Surfshark Review: The Mind-Blowing Truth Revealed! Is This VPN the Ultimate Secret to Online Security? Read Our Eye-Opening Review Now!
In 2023, Surfshark VPN stands out as an exceptional and cost-effective option among VPNs available in the market.
With its competitive pricing, the ability to connect multiple devices simultaneously, and a headquarters located outside the 5-Eyes alliance, it offers an appealing choice for users of all kinds.
The online praise for Surfshark comes as no surprise, considering its extensive range of features despite being a budget-friendly VPN.
However, the question arises as to whether Surfshark truly lives up to its claim of delivering value for money.
While it boasts a vast network of servers worldwide, impressive connection speeds, and advanced AES encryption, users have expressed concerns about its jurisdiction and the level of privacy it actually provides.
Even with its widespread popularity, lingering doubts persist. Is Surfshark still a reliable and secure option in 2023? Can it effectively safeguard your online traffic, unblock streaming services, and consistently deliver high performance and stable speeds?
There is only one way to ascertain the truth. Hence, this Surfshark review comprehensively examines every aspect, including features, speeds, compatibility, and more.
| ⭐ Rating: | 4.7★★★★★ |
| 🥇 Overall rank: | #2 out of #36 |
| 🖥️ Servers: | 3200+ servers in 100 countries |
| 📖 No logs policy: | No logs |
| 💵 Pricing: | From $2.30/month |
| 🔥 Coupons: | Surfshark VPN coupon 82% OFF |
| 🔒 VPN protocols: | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2 |
| 🍿 Streaming services: | Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and more |
| 🖥️ Platforms: | Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox |
| 📥 Simultaneous connections: | Unlimited |
| 💁🏻 Support: | Knowledge base, 24/7 live chat, email support |
Table of Contents
Surfshark pros and cons
👍Pros:
- Fast WireGuard protocol performance
- Strong security features
- GPS-spoofing feature
- Unblocks most streaming platforms
- Superb customer support
- A lot of extra features
- 7-day free trial
- Manual WireGuard connection
👎Cons:
- No split tunneling on iOS
- Apple product apps are slightly weaker
Surfshark VPN: Overview
In general, Surfshark stands out as a robust VPN option that provides exceptional value for its price. Here’s a concise overview of our key observations:
- Surfshark boasts an impressive price and quality ratio, making it one of the most affordable VPN choices available. Starting at just $2.30 per month, it offers great value for your money.
- With Surfshark, you can safeguard an unlimited number of devices simultaneously, ensuring comprehensive protection across all your connected devices.
- Your online traffic is secured with Surfshark’s advanced AES-256 encryption, a top-of-the-line cipher that renders your data inaccessible to prying eyes, ensuring your privacy and security.
- Surfshark has demonstrated remarkable speed test results, achieving a remarkable speed of 1269 Mbit/s when connected to the UK server with the WireGuard tunneling protocol enabled.
- Setting itself apart from many other VPNs, Surfshark employs RAM-only servers, which means that once the server is turned off, all data is completely wiped out, enhancing your privacy and data protection.
- With servers in 100 countries, Surfshark boasts the largest network coverage among popular VPN services. This extensive reach ensures a reliable and fast internet connection no matter where you are located.
- In summary, Surfshark combines affordability, strong encryption, impressive speed, and extensive server coverage, making it a standout choice for individuals seeking a powerful VPN solution.
Is Surfshark VPN safe?
Indeed, Surfshark is undoubtedly one of the most secure VPN service providers in the market.
It prioritizes user privacy through various measures, including an audited no-logs policy, the ability to choose encryption standards, and the implementation of the safest tunneling protocols, namely OpenVPN and WireGuard.
When it comes to protecting your data, Surfshark goes above and beyond. It ensures that your personal information remains confidential by only requiring an email to create an account, eliminating the need for unnecessary data collection.
Additionally, all passwords are stored using an advanced hash function, greatly reducing the risk of unauthorized access to your account.
To delve into the key security features that set Surfshark apart, consider the following:
- Encryption
- Tunneling protocols
- Kill switch
- RAM-only servers
- Audits
- Camouflage mode
- MultiHop
- Search
- DNS leak protection
- Nexus
Encryption protocols
Surfshark goes above and beyond in terms of encryption, providing the strongest option currently available in the form of AES-256-GCM encryption. This robust encryption protocol ensures that your data transfers remain secure and protected, minimizing the risk of any potential disruptions.
For Android users, Surfshark offers an additional option called the ChaCha20 cipher, which is equally secure and reliable. The main distinction between these ciphers lies in their speed performance.
Newer devices equipped with AES hardware acceleration will experience improved speeds with AES-256, while older phones are better suited for the ChaCha20 cipher.
Regardless of the cipher chosen, Surfshark utilizes an advanced cryptographic library to ensure the highest level of security for your data.
To further enhance authentication security, Surfshark employs SHA-512 encryption. This process involves scrambling your authentication information into 512 binary digits and then comparing it to the stored login data on their servers.
Only when the passwords match will you be granted access, providing an additional layer of protection.
While most VPNs rely on SHA-256 for authentication, Surfshark surpasses the industry standard by utilizing the stronger SHA-512 encryption method. This demonstrates Surfshark’s commitment to going the extra mile in safeguarding your authentication data.
In summary, Surfshark offers the strongest AES-256-GCM encryption for data protection, provides the option of the secure ChaCha20 cipher for Android users, and implements SHA-512 encryption for robust authentication security.
By surpassing industry standards, Surfshark ensures that your online activities remain highly secure and protected.
Tunneling protocols
Surfshark offers a range of tunneling protocol options for you to choose from. These options include the advanced WireGuard tunnel, OpenVPN, and IKEv2. You can use these protocols on various operating systems such as Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS.
WireGuard is a high-speed and highly secure modern tunneling protocol. Surfshark is the first VPN provider to prioritize WireGuard as the primary protocol in all key apps.
Additionally, you have the option to manually configure this protocol, which is useful for bypassing VPN usage restrictions. Manual configuration also enables faster and more stable connections on VPN-compatible routers or devices that do not support a native VPN connection.
OpenVPN (TCP/UDP) is a widely used tunneling protocol known for its security and speed. Despite being released almost two decades ago, it remains a reliable choice.
Surfshark automatically obfuscates the protocol, making it ideal for circumventing government-imposed VPN restrictions. If you prioritize enhanced security, TCP is the recommended option, while UDP offers faster speeds.
IKEv2 is another popular tunneling protocol with broad support and comparable speeds to WireGuard. It is particularly suitable for weaker devices and performs well even on slow internet connections. Unfortunately, Surfshark no longer supports this protocol on its Windows apps.
Kill switch
Surfshark provides a kill switch feature that safeguards your internet traffic by blocking it entirely if you’re not connected to a VPN. This ensures that no information leaks occur in the event of a loss of a secure encrypted connection.
In comparison to other VPN service providers, Surfshark’s approach may appear more stringent. Typically, other VPNs activate the kill switch only when the connection to their servers is interrupted. However, users of the Windows application have the option to select either a soft kill switch or a strict one.
The strict kill switch operates similarly to other operating systems’ apps, whereas the soft kill switch only disconnects you from the network in the event of an accidental VPN disconnection.
While this feature is beneficial, there is room for improvement. When the entire connection is shut down, there is no notification provided to indicate what is happening.
This lack of information can be confusing, as it may give the impression that the internet connection is down when, in fact, Surfshark’s kill switch is simply performing its intended function.
RAM-only servers
Surfshark implements RAM-only servers that automatically delete data whenever the server is powered off, ensuring that it cannot be recovered. This approach guarantees complete online anonymity for users.
In contrast, many other VPN service providers rely on renting servers from data centers to maintain a large server count. However, this means they are dependent on the security measures implemented by those data centers at each location.
Unfortunately, some of these servers may have lower levels of security. Even if logs are promptly erased from the hard drive, there is still a possibility of data recovery.
Additionally, these servers may store private keys that could be compromised if hackers manage to gain access. These factors represent significant vulnerabilities inherent to such a setup.
Audits
Transparency is a crucial factor in establishing trust for cybersecurity companies. Surfshark recognizes this importance and has undergone independent audits not once, but three times to ensure the building of trust.
The initial audit took place in 2018 and was conducted by Cure53 penetration testers. Their focus was on Surfshark’s Chrome and Firefox extensions, as browser extensions tend to be more susceptible to security vulnerabilities.
Fortunately, the tests yielded positive results, confirming the extensions’ high level of security.
In 2021, the same company performed a second audit, this time evaluating Surfshark’s server infrastructure and overall security. Once again, Surfshark excelled in the tests, demonstrating its strong security measures.
The most recent audit occurred in 2023 and was conducted by Deloitte. This time, the focus was on auditing Surfshark’s no-logs policy. The outcome was favorable for the VPN provider, as Deloitte confirmed the validity of Surfshark’s no-logs policy and verified that no user information is retained.
Through these comprehensive audits, Surfshark consistently proves its commitment to transparency, security, and privacy, instilling trust in its users.
Camouflage Mode
Surfshark offers a range of robust security features, including Camouflage Mode, also referred to as Obfuscation or obfuscated servers.
Camouflage Mode is designed to disguise your VPN traffic as regular network traffic, enabling you to remain undetected. This feature is automatically activated when utilizing OpenVPN UDP and TCP protocols.
The utility of this feature becomes apparent in scenarios where internet traffic is blocked at school or office, or when VPN ports are restricted within a country.
By employing Camouflage Mode, Surfshark effectively renders most VPN blocking measures ineffective, offering a solution for accessing the internet freely, even in challenging circumstances.
MultiHop
If you desire absolute certainty that your true identity remains concealed behind multiple intermediary servers rather than just one, Surfshark offers a selection of MultiHop servers, each consisting of a pair.
Once your connections reach the initial VPN server, they are then directed to the second server. As a result, the final intermediary server has no connection to your actual IP address or physical location.
In the MultiHop section, you can view the countries involved in this routing process. It is generally recommended to select the first country based on proximity, while the second country should be chosen to spoof your desired location.
It is important to note that there will be a significant decrease in speed, but this additional layer of protection provides peace of mind for those seeking it.
Search
Surfshark provides a secure and entirely private search tool that offers a completely ad-free experience. It remains unaffected by previous searches and ensures the collection of zero user information.
This tool offers a comprehensive incognito mode, exclusively available to paid users, accessible through s.surfshark.com or their VPN dashboard.
DNS leak protection
As soon as you connect to one of Surfshark’s servers, DNS leak protection is automatically activated. This feature guarantees that all DNS requests originating from your device are blocked.
Moreover, Surfshark owns all the DNS servers, ensuring that there is no logging of activity or connections, no third-party interference, and providing end-to-end encryption for all your traffic.
DNS leaks can occur due to various reasons, such as unsuccessful manual VPN configurations. However, regardless of the cause, the consequences remain the same.
Without proper DNS leak protection, your online traffic becomes vulnerable to tracking by third parties, including your Internet Service Provider (ISP), thereby exposing your browsing activity.
Nexus
Nexus is Surfshark’s latest addition to its suite of security features. This advanced technology utilizes Software Defined Networking (SDN) to seamlessly link all of Surfshark’s VPN servers into a unified network.
By connecting the servers together, Nexus ensures that traffic is routed through a network of servers rather than a single VPN encryption tunnel.
The Nexus feature not only enhances the privacy of user traffic but also provides increased stability and potential improvements in VPN connection speeds.
By leveraging this technology, Surfshark delivers a more robust and reliable performance, ultimately enhancing the overall user experience.
Surfshark compared to other VPNs
Check out how Surfshark’s ranking compare to other market leaders:
| Surfshark | NordVPN | IPVanish | |
| Rating | 4.7★★★★★ | 4.7★★★★★ | 4.7★★★★★ |
| Free version | Yes, 7-day | Yes, 7-day | No |
| Price (lowest price per month) | $2.30/month (Get discount) | $3.29/month (Get discount) | $3.33/month |
| Streaming | Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and more | Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, and more | Netflix, BBC iPlayer, YouTube, Disney+, and more |
| Logging | No logs, independently audited twice by PwC | No logs, independently audited by Leviathan | No logs, not audited |
| Servers | 3200+ servers in 100 countries | 5700+ servers in 60 countries | 2000+ servers in 50 countries |
| Simultaneous connections | Unlimited | 6 | Unlimited |
| Country | The Netherlands (part of 9 Eyes) | Panama | United States (part of 5 Eyes) |
| Best for | Streaming, torrenting, security | Streaming, torrenting, security | Streaming, torrenting, security |
How much does Surfshark VPN cost?
| Version | Price |
| 1-month plan | $12.95/month |
| 1-year plan | $3.99/month |
| 1-year plan | $2.30/month |
Surfshark VPN offers three different plan options: one-month, one-year, and two-year plans. The most cost-effective choice is the two-year subscription, priced at only $2.30 per month, making it an exceptional deal.
If you opt for the one-year plan, it is slightly more expensive but still reasonably priced at $3.99 per month. The shortest subscription option for Surfshark VPN costs $12.95 per month, which is a standard entry fee in the VPN market.
Regarding payment methods, Surfshark provides several options for your convenience:
- Credit card
- PayPal
- Google Play
- Cryptocurrencies (e.g., Bitcoin)
Moreover, Surfshark VPN allows unlimited simultaneous connections, enabling you to use it on as many devices as you want.
What’s even better is that you can try out Surfshark VPN risk-free for 30 days with their money-back guarantee. This allows you to test the VPN and determine if it is the best fit for your needs.
Can you get Surfshark for free?
Certainly! Obtaining Surfshark for free is incredibly simple through the 7-day free trial. This trial can be accessed on both Google Play and the Apple App Store.
It is accessible on Surfshark’s mobile apps and macOS platforms. Once you activate the trial on one device, you can also explore its features on other devices.
How to download Surfshark?
To get started with Surfshark, follow these steps:
- Visit the official Surfshark website and select the subscription plan that suits your needs.
- Provide the required checkout information and select your preferred payment method.
- Download the Surfshark app onto your desired devices and proceed with the installation.
- Log in to your Surfshark account using your registered email address.
- Connect to a server of your choice and start experiencing the benefits of a VPN.
By following these simple instructions, you’ll be able to set up and enjoy the advantages of using Surfshark VPN.
Speed: how fast is Surfshark VPN?
Surfshark stands out as an exceptionally fast VPN based on our extensive testing. Our speed test tool consistently demonstrated impressive performance across numerous locations.
However, it’s important to note that the speed you experience may vary depending on your location. Generally, the closer you are to the server, the faster the speed will be.
| Surfshark | Download retention | Upload retention |
| US (NY) | 31% (297 Mbit/s) | 29 % (281 Mbit/s) |
| United Kingdom | 71% (680 Mbit/s) | 67 % (647 Mbit/s) |
| France | 85% (816 Mbit/s) | 82 % (783 Mbit/s) |
| Singapore | 97% (927 Mbit/s) | 72 % (692 Mbit/s) |
| Australia | 61% (587 Mbit/s) | 53 % (514 Mbit/s) |
Upon conducting our initial benchmarks, we were initially taken aback and questioned if Surfshark was even active, as it demonstrated negligible impact on our internet connection. Typically, a VPN is expected to noticeably decrease internet speed. However, Surfshark defied this expectation.
Overall, our comprehensive testing revealed that Surfshark delivers outstanding speed performance. This can be attributed to its utilization of the modern, swift, and secure WireGuard protocol.
Across the five locations tested, Surfshark consistently maintained a significant portion of our original download speed.
Surfshark performance with other protocols
In addition to WireGuard, Surfshark offers a range of other protocols that contribute to its overall VPN performance. The choice of protocol can have a significant impact on the speed you experience.
Here are the average download and upload speeds for Surfshark across ten different locations worldwide, considering various protocols:
- Baseline: 300 Mbps download/300 Mbps upload
- WireGuard: 262.6/169.8
- IKEv2: 219.8/38.5
- OpenVPN UDP: 120.2/140.3
- OpenVPN TCP: 25.8/28
WireGuard: The performance using the WireGuard tunneling protocol was notably exceptional. Compared to the baseline, the maximum decrease in download speed was only 23%, observed when connecting to Argentina due to the distance factor.
The lowest reduction of just 6% occurred in several European countries where the fastest servers were available. This implies that if you select a nearby location, there is little reason to disable your VPN due to performance concerns.
IKEv2: The IKEv2 protocol serves as the second fastest option for Surfshark. Throughout our speed tests, the maximum decrease from the baseline download speed was 45% when connecting to an Australian server. The lowest drop was 18% in nearby European countries.
These results still indicate commendable performance. However, please note that the IKEv2 protocol is no longer supported for Windows OS users, as its popularity has diminished over time.
OpenVPN: As anticipated, the speeds with OpenVPN primarily hinge on whether UDP or TCP is utilized. When using UDP, the largest decrease in download speed was 64%, whereas the smallest reduction was 54%.
In the case of TCP, the most substantial drop was a significant 98%, while the smallest decline was 49%.
| Protocol | Speed | Security | Connection stability |
| WireGuard | Highest | High | Medium |
| IKEv2 | High | Medium | High |
| OpenVPN (TCP) | Low | High | High |
| OpenVPN (UDP) | High | High | Medium |
To provide a comprehensive perspective on the impressive speed of Surfshark, let’s compare its performance with a few other reputable VPN providers.
This will give you a better understanding of Surfshark’s speed capabilities.
| Provider | Average download speed |
| Surfshark | 88% |
| ExpressVPN | 66% |
| PIA | 54% |
In general, Surfshark proves to be a highly proficient VPN when it comes to speed. We were thoroughly impressed with its overall performance.
Although there may be variations in speed among different protocols, if you prioritize fast connection speeds, Surfshark is an excellent choice that meets your requirements.
Surfshark servers and locations
Having a diverse range of servers and server locations is a crucial aspect for any VPN service, and Surfshark excels in this regard. With over 3200 servers across 100 countries, Surfshark provides an extensive network infrastructure.
A comparison with NordVPN, another widely recognized VPN provider, reveals that although Surfshark has a smaller number of servers (5700 for NordVPN), it offers a more extensive coverage of locations in all major regions worldwide.
This highlights Surfshark’s ability to offer a comprehensive and well-distributed server network for its users.
| Regions | Number of countries |
| Europe | 38 countries |
| Americas | 9 countries |
| Asia and Oceanic region | 14 countries |
| Africa | 4 countries |
In addition to numerous countries, Surfshark provides multiple options for specific cities within certain regions. Users can choose from various cities in Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, India, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Spain, the UK, and the USA.
While it’s true that coverage in Africa and the Middle East may be relatively limited, as is often the case with many VPNs, the remaining regions of the world offer an abundance of server options.
Locating a fast and nearby server should not pose a challenge, ensuring a smooth and efficient browsing experience.
Upon clicking on your desired location, the connection is established seamlessly and swiftly, taking only a few seconds to complete.
The process occurs automatically, ensuring a hassle-free experience for users.
Does Surfshark VPN work in China?
Indeed, Surfshark is compatible with both Hong Kong and mainland China, making it possible to bypass internet restrictions using this VPN.
In fact, many people use Surfshark to unblock Netflix.
For added peace of mind, Surfshark’s Camouflage Mode feature is automatically available when utilizing the OpenVPN protocol. Simply enable it, and you can enjoy the benefits it provides. This is just one of the many advantages offered by Surfshark.
If you prefer to use a different protocol while accessing Surfshark in China, there is still a solution available. The NoBorders mode is accessible on Windows and mobile devices. Simply enable it within the settings, and you can navigate through the firewall, even when using a different protocol.
Is Surfshark good for streaming?
| Platform | Does it work? |
| Netflix | ✅ Yes |
| Apple TV | ✅ Yes |
| BBC iPlayer | ✅ Yes |
| YouTube TV | ✅ Yes |
| HBO Max | ✅ Yes |
| Disney+ | ✅ Yes |
| Hulu | ✅ Yes |
Surfshark is exceptionally well-equipped to be one of the top VPN choices for streaming enthusiasts. It offers a wide array of advanced features designed to enhance your movie nights.
One notable feature is Smart DNS, which can be set up on any device, even those that do not inherently support VPNs. Enabling Smart DNS allows you to access geo-restricted US content without the need for a VPN.
Surfshark seamlessly integrates with the Kodi application and can be easily set up on Amazon Fire TV stick, with compatibility starting from 2nd or 4K generation Fire TV devices.
During our tests, Surfshark exhibited outstanding capabilities for unblocking and streaming content. It effortlessly bypassed restrictions on multiple Netflix libraries, including those of the US, UK, Germany, Japan, and more.
It also successfully unblocked other popular platforms such as Disney+, Hulu, and YouTube TV, among others. Throughout the streaming experience, we observed smooth playback without any noticeable drops in resolution or latency.
In summary, Surfshark is an excellent choice for streaming. It not only allows you to enjoy popular movies and TV shows across various devices, but it also ensures that the videos are streamed in full HD quality.
Is Surfshark good for torrenting?
Absolutely, Surfshark is an excellent choice for torrenting, as its servers are specifically optimized for P2P downloads. Regardless of your location, you can enjoy hassle-free torrent downloads across numerous servers worldwide.
It’s worth noting that all of Surfshark’s servers are optimized for torrenting, ensuring a seamless and efficient experience throughout your P2P activities.
Interface and ease of use
Surfshark VPN offers a highly user-friendly experience across its various applications. Both the desktop and mobile versions of Surfshark boast visually appealing interfaces and intuitive navigation.
While the Android and iOS versions are virtually identical, the desktop apps exhibit some notable differences. Here are our findings based on extensive research and testing of Surfshark:
Windows version: The setup process is straightforward, and the user interface is easy to navigate, making it a user-friendly option.
macOS version: The interface is clean and installation is hassle-free. However, it lacks certain features such as split tunneling and NoBorders.
Linux version: The graphical application is visually appealing and provides all the necessary features expected from a VPN app.
Mobile versions: The mobile apps are visually appealing and remarkably user-friendly, making them particularly suitable for beginners. It’s worth noting that the iOS application does not include the split tunneling feature.
Browser versions: The browser extensions offer comprehensive functionality and a wealth of useful features, while maintaining a user-friendly interface.
Each version of Surfshark VPN has its own strengths, providing users with a wide range of options tailored to their specific preferences and needs.
| Platform | Experience |
| Windows | Full Surfshark experience |
| macOS | Two different app versions with limited features |
| Linux | Modern and user-friendly Surfshark app |
| Mobile | Solid apps for iOS and Android |
| Browser | Browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox, with cookie blocker functionality |
Windows
Surfshark offers a sleek and visually appealing Windows client that is highly intuitive to navigate. The main screen conveniently presents three categories: Locations, Features, and Settings.
These categories are self-explanatory, making it easy for even novice users to quickly find their desired options. This includes accessing advanced settings, ensuring that users can customize their VPN experience effortlessly.
While Surfshark’s Windows app lacks a map interface, it compensates with a country list that includes flags for easy identification. Additionally, the search function allows for quick server location selection, minimizing any potential inconvenience.
One minor drawback is that countries are sorted alphabetically, while cities appear to be organized randomly. However, every server is equipped with a load indicator, providing a convenient means to filter and prioritize servers for improved speeds.
In summary, Surfshark’s Windows app encompasses all the features the VPN service has to offer. It stands out as the optimal choice within this category, ensuring users can enjoy a comprehensive and user-friendly experience.
macOS
In general, the macOS version of Surfshark is not as feature-rich as its Windows counterpart, as it lacks certain functionalities. However, the availability of features may vary depending on the version you download.
There are two distinct versions of Surfshark: one obtained from Surfshark’s official website and another from Apple’s App Store.
Interestingly, it is the version downloaded from Surfshark’s website that has limited capabilities, offering only the IKEv2 and WireGuard protocols.
Meanwhile, the version downloaded from Apple’s App Store also offers options for OpenVPN.
However, the macOS version of the Surfshark app is missing certain key features. For instance, split tunneling (also known as Whitelister) functionality, which allows you to exclude specific applications from the VPN connection, is not available on macOS.
Additionally, the NoBorders feature, designed to facilitate bypassing VPN restrictions imposed by governments, is also absent from the macOS version.
While the lack of split tunneling cannot be overcome, there is a workaround for bypassing VPN restrictions on macOS. This involves using the OpenVPN protocol, which is exclusively available in the version obtained from Apple’s App Store.
In summary, macOS users may find themselves at a disadvantage with Surfshark in comparison to the more comprehensive Windows experience. Although Surfshark remains a robust VPN option, the macOS version falls short in providing the same breadth of features.
Linux
While Linux users are typically accustomed to VPN apps lacking a graphical interface, Surfshark has gone the extra mile to enhance the user experience by creating a visually appealing GUI specifically for the Linux operating system.
This innovative move sets Surfshark apart as the first major VPN provider to offer a graphical VPN app for Linux. Now, Linux users can fully indulge in the Surfshark service with an attractive and user-friendly interface.
The developers have made significant efforts to create a user-friendly interface that seamlessly combines reliable VPN functionality. In addition to the enhanced comfort provided by this app, there are several notable features to anticipate.
Firstly, users can personalize their experience by setting favorite servers and easily accessing recently used ones. Moreover, the app offers essential features such as a kill switch, MultiHop, and other static options, ensuring a comprehensive VPN experience.
Excitingly, the introduction of the graphical interface for Linux brings with it the inclusion of the WireGuard tunneling protocol. This combination guarantees both fast connection speeds and top-notch security.
Currently, the Linux graphical interface is available for Ubuntu 20.04 LTS, Debian 11, and Mint 20 users. However, Surfshark has assured users that the app will be released for other distributions in the near future.
Android
The Surfshark Android app takes inspiration from its desktop counterparts, incorporating similar design elements.
Notably, when the system-wide dark mode is enabled on your device, the app seamlessly adjusts its appearance to align with the appropriate theme, providing a visually consistent experience.
The Android version of Surfshark offers all the features found in the Windows client, along with an additional GPS spoofing feature. Notably, it includes the convenient split tunneling option, allowing users to selectively exclude or include specific apps in the VPN connection.
In summary, the Surfshark Android app is comprehensive and user-friendly, providing a seamless experience without any notable shortcomings.
iOS
The Surfshark iOS app interface closely resembles that of the Android version. It seamlessly adapts its theme based on your device settings, allowing you to enjoy both light and dark theme interfaces effortlessly. This ensures a consistent and visually pleasing experience across different devices.
Compared to the Android client, the Surfshark iOS app does have a few feature limitations. The GPS spoofer and Whitelister features, for instance, are not available on iOS.
Despite these omissions, the iOS app still offers several noteworthy features that are uncommon among mobile VPNs. These include a kill switch and support for the WireGuard protocol, ensuring enhanced security and faster connection speeds.
Browser extensions
In addition to their VPN app, Surfshark provides browser extensions for Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Microsoft Edge. These extensions offer fundamental functionalities such as IP addresses concealment, connection encryption, and the ability to access restricted websites.
However, what sets Surfshark’s browser extensions apart is the inclusion of a distinctive feature.
Surfshark’s CleanWeb serves as an adblocker with added capabilities to block malware, advertisements, cookie pop-ups, and monitor the data breach history of websites. This comprehensive feature enhances the browsing experience and ensures a safer online environment.
Also, keep in mind that the extension will only encrypt the traffic of your selected browser.
Surfshark features
Surfshark has experienced significant growth in both popularity and its arsenal of online security tools. The following features have played a crucial role in establishing Surfshark as the reputable service it is today:
- Surfshark Antivirus: An integral component of the Surfshark One security bundle, providing robust protection against malware and other digital threats.
- NoBorders: A feature designed to overcome stringent online restrictions, enabling users to navigate the internet freely and without limitations.
- Smart DNS: A tool that assists in bypassing regional restrictions, allowing users to access geo-blocked streaming content effortlessly.
- CleanWeb: A feature dedicated to enhancing browsing safety by blocking intrusive ads, protecting against malware, and eliminating cookie pop-ups.
- Incogni: A personal information removal tool that ensures your online activities leave no traces, enhancing privacy and anonymity.
These features collectively contribute to Surfshark’s comprehensive suite of tools for online security, making it a trusted and reliable choice for users seeking robust protection and a safer digital experience.
Surfshark video review
Feeling exhausted from sifting through countless Surfshark VPN reviews? If that’s the case, you’ll find solace in this video review of the renowned VPN service. Sit back, relax, and enjoy!
My Surfshark Experience! | Surfshark VPN Review 2023
Customer support
Surfshark has a variety of customer support options for you to choose from. You can receive human assistance or try solving issues yourself. Overall, there will be no questions hanging unanswered with this VPN provider.
| Features | Surfshark |
| 24/7 live chat | ✅ |
| ✅ | |
| Phone line | ✅ |
| Guides or articles | ✅ |
| FAQs | ✅ |
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, Surfshark is a VPN service that offers a range of features and benefits. It provides strong encryption, a wide network of servers, and a strict no-logs policy, ensuring user privacy and security.
The service also offers additional features like ad blocking, multi-hop connections, and a kill switch, enhancing the overall VPN experience.
Moreover, Surfshark’s affordability and unlimited simultaneous connections make it an attractive option for users looking to protect multiple devices without breaking the bank.
However, there have been occasional reports of slower speeds and inconsistent performance, which can be a drawback for some users. Despite these minor drawbacks, Surfshark remains a reliable VPN choice for individuals seeking an affordable and feature-rich option.
FAQs
Q1. What is Surfshark?
Surfshark is a virtual private network (VPN) service provider that offers secure and private internet browsing. It provides users with the ability to encrypt their internet traffic, hide their same IP address, and bypass geo-restrictions.
Q2. Is Surfshark a reliable VPN service?
Yes, Surfshark is widely regarded as a reliable VPN service. It has a strong reputation for providing fast and stable connections, robust security features, and a strict no-logs policy. Surfshark also offers a large network of servers in multiple countries, allowing users to access content from around the world.
Q3. How does Surfshark protect my online privacy?
Surfshark protects your online privacy by encrypting your internet traffic and routing it through its secure servers.
This prevents your internet service provider (ISP), government agencies, or malicious actors from monitoring your online activities. Surfshark also offers additional features such as a kill switch, DNS leak protection, and multi-hop connections for enhanced privacy and security.
Q4. Can I use Surfshark to bypass geo-restrictions and access streaming content?
Yes, Surfshark is an effective tool for bypassing geo-restrictions and accessing streaming content from around the world. It has a large network of servers in different countries, allowing users to connect to a server located in the region where the content is available.
This enables you to access platforms like Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and more, regardless of your physical location.
Q5. Does Surfshark offer good customer support?
Yes, Surfshark provides excellent customer support. They offer 24/7 live chat support, allowing users to quickly get assistance with any issues or questions they may have.
Surfshark also has a comprehensive knowledge base and helpful guides on their website, ensuring that users can find answers to common queries easily.
