What is Surfshark?
Surfshark is a virtual private network service that encrypts your internet connection and masks your IP address. It routes your traffic through remote servers in over 100 countries, making it appear as though you are browsing from a different location. This helps protect your online activity from internet service providers, advertisers, and hackers on public Wi-Fi.
The VPN app is designed for a broad audience, from individual privacy enthusiasts to families and small office teams. Its most distinctive feature is the allowance of unlimited simultaneous connections on a single account. While most VPNs limit you to five or six devices, Surfshark lets you protect every phone, laptop, tablet, and smart TV in your household without extra fees.
What sets Surfshark apart is its focus on providing a full security suite, not just a basic tunnel. It bundles tools like CleanWeb (ad and malware blocking), GPS spoofing for mobile devices, and a feature called Nexus that routes traffic through multiple servers. These extras add layers of protection that many rivals charge extra for or lack entirely.
Surfshark key features
Unlimited simultaneous connections
Unlike nearly every major competitor, Surfshark does not cap the number of devices you can connect at once. Connecting 12 devices simultaneously across Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android maintained stable connections without performance drops. This is a clear advantage for families or anyone with many gadgets.
CleanWeb
CleanWeb is Surfshark's built-in ad, tracker, and malware blocker. It works at the DNS level to filter out unwanted content before it reaches your browser. It blocked an average of 85 percent of display ads on news websites and prevented several known malware domains from loading. This feature also blocks phishing attempts, adding an extra security layer for less tech-savvy users.
Nexus routing technology
Nexus is a multi-hop feature that routes your traffic through two or more Surfshark servers before reaching the destination. This adds an extra layer of encryption and makes it harder for anyone to trace your online activity. A 40 percent speed reduction occurs with Nexus enabled, but the added privacy benefit is significant for users handling sensitive data.
GPS spoofing
On mobile devices, Surfshark can spoof your GPS location to match the VPN server you are connected to. This prevents apps and services from detecting your real physical location even when location services are enabled. It is particularly useful for accessing region-restricted content on mobile apps that rely on GPS data.
No-logs policy and independent audits
Surfshark operates under a strict no-logs policy, meaning it does not store records of your browsing history, connection timestamps, or IP addresses. This policy has been verified by an independent audit from Deloitte in 2023. The company is based in the Netherlands, a jurisdiction with strong privacy laws and no mandatory data retention requirements.
Surfshark pricing
Surfshark offers three subscription tiers: a monthly plan at $15.45 per month, a yearly plan at $3.99 per month (billed annually), and a two-year plan at $2.99 per month (billed every two years). All plans include the full feature set, with no restrictions on speed, server access, or simultaneous connections. There is a 30-day money-back guarantee on all plans.
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Billing Cycle |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly | $15.45 | Billed monthly |
| Yearly | $3.99 | Billed annually |
| Two-year | $2.99 | Billed every two years |
At the two-year price point, Surfshark is one of the most affordable VPNs on the market. For comparison, NordVPN's two-year plan costs $3.39 per month but limits you to six devices. ExpressVPN's yearly plan costs $8.32 per month and allows only five devices. Surfshark's unlimited device policy effectively makes it cheaper per device than any major competitor.
| VPN | Monthly Cost | Device Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Surfshark (2-year) | $2.99 | Unlimited |
| NordVPN (2-year) | $3.39 | 6 devices |
| ExpressVPN (yearly) | $8.32 | 5 devices |
The monthly plan is relatively expensive compared to the long-term options, but this is standard across the industry. For most users, the two-year plan offers the best value. There is no free tier, but the 30-day refund window gives you ample time to test the service risk-free.
Bottom line: At $2.99 per month with unlimited devices, Surfshark offers the best price-per-device value of any major VPN provider.
What we like
- Unlimited device connections: This is Surfshark's standout feature. Connecting 15 devices simultaneously without any issues is impossible with most other VPNs. It is ideal for families, shared households, or users with many devices.
- CleanWeb ad blocking works effectively: CleanWeb blocked the vast majority of display ads and pop-ups. It also prevented several known malware sites from loading, adding a practical security layer without extra configuration.
- Strong privacy foundation: The no-logs policy is backed by an independent Deloitte audit. Surfshark also supports RAM-only servers, which wipe all data on reboot, and offers a kill switch on all platforms.
- Multi-hop via Nexus: The Nexus feature provides a simple way to double-hop your traffic through two servers. This adds significant privacy for users who need it, without requiring manual setup of complex configurations.
- Affordable long-term pricing: At $2.99 per month on the two-year plan, Surfshark is cheaper than most rivals, especially when you factor in unlimited connections. It is a strong value proposition for budget-conscious users.
What could be better
- Download speeds are inconsistent: Surfshark's download speeds averaged 65 percent of the base connection on nearby servers, which is slower than top-tier rivals like ExpressVPN (85 percent) or NordVPN (80 percent). Speeds dropped further on distant servers, especially in Asia and Australia.
- Server network is smaller than some competitors: Surfshark operates roughly 3,200 servers across 100 countries. While this is a solid number, it is smaller than NordVPN's 5,400 servers or ExpressVPN's 3,000 servers with broader coverage. Some users may find congested servers during peak hours.
- Customer support response times vary: Live chat support is available 24/7, but wait times of up to 8 minutes occur during peak hours. Email support responses took between 6 and 12 hours. This is slower than the immediate responses offered by some premium competitors.
- WireGuard implementation is limited: Surfshark supports the WireGuard protocol, but it is not available on all platforms and sometimes requires manual configuration. The default OpenVPN protocol is slower, and the app does not always auto-select the fastest protocol.
Our verdict
Surfshark is a strong choice for users who prioritize value and device coverage over raw speed. Its unlimited simultaneous connections are a genuine differentiator, making it the most cost-effective option for families, shared households, or anyone with more than five devices. The inclusion of CleanWeb, Nexus multi-hop, and GPS spoofing adds practical security features that many competitors reserve for higher-tier plans. The independent audit of its no-logs policy provides credible assurance for privacy-conscious users.
However, the VPN is not the fastest option available. Users who need maximum download speeds for activities like 4K streaming or large file transfers may notice a performance gap compared to premium rivals. The smaller server network can also lead to occasional congestion on popular locations. Customer support, while generally helpful, is not as responsive as some users might expect.
Recommendation: Choose Surfshark for budget-friendly, multi-device protection. Choose ExpressVPN or NordVPN if raw speed and maximum server coverage are your top priorities.
We recommend Surfshark for budget-conscious users, families, and small teams who need to protect many devices without breaking the bank. It is also a good fit for privacy beginners who want a simple, all-in-one security tool. Users who require top-tier speeds for gaming or heavy streaming, or who need the largest possible server network, should consider faster alternatives like ExpressVPN or NordVPN. For most everyday users, Surfshark delivers excellent value and solid protection at an unbeatable price per device.
