Surfshark is a popular VPN used by people worldwide, and it consistently ranks among the top providers in most VPN comparisons. I wanted to see how it performs in everyday use, so I ran speed tests, leak checks, and hands-on usability trials, while also digging into how well Surfshark handles streaming, web protection, and privacy. As someone who’s used Surfshark for years, I’ll also share what’s impressed me (and what hasn’t) lately.

Surfshark VPN in 2026 – overview

Choose Surfshark if:

• You want an affordable VPN that delivers strong speeds, solid privacy protection, and a rich set of features.
• You want a VPN that will reliably unblock and stream foreign streaming services without buffering.
• You’re looking for a dependable VPN to secure everyday activities like browsing and online shopping.
• You need a VPN that supports unlimited device connections with a single subscription.
• You want a VPN that supports torrenting with strong leak protection.
• You want built-in features like ad blocking and antivirus.

Is Surfshark VPN safe?

Overall, yes, Surfshark is one of the most secure VPNs you can get in 2026. It combines strong encryption, advanced privacy tools, and a strict no‑logs policy – all backed by independent audits and a transparent track record. From my testing, it’s clear that Surfshark takes user security seriously without cutting corners on performance or usability. Whether you’re streaming, browsing, or torrenting, it provides a reliable layer of protection across all devices.

Encryption

Surfshark uses industry-leading encryption to keep your data safe, specifically AES-256-GCM and ChaCha20, both trusted by cybersecurity experts worldwide. AES-256-GCM is widely adopted in government and enterprise-grade systems, while ChaCha20 offers excellent security on devices with lower processing power. So far, there aren’t any safer alternatives.

What strengthens Surfshark’s encryption even more is Perfect Forward Secrecy – a feature that generates a unique key for every session. This means that even if someone intercepted your traffic, they wouldn’t be able to decrypt past or future sessions.

In practice, this allows you to browse safely on public Wi-Fi, access private accounts, and make secure payments without worrying about data exposure. Best of all, Surfshark manages to deliver this protection without noticeably slowing down your connection, whether you’re traveling, working, or just surfing the web.

Surfshark VPN protocols

Surfshark gives you a choice of three VPN protocols: WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2, so you can pick the best balance of speed and privacy for your needs.

VPN protocols control how your data is encrypted and transmitted. Some prioritize top-tier security, while others are built for speed and efficiency. Having multiple options lets you adjust based on your device or activity.

• WireGuard. Surfshark’s default protocol on most platforms. It’s lightweight and fast, making it ideal for streaming, gaming, and general browsing, all while maintaining strong encryption.
• OpenVPN. A highly secure and open-source protocol known for its reliability. It’s great for privacy-focused users, especially when using public networks or in countries with internet restrictions.
• IKEv2. It offers quick reconnections and stable performance, especially on mobile devices. It’s useful for switching between networks (like Wi-Fi and mobile data) without dropping the VPN.

With these three options, Surfshark keeps your data secure while letting you optimize performance based on how and where you’re connecting.

Nexus technology

Launched in early 2025, Surfshark Nexus is a major upgrade to how its VPN network operates. Instead of routing your traffic through a single server, Nexus connects you to a network-wide infrastructure using software-defined networking (SDN). This allows Surfshark to manage your connection across multiple servers at once.

With Nexus, your traffic is dynamically routed based on factors like speed, server load, and stability. This means fewer connection drops, faster performance, and a more consistent experience, especially during high traffic or when switching locations.

Nexus also brings a boost to privacy. Because your traffic flows through a wider network rather than one fixed server, it’s harder to trace and less vulnerable to potential exposure. It also enables advanced features like rotating IPs without disconnecting your session.

Overall, Nexus is Surfshark’s way of making VPNs smarter, improving both speed and security while laying the groundwork for even more advanced privacy tools.

RAM-only servers

Surfshark runs its entire VPN network on RAM-only servers, meaning no data is ever written to physical hard drives. This setup ensures that every piece of information, including session data, is wiped automatically whenever a server is rebooted.

Surfshark made the switch to a fully RAM-based infrastructure in 2020, reinforcing its no-logs policy with hardware that physically can’t retain user data. Even if a server were compromised, there would be nothing to recover.

This kind of diskless architecture has become a security benchmark in the VPN industry, and Surfshark was one of the earlier providers to adopt it network-wide. It’s a major reason users can trust that their browsing activity stays private.

Testing Surfshark’s speed in different locations

Our research team tested Surfshark’s connection speeds with WireGuard across multiple locations since the protocol showed the most potential during our initial testing round. Its average download speed retention was 81%, while upload speed retention was slower at 52%. Our findings confirm that, most of the time, speed retention is best in nearby countries, while distant regions lead to lower speeds.

The research team conducted the speed tests from Vilnius, Lithuania. Their baseline download speed without a VPN was 940Mbps, while the upload speed was 600Mbps. This should give you a reference of the distance between our testing location and Surfshark’s servers they connected to. So, let’s see how Surfshark fared in specific locations:

As you can see, the results vary quite a bit by country, although there aren’t many extreme slowdowns in any particular region. Let’s go over each country individually to analyze the specifics. I’ll describe the ping and speed retention rates to keep things simple.

Surfshark VPN features

As expected, Surfshark packs in all the essential security features you’d want from a trustworthy VPN, including a kill switch, DNS leak protection, and ad blocking. But it doesn’t stop there. Surfshark is steadily evolving into a broader cybersecurity solution, thanks to extra tools like Alternative ID and antivirus, which offer protection beyond what most VPNs provide.

Below is a quick rundown of Surfshark’s key security features.

How much does Surfshark cost?

Surfshark is one of the most affordable premium VPNs, offering competitive pricing while still providing strong features. The lowest price currently available is $1.99/month with the Surfshark Starter plan when billed over two years.

Surfshark offers three plan tiers: Starter, One, and One Plus, each adding more features as you go. The longer your subscription, the lower the monthly cost. So while monthly plans are on the higher side, long-term plans offer significant savings. Check the table below to compare features and pricing between the available options.