Quick summary: Surfshark is one of the cheapest premium VPNs on the market: the 2-year Starter plan costs just $1.99/month, and you get unlimited devices, 4,500+ servers in 100+ countries. I tested it for you and can say that for this price, it is one of the best choices available.
What Is Surfshark VPN?
Surfshark is a premium VPN (Virtual Private Network) service that encrypts your internet connection, hides your IP address, and gives you access to content from around the world. The company was founded in 2018 and is headquartered in the Netherlands — a country with privacy-friendly legislation.
In a relatively short time, Surfshark has built a reputation as a premium product at an accessible price. It is now part of the Nord Security portfolio (the same parent company as NordVPN), which gives it a strong foundation and continuous development.
Beyond the VPN itself, Surfshark also offers extended security products: antivirus, data breach monitoring, a private search engine, and Incogni — a tool that removes your personal data from data brokers.
Pricing and Plans
Surfshark offers three plans — Starter, One, and One+ — across three subscription lengths. The 2-year plan offers the best value for money and also includes 3 months for free.
| Plan | Monthly | Annual | 2-Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | $15.45/mo. | $3.19/mo. | $1.99/mo. |
| One | $17.95/mo. | $3.39/mo. | $2.29/mo. |
| One+ | – | $6.29/mo. | $4.19/mo. |
Prices are in USD, excluding VAT. After the introductory period, the subscription renews annually — Starter at $99/year (approx. $8.25/month). Annual and 2-year plans are covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee. A 7-day free trial is also available on annual plans (Android and iOS).
What each plan includes:
- Starter — VPN, CleanWeb (ad and malware blocker), Alternative ID, kill switch, split tunneling (Bypasser), Dynamic MultiHop, Rotating IP
- One — everything in Starter + Surfshark Antivirus, Surfshark Alert (data breach monitoring), Surfshark Search (private search engine)
- One+ — everything in One + Incogni (automated removal of personal data from data brokers)
Tip: All current Surfshark discounts and coupons can be found in the deals section.
Features and Specifications
Surfshark is among the most feature-rich VPNs in its price category. Below I cover the most important capabilities I tested in practice.
Servers and Coverage
Surfshark operates 4,500+ RAM-only servers in 100+ countries. RAM-only means no data is ever written to hard drives — every server restart returns it to a clean state, which enhances privacy protection.
Speed and Protocols
2026 tests showed speeds of up to 752 Mbps on nearby servers — performance on par with the fastest VPNs on the market. Surfshark supports WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2 protocols. In April 2026, it launched its own Dausos protocol, designed for higher speeds and stronger encryption.
In early 2026, post-quantum encryption support was also added for the WireGuard protocol — protection against future quantum computing attacks on encrypted data.
Unlimited Devices
Surfshark is one of the few VPNs that offers unlimited simultaneous connections. Cover every device in your household with a single subscription — from your phone and laptop to your smart TV.
CleanWeb — Ad and Malware Blocker
CleanWeb blocks ads, trackers, cookie pop-ups, and malware directly at the DNS level. It works without any additional browser extension and speeds up page loading.
Dynamic MultiHop (Double VPN)
MultiHop routes your connection through two VPN servers simultaneously — for example, through Germany and then Switzerland. It reduces speed by 5–7%, but significantly complicates tracking your activity. Ideal for journalists, activists, or anyone who needs maximum anonymity.
Bypasser (Split Tunneling)
Bypasser lets you choose which apps or websites bypass the VPN. Practical for online banking — instead of turning off the VPN entirely, you simply exclude that one app.
Alternative ID
A tool that generates an alternative identity and email address for registrations on sites you do not fully trust. Helps prevent spam and personal data leaks from unreliable services.
Streaming and Geo-Blocks
Surfshark reliably unblocks 16+ Netflix libraries, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video. In 2026 tests, none of the tested streaming platforms blocked it.
Device Compatibility
Surfshark has apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Android TV, Apple TV, and Fire TV. Browser extensions are available for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. Devices without native VPN support (smart TVs, gaming consoles) can be connected via router.
Pros
- One of the lowest prices among premium VPNs — from $1.99/mo. on the 2-year plan
- Unlimited simultaneous devices on a single subscription
- 4,500+ RAM-only servers in 100+ countries
- Independently audited no-logs policy
- Speed up to 752 Mbps on nearby servers
- Post-quantum encryption and new Dausos protocol (2026)
- Reliable unblocking of streaming platforms
- CleanWeb — ad, tracker, and malware blocker included
- 30-day money-back guarantee + 7-day free trial
- 24/7 live chat support
Cons
- Noticeable speed drop on distant servers (e.g., Asia–Europe connections)
- Monthly plan is relatively expensive ($15.45/mo.) — not a good value for short-term use
- After the introductory period, price jumps to ~$99/year — worth monitoring renewal dates
- Not always reliable in heavily restricted countries (China, Iran)
- Built-in speed test is inaccurate — I recommend external tools for speed measurement
- No protection against WebRTC and IPv6 leaks
My Experience
I tested Surfshark primarily for everyday use — working from home, streaming, and staying secure on public Wi-Fi networks. Installation on Windows and Android was seamless, and the interface is intuitive even for less tech-savvy users.
Speeds on European servers were consistently high, with no noticeable slowdown during regular browsing or HD streaming. I set WireGuard as my default protocol — it is the fastest and, in my testing, the most stable option.
CleanWeb proved to be a practical feature — on sites where I had it enabled, ad loading was significantly suppressed without needing a separate browser extension. I used Alternative ID for registrations on test sites — the feature works exactly as described.
One minor note on customer support: live chat responses are fast, but in one case I was redirected to documentation rather than receiving a direct solution to a technical problem. Nothing critical, but worth mentioning.
User Reviews
Surfshark holds a 4.3/5 rating on Trustpilot from thousands of reviews (April 2026). Most users praise the ease of use, pricing, and reliability for streaming. Recurring negatives mainly concern automatic renewal at a higher price after the introductory period — which is standard practice among most VPN services.
On Reddit (r/VPN and r/privacy), Surfshark is widely regarded as an excellent choice for everyday users who do not want to pay the premium prices of NordVPN or ExpressVPN. Expert sites such as TechRadar, PCMag, and CNET regularly rank it among the top 3–5 VPNs in the price-to-performance category.
Alternatives
If Surfshark is not quite what you are looking for, here are the relevant alternatives I have also tested.
NordVPN
NordVPN is Surfshark’s closest competitor — paradoxically, both belong to the same parent company, Nord Security. NordVPN offers 8,400+ servers in ~167 countries, the NordLynx protocol (built on WireGuard), and Threat Protection. The basic 2-year plan comes to approximately $3/month — slightly more expensive than Surfshark Starter, but with a significantly larger server network.
For power users and those who need maximum server choice, NordVPN is the stronger option. For households looking to cover multiple devices at the lowest possible cost, Surfshark wins thanks to unlimited simultaneous connections.
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN has long been considered one of the fastest VPNs on the market, featuring its own Lightway protocol. The monthly Basic plan costs $12.99, making it more expensive than Surfshark in virtually every comparison. Its advantages are excellent support and exceptional reliability in countries with internet censorship (including China).
For most users, the significantly higher price compared to Surfshark is hard to justify — unless you frequently travel to heavily restricted countries.
Proton VPN
Proton VPN is an outstanding choice for those who prioritize maximum privacy and transparency. It comes from Swiss company Proton AG (creators of Proton Mail) and features 100% open-source apps independently audited by third parties.
The VPN Plus plan costs $2.99/month on a 2-year subscription — slightly more than Surfshark, but with the unique Secure Core feature (double routing through specially hardened servers in Switzerland, Iceland, and Norway).
A free plan with unlimited data transfer and no ads is also available — unmatched among premium VPNs. Surfshark wins on price, device count, and breadth of features. Proton VPN is the choice for those who put jurisdiction sovereignty and code verifiability first.
Tip: See all compared VPNs in our article best VPN services.
Support and Contact
Surfshark offers 24/7 customer support via live chat directly on surfshark.com. Email support and an extensive knowledge base with guides for all platforms are also available.
Live chat typically responds within 1–3 minutes. For technical issues, there is a dedicated troubleshooting section with step-by-step solutions for the most common situations. Support communicates in English.
Summary and Rating
Rating: 8.5/10
Surfshark remains one of the best VPNs for the money in 2026. For $1.99 per month (on a 2-year plan), you get a premium product with unlimited devices, a verified no-logs policy, speeds on par with far more expensive competitors, and functionality that covers 99% of everyday user needs.
I recommend Surfshark if: you are looking for a reliable VPN for your entire household, you want to unblock streaming platforms from other countries, you need protection on public Wi-Fi networks, or you simply want more online privacy at a reasonable price.
I do not recommend Surfshark if: you regularly travel to China or other countries with strict internet censorship (ExpressVPN is more reliable there), or if you need a monthly subscription with no commitment — the monthly price of $15.45 is higher than some competitors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Surfshark safe?
Yes. Surfshark has an independently verified no-logs policy, uses AES-256 encryption, and operates exclusively RAM-only servers. Post-quantum encryption for the WireGuard protocol was also added in 2026.
How many devices can I connect on one account?
Unlimited simultaneous devices — all plans (Starter, One, One+) include this without any restriction.
Can I try Surfshark for free?
Yes. Annual and 2-year plans offer a 7-day free trial (activation via Android or iOS). All plans are also covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Does Surfshark work with Netflix?
Yes — Surfshark reliably unblocks 16+ Netflix libraries including the US, UK, and many others. It also works with BBC iPlayer, Disney+, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video.
What happens after the introductory period ends?
After your 1-year or 2-year subscription ends, the plan automatically renews annually at the standard price — Starter at $99/year (approx. $8.25/month). I recommend setting a reminder before the introductory period ends and watching for renewal promotions.
What is the difference between Surfshark Starter and One?
Starter includes the full VPN with all features, CleanWeb, and Alternative ID. One adds Surfshark Antivirus, data breach monitoring (Alert), and a private search engine (Search). For most users, Starter is sufficient — One makes sense if you want antivirus and breach alerts all in one app.
