- Latest tests: No leaks detected, 40% speed loss in 2023 tests
- Network: 3,200-plus servers in 100 countries
- Jurisdiction: Netherlands
- Price: $48 for the first year (then $60 annually) or $13 a month. Two-year plans are $60 for the first two years combined (then $60 annually)
Surfshark is another excellent mobile VPN, and CNET’s current Editors’ Choice for the best value VPN. It packs a ton of features, is great for streaming and is the perfect choice if you’re on a budget but still want the premium VPN experience. I just wish its speeds were more consistent.
Surfshark’s mobile app, like ExpressVPN’s, is decluttered and simple to use. But it sometimes struggles to connect on the first attempt, which can be frustrating. Otherwise, it’s a slick app with a lot of cool features at your fingertips. You can quickly bring up your connection status by tapping on the small arrow towards the bottom of the screen. If you’re not connected, you’ll see your true IP address and actual location. Once connected, you’ll see your connection time and VPN IP address and location. You also have the option to either disconnect from the VPN server or pause your VPN connection for 5 minutes, 30 minutes or 2 hours. The Pause feature is useful for instances where you want to temporarily step off the VPN but not risk forgetting to turn the VPN back on.
I like how easy it is to create custom multi-hop connections with any two server combinations. Just pick any two servers to connect through from Surfshark’s network of over 3,000 servers in 100 countries. The first server location you choose will be your entry point and the second will be your exit point and the IP address/location that websites and services will register. A multi-hop VPN connection can help you add an extra layer of privacy to your connection by routing your traffic through two separate locations and encrypting it twice. Once you create a custom multi-hop combination, the Surfshark app saves it for future use. Just keep in mind that while this will boost your privacy, your connection speeds will take a bigger hit than with a regular VPN connection because your traffic is encrypted twice and needs to travel to an additional location. Other VPNs, like NordVPN, also offer multi-hop connections, but not nearly at the scale and customizability that Surfshark does.
Additional features include a kill switch, auto-connect, protocol selection and ad- and tracker-blocking technology. You can also choose to automatically rotate your IP address without disconnecting you from the VPN with Surfshark’s Rotating IP feature. This helps mitigate risks of having your activity tracked online.
Though Surfshark’s speeds through the WireGuard protocol are exceptional, I found the VPN’s speeds through OpenVPN to be disappointingly unreliable. The WireGuard protocol is, by all accounts, highly secure, but it’s not nearly as battle-tested in the wild as OpenVPN. So if you’re in need of a reliably fast connection paired with critical privacy protections, I’d recommend going with ExpressVPN. But if speed is your top priority over which VPN protocol you use, then Surfshark is more than capable of getting the job done via WireGuard.
And if you’re into streaming content online while on the go, Surfshark is an excellent choice. It’s great for streaming Netflix content from multiple Netlfix libraries around the world. I was able to easily stream content from Max, Amazon Prime Video and Disney Plus as well.
Surfshark is a budget-friendly choice that’s priced at $48 for the first year of service, then $60 per year for any subsequent years of service. That’s significantly cheaper than ExpressVPN, though the monthly price without any discounts or introductory offers is the same at $13 a month. And, like other top VPNs, Sufrshark offers a 30-day money-back guarantee trial period.
Article source: https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/best-mobile-vpn/#ftag=CAD4aa2096