Surfshark VPN Review

Server Locations

Where Are Surfshark’s Servers Located?

Server Locations Rating: 9.9/10

Surfshark boasts an extensive network of servers in 100 countries, surpassing most other VPN services in terms of global coverage. The company ensures optimal performance by capping server capacity at 40%, effectively preventing congestion. In the United States, Surfshark has a significant presence, featuring servers in 25 cities. However, despite this broad geographic reach, Surfshark operates approximately 3,200 individual servers, which is fewer than some competitors such as PIA and CyberGhost.

Ranking: 1st out of 62 VPNs for Server Locations

Surfshark’s server locations are distributed across 100 countries, providing one of the largest and most diverse server networks available in the VPN market.

With Surfshark, you can connect to servers in the following regions:

A Combination of Virtual and Physical Servers

Surfshark utilizes both virtual and physical servers, clearly marking its virtual servers with a small ‘v’ for easy identification. This feature allows users to choose between the two types of servers seamlessly.

Virtual servers assign an IP address from the selected country, even if the actual hardware is located elsewhere. This capability enables users to connect to a broader range of locations worldwide.

However, a potential drawback of virtual servers is that if the actual server is significantly farther from your physical location than anticipated, you may experience a decline in performance.

Overall, Surfshark boasts a robust server network and a diverse array of server types. Casual users can quickly establish a connection using the ‘Quick Connect’ button, while more advanced users benefit from a high level of control. Surfshark allows users to select between virtual and physical servers, static and dynamic IP addresses, as well as single and double VPN connections.

Speed

A Reliable, High-Performance VPN

Speed Rating: 9.1/10

Our testing indicates that Surfshark is a consistently fast VPN. When connected to a nearby server, we observed only a 5% decrease in download speeds, which is sufficient for activities such as streaming, gaming, and general browsing. Although the average speed reduction was 17% across our long-distance test connections, Surfshark still delivers impressive performance, albeit slightly lower than competitors like Hotspot Shield and IPVanish.

Surfshark ranks #23 out of 62 VPNs for speed.

To assess its performance, we connected to Surfshark servers located on six different continents and measured our internet speeds before and after the connection. Our tests were conducted using a baseline internet connection of 100 Mbps, typical of many home users.

Below is a table detailing Surfshark’s performance in our speed tests:

	No VPN (New York)	US (New York)	Canada (Toronto)	US (Los Angeles)	UK (London)	Germany (Berlin)	Brazil (São Paulo)	Japan (Tokyo)	South Africa (Johannesburg)	Australia (Sydney)
Server Location
Download Speed	100Mbps	95Mbps	93Mbps	89Mbps	88Mbps	88Mbps	84Mbps	84Mbps	67Mbps	79Mbps
Upload Speed	100Mbps	92Mbps	80Mbps	40Mbps	27Mbps	44Mbps	67Mbps	15Mbps	49Mbps	35Mbps
Ping	1ms	9ms	14ms	72ms	73ms	98ms	288ms	143ms	407ms	203ms
Distance	0mi	5mi	300mi	2,500mi	3,500mi	4,000mi	4,800mi	6,700mi	8,000mi	9,900mi

Like any VPN, using Surfshark may result in a slight reduction in internet speed, but the impact is minimal. When connected to a Surfshark server within the same country, we experienced only a 15% decrease in speed compared to our baseline speeds without a VPN.

For connections to more distant locations, the speed loss remained marginal. For instance, connecting to a US server from the UK resulted in a 42% reduction in speed, despite the over 3,000 miles of distance.

Overall, our impartial speed tests indicate that both short- and long-distance speeds are relatively unaffected when using Surfshark.

These impressive speeds are attributed to Surfshark’s practice of capping server load at 40% to prevent congestion and upgrading many of its servers to 10Gbps. This approach not only enhances user experience by maintaining stable speeds but also minimizes the likelihood of encountering CAPTCHAs due to multiple users sharing the same IP address.

However, despite these recent improvements, Surfshark still lags slightly behind the fastest VPNs, primarily due to its performance in connecting to remote locations such as South Africa and Australia. The chart above illustrates how Surfshark compares to some of its leading VPN competitors, all of which face challenges to varying degrees. To further enhance its performance, Surfshark could consider adding more 10Gbps servers to its network.

Torrenting

Surfshark Review

Torrenting Rating: 8.6/10

Surfshark offers solid performance for torrenting, allowing P2P activity on all servers with commendable download speeds. Its private logging policy and kill switch feature help ensure your activity remains concealed from your ISP. However, it does not support port forwarding, which may limit its effectiveness compared to some other VPNs. Additionally, while its download speeds are competitive, there are VPNs available that offer even faster torrenting speeds. Note that the kill switch must be manually activated.

Ranked #11 out of 62 VPNs for Torrenting

Key Performance Data from Torrenting Tests:

All of Surfshark’s servers support P2P activity, and we evaluated its performance using torrent clients such as qBittorrent, uTorrent, and Deluge.

Our speed tests for torrenting recorded an average download bitrate of 8.7 MiB/s. While this is sufficiently fast for downloading P2P files efficiently, other VPNs, such as PIA and ExpressVPN, offer superior speeds, with respective download bitrates of 9.6 MiB/s and 9.4 MiB/s.

Although Surfshark may not be the fastest VPN for P2P file sharing, it is certainly safe to use. With a private logging policy, AES-256 encryption, and first-party DNS servers, your torrenting activities are effectively protected from monitoring by your ISP or copyright holders.

It is important to note that Surfshark’s kill switch must be manually activated through its settings menu, as it is not enabled by default. To ensure your safety while torrenting with Surfshark, we strongly recommend activating the kill switch prior to initiating any downloads.

In summary, Surfshark is a secure option for P2P file sharing; however, if you frequently engage in torrenting, you may find that PIA offers faster and better-optimized performance.

Expert Advice: While Surfshark has servers optimized for P2P activity, they are not explicitly marked or listed. To locate these servers, enter “P2P” in the search bar, and a selection of P2P-optimized servers will be displayed.

Bypassing Web Censorship

Performance Insights

Effectiveness Rating: 7.5/10

Overall, Surfshark is not the optimal choice for bypassing web censorship. Although it features an obfuscation tool that activates automatically when connecting from China, internal testing indicates that it succeeds in bypassing restrictions only 35% of the time. Conversely, it remains effective for circumventing blocks in Russia.

Ranked #13 out of 62 VPNs for Bypassing Web Censorship

Surfshark demonstrates limited effectiveness in China. Weekly tests conducted over the past year using our Shanghai server reveal that it manages to bypass Chinese website blocks only 35% of the time. While this marks a significant improvement from the 18% success rate recorded in 2023, it is still insufficient for us to endorse this VPN for use in China.

These assessments were performed utilizing Surfshark’s NoBorders mode, an obfuscation feature designed to enhance connectivity in restrictive environments. Notably, Surfshark remains one of the few high-quality VPNs that has not yet been banned in Russia, making it a viable option for bypassing Russian censorship. Additionally, it can be utilized in countries such as Turkey, Iran, and the UAE.

Expert Recommendation: For users seeking a reliable VPN for accessing content in China, we recommend Astrill VPN, which has consistently demonstrated a 100% success rate in circumventing The Great Firewall.

Device and Operating System Compatibility

Custom Applications, Smart DNS, and Browser Extensions

Device Compatibility

Surfshark boasts compatibility with all major devices and platforms, offering users the flexibility to connect an unlimited number of devices simultaneously. The service provides custom applications for desktop and mobile devices, as well as applications for Apple TV and Fire TV Stick. Additionally, a Smart DNS feature is available for devices that do not support VPNs. However, it is important to note that Surfshark does not offer a dedicated router application, which can complicate network-level protection.

Applications

Surfshark offers custom applications for the following devices:

• Windows
• Mac
• iOS
• Android
• Linux
• Router

Importantly, Surfshark imposes no restrictions on the number of devices on which its applications can be installed. We successfully installed the application on all of our test devices and connected to a Surfshark server simultaneously without any issues. Furthermore, Surfshark does not penalize users for sharing their accounts, a practice that is relatively uncommon among VPN providers, as most typically enforce a limit on the number of simultaneous connections, with an average of five devices.

While the user experience is consistent across all Surfshark applications, certain features may only be available on specific platforms. Below is a comparison table highlighting these differences:

Game Consoles and Streaming Devices

Not all devices support VPN applications. For those that do not, Surfshark offers a Smart DNS feature or the option to manually install the VPN on your router. Once configured, Surfshark can be utilized on the following devices:

• Amazon Fire TV
• Android TV
• Chromecast
• Nintendo
• PlayStation
• Roku
• Smart TVs
• Xbox

It is important to note that Smart DNS is distinct from a VPN; it functions as an unencrypted proxy that changes your DNS address to another location. This enables access to geo-restricted streaming and gaming content without altering your IP address, allowing you to use Surfshark on your gaming consoles.

Additionally, users can access blocked content without a VPN by manually installing Surfshark on their router. However, Surfshark does not offer a dedicated router application like some competing VPN services, which can complicate the installation process.

Browser Extensions

Surfshark provides extensions for the following browsers:

• Chrome
• Microsoft Edge
• Firefox

The extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge change your IP address and encrypt your browser traffic, although they do not encrypt all web traffic.

Notable features include an ad and pop-up blocker, a website safety warning, and a data breach alert. There is also a bypass option that allows users to select specific websites that will avoid the VPN tunnel and the ad blocker, enhancing usability.

It is important to note that these extensions are not free; users must be paid subscribers to access them. However, they are fully encrypted VPN extensions that have undergone independent audits by Cure53, ensuring a high level of security and reliability.

Ease of Use

User-Friendly and Intuitive Applications

Ease of Use Rating: 9.7/10
Surfshark offers an exceptional user experience, effectively balancing a wealth of technical features with a highly intuitive design. Whether you are a VPN novice or an experienced user, Surfshark’s applications are tailored to meet your needs. The interface is straightforward, featuring rapid response times and clearly labeled settings, making it incredibly easy to select a server, change protocols, and customize your application.

Ranked #2 Out of 62 VPNs for Ease of Use

Surfshark is remarkably straightforward to install, set up, and navigate. To begin, simply sign up and download the appropriate software, then log in with your account credentials.

The user experience within Surfshark’s applications is exemplary. The applications are thoughtfully designed, with self-explanatory features and helpful descriptions accompanying each technical option.

Below is a comprehensive overview of our experience using Surfshark across various devices:

Desktop & Laptop (Windows & macOS)

Surfshark’s desktop applications offer a user-friendly experience, characterized by easy navigation, a clean design, and an intuitive interface.

The server list is presented as a scrollable alphabetical list, complemented by a search bar for quick access to specific servers. Users can also connect effortlessly to the ‘Fastest Server’ or ‘Nearest Country’ with dedicated buttons.

The settings menu is straightforward, with Connection Settings and Advanced Settings functioning as toggle switches accompanied by helpful explanations, ensuring that all options are easily accessible.

In terms of customization, we appreciate the availability of a dark mode option and support for 16 languages in addition to English. On macOS, users can choose the position of the Surfshark icon, either in the dock or on the status bar.

However, the integration of the Surfshark Alert, Antivirus, and Search add-ons into the main menu is less favorable, as it may clutter the sidebar with unnecessary options when only the ‘VPN’ and ‘Settings’ features are typically required.

Additionally, the inability to manually resize the macOS window is a drawback, as it occupies a significant amount of screen space. While the Windows application allows for some manual resizing, it is limited.

Mobile (iPhone & Android)

Surfshark’s mobile applications closely resemble their desktop counterparts, providing users with a consistent experience across platforms. The interface and usability are identical, featuring many of the same functionalities found on desktop, such as CleanWeb, Multi-Hop servers, and a VPN kill switch.

There are two notable differences between the mobile apps: the iOS version includes a ‘Pause’ button that temporarily halts VPN connections without fully disconnecting, while the Android app features a distinctive kill switch that disables internet access for all applications on the device.

Additionally, both the Android and Windows versions include a feature called Bypasser, which allows users to select specific applications that can bypass the VPN tunnel.

However, similar to the desktop version, we wish the Surfshark One promotion did not occupy such a prominent position in the interface.

Linux

Surfshark supports Linux on Ubuntu, Debian, and Mint distributions. Once installed, users can access Surfshark’s graphical user interface (GUI) for Linux, which facilitates server changes and protocol switching without the need for command line input. The application also includes a kill switch.

Few VPN providers offer a GUI for Linux, and Surfshark’s transition from a solely command-line interface to a user-friendly GUI is a commendable enhancement that distinguishes it in the market.

Customer Support

Customer Support Evaluation:

Rating: 8.5/10

Surfshark provides effective customer support, featuring a user-friendly website and 24/7 live chat options. Support agents are consistently prompt, courteous, and eager to assist. However, there are instances where agents may lack advanced technical expertise. Additionally, the introduction of a chatbot has not proven to be very helpful.

Surfshark ranks 13th out of 62 VPNs in terms of customer support.

Contact Methods for Surfshark Customer Support:

You can reach Surfshark customer support through the following channels:

Unlike other VPN services such as ExpressVPN, Atlas VPN, and Proton VPN, Surfshark allows access to its live chat support without requiring an account, making it accessible to all users.

However, the introduction of a chatbot for its 24/7 live chat has raised some concerns. While chatbots can provide basic information, they often feel more like a barrier than a truly effective resource. Furthermore, the chatbot only communicates in English.

Users can quickly connect with a human support agent by instructing the bot to “get me a human,” and these agents are capable of responding in multiple languages.

Based on our years of interaction with the Surfshark support team, we have consistently found the agents to be polite and prompt in their responses. They are particularly adept at recommending servers for unblocking streaming sites.

However, we have observed that some agents may lack in-depth technical knowledge. For more complex inquiries, we recommend utilizing the Surfshark support email for assistance.

The Surfshark website is well-organized and offers a wealth of useful information, including visual installation guides, FAQs, and a ticket support system.