Surfshark might vocalise dangerous , butit ’s actually a VPNthat protect your concealment , quarantines malware , and hide your location and on-line activity from intrusive trackers .
As one ofthe leading streaming VPNs , Surfshark is known to maintain immobile speeds , but I wanted to bump out just how fast it was and if there were any gaps in public presentation .
In my reassessment , I also quiz the antivirus tribute included with a Surfshark One subscription , checked up on cost , and quiz customer support .
Tiers and pricing (free, trial, subs)
Surfshark is one of only a fewVPNs that stomach an inexhaustible routine of devices , adding supererogatory value if you share the account with fellowship members and close booster .
you could adjudicate Surfshark detached for seven day before paying and the 30 - day money - back guarantee give you even more time to decide whether it ’s worth the subscription cost .
If you ’re looking for a completely free resolution , check outour scout to the best free VPNsthat protect your privacy with a few restrictions .
The two - year plan at $ 59 is a swell steal , plus you get three months for free . After 27 month , the rehabilitation regress to an annual plan at $ 60 . Still , that beats the price of some top contender . For representative , NordVPN is an excellent VPN , but the subscription cost more than doubles when you regenerate .
Surfshark also volunteer cybersecurity bundles . Surfshark One includes malware protection for less than a dollar more each month . Surfshark One+ cost $ 2 to $ 3 more monthly and protect your secrecy with on-going asking to slay your personal selective information from data brokers .
Ifyou’re looking for a better VPN tidy sum , there are usually sales and promotion that can help you keep open more . Just make certain you keep an oculus on renewal date so you are n’t caught off guard when prices go up .
Design
I tested Surfshark One , which I thought sound like the fresh daub . Installation was quick , with helpful bakshish to deploy the apps and web web browser annex .
The Windows app is well - designed , with a panel on the good showing at - a - glance verification of whether or not the VPN is enabled , which have are on , and which server I ’m connected to .
On the left field , I get a lean of worldwide server with quick links to recommended , recently used , and favorites at the top of the list . I can also seek for a location and filter the tilt to see only static IP address or multi - hop servers .
It ’s well-fixed to use the basics without understanding advanced feature , yet very well - tuning is a click aside whenever you require .
A toolbar on the far left lets me change mount for the VPN connection , access my account , get assistance , and research feature of speech like antivirus protection and identity alerts .
The web web browser reference is commodious since that ’s where I ’m most probable to want to shift VPN background . However , the app has more preferences .
Features (reliability, speed, location hidden, cross-plat, special)
Beyond protecting privacy , I want a VPN that is fast and honest . To essay Surfshark , I join to several servers located around the earth . The results were telling .
With Surfshark ’s Windows app and web browser extension , I enjoyed nimble connecter that never dropped and good speeds worldwide . My ISP delivers 900 Mbps download hurry over Ethernet . Most pelt VPNs rationalise that in half even when I select a nearby host .
With the nearest Surfshark VPN server , I measured 728 Mbps on theSpeedTestwebsite , one of the fastest I ’ve ever register for a VPN . Upload amphetamine was 38 Mbps and Ping River was around 44 ms both ways . I ’m in Nova Scotia , Canada , on the East Coast and the unaired Surfshark server was in Montreal , over 700 geographical mile away .
Great speed within the country is dainty , but I often expend a VPN to browse worldwide like I was a local , so the real challenge is maintain good bandwidth across the border .
Surfshark continued to deliver blistering hurrying with 667 Mbps down , 17 Mbps up , and a 75 ms ping with a U.S. server . Upload speeds and ping always drops overseas , and that was true for Surfshark , but downloads were very fast with 579 Mbps for the U.K. , 651 Mbps for France , and 630 Mbps for Germany .
The first pregnant cliff showed up with an Australian server that get by 306 Mbps downloads . The 5 Mbps uploads and 100 + ms ping of European servers fell to 2Mbps uploads and 244 ms ping Down Under .
Overall , Surfshark outpacedspeedy VPNs like ExpressVPNand thefast and brassy TorGuard . While Surfshark was systematically fast , the other two do well with nearby servers , but fall behind when connecting to more aloof placement .
Surfshark One includes a virus scanner and real - time auspices for up to five devices . Surfshark ’s antivirus earned a double-dyed score in a June 2024 valuation by sovereign cybersecurity lab AV - trial run .
In my spot - check of Surfshark One ’s CleanWeb lineament , it did n’t block any ofWicar’smalware trial . That ’s because Surfshark ’s blocking is repute - based . That mean it wo n’t block and alert you to grievous website or downloads unless they are in its database .
After downloading the EICAR malware test filing cabinet , I hunt Surfshark One ’s antivirus scanner and it quickly describe and quarantine the scourge . Although Wicar.org is safe , more advance antivirus software detects internet browser exploitsand malicious file , preventing the potential threat before it ’s downloaded to your reckoner .
Support
Some VPN providers have good , but slow support since answers descend via email . Surfshark has 24/7 live schmoose support so you’re able to get service all sidereal day , every mean solar day .
I tested it by asking about CleanWeb , Surfshark One ’s obturate feature . An AI chatbot was helpful , offer several push to narrow down my questions and pointing me to relevant documentation text file .
When I stamp the bot , I asked for a homo and was immediately transfer . I learned that the Surfshark internet browser telephone extension is for convenience , but you get the same VPN and antivirus auspices from the app .
Privacy and security
Surfshark make its concealment insurance leisurely to understand by getting to the most important details first : minimal data is hoard , only what ’s needed to allow the service you ’re paying for . Surfshark require your user ID or IP address and prison term stamp while browsing , but deletes that datum within 15 minute of your session end .
I could n’t find any track record of Surfshark security rupture , and the privacy insurance checks out . While Surfshark is locate in a Nine middle country , it ’s audit no - log policy signal the company wo n’t have any data to share even if there are official requests .
Surfshark does n’t sell or share your electronic mail to third - political party advertizer .
Is Surfshark right for you?
Surfshark has a well - designed app , gravid customer service , andone of the flying streaming VPNs with mess of serversaround the globe . The unlimited twist living makes it heavy to go wrong with this armed service , peculiarly if you support for one to two years .
For less than a dollar mark extra each month , Surfshark One includes a good malware scanner and dark web monitoring . That ’s a tempting whirl , but it offers limited internet browser protection . You ’ll want to keep your consecrate antivirus software system active to block virus . Surfshark Starter is the best pick for most people .
I was impressed with Surfshark ’s speed , dependableness , and depth of features . The quick funding makes it well-off to get aid or learn more about how to practice Surfshark ’s apps and extensions .
I urge Surfshark asone of the undecomposed VPNswith excellent focal ratio , beneficial secrecy protection , well-heeled surgery , and great value .
