- Newest assessments: Zero knowledge leaks in 2022 assessments, 40% web pace loss in 2023 assessments
- Community: 3,200-plus in 99 nations
- Jurisdiction: Netherlands
- Value: Limitless connections for $48 for the primary 12 months (then $60 yearly) or $13 monthly; 2-year subscriptions out there.
Surfshark boasts a formidable suite of privateness and security measures, limitless simultaneous connections, easy-to-use interface and expansive world community. And it is nonetheless considerably cheaper than most of its rivals. That is what has helped Surfshark earn CNET’s Editors’ Alternative for Finest Worth VPN in 2022.
Together with commonplace VPN options like a kill change and DNS leak safety, a few of the extra notable Surfshark options embody camouflage mode (which hides the very fact you are utilizing a VPN), split-tunneling, NoBorders mode (which helps you to use Surfshark in areas the place VPNs are restricted) and multihop VPN connections. You will additionally get entry to Surfshark’s CleanWeb expertise, which blocks advertisements and malware and helps you keep away from phishing assaults.
One innovation we’re excited to see Surfshark roll out over the subsequent 12 months is its Nexus community, which connects the VPN’s whole community of servers collectively and permits you to select a number of servers to route your connection by means of. The performance is considerably just like Tor, however Surfshark says it is quicker. With its Dynamic MultiHop, IP Randomizer and IP Rotator features, the Nexus community can provide you a number of further layers of safety when you use the VPN — which may be significantly useful to customers with vital privateness wants.
Surfshark says it does not log any consumer exercise. And though no-logging claims are nearly not possible to show with 100% certainty, German cybersecurity agency Cure53 declared Surfshark’s safety to be “stable” in its 2021 safety audit of the VPN. Surfshark handed its first unbiased no-logs audit in January.
Starting in February 2022, each Surfshark and NordVPN share the identical company guardian, however Surfshark stated it’s legally certain to not share any data between the entities that will go in opposition to its Privateness Coverage or Phrases of Service. We did not discover any language in both doc that will point out Surfshark has any obligation to share consumer knowledge with its guardian firm or any sibling corporations, together with NordVPN.
Surfshark used to persistently charge as one of many quickest VPNs out there, however we have been disillusioned with its inconsistent speeds just lately. The 40% pace loss we measured in February and March of 2023 was greater than double the 19% pace loss we measured in 2022. Although speeds by means of WireGuard have been spectacular, registering solely an 8% pace loss, the 76% pace loss we registered by means of OpenVPN dragged Surfshark’s total pace ranking down significantly. The corporate tells us that it’s engaged on resolving the OpenVPN pace points.
In our assessments, Surfshark had no issues unblocking Netflix and Amazon Prime Video content material, however we did run right into a good bit of hassle accessing Disney Plus. After testing numerous servers within the US and different nations the place Disney Plus is on the market, we have been lastly capable of entry the content material after we related to a server in Boston. You might want to check a number of servers your self earlier than getting access to Disney Plus content material with Surfshark.
Surfshark provides cheaper introductory costs that leap after the primary billing cycle. Even so, Surfshark manages to maintain its costs decrease than most different VPNs — serving to it earn CNET’s Editors’ Alternative for Finest Worth. The yearly plan begins out at $48 for the primary 12 months, then jumps to $60 for any extra years of service. For those who go for the two-year plan, you may pay $60 up entrance for the preliminary two years mixed, then $60 per 12 months for any extra years. Surfshark’s month-to-month plan stays fixed at $13 a month. For those who’re not glad with the service for any motive, Surfshark provides a 30-day money-back assure. Surfshark overview.
