focused alternatives like cryptocurrency and gift cards. Seasonal promotions, such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals, further reduce costs, making it easy to secure an affordable plan.

Automatic renewals and price considerations

Like most VPN providers, Surfshark subscriptions renew automatically at higher rates after the initial period. To avoid surprises, Surfshark provides renewal notifications 30 days in advance.

Is Surfshark VPN fast?

Yes, Surfshark is very fast, thanks to its WireGuard protocol implementation and high-quality server network. You can easily use the VPN for UHD video streaming, online gaming, torrenting, and web browsing without noticeable performance issues.

The research team and I measured Surfshark’s VPN speeds separately on Windows and Mac devices to see whether there’s a notable difference between the two operating systems. However, since our Mac laptop doesn’t have an Ethernet port, we measured its speeds while connected wirelessly using Wi-Fi. Conversely, the Windows laptop was connected with an Ethernet cable for maximum performance. This also explains why the two devices have different baseline speeds.

Below is a table summarizing our February 2025 test findings:

	Mac device	Windows device
Baseline ping	4ms	1ms
Baseline download speed	400Mbps	500Mbps
Baseline upload speed	420Mbps	500Mbps
Average ping	133ms	125ms
Average download speed	267Mbps	419Mbps
Average download speed retention	66%	83%
Average upload speed	173Mbps	260Mbps
Average upload speed retention	41%	52%

As you can see, Surfshark was slower overall on Mac, which isn’t surprising since it was connected wirelessly. So, it’s clear that you should pick a device with an Ethernet port if you want the fastest speeds possible. After all, some speed loss is expected over a wireless connection, and our tests confirm that.

The average download speed retention on the MacBook Air M2 was 63%, which is pretty good but not impressive. Meanwhile, the upload retention was slower, at 41% on average.

In contrast, the Windows 11 laptop had an average speed retention rate of 83%, which is excellent since even the baseline speed was high. Moreover, the average upload retention was 52%, again outpacing the Mac device’s performance.

Before we move on, here’s an explanation of some of the above terms to clarify our findings.

• Upload speed. This is an indication of your upload speeds, measured in Megabits per second (Mbps). It tells how quickly data from your device is sent to the internet. It influences activities like live streaming, video conferencing, and uploading various content to the web. Higher speeds mean quicker uploads, which is essential if you’re a content creator on sites like YouTube, where users post large videos. Our tests showed that Surfshark retains less of your original upload speed compared to download speed, but that’s common among most VPNs. It’s still enough for most online activities.
• Download speed. Download speeds are also measured in Mbps, which indicates the rate at which you download files from the internet. It impacts almost all online activities, such as web browsing, video streaming, gaming, and file downloads. Higher speeds lead to a smoother overall experience, such as faster page load times and no buffering while watching Netflix. That’s why it’s crucial to pick VPN providers with excellent download retention rates, which, as shown in our tests, is the case with Surfshark.
• Ping. This metric is also known as latency, and it is measured in milliseconds (ms). It shows the response time between you and an internet server. Ping is vital in online gaming; you want it to be as low as possible to ensure smooth gameplay without input delay. During in-house tests, our ping was between 1 and 5ms when connecting to local servers, which is a tremendous achievement.

Now, let’s compare Surfshark’s long-term speed retention results against those of other top-tier VPNs on the market. We tested the providers in multiple countries to get a well-rounded idea of their performance. As you can see, Surfshark showed impressive results, thus highlighting its excellent price-to-performance ratio.

VPN provider	The US server	The UK server	Japan server	Canada server	Germany server	Australia server
Surfshark	94%	94%	93%	95%	94%	89%
NordVPN	91%	97%	94%	93%	95%	92%
ExpressVPN	92%	92%	89%	93%	90%	91%
IPVanish	83%	90%	92%	93%	93%	93%

Surfshark’s speedy connections result from the WireGuard tunneling protocol, a modern and open-source alternative to older options like OpenVPN. Many fast VPN services, including IPVanish, Proton VPN, and CyberGhost, use WireGuard as their primary protocol for blazing-fast speeds. Even NordVPN, the fastest VPN on the market, based its proprietary NordLynx protocol on WireGuard.

Additionally, Surfshark supplements the swift protocol with other speed-enhancing measures. The most notable one is its unique Nexus technology. It utilizes SDN (software defined networking) to connect all of the provider’s servers into a single cohesive network. In short, it means customers connect to the whole network instead of separate servers, as with other VPNs. This technology also enables Surfshark’s IP Rotator and Dynamic MultiHop features.

While Surfshark isn’t the fastest VPN available, it’s definitely up there among the top performers. Its excellent speed retention rates guarantee lag-free streaming, online gaming, and web browsing. It had no issues with any of these activities while testing Surfshark, and I’m sure your experience will be similar.

Surfshark's server network

Surfshark offers over 3200 servers across 100 countries, giving its users tremendous worldwide coverage. The country variety is excellent, although still not up to par with NordVPN (118 countries) and ExpressVPN (105 countries). Let’s overview some of the specifics about Surfshark’s server fleet:

• The service includes specialty server options like Static IP, MultiHop, and Dedicated IP for added flexibility.
• Surfshark offers around 600 servers across 22 cities in the US, allowing you to easily access the state-specific content you want.
• You can customize the server connection experience to your liking by picking your favorite server locations and creating custom MultiHop variations.

Connecting to a Surfshark server is pretty straightforward. For starters, there’s a separate button for connecting to the fastest server, meaning you can customize the quick-connect button to another location. You can also mark any country as a favorite so it will appear at the top of the server selection menu. And while there’s no world map for navigation, the compact scroll menu makes it easy to peruse all the available country locations. Plus, there’s a search bar if you’d like to type in the country name.

Overall, I think Surfshark is a top-tier provider regarding servers, even if its network isn’t as vast as NordVPN’s or Proton VPN’s. Customers get plenty of countries and specialty servers, which is enough for most use cases.

Surfshark VPN vs competitors

Choosing the right VPN can be overwhelming, especially when faced with so many options promising top-notch privacy, security, and performance. Surfshark has quickly gained recognition as one of the most versatile VPNs on the market, offering features like unlimited device connections, advanced security tools, and affordable pricing. But how does it measure against industry leaders like NordVPN, ExpressVPN, or CyberGhost?

VPN provider	Cybernews rating	Price	Average speed retention	Malware protection	Ad blocking	Server and location count	Streaming service unblocking (Most, Some, None)	Customer support options (Multiple, Some, Few)
Surfshark	4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★	From $1.99/month	93.3%	✅ Yes (CleanWeb)	✅ Yes (blocks YouTube ads)	3200+ servers in 100 countries	Most	Multiple
NordVPN	4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★	From $3.09/month	93.6%	✅ Yes (Threat Protection)	✅ Yes (blocks YouTube ads)	7400+ servers in 118 countries	Most	Multiple
ExpressVPN	4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆	From $4.99/month	91%	✅ Yes (Threat Manager)	✅ Yes (blocks YouTube ads)	Unspecified number of servers in 105 countries	Most	Multiple
IPVanish	4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★	From $2.19/month	91.8%	✅ Yes (Threat Protection)	✅ Yes (blocks YouTube ads)	2400+ servers in 109 countries	Some	Multiple
CyberGhost	4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆	From $2.03/month	91.2%	✅ Yes (Block Content)	✅ Yes (blocks YouTube ads)	11500+ servers in 100 countries	Most	Multiple

As the table shows, Surfshark offers an excellent balance of affordability and performance, with top-tier speed retention and strong ad-blocking capabilities. While NordVPN has a slightly larger server network and faster speeds, Surfshark holds its own with great streaming support and unlimited device connections. ExpressVPN is reliable but significantly more expensive, and CyberGhost boasts a huge server count but falls short on speed retention compared to the others.

Testing Surfshark use cases

The Cybernews research team and I thoroughly tested the provider to ensure its tools deliver the results users expect. The following sections will detail the findings of our evaluations.

Video review

Check out our freshly updated Surfshark VPN video review for more visual insights and a better understanding of this VPN's capabilities.

Surfshark VPN: final verdict

Surfshark delivers exceptional value, making it one of the best VPNs on the market. For a reasonable price, you get fast connections, a wide server network, and the ability to connect as many devices as you need. It also includes useful features like Alternative ID for extra privacy. If you're looking for more security, you can add Antivirus and Alert features for a bit more protection.

What’s most impressive is how much Surfshark has evolved from being just another VPN to a complete privacy and security tool. Now, you can use it as a comprehensive anonymity and online security service that clearly stands out from the competition. While its no-logs policy and jurisdiction may concern some, these factors are largely insignificant given the precautions it takes.

How we tested Surfshark

Together with the Cybernews research team, I thoroughly tested Surfshark VPN using our standard VPN evaluation methods. Here’s what mattered most to us in the testing process:

• Privacy (30%). Privacy is crucial in any VPN. I closely examined Surfshark’s no-logs policy, jurisdiction, and its use of RAM-only servers to ensure that user data remains fully protected and anonymous.
• Features (25%). A reliable VPN should offer a wide range of features. I tested Surfshark’s features like CleanWeb, Bypasser, and MultiHop to see how well they enhance security and browsing experience.
• Compatibility (20%). Together with our research team, we tested Surfshark on various devices and platforms, ensuring it performs seamlessly on different operating systems, browsers, and even with routers.
• Customer support (15%). Good customer support is essential. I tested Surfshark’s live chat, email responses, and knowledge base to evaluate how quickly and effectively issues were addressed.
• Pricing (10%). I reviewed all of Surfshark’s subscription plans, compared their pricing, and assessed the overall value for money, especially considering the premium features available.

FAQ