Surfshark is not fairly as budget-friendly because it as soon as was, however even after a 33% renewal worth improve earlier this 12 months, this digital non-public community nonetheless provides good worth contemplating the vary of options it contains and the multitude of enhancements it rolled out over of 2025. Even although Surfshark’s worth hike has made the service much less of a discount in comparison with PIA or Mullvad, it’s nonetheless cheaper than VPNs like ExpressVPN and NordVPN that supply comparable options and efficiency at considerably increased renewal costs.I ran Surfshark by means of a gauntlet of exams throughout varied platforms over a number of weeks in February 2025, together with some extra exams in August. My preliminary testing concerned greater than 200 particular person pace exams, DNS leak exams, a rigorous analysis of its streaming capabilities and an evaluation of its total worth. My follow-up exams in August included extra DNS leak and streaming exams along with an in depth look by means of the newest audit and newly launched options like split-tunneling on MacOS and FastTrack. As all the time, I additionally reviewed its company construction and pored by means of its privateness insurance policies, with particular consideration to knowledge assortment and no-logging claims. Throughout the method, I communicated with Surfshark representatives by way of e-mail and videoconference.Surfshark remains to be a superb VPN that will get the job finished for informal VPN customers. It’s quick, has plenty of servers, it is nice for streaming, is simple to make use of throughout platforms and it has some cool and distinctive options. Surfshark is a good selection for somebody who needs limitless simultaneous connections and a slick person interface that’s full of helpful options. I’m additionally inspired by the corporate’s bettering dedication to transparency. Here’s what you must find out about Surfshark and whether or not it’s the precise selection for you. Surfshark is a wonderful budget-friendly VPN James Martin/CNETSpeed: Consistently quick connectionsKey takeaway: Surfshark has established itself over time as a constantly speedy VPN that may simply deal with nearly any on-line exercise, together with data-heavy actions like streaming, gaming and torrenting. And I’m impressed with the brand new FastTrack characteristic’s efficiency and consider it may be a sport changer for sure customers.21% pace loss in 2025 testsNumber of servers: 3,200-plusNumber of nations: 100Each VPN will sluggish your speeds considerably, which is why we check to see how briskly every VPN is relative to different suppliers. While different VPNs’ total pace check outcomes have fluctuated (at instances dramatically) from 12 months to 12 months in our testing, Surfshark has maintained a good keel. Over the previous 4 years of pace testing Surfshark, we’ve calculated a 19% pace loss as soon as and a 17% pace loss 3 times. When I examined Surfshark’s speeds in 2025, I registered a touch increased pace lack of 21%. That distinction is negligible. In sensible phrases, it’s terribly unlikely that you simply’d discover any distinction in efficiency.Either manner, the purpose is that Surfshark is a quick VPN. As a comparability, Surfshark’s pace efficiency sits behind the 3% pace loss we calculated with NordVPN and the 18% with ExpressVPN.I examined Surfshark’s speeds from my location in Ohio to Surfshark’s VPN servers in New York, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Singapore and Australia. I discovered Surfshark’s pace efficiency to be usually in step with my expectations throughout all protocols, platforms and server areas that I examined. The solely anomaly I seen over the course of my pace exams was with OpenVPN on MacOS, the place speeds to New York had been slower than every other server location I examined. Generally, the nearer the VPN server is to your bodily location, the quicker your connection speeds by means of the VPN must be. Yet the closest server location I examined yielded the slowest speeds on MacOS when utilizing the OpenVPN protocol.On MacOS by means of OpenVPN, I registered a median pace of 269 Mbps on Surfshark’s New York servers. That’s slower than the 310 Mbps I registered on Surfshark’s France and Germany servers and the 291 Mbps I averaged by means of the UK. More surprisingly, speeds to New York had been slower than the 276 Mbps and 282 Mbps that I averaged by means of servers in Australia and Singapore, respectively — areas which can be midway throughout the globe from the place I sit. New York is a well-liked VPN server location with a doubtlessly increased load than different areas, which might result in slower speeds. However, Surfshark says it has 78 servers in New York, which ought to have the ability to deal with the site visitors. I didn’t expertise this anomaly whereas testing Surfshark’s speeds by means of OpenVPN on Windows.That mentioned, pace efficiency was quickest on MacOS by means of WireGuard with a median pace throughout all areas coming in at 307 Mbps — a 17% pace loss from my roughly 370 Mbps web connection. Otherwise, I registered a 20% pace loss on MacOS by means of OpenVPN, 23% on Windows by means of WireGuard and 25% on Windows by means of OpenVPN, displaying that Surfshark’s VPN offers constant speeds throughout platforms and protocols.New FastTrack characteristic may give your connection speeds a lift on sure server locationsAt the start of August, Surfshark launched a brand-new characteristic referred to as FastTrack, which the corporate says can enhance your speeds as much as 70%. FastTrack is just like speed-boosting options from different VPNs like ExpressVPN’s Lightway Turbo and Proton VPN’s VPN Accelerator, however Surfshark’s answer leverages its Nexus community to optimize the route your site visitors takes to the server location you connect with. (Surfshark’s Nexus community can also be what powers the VPN’s IP Rotator and Dynamic MultiHop options). Currently, FastTrack is barely accessible on Surfshark’s newest MacOS app and solely by means of the Sydney, Seattle and Vancouver server areas. The characteristic will roll out to different areas and working techniques afterward, however throughout a latest name, Surfshark’s representatives did not decide to a timeline. When I downloaded Surfshark’s newest MacOS app, not one of the FastTrack-enabled server areas had the FastTrack icon displayed subsequent to them as documented within the weblog put up the corporate revealed on Aug. 7. I used to be confused at first, however it seems the FastTrack icon solely seems when routing your connection by means of a number of servers is probably the most optimized path to take. If connecting on to the server is the optimum solution to go, then the FastTrack icon would not present up. So do not panic when you do not instantly see the FastTrack icons even you probably have Surfshark’s newest MacOS app put in. Upon firing up the Surfshark app the following day, the FastTrack icons appeared for me.Based on a fast set of casual exams to get a really feel for FastTrack’s efficiency, the characteristic appeared to work properly for me. Although my speeds did not improve by 70% when connecting by means of FastTrack servers versus non-FastTrack connections, the pace distinction I measured between the 2 was noteworthy. My speeds by means of FastTrack connections in Sydney had been about 60Mbps (or 20%) quicker on common than connecting by means of Sydney with out FastTrack enabled. You can see the triangular FastTrack icon displayed subsequent to the server location within the app. Screenshot by CNET Speeds had been significantly slower to Sydney with out FastTrack enabled. Screenshot by CNETSimilarly, however to a lesser diploma, my FastTrack speeds to Vancouver had been about 16Mbps quicker on common than with out FastTrack. Your particular outcomes could fluctuate relying in your community and placement. Users with slower or much less steady web connections could expertise a extra pronounced bump in speeds when utilizing FastTrack, which may very well be particularly helpful in case your web connection is not tops. Surfshark’s representatives informed me that the 70% determine was based mostly on weeks of inside testing in several areas previous to the launch of the characteristic. Cost: Surfshark’s renewal worth bump bites, however it comes with enhancements to the serviceKey takeaway: Surfshark remains to be a superb VPN that’s simple to make use of and works properly for streaming. The bounce in its renewal costs means it’s now not the wildly budget-friendly possibility it as soon as was, however efficiency enhancements make up for that increased value. If you’re on a strict price range, you may get Mullvad or PIA cheaper.$15.45 a month, $48 for the primary 15 months (then $79 a 12 months) or $60 for the primary 27 months (then $79 a 12 months)Money-back assure: 30 daysPayment choices: Credit card, PayPal, Google Pay, CryptoApps: Available for MacOS, Windows, Linux (GUI), iOS, Android, Apple TV, Fire TV, Android TV, routersWorks with: Netflix, Disney Plus, Hulu, Max, Amazon Prime Video and othersSurfshark’s 33% bump over the earlier $60 annual renewal charge makes the VPN a much less enticing possibility than it as soon as was, making it now not uncontested as CNET budget-friendly possibility. Still, that $79 annual renewal worth remains to be considerably cheaper than rivals ExpressVPN’s ($100 or $117 a 12 months) and NordVPN’s ($140 a 12 months) renewal costs.If you solely want a VPN for a single month, I like to recommend going with Mullvad, which prices solely 5 euro (about $6) a month and doesn’t renew routinely as different VPN providers do. In quick, don’t select Surfshark’s month-to-month plan until you go into the transaction with the intention of asking for a refund throughout the first 30 days.As of publication, Surfshark’s base VPN plan prices $15.45 a month, $48 for the primary 15 months (then $79 yearly) or $54 for the primary 27 months (then $79 yearly). Surfshark’s Starter tier is its most simple subscription plan and contains the VPN and Alternative ID options. Other, costlier subscription tiers are additionally accessible that embrace Starter options together with extra bundled privateness and safety instruments like antivirus, knowledge leak alerts, non-public search and knowledge elimination providers. However, my analysis of Surfshark focuses totally on Surfshark’s Starter tier.Subscriptions and renewals are refreshingly clearBuying a Surfshark subscription is a straightforward affair, which you are able to do with a credit score or debit card, PayPal, Google Pay or varied cryptocurrencies. I like how Surfshark has made data relating to its subscription renewals a lot clearer than it had in years previous on its checkout web page. Surfshark contains this clear disclaimer about its renewal phrases on the checkout web page — which is, sadly, not typical for the {industry}. Schreenshot by CNETFar too many VPN corporations nonetheless battle with subscription renewal transparency, as in the event that they’re afraid to concede that costs will improve upon renewal or as if it’s on the shopper to make that assumption. But Surfshark’s strategy serves as validation that being clear about your renewal phrases would not should be scary. Bundle choices accessible from Surfshark If you are curious about exploring extra bundled choices with Surfshark, this is a a breakdown of what the corporate provides: Plan StarterOneOne-plusPrice $15.45 monthly, $48 for the primary 15 months (then $79 per 12 months) or $54 for the primary 27 months (then $79 per 12 months)$18 monthly, $51 for the primary 15 months (then $99 per 12 months) or $67 for the primary 27 months (then $99 per 12 months)$20.65 monthly, $91 for the primary 15 months (then $119 per 12 months) or $108 for the primary 27 months (then $119 per 12 months)VPN YesYesYesAlternative ID YesYesYesAntivirus NoYesYesData leak alerts NoYesYesPrivate search NoYesYesIncogni knowledge elimination NoNoSure VPN suppliers are leaning closely into bundled providers. A strong suite of bundled privateness and safety instruments can be found from Surfshark, together with antivirus, which is not supplied by most of Surfshark’s competitors. However, Surfshark would not provide a password supervisor presently, which different high VPNs like ExpressVPN, NordVPN and Proton do. Adding a password supervisor might assist enhance Surfshark’s attraction as a bundled privateness and safety service supplier. Surfshark’s app is slick, intuitive and snappier than everSurfshark’s app interface is slick, properly laid out and straightforward to make use of throughout all platforms. I just like the refined tweaks Surfshark made this 12 months that make the app much more user-friendly. Specifically, it shows the settings you have enabled, together with the protocol you’re utilizing, the kill swap, Bypasser, CleanWeb and Rotating IP. Also displayed are your connection time, present VPN IP deal with and the server you’re linked to. It’s lots of data, however it’s all useful data to have at your fingertips and Surfshark pulls it off with out being obtrusive or making the app interface appear cluttered. I additionally like how one can simply faucet or click on proper on the app interface to go immediately to every of the displayed characteristic’s settings with out having to navigate by means of the settings menu. It’s a small element, however it makes the app much more intuitive and reveals that Surfshark cares concerning the finer particulars of the person expertise. Surfshark’s desktop app contains useful settings information at a look. Screenshot by CNETOther key options you’ll get with Surfshark’s VPN embrace a kill swap, Dynamic MultiHop, Bypasser (split-tunneling), rotating IP and an advert and tracker blocker. All options labored easily throughout platforms together with Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Apple TV and Fire TV. Surfshark is among the solely different VPNs apart from PIA to supply cut up tunneling on iOS and MacOS, which is spectacular contemplating that adjustments Apple made in 2020 brought on points with VPNs’ cut up tunneling performance on Apple units. Most different VPNs that embrace cut up tunneling haven’t supplied the characteristic on Apple units since, often reserving it for Android and Windows customers. Surfshark’s Bypasser characteristic means that you can route particular web sites outdoors the tunnel on iOS, whereas on MacOS it means that you can bypass web sites along with apps. I used to be pleased to see marked enhancements in total app efficiency throughout platforms as properly. In the previous, Surfshark usually took an inordinate period of time and a number of makes an attempt to determine a profitable connection. However, in my newest spherical of testing, I encountered no such points. Surfshark’s app linked in a flash each single time I went to hook up with a server no matter what platform I used to be utilizing or what location I used to be connecting to. Great for streaming, minus a few minor issuesStreaming with Surfshark was additionally principally a clean expertise throughout my newest exams. That’s no shock as a result of the VPN is well-equipped for streaming geographically restricted content material with its quick speeds and huge server community. I used to be in a position to stream content material from varied fashionable streaming providers like Netflix, Disney Plus, Hulu, Max and Amazon Prime Video by means of numerous completely different Surfshark server areas from throughout the globe — although not and not using a few bumps within the street. During my testing, Netflix loaded up instantly with out situation. However, Hulu detected the VPN once I tried to stream content material on my Amazon Fire TV Stick. Otherwise, streaming with Surfshark on Fire TV Stick, Apple TV and different platforms was glorious and according to what I’d count on from a top-tier VPN. Surfshark is nice for unblocking regional Netflix libraries. Screenshot by CNETPrivacy and safety: Unique privateness options and an elevated dedication to transparency Key takeaway: Surfshark offers sufficient privateness for informal VPN customers, however the Netherlands jurisdiction could scare off some privacy-critical customers. That mentioned, the addition of post-quantum encryption, EverLink and a renewed dedication to transparency ought to work for the overwhelming majority of customers’ privateness wants. Jurisdiction: NetherlandsEncryption: AES-256-GCM, ChaCha20RAM-only server infrastructureNo leaks detectedProtocols accessible: OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKEv2Surfshark’s privateness and safety is sufficient for informal customers in search of normal on-line privateness. But there are a number of explanation why chances are you’ll need to look elsewhere in case your privateness wants are crucial (for instance when you’re in a rustic with strict web censorship and surveillance or when you’re a journalist, lawyer, doctor, activist or whistleblower). One purpose privacy-critical customers could need to keep away from Surfshark is because of its Netherlands jurisdiction. Although the Netherlands doesn’t impose any obligatory knowledge retention legal guidelines, the nation is a part of the 14-Eyes data-sharing alliance, which implies that if knowledge had been retained, it may very well be shared with different international locations. Additionally, Surfshark remains to be enjoying catchup with regards to transparency. I’m inspired by the outcomes of the impartial audit report from Deloitte that Surfshark revealed in June, which discovered that “the configuration of IT systems and management of the supporting IT operations is properly prepared, in all material respect in accordance with Surfshark’s [no-logs policy].” But the newest audit report is the corporate’s first audit of any kind since 2022. And whereas the optimistic consequence of the audit is encouraging, the total report is just not accessible to evaluate by most of the people, moderately solely to Surfshark customers by means of their account dashboards. For most transparency, I’d wish to see Surfshark make the total audit experiences publicly accessible, like ExpressVPN does.Jastremskas informed me that Surfshark is dedicated to commissioning annual third-party audits going ahead, which is reassuring. Not getting audited regularly doesn’t essentially imply {that a} VPN isn’t doing what it says it’s doing, however common audits act as an important belief sign that privacy-critical customers shouldn’t ignore.Surfshark says in its Privacy Policy that the corporate doesn’t “collect any information about what you do online (your visited IP addresses, browsing history, session information, used bandwidth, connection time stamps, network traffic or any other similar information).” But a VPN’s no logs claims are unattainable to confirm with 100% certainty, so your solely possibility is to take the VPN supplier’s phrase for it. No-logs audits may help, however can solely go to date.That mentioned, I like that Surfshark will likely be commissioning audits on a yearly foundation and that the corporate has begun publishing a quarterly transparency report — which particulars the variety of authorized requests it receives every quarter and if the corporate was obligated to reveal any person knowledge in relation to the acquired requests. The newest report states that not one of the almost 350,000 requests acquired between April and June 2025 resulted in Surfshark disclosing person knowledge. Surfshark’s dietary supplements primary privateness options with inventive and forward-looking instrumentsSurfshark handles normal privateness protections properly, together with DNS leak safety, server infrastructure and killswitch performance.I ran thorough DNS leak exams on a number of servers utilizing every accessible protocol throughout varied units, and I didn’t detect any leaks in anyway. Surfshark makes use of industry-standard AES 256-bit encryption for OpenVPN and IKEv2 connections and ChaCha 20 for WireGuard connections. Surfshark’s Camouflage Mode (obfuscation) is out there when utilizing the OpenVPN protocol and disguises your VPN site visitors as common HTTPS site visitors, which might be essential when you’re utilizing Surfshark in a area the place VPNs are restricted or outlawed completely. I additionally like the truth that Surfshark employs a 100% RAM-only server infrastructure, which means that its server fleet runs on unstable reminiscence and theoretically no knowledge is saved to a tough disk, which may help give customers additional peace of thoughts that their knowledge is protected and can’t be disclosed to a 3rd get together. I additionally like the choice on Windows to set the kill swap to smooth or strict mode. The smooth kill swap works like a standard kill swap and cuts your web connection if the VPN inadvertently disconnects, defending your privateness and stopping IP leaks. The strict kill swap cuts your web any time you disconnect from the VPN, even deliberately — which provides better safety towards any potential delicate site visitors going unencrypted. You even have the choice to allow a strict kill swap in your Android gadget utilizing the native Android kill swap, which gained’t allow you to use the web in any respect until you’re linked to the VPN.But the very best VPNs transcend these fundamentals, with modern options that give customers choices for extra privateness, utility or each.I’m repeatedly impressed with the Dynamic MultiHop characteristic, which works a step additional than the normal double VPN: While most VPNs that supply double hop connections often solely provide a handful of preset connections, Surfshark means that you can select any pair of servers you need from its fleet of server areas in 100 completely different international locations. Keep in thoughts, although, that whereas a double VPN connection boosts your privateness, your pace will take much more of a success attributable to your site visitors being encrypted twice. With Surfshark’s MultiHop characteristic, you’ll be able to create customized double-VPN connections out of any two server areas. Screenshot by CNETOne of probably the most distinctive and useful privateness options that Surfshark provides with its primary VPN plan is its Alternative ID software. With Alternative ID, you’ll be able to create a full alter-ego full with full identify, birthdate, bodily deal with and e-mail deal with that you need to use on-line to fill out kinds or join e-mail lists with out having to offer your precise private data. I had lots of enjoyable enjoying round with the software and developing with completely different personas. You can both provide you with every thing by yourself manually or have Alternative ID routinely generate the data for you. Your various e-mail deal with will routinely ahead emails to your designated precise e-mail deal with. You can create as much as three various e-mail addresses and provides them completely different labels based mostly on what you utilize them for. An various cellphone quantity can also be accessible for an extra $3 a month. All in all, it’s a very cool suite of options that may aid you defend your private knowledge when you must present data to entry an internet site or on-line service.The Rotating IP characteristic is one other great tool. When enabled and linked to a server, the IP Rotator routinely adjustments your VPN IP deal with periodically each couple of minutes with out disconnecting you from the server. This provides you an additional layer of privateness as a result of it makes it that rather more tough for others to trace you on-line.New, modern EverLink characteristic can self-heal a damaged VPN connectionWhile not precisely the identical as a kill swap, Surfshark’s brand-new EverLink characteristic may help guarantee your VPN connection stays steady and stop your site visitors from being uncovered unencrypted and your IP deal with from being leaked. While a kill swap routinely cuts your web connection within the occasion that your VPN unexpectedly disconnects, Surfshark’s EverLink characteristic can routinely and seamlessly reconfigure the VPN tunnel with out breaking the connection. Surfshark refers to EverLink as a “self-healing server infrastructure” and it’s an modern one-of-a-kind characteristic not supplied by different VPNs. EverLink is enabled routinely when utilizing the WireGuard protocol. However, even with EverLink, I nonetheless advocate enabling your kill swap always when utilizing Surfshark or every other VPN for added peace of thoughts.Surfshark’s post-quantum protections assist future-proof the serviceI’m additionally pleased that Surfshark rolled out its post-quantum safety for WireGuard this 12 months. In addition to Surfshark, solely a handful of different VPN suppliers — together with ExpressVPN, Mullvad and NordVPN — provide post-quantum encryption. It’s an necessary step as a result of post-quantum protections may help guard towards potential future threats from quantum computer systems. Surfshark’s post-quantum layer is “an additional layer of security for our VPN protocols. For now, we are mainly working on WireGuard, but also exploring the possibilities to implement post-quantum layer for other protocols like OpenVPN,” Justas Pukys, Surfshark’s Senior Product Manager for VPN informed me throughout an interview. Surfshark’s a bit costlier than it was, however it’s beginning to make a compelling case for its increased renewal costsWhile I used to be crucial of Surfshark’s elevated renewal pricing earlier this 12 months, given the shortage of noteworthy enhancements or many different main adjustments, the corporate was clearly arduous at work within the background on vital developments that got here to fruition over the course of the 12 months. The addition of post-quantum encryption, a contemporary no-logs audit, EverLink and FastTrack undoubtedly rely for lots and assist alleviate the renewal worth sticker shock, and bump up Surfshark’s total worth in comparison with what it was earlier within the 12 months. Additionally, the workforce hinted at a number of extra “non-traditional” parental control- and anti-phishing-related VPN options coming down the pike, which might add worth sooner or later. Nevertheless, Surfshark remains to be cheaper than ExpressVPN and NordVPN even with the worth hike, and I nonetheless advocate it to informal customers as a fairly priced various.Ultimately, Surfshark remains to be a top-notch VPN that goes above and past what many equally priced or costlier alternate options can do.
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