Quick answer
Is Surfshark VPN the best choice for 2026?
Yes, for most users it is the best balance of price and performance, scoring 9.4/10 overall. It offers unlimited simultaneous connections and reached a local speed of 921 Mbps in our tests, making it a top-tier contender that undercuts the price of premium rivals.
How we tested Surfshark
Full methodology Platforms
Windows 11, macOS Tahoe, Linux GUI, iOS 19, Android 16, Apple TV, Android TV, Fire TV, Google TV, Router, Chrome, Firefox, Edge (M3 Mac mini + Pixel 9 + Fire TV Stick 4K Max)
Speed testing
921 Mbps · local
733 Mbps · international
14 ms · ping
Servers: EU · US · APAC · DE · PL · JP · BR
12× per location
WireGuard + OpenVPN
733 Mbps · international
14 ms · ping
Servers: EU · US · APAC · DE · PL · JP · BR
12× per location
WireGuard + OpenVPN
Streaming
122 platforms · Apple TV+ · Crunchyroll · Netflix · Pluto TV · Amazon Prime · Tubi · Disney+ · Peacock · HBO Max · MLB.TV · DAZN · F1 TV · Paramount+ · NBA League Pass
Privacy & security
DNS leak · WebRTC · IPv6 · IP leak test
Kill switch · Split tunneling · Obfuscation
38+ hours total
Kill switch · Split tunneling · Obfuscation
38+ hours total
Tested by StreamFix · April 2026 · No affiliate relationship affects scoring
The Verdict
Pros and Cons: The Honest Verdict
Pros
- Industry-leading value with a biennial price of only $1.78/mo
- Exceptional local speeds reaching 921 Mbps via WireGuard
- Truly unlimited simultaneous connections for all your household tech
- Massive network covering 100 countries and 4,500+ servers
- Rigorous security verified by 4 independent audits
- Perfect for 4K streaming on 29 out of 32 tested platforms
- Generous 30-day money-back guarantee for risk-free testing
Cons
- Significant price jump to $6.58/mo upon subscription renewal
- No phone support available for immediate technical troubleshooting
- Lack of port forwarding and SOCKS5 proxy for advanced power users
- Headquartered in the Netherlands (Nine Eyes jurisdiction)
- Remote speeds drop by roughly 20% compared to local connections
Surfshark has evolved from a scrappy newcomer in 2018 to a dominant force in the privacy market. During our 38-hour testing phase, we were impressed by how the service maintains a 9.7/10 value rating despite the massive expansion of its server infrastructure. It is one of the few remaining providers to offer unlimited simultaneous connections, which essentially means one subscription covers your entire extended family.
The service does not just compete on price; it is a legitimate performance powerhouse. We recorded a top speed of 921 Mbps on local servers, which is faster than many competitors charging double the price. However, here it slightly disappointed us: the monthly plan at $15.45/mo is prohibitively expensive, clearly designed to push users toward the 2-year commitment.
While the 9.4/10 security score is high, the jurisdiction in the Netherlands might give some hardcore privacy enthusiasts pause due to Nine Eyes intelligence sharing. That said, the full no-logs policy has been audited multiple times, which helps mitigate those geographical concerns for the average user.
Overall9.4
Privacy9.3
Security9.4
Speed9.2
Streaming9.3
Value9.7
Plans
What’s included in each Surfshark plan?
Starter | Most popular One | One+ | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cloud | |||
| Email aliases | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Identity | |||
| Identity theft support (US) | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Personal data removal (Incogni) | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Passwords | |||
| Data breach scanner | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Privacy | |||
| Multi-hop / Double VPN | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| VPN | |||
| Secure, fast VPN | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Simultaneous devices | Neomezeně | Neomezeně | Neomezeně |
| Threat Protection (anti-malware) | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Ad blocker | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Try Surfshark risk-free today
30-day money-back guarantee · No questions asked
Which plan is right for you?
Surfshark comes in 3 tiers with progressively more protection. Starter delivers the unlimited VPN with Alternative ID (email aliases and persona generator). One adds antivirus, data leak monitoring, and private search. One+ layers on identity theft support (US only) and Incogni: a service that wipes your personal data from broker databases. Every tier comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee and unlimited simultaneous devices.
Plans & Costs
Surfshark Pricing: Affordable Entry, Pricey Renewal
Breaking down the long-term savings and the hidden renewal costs.
Accepted payment methods
Credit cardPayPalGoogle PayApple PayBitcoinEthereumLitecoinDogecoinUSDT
Savings calculator
Monthly plan
$370.80
total cost
2-year plan
$42.72
total cost
You save
$328.08
88% cheaper
Start protecting all your devices for less
Risk-free testing with a 30-day guarantee
Long-term savings with $1.78/mo
If you are looking for the lowest entry point, the 2-year plan at $1.78/mo is virtually impossible to beat in terms of raw value. This plan includes the 30-day money-back guarantee, which we confirmed works as advertised during our refund test. The annual option at $2.99/mo is also reasonable, but the $15.45/mo monthly rate feels like a penalty for those who dislike long-term commitments.
The hidden $6.58/mo renewal jump
Heads up: after the 2-year promo ends, the price renews at $6.58/mo (270% above the promo rate). This is a common industry tactic, but it still caught us off guard how much the gap is between the initial deal and the standard rate. It is significantly cheaper than ExpressVPN initially, but the gap narrows once that renewal hits.
We found the payment process to be quite flexible. Beyond credit cards, they accept anonymous payments via cryptocurrency, which is a nice touch for those wanting to keep their financial details away from the VPN provider. There is no permanent free version, but the 7-day free trial is available if you sign up through mobile app stores.
Privacy Armor
Security Features and Surfshark Encryption
An in-depth look at the protocols and leak protection guarding your data.
Encryption & security features
Protocols, cipher suites and advanced protection
Encryption & protocols
How your data travels
- WireGuard
- OpenVPN
- IKEv2
- AES-256-GCM, ChaCha20
Leak protection
Preventing accidental exposure
- Kill switch
- DNS leak protection
- IPv6 leak protection
- WebRTC leak protection
- Perfect forward secrecy
Advanced features
Power-user capabilities
- Split tunneling
- Double VPN / MultiHop
- Meshnet / P2P LAN
- SOCKS5 proxy
- Tor over VPN (Onion)
- Port forwarding
Built-in extras
Tools & optional add-ons
- Ad & malware blocker
- Smart DNS
- Dedicated IP
- Static IP
- Obfuscation
WireGuard and Kill Switch reliability
During our deep dive into the Surfshark technical stack, we focused heavily on the WireGuard implementation. It uses AES-256-GCM and ChaCha20 encryption, which provided a seamless experience during our tests on Windows 11 and Android 16. The kill switch performed flawlessly when we intentionally terminated the connection; it blocked all internet traffic instantly across macOS and iOS.
MultiHop and CleanWeb testing
What surprised us was the effectiveness of the Double VPN feature, which Surfshark calls MultiHop. It routes your traffic through two different servers in two countries. While this usually kills your speed, we still managed to maintain enough bandwidth for HD browsing. It adds a heavy layer of obfuscation that is useful for bypassing strict network filters at work or school, though notably, the service currently does not work in China.
The ad blocker, known as CleanWeb, is more than just a gimmick. In our testing, it successfully stripped away trackers and malicious pop-ups on several news sites. We also verified DNS leak protection and IPv6 leak protection using multiple third-party tools, and the results came back clean. There are no known privacy incidents associated with the brand, which is a record we hope they maintain as part of the Nord Security family.
Privacy & jurisdiction
No-logs policy, data retention laws and transparency
Privacy & logging
- No-logs policyFull: verified
- Logs IP addressNever
- Logs DNS queriesNever
- Logs connection timeNever
- Logs bandwidthNever
- RAM-only servers
- Open-source app
- Bug bounty program
- Transparency report
Jurisdiction & surveillance
Netherlands
Founded: 2018 · Nord Security
- Five Eyes memberNo
- Nine Eyes memberYes
- Fourteen Eyes memberYes
- Data retention lawsNo
- Enemy of InternetNo
Surfshark privacy in the Netherlands
Surfshark is based in the Netherlands, a Nine Eyes member. However, Dutch privacy laws are among the strongest in the EU, and the no-logs policy has been independently verified. This balance of legal protection and audited behavior makes it a reliable choice for the average user.
Since merging with Nord Security in 2022, the service benefits from a shared security infrastructure. We did not find any reported data leaks. All servers in the network are RAM-only, ensuring no persistent logs remain on physical hardware.
How Surfshark protects you
You
Your device
Encrypted
AES-256-GCM
Surfshark
100 countries
New IP
Anonymous
Internet
Any website
Your ISP sees
Encrypted gibberish
Surfshark logs
Nothing: verified
Website sees
Surfshark's IP only
Performance Data
Speed Test Results: How Fast is Surfshark?
Real-world performance data from our global server testing.
Local speed
921 Mbps
Remote speed
733 Mbps
Latency
14 ms
Speed score:
9.2 / 10– Excellent for 4K streaming4 500+
Servers
100
Countries
Unlimited
Devices / account
4K
Streaming support
Testing 921 Mbps local performance
We did not expect such a gap between local and remote performance. On a server in the same city, we hit 921 Mbps, which is roughly a 6.2% overhead from our baseline. That is incredibly efficient. However, once we jumped to a remote server on a different continent, speeds dipped to 733 Mbps. It is still fast enough for anything you need to do, but the drop-off is more noticeable than what we saw with NordVPN.
The 14 ms latency we measured on local servers is excellent news for gamers. We played several rounds of fast-paced shooters without any perceptible lag. If you are a power user, the choice of protocols like WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2 gives you the flexibility to prioritize either raw speed or maximum compatibility with older routers.
Speed benchmark – Surfshark vs. competitors
NordVPN
966 Mbps
ExpressVPN
938 Mbps
Surfshark★
921 Mbps
Private Internet Access
874 Mbps
Experience 921 Mbps speeds today
Only $1.78/mo for unlimited simultaneous connections
Entertainment
Streaming Performance: Can Surfshark Unblock Everything?
Apple TV+
Crunchyroll
Netflix
Pluto TV
Amazon Prime
Tubi
Disney+
Peacock
HBO Max
MLB.TV
DAZN
Paramount+
NBA League Pass
SkyShowtime
Kayo Sports
UFC Fight Pass
ESPN+
Stan Sport
AMC+
MUBI
Hulu
FuboTV
Crave
TNT Sport
Rakuten Viki
STV Player
All 4+
ITVX
Sky Sports
BBC iPlayer
CuriosityStreamTested across 122 streaming platforms in total.
Streaming score:
9.3 / 10Unblocking Netflix US and BBC iPlayer
Streaming is where this VPN truly shines, unblocking 29 out of 32 platforms in our most recent 2026 test cycle. We spent hours jumping between regions and found that Netflix US, Netflix UK, and Netflix JP all loaded within seconds in full 4K. This delighted us because many mid-range VPNs usually struggle with the Japanese library’s tough geo-blocks.
Global sports on DAZN and F1 TV
Our UK-based tester confirmed that BBC iPlayer and ITVX worked without a hitch, even on the notoriously difficult-to-crack Fire TV app. In the US, we successfully accessed HBO Max, Hulu, and Amazon Prime. We did have one minor hiccup where Disney+ required us to clear our browser cache before it would play, but a quick server switch solved it immediately.
For sports fans, the performance was equally solid. We streamed live races on F1 TV and caught matches on DAZN without buffering. The inclusion of Smart DNS is a huge win here, allowing us to unblock Apple TV+ on a smart TV that does not natively support VPN apps. It is a comprehensive streaming tool that justifies its 9.3/10 rating.
Device Support
Device Compatibility and App Experience
Desktop & Mobile
TV & Streaming
Console & Router
Browser Extensionsproxy: browser traffic only
Unlimited devices simultaneously on one account
Testing unlimited connections at once
The promise of unlimited simultaneous connections is Surfshark’s biggest selling point. We tested this by connecting two laptops, three smartphones, an iPad, and a Fire TV stick all at once. The connection remained stable across the board, which is a rare feat. Most competitors cap you at 6 or 10, making this service a much better fit for large households.
App quality on Android and iOS
The Android 16 and iOS 19 apps are remarkably polished, offering a clean interface that does not overwhelm you with technical jargon. We particularly liked the Linux GUI, as many VPNs still force Linux users to use the command line. However, the router setup is still a bit of a manual chore; if you want a plug-and-play router experience, you might find this frustrating.
The browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox are essentially lightweight proxies. They are great for a quick IP swap to watch BBC iPlayer, but remember they do not encrypt your entire device’s traffic like the full app does. The app also features a split tunneling tool (Bypasser), which let us route our banking app outside the VPN while keeping our torrent client protected.
Transparency
Trust and Audits: Verifying the No-Logs Claim
Reviewing the independent audits and company transparency reports.
Independent Audits
✓ 4 independent audits completed · Last audit: December 2025 · All passed
Verifying 4 independent audits
Trust is earned through transparency, and having 4 major audits is a strong start. The most recent check in December 2025 was conducted by Deloitte and SecuRing, covering everything from the no-logs policy to the actual server infrastructure and app security. Passing these audits without major red flags is what anchors the 9.3/10 privacy score.
We also value the active bug bounty program. By paying security researchers to find vulnerabilities before hackers do, the company shows it is proactive about its RAM-only server fleet. While it is owned by Nord Security, the same parent company as NordVPN, the two services operate independently and maintain their own distinct infrastructure and privacy standards.
Join millions of users backed by 4 audits
Secure Dutch-based privacy with a 30-day guarantee
Help Desk
Customer Support and Reliability
24/7 Support
Available
Live Chat
Available
Email / Ticket
Available
Phone Support
Not available
Support languages: English, German, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Dutch, Polish, Japanese, Korean, Chinese.
Support is available 24/7, but the lack of phone support is a clear weakness for a company of this size. If you run into a complex configuration issue on your router, you are stuck with live chat or email support. That said, our experience with the live chat was positive; we received a helpful response regarding dedicated IP setup in under two minutes.
The knowledge base is quite extensive, with guides available in English and several other languages. It is well-organized, though some of the advanced troubleshooting articles could use more visual aids. Overall, the support team is competent, but the lack of a direct voice line keeps it from a perfect score.
9.4
/10
Ready to get started?
Get SurfsharkThe 2-year plan costs just $1.78/mo and includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.
30-day money-back guaranteeAudited no-logs policyCancel easily anytime
Head-to-Head
Surfshark vs. NordVPN vs. ExpressVPN vs. Private Internet Access
Side-by-side comparison of key parameters against the 3 most popular alternatives.
| Parameter | Surfshark | NordVPN | ExpressVPN | Private Internet Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 9.4 | 9.6 | 9.3 | 9.1 |
| Best price | $1.78/mo | $2.99/mo | $2.79/mo | $1.79/mo |
| Money-back | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days |
| devices | Unlimited | 10 | 8 | Unlimited |
| Servers | 4 500+ | 9 413+ | 3 000+ | 35 000+ |
| Countries | 100 | 139 | 105 | 91 |
| Port forwarding | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Works in China | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Speed score | 9.2 | 9.7 | 9.6 | 8.7 |
Common Questions
Surfshark FAQ: Your Questions Answered
Yes, it is highly secure with a 9.4/10 rating. It uses AES-256-GCM encryption, has RAM-only servers, and its no-logs policy has been verified through 4 independent audits by firms like Deloitte.
Unlike most competitors, this VPN allows for unlimited simultaneous connections. This means you can secure every phone, laptop, and smart TV in your household under one subscription.
Absolutely. In our 2026 tests, it successfully unblocked Netflix regions including the US, UK, and Japan. It scored a 9.3/10 for streaming, making it one of the most reliable options for bypassing geo-blocks.
The short-term monthly plan is quite expensive at $15.45/mo. For the best value, we recommend the 2-year plan which drops the effective cost to $1.78/mo.
With a local speed of 921 Mbps and a latency of just 14 ms, it is excellent for gaming. The WireGuard protocol ensures minimal lag and high stability during online play.
The company is based in Amsterdam, Netherlands. While this is a Nine Eyes jurisdiction, their audited no-logs policy and RAM-only infrastructure ensure that no user data is stored or shareable.
Yes, there is a 7-day free trial available if you sign up through the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. For all other platforms, you can use the 30-day money-back guarantee to test it risk-free.
Currently, our data shows that it does not work in China. If you need a VPN for the Great Firewall, you might want to look at competitors like NordVPN or ExpressVPN.
While NordVPN has a slightly higher overall score of 9.6/10, Surfshark is the better value choice for families due to its unlimited device limit and lower biennial price of $1.78/mo.
After the initial promo period, the price will renew at $6.58/mo. This is a significant increase from the introductory $1.78/mo rate, so keep that in mind for your long-term budget.
The lowest rate comes directly from Surfshark.com on the 2-year plan, starting at $1.78/mo: that’s around 87% less than the monthly tariff of $15.45/mo. Pair this with the 30-day money-back guarantee for risk-free testing. We recommend skipping third-party “lifetime” deals, as these are often unauthorized resellers without official support.
Yes. In our 2026 tests, Surfshark reliably unblocked Hulu, Peacock, BBC iPlayer, ITVX, HBO Max, and Disney+ across multiple regional servers. The built-in Smart DNS feature also enables streaming on Apple TV, game consoles, and smart TVs where the VPN app can’t run natively.
Alternative ID is a Surfshark-exclusive feature that generates a random email alias plus a fake but plausible persona (name, address, date of birth) you can use whenever a website demands more information than you want to give. Email sent to the alias is forwarded to your real inbox, so you can sign up for newsletters, free trials, or one-off downloads without exposing your real address. We tested it for 30 days across 25+ signups: zero spam reached our real inbox, and you can disable any alias with one click if it starts attracting junk. It is included in the Surfshark One plan at no extra cost: a meaningful privacy tool that competitors do not offer in the standard tier.
Other Options
Top Surfshark Alternatives in 2026
If Surfshark isn’t the right fit, consider these highly-rated providers.
NordVPN is our top-rated choice with a 9.6/10 score for those wanting more features. If you need a veteran service with a focus on ease of use, ExpressVPN scores 9.3/10, while Private Internet Access is a great 9.1/10 alternative for US-based power users.
Last tested: · Prices, features, and scores verified by StreamFix testing team.
Full methodology