Surfshark Review
Surfshark gives you most of what NordVPN does for about half the money, with unlimited devices as the headline. The Dutch jurisdiction and the Nord Security ownership are the trade-offs.
Review last updated 2026-08-20 · How we rate providers
Scorecard
Pros
- Unlimited simultaneous devices on every plan, which no other top-tier VPN matches
- Cheapest of the majors, at roughly half NordVPN money
- Audited no-logs policy and RAM-only servers
- Multi-hop, obfuscation, rotating IP and a working ad blocker included
- Native apps for Apple TV and Fire TV, not just phones and laptops
Cons
- Netherlands base puts it inside the 9 Eyes arrangement
- Now owned by Nord Security, so the "independent challenger" framing is out of date
- Renewal is roughly 2.6 times the promo rate
- Monthly plan is the most expensive of the big four
Privacy, jurisdiction & audits
Who the company answers to legally, what it keeps, and whether anyone independent has checked.
| Legal jurisdiction | Netherlands in the 9 EyesMoved from the British Virgin Islands to the Netherlands in 2021; the Netherlands has no mandatory VPN data retention but is a 9 Eyes member. |
|---|---|
| Logging policy | No-logs, independently audited |
| Independent audits | Deloitte, 2025 no-logs policy assurance Cure53, 2023 browser extensions and server infrastructure |
| Owned by | Nord Security |
| RAM-only servers | ✓ |
| Warrant canary | ✓ |
| Anonymous payment | Crypto accepted |
Surfshark plans & pricing
Advertised rates as of August 20, 2026. VPN promo rates normally require the prepaid term shown and renew at the higher rate; proxy pricing falls with volume. Confirm on Surfshark's own site before buying.
| Plan | Price | Renews at | Devices | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter (24-month)Consumer VPN | $2.49/mo27 mo prepay$67.23 billed up front | $6.58/mo | Unlimited | Renews around $79/year |
| One (24-month)Consumer VPN | $3.19/mo27 mo prepay | $8.25/mo | Unlimited | Adds Alternative ID, antivirus and breach alerts |
| One+ (24-month)Consumer VPN | $5.99/mo27 mo prepay | $12.45/mo | Unlimited | Adds Incogni data-removal service |
| MonthlyConsumer VPN | $15.45/momonthly | $15.45/mo | Unlimited |
Features
Our Surfshark review
Surfshark built its reputation on one decision: never count devices. Every plan covers unlimited simultaneous connections, so a household, a shared flat or a person with too many gadgets pays once. For a large share of buyers that single policy decides the purchase.
It is not a stripped-down product. WireGuard everywhere, a solid kill switch, split tunneling, MultiHop double connections, obfuscated Camouflage mode, a rotating IP option, CleanWeb ad and tracker blocking, and native apps on TV platforms that competitors still ignore. Speeds sit just behind NordVPN and comfortably in the top tier.
The privacy posture is good with an asterisk. Deloitte has audited the no-logs claim, servers run from RAM, and there is a warrant canary. But Surfshark relocated from the British Virgin Islands to the Netherlands in 2021, which is a 9 Eyes country. In practice a company with nothing stored has little to hand over, and the Netherlands imposes no VPN data retention mandate. Still, if jurisdiction is your deciding factor, this is a real difference from Proton or Mullvad.
The 2022 merger with Nord Security matters too. The two brands say they operate independently, and the products remain distinct, but if you were choosing Surfshark specifically to avoid the market leader, you are now buying from the same parent.
Streaming support is excellent and support staff answer quickly over chat. The apps have crept toward the busy end over the years, with upsells for Incogni and antivirus visible in the interface, though the VPN itself stays easy to drive.
Buy Surfshark if you want top-tier features on many devices for the lowest sensible price. If jurisdiction purity is the point of buying a VPN at all, look at Proton VPN, Mullvad or IVPN instead.
Notable facts
- Merged with Nord Security in 2022 while keeping separate products
- Unlimited simultaneous connections on every plan since launch
- Relocated its legal base from the British Virgin Islands to the Netherlands in 2021
At a glance
| Founded | 2018 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Service types | Consumer VPN |
| Servers | 3.2K |
| Country coverage | 100 |
| Protocols | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2 |
| Apps | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Fire TV, Apple TV, Router, Browser extension |
| Streaming unblocked | Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, Prime Video, Hulu |
| Starting price | $2.49/mo |
| Money-back guarantee | 30 days |
| Free trial | 7 days |
| Free tier | No |
| Support | chat, email, knowledge-base (24/7) |
Frequently asked questions
Is Surfshark really unlimited devices?
Yes, every plan allows unlimited simultaneous connections with no per-device charge. Surfshark reserves the right to act on abuse such as commercial resale, but normal household use is fine.
Does the Netherlands base hurt Surfshark privacy?
It puts the company inside a 9 Eyes country, which is worse on paper than Panama or Switzerland. The counterweight is that the Netherlands does not mandate VPN data retention and Surfshark stores nothing to surrender, a claim Deloitte has examined.
What does Surfshark cost after the intro period?
The Starter plan advertised near $2.49/mo renews around $79 a year, roughly $6.58/mo. Higher tiers renew proportionally higher.
Bottom line
Surfshark gives you most of what NordVPN does for about half the money, with unlimited devices as the headline. The Dutch jurisdiction and the Nord Security ownership are the trade-offs.
Check current Surfshark pricing →
