The Surfshark Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Surfshark in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Surfshark
The Insider’s Guide
VPN with no device limit, sold alone or in security bundles
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among VPNs, read from Surfshark’s own pages.
Made by Surfshark B.V. · checked Oct 17, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Surfshark’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Surfshark’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 17, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.8
GPA, above 13 of the 16 other VPNs we grade
Surfshark is a subscription VPN that puts no limit on how many devices one account connects. The Starter plan pairs the VPN with Alternative ID masked emails and personas, One adds antivirus, breach alerts and private search, and One+ adds Incogni data removal. Plans run for 1 month, 1 year or 2 years.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Surfshark, taken from its own pages and our grades.
- 1
Best for covering every device in the house cheaply
Surfshark puts no limit on devices, so one subscription covers the whole family's phones, laptops and TVs.
- 2
Paid plans start at $6.58 a month when paid by the year
As its pricing page puts it: $79 per year at renewal (Starter), after a first 27 months for $67.23.
- 3
You can try it first
7-day free trial of 1- and 2-year plans bought on the website, limited to 3 devices
- 4
It runs on 5 platforms
macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android, with a browser extension too.
- 5
Unlimited devices
One subscription connects as many devices at once as you like. During the free trial the limit is three.
- 6
Ad and cookie pop-up blocking
The VPN apps include an ad blocker and a blocker for cookie consent pop-ups.
- 7
Bypasser, Rotating IP and MultiHop
Bypasser lets chosen apps and sites skip the VPN, Rotating IP changes your address during a session, and Dynamic MultiHop routes traffic through two servers.
- 8
A 2.8 GPA, above 13 of 16
That is against the other VPNs we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace Surfshark you would be making servers in dozens of countries, kept fast and private. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
Surfshark at a glance
- Pricing
- Free trial, from $79 per year at renewal (Starter), after a first 27 months for $67.23
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- 7-day free trial of 1- and 2-year plans bought on the website, limited to 3 devices
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension
- Made by
- Surfshark B.V.
- Category
- VPNs
- Our grade
- 2.8 GPA, good
- Store rating
- 4.7 on the App Store, 132,351 ratings
The report card
Best for covering every device in the house cheaply
Surfshark puts no limit on devices, so one subscription covers the whole family's phones, laptops and TVs. The first 27 months cost $67.23, which is about as cheap as the big names get. After that it renews at $79 a year, and the free trial needs a payment method and covers only 3 devices.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | B | The 2-year Starter plan bills $67.23 for the first 27 months, so two years cost about $2.80 a month, inside the cheaper quarter of VPNs. After that it renews at $79 a year, above the middle of the pack. Going monthly is $16.45. |
| Free plan and trial | D | A 7-day free trial on 1- and 2-year plans bought on the website, but it needs PayPal, Apple Pay or a card and is limited to 3 devices. The money-back guarantee doesn't count. |
| Features | B | Unlimited devices, ad and cookie pop-up blocking, Bypasser, Rotating IP, MultiHop, masked emails with Alternative ID, and antivirus and breach alerts on One. More than 4,500 servers in 100 countries. Nothing in the listing is missing. |
| Ease of use | A | 4.7 from about 132,000 App Store ratings. Sign in, hit connect, done. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone, Android and browser extensions. There's no integration list or API on record, so it stops at B. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Surfshark is for
- Great if your household has more devices than a capped VPN allows
- Handy when you hand out masked email addresses to sites you don't trust
- Good for anyone who wants antivirus and breach alerts on the same subscription
Who it is not for
- Pricey if you pay monthly, at $16.45 a month for Starter
- Skip it if you want to try it without a card, as the trial needs a payment method
- Not for you if you want the identity theft cover and live outside the US or in New York State
Good to know
Good for
- Households with more devices than a capped VPN allows
- Buyers who want antivirus and breach alerts in the same subscription
- People who hand out masked email addresses when signing up to sites
Worth knowing
- The advertised $2.49 a month covers only the first 27 months of a 2-year plan; after that it renews yearly at $79, $99 or $119 depending on the plan.
- The 30-day money-back guarantee excludes Alternative Number purchases, anonymous dedicated IPs and most reseller or gift-card purchases.
- Identity theft coverage is for US residents outside New York State, and Incogni only serves the US, UK, EU, Switzerland and Canada.
- The free trial needs PayPal, Apple Pay or a credit card and applies only to 1- and 2-year plans bought on the website.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$6.58
A month to start, paid by the year
Surfshark is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $79 per year at renewal (Starter), after a first 27 months for $67.23.
Starter, 2 years
$79
per year at renewal, after a first term of 27 months
VPN and Alternative ID. The first 27 months cost $67.23 ($2.49 a month), then it renews each year at $79.
Starter, 1 year
$79
per year at renewal, after a first term of 15 months
VPN and Alternative ID. The first 15 months cost $50.85 ($3.39 a month), then it renews each year at $79.
Starter, 1 month
$16.45
per month
VPN and Alternative ID, billed monthly at the same price each month.
One, 2 years
$99
per year at renewal, after a first term of 27 months
Adds Antivirus, Alert and Search. First 27 months $67.23, the same as Starter. Also 1 year ($50.85 first 15 months) or $18.95 a month.
One+, 2 years
$119
per year at renewal, after a first term of 27 months
Adds Incogni data removal and US identity theft cover. First 27 months $121.23. Also 1 year ($112.35 first 15 months) or $21.85 a month.
Trying it first
7-day free trial of 1- and 2-year plans bought on the website, limited to 3 devices
Read from surfshark.com on Oct 17, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Other savings
First 27 months of a 2-year plan from $67.23
Starter and One cost $67.23 for the first 27 months (24 plus 3 extra) and One+ $121.23. The plans then renew every 12 months at $79, $99 and $119.
Stated on surfshark.comOther savings
First 15 months of a 1-year plan from $50.85
Starter and One cost $50.85 for the first 15 months (12 plus 3 extra) and One+ $112.35, before renewing yearly at the full price.
Stated on surfshark.comEducation
Student discount through Student Beans
Students who verify their status with Student Beans get a discount code for checkout. Surfshark's page does not state the size of the discount.
Stated on surfshark.com
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
6
Places it runs: macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android and Browser extension
VPN with no device limit, sold alone or in security bundles. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: vPN, ad and tracker blocking.
Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone, Android and browser extensions.
- Unlimited devices
- One subscription connects as many devices at once as you like. During the free trial the limit is three.
- Ad and cookie pop-up blocking
- The VPN apps include an ad blocker and a blocker for cookie consent pop-ups.
- Bypasser, Rotating IP and MultiHop
- Bypasser lets chosen apps and sites skip the VPN, Rotating IP changes your address during a session, and Dynamic MultiHop routes traffic through two servers.
- Alternative ID
- Generates a masked email address that forwards to your inbox and a made-up persona for sign-ups. A virtual phone number is a paid add-on.
- Antivirus and breach alerts
- The One and One+ plans add real-time and scheduled antivirus scans, webcam protection, and alerts when your email, card or ID details leak.
- Server network
- More than 4,500 servers in 100 countries, which Surfshark says have all been upgraded to 10Gbps.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
- iOS
- Android
- Browser extension
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
Surfshark is made by Surfshark B.V.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
13/16
Other VPNs it is graded above
Surfshark's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 13 of the 16 other VPNs we grade, and level with 2.
It stands best on ease of use (A, above 15 of 16) and worst on free plan and trial (D, above 6).
Its paid plans start at $6.58 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $5 for the category: 10 of the 15 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 3.3 out of 4, and no tool on the category's chart scores higher without costing more.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 17 VPNs we grade, cut by the letter each got. Surfshark’s own letter is outlined.
- BValue for moneyAbove 11 of 16
- DFree plan and trialAbove 6 of 16
- BFeaturesAbove 5 of 16
- AEase of useAbove 15 of 16
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 16
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 16 VPNs. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Surfshark is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace Surfshark you would be making servers in dozens of countries, kept fast and private. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 2.8 is higher than 13 of the 16 other VPNs we grade. It costs $79 a year.
What you could make
- Ad and tracker blocking: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- Servers in dozens of countries, kept fast and private.
- Apps for macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android that stay in step with each other.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. Surfshark’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Proton VPN, CyberGhost and Private Internet Access
The 5 tools Surfshark is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.4GPA
NordVPN
Free trial · from $139.08/yr
Subscription VPN with threat protection and Meshnet device links.
- 2.4GPA
ExpressVPN
Free trial · from $99.95/yr
VPN with its own Lightway protocol, sold in three yearly tiers.
- 2.8GPA
Proton VPN
Free plan · from $83.88/yr
Open-source Swiss VPN with a free plan that has no data cap.
- Proton VPN has a free plan. Surfshark does not, though it has a free trial.
- Proton VPN is open source, according to its own site.
- 2.4GPA
CyberGhost
Free trial · from $56.94/yr
VPN for seven devices with a 45-day money-back window on long plans.
- 2.2GPA
Private Internet Access
From $47.88/yr
Open-source VPN with unlimited devices and servers in all 50 US states.
- Private Internet Access is open source, according to its own site.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Surfshark free?
No, Surfshark is a paid product, but you can try it first. 7-day free trial of 1- and 2-year plans bought on the website, limited to 3 devices.
How much does Surfshark cost?
Surfshark lists 5 plans. Starter, 2 years: $79 per year at renewal, after a first term of 27 months.
What platforms does Surfshark work on?
Surfshark is available on macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android. It also has a browser extension.
Does Surfshark offer any discounts?
Surfshark publicly lists the following: First 27 months of a 2-year plan from $67.23; First 15 months of a 1-year plan from $50.85; Student discount through Student Beans.
How is Surfshark rated?
Surfshark's iPhone and iPad app averages 4.7 out of 5 from 132,351 ratings on the App Store in the United States, as read on Oct 17, 2026.
Is Surfshark open source?
Surfshark is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 17, 2026.
Does Surfshark have a student discount?
Student discount through Student Beans. Students who verify their status with Student Beans get a discount code for checkout.
Who makes Surfshark?
Surfshark is made by Surfshark B.V.
What are the alternatives to Surfshark?
The closest alternatives to Surfshark in our directory are NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Proton VPN, CyberGhost and Private Internet Access.
How does Surfshark compare with other VPNs?
Surfshark's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 13 of the 16 other VPNs we grade, and level with 2.
Is Surfshark good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Surfshark B for value for money. Its paid plans start at $6.58 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $5 for the category: 10 of the 15 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Surfshark?
To replace Surfshark you would be making servers in dozens of countries, kept fast and private.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Surfshark’s own pages on Oct 17, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 17, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Surfshark's own pages on 17 October 2026, and its App Store rating. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Surfshark B.V. Prices change, so check surfshark.com before you buy.
- surfshark.com/pricing
- surfshark.com/terms-of-service/pricing
- surfshark.com/terms-of-service
- surfshark.com/student-discount
- support.surfshark.com/hc/en-us/articles/8958891462418-What-are-Surfshark-subscription-plan-options
- support.surfshark.com/hc/en-us/articles/360026123554-Does-Surfshark-offer-a-free-trial
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
1,858
Tools graded, in 46 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
ToolGPA is free to read. It may earn a commission from affiliate links and it works with sponsors, but anything paid for is labelled and no one can pay for a grade. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
1,858
tools graded
46
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Surfshark, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/surfshark
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Surfshark: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 17, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/surfshark
Know someone choosing between VPNs?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/surfshark/guide
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See our other guides
The best-graded VPNs after Surfshark, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- VPNs Insider's GuideEvery one of the 17 VPNs we grade, compared
- hide.me Insider's GuideMalaysia-based VPN with a no-signup free plan and flat renewal prices3.0 GPA
- PrivadoVPN Insider's GuideVPN with a 10GB free plan and ad blocking on paid plans2.8 GPA
- Proton VPN Insider's GuideOpen-source Swiss VPN with a free plan that has no data cap2.8 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Surfshark’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. ToolGPA uses affiliate links and may earn a commission from them, and it works with sponsors; anything paid for is labelled, and no one can pay for a grade. Surfshark is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Surfshark B.V. Prices and plans change: check surfshark.com before you buy.