Surfshark - The best all round?
Surfshark is a highly respected VPN in the industry. this is due to their focus on providing a high quality service for a reasonable price. They ensure your online activities are private with top notch security and privacy standards.
But what EXACTLY does Surfshark have to offer?
Question |
Answer |
No-Logs |
Yes |
Kill Switch |
Yes |
Supports all major platforms |
Yes |
Encryption |
AES-256-GCM (Military Grade) |
Support |
24/7 Live Chat /Email |
Max Devices |
Unlimited |
Streaming |
Yes |
Servers |
3200+ in 95 countries |
Price |
£1.99/mo |
Jurisdiction |
Netherlands |
Surfshark Overview: The pros and the cons.
The Good
👍Fully RAM server network 👍Strict No-Logs Policy 👍Unblocks worldwide content (streaming) 👍Fully P2P network (Torrenting) 👍Best-in-class Encryption 👍Independently Audited 👍3200+ servers in 92 Countries |
The Bad
👎 Slightly slower OpenVPN connection times |
I have tested Surfshark in all aspects of their product including speed, streaming, gaming and security across a wide range of devices so you can know that this review will tell you all you need to know about this impressive security suite.
Security and Encryption.
Surfshark uses the AES-256-GCM encryption protocol to secure your data. This protocol is widely regarded as the most secure and robust protocol, there is currently no known way to compromise this encryption. Encryption is used whilst your data is in transit, which means that public wifi snoopers and your ISP are blind to what you are doing online.
Surfshark even allows you to use two-factor authentication on your account - a feature never seen before which means that you can be sure that your account is secure from hackers as it will need your confirmation to allow access to your account.
Streaming Support.
I have tried Surfshark on multiple streaming platforms and I can confirm that Surfshark has worked without any issues on the following services on Surfshark servers around the world:
Netflix
Amazon Prime Video
Disney+
Hulu
HBO Max
All 4
ITV Hub
BBC iPlayer
DAZN
ESPN
Crunchyroll
It is good to see this from a VPN provider and I am impressed at how good the stream quality was whilst using Surfshark. I didn't encounter any buffering or lag at all. This is one of the best streaming experiences I have had whilst using a VPN and Surfshark outperforms most other providers.
Servers and their protocols.
Surfshark has 3200+ servers in 95 countries. This is the largest number of countries that we have seen from a VPN before so this is already a green tick for Surfshark in this aspect.
As for protocols - Surfshark did not disappoint - they support all major protocols:
OpenVPN TCP - Offers a stable, uninterrupted connection for internet restricted environments.
OpenVPN UDP - Offers a speedy, secure connection
WireGuard - The fastest protocol - allowed us to gain high speeds and low latency
IKEv2 - A good protocol for mobile devices
As for their protocol speeds, we found that WireGuard was the fastest protocol - which is not surprising as it is the most modern and robust protocol consisting of just over 3000 lines of code.
Surfshark does use Virtual Servers, these are clearly marked within the app which is good for transparency. A virtual server means the server has an IP address of a country even though it is not physically located there.
All Surfshark servers are P2P friendly which means that with Surfshark's fast speeds, low latency and global network they are all optimised for P2P file sharing (Torrenting).
Security and Encryption.
Surfshark uses the AES-256-GCM encryption protocol to secure your data. This protocol is widely regarded as the most secure and robust protocol, there is currently no known way to compromise this encryption. Encryption is used whilst your data is in transit, which means that public wifi snoopers and your ISP are blind to what you are doing online.
Surfshark even allows you to use two-factor authentication on your account - a feature never seen before which means that you can be sure that your account is secure from hackers as it will need your confirmation to allow access to your account.
Streaming Support.
I have tried Surfshark on multiple streaming platforms and I can confirm that Surfshark has worked without any issues on the following services on Surfshark servers around the world:
Netflix
Amazon Prime Video
Disney+
Hulu
HBO Max
All 4
ITV Hub
BBC iPlayer
DAZN
ESPN
Crunchyroll
It is good to see this from a VPN provider and I am impressed at how good the stream quality was whilst using Surfshark. I didn't encounter any buffering or lag at all. This is one of the best streaming experiences I have had whilst using a VPN and Surfshark outperforms most other providers.
Servers and their protocols.
Surfshark has 3200+ servers in 95 countries. This is the largest number of countries that we have seen from a VPN before so this is already a green tick for Surfshark in this aspect.
As for protocols - Surfshark did not disappoint - they support all major protocols:
OpenVPN TCP - Offers a stable, uninterrupted connection for internet restricted environments.
OpenVPN UDP - Offers a speedy, secure connection
WireGuard - The fastest protocol - allowed us to gain high speeds and low latency
IKEv2 - A good protocol for mobile devices
As for their protocol speeds, we found that WireGuard was the fastest protocol - which is not surprising as it is the most modern and robust protocol consisting of just over 3000 lines of code.
Surfshark does use Virtual Servers, these are clearly marked within the app which is good for transparency. A virtual server means the server has an IP address of a country even though it is not physically located there.
All Surfshark servers are P2P friendly which means that with Surfshark's fast speeds, low latency and global network they are all optimised for P2P file sharing (Torrenting).
Privacy
Surfshark has a clear stance on the privacy of their customers - they deserve the right to privacy. Surfshark enforces a strict No-Logs policy on their VPN service, meaning no one - not even Surfshark - knows what you are up to online. The image was taken from Surfshark's privacy policy which shows that they are committed to keeping you anonymous and giving you the privacy you deserve. |
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App Compatibility.
One of the main reasons why Surfshark is so highly rated is their easy to use apps. They have apps for all platforms, including iOS, MacOS, Windows, Android and even Linux. Their app is set out to be easy to use, as simple as pushing a button and connecting. There are some advanced options within the settings that can be changed to personalise your app. Surfshark also has a quick connect option to select the optimal server for you and connect to it, very helpful to get the fastest speeds. Surfshark has a dedicated app for Amazon Firesticks to protect you whilst streaming. Surfshark has even developed browser extensions for those in need of a lightweight solution or unable to install the app onto your device - Surfshark does not fail to impress. |
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Speed and Latency
Whilst connected to Surfshark I did not notice any speed decrease, I was able to browse and stream without lagging and buffering - perfect for a VPN. When I tried to play a game using Surfshark, my latency did not increase much (about 8% increase) and the game was still easy to play with a piece of mind knowing that my real IP was hidden and I was protected from DDoS attacks.
Whilst connected to Surfshark I did not notice any speed decrease, I was able to browse and stream without lagging and buffering - perfect for a VPN. When I tried to play a game using Surfshark, my latency did not increase much (about 8% increase) and the game was still easy to play with a piece of mind knowing that my real IP was hidden and I was protected from DDoS attacks.
Pricing
Surfshark is one of the cheapest VPNs that I have seen so far coming in at £1.99/mo on a 2 year subscription which is impressive considering the amount of features that Surfshark has to offer. Surfshark allows payments via Credit Card, Ideal, PayPal, GooglePay, AmazonPay, Cryptocurrency or Sofort. This allows a large range of payments to be made and if a payment is made through Cryptocurrency then Surfshark will have even less identifiable information about you as a user as they will not be able to link your payment back to you. |
Additional Features
Surfshark does offer additional features such as obfuscation, which allows users to connect to Surfshark from restrictive environments such as a school network or China. This allows users to unblock and access the open internet from anywhere in the world and stay protected knowing that not even your ISP knows that you are using a VPN.
Surfshark has an amazing support team that is able to troubleshoot any issues that you come across quickly so that you can spend your time doing something useful rather than waiting on hold. Surfshark has 24/7 live chat and when contacted I had no wait time and was immediately transferred to an agent who quickly answered my questions.
Surfshark also offers a new feature called "CleanWeb," which blocks ads, trackers and malware from entering your device and following you around the internet. This feature worked amazingly when tested and it was good to know I wasn't being followed around the web by annoying ads.
One final comment is that Surfshark offers support for unlimited devices simultaneously, meaning that all of your devices can connect to Surfshark servers and stay protected at once - there's no need to pay for multiple accounts to use more devices as Surfshark always has your back.
Surfshark does offer additional features such as obfuscation, which allows users to connect to Surfshark from restrictive environments such as a school network or China. This allows users to unblock and access the open internet from anywhere in the world and stay protected knowing that not even your ISP knows that you are using a VPN.
Surfshark has an amazing support team that is able to troubleshoot any issues that you come across quickly so that you can spend your time doing something useful rather than waiting on hold. Surfshark has 24/7 live chat and when contacted I had no wait time and was immediately transferred to an agent who quickly answered my questions.
Surfshark also offers a new feature called "CleanWeb," which blocks ads, trackers and malware from entering your device and following you around the internet. This feature worked amazingly when tested and it was good to know I wasn't being followed around the web by annoying ads.
One final comment is that Surfshark offers support for unlimited devices simultaneously, meaning that all of your devices can connect to Surfshark servers and stay protected at once - there's no need to pay for multiple accounts to use more devices as Surfshark always has your back.