Surfshark Review 2026 — Tested on Windows

Score Breakdown

Pros & Cons

Speed Performance

Surfshark reached 720 Mbps download and 510 Mbps upload on our 1 Gbps test line in London. Latency to the nearest server measured 12ms — excellent for gaming and real-time applications. We test each provider across four server locations at both peak (6–9 PM local) and off-peak (2–4 AM) hours and average the results.

WireGuard on Surfshark delivered consistent results, though a handful of regional servers showed variability — one Amsterdam node dropped to 510 Mbps while adjacent servers returned 718 Mbps. Switching to OpenVPN UDP stabilised results at around 380 Mbps. Peak-hour performance was generally reliable, with no server dropping below 600 Mbps during our London-proximate tests.

Streaming Performance

Surfshark's streaming performance is strong across US and UK content. Netflix US and UK worked on every test; the CleanWeb ad blocker did not interfere with streaming DRM. Disney+ was reliable from US and European servers. HBO Max (now Max) performed well. BBC iPlayer connected correctly on every UK test session. DAZN was the weak point — only two of five sessions authenticated — which is consistent with Surfshark's own advice to use specific DAZN-optimised servers.

Security

Surfshark uses AES-256-GCM on OpenVPN and ChaCha20 on WireGuard. The MultiHop (double-hop) feature routes traffic through two VPN servers in separate countries, adding a layer of routing anonymity. CleanWeb 2.0 blocks ads, trackers, and phishing domains at the DNS level. Kill switch behaviour was correct in our tests — traffic halted within milliseconds of tunnel disruption. We ran the full browserleaks.com battery — DNS, WebRTC, IPv6, and canvas fingerprint tests all passed cleanly.

Privacy & Logging Policy

Surfshark BV is registered in the Netherlands. The Netherlands is a 14-Eyes member — part of the broader intelligence-sharing network that includes the US, UK, and Canada. Dutch law includes data-retention obligations for certain categories of providers. Deloitte's audit confirms NordVPN's no-logs posture, but the jurisdiction warrants awareness for high-risk users. The no-logs policy was verified by Deloitte, who found no discrepancy between Surfshark's stated policy and its technical implementation. The privacy policy does not retain connection timestamps, session duration, bandwidth usage, or IP addresses. One nuance: because Surfshark is a Netherlands-based company, Dutch law could in principle compel data requests — the Deloitte audit confirms there is nothing to provide, but this legal exposure differs from Panama or BVI.

Windows App Experience

The Surfshark Windows client is clean and beginner-friendly. On Windows 11, installation completed in approximately 90 seconds. The 'Pause VPN' feature — which temporarily disables the VPN for 5 minutes, 30 minutes, or 2 hours without fully disconnecting — is useful for applications that block VPN connections. Alternative ID (a disposable email and identity generator for account sign-ups) is accessible from the app. Nexus — Surfshark's IP rotation and multi-server routing feature — can be enabled from the advanced settings. The app correctly handles Windows sleep/wake cycles without losing the VPN connection.

Additional platforms include macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, and select router firmware. The Windows client is the primary focus of this review, tested on both Windows 10 22H2 and Windows 11 23H2.

Limitations

No VPN is perfect. Here are the specific weaknesses we identified during our 2026 testing period:

• The Netherlands is a 14-Eyes member — a meaningful consideration for users with heightened threat models, despite Deloitte's no-logs verification.
• WireGuard speeds on certain regional server clusters were noticeably variable during our tests; OpenVPN delivered more consistent (though slower) results.
• iOS split tunneling is absent — iPhone and iPad users cannot route selected apps outside the VPN tunnel.

Pricing

All plans include the same features — the difference is billing cycle. Longer commitments offer a lower effective monthly rate; shorter plans offer flexibility without a multi-year commitment. Prices shown are approximate and may vary by region and promotion.

Verdict

Surfshark ranks #3 for offering unlimited device connections, Deloitte-audited privacy, and a competitive long-term price.

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