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Surfshark is our best cheap VPN for good reason and one of the best VPN services in general that we tested. It’s one of the highest scoring providers overall, with speeds that blow the competition out of the water. It accessed every streaming service I tested bar one, and it allows the user to connect with as many devices as they like at the same time with a single account.
Being based in the Netherlands is a slight disadvantage from a jurisdictional perspective, but Surfshark does come with an audited no-logs policy for peace of mind.
Our Surfshark review will take you through everything you need to know about the provider in detail, from leak tests to whether it’s worth your time and money.
8.12
Privacy & Security
8.25
Speed
9.50
Content Access
8.40
Pricing
8.07
Usability
9.63
Features
7.07
Company
9
Customer Service
Surfshark manages to fit a lot into an affordable package. Starter plans with a feature set that includes a kill switch, split tunnelling, and dynamic multihop. The latter allows the user to route traffic through two VPN servers at the same time for improved privacy. A Surfshark One+ plan adds antivirus and malware protection, as well as the ability to remove your personal information from company databases. As such, there’s a level of coverage that will suit your needs, whether you want every feature available, or you just want a cheap VPN to handle the basics.
There are no device limits, while Surfshark recorded some of the fastest connection speeds during testing. Overall performance is impressive when accounting for the low asking price, while more expensive tiers are a viable solution if you’re looking for advanced features like a private search engine.
The ability to generate an online name, email, and phone number is especially helpful if your main aim is to improve privacy. Surfshark subscribers will be able to use Alternative ID to generate an online profile, while Alternative Number is a paid add-on. Both will make it easier to sign up to online services without giving up any personal information in the process. You’ll be able to create an alternative persona with a couple of clicks, as the feature will auto-generate your information if you’d prefer. This is a truly unique feature that helps to set Surfshark apart from other VPNs on the market.
The 2.0 release of CleanWeb sees support for an ad blocker, cookie pop-up blocker, data breach alert, and malware alert added to Chrome, Firefox, and Edge browsers. You’ll also be able to use CleanWeb via the Surfshark app, and it’s available with the Starter plan. It’s helpful, and it’ll quietly block ads in the background.
| VPN provider | Price | Free version? | Number of servers | Maximum number of devices | Netflix | BBC iPlayer | Disney+ | Amazon | HBO Max | Audit? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surfshark | From £1.69/m | No | 3,200+ | Unlimited | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Yes |
| ExpressVPN | From £6.77/m | No | 3,000+ | 5 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Yes |
| NordVPN | From £2.39/m | No | 6,300+ | 6 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Yes |
| CyberGhost | From £1.78/m | No | 11,000+ | 7 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Yes |
| VPNSecure | From £2.33 ($2.99)/m | No | 75 | 5 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | No |
Surfshark has carved out a niche for itself as one of the best cheap providers on the planet. The low asking price is complimented by exceptional performance, with the VPN proving to be especially fast no matter the location that was selected during testing. Only Proton VPN, NordVPN, and ExpressVPN accessed more streaming services, and they’re considerably more expensive than Surfshark.
The provider has grown rapidly and now has more than 3,200 RAM-only servers in 100+ countries. It might not be the largest network overall in terms of server numbers, but it’s clearly capable of matching up in terms of speeds. Features like Alternative ID are interesting, and are likely to be helpful if you’re interested in improving privacy above all else.
Many of Surfshark’s best features are hidden behind a paywall. This makes sense given the low price for Starter subscriptions, but it does leave the app feeling a little sparse for entry-level users. You’ll still be able to set up Alternative ID, along with options to enable the kill switch, Rotating IPs, or NoBorders mode for improved internet freedom.
In 2021, Surfshark moved its headquarters to the Netherlands from its previous offshore location, the British Virgin Islands. The Netherlands has a liberal political environment and legal system that allows the company to continue its no-logs policy. However, one legitimate concern that some users have raised is that the Netherlands is a member of the Nine Eyes intelligence-sharing network.
The Eyes are international intelligence-sharing agreements between governmental bodies, named after the number of countries with partnerships – Five, Nine or Fourteen Eyes. Participating countries are reported to spy on their citizens through various means, acquiring sensitive and private information that may be shared with the alliance’s other members.
Surfshark does come with a strict no-logs policy, but a Netherlands HQ isn’t the best location if you’re looking for a VPN with the lowest level of risk.
If you only have a basic subscription, there isn’t much else to do aside from selecting a server to connect to. Of course, this is a core feature that you’d expect from any provider, and Surfshark is a lot cheaper than much of the competition. On the other hand, greyed out tabs are found for Search, Antivirus, and Alert, even if you only have a Starter subscription.
The company merged with NordVPN in 2023, so it’s best to look elsewhere if you’d prefer to use a completely independent provider. Regardless, they have operated as separate entities ever since, and target different users. In truth, there aren’t many downsides, and it’s hard to argue with a low asking price.
Here’s a rundown of the factor-by-factor scores in our latest round of testing.
To verify its security measures, Surfshark’s servers have been extensively tested by independent auditor Cure53, while Deloitte has verified the company’s stringent no-log policy. This was done most recently in December 2022.
Surfshark encrypts your data with AES-256. it’s a near-impenetrable symmetric encryption algorithm using a 256-bit key to scramble data. It also uses RAM-only servers, which wipe data as soon as they are switched off.
The provider scored fairly well in our tests, but the overall score was dragged down by the decision to base its HQ in the European Union.
Surfshark was the fastest VPN overall during testing, which is impressive given it’s also our best cheap VPN. Most budget providers tend to struggle when it comes to performance, especially if they’re being compared to a more expensive VPN like Express or Proton.
MacOS and Android speeds were unmatched during my tests, even when accounting for heavyweights like NordVPN and IPVanish. It’s unlikely that you’ll notice much lag or slowdown while connected to a Surfshark server.
Surfshark is great if you’re predominantly planning to use your VPN for streaming. We put each provider to the test with the following services:
I’m happy to report that Surfshark worked with everything aside from NowTV. Given the platform has the rights to stream Premier League games via Sky Sports, it does block VPN users more successfully than many others. If you’re planning to watch NowTV, either ExpressVPN, Proton VPN, or NordVPN will fit the bill.
Being able to access nine of the 10 services I tested is a solid result when accounting for the lower asking price. Given it also offers some of the fastest connection speeds in the industry, Surfshark is perfect if you’re looking for a reliable streaming solution. It works well with 4K streams, and won’t let you down midway through a live event.
Surfshark offers one of the lowest monthly subscription rates altogether, which is one of the reasons why we named it the best cheap VPN. It has a pricing plan with three service tiers, allowing users to subscribe for one, 12, or 24 months. You’ll often receive extra months free if you choose the latter. It also offers a seven-day VPN free trial with no limitations on data or services.
Surfshark Starter, Surfshark One, and Surfshark One+ are the three VPN plans that the company currently offers. Starter plans offer access to the VPN, along with an ad and pop-up blocker. Surfshark One is designed to protect against viruses, malware, data leaks, and privacy threats, so it’s a more comprehensive collection of features to improve online privacy.
Of course, Surfshark stops being so cheap if you decide to opt for the most expensive plan. Most would-be users are likely to be happy with VPN coverage, even if features like Surfshark Search are appealing from a privacy standpoint.
In line with NordVPN and ExpressVPN, Surfshark offers a 30-day money-back guarantee if you’re unhappy with the service for any reason.
With more than 3,200 servers, Surfshark has fewer than competitors CyberGhost and NordVPN; however, it’s the only one of the trio that offers connections for an unlimited number of devices. Many providers allow a maximum number of 10 at the most.
Feature sets are similar no matter which app you’re using, and it’s also compatible with a range of browsers. You can install the VPN on various router models, and there are apps for everything from your Fire Stick to mobile and desktop devices. Browser support comes in the form of Chrome, Firefox, and Edge versions, and you’ll be able to get it working on games consoles like the Playstation 5.
The provider is packed with notable features, leading to one of the highest scores of any VPN we’ve tested. Surfshark’s VPN for Android includes a setting to override your GPS location, known as GPS spoofing. This allows you to hide your location by automatically matching your GPS location with your chosen server’s location.
Camouflage Mode, otherwise known as obfuscation, is another great Surfshark feature. Obfuscation hides the fact that you’re using a VPN to reroute your traffic, providing an added layer of privacy. Surfshark’s No-Borders Mode ensures that you can continue to use your VPN anywhere in the world, even if you’re currently staying in a more restrictive region.
A kill switch instantly disconnects your device from the internet if your VPN connection drops unexpectedly, safeguarding your privacy. Surfshark’s kill switch needs to be enabled in settings, and, overall it’s effective and robust. It’s available on a long list of devices, and didn’t leak during my tests.
Surfshark’s double VPN feature, Multihop, enables you to connect via two servers, adding an extra layer of security. Usually, these are located in different countries and are pre-selected for you; however, you can select both servers manually.
A slightly lower Company score is what stops Surfshark from a chance of claiming the top spot on our lists. It has fallen afoul of the ASA in the past, although is it worth noting that this was for the inappropriate use of violence in an advert, rather than for stretching the truth in terms of the VPN’s capabilities.
A Netherlands HQ is more troublesome, and drags Surfshark’s Company score down. After all, the Netherlands is in the European Union, which isn’t known for having the best data retention practices. It’s also within the grasp of the Five Eyes network, which is a negative for reasons discussed in the Neutral section found above.
If you can’t find answers to your questions in Surfshark’s comprehensive help section, there are several methods to contact the company’s 24/7 customer support.
The live chat service is easy and quick to use. You are first connected to an AI chatbot, but you are given the option to talk to a live agent at any point during the conversation. It took just 42 seconds to get through to a real human, and my question was answered satisfactorily each time. I made sure to ask about the refund process, which isn’t always made clear. Surfshark’s staff were happy to take me through what I needed to do.
Yes, you’ll be able to get access to Surfshark with a free trial on mobile devices on the App Store and Google Play Store. It’s only good for seven days, but it does give you the chance to test out every feature with no limitations. Be aware, if you forget to cancel your subscription you’ll be charged the full renewal amount after seven days.
In 2023, Surfshark merged with NordVPN, but both are continuing to operate as autonomous companies relying on separate infrastructures and different product development plans. Having spoken to the team at Surfshark, they have clarified that this continues to be the case in the present.
Despite being the fastest VPN during testing, there is a chance that Surfshark will have an impact on your connection speeds. Given that it was the quickest VPN during testing, it’s likely to have less of an impact than the average provider. As with any VPN, this is a consequence of the encryption method used to mask your traffic. The provider notes;
“Surfshark does not apply any speed, data, or bandwidth limitations, although VPN encryption can cause up to 20-30% decrease in speeds.”
Surfshark comes with an audited no-logs policy. It’s privacy policy says;
“Our servers do store information about your connection to a particular VPN server (user ID and/or IP address and connection time stamps), BUT this information is automatically deleted within 15 minutes after termination of your session.”
Ideally, the provider wouldn’t store any logs, even if they are removed soon afterwards.
Yes, it’s legal to use Surfshark in the UK. There are no laws against using a VPN in the UK, and the same is true for many other regions worldwide. Even so, some countries have blocked or banned VPNs, including China and Russia. VPNs are illegal in regions such as North Korea, Oman, and Iraq. Make sure to find out what the local laws are before using a VPN if you’re unsure.
There’s no free version of Surfshark available at this moment in time. The VPN uses a subscription model, which means the user is expected to pay a monthly fee to use the service. You will be able to use the 30-day money-back guarantee as a trial, as long as you remember to cancel your subscription within that time period.
VPN providers tend to go for different markets and potential users, which is why feature sets are varied, and functionality differs between services. Surfshark offers a cheap VPN tier by stripping away many of the premium features that set it apart from other providers. That’s not to say that Surfshark doesn’t offer a capable VPN. It’s that only Surfshark One users will get access to its antivirus, data leak alerts, and access to the private search engine. Even so, the Starter tier is perfect if you’re looking for cheap VPN coverage, especially as it comes with an audited no-logs policy.
Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows users will be able to use an IP rotator to change their IP address at set intervals. Otherwise, you can get a new IP address by switching to a new server.
Given the Starter plan is wallet-friendly and servers are quicker than most, it’s fair to say that Surfshark is likely to be worth it if you’re looking for long-term VPN coverage. Surfshark worked with almost every streaming service during testing, and there were no leaks to speak of.
The data in this review is reported from a neutral stance and should be used for informational purposes only. We review VPN services from the perspective of:
Independent Advisor strongly recommends that you follow the local laws in your region whilst using a VPN. We do not condone the use of a VPN to bypass copyright restrictions, or to stream content without a valid subscription in your current region. Make sure to comply with any and all applicable laws and regulations whilst using a VPN with streaming services, and any other relevant platforms.
