Surfshark VPN Review 2020 A strong, lightweight VPN client!ByNovak Bozovic-December 24, 2019 “2/2.1804.png” Although they might sound like simple applications, VPNs bring many advanced technologies. So you should never judge a VPN by its looks but dive deep into its specifications instead. As you surely know the best way to really get to know whether it is a good idea to invest in a VPN is to read a review just like this. And we will help you by dissecting Surfshark into its tiniest bits and checking if this VPN service is worthy of your attention. So, welcome to our review on Surfshark! We’ll first highlight the most important aspects of this VPN provider, as we do in our every VPN review. Take a look at below table. Quick Facts Jurisdiction The British Virgin Islands Logs Server Number 60 + countries servers 1040 +. Unlimited Parallel Connections. Encryption Requirements Reduction in speed on average up to 28 per cent. P2P Support YES Supporting Live Chat Support for Windows macOS iOS Android Fire OS Web browsers and routers. Price Runs at $1.99/month. Get Surfshark YES Amazon Prime Video YES Kodi YES The Bottom Line Pros Broad device compatibility Easy to use Highly secure Unblocks websites Do not collect logs. Cons A medium scale server network. Surfshark’s price brings a lot of value and could easily be one of the best VPNs right now. Our score 9.3/10 You can see that Surfshark is a able VPN provider by taking a quick look at the tables found above. But how effective is it indeed? Let’s figure it out.
We want this review to be as comprehensive as possible which is why we are going to start with the basics. Which means we are going to do some history research on Surfshark first. Then we are going to install the application test its performance in interface design and much more. Here’s how we review VPN Services to learn more about this process.
Background Jurisdiction Reputation
Surfshark has taken the necessary precautionary measures to prevent data harvesting by its users. There are also no past data leaks. Our Score: “10/10. You need to know some background information before deciding whether to trust a VPN. In this segment we will look at the origins of Surfshark and we will also check for previous data leaks.
Surfshark VPN jurisdiction
Supported Platforms
“2/2.1805.jpg” Surfshark is compatible with a wide range of devices and platforms. It even supports various types of routers guaranteeing total protection. Our Score: “10/10. Platform Compatibility Desktop Platforms Windows macOS Linux Chromebooks. Mobile Platforms Android iOS. Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox. Routers AsusWRT DD-WRT and Tomato. Other Devices Amazon Fire OS. Lets also not forget to mention that this VPN is compatible with a number of routers as well. You can use it via OpenVPN configuration files and theres a sizeable list of support devices. Even though setting up a VPN on a router might look like a complicated task all you need is a trustworthy guide. Its worth the effort since this is how you can protect all your Web-connected devices at once.
Installation Initial Configuration
“2/2.1806.jpg” We have tried Surfshark on Windows and Android where installing the application on both of these platforms went without any problems. Once yousign-up for a Surfshark account on its official website youll get to your personalized account area. This is where apps can be downloaded from and this is where you can find instructions for platforms without native Surfshark apps (where the manual configuration is needed). When it comes to Windows the installation file comes in at around 15MB. In general this is a very lightweight application and it should run just fine even on older machines. You start the installation by double-clicking on the installation file. Everything is automated and youll see the VPNs log-in screen after a few seconds and thats pretty much it. Since Surfshark supports theOpenVPN standard you can use it to install the application on platforms without the native app offered by this provider. Once again this process starts on the official website. The good news is that youll find helpful and detailed tutorials on this topic. With a bit of technical knowledge you should not have any problems using this VPN.
Prominent Features IPv6 Leak Protection YES Kill-Switch YES Ad-Blocker Anti-Malware Unlimited Server Switches YES Unlimited Bandwidth YES Unlimited Data Surfshark covers the basics quite well. Once you connect to a remote server you get a new IP address. This will allow you to alter your physical location and unblock websites including the most popular media streaming platforms. To further enhance your Web browsing experience this VPN uses a so-called CleanWeb feature that blocks advertisements trackers and malware. Theres also a capable kill switch which makes sure your real IP and your private files are not exposed in case a VPN connection drops. Among other interesting features Surfshark offers a way to route your traffic via two secure servers and this feature is called MultiHop. And also lets not forget to mention that this provides employs a no-logs policy and zero-knowledge DNS. This means that your private data will truly stay private even after you connect to the Web. “2/2.1808.jpg” And finally we should also mention two recently released features called HackLock and BlindSearch (these two are available as an add-on to your subscription available for $0.99 per month). The first one is designed to check whether your email address has been compromised in the past. More precisely Surfshark will give you a list of previous incidents that might have exposed your email address and password (after checking your email address that is). To stay secure you should change your password to something unique. Then theres BlindSearch. This is an ad-free Web search experience powered by Bing. This means that youll get organic results that should be relevant to your search. If you didnt know other search engines (like Google for example) rely on your search history to show you custom-tailored results which invades your privacy. Well Surfsharks BlindSearch resolves this problem. Surfshark users can now spoof their GPS coordinateseach time they connect to a secure server. This means that aside from getting a new IP address youll also get new GPS coordinates which adds another layer of protection against intrusive apps that track your physical location.
Server Count
Surfshark comes with 1040+ servers at the moment. Therefore it falls somewhere in the middle in comparison to other VPN services. Our Score: 5.5/10. To make it easier to present what to expect from Surfshark in terms of its server network weve put together a handy table. Find some additional info below. Server Count Info Number of Servers 1040+YES Surfshark currently has over 1040 servers located across 60 + countries. So even if there aren’t so many servers they are placed strategically. On this list you can find a huge portion of European countries, as well as some countries from Middle East Asia Oceania and more. Needless to say, there are a number of different servers in the U.S. which is always a hugely popular location due to the restricted media streaming services in this country. As you can see in our article about VPNs with the highest server number some VPN providers offer their customers more than 5500 servers. What this means is that without major performance disadvantages a huge volume of people can use those servers. As far as connectivity is concerned, you should pay attention to the location of VPN servers (not their number)-and this is where Surfshark did a great job. Plus we’re sure to add more servers to this VPN provider as their user base grows.
Ease of Use “2/2.1811.jpg” You need not be an expert in using this VPN. It comes with a simple, easy-to-understand UI, even if you’re a total beginner. Our Score: “10/10. Surfshark’s user-friendliness is perhaps its greatest strength. Once you log in to your account, the application will display a very clean and polished interface. If you click the prominent blue-colored ‘ Connect ‘ button, the application will find an optimal location, meaning you will be connected to the nearest server, which in turn should provide stable performance and performance. Besides keeping you safe online VPNs can also unblock websites like streaming media services. However when it comes to this, not all VPNs can be equally capable. So here’s what Surfshark can do to help. Media Streaming Torrenting Support YES Hulu YES BBC iPlayer YES
Security Privacy
“2/2.1815.jpg” Surfshark promises not to retain any of your personal information, and effectively blocks anyone from tracking you online. Our Score: “10/10.
Supported encryption protocols
Surfshark provides strong AES-256 encryption that is allowed by default. This level of encryption is used in major financial and government-based organizations that tells a lot. Although there aren’t many VPN protocols available, you’ll get the most benefits from using OpenVPN which is also activated by default.YES Surfshark currently has over 1040 servers located across 60 + countries. So even if there aren’t so many servers they are placed strategically. On this list you can find a huge portion of European countries, as well as some countries from Middle East Asia Oceania and more. Needless to say, there are a number of different servers in the U.S. which is always a hugely popular location due to the restricted media streaming services in this country. As you can see in our article about VPNs with the highest server number some VPN providers offer their customers more than 5500 servers. What this means is that without major performance disadvantages a huge volume of people can use those servers. As far as connectivity is concerned, you should pay attention to the location of VPN servers (not their number)-and this is where Surfshark did a great job. Plus we’re sure to add more servers to this VPN provider as their user base grows.
Ease of Use “2/2.1811.jpg” You need not be an expert in using this VPN. It comes with a simple, easy-to-understand UI, even if you’re a total beginner. Our Score: “10/10. Surfshark’s user-friendliness is perhaps its greatest strength. Once you log in to your account, the application will display a very clean and polished interface. If you click the prominent blue-colored ‘ Connect ‘ button, the application will find an optimal location, meaning you will be connected to the nearest server, which in turn should provide stable performance and performance. Besides keeping you safe online VPNs can also unblock websites like streaming media services. However when it comes to this, not all VPNs can be equally capable. So here’s what Surfshark can do to help. Media Streaming Torrenting Support YES Hulu YES BBC iPlayer YES
Security Privacy
“2/2.1815.jpg” Surfshark promises not to retain any of your personal information, and effectively blocks anyone from tracking you online. Our Score: “10/10.
Supported encryption protocols
Surfshark provides strong AES-256 encryption that is allowed by default. This level of encryption is used in major financial and government-based organizations that tells a lot. Although there aren’t many VPN protocols available, you’ll get the most benefits from using OpenVPN which is also activated by default.Download Speed Upload Speed Reduction Baseline Speed 148.87 Mbps 0 per cent Nearby Server 137.73 Mbps 9.10 Mbps 7.4 per cent 77.42 Mbps 47.8 per cent We could say Surfshark’s performance is as expected. Nearby servers are pretty fast so it all depends where you are. Typically servers located in the U.S. are under heavy load so you can expect more visible throttling from those.
“2/2.1821.jpg” There are various ways to get in touch with this company and get your questions answered. You can also communicate with a real person via live chat. Our Score: “10/10. In case you have any questions about this service or if youre experiencing any troubles the best place to start is Surfsharks official website. This is where youll be greeted by the live-chat option found in the bottom-right corner. A real person will be there to assist you 24/7 and without waiting for more than a few minutes. So here are all the customer support channels you can use: Live Chat Support: As already noted you can take advantage of Surfsharks live chat. Weve talked to the companys representatives a few times and they always managed to come up with a solution/answer to our question. FAQ: Even though it isnt as comprehensive as we hoped to see the FAQ section can answer some of your general and technical questions. Support Tickets: Finally you can go for the official way of getting help from Surfshark. This is done by filling out a form found on the website where you can explain your problem and wait for the tech team to contact you. All in all Surfshark has done a great job of providing a reliable customer support system. Were sure that youll have your questions answered in no time.
Pricing Savings 1-Month Plan $11.95 $11.95 0% $71.88 $5.99 50% 24-Month Plan $47.76 83% As you can see you have several options in front of you. However you can save the most by picking the VPNs 24-month plan. This one lets you subscribe to Surfshark for only $1.99 per month. Considering that it doesnt collect logs provides plenty of protection and even unblocks websites its clear that this is an amazing deal. We also told you earlier in this article about HackLock and BlindSearch. These are Surfsharks advanced tools that take further care of your privacy. By using these you can search the Web without endangering your privacy and you can check whether your email credentials have leaked in the past. However these two are available as a bundle priced at $0.99 per month and they truly bring plenty of value. When it comes to payments youll be happy to hear that numerous payment methods are supported. This includes PayPal credit cards AliPay and cryptocurrencies. No matter which of these three subscription plans you select you will get the same thing. In other words Surfshark will come fully unlocked. And lets not forget to mention that theres a 30-day money-back guarantee.
“2/2.1823.jpg” Surfshark provides one of the best VPN offers weve seen recently and covers everything that you will ever need. It allows you to browse the Web anonymously hide your online whereabouts obtain virtual IPs use media streaming websites and even download torrents. Whats not to like here really? PROS: Very easy to use Effortless installation Unblocks popular streaming services Supports torrenting Doesnt collect logs Strong reputation. CONS: Not the biggest server network out there. We believe that Surfshark is very close to perfection. You can use this VPN without having to worry if your data will end up in the wrong hands. And you can continue using your favorite websites or even download torrents. Finally this all comes at an affordable price. So if you decide to subscribe to Surfshark you surely wont make a mistake. pages. Thank you! REVIEW OVERVIEW Background Jurisdiction Reputation10 Supported Platforms Devices10Pricing8.5 SUMMARY Surfshark Customer Support10 is one of the best VPNs you can find right now. It comes with all you need and it also unblocks websites and supports P2P traffic. Additionally-it keeps you online privately without collecting any of your personal data. 9.3