Surfshark in short:
P2P enabled: Yes
Simultaneous device connections: Unlimited
Company area: The Netherlands
Variety of servers: 3,200+.
Variety of country places: 100.
Cost: $12.95 monthly, or $59.76 for a two year subscription.
Surfshark has, in the last couple of years, catapulted from fundamental VPN company to one-stop purchase all things individual online-security. The business now uses a top-tier VPN item that continues to improve on itself with each new model. And since its merger with NordVPN under the parent company Cyberspace, Surfshark has actually pressed into establishing cutting-edge individual security functions through its Nexus technology. This all sounds terrific, but are all of these functions really worth it in a VPN service? We took Surfshark for a spin to discover.
Further reading: See our roundup of the best VPNs to learn about contending items.
Surfshark VPN features and services.
When you initially open Surfshark you see that the user interface is tidy and simple. On the left rail you have alternatives for VPN, Alert, Antivirus, and Settings.
Surfshark prides itself on the number of servers it provides, which is well over 3,200 throughout 100 different nation locations. In addition to all of these server alternatives, Surfshark allows endless simultaneous gadget connections.
On the primary screen, above the available servers, you’re able to choose between three alternatives: Locations, StaticIP, and MultiHop. Places is a list of all of the readily available country servers you can connect to. StaticIP allows you to link to shared servers with IP addresses that never alter. MultiHop permits you to more obfuscate your actual place by routing your traffic through more than one external server. While many VPN services now offer multi-hop connections, Surfshark stands apart by enabling the user to not only choose an established path, but likewise develop their own multi-hop path. This is an awesome feature that enables users and those interested in personal privacy more autonomy in securing and enhancing their connections.
Surfshark likewise provides an ad, tracker, and malware blocker called CleanWeb– though it’s not turned on by default. It likewise uses a split-tunneling feature, which it calls Whitelister, that allows you the option to route apps and sites through the VPN or keep one or the other linked independently. This is a great choice for those who wish to keep their web searching secure through a VPN while keeping online video games outside the VPN connection in order to lessen potential latency issues.
Additionally, Surfshark provides a kill-switch function that will immediately disable your internet connection must your VPN connection drop for whatever reason. There is likewise a function called NoBorders, enabled by default, which is its own version of obfuscated servers. NoBorders allows users in nations that normally restrict VPN connections to maintain access to Surfshark.
In general, it’s a well-designed app that’s simple to browse, with a great feature set and lots of beneficial tools. The only problem we might find with the service in general was the truth that when searching connections, there’s no simple method to find ping times or server-load indications. We eventually discovered this details in the choices menu under Speed Test, but this details would be convenient to have noted under each server area.
Surfshark is also working hard to bring new and ingenious ideas to the VPN scene. It’s set to present its exclusive Nexus VPN network throughout 2023. Nexus is a single network comprised of Surfshark VPN servers. There are big potential security and personal privacy boosts from this innovation. It will allow for rotating IP addresses without disconnecting your active VPN connection, additional obfuscating your browsing activity. Nexus will likewise use a Dynamic MultiHop feature to connect you to the fastest readily available entry server and exit at any wanted location, most likely optimizing connection speeds throughout the board. Since this writing, only the IP rotator function is offered, with the complete function set due later this year.
How does Surfshark VPN carry out?
Throughout our testing we rated connection speeds throughout Surfshark’s servers in five different nations around the world and then compared them to our baseline internet speed. Surfshark server speeds were strong, if not especially outstanding.
For those looking to utilize the service to bypass area restrictions on streaming websites, our screening revealed that Surfshark was extremely effective. That outcome puts Surfshark amongst our extremely best VPNs for streaming Netflix right along with NordVPN and ExpressVPN.
Surfshark VPN security and personal privacy.
Surfshark states that it does not collect any of your online activity, including browsing history, session info, bandwidth utilized, connection time stamps, network traffic, or IP addresses. This no-logs policy claim was confirmed by the company Deloitte throughout an independent audit of Surfshark at the end of 2022. These are exactly the actions users should anticipate from a top VPN business and it goes a long way towards backing up Surfshark’s personal privacy claims.
The service likewise keeps personal privacy in mind during setup. When signing up for a Surfshark subscription you just need to provide an e-mail address. Moreover, the business accepts payments via charge card, PayPal, Google Pay, and numerous cryptocurrencies.
One thing of note is that Surfshark has actually moved its headquarters from the British Virgin Islands to the Netherlands recently. This shouldn’t be excessive of an issue as the Netherlands’ information retention laws are typically privacy-friendly. The Netherlands is still subject to Nine Eyes jurisdiction, which implies that the federal government can require Surfshark to share certain info about customers.
In regards to security, Surfshark uses basic AES 256-bit file encryption. It also uses options for several VPN protocols including OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKEv2– depending upon your os.
Is Surfshark VPN worth it?
Surfshark provides unrestricted device connections, excellent speeds, compatibility with significant streaming services, and an impressive number of country connections. The Windows app is well developed and simple adequate to understand. It likewise has some great extras such as ad, tracker, and malware blocking in addition to split-tunneling and multi-hop.
With all of these terrific functions, Surfshark is a strong well-rounded VPN service. Overall, whether it’s getting around region blocks or simply enjoying a more personal and secure browsing experience, Surfshark stays one of our favorites.
Editor’s note: Because online services are frequently iterative, gaining brand-new features and efficiency enhancements in time, this evaluation undergoes alter in order to precisely reflect the current state of the service. Any changes to text or our last review decision will be noted at the top of this post.
