Surfshark is a relatively new player on the market, having debuted in 2018. Despite the fact that it has only been functioning for a short time, it has already amassed a sizable server network. Best of all, it's currently available at a discount compared to the market's current top dogs. Find out more.
Pros & Cons of Using Surfshark from Australia
Surfshark has been active for over a year, and it's been a fascinating experience, despite the fact that new players are constantly entering the VPN industry. Their consumer pricing is astounding, but what features does Surfshark have to offer, and can their performance match their low pricing? Let's find out more in this Surfshark VPN review.
| Surfshark's Advantages: | Surfshark's drawbacks: |
Why We Like Surfshark VPN :
1. Secure & Confidential Connection
Surfshark, like the majority of today's leading VPN service providers, gives users an edge in terms of privacy and security. This is done via the standard dedicated service – a safe, encrypted tunnel that allows customers to hide their traffic from prying eyes.
➡️ Exceptional Protocol Choice
Surfshark does this by relying on a few important protocols, including the tried-and-true OpenVPN and IKEv2. With its excellent speeds and security, OpenVPN is widely regarded as the de-facto standard. IKEv2 is another a strong option that works well on mobile networks.
Surfshark also offers Shadowsocks, which is a type of encrypted proxy. The main reason for this is because Shadowsocks works well in China, which is a niche market for VPNs due to Beijing's restrictions.
There have been user reports that Surfshark works for Chinese users, but I am unable to confirm this at this moment.
➡️ Encryption that is strong
Surfshark features exceptionally strong encryption for data carried across the VPN tunnel, in addition to the secure handshake with VPN servers. Surfshark uses AES-256 bit encryption and does not allow users to alter the encryption rate for better performance.
This works in conjunction with a kill switch mechanism, which may be used to automatically disconnect your Internet connection if the VPN connection fails.
➡️ No logs were kept
Logs kept by the servers you connect to are frequently used to trace your internet activities. IP addresses, browsing histories, network traffic, and other data are commonly collected. In a nutshell, this is how a user may be followed and identified.
Surfshark is committed to providing a no-logs service, which ensures that your online activities remains private. I also checked the service for DNS and WebRTC breaches, which both came up negative.
2. There is a multi-hop connection option available
Surfshark now has a number of “multi-hop” connections available. Users connected to the Surfshark network can choose to route their traffic through two VPN servers in a row. This boosts the anonymity element, giving you more peace of mind.
Aside from that, the basic network, which has over 1,000 servers, covers 61 nations around the world. That's extremely impressive for a new service provider.
3. It's available on a variety of platforms
Surfshark, like other reputable service providers, has made their service available for a variety of platforms, allowing you to utilise it with practically any device on the market. Their basic programme is compatible with popular operating systems such as Windows and iOS.
You can also instal it on your game consoles or smart devices, such as smart TVs.
Surfshark can also be utilised on routers by users who don't mind a slower connection (see how to instal Surfshark on a router here).
However, due to encryption, router-installed VPN services can be significantly slower. Encryption requires processing power, and most routers are lacking in this area, resulting in a slower connection.
4. Quickness
I've been using Surfshark for almost a year now and have been largely satisfied with their speeds. I'm usually connected to their US servers because I'm a Netflix fan and that's where the finest content is.
Nonetheless, their overall performance is good, and they are on level with most of the industry's top service providers.
I tested Surfshark's speed in various significant spots throughout the world, like I normally do. To put this in context, my physical location is Australia, so my PINGs (delay) will be higher due to the physical distance between me and the VPN server. Regardless of VPN service provider, this is a fact.
Because Internet speeds vary from time to time owing to a variety of variables, I first conducted a baseline measurement to determine Surfshark's speed.
5. Strong Server Presence Across the Globe
Now that we've looked at the speeds you can get through Surfshark's connection, we can focus even more on the next area: coverage. Surfshark has more than 1,000 servers spread over 61 countries. This is a fairly extensive network for a relatively new service provider, and something that many VPN service providers haven't achieved even after years in operation.
With the exception of a few virtual sites, almost all of their servers are physical. When a VPN provider doesn't have a physical presence in a country, but I can spoof your location as if you were there, this is known as a virtual location.
Their servers are also quite powerful, and they can handle all of Surfshark's protocols and features.
Aside from that, Surfshark provides a number of servers that provide users with a static IP address. Although few, these can be useful because most ISPs only provide dynamic IP addresses to normal customers and charge extra for fixed IP addresses.
Finally, there are multi-hop connections to consider. Surfshark uses these fixed routes to route VPN connections through pairs of safe servers, enhancing the security of the connection for its users. Surprisingly, multi-hop speed test results were also fairly good.
6. Streaming of Geo-Blocked Content with Ease
One of the most important features I look for in a VPN is its ability to bypass geo-restricted content, especially when it comes to media streaming. I have a Netflix subscription, but the regional media library where I live is terrible, therefore I use a VPN to access Netflix US content.
I've tried a lot of VPNs that claim to allow Netflix viewing, but apart from the big names like ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and a few others, the connection is flaky at best, and I'm always getting the dreaded “PROXY DETECTED” notice.
Surprisingly, Surfshark has never given me any streaming issues. I've been using Surfshark to watch Netflix for the past three months and have had no problems with Netflix or the BBC's iPlayer.
In comparison, I recently tested another service provider and found the Netflix experience there to be less than ideal. Let me set up a situation for you: VPN A (Surfshark!) allows you to stream Netflix at any time with ease and consistency. VPN B has good speed and minimal buffering, but to get Netflix to work, you must connect and disconnect frequently. Which one would you pick?
7. Reasonably priced
Surfshark's pricing is fantastic at $3.31 per month for a 24-month subscription. Seriously. To put that in context, ExpressVPN charges a subsidised pricing of $9+ per month.
This is a fantastic steal and, in my opinion, a solid ‘buy' option for a service that provides such constant performance and solid features.
8. Surfshark Reviews: A Pleasant User Experience
One thing I expect from all of the VPNs I use is that they be problem-free. This applies not only to the connection, but also to a smooth sign-up process, quick access to the apps I need to download, ease of use in the apps, and quick assistance if needed.
Surfshark is one of the top ten VPNs I've tried where I didn't glance at something and think to myself, “Wow, that's unusual.” That, in my opinion, is a key feature that sets them apart from the competition.
As paying customers, we shouldn't have to fight to use a service we've paid for, and Surfshark's customer experience model is well-designed. It simply works from the moment you click “sign up” until you switch off your device.
Surfshark Cons
Erratic Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Behavior
My next area of interest, other from Netflix, is peer-to-peer (P2P). I'm a torrent junkie, and while Surfshark claims to allow torrenting on most of its servers, I've observed that torrent speeds suffer significantly when Surfshark is enabled.
To obtain reasonable speeds on my torrent client again, I had to utilise their programme whitelisting to skip the Surfshark connection.
Final Thoughts: Surfshark Is Great!
Now that you've heard about all of my experiences with Surfshark, I think you'll agree that it's a fantastic service. I'm on their two-year plan right now, and it's been my go-to VPN for the past few months (with some breaks in between to test other services).
The incredibly steady speeds I experienced while using the service, their amazing pricing, and ultimately, their smooth Netflix streaming are the important points I'd want to emphasise once more. Some of you may have different needs, but I feel Surfshark meets them all in terms of fundamental performance and privacy.
| Key Features: | Recommended For: |
| Camouflage mode | Clean & simple UI |
| CleanWeb | Fast connection speed |
| Excellent cost | Netflix & BBC iPlayer |
| Unlimited devices | |
| Whitelister |
Conclusion
There you have it, everyone! We tested Surfshark VPN. Overall, we were pretty surprised by the features offered by this VPN. It's a terrific alternative for anyone wishing to safeguard their online behaviour and access geo-restricted content because to its reasonable pricing, robust security measures, and user-friendly UI. Additionally, the no-logs policy and unlimited simultaneous connections make it a fantastic option for families or small enterprises.
A smaller server network than some of the other VPNs on the market is one of the few minor limitations, but for the price, it's hard to beat. Surfshark is definitely worth looking at if you're looking for a VPN but don't want to spend a fortune. As always, think things through carefully before taking any actions, and have fun browsing!