Surfshark Review 2026: Real Price After Renewal, Speed, Security and Who It Suits
Surfshark is one of the best-value big VPNs: one subscription covers unlimited devices, and even the cheapest plan includes an ad blocker, MultiHop and IP rotation. It is weaker at streaming, and in September 2026 it had to disclose a security incident. The Starter plan costs €2.49 a month before VAT, but you pay €67.23 upfront for 27 months. After that it renews at €70.71 a year, or about €5.89 a month. We went through the pricing page and checkout, the help center, the public server list, audit reports and independent tests to work out who Surfshark is worth it for. All details are as of October 13, 2026.
Surfshark launched in 2018 and has built its name on low prices and unlimited devices. Today the brand also sells antivirus, data leak alerts and data broker removal. We covered those bundles in our reviews of Surfshark One Pro, Surfshark Ultimate and Surfshark Scam Protection. This review looks at the VPN itself, which you get on every plan.
We have not tested the apps ourselves. This review is based on the pricing page and checkout we opened on October 13, 2026, Surfshark’s pricing data for several countries, its help center and terms of service, the public server list, audit reports and independent testing by TechRadar, Tom’s Guide, CNET and Security.org. Key facts are linked in the text, and every source is listed at the end. Our Surfshark links are affiliate links: if you buy through them, we earn a commission at no extra cost to you. They do not unlock any extra discount, though; the prices are the same as on the regular pricing page.
01The verdict at a glance
| Area | Rating | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Low, moderate after renewal | Starter is €2.49 a month before VAT for the first 27 months, then €70.71 a year. |
| Devices | Excellent | Unlimited devices on one subscription; only the antivirus is excluded. |
| Speed | Very good, but inconsistent | 2,005 Mbps in TechRadar’s latest test, only 1,021 Mbps a few months earlier. |
| Privacy | Good | Two Deloitte no-logs assessments (2023 and 2025), RAM-only servers. |
| Security | Good, with a caveat | No critical flaws in app audits, but a test server incident in September 2026. |
| Features | Very good | Ad blocker, MultiHop, IP rotation and email aliases even on the cheapest plan. |
| Streaming | Average | Netflix US, Canada and Japan worked in tests; UK and Australia did not. |
| Server network | Wide | 142 locations in 100 countries; 46 countries have virtual locations only. Surfshark does not publish per-country server counts. |
| Support | Good | Live chat and email around the clock, no phone line. |
Pros
- Unlimited simultaneous devices, so one subscription covers the whole household.
- Low intro price: €2.49 a month before VAT on the two-year plan.
- Extras on the cheapest plan: CleanWeb ad blocker, Dynamic MultiHop, IP rotation and email aliases.
- Over 2,000 Mbps with WireGuard in TechRadar’s latest test.
- Based in the Netherlands, RAM-only servers and two no-logs assessments.
- Prices are shown in local currency in many countries, with VAT itemized at checkout.
Cons
- After the first 27 months, Starter costs well over twice as much: from €2.49 to €5.89 a month.
- Prices on the pricing page exclude VAT, which is added at checkout.
- Netflix UK and Australia failed in tests, and Prime Video only worked in the UK.
- A test server incident in September 2026; the promised independent audit has not been published yet.
- Dedicated IPs are available in only about 20 locations.
- Split tunneling on iPhone works for websites only, not apps.
02Who is behind Surfshark
Surfshark was founded by Vytautas Kaziukonis, who led the company from its launch in 2018 until March 2026. In March 2026, Dovydas Godelis, previously chief operating officer, took over as CEO, and Kaziukonis became chairman of the board (Tom’s Guide). The company has more than 500 employees and, by its own count, more than 40 million app downloads (Surfshark). It does not publish how many paying users it has.
In 2022, Surfshark merged with Nord Security, the group behind NordVPN. The two brands still operate separately, and the combined company was valued at $1.6 billion at the time (Surfshark). The operator today is Surfshark B.V., based in Amsterdam, and Surfshark points out that Dutch law does not require it to keep user data (Surfshark). It used to be based in the British Virgin Islands, and some users criticized the move to the Netherlands, which is part of the Nine Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance (TechRadar).
The contract itself, though, is governed by the laws of the British Virgin Islands, even though your contract is with the Dutch company Surfshark B.V. Payments are processed by sister companies Surfshark Limited in London and Surfshark Inc. in California (terms). The terms also state that they do not limit any consumer rights you have under the laws of your country of residence.
03How much Surfshark costs
Surfshark sells three plans: Starter with the VPN alone, One with antivirus and data leak alerts, and One+, which adds Incogni. The pricing page shows prices before tax with the note “VAT may apply” (Surfshark), and the terms confirm that fees exclude taxes (terms). VAT is added at checkout based on your country: the two-year Starter plan at €67.23 comes to €80.00 in Germany and €82.69 in Slovakia. In the US the intro prices are the same figures in dollars, before sales tax.
| Plan, 2 years + 3 months | Upfront, before VAT | Per month | Annual renewal | Per month after renewal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | €67.23 | €2.49 | €70.71 | €5.89 |
| One | €67.23 | €2.49 | €88.62 | €7.39 |
| One+ | €121.23 | €4.49 | €106.52 | €8.88 |
This October, Surfshark is running what it calls a Black Friday deal: One costs the same as Starter for 27 months. On September 30, One was still €8.10 more. Surfshark does not say when the deal ends. If you buy now, go straight for One, since you get antivirus and data leak alerts at no extra cost. Just keep in mind that One renews at a higher price than Starter.
Shorter plans only make sense for a trial run. Starter for 12 months plus 3 extra costs €50.85 before VAT, or €3.39 a month. The monthly plan costs several times more; Surfshark puts the saving on the two-year plan at 85%.
- StarterFirst 27 months: 2.49After renewal: 5.89
- OneFirst 27 months: 2.49After renewal: 7.39
- One+First 27 months: 4.49After renewal: 8.88
Plan price divided by the number of months. After renewal you pay the annual price, which we divided by twelve.
Watch the renewal. You pay for the two-year plan once, and after 27 months it renews automatically for one year at whatever the renewal price is at the time (Surfshark). Today that is €70.71 a year for Starter. Over 39 months (the intro term plus one renewal), Starter costs €137.94 before VAT; over 63 months, €279.36. For One it is €155.85 and €333.09. Surfshark emails you before the renewal and may change the price as long as it tells you in advance (terms).
You can pay by card, PayPal, Google Pay, Apple Pay or cryptocurrency; other methods depend on the region (help center). Students get a discount through Student Beans, although Surfshark does not say how much (Surfshark). A dedicated IP and a virtual phone number cost extra, and the number is US only. Prices in Apple’s App Store are different, and refunds for App Store purchases are handled by Apple, not Surfshark.
04Money-back guarantee, free trial and canceling
Surfshark refunds you in full within 30 days of your first purchase. You request it through live chat, and Surfshark usually processes it within a few business days. The guarantee only covers your first subscription bought directly from Surfshark or through Google Play; it does not apply after a renewal or to add-ons such as an anonymous dedicated IP or a virtual phone number (help center, terms).
According to its help center, Surfshark also offers a 7-day free trial. It is only available on the website, for the one-year and two-year plans, when you pay by card, PayPal or Apple Pay. You can use up to three devices during the trial, and you are charged for the plan once the seven days are up (help center). We did not see it offered on the regular pricing page when we checked from the Czech Republic, so the 30-day guarantee is the safer bet.
In the EU you also have a 14-day right to withdraw from contracts made online; in the Czech Republic, for example, it is set out in section 1829 of the Civil Code (Czech Civil Code). At Surfshark’s checkout, however, you agree that the service starts straight away and that the 14-day right does not apply. You are left with the 30-day guarantee, which is longer anyway and refunds the full amount.
To turn off auto-renewal, sign in on the website, click your email address in the top right corner, open Subscription, then Payments, and choose Cancel auto-renewal. Surfshark does not refund the unused part of a paid period (help center). In the US, Surfshark has faced lawsuits under California’s automatic renewal law since 2024; the latest, filed in July 2025, comes from a customer who says he bought a two-year plan in 2020 and was then charged for three yearly renewals without his consent. According to TechRadar, NordVPN and ExpressVPN face similar complaints in the US (TechRadar). We could not verify the current status of the cases.
05What you get with Starter, One and One+
| Feature | Starter | One | One+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| VPN, unlimited devices | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Ad and tracker blocker (CleanWeb) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Email aliases and alternative identity (Alternative ID) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Scam text and email protection, web content blocker | No | Yes | Yes |
| Antivirus | No | Yes | Yes |
| Data leak alerts (Alert) | No | Yes | Yes |
| Data broker removal (Incogni) | No | No | Yes |
| Dedicated IP | Paid add-on | Paid add-on | Paid add-on |
If you only want the VPN, Starter is enough. It includes every VPN feature, ad blocking included. One adds antivirus, data leak alerts and scam protection, although the unlimited devices rule does not extend to the antivirus (help center). One+ also includes Incogni, which sends data removal requests to data brokers on your behalf. We looked at these services in detail in our Surfshark One Pro and Scam Protection reviews.
06Server network
Surfshark advertises “4,500+ servers in 100 countries,” all with 10 Gbps ports (Surfshark), but it does not publish server counts per country. The public list its apps use showed 142 locations in 100 countries as of October 13, 2026 (Surfshark API). In 46 of those countries, the location is virtual only: you get an IP address from that country, but the server sits somewhere else (Surfshark).
- EuropeAll countries: 46Virtual location only: 13
- Asia PacificAll countries: 27Virtual location only: 17
- The AmericasAll countries: 18Virtual location only: 11
- Middle East and AfricaAll countries: 9Virtual location only: 5
Surfshark’s public location list as of October 13, 2026, grouped by the regions Surfshark uses (Surfshark API). A country counts as virtual only if none of its locations has a physical server there.
For special uses, the list is much shorter. Static IP addresses, which stay the same every time you connect, are offered in seven countries: the US, UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Japan and Singapore. Obfuscated servers for networks that block VPNs are available in seven cities, and dedicated IPs in about 20 (Surfshark API, Surfshark).
All servers have run in RAM only since 2020, so nothing is left on them after a reboot (Surfshark). The network grew from 3,200 to 4,500 servers in 2025, and the first 100 Gbps servers went live in Amsterdam. Since June 2025, though, no new location has been added to the list.
07Speed
- CyberGhost (5/2026)Nearby server: 1,480US to UK: 1,058
- Proton VPN (4/2026)Nearby server: 1,475US to UK: 1,548
- NordVPN (3/2026)Nearby server: 1,249US to UK: 688
- ExpressVPN (4/2026)Nearby server: 1,177US to UK: 1,117
- Surfshark (4/2026)Nearby server: 1,021US to UK: 935
A selection from TechRadar’s fastest VPN table, 10 Gbps line (TechRadar). PrivadoVPN, Mullvad and Windscribe top the table. ExpressVPN was measured with Lightway Turbo, which only works on Windows. The month in brackets is the test date.
Surfshark’s speed varies a lot from test to test. In TechRadar’s table, its April result of 1,021 Mbps puts it only 11th, behind CyberGhost, Proton VPN, NordVPN and ExpressVPN with its Windows-only Lightway Turbo protocol, among others (TechRadar). In its review updated on October 6, 2026, however, TechRadar published a new round: 2,005 Mbps over WireGuard, 1,739 Mbps from Europe to the US and 625 Mbps over OpenVPN (TechRadar). Only PrivadoVPN, Mullvad and Windscribe were faster in its testing. Tom’s Guide measured an average of 1,012 Mbps in April 2026 (Tom’s Guide).
On a home connection, what matters more is how much speed the VPN takes away. CNET measured a 21% speed loss in its 2025 tests and 17% to 19% in earlier years (CNET). That is more than NordVPN, where CNET measured under 3%.
Be careful with the figures on Surfshark’s own site. Its partner page quotes 1,615 Mbps, citing TechRadar with a comparison date of April 10, 2026. That is an older round, which TechRadar replaced in its table over the summer (TechRadar archive). Rivals appear there with figures from the same round, all below Surfshark’s 1,615 Mbps. Mullvad, now near the top of TechRadar’s table, has no figure there at all.
08Security and privacy
You can choose between WireGuard, OpenVPN and IKEv2. Encryption is AES-256-GCM, or ChaCha20 with WireGuard (Surfshark). Surfshark’s own Dausos protocol, which gives each user a separate tunnel, currently only works in the Mac app from the Mac App Store (help center). Since October 7, 2026, Surfshark says its WireGuard is fully post-quantum secure, for now only on iPhone and Mac (Surfshark). The post-quantum layer does not work with manual configurations (help center).
The kill switch, which cuts your internet if the VPN drops, is available on Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone and Android (help center). Apple TV does not have one; the only setting there is obfuscation (Tom’s Guide).
No-logs policy and audits
Surfshark says it does not track what you do online. Its privacy policy does admit, though, that servers temporarily keep your user ID or IP address and connection timestamps, and delete them within 15 minutes after your session ends (Surfshark). Security.org criticizes this temporary IP logging (Security.org). Deloitte has assessed the no-logs policy twice: the first report came out in January 2023 and the second assessment took place in June 2025 (TechRadar). Each assessment checks the setup at a point in time, not permanently.
Security firms have also tested the apps and servers. Berlin-based Cure53 found two minor issues in the browser extensions in 2018 (Cure53 2018) and four in the infrastructure in 2021, none rated above medium (Cure53 2021). Poland’s SecuRing found no critical flaws in the apps in 2025 (SecuRing) and one medium-severity encryption setting issue in the infrastructure (SecuRing). Cure53’s March 2026 audit of the Dausos protocol found ten issues. The most severe were in an external hosting environment outside the audit’s scope; the other eight were rated medium or lower (Cure53 2026).
The September 2026 incident
Because of human error, an internal test server used by Surfshark’s engineers was reachable from the internet. An unauthorized party obtained parts of program binaries and internal configurations, and also gained access to an isolated server used to optimize access to content. Some internal build credentials had also been committed to the code history; Surfshark rotated all of them. According to the company, no user data or VPN services were affected (Surfshark).
Surfshark spotted the activity on August 31 but initially treated it as low risk. It confirmed the breach on September 2, finished remediation on September 5 and published its report on September 9, 2026 (SecurityWeek). It did not say exactly which files or credentials were exposed (BleepingComputer). It promised a new independent audit of its infrastructure, but had not published the results as of October 13. Older reviews that describe a clean security record are now out of date on this point.
09Extra features
| Feature | Windows | Mac | iPhone | Android | Linux |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Split tunneling (Bypasser) | Yes | Yes, except macOS Big Sur | Websites only | Yes | No |
| Kill switch | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Ad blocker (CleanWeb) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| IP rotation | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| MultiHop (two servers) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
CleanWeb blocks ads, trackers, malware and phishing sites. The browser extension can also hide cookie banners (help center, Surfshark). With ad-supported streaming services you may need to switch it off, or the video will not start (TechRadar). Bypasser routes chosen apps or websites outside the VPN, such as your online banking. On iPhone it only works for websites (help center).
Dynamic MultiHop sends your traffic through two servers, and you pick both countries yourself (help center). IP rotation changes your IP address every 5 to 10 minutes without dropping the connection (help center). On Android you can also spoof your GPS location for other apps.
Alternative ID creates a masked email address and made-up personal details for sign-ups you do not trust. It comes with every plan (Surfshark). A dedicated IP starts at $3.75 a month (Surfshark) and, according to the pricing page, is available in 20 locations. You can buy only one per account (help center), and the anonymous option is not covered by the money-back guarantee (help center). Surfshark itself warns that a dedicated IP offers less privacy than a shared one.
10Apps and devices
One subscription covers an unlimited number of devices at once. Surfshark only reserves the right to step in if someone resells their account (help center). There are apps for Windows, including ARM processors, Mac, Linux, iPhone and iPad, Android, Apple TV, Android TV and Fire TV, plus extensions for Chrome, Firefox and Edge. Other smart TVs and consoles can use the VPN through a router (Surfshark). For phones, see our guide to setting up a VPN on iPhone and Android.
Users rate the app highly: 4.7 out of 5 from nearly 132,000 ratings in the US App Store (App Store) and 4.6 from over 315,000 ratings on Google Play, with more than 10 million downloads (Google Play). The website comes in 17 languages and the iPhone app in 13. Support is available around the clock via live chat and email; there is no phone line (help center).
11Streaming and Netflix
Streaming is not Surfshark’s strong suit. TechRadar only got into US Netflix after several attempts, had no trouble with Canada and Japan, and failed entirely in the UK and Australia. Prime Video worked only in the UK, while BBC iPlayer worked fine (TechRadar). Tom’s Guide reached the same result in April 2026, with Disney+ working everywhere except the UK (Tom’s Guide).
With Netflix, keep its own rules in mind. According to Netflix’s help center, VPNs are not supported on ad-supported plans or for live events, and you may see error code E106 (Netflix). If you live in the EU and travel within it, you do not need a VPN anyway: Netflix shows you your home catalog for a limited time (Netflix).
12Travel and censorship
When the app detects that a network restricts VPNs, it switches on NoBorders mode with obfuscated servers by itself (help center). A colleague of the Tom’s Guide reviewer used it to connect in China (Tom’s Guide), and Security.org recommends Surfshark for China (Security.org). Surfshark itself makes no promises and, if the app does not connect in China, recommends setting up WireGuard manually (help center). Install and test the app before you leave.
Surfshark has no servers in China or Russia and covers India only with virtual locations in Delhi and Mumbai (Surfshark API).
13What reviewers say
- Security.org95
- Tom’s Guide89
- CNET86
- TechRadar85
Security.org 9.5/10 (September 2026), Tom’s Guide 4.45/5 (April 2026), CNET 8.6/10 (September 2025), TechRadar 85/100 (October 2026), converted to 100 points. Links to the reviews are in the Sources section.
Reviewers mostly praise Surfshark for value. TechRadar gave it full marks for price and features and took off the most points for streaming (TechRadar). Tom’s Guide rates it similarly, but its review predates the September incident (Tom’s Guide), and CNET’s review is more than a year old (CNET).
14Surfshark vs the competition
| Service | Devices at once | Money-back guarantee | Our verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surfshark | Unlimited | 30 days | Best value for households, weaker at streaming |
| [NordVPN](/blog/nordvpn-review) | 10 | 30 days | Best all-rounder, most expensive on renewal |
| [ExpressVPN](/blog/expressvpn-review) | 10 (Basic) | 30 days | Simplest apps, but Basic renews at a high price |
| [CyberGhost](/blog/cyberghost-review) | 7 | 45 days | Low renewal price, great for streaming |
| [Private Internet Access](/blog/private-internet-access-review) | Unlimited | 30 days | Lowest price, slower speeds |
Surfshark sits in the middle on price, but after renewal it costs roughly half as much as NordVPN. Compared with NordVPN it offers unlimited devices and more features on the base plan, while NordVPN has more reliable streaming, six no-logs assessments and more dedicated IP locations. If you mainly want a VPN for streaming, CyberGhost will save you money. If you want the lowest possible price for the whole household, go for Private Internet Access.
We compared Surfshark in detail with NordVPN and CyberGhost. For an overview of 14 services, see our best VPNs of 2026.
15Who Surfshark is for
Get Surfshark if you
- want to protect lots of devices at once, such as the whole family,
- want a cheap VPN with an ad blocker, MultiHop and IP rotation on the base plan,
- travel and want a VPN that switches to obfuscation by itself,
- are buying during the deal and want One with antivirus for the same price.
Look elsewhere if you
- mainly want to unblock Netflix libraries abroad reliably,
- need a dedicated IP outside the roughly 20 cities Surfshark offers,
- would rather wait for the promised audit after the September incident.
16How to buy, set up and cancel Surfshark
- Choose a plan on Surfshark’s website. Only there can you buy the two-year plan with the lowest monthly price, and only website and Google Play purchases are refunded by Surfshark directly.
- Check the checkout. Make sure your country is right, since VAT or sales tax is added based on it.
- Download the app on every device and sign in with the same account. Leave the default WireGuard protocol on.
- Turn on the kill switch and CleanWeb. Add an exception for your online banking in Bypasser if needed.
- If you do not want auto-renewal, turn it off right away. In your account, open Subscription, then Payments, and choose Cancel auto-renewal. Your plan keeps running until the end of the paid period.
- Ask for a refund within 30 days through live chat.
17FAQ
How much does Surfshark cost?
Starter for 2 years and 3 months costs €67.23 before VAT, or €2.49 a month. It then renews at €70.71 a year. One currently costs the same thanks to a deal but renews at €88.62. One+ works out at €4.49 a month. In the US the intro prices are the same figures in dollars.
Is Surfshark safe?
For everyday use, yes. Deloitte has assessed its no-logs policy twice, and app audits found no critical flaws. In September 2026, however, Surfshark disclosed an incident involving a test server, which it says did not affect users (Surfshark).
How many devices can I use with Surfshark?
As many as you like at the same time. The only exception is the antivirus on the One and One+ plans (help center).
Does Surfshark have a free trial?
According to its help center, there is a 7-day trial on the website for the one-year and two-year plans, for up to three devices, after which you are charged (help center). The 30-day money-back guarantee on first purchases is the safer option (help center).
Does Surfshark work with Netflix?
In TechRadar’s and Tom’s Guide’s tests, Netflix worked in the US, Canada and Japan, but not in the UK or Australia. Netflix also does not support VPNs on ad-supported plans.
Does Surfshark work in China?
A Tom’s Guide staffer connected in China thanks to NoBorders mode, and Security.org recommends it there. Surfshark makes no promises, so install the app and test it before you travel.
How do I cancel Surfshark?
In your account on the website, open Subscription, then Payments, and choose Cancel auto-renewal. Within 30 days of your first purchase, you can ask for a refund through live chat (help center).
18Conclusion
In 2026, Surfshark is one of the best choices if you want to protect lots of devices for little money. It is fast, includes an ad blocker, MultiHop and IP rotation on the base plan and stays cheaper than NordVPN after renewal. If you just want the lowest price with unlimited devices, Private Internet Access is cheaper still. It is weaker at streaming, and after the September incident you have to take it on trust until the promised audit is out. If you buy it, note your renewal date and decide well before then whether to renew or start a new plan.
Security matters for business websites and apps too. If you are planning a project that handles customer data, see how we build custom websites, what it costs and how we work.
19Sources
- Surfshark: pricing
- Surfshark: about us
- Surfshark: Trust Center
- Surfshark: terms of service
- Surfshark: privacy policy
- Surfshark: server locations
- Surfshark: public location list (API)
- Surfshark: downloads
- Surfshark: dedicated IP
- Surfshark: student discount
- Surfshark: September 2026 incident report
- Surfshark: post-quantum WireGuard
- Surfshark Help Center: refunds
- Surfshark Help Center: free trial
- Surfshark Help Center: canceling auto-renewal
- Surfshark Help Center: payment methods
- Surfshark Help Center: number of devices
- Surfshark Help Center: customer support
- Surfshark Help Center: VPN protocols
- Surfshark Help Center: Dausos protocol
- Surfshark Help Center: feature overview
- Surfshark Help Center: MultiHop
- Surfshark Help Center: NoBorders
- Surfshark Help Center: Bypasser on iOS
- Surfshark Help Center: Bypasser on macOS
- Surfshark Help Center: connecting in China
- Surfshark Help Center: dedicated IP
- Cure53: Surfshark extension audit 2018 (PDF)
- Cure53: Surfshark infrastructure audit 2021 (PDF)
- Cure53: Dausos protocol audit 2026 (PDF)
- SecuRing: Surfshark app assessment 2025 (PDF)
- SecuRing: Surfshark infrastructure test 2025 (PDF)
- BleepingComputer: Surfshark incident
- SecurityWeek: Surfshark incident
- TechRadar: US lawsuit against Surfshark
- Tom’s Guide: Surfshark’s new CEO
- TechRadar: Surfshark review
- TechRadar: fastest VPN
- TechRadar: fastest VPN, February 2026 version (April 2026 archive)
- Tom’s Guide: Surfshark review
- CNET: Surfshark review
- Security.org: Surfshark review
- App Store (US): Surfshark
- Google Play (US): Surfshark
- Netflix: VPN and proxy errors
- Netflix: watching while traveling
- Czech Civil Code (Act No. 89/2012)
Prices and details as of October 13, 2026. Per-month figures and multi-year totals are our own calculations.