Bottom line: Surfshark is the VPN to pick when you have more devices than any device limit allows. Every plan covers unlimited devices, its cheapest plan already includes an ad blocker, and all 4500+ of its servers run on RAM only. Deloitte has reviewed its no-logs policy twice. Where it trails our top pick is the depth of that audit record: NordVPN has six independent reviews to Surfshark’s two.
Best for: big households, people with lots of gadgets, and anyone who wants ad blocking without paying for a bigger plan.
Skip it if: the longest independent audit history is your main reason for choosing a VPN.
We have no affiliate deal with Surfshark; links go to its official site. How we score.
Updated 29 October 2026. This Surfshark review rests on what Surfshark publishes and what we could check that day: its pricing page, its server page and its post on the latest Deloitte review. We haven’t run speed tests, so there is no speed score here.
Surfshark review at a glance
| What we checked | What Surfshark publishes |
|---|---|
| Devices | Unlimited, on every plan |
| Network | 4500+ servers, 100 countries, 130+ locations |
| Servers | 100% RAM-only, on 10 Gbps ports |
| Protocols | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, and Dausos on macOS |
| No-logs reviews | 2, by Deloitte; the latest published June 2025 |
| Company | Surfshark B.V., Amsterdam, the Netherlands |
| Refund window | 30 days |
| Plans | Starter, One, One+ |
What Surfshark does well
No device limit, on any plan
Most VPNs cap how many devices you can connect at once. Surfshark doesn’t. Its pricing page lists “Unlimited devices” on Starter, One and One+ alike.
That changes who it suits. A family with phones, laptops, tablets, a games console and two TVs runs out of slots fast on a capped plan, and when you hit the cap you start making choices nobody should have to make, like whether the kids’ tablet or the work laptop goes without protection this week. On Surfshark, honestly, the question never comes up. Install it everywhere, including the devices you forgot you owned.
An ad blocker in the cheapest plan
This is where Surfshark beats NordVPN, and we’ll say so plainly. Surfshark’s Starter plan includes an ad blocker and a cookie pop-up blocker. NordVPN keeps its ad and tracker blocker for its Complete plan and above. If blocking ads is half the reason you want a VPN, Surfshark gets you there for less.
Starter also includes Bypasser (Surfshark’s name for split tunneling), Rotating IP, Dynamic MultiHop, which routes your traffic through two servers, and a masked email generator.
RAM-only servers, and a published count
Surfshark’s server page says all its servers are RAM-only: “RAM is volatile memory that’s automatically wiped with every server reboot.” Nothing is stored on a disk to be seized or leaked later. For a VPN, that design choice backs up the no-logs promise in hardware, because a server that forgets everything on restart has very little to hand over even if someone takes it away.
It also publishes its network size: 4500+ servers in 100 countries and 130+ locations, on 10 Gbps ports. NordVPN publishes “thousands” of servers without a total, so Surfshark is the more transparent of the two on this one point.
Two independent no-logs reviews
Deloitte has reviewed Surfshark’s no-logs policy twice. Surfshark’s June 2025 post says the review “confirms that we don’t monitor what you do online and do not keep logs of your activities,” and that the full ISAE 3000 report is available to every Surfshark user in their account.
Tools for restrictive networks
Surfshark runs obfuscated servers, which hide the fact that you’re using a VPN, for networks that monitor or block VPN traffic. A Dedicated IP is available in 20 locations, for an extra fee.
Where Surfshark falls short
A shorter audit record than NordVPN’s
Two independent reviews is a good record. It’s still shorter than NordVPN’s six, which run from 2018 to 2025. If an audit history matters most to you, that difference is real, and it’s the main reason Surfshark sits third in our VPN ranking, behind NordVPN and Proton VPN.
The security extras start at One
Starter is a strong VPN. The extras are not in it. Scam text and call protection, the email scam checker, the antivirus with real-time protection and webcam protection, and the data-leak alerts all start at One. Identity-theft coverage and Incogni’s data removal start at One+.
Dedicated IP costs extra
Surfshark sells a Dedicated IP as an add-on. NordVPN includes one in its top plan instead. Either way, you pay more to get one.
Plan for the term
Surfshark’s intro prices are for a 2-year plan covering the first 27 months. Prices are shown in your local currency on its pricing page, so check them there, and note the renewal terms before you pay.
Surfshark plans, compared
All three plans include the VPN on unlimited devices and the 30-day money-back guarantee.
| Plan | What it adds | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | VPN, ad blocker, cookie pop-up blocker, Bypasser, Rotating IP, Dynamic MultiHop, masked email | Most people |
| One | Scam protection, antivirus with real-time protection, data-leak alerts | People who want the security suite |
| One+ | Identity-theft coverage and Incogni data removal | People who want personal data removed from brokers |
Which Surfshark setting for which job
| Situation | What to use | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday browsing | WireGuard, nearest server | Fast default for most connections |
| A network that blocks VPNs | Obfuscated servers | They hide that you’re on a VPN |
| Sensitive research | Dynamic MultiHop | Two servers instead of one |
| Sites that track your IP over time | Rotating IP | Your IP changes during a session |
| Banking app on a home connection | Bypasser | Let that app skip the VPN |
| A service that flags shared IPs | Dedicated IP (add-on) | An address only you use |
In practice, most people should leave the defaults alone and reach for these only when something doesn’t work. The special modes trade a little convenience for privacy or reach. Honestly, that’s the right order: default first, special mode when you need it, and back to the default when you’re done.
Three households, three answers
A family of five with a dozen gadgets. Phones, school laptops, a console, two smart TVs, a tablet nobody admits to owning. This is Surfshark’s home ground. No device count to manage, no deciding which gadget goes unprotected. Starter covers it, ad blocker included.
A couple who mostly stream and browse. Three or four devices, plenty of ads, and some travel. Surfshark’s Starter fits well, and so would most VPNs. When you’re in this group, the real decider is whether you want the longest audit record (our top pick) or the ad blocker in the cheapest plan (Surfshark).
Someone worried about scams and identity theft. Here the plan matters more than the VPN. The scam protection, antivirus and leak alerts start at One; identity-theft coverage and data removal start at One+. Don’t buy Starter and expect those tools. Turns out the plan name is the whole answer for this buyer.
Four Surfshark mistakes worth avoiding
Leaving devices unprotected out of habit. Most people install a VPN on their phone and stop. With unlimited devices, there’s no reason to. Put it on the TV, the tablet and the work laptop too.
Buying One+ for the VPN alone. If you don’t want identity-theft coverage or data removal, skip One+. Starter is the same VPN.
Ignoring the ad blocker. It ships in Starter but you still have to switch it on. Don’t forget that step, because it saves data and makes pages load cleaner.
Forgetting the renewal date. Intro prices cover the first 27 months of a 2-year plan. Put the renewal date in your calendar on day one, whichever VPN you choose.
Surfshark vs NordVPN in one paragraph
They’re closer than most comparisons admit. Surfshark wins on devices (unlimited against 10), on an ad blocker in the cheapest plan, and on publishing a server count. NordVPN wins on its longer audit record (six reviews against two), on including a Dedicated IP in its top plan, and on its NordWhisper protocol for blocked networks. Our full side-by-side is on NordVPN vs Surfshark.
Who should buy Surfshark
- You have more than 10 devices. No other plan we cover removes the limit entirely.
- You want an ad blocker without upgrading. It’s in Starter.
- You care that servers keep nothing on disk. Every Surfshark server is RAM-only.
- You like knowing the network’s size. Surfshark publishes it.
Who should skip it
- Audit history is your main criterion. NordVPN has three times as many independent reviews, and Proton VPN publishes five annual reports.
- You want a Dedicated IP included. Surfshark sells it separately.
- You’ll forget the renewal. Note the date before you pay, whichever VPN you pick.
Use the 30 days well
- Install it on every device you own. Unlimited means nothing if you don’t use it.
- Try your streaming apps, bank and work tools. If one blocks VPNs, try another server, or consider the Dedicated IP add-on.
- Try a hard network once, such as hotel or office Wi-Fi, and switch to an obfuscated server if the normal one fails.
- Read your account’s Deloitte report if privacy is why you’re buying.
- Decide before day 30. Surfshark’s money-back guarantee covers that window.
How we checked Surfshark
We don’t claim lab tests we didn’t run. For this review we read Surfshark’s pricing page, server page and its June 2025 post on the Deloitte review on 29 October 2026, and quote them where it matters. Our scores weigh privacy, security features, the server network, the apps and value, on what each VPN publishes; How we score explains each one. More VPNs are in our VPN section.
FAQ: Surfshark questions
Is Surfshark a good VPN?
Yes. It covers unlimited devices on every plan, runs RAM-only servers, includes an ad blocker in its cheapest plan, and has had its no-logs policy reviewed twice by Deloitte.
Does Surfshark keep logs?
Surfshark says it doesn’t monitor or log your activities, and Deloitte has reviewed that claim twice, most recently in a report published in June 2025.
How many devices can I use with Surfshark?
As many as you like. Every plan includes unlimited devices.
Where is Surfshark based?
Surfshark B.V. is registered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Does Surfshark have a money-back guarantee?
Yes, 30 days, on every plan.
The verdict
Surfshark is the easiest VPN to recommend for a busy household. Unlimited devices, an ad blocker in the cheapest plan, RAM-only servers and a published network size are real strengths, and on devices and ad blocking it beats NordVPN outright. It ranks third because Proton VPN and NordVPN both have longer independent audit records than Surfshark’s two reviews. If that record matters less to you than covering every device in the house, Surfshark is the better buy.
Surfshark on our desks
Our YouTube channels cover Surfshark from different angles. Each video opens on YouTube.
