How Good Is Surfshark VPN

Is Surfshark VPN Right For You Or Your Business

Surfshark VPN is primarily aimed at individuals, and it will serve you well if you want a VPN for personal use.

If youre willing to forgo the dedicated IP address, Surfshark may work for some small business operations, tooespecially considering that you can connect an unlimited amount of devices. Its split tunnelling feature is also useful if you want more control over what gets routed through the VPN and what connects directly to the internet.

However, if the dedicated IP address is a dealbreaker, youll need to look elsewhere. There are other options offering similar features at competitive prices.

Surfshark Offers Unlimited Simultaneous Connections

Platforms & Devices

Surfsharks Windows software is standard-looking, with simple navigation options on the left-hand-side.

Surfsharks Windows app.

The main dashboard features a large connection button and a list of your most recent country connections.

The menu is a sidebar condensed to just a few options: main screen, locations, settings, and features. A Quick Connect button is also available to automatically connect you to the most optimal server based on your location.

Theres a clear list of server locations and a search bar to quickly find the server you want. Windows users will see options for staticIP servers, virtual servers, and MultiHop. Theres also a favorites system to manage the locations you most commonly connect to.

Surfsharks server locations on the Windows app.

Unlike the Mac client, there is no easily accessible list of P2P servers on the Windows app. You have to use the Smart Search and click the P2P option. The Windows app has added customization options, including Dark Mode and Mini Mode.

You can change the basic menu to a smaller app window by right-clicking the system tray icon. From this smaller window, you can quickly connect to the fastest server or choose your most recent location without having to open the full interface.

You can change protocol on Surfsharks Windows app via advanced settings.

The choice to switch between protocols is also made simple on the Windows app, with a drop-down menu in the app Settings.

Surfshark Server List And Locations

Surfshark VPN has some of the fastest servers. The list consists of 3200+ servers in 65+ countries.

Heres how the Surfshark server coverage looks across the globe:

As always, North America and Europe have the best coverage. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the three countries in Africa. Mostly you get South Africa only or no servers whatsoever.

All servers are physical and RAM-only, which means you can expect better performance and more security. Surfshark doesnt own all of its servers, and few providers do, but I believe its only a matter of time. It also uses virtual locations for a few countries, but those are clearly marked in the app.

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Works Well With Streaming Platforms

Streaming

Streaming is rated by the number of different services unlocked, how many regional libraries are viewable, and how consistently the VPN can access them.

Netflix, BBC iPlayer, HBO Max, DAZN, and Amazon Prime Video are all tested on a weekly basis.

Surfshark is one of the best VPNs for streaming. Aside from Windscribe, it unblocks the most number of Netflix libraries, and it access BBC iPlayer, HBO Max, and Disney Plus. Hulu remains blocked though.

Surfshark stands out for how good a VPN it is at unblocking streaming platforms.

It unblocks Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, ITV Player, All 4, and HBO Max.

Unlimited Simultaneous Device Connections

Surfshark is one of the few premium VPNs that allow you to connect as many devices as you want with a single Surfshark subscription. This is a great value for money because most VPNs restrict device connection between 5-10. This feature makes it a great choice for large families.

Whats best about Surfshark is that you can connect different kinds of devices with it at the same time and you will not experience any effect on the performance making it one of the best VPN for multiple devices;in 2021.

I tested the performance by configuring Surfshark on my router and connected it with my laptop, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, and desktop computer. I did not see any change in the performance.

You can also check out the IPVanish full review as it also offers unlimited simultaneous connections, just like Surfshark.

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Surfshark Servers And Locations

Since the inception of the service, Surfshark has almost tripled its server count. Now they rock almost 3200+ servers in 65 countries. Every single server runs on RAM and has a private associated DNS server. Their fleet does pack a punch.

When it comes to global coverage, their country count list doesn’t disappoint either.

Although Africa and the Middle East can’t boast of good coverage, the rest of the world has plenty of options. It won’t be hard to find a fast server nearby.

Router Compatible But No Native App

You can set Surfshark up on your router, but its recommended to use its apps for best performance. Surfshark must be installed manually on a router with firmware that has OpenVPN or L2TP client pre-installed. You can also install new firmware , but this can be a very complicated process and can damage your router, so proceed with caution!

You wont be able to use most of the advanced features available on the apps, either. Some routers support split tunneling, and some support the ability to select different security protocols, but others dont. None of the other features are available on routers. You also have to manually configure each VPN server you want access to into your router, so switching server locations isnt a one-click process like with the app. Youre better off using ExpressVPN if you want a VPN on your router it offers pre-configured routers and has a native app to control the VPN easily.

There are a lot of router-specific guides on Surfsharks website to help you get set up, including a list of compatible routers. I read over the tutorials and theyre all detailed, yet easy to follow. You also have access to 24/7 live chat support if you run into any issues.

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Surfshark Vs Wannaflix Vs Lantern

Beyond Surfshark, Ive also reviewed Wannaflix and Lantern. While Surfshark is a good VPN in my view as explained above, I still prefer Wannaflix for their outstanding support, dedication to providing a great service, numerous servers and fast speeds. Lantern is also worth signing up to because its by far the cheapest of the 3.

Surfshark Review: Our Final Verdict

Surfshark is the VPN service for the masses, ticking off affordability and accessibility in equal;measures. While there are some teething issues with its kill switch notifications, and speeds arent optimal, for many this service more than does the job with a surprisingly long list of excellent security features, and the ability to unblock your favorite streaming platforms.;

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What Distinguishes Surfshark

Privacy is very important at Surfshark. You can see that in a number of special services it offers that you will not see with other VPN services. They are all aimed at offering the ultimate privacy so that no one can really interfere with your internet use. Moreover, this also leads to much more safety for its user.

A Great Number Of Servers

Surfshark has a wide selection of servers spanning over 61 countries. That is not the largest server network in the market but that should be enough for most users.;

The further the server is from your actual location, the slower your internet speed will be. So it is good to have a wide selection of servers available.;

Most of the servers also offer P2P support, URL and ad blocking, VPN chaining, and split tunneling.;

When you open the Surfshark app you will also see different types of servers. In the mac version, there are Locations, Static, and Multihop. Windows version offers static IP, virtual servers, and Multihop.

Which one to choose depends on the users preferences. Static means that you always have the same IP address, whenever you use that specific server and reconnect. That gets you faster speeds and better access to geo-restricted content. But on the downside that IP address is also always linked to you.;

The multihop option, on the other hand, gives you better security by sending traffic through two different servers. Users speeds will be slower, but the IP address is masked better. This is also known as Double VPN.;

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Surfshark VPN Leak Test Results

Before using a VPN service, it is desirable to test its DNS and IPv6 protection. IP and DNS leak tests are a critical aspect because it prevents thebrowser extension from routing your requests through the ISP instead of your VPN service. This vulnerability check is essential especially on networks that utilize split-tunnel technology.

So, of course, we did that, when writing this Surfshark review.

We tested the service for DNS and IP leaks, and Surfshark passed them successfully. There were no leaks detected.;

Surfshark VPN Kill Switch

There is a kill switch that ensures when a VPN network is disrupted in any way, internet connection is terminated.

A kill switch may be activated in these scenarios:

• there is an attempt to hack the VPN network,
• if the internet connection is not stable or
• other factors which threaten the VPN network.

A kill switch protects your data and if things normalize, VPN connection is restored.

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Does Surfshark Unblock Netflix Hulu And Others

One of the main angles that Surfshark uses when advertising is offering the possibility to unblock 30 different Netflix libraries. This does ramp up the expectations for this VPN when we’re talking about streaming media unblocking.

We tested the VPN on a few locations like the US, the UK, Canada, Japan, and Australia, and Surfshark was indeed able to unblock the content we needed. So if you want to access Japan-exclusive libraries, this is definitely doable.

In addition, I managed to unblock BBC iPlayer and YouTube. Where Surfshark stumbled is DAZN, I didn’t manage to unblock it with US or UK servers. However, overall, Surfshark seems like a great choice for streaming.

Surfshark Vs Expressvpn Video Comparison

People use VPN software in a wide variety of situations. That means that VPN providers need excellent and knowledgeable customer service.

Luckily, both Surfshark and ExpressVPN have all the necessary means of helping their customers in dire situations. They have 24/7 live chat support, email communication, and extensive guides on their web pages. In addition, our interactions with their customer support agents have been pleasant, and our inquiries were answered efficiently.

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Ip And Dns Leak Protection

My basic leak tests indicate that Surfshark has no leak issues. I connected to a server in Denmark at got the IP address 95.174.65.70. Then I ran the test and got the following results: no DNS, WebRTC, or IPv6 leaks, as the image below indicates.

The IP and DNS addresses shown here are the same as the ones I got assigned by Surfshark. If I saw my actual IP address, that would mean theres a leak somewhere.

This service has in-built DNS, WebRTC, and IPv6 leak protection, as well as a private zero-knowledge DNS network. Simply put, unlike many tools on the market, Surfshark VPN keeps your personally identifiable information hidden.

Leak Test Results No Dns Webrtc Or Ipv6 Leaks Found

Many VPNs have robust encryption but still leak your private data to certain websites and apps. To confirm Surfshark offers in-built leak protection, I connected to random servers in the US, Australia and Germany. With each server connection, I ran tests on IPLeak.net and I was pleased to see that my real IP address was secure each time.

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Presence Of Surfshark Servers

If you take out a subscription with Surfshark, you will have access to all the servers it uses. When you are nice and close to a VPN server, you will notice that this also has a positive effect on your performance. That is why it is always important to know how good the network of servers of a VPN service is. In the case of Surf shark, servers can be found in 63 different countries. However, there are many more servers because higher numbers are placed per country. It is good to see that the provider puts time in trying to reach as many places in the world as possible. A location has even been found in South Africa. This means that all continents are also well covered. In any case, this is a plus.

Surfshark VPN Server Network

These are the conclusions we arrived at regarding Surfsharks server network and locations:

• Surfshark has an excellent server network of 3200+ servers across 65 countries.
• All servers are compatible with P2P traffic.
• You dont have to select a P2P server manually.
• There is a multitude of American servers and all of them appear to work with Netflix.
• Surfshark has special MultiHop servers that allow;you to connect to two VPN-servers at once for double protection.
• Surfshark doesnt provide users with an option to get a dedicated IP-address.

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Surfshark VPN Review: It’s Cheap But Is It Good

A VPN is a must-have if you want some basic protection and anonymity in your online activities. Surfshark is a value for money option, especially if you use many different devices.

| Topic: Security

If you’re in the market for a VPN — and you should be, if you don’t have that box ticked already — Surfshark is one of your top options. For some reason, Surfshark seems to have made a name for itself for being cheap.;

• Price: $12.95/month, or 24 months for $59.76
• Trial: 30-day refund guarantee

Curious how many servers Surfshark has and how many countries it supports? Surfshark currently has over 3200 servers in 65+ countries, as per its own account, and the number is continuously growing.

There are 195 countries in the world today, so 65 may seem small in comparison. But Surfshark has good population coverage — chances are the countries you are interested in are the list of supported ones.;

Surfshark has multiple servers on each of the locations, which means better service quality. Plus, a neat feature Surfshark offers is that you can also select a specific city in many of those locations. You can find a complete list of locations;here.

Great For Offshore Cruisers

We are offshore cruisers and often need to access services from countries that are geo locked. Surfshark is a very simple interface and definitely works even on the typically low bandwidths that we have offshore. An example is our ability to watch sports games on our home/local subscription but anywhere in the world.

Reply from Surfshark

Never use a company that will cancel a sponsor for unfounded reasons. Shameful! And unamerican. Get woke go broke.

Reply from Surfshark

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Surfshark Speed And Performance

Using VPN has many advantages, but it also has disadvantages. It is also the case that your connection speed decreases. That is why Surfshark has also been tested for speed. It can be concluded from these tests that Surfshark can compete well with the other providers. In any case, the speed does drop slightly, but this difference is very small.

Surfshark Review Reliability And Safety

Because Surfshark VPN is officially located in the British Virgin Islands, all laws regarding the collection and storage of personal data are circumvented. This definitely benefits privacy. Strong encryption protocols are used and no logs are guaranteed. To create an account you only have to provide an email address and a corresponding password. If desired, you can even pay with bitcoin to also keep your payment anonymous. Anonymous data is used to determine possible connection issues and to determine the server load.

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Surfshark Security And Privacy

Theres plenty of good to say about the privacy and anonymity credentials of Surfshark VPN. Heres a shortlist of its main features that will keep you safe online:

• Military-grade encryption
• Kill switch
• IP & DNS Leak protection

However, thats just the tip of the iceberg. The provider had its browser extensions audited by Cure53, a well-known and respected cybersecurity company. Also, since July 2020, all Surfshark servers are RAM-only. Finally, in May 2021, Cure53 did an independent server infrastructure audit.

Additionally, youll get malware blocker , split tunneling , multi-hop, and stealth protocol . This VPN also offers ID protection , GPS spoofing, and incognito search .

These advanced features combined take Surfshark VPN very close to other security-focused VPN providers, like NordVPN or ProtonVPN.

Surfshark VPNs Advanced Features

Although they position themselves as being the common mans VPN, Surfshark offers some pretty advanced features. If you head over to the Settings section, youll see everything on display.

CleanWeb

First, we have CleanWeb. This is an extension that blocks ads and trackers. Not only will this help make your browsing and streaming experience less cluttered, it might also increase your speeds a bit by saving significant amounts of network data.

One neat thing we noticed about this if youre running a browser extension like Adblock Plus, you might run into sites that recognize it and make you turn it off before you can access their content. With CleanWeb, though, youre not going to run into that problem. No youtube ads, either. Honestly, thats almost worth the cost of admission right there. Its a toss up between which adblock service is our favorite, to be honest. We found a pretty great one when we analyzed NordVPN, too.

FYI: FYI: If youre a Chrome user, youll be glad to know that Surfshark runs great on that browser. Here are some other top VPNs that work with Chrome.

Data Leak Alerts

Once you set up two-factor authentication, youre able to enter your information and select your notification preferences.

Surfshark Alert

Search

Surfshark Search

VPN Protocol

In the settings youre also able to switch between which VPN protocol youd like to use. Its a little beyond the scope of this review to get into the differences between all of these, but youve got options here.

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