Surfshark Review 2024: A Low-Price VPN, but Is It Any Good?

With VPNs, you tend to get what you pay for. So when I saw Surfshark’s low prices, I was skeptical about its rave reviews. To see if it could actually live up to these claims, the team and I tested every aspect of Surfshark, including its speeds, security features, streaming abilities, network reliability, and device compatibility.

I also took a closer look at Surfshark’s privacy policy to verify its validity and put its customer support team to the test. The results were impressive — Surfshark is incredibly privacy-focused and has a lot of unique security features. Plus, it can safely access lots of streaming platforms from anywhere, and it’s very user-friendly.

Overall, I would recommend Surfshark because it offers great value for what you get. For such a low price point (you can sign up for $1.99/month), you get unlimited device connections, top security, and good overall performance. And as an added assurance, you can always ask for a full refund within 30 days if you’re not totally sold on it.

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Surfshark can safely access many global streaming platforms, allowing safe streaming from anywhere. Our team of global testers and I tested Surfshark and successfully watched over 30 services.

We only had to make a few tweaks to get some services working smoothly. For example, sometimes we had to try a few different servers, switch to Static IP servers, or try different browsers. Occasionally, we found better success by switching protocols. Its chatbot and live agents on its 24/7 support were also easily accessible when we needed some tips.

Our team was able to stream the following platforms:

Works With: Netflix Japan, US, UK, Canada, and more

Surfshark successfully accesses multiple Netflix libraries in HD from anywhere. My global team and I streamed Netflix in 15 different countries. We were able to watch When Will Ayumu Make His Move on Netflix Japan using its Tokyo server without interruptions.

We also streamed Netflix in high quality across all 22 US locations. The numerous US servers make it easy to find a closer one for better speeds. Its UK servers also performed well during our tests.

Surfshark's Tokyo server delivered fast speeds for uninterrupted streaming

The streaming quality varied a little depending on what country our tester was in. In large countries, more distant servers sometimes resulted in slower speeds and poorer picture quality.

My team could also watch Netflix from the Netherlands, Italy, India, Hong Kong, Sweden, Turkey, and Spain.

In some countries, you may only be able to watch Netflix Originals. This is a version of the site that only offers the content Netflix owns, so you miss out on region-specific content. Testers in Malaysia, Hungary, Belgium, and the Czech Republic, could only watch Netflix Originals. However, I was impressed that everyone could at least watch a version of Netflix.

Works With: Disney+

We were able to stream Disney+ UK with zero issues using its Edinburgh server. We also confirmed it worked for them with 8 different US locations, including those in Boston, Detroit, Buffalo, New York, and Seattle. Sometimes, there were brief load times, but no issues once the videos started.

We were able to stream Grey's Anatomy in Ultra HD on Disney+

Our international team could also watch Disney+ from Canada, Australia, Germany, and Japan. We confirmed that it works for Hotstar as well.

Works With: Max

Accessing Max in great quality from anywhere is also possible with Surfshark. Our Max tests with the New York server were successful. It also worked on 6 other locations, including San Francisco, Seattle, Denver, Los Angeles, and Chicago.

Our tester in the US binged watched hours of Hacks without lagging or buffering

Works with: BBC iPlayer

We could watch BBC iPlayer securely, but it took a couple of attempts. When we first tried using its regular servers, it only worked with 1 (there are 4 UK locations in total).

We were unable to watch it on servers in Edinburgh, Manchester, and London

I don’t like going online without a VPN, so I was concerned. We contacted Surfshark’s 24/7 live chat, and the rep suggested trying its Static IP servers. There are a few in London, though not all worked. However, using the London #2 and #3 servers, we could watch BBC iPlayer securely.

Also Works With: Apple TV, Hulu, Paramount+, and more

Surfshark accessed almost every streaming service we tested securely in HD each time. My international team could connect to a server and continue watching Hulu, Apple TV, ESPN+, Paramount+, All 4, and lots more. We could also watch Vimeo through a Kodi iPlayer add-on with the UK servers. We confirmed it also works with DAZN in the US, the UK, and Canada.

Doesn’t Work With: Amazon Prime Video

Amazon Prime Video took the most troubleshooting to work, and Surfshark couldn’t safely access it from anywhere. When we tried to access the UK, US, Canadian, and Japanese libraries, we were greeted with an error message.

We reached out to its chat support, and its chatbot provided lots of troubleshooting tips. Despite these tips, we still couldn’t access the platform. I eventually had success when I tried it with the Firefox browser, but my colleagues had no luck.

Surshark's customer support bot provided some troubleshooting tips, but they didn't work

There are other more suitable and reliable options that work with Amazon Prime Video if Surfshark gives you the same results as ours.

Overall, I was really impressed with Surfshark’s streaming abilities. I have used VPNs that take less troubleshooting to get the best quality, like ExpressVPN. But, since Surfshark offers more affordable pricing, it’s still one of the top choices for streaming. On top of that, I also appreciated that support staff usually gave me easy fixes when I had trouble.

Surfshark has fast speeds on every server. When testing speeds, we examine 3 different things:

• Download speed is how fast you receive data from the server you’re connected to. It affects loading web pages, streaming, etc. It’s measured in megabits per second (Mbps).
• Upload speed is how fast you send data to the server. It’s important when you’re posting on social media, video calling, sending emails, etc. It’s measured in megabits per second (Mbps).
• Ping is the time it takes for the data to travel. It is measured in milliseconds (ms). The lower your ping, the more responsive your connection will be, which is important for online gaming.

We have a dedicated speed tester who regularly tests the top-ranked VPNs from the same location in the UK. Several tests are done on each location at different times of day to create averages. This creates fairer representations of how the VPNs perform overall.

See how Surfshark's speeds compare to the competition

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250.48 Mbps

160.78 Mbps

76 ms

146.41 Mbps

208.05 Mbps

59 ms

152 Mbps

221.40 Mbps

36 ms

200.13 Mbps

159.28 Mbps

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211.10 Mbps

66.75 Mbps

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159.20 Mbps

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174.08 Mbps

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219.97 Mbps

94.10 Mbps

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173.22 Mbps

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157.99 Mbps

43.93 Mbps

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140.79 Mbps

24.06 Mbps

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210 ms

These tests are conducted from the USA

*N/A indicates that we do not currently have speed test data for this location

We tested 25+ server locations from the UK and had similar results. On local servers (3,000 km or less away), we rarely experience more than a 15% drop in speed. Bigger drops in speed normally don’t begin until testing servers over 5,000 km away, but even on a server nearly 17,000 km away, we typically only lose 45% of download speed or less.

This is impressive, as I've seen VPNs that perform nearly as well as Surfshark on local servers lose 80% or more on distant servers.

Local Speed

Using Surfshark’s Fastest server option, we often get a speed drop so small it’s hardly noticeable. Overall, the locations in Europe generally give us an average nearby speed reduction of only around 12%. Many VPNs hover closer to an average of 20% in speed losses at this distance, so this is impressive.

The speeds barely dropped when connected to the Paris server from the UK

Long-Distance Speed

Surfshark’s long-distance servers are a little slower than local ones. I expected some speed loss, but it drops much less than I expected. Our speed tester started by testing a few servers in the US on both the East and West Coasts.

The speeds only dropped an average of 25% on Surfshark's US servers

Even at great distances, the connection was still fast enough for high-bandwidth activities. Our speed tester normally records the biggest drop on its Sydney server, which often loses 40+% of their download speeds. However, being almost 17,000 km away, this is to be expected. They only lost an average of 34% connected to Brazil and Singapore and barely noticed a difference when browsing.

ExpressVPN is the only VPN we’ve tested that’s consistently faster, but it only wins by a hair. So, if speed is a main concern, Surfshark is a top option.

Surfshark is fast enough for gaming on local servers, but distant servers rendered most games unplayable. When I used the Fastest server feature, I could game with great speeds as if I were using my base internet connection. Unfortunately, it was impossible to play with far-off servers (like in Australia).

It’s best to have download speeds of 15+ Mbps, upload speeds of at least 1 Mbps, and the lowest ping possible for a smooth online gaming experience. Anything over 100 ms will cause so much lag, fast-paced gameplay will become almost impossible.

I began my tests by using the Fastest server feature (it connected me to the UK) and loaded Team Fortress 2 on Steam. It only took a few seconds to find a match, and I was able to game with Surfshark without any interruptions or slowdowns. I then connected to a server in the Netherlands, which gave me pretty much identical results.

I could game smoothly on European servers but the ping was too high on US servers

Testing the New York server for long distances, I recorded a ping of 121 ms, which was too high for fast-paced games. I experienced a lot of lag, and I constantly died because I couldn’t avoid enemy fire. West Coast servers (Los Angeles and San Francisco) were even worse, with over 5 minutes to load and excessive lag.

I wasn’t too disappointed by this because these are better results than I get with the majority of VPNs. In fact, most only let you play games on the closest server to you.

Surfshark doesn’t have the largest network, but it offers reliable connections with impressive global coverage. There are 3,200 servers in 100 locations. Compared to other top VPNs like CyberGhost (11,690 servers in 100 countries), this isn’t a ton of servers. That being said, it has servers in more countries than most other VPNs I’ve used.

Most of Surfshark’s servers are located in the US, spread out over 22 locations. Surfshark also has a big server presence in Europe (especially the UK, France, Germany, and Spain), Canada, and Australia.

Virtual Locations

Surfshark uses virtual servers in around 25 locations around the world, which accounts for 25% of its total server network. When you use one of these locations, you’re actually connected to a physical server located outside that region.

For example, all IPs in Pakistan come from outside the country. This offers more connection options and helps you get faster speeds if the physical server happens to be closer to your true location. On the downside, it can also give you a higher ping and take longer to connect if it’s farther away.

Virtual locations aren’t necessarily less safe, but they can sometimes have unreliable connections

Static IP Servers

These servers offer the same IP address every time you connect instead of being assigned a random one. This is useful if you don’t want to complete a million CAPTCHA checks or constantly verify your identity when signing into secure sites like PayPal or banking apps.

I tested this feature by logging into my banking app 3 times after reconnecting to the same static server and was only asked to confirm my identity the first time. I get annoyed by how many CAPTCHA checks I have to do when using my VPN, so I really like that this feature stops that.

Surfshark’s live chat agent also recommended using these servers when I couldn’t watch some of my country’s streaming platforms. For example, I couldn’t use my Sky Go app on the regular UK server, but the London UK Static IP let me watch it securely with Surfshark connected.

Surfshark offers static IP servers in 6 locations: Japan, Singapore, Germany, the US, the Netherlands, and the UK.

Dedicated IPs

For a more private, reliable connection, Surfshark offers a dedicated IP address upgrade for a small additional monthly fee. It offers IPs for:

Similar to Surfshark’s static IP addresses, a dedicated IP gives you the same IP address every time you use it. The key difference is that you’re the only one who can use it — it’s not shared with other users. This helps you avoid annoying CAPTCHA requests.

It’s also ideal for using services that are sensitive to IP changes, like streaming platforms, online banking, and crypto trading websites. For security purposes, sites like these block you out if your IP address is constantly changing. Surfshark’s dedicated IP overcomes this issue by giving you the same IP address you can use anytime you access these accounts.

RAM-Only Servers

Surfshark has a 100% diskless server network that automatically wipes all data when you switch off your VPN. This is to prevent breaches from malicious third parties. Many other top VPNs use hard drives, which are manually wiped clean, so there’s a small chance that data could be breached before the manual wipe occurs.

This also gives you an added layer of privacy because there truly isn’t any data that could possibly be shared (in case of court orders, for example). I really like that Surfshark offers this extra level of security.

Surfshark is as secure as it gets. It offers the highest level of encryption, RAM-only servers, a strict no-logs policy, and more than just the standard advanced security options.

Military-Grade Encryption and Secure Protocols

It uses industry-standard 256-bit keys to encrypt your data, which are virtually impenetrable. This is either through AES-256 (IKEv2 and OpenVPN) or ChaCha20 (WireGuard).

This is the same level of encryption used by governments and militaries to protect their private data, so your ISP and third parties won’t be able to see any of your online activity.

You can choose from 3 protocols to encrypt and secure your online activity. While IKEv2 and OpenVPN are pretty standard for most VPNs, I was happy to see that Surfshark is WireGuard compatible on all major operating systems. Surfshark no longer supports IKEv2 on Windows, but it’s not a big deal since WireGuard works better for desktop devices anyway.

• OpenVPN: Constantly improved by security experts, OpenVPN is highly secure. It has two versions: UDP, which is faster for video calls, streaming, and gaming, and TCP, which is slower but more stable. OpenVPN worked well for me on both local and distant servers and is available on Windows, iOS, Android, macOS, Linux, and FireTV.
• WireGuard: This protocol was the fastest in my tests, especially over long distances, enhancing security without sacrificing speed. It’s ideal for streaming, video calls, and browsing on both nearby and distant servers. Available on Windows, Android, iOS, and macOS.
• IKEv2: Ideal for mobile devices due to its auto-connect feature, which protects you when switching between mobile data and WiFi. It works best on nearby servers but is slow over long distances. Available on Surfshark’s iOS, Android, macOS, and FireTV apps, and as a manual configuration for routers.

I compared the different protocols during my speed tests to see whether there was a noticeable difference.

IKEv2 gave me the fastest speeds on local servers, but the slowest on farway servers

WireGuard was the most consistent during my tests on local and long-distance servers. Even though IKEv2 delivered the fastest results on a nearby server, my speeds dropped dramatically when connected to faraway locations.

Kill Switch and Leak Test Results

I tested 10 servers, including ones in the UK, US, and Germany, and no IP, WebRTC, or DNS leaks were detected. Any leaks are a threat to your security and privacy while using a VPN. A DNS leak is a security flaw that allows your ISP to see your internet activity. IP and WebRTC leaks reveal your real IP address (and your real location) to third parties, like hackers or online snoopers.

Using IPleak.net, my actual location in the UK was fully masked by Surfshark’s servers in Germany

Surfshark offers private DNS on every server and IP leak protection when using IPv4 stack. IPv4 is the most common type of IP, while IPv6 is a newer format. The version of IP used by your device depends on what your network supports.

This means if your network supports IPv6, you could experience leaks while using Surfshark. Since IPv6 is newer, it’s not widely used, so this shouldn’t be an issue for most people. When I contacted support to ask about it, they informed me that they’re working on adding this in the future and offered some solutions to prevent your IP from being exposed.

You can easily disable IPv6 in your device’s network settings to prevent these leaks, but this could cause some apps to stop working properly. Support also said OpenVPN is the best protocol to use to cover your IPv6 connections (although not a guarantee).

The kill switch feature is easy to access and keeps you protected even if Surfshark disconnects unexpectedly. It will temporarily deactivate your internet connection and then reactivate it automatically when you’re connected again so none of your traffic is leaked while the VPN reconnects.

This is an important feature that has become standard with most VPNs, so I expect it from a top VPN like Surfshark. I also really like that Surfshark makes this feature easily accessible from its base connection screen. On Windows and Android, you can simply click on Kill Switch on the connection panel and activate it without navigating through the settings menu. It’s not activated automatically, so you need to switch it on manually the first time you connect to Surfshark.

You even get customizable options for the kill switch on Surfshark’s Windows app. You can choose between a soft or strict setting. The strict setting works like any other VPN kill switch and will stop your internet connection if the VPN disconnects; the soft option will only do so if the connection is interrupted by accident. The automatic kill switch is available on all of Surfshark’s apps, including FireTV.

You can choose between a soft and a strict kill switch on Surfshark's Windows app

Dynamic MultiHop Servers

Surfshark lets you double up your VPN encryption by sending your traffic through 2 servers instead 1 (also called Double VPN). This feature isn’t really necessary for day-to-day internet activities. You might use it if you’re hyper-vigilant about privacy or need to send sensitive information in a country with internet surveillance.

Quite a few VPNs offer double VPN connections, but what sets Surfshark apart is its Dynamic MultiHop selection. This lets you manually choose the locations you want to connect through, which could improve your double VPN speeds.

I increased a slower server’s speeds by 4% when I connected to the Fastest server option first. That really impressed me because using 2 servers almost always slows you down. On the other hand, using a long-distance server as my entry location dropped my speeds by around 50%, which is what I expected.

It recommends connecting to “Fastest country” or “Nearest country” for the best performance

Even though most people won’t need to use the added security MultiHop provides, I was impressed at how dynamic and customizable it is compared to other VPNs’ multi-hop features.

Camouflage Mode and NoBorders

Camouflage hides the fact that you’re using a VPN to encrypt your traffic (also known as obfuscation). It does this with technology that makes your connection seem like normal traffic.

You can also use Camouflage mode to help you get around firewalls on public WiFi. I tested this by blocking a website on my local network. With this feature, I was able to load it with no problems. Camouflage mode is automatically enabled when connecting using the OpenVPN protocol, which is available on Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Linux devices.

NoBorders mode was designed to give the VPN a more reliable performance on restricted networks, like at school, work, or public WiFi, which often block VPN use.

You can activate NoBorders mode on Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android by navigating to Settings > Advanced in the Surfshark app. I had some trouble finding it on my Android and contacted customer support for help. I found out the feature is actually hidden — I had to tap and hold Protocol in the advanced settings menu to access the NoBorders function.

CleanWeb

This is Surfshark’s built-in ad and malware blocker. I tested out CleanWeb on Forbes.com, and all the ads I saw with CleanWeb toggled off were gone once I turned it on.

The CleanWeb feature works well on the browser extension and blocks ads even when not connected.

You can easily find this feature in the settings menu

It also detects and blocks malicious websites, protecting your device from malware and phishing scams.

Nexus

Surfshark’s Nexus technology uses Software Defined Networking (SDN). Nexus connects you to a network of VPN servers before routing you to your chosen server.

This is different from traditional VPN connections, which connect to a server through a single tunnel. Surfshark claims that using a single server can lead to security and privacy issues (since you’re only using 1 IP address) and has created Nexus technology to combat this. In addition, Surfshark claims it will obscure your traffic, stabilize performance, and improve your VPN connection speed.

Surfshark’s Nexus technology will only be utilized when you use one of the following features:

• IP Rotator. This feature periodically changes your IP address without cutting you off from the VPN connection. It makes it even harder for your ISP or unwanted third parties to track you.
• Dynamic MultiHop. This lets you manually choose to connect to any 2 servers available on Surfshark’s server network, providing double the encryption.
• IP Randomizer. This feature works by giving you a new IP address each time you connect to a different website, completely masking your browsing habits.

Other Features

Bypasser

This feature, also known as split tunneling, lets you choose specific websites or apps to bypass the VPN. It's useful for accessing safe sites like banking sites and connecting to network devices without VPN interference.

This feature is only available for Windows and Android and it worked perfectly on my Windows laptop and Android tablet. I bypassed the VPN for my banking app, using it without issues. It also worked for websites; I set BBC iPlayer to use my normal connection, allowing me to watch while connected to a US server for other online activities.

Device Invisibility

You can make your VPN-enabled device invisible to other devices on your local network for another layer of privacy. This is especially useful if you’re using public WiFi and don’t want other users to see you. While most operating systems already support this function, I like how easy it is to enable with Surfshark — it only took a couple of clicks. I just went to Settings > Advanced and turned it on. This feature is only available on Windows and Android.

Alternative ID

Alternative ID lets you generate an online alias (name, gender, birth date, country). Upon generating this persona, it creates a new email address based on the given details.

To ensure utmost privacy, all incoming emails to this proxy address are securely forwarded to your actual email. However, Surfshark emphasizes ethical usage and advises users to be aware of legal constraints, making it clear that the Alternative ID shouldn't be used to violate laws or the Terms of Service of other platforms.

Surfshark One and One+

Surfshark’s all-in-one security bundles include the full VPN and various personal security tools. They start at a slightly higher price than the VPN alone but offer bigger discounts for longer plans.

The Surfshark One and One+ bundles offer the VPN, Antivirus, Alert, and Search. One+ also includes the Incogni data removal service. Alert and Search work on all major OS, but Antivirus is currently available only on Windows, macOS, and Android.

• Surfshark Alert notifies you if your personal information appears in leaked databases (emails, passwords, or credit card info) and provides regular security reports. Unlike free apps, it gives real-time breach notifications, requiring 2FA.
• Surfshark Search is a private, ad-free search engine that returns only organic results without trackers, similar to DuckDuckGo or StartPage.
• Surfshark Antivirus protects devices from viruses and malware, regularly scans for harmful files, and restricts unauthorized app camera access. It's currently available on Windows, macOS, and Android, with hopes for iOS support soon.
• Incogni is a data removal service that contacts data brokers to request data takedowns, reducing unwanted marketing emails and enhancing privacy, potentially preventing scam targeting.

Surfshark has a strict and audited no-logs policy. It took some time to get to the first audit, but it was finally done in 2022. The VPN doesn't store identifiable data, but it's based in the Netherlands, which is a part of the 9 Eyes Alliance. This is not ideal for privacy, but since Surfshark doesn't keep logs, it won't have anything identifiable to share, even if requested.

Does Surfshark Keep Logs? No

Surfshark doesn’t collect your IP address, browsing history, session information, or any other identifiable data. I was impressed by how accessible its privacy policy is. For each article, a highlighted summary of the most important information (in layman’s terms) is provided — I respect this commitment to transparency and making sure users understand everything they’re committing to.

Its privacy policy explains that its servers do store some details about your connection, such as your user ID, IP address, and connection timestamps, but that this information is deleted after 15 minutes.

Surfshark's privacy policy was easy to read — it wasn't hard to find the information I wanted

Surfshark collects and stores your email, encrypted password, and basic billing information to create your account. If you're uncomfortable providing this info, you can create a separate email for Surfshark and use an anonymous payment method like cryptocurrency to subscribe without identifying yourself.

Surfshark also collects diagnostic reports and anonymous analytics information in the app, which you can opt out of easily in the settings menu. Your location data is collected when using the Auto-Connect feature, but this data is never shared with any third parties.

Other data is also collected when using Surfshark’s website, including traffic data (or anonymous analytics) information, cookies, and web beacons. However, I was impressed that the policy also explains how to disable these functions if you don’t want this information stored.

The VPN also publishes a warrant canary, which is a web page you can visit to find out whether Surfshark has received any court orders to share user data. The more transparent a company is, the more I feel like I can trust it, so I really like that it makes this information so easy to access.

Surfshark updates this page daily, so you’re always up-to-date about whether it’s received any warrants or gag orders for your data. But considering it has a strict no-logs policy, it wouldn’t have any data to hand over anyway.

It's really easy to find the warrant canary on the website, at the bottom of the homepage

Was Surfshark Audited? Yes

In December 2022, Deloitte audited Surfshark’s no-logs policy, examining IT systems and interviewing employees. Deloitte confirmed that Surfshark adheres to its privacy claims, passing the audit.

It is concerning that Surfshark took 4 years to audit its logging policy, lagging behind competitors in this area. While I never doubted its integrity, it was odd that such a successful company hadn’t proven its privacy policy sooner.

However, Deloitte’s endorsement reassures me, providing relief and confidence in Surfshark's privacy claims.

In December 2023, Surfshark’s Android app passed the MASA audit, confirming its safety and compliance with global data handling standards.

In the past, Surfshark had 2 other audits done by Cure53, but only of its Chrome and Firefox extensions (in 2018). There were no major issues found with the extensions, neither in the privacy or security realms. In 2021, Cure53 also analyzed the server infrastructure and found only minor issues, which were promptly fixed. Hopefully, Surfshark will conduct audits more consistently in the future.

Based in the Netherlands — Within 9-Eyes Jurisdiction

One thing that concerned me about Surfshark is that it’s based in the Netherlands, which is part of the 9-Eyes data-sharing alliance. It used to be headquartered in the privacy-friendly British Virgin Islands until it underwent some corporate restructuring in 2021.

At the time, Surfshark claimed it moved to the Netherlands for “its favorable business, economic, and political environment.” It even let existing subscriptions continue to operate under the BVI’s jurisdiction. Of course, all new subscriptions are under the Netherlands’ jurisdiction.

Despite it being a part of the 9 Eyes Alliance, Surfshark said the Netherlands’ local laws would not force them to retain data. It also claimed it would move again if the laws changed.

All that being said, Surfshark’s audited privacy policy and warrant canary are sure signs that it can be trusted. Even if Surfshark were ordered to hand over user data (which it is fully transparent about), there wouldn’t be anything to give since it doesn’t store anything that could identify you anyway.

It's possible Surfshark had its privacy policy audited to put everyone’s mind at ease about this move. I’m glad it did because otherwise this would have me more concerned.

In 2022, Surfshark merged with Nord Security, the company behind the reputable NordVPN, to form one holding company. However, Surfshark still operates separately.

Does Surfshark Work in China? It Might, but It’s Not Guaranteed

Unfortunately, Surfshark has a hard time working in China due to the country's Great Firewall — a system of internet censorship and regulation. The Great Firewall blocks access to many websites and services, including many popular VPNs.

I contacted Surfshark's chat support to ask if their service works in China. Its chatbot directed me to some guides about setting up manual configurations. When I spoke to a live agent, they couldn't guarantee it would work in China and referred me back to the same guides.

Surfshark's how-to guides are simple and easy to follow for people of all levels of tech knowledge

The Chinese authorities have taken extensive measures to block non-government-approved VPN services and their IP addresses, including Surfshark. This means that if you attempt to access Surfshark in China, you’ll likely find that the service is slow, unreliable, or completely inaccessible.

Surfshark’s customer support also confirmed that it can’t guarantee the VPN will work in other restrictive countries like Russia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the UAE. However, there are other VPNs that work in China and similar countries.

Surfshark performed well during my torrenting tests, but it’s not clear how to find the servers optimized for it. Not all servers work with torrenting (there are only around 80 that do). However, if you’re not connected to a P2P-optimized server, you’re automatically connected to one when you open a torrent client.

Many VPNs make it much easier to find their P2P-optimized servers. Customer support informed me that you can type “p2p” into the search bar, and all torrenting servers will appear. But it’s kind of weird that it’s not more intuitive. For example, CyberGhost has a separate tab in its server list for “downloading” servers, which makes it really easy to find.

It was somewhat disheartening that customer support was unable to provide a definite explanation of how the VPN determines the P2P server allocated to you. However, I did conduct an evaluation of this "automatic transition" feature to confirm its functionality.

First, I chose the Czech Republic server (which isn’t P2P-optimized) and connected. Using IPleak.net, I saw that my IP and DNS locations were set to Prague. After opening Bittorrent, I ran IPleak again and saw that my IP and DNS had changed to the Netherlands, which is one of the P2P-optimized server locations.

You can also manually connect to a server by typing “P2P” in the app's location search bar

I had great speeds on BitTorrent with Surfshark, but it offers torrenting servers close to my actual location. If there isn’t one close by, you could face some bigger speed drops (luckily, even distant Surfshark servers are pretty fast).

It took me 4 minutes to download a 2.5 GB public domain file using the Netherlands server. I also tried a P2P server in the UK (where I'm currently located), and downloading the same file took 2 minutes — so there was only a marginal difference in speed.

Once you’ve connected to your preferred server, you can download torrents safely and anonymously. It’s just too bad it’s a hassle to find them. So, I recommend searching for them manually to find the one closest to you.

Surfshark’s strict no-logs policy and military-grade encryption, combined with its automatic kill switch feature, make it a VPN I feel safe using with torrents. However, it’s much easier to use a VPN that allows torrenting on every server, or at the very least has clearly marked P2P servers. If you’re looking for a good torrenting VPN, I recommend you check out this list to see the top VPNs for torrenting.