If you’re buying into Canon’s EOS R mirrorless system, you might well be weighing the do-it-all EOS R6 II against the more expensive and high-powered EOS R5. Plenty chose the original EOS R6 for its price, low-light capability, burst shooting and video features, and the R6 II removes one remaining barrier – the original model’s 20MP resolution.
The Mark II’s resolution increase will may not make much difference to the detail rendition, but it’s an important psychological bonus which puts the Canon on a par with rivals like the Lumix S5 (and now the S5 II), Nikon Z6 II and Sony A7 III (though not quite the A7 IV).
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The R6 Mark II’s burst mode frame rates are doubled to 40fps with the electronic shutter but stay at 12fps with the mechanical shutter, and while the AI-powered AF subject recognition has been extended with more subject types, the original was pretty good already.
Canon EOS R6 II specs
Sensor: 24.2MP full frame CMOS AF points: 4,897 point Dual PIxel CMOS AF II, 100% coverage Video: 4K UHD up to 60p, FHD up to 180p Viewfinder: OLED 3.69m-dot LCD: 3-inch vari-angle touch 1.62m-dot Memory card: 2x SD/SDHC/SDXC UHS-II Max Burst: 12fps mechanical shutter (1,000+ JPEG, 110 RAW/1,000 CRAW), 40fps electronic shutter (190 JPEG, 75 RAW/140CRAW) Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Mic, Headphone, HDMI Type D, USB 3.2 Size: 138.4 × 98.4 × 88.4mm Weight: 670g (inc. battery and SD card)
For video, the original 30-minute recording limit has been scrapped and Canon reckons the R6 II can shoot for over 40 minutes at 4K 60p, and up to 6 hours at 4K 30p. It also has Canon C Log 3 and can capture 6K ProRes RAW over HDMI.
These things are all great, but they are incremental rather than revolutionary improvements, and they make for a pretty expensive camera that’s only worth it if you need everything that it does.
The EOS R6 II is nice to use and captures very attractive stills and video, but the 8-stop IBIS system will not necessarily deliver that in real life and does not have the fluency for smooth camera movements in video. The EOS R6 II feels like one of the better cameras in its class, but not necessarily the best and definitely not the cheapest.
Canon EOS R6 II: release date and price
About the same price at launch as the old R6, which is welcome
Much more expensive in the UK than the US
Seems expensive compared to the Sony A7 IV and Lumix S5 II
New Canon cameras typically arrive with premium price tags relative to the competition and take a while – sometimes a very long while – to move back down to a more competitive price point. Launch price for the Canon EOS R6 II is $2,499.99 / £2,799 / AU$4499 body only, and $3,599.99 / £3,999 / AU$6399 bundled with the RF 24-105mm F4 lens.
It’s no surprise then, that the EOS R6 II immediately looks expensive compared to its rivals. These include the Nikon Z6 II, Sony A7 II and the brand new Panasonic Lumix S5 II, all of which are around $500 cheaper. Indeed, even the 30MP Sony A7 IV currently costs less than the Canon. And if you’re thinking of getting the R6 II and 24-105mm f/4 lens bundle, that’s almost the price of an EOS R5 body.
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So is the EOS R6 II good enough to make it worth the extra compared to its direct rivals? At this level, you commit to a system rather than a specific camera, and if you’re starting from scratch you’ll need a lot of trust in the Canon brand to pay the extra for the R6 II. If you’re a Canon shooter, the R6 II might make a logical upgrade for existing kit, but if you already use Sony, Panasonic or Nikon gear, it’s hard to see why you would switch.
Price Score: 3.5/5
Canon EOS R6 II: design
Curved shapes and smooth materials make it nice to handle
Very good EFV and rear display
Some minor control niggles
Canon does make very nice-handling cameras. When other makers seem to be favoring hard-edged rectilinear designs, the EOS R6 II has comfortable curved contours and soft, grippy surfaces. Your little finger is still left dangling at the bottom of the grip and it does feel overbalanced by bigger lenses – we tested it with the RF 24-105mm f/4 – but it’s more comfortable than its rivals.
The three-dial control layout does take some learning, since the dial functions depend on the mode and in some modes two dials do the same thing, but it’s all part of learning a sophisticated camera.
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It would have been nice to have had dedicated ISO and WB buttons, and why doesn’t the stills/video lever on the far left of the top plate have a continuous shooting option? It’s something this camera is especially good at, so it’s a bit annoying to have to dig around the the interface to find it.
And you might wish there was some quick way to disable the subject-recognition system for when you want to choose the focus point – though you could do that with the C1, C2 and C3 settings on the main mode dial.
It does feels as if Canon has gone away from the idea of a camera that has buttons and dials you can see, to a camera you customize and program yourself.
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The EVF offers superb clarity, definition and contrast, though it can also be a bit jittery as you move the camera, and while the vari-angle rear screen is equally excellent, could Canon not have stretched to a 3.2-inch display rather than 3-inch?
If you like cameras with power levers around the shutter release, right where your forefinger is, you won’t like the R6 II’s big Off-Lock-On lever further back on the top plate. There must be some ergonomic reason why you should need one hand to hold a camera and another to switch it on and off. Answers on a postcard.
There’s no status panel on the top plate, but the menu system, although extensive, is very clear and easy to navigate. The video record button on the on the top plate looks to be in a random position but it’s actually quite easy to find with your index finger.
Design 4/5
Canon EOS R6 II: features and performance
Really good AI autofocus and tracking
Operation all-round is smooth, responsive and satisfying
We didn’t get Canon’s claimed 8-stops of IBIS
Canon’s latest AI autofocus system is very impressive – mostly because you can set its subject-recognition to auto and let it get on with it. Almost always it figures out what your subject is and focuses on it without you having to do a thing. It’s especially effective with animals and humans, but it’s also very good at identifying cars.
If you choose Zone AF or single point AF, it will still show you what it’s recognized in the EVF or on the rear screen, but it will respect your area/point AF choice, which saves you getting into a fight with the camera over what to focus on.
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The eye AF and tracking is very good, and ideal for one-person vlogging crews filming themselves. In our tests it tracked us doggedly as we walked about talking to the camera, and only failed with sudden frame entries for fast and erratic movements. Basically, as long as you’re not deliberately trying to trip it up, it doesn’t put a foot wrong.
It was also excellent for tracking squirrels in our local park. With a squirrel face-on it didn’t quite figure out the eyes, but with the squirrel sideways it got the focus bang on.
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The 8-stop (claimed) IBIS is less convincing. It’s quoted with the RF 24-105mm lens at 105mm, which is just how we tested it. We got an acceptable hit rate at around 4-stops compensation, but pretty poor results after that.
We didn’t find it great for video or long lenses, either. For static filming it’s excellent, but for any kind of camera movement it does too many ‘jump-resets’ for reliable footage in the hands of all but the most skilled operators. We tried it with the RF 800mm f/11 super-telephoto and got the same results – if you can’t keep this lens’s movement under tight control, the stabilizer just jumps from one ‘stable’ position to another, making accurate framing very difficult.
Features and performance 4/5
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Canon EOS R6 II: image and video quality
Very attractive color rendering for both stills and video
Excellent high-ISO image quality
24MP resolution enough for most but unremarkable
The JPEGs we got from the R6 II are really attractive. The auto WB seems to judge the lighting and the colors of the scene perfectly, and the evaluative exposure metering seems to know exactly how you would want a scene rendered. We shot both JPEG and raw, but the exposure system and the JPEG rendering proved so effective that the raw files were largely superfluous.
The resolution was no better and no worse than we’d expect from a 24MP full frame camera with an anti-aliasing filter. For resolution, the EOS R6 II is good but utterly unremarkable. At least it’s not at a megapixel disadvantage compared to most rivals, unlike its predecessor.
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The low-light, high-ISO performance is extremely good. We set up a test scene with the same subject shot at a range of ISOs with the camera on a tripod and operated with the self-timer to eliminate any possible shake. The results were very good indeed right up to ISO 6400, when it was possible to start seeing some loss of detail and image smoothing, but it wasn’t until ISO 12,800 when we felt there was any significant quality loss.
This was all done by comparing JPEGs. The danger of comparing raw files is that different raw converters handle noise differently.
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The video quality was very impressive too. We shot 4K 30p and 4K 60p in-camera in standard mode (no log flattening) to see what the R6 II could do straight out of the box. Detail was sharp, the color rendition was rich and natural and the exposure – as with stills photography – gave enough dynamic range for most needs and lighting conditions. The AF kept up well too, with smooth shifts for changing subject distances.
The IBIS was less convincing, failing to properly smooth out walking footage and not handling long focal lengths or smooth camera movements (or as smooth as we could make them) particularly well.
The IBIS could get you out of a hole if you’re shooting handheld and you don’t have your tripod or gimbal but, realistically, you need those supports to really get the best from this or any camera.
Image and video quality 5/5
Should I buy the Canon EOS R6 II?
Don't buy it if...
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Don't buy it if...
Also consider
If our Canon EOS R6 II review has you wondering about alternatives, here are three rivals to consider.
Japan and the Netherlands will join the United States in imposing chip bans on China, Bloomberg revealed in a report. The goal is to “undercut Beijing’s ambition to build its own domestic chip capabilities”, according to people aware of the situation.
The Dutch company ASML Holding HV will be prevented from transferring deep ultraviolet lithography machines used for chip manufacture, and similar restrictions will be imposed on the Japanese Nikon Corp.
The joint effort is an expansion on US President Joe Biden’s agenda to limit China’s ability to manufacture and develop its own...
Almost all smartphones come with non-removable batteries these days, but TCL is ready to provide the exception called Ion X. If you live in the US, you are able to purchase it for $119 from Metro starting today. It can also be free if you open a new line or migrate your number.
The TCL Ion X packs a 3,000 mAh removable battery, allowing you to swap it out with a new one if it degrades over time. You can also carry a spare battery for instant top-ups. A removable battery is still the fastest way to have a phone with a fully charged battery after all.
In addition to a removable...
The Suunto 9 Peak Pro has been given a powerful upgrade internally when compared to its almost identical-looking predecessor, the Suunto 9 Peak. There’s a new processor, new GPS, new optical heart rate sensor, and way more battery life. In terms of looks, though, not much has changed aside from a slimmer 10.8mm thick chassis and lighter 64g weight.
The biggest drawback here is the fact that Suunto decided not to upgrade the watch’s screen. Measuring 1.2 inches, the monochrome sapphire crystal display has a relatively low 240 x 240 pixel display. While there is an LED backlight, it can sometimes prove difficult to read in some instances as the text isn’t as crisp as you’d expect on a smartwatch - especially one of this price.
On the plus side, the Suunto 9 Peak Pro is super comfortable to wear for longer workouts across all types of activities. It’s also made more sustainably than most other wearables on the market, as it claims to have been built from 100% renewable energy with a 7.5kg CO2e carbon footprint.
When it comes to features, the Suunto 9 Peak Pro is teeming with fitness-tracking tech, boasting 95 trackable activities - from the more popular running, cycling, and swimming to the more obscure, such as snorkeling mode. As you’d expect from a sports watch of this caliber, there’s way more included than activity or step tracking. You’ll also find insightful training tools such as peak training effect, training load, and recovery time recommendations. All of your data is presented clearly in the connected Suunto app, which offers you heaps of post-workout data to sift through ideal for measuring your performance and helping you to track improvements over time. Although it has to be said - the suite of fitness and recovery insights on offer here, while comprehensive, doesn’t live it to those you’ll find on Garmin or Polar devices.
Performance-wise, the Suunto 9 Peak Pro ticks most boxes as a premium activity-tracking smartwatch. Despite a few instances where the interface feels sluggish - especially when you’re asking a lot of it - it can handle commands with ease while providing decent accuracy.
As for battery life, the 9 Peak Pro easily outperforms its predecessor. In our tests, the device lasted just over two weeks before needing a recharge. That was using it to track some kind of workout activity almost every day, sometimes with GPS monitoring enabled and sometimes not, alongside smartphone notifications.
Suunto 9 Peak Pro: Price and availability
Out now in the UK, US and Australia
Priced from £419 RRP in the UK, $549 in the US and AU$759 in AUS
Also comes in a more expensive but lighter titanium model
The Suunto 9 Peak Pro is available to buy now in the UK, US and Australia, with a starting price of £419, US$549 and AU$759, respectively. That’s a “starting” price because the 9 Peak Pro comes in two models. There’s the cheaper non-titanium offering, which we are reviewing in this article, and a more expensive but lighter and more durable Suunto 9 Peak Pro Titanium. The latter retails for £110 / US$150 / AU$200 more than the standard model at £529 / US$699 / AU$959.
In most instances, the Suunto 9 Peak Pro comes in at just a bit pricer than its predecessor, the Suunto 9 Peak, which currently retails for £349 / US$469 / AU$999. (Yup, for reasons unknown, the older, less feature-rich model costs more Down Under.)
When it comes to colorways, there are four options available for the standard Suunto 9 Peak Pro model: black, blue, gold and green, and sand or slate options for the titanium version.
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Suunto 9 Peak Pro: Design and screen
Slim and lightweight for a rugged sports watch
Planet-friendly design and manufacturing process
Disappointing display
If you’re already familiar with the Suunto Peak range, you’ll probably be aware that the 9 Peak Pro is almost identical in physical design to its predecessor, the Suunto 9 Peak. In fact, side-by-side, you’d struggle to tell them apart. The real update is reflected in the sports watch’s innards, where it packs an array of significant improvements over the 9 Peak, including a new processor, new GPS, new optical heart rate sensor, and bigger battery life.
While it is slimmer and lighter than Suunto’s last Peak release, measuring just 10.8mm thick and weighing a super light 64g (which is pretty slender for a rugged smartwatch), those unfamiliar with the Suunto 9 family’s design should be aware that it doesn’t boast anything particularly inspiring in terms of aesthetics. It’s handsome enough, sure, but as a rugged sports watch designed for the super active, fitness enthusiasts and athletes, it’s a bog-standard design that won’t get you excitedly showing it off to your mates. Those less fussed about looks will be pleased to know it touts military-grade durability, and so has been designed to withstand all manner of knocks.
The biggest downside for us is the Suunto 9 Peak Pro’s display. Measuring 1.2 inches, the monochrome display is a 240 x 240-pixel display made from sapphire crystal glass. While it does offer an LED backlight, it can sometimes prove difficult to read as the text isn’t as sharp as you’d expect from a watch of this class. The display is touch-enabled, though, so can be controlled by either tapping your fingers or via the physical buttons on the side, which is a nice touch (literally).
However, it goes without saying that the lack of color and brightness in this display makes the Suunto 9 Peak Pro a no-go for those looking for an attractive- or expensive-looking smartwatch that can be worn every day, especially outside of fitness.
Plus points? It’s super comfortable. We wore it for several hours during longer workouts, across all types of activities, from yoga to squash and running, and we hardly noticed it was there. It’s also made more sustainably than most other smartwatches on the market, thanks to its green energy claims. A great step forward for the wearables market.
Overall, the Suunto 9 Peak Pro is a robust and fairly decent-looking design let down by a disappointingly cheap-looking display.
Design and screen rating: 2.5/5
(Image credit: Lee Bell)
Suunto 9 Peak Pro: Features
Tracking for 95 sports activities
A comprehensive suite of training tools
Easy-to-use and insightful app
The Suunto 9 Peak Pro is teeming with fitness-tracking tech. Take, for instance, how it boasts a whopping 95 supported sports activities, from the major ones like running, cycling, and swimming (as well as a multisport triathlon mode, which is always nice to see) to the more “exotic” shall we say, such as snorkeling mode, which offers up metrics including depth and dive time, although not quite to the same extent as Apple Watch Ultra's Oceanic+ app. We also found a mode for Squash, which Garmin doesn’t have, although Polar does.
The core sports tracking experience is overall very good and works well most times, but this is hampered somewhat by a sluggish interface and the watch’s relatively small, monochromatic display, which can often put a damper on things. Still, the suite of training tools, fitness, and recovery insights on the Suunto 9 Peak Pro is fairly comprehensive, but still not on par with the likes of Garmin or Polar, though.
As you’d expect from a sports watch of this caliber, there’s way more included than just tracking your workouts or steps and telling you how many calories you’ve burned. You’ll also find insightful training tools such as peak training effect, training load and recovery time recommendations. It’s also possible to let it monitor your daily stress levels, find out your estimated fitness age and check out what your VO2 Max fitness level estimates are. Bundled in with this is a built-in SPO2 sensor so you can keep tabs on your blood oxygen levels and as well as acclimation.
All of your data is presented clearly and immersively in the Suunto partner app, which has seen some vast improvements over the years, with heaps of post-workout data to sift through—ideal for measuring your performance and tracking improvements over time.
Those who are looking to use the Suunto 9 Peak Pro as a navigation tool will be able to take advantage of its ability to plan, upload and follow routes using breadcrumb-style and turn-by-turn navigation. Although we found the watch’s low-quality display made this tricky to make use of when running.
Other features include sleep tracking, which is pretty standard on smartwatches these days. Although the accuracy of this on the Suunto 9 Peak Pro doesn't quite seem to be quite on par with dedicated sleep trackers, such as the Withings Sleep Analyzer tracking mat.
As with most modern smartwatches, the Suunto Peak Pro 9 is able to feed notifications to your wrist straight from your smartphone. There’s also a stopwatch, an alarm clock, automatic daylight saving updates, calendar sync, and weather information. You can also control the music of a paired phone, but there is no offline music for apps like Spotify or Deezer, nor are there contactless pay features - both of which you’ll find with most modern Garmin smartwatches.
Features rating: 4/5
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Suunto 9 Peak Pro: Performance
Super easy to use
Somewhat sluggish interface
Decent battery life
So how does the Suunto 9 Peak Pro stack up performance-wise? Well, one thing we loved about using the watch was how easy it was to use. Even as a complete Suunto newbie, we can imagine it’s really easy for anyone to pick up and watch and start tracking activities right away.
When using it for fitness, the Suunto 9 Peak Pro does exactly what you’d expect it to as a more premium activity-tracking smartwatch. Despite a few instances where the interface feels sluggish—especially when you’re asking a lot of it, for example, controlling music while activity tracking and using GPS—it can handle most commands with ease while providing decent accuracy.
Take GPS performance, for example, which seemed decent for the most part despite taking a little longer than we’d like to find a satellite signal. You can expect it to lock onto a signal within about 15-20 seconds or so but that really depends on your location. This is by no means slow, just not on par with the best the industry has to offer, like the German Fenix 7. The 9 Peak Pro’s optical heart rate performance seems pretty solid, too.
Performance rating: 4/5
Suunto 9 Peak Pro: Battery life
21 days in smartwatch mode
40 hours in GPS mode
300 hours in battery-friendly GPS
So what about the 9 Peak Pro’s battery life? Suunto has certainly given it a boost in this regard, especially when comparing it to its predecessor, the 9 Peak. In smartwatch mode, which is basic activity tracking and receiving phone notifications, Suunto claims the 9 Peak Pro will offer 21 days as opposed to the 9 Peak’s seven days. GPS mode is now 40 hours, up from 25 hours, and in the battery-friendly GPS mode, you’ll get 300 hours as opposed to 170 hours. While these are some impressive improvements on paper, do they stack up in the real world?
In practice, we found the 9 Peak Pro just about lives it to its claims. Using the device to track some kind of workout activity almost every day, sometimes with GPS monitoring enabled and sometimes not, alongside smartphone notifications, lasted us just over two weeks before needing a recharge.
It’s also pretty quick at re-juicing itself, too, powering up from 0-100% in just over an hour.
Battery life rating: 4/5
Suunto 9 Peak Pro: Buy it if…
Suunto 9 Peak Pro: Don't buy it if…
Also consider
First reviewed January 2023
How we test
We test all our smartwatches in real, sweaty conditions. We wear them for multiple workouts, testing functions such as the heart rate monitoring and calorie counting functionalities and comparing them to other market leaders. We'll wear them while we sleep, eat and train to wear down the battery, ensuring the watch lasts as long as it claims. For example, we wore the Suunto 9 Peak Pro for over three weeks to check it lives up to those 300 hours.
When it comes to GPS tracking, we'll often run or cycle while wearing another watch, and use the GPS tracking on a phone-based app to check for discrepancies.
The Android 13-based One UI 5.0 stable update released for the international Galaxy Z Fold2 two months ago and the unlocked units in the US last month is now rolling out for the carrier-locked Galaxy Z Fold2 in the US.
The update is seeding for the Galaxy Z Fold2 units locked to T-Mobile and Sprint's networks in the US, and the rollout could expand to devices on other carriers soon.
If you own a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 locked to T-Mobile or Sprint's network, you'll receive One UI 5.0 with firmware version F916USQU2IVK5. It comes with the usual One UI 5.0 goodies and the November 2022...
Samsung has released the Android 13-based One UI 5.0 stable updates for the unlocked Galaxy S20 FE 5G (SM-G781U1) and Galaxy A51 (SM-A515U1) in the US.
The One UI 5.0 update for the Galaxy S20 FE 5G comes with firmware version G781U1UEU9FWA7, while the Galaxy A51's One UI 5.0 update has firmware version A515U1UEU8EWA6.
Both smartphones get the usual One UI 5.0 goodies with new updates, but the Galaxy S20 FE 5G gets the January 2023 Android security patch with the update, while the Galaxy A51 receives the December 2022 Android security patch.
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G • Samsung...
Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023): Two-minute review
The Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023) is both surprising and completely expected. Apple took us all by surprise by announcing it, along with the MacBook Pro 14-inch (2023) and Mac mini (2023), via a couple of press releases at the tail-end of January 2023. A glamorous Tim Cook-led launch at the company's Cupertino headquarters this was not.
However, while the timing and manner of the launch was surprising, the fact that Apple was following up its incredibly popular and critically acclaimed MacBook Pro 16-inch (2021) was not. With the launch of the M2 chip last year, it was only a matter of time before we saw the more powerful M2 Pro and M2 Max. Unlike its predecessor, the Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023) isn’t a complete redesign that acts like a warning shot across the bows of its competitors, but more of a refinement of the hardware.
On the outside, it’s essentially exactly the same as the previous model, with a 16.2-inch screen, chunky body with a great selection of ports (including a full-size HDMI port, which now supports up to 8K at 60Hz, plus a memory card slot) and 1080p FaceTime webcam. It also has the same 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display with mini-LED tech and 120Hz ProMotion adaptive refresh rates for smooth and responsive scrolling and motion. But, why tinker? It remains the best display you can get on a laptop.
On the inside, the new model has been outfitted with the aforementioned M2 Pro or the more powerful – and expensive – M2 Max; two new chips from an increasingly confident Apple that once again proves that its (sometimes maligned) complete control over its hardware and software has paid dividends, leading to powerful and efficient performance with software tweaked to get the very best out of the hardware.
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During my time reviewing the Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023), I threw all manner of tasks at it, and it didn’t skip a beat – even when on battery life, which caused only a tiny hit to synthetic benchmark results, but no noticeable drop in performance. And, with over 20 hours of battery life, this is a laptop you’ll rarely need to plug in throughout the day.
The only issue I have regarding the performance of the MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023) is that the M2 Pro does such a good job, that it’s hard to see what the M2 Max can improve on, apart from perhaps higher benchmark numbers.
If you need some serious GPU power, then sure, the M2 Max may be worth it, but for most people the M2 Pro will be more than enough. Truth be told, the M1 Pro and M1 Max are still excellent performers as well, and in my benchmark tests the M2 Pro clearly outperformed the M1 Pro, but not by enough of a margin that would make upgrading from the previous model to the new one worthwhile. It’s quite telling that in its press releases about the new MacBooks, it mainly compared to performance to the older Intel-based MacBook Pro 16-inch from 2019.
Price is going to be a big consideration, however, with the MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023) starting at $2,499 / £2,699 / AU$3,999 – a big investment that shouldn’t be undertaken lightly. If you have the budget and need the power, however, then Apple has come up with another winner.
Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023) review: Price and availability
Starts at $2,499 / £2,699 / AU$3,999
Same price as previous model in the US
UK and Australia get price rises
The Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023) got a surprise launch on January 17, with pre-orders going live as soon as the news dropped. The new MacBook Pro 16-inch will start arriving for people who pre-ordered it on January 24, 2023 – the same day that it will also be available to buy from various retailers.
The previous 16-inch MacBook Pro suffered from shipping delays of up to a few months, and while some of this can be attributed to the unprecedented situation it launched in – with both a global pandemic and global chip shortage raging – I’d still recommend you order sooner than later if you’re keen to get hold of the new MacBook Pro 16-inch as soon as possible.
While writing this review, I checked Apple’s US store, and it’s still promising deliveries by January 24, so hopefully stock will be plentiful and shipping delays rare.
When it comes to price, there’s some good news as the MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023) isn't getting a big generational price increase. Much like the MacBook Pro 16-inch (2021) M1 Pro version, this laptop starts at $2,499 in the US for the base configuration: that's the M2 Pro chip, 16GB of unified memory, and 512GB of SSD storage.
If you want to step up the brain power, you can get a version with the M2 Max chip, with a 12-core CPU and 38-core GPU, 32GB unified memory and 1TB SSD for the rather eye-watering price of $3,499.
As usual, you can configure the MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023) to come with various spec upgrades, so you can customize the laptop to best suit your needs and budget. However, these upgrades come at a cost, and can make an already very expensive laptop even pricier.
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If you want the absolute highest-end model, with a massive 96GB of memory and 8TB of storage, it’ll cost a huge $6,499. Needless to say, this kind of power will only be needed by extremely intensive enterprise-level workloads.
In the UK, the Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023) is sadly even more expensive, with the base model costing £2,699, which works out as about $3,315 with the current exchange rates. And, while Apple has kept the same launch price in the US for the base model of the 16-inch model as the previous model, in the UK, the new model is £300 more expensive than the previous model, which launched at £2,399.
While some of that increase could be down to the current difficult financial situation in the UK and poor exchange rates, it’s still disappointing.
The more powerful model with an M2 Max chip costs £3,749, again a rise compared to the M1 Max model, which launched at £3,299.
In Australia, the starting price of the base model is AU$3,999, compared to the AU$3,749 the M1 Pro model launched at. Again, an increase, but not quite as severe as the one the UK has witnessed. The high-end MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023) with the M2 Max chip will cost AU$5,599, another increase over the M1 Max model, which launched in 2021 for AU$5,249.
So, it’s a bit of a mixed bag when it comes to price. The 16-inch MacBook Pro is firmly aimed at creatives and professionals that require a lot of power, so it was never going to be a budget product, but it is still a big investment that a lot of people should consider carefully about whether or not they need it. I was thoroughly impressed with the performance of the previous model, so I have no doubt that this new model will justify the price tag when it comes to performance, however.
While Apple should be commended for keeping the price the same between generations in the US, it is a shame that other markets haven’t been given that same luxury.
Price score: 3.5/5
Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023) review: Specs
The MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023) comes in three main configurations; two with the M2 Pro chip and one with the M2 Max chip.
Each of these options can be configured to change the chips, add more memory (up to 32GB with the M2 Pro and up to 96GB with the M2 Max) and storage up to 8TB.
(Image credit: Future)
Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023) review: Design
Same design as 2021 model
Best screen on a laptop
Plenty of ports
From the outside, the Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023) is identical to the MacBook Pro 16-inch (2021), with the same dimensions of 0.66 x 14.01 x 9.77 inches (1.68 x 35.57 x 24.81cm) and a weight of 2.2 kg (4.8 pounds) for the M2 Max model (the M2 Pro model is slightly lighter, but not noticeably so).
If you’re already familiar with the 16-inch MacBook Pro, then, you’ll know that this is a big, chunky, and heavy laptop. It’s a mobile workstation that’s been built to be mainly used on a desk, and if you’re looking for something more portable, consider the MacBook Pro 14-inch (2023), which offers the same specs, but in a smaller overall package.
However, the fact that the new MacBook Pro has the same design as the previous one should be welcomed, because the previous model fixed several problems I’ve had with MacBook Pros in the past – namely the range of ports that they come with.
The MacBook Pro 16-inch comes with three Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports, a full-size HDMI port and SDXC memory card slot. This is a big improvement over the two USB-C ports that older MacBook Pros came with, and which the MacBook Air (M2, 2022) and MacBook Pro 13-inch (M2, 2022) still feature.
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This range of ports means you can hook up a monitor or projector via HDMI, or insert a memory card, without having to use an adaptor. Combined with the long battery life (more on that in a bit), it means this is an impressively portable laptop to do some serious work on when switching between offices or studios. In these days of hybrid working, where a lot of people are dividing their work time between the office and their home, this can be a real boon, as no matter where you go, you’ll be able to make use of the power of this laptop.
Also, while the Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023) is undoubtedly a thick and heavy laptop, its width and depth is roughly the same as the MacBook Pro 15-inch, despite the larger screen. To prove this, I placed the Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023) on top of a 15-inch MacBook Pro I use in the office, and while the Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023) is a fair bit thicker (0.66-inches vs 0.61), it otherwise has a footprint that is very close to the 15-inch model.
On opening up both MacBooks, you can see how this was achieved: the MacBook Pro 16-inch has much thinner bezels that surround the screen than the 15-inch model. Not only does this make the MacBook Pro 16-inch look like a much more modern laptop, but it also allows Apple to include a larger screen without making the entire laptop larger.
(Image credit: Future)
As with the previous MacBook Pro 16-inch model (as well as both 14-inch models), there is a compromise to the thinner bezel in the form of a ‘notch’ around the webcam, which dips down into the screen. This caused a bit of a stir when this design debuted in 2021, with many people saying it was a rather ugly and distracting design choice.
Back when I reviewed the 2021 models, I didn’t find that to be true at all – instead, I thought it was quite a clever way of maximizing screen real estate, and I hardly noticed it in most applications. Two years on, and I stand by those opinions, and in the intervening years, the furor over the notch appears to have died down somewhat. Sure, it still won’t be to everyone’s tastes, but it really isn’t the deal breaker that it was once made out to be.
The 16.2-inch screen remains unchanged, and that means this is still the best display you’ll get on a laptop, period. It’s a Liquid Retina XDR display featuring mini-LED tech, and offers 1,600 nits of peak HDR brightness and a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio. Along with P3 wide color gamut and one billion colors, this is an incredibly bright and vibrant display. I used it in an office with plenty of ambient light, including strong overhead lighting, and the screen looked fantastic, with bright colors looking lively and realistic, while blacks were rich and deep.
At this time of year where I’m located (Bath, England), there’s not an abundance of bright sunlight, but when I used it outside, again the screen remained bright and vibrant.
As for the rest of the design, the Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023) has a large and comfortable keyboard. It manages to feel tactile and responsive, and the days of faulty MacBook Pro keyboards seem to be well behind us. As part of my review process, I typed up part of this review using the keyboard, and I didn’t have any issues at all. The keyboard is backlit, so even when night rolled in and the lights grew dim, I could still happily tap away.
The keyboard also comes with a Touch ID button that allows you to log in to macOS, as well as pay for items using Apple Pay, by simply placing your finger on top of the button. As usual, the process is quick and accurate (you can set it up the first time you use the laptop), and most importantly, secure.
The trackpad below the keyboard is large and responsive, and while many creatives may prefer to use a mouse, it works well when you need it.
Overall, the Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023) doesn’t change anything design-wise from its predecessor, but – frankly – it doesn’t need to. The port selection is great, and it continues to have the best screen you can get on a laptop. Apple has resisted the trend of adding touchscreen capabilities, but truth be told, you won’t miss it.
Keep in mind, however, that this is a big and bulky laptop, compared to the likes of the MacBook Air or Dell XPS 15.
Design score: 4.5/5
(Image credit: Future)
Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023) review: Performance
Excellent performance
No throttling when on battery
Benchmarks
Here’s how the MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023) performed in our suite of benchmark tests:
Cinebench R23 CPU: Single-Core: 1,644; Multi-Core: 14,700 Geekbench 5 Single-Core: 1,961; Multi-Core: 15,061 PugentBench Photoshop: 1,060 Premier Pro: 1,095 Blender:Monster: 123.97; Junkshop: 71.94; Classroom: 55.42 Battery Life (TechRadar movie test): 19 hours and 39 minutes
The base configuration of the MacBook Pro 16-inch with M2 Pro chip comes with a 10-core CPU (upgradable to 12-core), a 16-core GPU (upgradable to 19-core), 16GB memory, and 512GB SSD storage, with the M2 Max MacBook Pro 16-inch model starting with a 12-core CPU, a 30-core GPU (upgradable to 38-core), 32GB memory, and a 1TB drive.
You can upgrade the specs on the M2 Pro model up to 32GB memory and the M2 Max model to a huge 96GB memory. The M2 Pro features 200GB/s of unified memory bandwidth, while the M2 Max pushes that further with 400GB/s. Both versions can be upgraded to a whopping 8TB of storage space. If you have the budget to max out the MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023), then you’ll have a seriously powerful mobile workstation that can rival powerful desktop PCs. It really does feel like the days of having to be stuck at a desk to perform intensive computational workloads is over.
The M2 Pro and M2 Max chips are, on paper, big steps up over the M1 Pro and M1 Max chips that came with the MacBook Pro 16-inch (2021), with Apple claiming that the M2 Pro offers 30% faster GPU performance than the M1 Pro, and twice the memory bandwidth of the M2 chip, which launched last year.
The M2 Max, according to Apple, offers 30% faster GPU performance compared to the M1 Max thanks to the increased number of GPU cores, and four times the memory bandwidth of the M2 – leading the company to claim it’s the world’s “most powerful and efficient chip for a pro laptop.”
Efficiency is a key word here – it's a big theme that Apple keeps returning to when talking about the M2 Pro and M2 Max chips, and for good reason, as I really think this is the main area where Apple has the advantage over Intel and AMD in the chipmaking stakes.
It means that M2 Pro and M2 Max-equipped MacBooks can pump out impressive performance without draining the battery. Crucially, the MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023) doesn’t throttle its performance when on battery power either. Other workstation laptops usually enter a lower-powered state when on battery power to conserve battery life, and while that means you’ll hopefully get a few more hours before you need to plug it in, performance is throttled, which can have an impact on any tasks you want to perform without the laptop being plugged in.
(Image credit: Future)
The good news here is that Apple has managed to achieve the best of both worlds, with no noticeable impact on performance when the MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023) is unplugged and running on battery. Throughout my time with the new 16-inch MacBook Pro, I used it both plugged in and on battery, and I didn’t notice any change in performance, even when running complex video editing tasks. While the benchmarks you can see on the right were run with the MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023) plugged in, I also ran the same tests with it unplugged, and saw a negligible impact to performance.
This has resulted in a very impressive mobile workstation that you can truly use while out and about without sacrificing performance.
Another nice benefit of Apple’s pursuit of efficiency with its M2 chips is that the MacBook Pro 16-inch is virtually silent in operation. Because the M2 Pro (which was in the MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023) Apple sent me to review) efficiently manages its power consumption, it appears that it rarely gets hot enough for the MacBook’s fans to kick in.
For anyone who can’t stand the distracting whirr of fans working overtime, this will be welcome news. It’s especially useful for musicians, producers and film makers who need to hear their work clearly and without interference, and if you’re using the included three-mic array to make ad-hoc recordings, or participating in video calls, then there’s going to be no background noise from the MacBook.
Speaking of the mic array (which Apple claims is ‘studio quality’), I found it to be very good, with excellent noise cancellation, and offers the same level of quality as the array found in the 2021 model. While you wouldn’t want to make any professional recordings with it, it’s certainly clear enough to record impromptu jams and podcasts, and means you don’t need to lug around an external microphone for those purposes.
The six-speaker sound system also offers excellent sound quality, and avoids the tinny quality I’ve been frustrated by on other laptops. Again, while the speakers won’t replace studio-quality speakers and monitors, it means you can still get very good sound reproduction without having to plug the MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023) into anything. Productivity on the go is another key theme.
(Image credit: Future)
The FaceTime HD webcam is the same 1080p camera from the previous model, and it does a good job of producing clear footage, even in low-light conditions. I’m sure the M2 Pro offers some more processing oomph to help out with video quality (as the M1 Pro did), but I didn’t see any noticeable difference between the webcam quality of the 2021 and 2023 models.
The rest of the performance of the MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023) is also impressive. The model I’m reviewing comes with the M2 Pro, 32GB memory and 2TB SSD. While I would have liked to have tried out the M2 Max model (and hopefully I will later), the M2 Pro model is going to be far more popular with most people, as it’s more affordable, while also promising the kind of performance most people require. The 32GB of memory is also a good choice for most people – I’d recommend going for 32GB minimum for creatives, as while the model with 16GB is cheaper, it’s not as future-proof.
While Apple has made some welcome strides in the user reparability of its products, the unified memory of the M2 Pro and M2 Max chips are soldiered straight onto the chips means they can’t be upgraded. If you’re buying a MacBook Pro 16-inch with the aim of it being your main productivity laptop for the next half a decade or so (and with this price tag, you really should consider it a long-term investment), then getting the most memory you can afford is the way to go.
The MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023) comes with macOS Ventura preinstalled, and it feels fast and responsive. Since the launch of the M1 chip in 2020, Apple has been doing a great job with encouraging app developers to make versions of their products that run natively on M1 and M2 chips, and in 2023, the new MacBook Pro 16-inch has launched with a huge collection of applications that have been tweaked to run on the M2 Pro and M2 Max, leading to a flawless experience (and one I assume Microsoft is envious of, considering its problems with getting both devs and customers to love Windows on ARM). While there are still some Mac apps that only have Intel compatibility, once again Apple’s Rosetta 2 tool comes to the rescue, and after installing it, will run automatically when you load an Intel-only app and will ensure that it runs on the new hardware, with no perceptible impact to performance.
While reviewing the MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023), I put it through a number of real-life tests to see how well it performed. I had both Safari and Chrome web browsers up, with multiple tabs in each, I performed photo editing and video editing in Adobe Photoshop and Premiere Pro respectively, and plugged in a MIDI keyboard and recorded several multi-track projects in GarageBand and Ableton Live (I won’t go as far as to refer to my noodling as songs), using virtual instruments and effects from Native Instrument’s recent Komplete Kontrol package, and the MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023) kept up easily – even with multiple raw 8K video streams in Premiere Pro. Without needing to render previews, you can quickly add effects and instantly play them back to see how they’ll look in your finished creation, and this has the potential to drastically speed up your workflow.
The HDMI port now supports 240Hz and 4K, and 8K up to 60Hz. So, you can plug the MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023) into any of the best monitors available right now, and you’ll get an excellent experience.
(Image credit: Future)
Once again, however, the built-in screen is the highlight here, with the Liquid Retina XDR display making your own work, as well as any media you play (I loaded up Apple TV+ for a spot of binge watching while reviewing the MacBook Pro 16-inch), look phenomenal. The ProMotion refresh rate of 120Hz keeps macOS Ventura and apps feeling smooth and responsive. Scrolling through media-heavy webpages is a particular joy with this screen. It’s so good, that if you go for the 16-inch model over the 14-inch MacBook Pro, you’ll be pleased you did, as the larger screen really shows off Apple’s tech, and makes the more bulky design a price worth paying.
While I’ve not had a chance to test the 14-inch model (again, I hope to in the near future), I assume performance will be pretty close between the two, as they use essentially the same hardware.
Overall, performance is excellent, but if you have the M1 Pro or M1 Max model from 2021, don’t feel you have to upgrade.
Performance score: 5/5
(Image credit: Future)
Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023) review: Battery life
Apple claims you can get up to 22 hours of battery life with the 16-inch MacBook Pro (2023) – four hours more than the 14-inch model (due to a smaller physical battery).
That kind of boast for a powerful workstation laptop would usually be dismissed with a weary “yeah, right” from me, but having been impressed by the battery life of the MacBook Pro 16-inch (2021), which lasted 18 hours and 48 minutes in TechRadar’s battery life benchmark test, I had high hopes for the new model.
I was right to, with the Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023) lasting a huge 19 hours and 39 minutes in the same test, which involves looping a 1080p video file until the battery dies. A few tweaks here and there (such as lowering screen brightness, turning off Wi-Fi and the backlit keyboard) and I can easily see it lasting the promises 22 hours.
Obviously, with more intensive workloads, the battery is going to drain a lot faster, but this is nevertheless extremely impressive, and blows away the 2019 Intel model, and pretty much any Windows 11 competitor.
The MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023) charges via a MagSafe charger that clicks into the proprietary port via magnets, which makes it easy to plug in, and safe if it gets pulled out. Using that and the large 140W USB-C Power Adapter charges the MacBook quickly – it took less than an hour to go from empty back up to 100%.
You can also charge the MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023) via a USB-C cable, and while this will be slower, it means you have the option to charge it with a common charger if you leave the MagSafe cable at home or in the office.
Should you buy the MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023)?
Buy it if...
You want the best display on a laptop I really can’t emphasize enough just how good the screen is on the MacBook Pro 16-inch, and Apple’s larger model really shows it off in all its glory.
You want a mobile workstation that lasts for hours The battery life of this thing is incredible. You could go two work days, or even a few long haul flights, on a single charge.
You’re looking to upgrade your Intel-based MacBook Pro 16-inch The MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023) improves on the Intel-based 2019 model in every way, from performance to battery life, screen and port selection. It’s a huge leap.
Don't buy it if...
You want a slimline, portable, laptop The large screen and healthy amount of ports comes at a price: portability. This is a large and chunky laptop that some may struggle with. Check out the 14-inch model instead.
You don’t need the power Even the base model of the MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023) is incredibly powerful, and not everyone is going to get the most out of it. Unless you’re going to be doing heavy creative workloads, there are better-value laptops out there.
You have the 2021 model Look, I get it, some people always want the very latest tech. However, if you have the 2021 model, you really should think twice about buying the 2023 version – sure, it’s more powerful, but not by an amount that will make the upgrade worth it.
MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023) review: Also consider
If our Apple MacBook Pro (2023) review has you considering other options, here are two more laptops to consider...
How I tested the Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023)
(Image credit: Future)
I spent around 20 hours using the MacBook Pro for general work
I wrote parts of this review, edited 8K videos and made music on it
I ran our usual suite of standardized benchmarks
I’ve been using the Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023) on and off for around four days, alongside the Mac mini (2023), since Apple sent it to me for review. During that time I used it as my main work laptop, and wrote parts of this review on it.
I also used it for a number of creative projects, such as editing 8K video in Adobe Premiere Pro, and creating multi-track music in both GarageBand and Ableton Live, performing some of the creative use cases Apple envisioned for the MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023).
I’ve been reviewing MacBooks for well over a decade, and have extensively tested every previous model of the MacBook Pro 16-inch for TechRadar, using this experience to compare the latest model to its predecessors, as well as compare it to Windows-based laptops.
We’re back with another round of offers from around the world. This week we picked out deals from the US, the UK and Germany, use the links below to jump to a specific country:
USA
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The Motorola Edge 30 Pro is one controller away from being a fast but fairly affordable gaming phone. The version with 512GB storage sells for $500, giving your room for plenty of games. Games that will run on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset and a 6.7” OLED display with 144Hz refresh rate (and HDR10+ support). The 4,800mAh battery is decently large and the phone...
Amazon Music Unlimited plans will be $1/£1 more expensive for users from February 21 as the latest price hike in the music streaming world. US users will now pay $10.99 per month for their individual (non-Prime) subscription while those in the UK will be charged £10.99 instead of the £9.99 current pricing.
Student pricing in both regions is also getting a $1/£1 from $/£4.99 to $/£5.99 per month. Amazon’s customer service page explains that the new raised prices will “help bring even more content and features” to users. Amazon Music is the third largest streaming platform in the world...
There are two parts to our Surfshark review testing: lab testing and real world user experience. We do this to combine objectivity and subjectivity in our VPN reviews.
When I say that “I” did something in this review, I’m referring to me, Dan Sung, Editor in Chief of VPN at TechRadar, and I’m offering real world examples and insights from what I’ve learned using this product over many months.
Below is a breakdown of our Surfshark review scores for each category of testing. Click on the links in the Comments column for a deeper read on our thoughts.
Category
Score
Comments
Total
85 / 100
Excellent value with plenty of feature choice. One of the best value VPNs available. Read more ▼
Price plans & value
10 / 10
Surfshark is the best cheap VPN available. Choose the Surfshark One tier, which includes a full antivirus product, for the best value price plan. Read more ▼
Features
10 / 10
Surfshark’s Alternative ID fake profile feature is one of many useful in-app products in this very well put together VPN. Read more ▼
Server network
9 / 10
Surfshark is slightly lower on server locations than some but its global reach is excellent and the Nexus infrastructure brings huge network benefits. Read more ▼
Read all of Surfshark's review scores ▼
Privacy
9 / 10
Surfshark has very high standards of privacy and extensive privacy features. This is only slightly tarnished by its choice of jurisdiction. Read more ▼
Security
9 / 10
Surfshark scores well for security thanks to its built-in antivirus and its near-flawless kill switch. Its PQE could be more developed though. Read more ▼
Speed
8 / 10
Still the fastest VPN at full tilt but the connection is less consistent than others, and speeds are more average using distant servers. Read more ▼
Unblocking streams
7 / 10
Surfshark unblocks Netflix libraries, Disney Plus, Prime Video and BBC iPlayer but it struggles with some niche streaming services where rival VPNs don't. Read more ▼
P2P & Torrenting
4 / 5
Torrenting is solid and seamless with Surfshark but there's no help from the company itself on how to do it. There's no port forwarding either. Read more ▼
Apps & Compatibility
5 / 5
Surfshark has excellent apps covering all modern platforms. Its iOS app is uncommonly good; iPhone users should definitely consider Surfshark. Read more ▼
Usability
4 / 5
Surfshark is easy on the eye and a pleasure to use. Any quibbles we have on the kill switch toggle are really very minor. Read more ▼
Accessibility
2 / 5
Surfshark is a reasonable choice for partially sighted users but there are better VPNs for accessibility. Language support is average and keyboard-only access is poor. Read more ▼
Customer support
4 / 5
Surfshark has excellent customer service. Its support site is one of the best out there its live chat and email channels bring timely solutions. Read more ▼
Track record
4 / 5
Surfshark has a clean record for data breaches. It passed a no-logs audit in 2025 but that ought to be repeated annually, and we'd like apps and infrastructure audits, too. Read more ▼
Surfshark price plans
Surfshark starts at $1.99 per month and is the best cheap VPN.
Surfshark One is the best value of the three plans.
Surfshark starts at $1.99 per month, which is an excellent price for a top VPN, but there are actually three different Surfshark plans to choose from – Starter, One and One+.
You can sign up for just 1 month, 1 year or 2 years. Obviously, the longer you commit to, the cheaper the price you can get.
Whichever you choose, you get unlimited device connections, i.e. you can install a Surfshark app on as many different devices as you like on a single Surfshark account. There is a fair usage policy you can read on this but you'll be fine with 10-15, or even more devices, unless they’re all on, constantly, and downloading all the time.
Total cost of cheapest 2-year plan
All prices (from December 2025) are before tax
Total price
NordVPN Basic
80.73
Surfshark Starter
53.73
ExpressVPN Basic
97.72
Proton VPN Plus
71.76
0255075100
USD
Total price Data
Product
Value (USD)
NordVPN Basic
80.73
Surfshark Starter
53.73
ExpressVPN Basic
97.72
Proton VPN Plus
71.76
Read more about Surfshark's price plans ▼
Even so, this unlimited connections policy is rare among the top VPNs and, for many, a good reason to choose it if you find the 10 device connections of NordVPN, ExpressVPN and Proton VPN, for example, not enough for your needs.
Like all VPNs, though, you do have to pay the total price for the entire length of and Surfshark plan upfront. The graph below is a good comparison of the total cost of each of the best VPN services we recommend at TechRadar.
Do be warned that unlike all other VPN companies (apart from NordVPN) Surfshark adds local tax to its advertised prices at checkout. So, if you’re in the UK, for example, you’ll have to pay VAT on top. And, of course, remember that these prices will fluctuate over the year.
Surfshark is considerably cheaper than its biggest rivals. NordVPN’s cheapest 2-year plan is about 50% more expensive than Surfshark's. ExpressVPN Basic is nearly twice the price!
The table above shows the total prices for each Surfshark tier and plan length.
What sticks out to us from these totals are two things. First is that the 1-month prices are terrible. Given Surfshark has a 7-day free trial, we’d advise you to sign up for a week instead and decide in that time if you want to commit for longer. Then either go for the one or two-year plan.
The second, and more obvious, point on value is that the two-year plans are pretty tempting. You get the second year of Surfshark Starter, for example, for less than $10. That’s pretty compelling at that band but, arguably, it’s not quite as good for Surfshark One with the extra year only effectively half-price.
In other words, there's little point in going for 1-year Starter plan when the 2-year version isn't much more, but there's a decent argument for only shelling out for 12 months of Surfshark One.
If you’re looking for a real value proposition, though, it’s in the difference between Surfshark Starter and Surfshark One on the 1-year contract – just a couple of bucks, really which feels like a real no-brainer. There’s no point in going for the 1-year Starter when you can pick up Surfshark’s antivirus and ID breach alerts with the One plan instead.
Above is a table of the price per month for each Surfshark plan which is a slightly easier way to appreciate the value offer of each one.
There are cheaper VPNs out there – PrivadoVPN ($1.11) is a good option – but Surshark is an undeniable pound-for-pound sweet spot for price and features.
Score: 10/10
Features: What can Surfshark do?
Alternative ID is a superb email and postal address protection tool.
Surfshark is one of very few VPNs with a full antivirus included.
ID breach alerts didn't spot my leaked credit card information.
Don’t be fooled by the price. Surfshark Starter is a very well stocked bundle.
Alongside the VPN product itself, the most significant feature is CleanWeb. It’s a catch-all name for Surfshark’s advert and cookie consent pop-up blocking system which aims to allow you to surf the web in relative peace.
Margarito Philip Leland – my Surfshark Alternative ID profile. Easy to edit. Ready to copy and paste. Available on all Surfshark plans. (Image credit: Future Publishing)
Alternative ID is an important feature to pay attention to. Other VPN providers, such as Proton VPN, offer fake email addresses that will front for your own while still allowing emails to get through.
Read more about Surfshark's features ▼
You get a randomly generated email address – to use to fill out online forms, or give to people you don’t like, or whatever your need – and it automatically forwards any mail it receives to your real email address. You then cut it off and generate another email alias when you’re done with receiving whatever marketing mail it’s now attracted.
Proton offers this too but Surfshark takes it further.
Alternative ID is, in fact, a broader ID. It’s a name, postal address, email and even phone number (US only) to plug in online and stop scammers, spammers, and everyone else seeing your real details.
Right now, for example, I’m Margarito Philip Leland of 21 North 28th Ave East, Duluth, Minnesota, DOB 07/26/2005. Don’t bother trying to contact me because I’ll have ditched this ID by the time you're reading this article.
I had a go at manually editing my Alternative ID persona. There are 10 email domains to choose from with options from the US, France, South Korea and Armenia, but I found I could write anything I wanted as the first part of the address.
For postal mail, the options I got were Australia, Brazil, Denmark, Germany Portugal and the US. Name and DOB can both be anything you want.
It's a great feature for signing up to services, giving to online stores and registering with news websites without having to worry about the spam. There's a handy quick-copy area on the homepage of the Surfshark app too which made filling in online forms all the faster. There's really very little not to love about it.
The only sad part is that the Alt number part is only in beta right now. It’s also only available in the States and you can’t use it to receive SMS verification codes, sadly, either. Still, I look forward to testing it out once it arrives in Europe.
Surfshark One
If you’re after antivirus too, then it’s time to step up to Surfshark One. PIA is the only other VPN we recommend to have a full antivirus built-in along with the VPN. (Although there are recognise AV brands, like Norton and Bitdefender, that also have separate VPN products.)
NordVPN's Threat Protection Pro does have some AV features but it won't scan any apps and files you download, install and use in real-time – and put a halt to any funny business before it’s too late – like Surfshark will.
The Surfshark antivirus ran daily scans of my entire device when I enabled it, and you can set to have it done at any time of day of your choosing. For obvious reasons, I opted for the dead of night.
You can toggle off either of these scans and you can even opt out of scans of your storage drives too.
None of these put our mobile battery life under any particular noticeable stress. With the real-time protection only kicking in when we installed apps and our daily scan set to night time when the phone was plugged in anyway, the extra processes were never a burden.
The clean look and feel of Surfshark Search – no sponsored links, no ads, just the search results you're looking for. Available with Surfshark One and One+. (Image credit: Future Publishing)
You can select to exclude certain apps if they keep pulling up false positives but it wasn't something I found I needed to do.
Surfshark One allows you to take the CleanWeb theme a little further with the Web Content Blocker tool, launched in October 2025. Still in beta, it still worked like a charm when I tried it.
It's very similar to Windscribe's content blocker. You choose from a list of eight different kinds of questionable content and decide what you don't want to be accessible through your browser. That includes adult sites, gambling, tobacco and vaping, hate and profanity, and others, as well as sites hosting phishing, scams, and malware.
What's really nice is that I was able to use it as a way of blocking access to these sites on my kids' phones without having to get involved with the often expensive and generally not particularly parental control apps.
That works because Web Content Blocker can be set up differently for each device you have and because you get unlimited devices connected to a single Surfshark account. I also really like that you don't have to have the VPN on to have Web Content Blocker activated, because I don't want the VPN masking my kids' browsing habits from me either.
The menu of content you can prevent access to with Surfshark's new web content blocker tool. (Image credit: Future Publishing)
Lastly, and definitely not least, is Surfshark’s own private search engine. It's a super-clean, advert and sponsored results-free experience. Apart from the fact that it didn’t rank TechRadar very high for the term ‘Surfshark review’, I loved using it.
you can search without seeing a single ad, with no cookies or trackers, and Surfshark promises that it won't store anything about your search habits
You can choose any search location you like from a list of about 40 different countries without seeing a single ad, with no cookies or trackers, and Surfshark promises that it won't store anything about your search habits. ‘The real incognito mode’ is how it describes itself. I found it useful for comparing prices of clothing between the US and UK.
It’s actually quite refreshing and a bit of a reminder of what search looked like back in the day. It’s pretty amazing to realise what all of Google’s small changes have done to its experience over time, in comparison, but that’s a discussion for another place.
Honestly, it would take a bit of a push for me to use Surfshark's search all the time – it's hard to break the habit of the last 25 years – but with tabs for Web, Images and Videos only and gloriously uncluttered results, I'll certainly make the effort every now and then.
ID breach alerts
Alerts is a section unto itself in the Surfshark app. It's available in Surfshark One and One+ but I wanted to draw special attention to it because of something that happened while I was writing this review. More on that in a moment
Alerts (or 'ID breach alerts' as you'll find it called in the literature) scans the internet for any data breaches featuring your email addresses, credit card numbers and ID numbers too. It felt a bit strange handing over my info to Surfshark so that it could run those checks but the company promises that it doesn’t retain it.
Now, here's the interesting thing: chance had it that I was the victim of an attempted scam as I was writing this very section. I got a phone call from someone very convincingly pretending to be my credit card provider. They knew my card details, my name, my home address and clearly my phone number too.
They knew my card details, my name, my home address and clearly my phone number too.
They claimed to be from the fraud department and were questioning two transactions apparently made on my card in the UAE for around 27,000 Dirhams, and was I aware of them? Clearly I was not. So, the well spoken operator said they would then refund the amount to my account.
He asked me to open the app where I'd see a request for the refund. I opened the app. There was a request. But it was not for a refund. It was to make a payment of 27,000 Dirhams, about £5000.
"Press Confirm," they said.
"This is asking me to confirm a payment," I replied.
"No, this is the refund. Press confirm."
"No. It says 'payment'. I don't trust you."
They hung up.
I froze my card. I contacted my issuer and, I'm still shaking a bit at how close I just came to being defrauded. With stories about different UK retail stores getting hacked popping up every week, perhaps it's of little surprise.
My compromised credit card showing as 'no leaks found' according to the Surfshark Alert credit card monitoring system. Not a feature that's worked for me. Available with Surfshark One and One+. (Image credit: Future Publishing)
I'm also a little bit scared about my details too, and I'm pretty glad I'm writing reviews about products like Surfshark and that I've got the tools to help deal with this.
So, with that in mind, I put this particular bank card's details into Surfshark's credit card monitoring system. Sadly, Surfshark Alerts said No Leaks Found after scanning for a breach of this information. Hopefully, it will register it as exposed in the coming months but it's been a few weeks and I've seen no change yet.
It doesn't mean that Alerts doesn't work. It's very possible that my information was hacked and not exposed on the internet. It's just a pity that Alerts wasn't able to help in this instance.
If you're looking for a VPN for a very complete set of privacy and security features, then Surfshark is a great option
Alerts did a lot better with my email address. When I put in my general junky email, used for online forms and shops and such – where was Alternative ID when I needed it years ago – I was unsurprised to see 25 leak alerts. Thanks Adobe, DuoLingo, Last.fm, Houzz, Kickstarter MyFitnessPal and a bunch of other sites and services that are lucky I don’t have time to name and shame.
Surfshark detailed what was leaked of mine in each breach and then makes recommendations of what to do next. Probably a good idea to do what it says but, quite honestly, with 25 breaches do deal with, there just isn't enough time in the day. Hopefully, I'll be able to lower that number with every update of this page.
Surfshark One+
Top of the Surfshark price plan tree is Surfshark One+ which adds the Incogni which is designed to prevent the misuse of your personal data online.
If Alerts is your data health examination, then Incogni aims to be the cure. It's a data removal service which is currently only available in the US, UK, Canada, EU and Switzerland because of legal reasons. Those reasons are that, in those regions, data brokers are legally required to remove your details from their records when asked. And that’s what Incogni does on your behalf.
I’ve definitely noticed getting less spam in that time
I’ve actually been lucky enough to use Incogni on a long-term test now for over two years and apart from the odd email report, there’s not much visible that actually happens. I’ve definitely noticed getting less spam in that time but part of that has also been down to being more careful what I sign up for and whether I’m using my real ID or not.
Ultimately, it’s really difficult to evaluate and I wish I could give better advice here given that it's over 60% extra on top of the Surfshark One price.
While the effectiveness of all of Surfshark's tools is not crystal clear, it's obvious by looking at the VPN feature comparison table that customers get lots of them to use – more so than most other VPN service providers.
If you're looking for a VPN for a very complete set of privacy and security features, then Surfshark is a great option, and at an excellent price point too.
Score: 10/10
Server network and locations
99 countries with servers, 141 server locations, over 4,500 total servers.
Very few servers in Africa but that's similar to other VPNs.
FastTrack technology to bring higher network speeds in coming months.
Surfshark doesn’t cover quite as many countries (99) and locations (141) as the server network market leader NordVPN (127 countries and 165 locations) but it still gets top marks in this department.
That’s because its global spread is well chosen. It largely keeps up with just as many server countries in the traditionally less well covered continents of Asia, South America and Oceania as most of its rival VPNs.
In fact, the European sever network is as robust as the rest of the pack too. It’s only Africa and the Middle East were, like ExpressVPN, it's noticeably shorter than NordVPN and Proton VPN.
Server list on the Surfshark Windows app. Plenty of US server locations available. (Image credit: Future)
Surfshark's 34 North America server locations are competitive. If you are looking for coverage in every single State, though, you should try ExpressVPN or PIA instead.
Read more about Surfshark's server network ▼
Surfshark states on its server list that some of the locations are virtual, and that’s refreshing given that other VPNs hide that. We spot checked the actual likely location of 25 servers on Surfshark’s list. It was accurate in all but one case where the company had accidentally marked Peru down as a virtual server when it really is based in Lima. If there are to be mistakes, then we’re certainly glad that they’re false positive ones.
Sever networks are about more than just quantity, though. Surfshark uses RAM-only servers which brings important benefits that we discuss in the Privacy section.
That's more or less a VPN industry standard but where Surfshark elevates itself is with how it connects those servers together. It's developed a holistic use of all of those pathways in what it calls its Nexus network infrastructure. It connects users to the entire network rather than the single VPN server they're choosing.
Through that system Surfshark can offer a fair few benefits, not least of which is FastTrack smart routing technology which aims to speed up connection by choosing the most time efficient pathways through the network.
Server Network Comparison
Subhead to describe the test and what's being measured and why
Total countries
NordVPN
127
Surfshark
99
ExpressVPN
108
Proton VPN
126
Total countries Data
Product
Value (Number)
NordVPN
127
Surfshark
99
ExpressVPN
108
Proton VPN
126
NordVPN
17
Surfshark
6
ExpressVPN
6
Proton VPN
26
Africa Data
Product
Value (Number of server locations)
NordVPN
17
Surfshark
6
ExpressVPN
6
Proton VPN
26
NordVPN
38
Surfshark
31
ExpressVPN
36
Proton VPN
44
Asia Data
Product
Value (Number of server locations)
NordVPN
38
Surfshark
31
ExpressVPN
36
Proton VPN
44
NordVPN
53
Surfshark
54
ExpressVPN
59
Proton VPN
49
Europe Data
Product
Value (number of server locations)
NordVPN
53
Surfshark
54
ExpressVPN
59
Proton VPN
49
NordVPN
10
Surfshark
5
ExpressVPN
5
Proton VPN
14
Middle East Data
Product
Value (number of server locations)
NordVPN
10
Surfshark
5
ExpressVPN
5
Proton VPN
14
NordVPN
39
Surfshark
34
ExpressVPN
70
Proton VPN
32
North America Data
Product
Value (number of server locations)
NordVPN
39
Surfshark
34
ExpressVPN
70
Proton VPN
32
NordVPN
8
Surfshark
6
ExpressVPN
8
Proton VPN
6
Oceania Data
Product
Value (number of server locations)
NordVPN
8
Surfshark
6
ExpressVPN
8
Proton VPN
6
NordVPN
10
Surfshark
10
ExpressVPN
9
Proton VPN
7
South America Data
Product
Value (number of server locations)
NordVPN
10
Surfshark
10
ExpressVPN
9
Proton VPN
7
1 of 8
It uses globally distributed probes which monitor the Surfshark network in real-time. They keep track of capacity and performance. That way the FastTrack system can figure out how to route VPN traffic to ensure that users get the fastest possible connections while still taking them to the end-point server that they've selected, and with an appropriate IP address.
FastTrack launched in August, 2025. Right now, it's only available on macOS and only when connecting to the Seattle, Vancouver or Sydney servers but Surfshark claims it's made up to 70% speed improvements for customers. We look forward to the company rolling it out across the board soon.
Something a little closer to home for those in Europe is the arrival of Surfshark's first 100 Gbps servers as unveiled in Amsterdam in October 2025. That's a 10 times improvement in server bandwidth designed to cope for the modern demands of 4K streaming, gaming, VR, and remote work.
It's certainly a good headline but, cynicism aside, it's an excellent sign. Surfshark has been a market leader when it comes to investing in the future of its server network in 2025.
Global VPN server spread
Subhead to describe the test and what's being measured and why
Surfshark
Data for Surfshark
Attribute
Value (number of server locations)
Percentage
Africa
6
4.3%
Asia
31
22.0%
South America
10
7.1%
North America
34
24.1%
Europe
54
38.3%
Oceania
6
4.3%
Data for NordVPN
Attribute
Value (number of server locations)
Percentage
Africa
17
10.3%
Asia
38
23.0%
South America
10
6.1%
North America
39
23.6%
Europe
53
32.1%
Oceania
8
4.8%
Data for ExpressVPN
Attribute
Value (number of server locations)
Percentage
Africa
6
3.2%
Asia
36
19.1%
South America
9
4.8%
North America
70
37.2%
Europe
59
31.4%
Oceania
8
4.3%
Data for Proton VPN
Attribute
Value (number of server locations)
Percentage
Africa
26
15.9%
Asia
44
26.8%
South America
7
4.3%
North America
32
19.5%
Europe
49
29.9%
Oceania
6
3.7%
1 of 4
Everlink, released in June, 2025, is another network quality boost from Surfshark. It's a patented backup system for your VPN connection. The idea is that if the VPN drops, your app doesn’t disconnect immediately. Instead, Everlink automatically connects you to a new and working server.
It might take a few seconds and, if you happen to be browsing at the time, it’s possible you’ll find a web page that doesn't download properly. But, for the most part, Surfshark says you won’t even notice anything.
We don’t have a test for Everlink yet, but it sounds promising. Dropped connections aren’t just a usability hassle, they also risk data and IP leaks. If Everlink can reduce unexpected disconnections then that’s very good privacy news.
The other big benefits of Nexus, and its flexible, multi-server pathways, are Surfshark's rotating IP tech and its excellent MultiHop system. You can read more about those in the Privacy section.
For now, suffice to say that Surfshark's server network is cutting edge and, from everything we've seen, we're only expecting improvements over the next 12 months.
Score: 9/10
Privacy
Super clear, user-friendly privacy policy; no-logs system.
Top privacy features: Camouflage Mode, MultiHop & Rotating IP.
Subject to possible 'Nine Eyes' international information sharing agreement.
Surfshark operates using a no-logs system. Its servers do record some information to check user access (encrypted credentials, timestamps and billing information) but it’s lost around 15 minutes after each user session. It never stores anything to do with traffic data such as destination IPs, DNS queries, data transferred, downloaded files or browsing history.
This is exactly how a secure VPN should operate and, having read through Surfshark’s privacy policy, we’re satisfied that there’s nothing else amiss here either. Surfshark uses standard good practice all the way.
As privacy policies go, it’s actually incredibly user friendly and worth taking a look at for yourself. It’s organised into a set of easily digestible questions and answers rather than swathes of contract-style legalese.
Surfshark doesn’t have its own, proprietary obfuscation technology like Proton VPN’s Stealth protocol. So, if it’s vital that you’re not spotted using a VPN, Surfshark probably isn’t the best option.
Read more about Surfshark's privacy credentials ▼
Nonetheless, it still offers ‘Camouflage Mode’ which kicks into action whenever you choose OpenVPN. The company says that it hides your traffic to bypass content filters. OpenVPN also means you’ll be on Surfshark’s dedicated Obfuscated Servers which are designed to make it particularly hard for your ISP to see that you’re connected to a VPN.
You can use the OpenVPN protocol in both UDP and TCP form. The former is better when high speeds are important (streaming, gaming or VoIP) and TCP is good for the kind of reliability you need when web browsing, emailing or during P2P file transfer.
If you’d rather err on the side of speed, then just stick with Surfshark's default option of WireGuard. IKEv2 is also a choice on Android, Mac and iOS but not Windows.
Like most of the best VPNs, Surfshark uses RAM-only servers with no hard drives or SSDs where it could store data. That makes it both faster and safer, from the user's point of view.
Any time RAM-only servers are switched off, any data stored on them temporarily is lost. So, if those servers are seized, then the parties taking ownership of them get nothing but the hardware in their hands. Equally, changes from a malicious software attacks could be undone by Surfshark simply turning the servers off and on again – an IT help centre’s dream.
The effect here is that no user data is logged or kept in any way, so you can rest assure that your online activities are kept utterly private by Surfshark.
Surfshark received a number of user complaints when it changed its legal jurisdiction from the British Virgin Islands to the Netherlands, given that the Dutch are part of the Nine Eyes international information sharing agreement but given there are no logs to share, it's hard to see that there’s any real disadvantage here. Don't let it put you off unless you really feel like you need that double layer of protection.
no user data is logged or kept in any way, so you can rest assure that your online activities are kept utterly private by Surfshark
Surfshark has some interesting options for the privacy-conscious when it comes to server connection. Normally, you connect to a server and it assigns you a random IP address until you disconnect and then a different one next time. But you can choose to maintain a static IP instead. This means that it remains the same throughout your session.
Now, in terms of privacy that’s maybe not great. It leaves more browsing behaviour connected to a single IP that a third party could trace from start to finish and therefore have a clearer picture about what a single user is doing. Keep up that browsing behaviour pattern long enough and they might even be able to figure out who you are.
At the same time, a static IP can be useful. There are web services that work by white listing IP addresses. A static IP that’s known and accepted is going to make it easier to access them wherever you are. It might remove a layer of authentication each time you access.
In general, though, static IPs aren’t a great idea for VPN traffic because it makes it easier to track you. So, we’d recommend enable the Rotating IP option, even if that makes for more CAPTCHAs.
That said, if you do often get blocked trying to access a certain site, and then find a Surfshark server that works, you might want add that location as a favourite and use it as a static IP.
Rotating IPs makes it harder for a website or web service to track you in its logs. In a single, long session, you’ll appear as multiple visitors. So, this is a definite boost to Surfshark’s privacy credentials. Only ExpressVPN offers something similar with its ShuffleIP.
Multihop (available on all Surfshark plans) is fully customisable. Create a connection to travel through any pair of Surfshark servers to help maximize privacy. (Image credit: Future Publishing)
Quite the opposite to a static IP, then, the system automatically connects you via a different IP address after 2-10 minutes – and all without the real world experience of a disconnection. (Streaming was a little more glitchy when using IP rotation, though, so do consider switching it off if you run into problems.)
You get a little status message letting you know when your next IP rotation will be and what address you’re assigned, although, actually, in practice, the timing was often quicker than stated. And, when we checked with WhatIsMyIPAddress.com, the address reported by Surfshark was accurate every single time.
So, how does Surfshark manage to switch your IP without dropping the connection? That's down to its Nexus network infrastructure (see Server Network section) ensuring that there's always a server somewhere on the pathway to provide online access while the IP on the destination server is switched.
The joined up nature of the Nexus-powered servers means that, unlike other VPNs, you can create your own double jump server pathways between almost any locations available, instead of the small handful of pre-programmed routing options that most other VPN providers offer.
That allows users to design custom, faster MultiHop connections, with start and end point servers which aren’t too far away from you and from one another.
In fact, you can even choose Fastest Location or Nearest Country within the MultiHop menu for the Nexus system to make the best suggestion for you. We particularly like that you can see latency speeds next to the options on the list so that you can really aim for maximal performance.
We checked to see the kind of effect you can expect when using two servers per connection like this. Using a pathway of two servers nearby (in our case, two different Ireland server locations) produced speeds very similar a single hop transatlantic connection which we benchmarked at 391Mbps. It was only once we started picking huge journeys, around the word for the first hop and then back all the way for the second, that we noticed speeds dipping.
Of course, there’s no need to sacrifice speed on all your apps and services if you use Surfshark’s split-tunnel feature, Bypasser. It works on all four major platforms and allowed us to pick both individual apps and websites to either specifically exclude or include from the VPN tunnel.
This is a great way of working if you want to use Surfshark for something specific like torrenting, or if you want to watch your local streaming service without confusing it into thinking that you’re trying to tune in from somewhere else.
The only real privacy feature absent from the Surfshark roster is Tor Over VPN. We could still use the Tor browser manually after connecting to Surfshark on our Windows laptop but it’s not built into the app. If Tor's added layer of online anonymity is a feature you need, then you’ll want to use Proton VPN or NordVPN instead.
Unlike other VPNs, you can create your own double jump server pathways between almost any locations
Surfshark’s CleanWeb function takes care of your search by stripping out as many trackers and ads as possible. There’s a bit of a slow down when it comes to page load time but the results are well worth it.
It took all of the cookie consent requests out of our browsing as we read the football pages of the UK and European news sites. And the grey blocks where adverts used to be were certainly less distracting than all the sticky videos and other images that usually get in the way.
If you want to go the whole hog, though, try Surfshark’s very own in-app private search, available on Surfshark One and One+ plans. More details on that in the Features section above.
Score: 9/10
Security
Excellent kill switch available on all major platforms.
Strong phishing and malware protection boosted by browser extension .
Yet to embrace post-quantum encryption with much meaningful tech.
Surfshark's choice of VPN encryption, and it's platter of security features, give us plenty of reasons for confidence. It doesn't hit the same heights as the other top VPNs in all of our results below but then it's a fraction of the price of most of them and our tests are pretty exacting.
The company uses 2048-bit RSA encryption keys which is easily enough safeguarding. Proton VPN takes things a little further with 4096-bit keys just in case you have extreme security demands.
Kill switch warning on the Surfshark Windows app explaining how kill switches work. (Image credit: Future)
A more pressing for issue for Surfshark is its post-quantum encryption (PQE) credentials. It deserves increasing attention as quantum computers, and their extreme number crunching powers, arrive on the scene.
Read more about Surfshark's security credentials ▼
Other than that, the company told Technadu, in May 2025, that it was “working on launching cutting-edge post-quantum protection for our VPN”, so we expect to hear something more about it in the coming months.
This is nothing out of the ordinary currently. PQE technology in VPNs is still very much in the embryonic stage.
Only ExpressVPN has gone further in its 1200-word blog post about its implementation of PQE in its Lightway protocol. We can’t imagine that Surfshark will be comfortable with appearing to be behind the curve for long.
We can’t imagine that Surfshark will be comfortable with appearing to be behind the curve for long.
Until then, there’s still plenty to keep you safe with Surfshark.
Auto-connect is a solid feature for anyone looking to stop any accidental leaks of their actual IP address. We like Surfshark’s very much.
Once activated, it automatically connected using the VPN on any network that I specifically didn't marked as Trusted. I didn't want it to auto-connect on my home Wi-Fi, for example, where I want to choose what my ISP does and doesn't see depending on what apps and services I'm accessing.
What I really like is that I can also choose which VPN server I want Surfshark to auto-connect to. I set it to auto-connect the 'Fastest connection' preset no matter what.
Auto-connect looks and works the same across iOS, Windows and Mac. The only exception is on Android which also allows you to use it on mobile networks too – great for privacy on the go.
The gold standard for IP leak safety, though, is the VPN kill switch and Surfshark’s got full marks in our tests. There’s a kill switch on all platforms, as we would expect.
It comes in two forms: Soft Mode, which blocks your internet access if the VPN unexpectedly drops; and Strict Mode which simply blocks any internet access unless the VPN is connected in the first place.
Strict Mode is certainly the more secure but I found it slowed down speeds a little and seemed to dig up a few more CAPTCHAs and blocked websites, and problems with apps which weren’t compatible with the VPN. Ultimately, Soft Mode feels like the better option on balance, particularly as the kill switch itself performs very well.
Surfshark is one of the only VPNs with a full antivirus built in. This is the desktop version. It's available on Surfshark One and One+. (Image credit: Future Publishing)
We tried breaking the VPN connection in a few different ways – turning the router on and off, walking out of range of a Wi-Fi hotspot, stopping services, closing processes and more – and Surfshark blocked the internet every time.
The only difference between Surfshark and the very best in this department, NordVPN, is that Surfshark didn’t always manage to recover the application and reconnect every time. NordVPN’s activated the switch, spotted the precise problem, resolved it, and then got us up and running again without us really noticing that anything had happened.
Surfshark still performed far better than most VPNs, and correctly blocked our internet in every test, though, and that’s what most matters for security.
Surfshark’s CleanWeb feature helps out for security, as well as its ad blocking and cookie consent pop-up blocking features we mentioned in the Privacy section. It cuts out phishing and malware websites too.
We tested CleanWeb with 50 up-to-date URLs for each, from the very newest phishing and malware sites sourced on the day of testing itself.
You can see by the bar chart below that its effectiveness for blocking sites that host phishing attacks is a little sub-par. It's around half as effective as ExpressVPN and Proton VPN and a long way behind NordVPN.
It's comparatively better for ad blocking and if you use the Surfshark browser extension (available on FireFox, Chrome and Edge) alongside your platform app, you'll maximize its chances of succeeding.
Surprisingly, ExpressVPN and Proton VPN didn't manage to detect and block access to any of the latest malware hosting sites in our last lab test. So, the fact that Surfshark score 68% is actually a pretty strong result.
What's more, CleanWeb is available with all Surfshark plans which start as low as $1.99 per month. NordVPN's high scores come courtesy with Threat Protection Pro technology which is not included in its entry level tier. To get the benefits of Threat Protection Pro, you'd need to pay a minimum of $3.89 per month – nearly double the price.
Phishing, malware and ad blocking
Surfshark CleanWeb compared to similar tools from other VPNs
Phishing sites blocked (%)
Performance data for Phishing sites blocked (%)
Item
Series
Value
NordVPN
Phishing sites blocked
91
Surfshark
Phishing sites blocked
38
ExpressVPN
Phishing sites blocked
76
Proton VPN
Phishing sites blocked
88
Surfshark browser ext.
Phishing sites blocked
8
NordVPN
91
Surfshark
38
ExpressVPN
76
Proton VPN
88
Surfshark browser ext.
8
023466891
Percentage
Performance data for Malware sites blocked (Percentage)
Item
Series
Value
NordVPN
Malware sites blocked
86
Surfshark
Malware sites blocked
68
ExpressVPN
Malware sites blocked
0
Proton VPN
Malware sites blocked
0
Surfshark browser ext.
Malware sites blocked
8
NordVPN
86
Surfshark
68
ExpressVPN
0
Proton VPN
0
Surfshark browser ext.
8
022436586
Percentage
Performance data for Ads blocked (Percentage)
Item
Series
Value
NordVPN
Ads blocked
54
Surfshark
Ads blocked
50
ExpressVPN
Ads blocked
86
Proton VPN
Ads blocked
88
Surfshark browser ext.
Ads blocked
66
NordVPN
54
Surfshark
50
ExpressVPN
86
Proton VPN
88
Surfshark browser ext.
66
022446688
Percentage
Also, bear in mind that the bar we set for the test above is a high one. The figures above would be considerably higher if we tested CleanWeb, and the others, against threats that were even just two days old. Nonetheless, the biggest names in antivirus, such as Norton, Bitdefender, and Avira deliver results to the same tests that are up above 90%.
So, is Surfshark’s CleanWeb a replacement for the very best dedicated AV? Not quite, but it’s well worth using and, like most of Surfshark's features, a bargain. More to the point, it will protect users against most of the nasties out there. So, do switch it on if you have it.
Score: 9/10
Speed
Surfshark clocked the fastest WireGuard speed to local servers.
OpenVPN speeds are good too but long distance performance is poor.
Surfshark has considerably higher latency and jitter than other top VPNs.
Previously rated as the fastest VPN available, Surfshark has taken a bit of a dip in our latest round of speed testing but still has a strong claim to that title.
What’s more, we still think Surfshark is a good performer in the gran scheme of things.. Anyone looking for a fast VPN should not be put off.
We’ve recently broadened our VPN lab speed testing process. We take even more data points than before and have increased our maximum speed capacity from 1 Gbps up to 10 Gbps.
WireGuard/fastest VPN protocol
Download speed (local)
Surfshark (WireGuard)
1615
NordVPN (NordLynx)
1256
ExpressVPN (Lightway Turbo)
1479
ExpressVPN (WireGuard)
694
Proton VPN (WireGuard)
1521
05001,0001,5002,000
Mbps
Download speed (local) Data
Product
Value (Mbps)
Surfshark (WireGuard)
1615
NordVPN (NordLynx)
1256
ExpressVPN (Lightway Turbo)
1479
ExpressVPN (WireGuard)
694
Proton VPN (WireGuard)
1521
Surfshark (WireGuard)
355
NordVPN (NordLynx)
857
ExpressVPN (Lightway Turbo)
1374
ExpressVPN (WireGuard)
523
Proton VPN (WireGuard)
1242
03757501,1251,500
Mbps
Download speed (long distance) Data
Product
Value (Mbps)
Surfshark (WireGuard)
355
NordVPN (NordLynx)
857
ExpressVPN (Lightway Turbo)
1374
ExpressVPN (WireGuard)
523
Proton VPN (WireGuard)
1242
Surfshark (WireGuard)
2.3
NordVPN (NordLynx)
2.4
ExpressVPN (Lightway Turbo)
5.3
ExpressVPN (WireGuard)
2.4
Proton VPN (WireGuard)
5.2
01.534.56
ms
Jitter (local) Data
Product
Value (ms)
Surfshark (WireGuard)
2.3
NordVPN (NordLynx)
2.4
ExpressVPN (Lightway Turbo)
5.3
ExpressVPN (WireGuard)
2.4
Proton VPN (WireGuard)
5.2
Surfshark (WireGuard)
27.5
NordVPN (NordLynx)
4.7
ExpressVPN (Lightway Turbo)
5.7
ExpressVPN (WireGuard)
2.3
Proton VPN (WireGuard)
28.3
07.51522.530
ms
Jitter (long distance) Data
Product
Value (ms)
Surfshark (WireGuard)
27.5
NordVPN (NordLynx)
4.7
ExpressVPN (Lightway Turbo)
5.7
ExpressVPN (WireGuard)
2.3
Proton VPN (WireGuard)
28.3
Surfshark (WireGuard)
21.7
NordVPN (NordLynx)
17.2
ExpressVPN (Lightway Turbo)
14.8
ExpressVPN (WireGuard)
13.6
Proton VPN (WireGuard)
21.7
07.51522.530
ms
Latency (local) Data
Product
Value (ms)
Surfshark (WireGuard)
21.7
NordVPN (NordLynx)
17.2
ExpressVPN (Lightway Turbo)
14.8
ExpressVPN (WireGuard)
13.6
Proton VPN (WireGuard)
21.7
Surfshark (WireGuard)
171
NordVPN (NordLynx)
83
ExpressVPN (Lightway Turbo)
75
ExpressVPN (WireGuard)
72.1
Proton VPN (WireGuard)
90.6
050100150200
ms
Latency (long distance) Data
Product
Value (ms)
Surfshark (WireGuard)
171
NordVPN (NordLynx)
83
ExpressVPN (Lightway Turbo)
75
ExpressVPN (WireGuard)
72.1
Proton VPN (WireGuard)
90.6
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We therefore expected ExpressVPN’s Lightway Turbo protocol to blow most of the competition out of the water – it’s important to remember that Lightway Turbo is only available on ExpressVPN’s Windows app – but that wasn't quite the case.
Read more about Surfshark's speed ▼
As it turns out, it's Surfshark's fastest protocol, WireGuard – available on all Surfshark apps – that clocked the top download speed when we connected to the nearest server to our lab's speed rig. At a median average of 1615 Mbps, it bested Lightway Turbo's 1479 Mbps.
Over long distance (Europe to the US) Surfshark didn't look so great, though. Its 355 Mbps score is considerably lower than the competition. That's something to consider if you're set to be accessing far flung servers on a regular basis.
We were pleased to see download speeds are good with the more privacy-focused OpenVPN protocol on Surfshark but, again, it dropped to about half that of NordVPN and ExpressVPN over long distance.
And Surfshark's speed claims start to look pretty thin when you consider overall performance. For almost all distances and protocols, we recorded latency and jitter rates than were pretty much twice as bad as the other top VPNs.
OpenVPN performance
Average download speeds, latency and jitter rates on local and long distance server connections.
OpenVPN speed (local)
Surfshark
978
NordVPN
974
ExpressVPN
1038
Proton VPN
240
03757501,1251,500
Mbps
OpenVPN speed (local) Data
Product
Value (Mbps)
Surfshark
978
NordVPN
974
ExpressVPN
1038
Proton VPN
240
Surfshark
430
NordVPN
857
ExpressVPN
808
Proton VPN
173
02505007501,000
Mbps
OpenVPN speed (long distance) Data
Product
Value (Mbps)
Surfshark
430
NordVPN
857
ExpressVPN
808
Proton VPN
173
Surfshark
33.4
NordVPN
14.6
ExpressVPN
15.5
Proton VPN
14.7
010203040
ms
OpenVPN latency (local) Data
Product
Value (ms)
Surfshark
33.4
NordVPN
14.6
ExpressVPN
15.5
Proton VPN
14.7
Surfshark
174
NordVPN
83
ExpressVPN
73.5
Proton VPN
73.8
050100150200
ms
OpenVPN latency (long distance) Data
Product
Value (ms)
Surfshark
174
NordVPN
83
ExpressVPN
73.5
Proton VPN
73.8
Surfshark
9.8
NordVPN
4.2
ExpressVPN
6.8
Proton VPN
7.3
02.557.510
ms
OpenVPN jitter (local) Data
Product
Value (ms)
Surfshark
9.8
NordVPN
4.2
ExpressVPN
6.8
Proton VPN
7.3
Surfshark
15.9
NordVPN
4.7
ExpressVPN
11.5
Proton VPN
8.1
05101520
ms
OpenVPN jitter (long distance) Data
Product
Value (ms)
Surfshark
15.9
NordVPN
4.7
ExpressVPN
11.5
Proton VPN
8.1
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In real terms, that means we would expect higher levels of lag than usual when gaming and more buffering than most when streaming, the latter of which was certainly true in my home streaming experience. (More on that in the Streaming section just below.)
High jitter can lead to poor quality real-time applications, although I didn't notice any problems when I used Surfshark during WhatsApp voice calls or when video conferencing on Google Meet for work.
All in all, though, it's a mixed picture and not quite what we were hoping for.
A VPN engineer once said to me that, beyond certain speeds, it's really latency that's more important when considering VPN performance. If that's true, then Surfshark's fast download data feels a bit hollow.
Of course, speed testing is only ever a snapshot of a moment, with little regard for comparative server network conditions. All the same, despite the headline figures, we'd hope for a better show from Surfshark next time.
Score: 8/10
Unblocking streaming services
Surfshark unblocks Netflix libraries, and other services, all over the world.
Struggles to unblock US-only YouTube content from other countries.
CleanWeb needs disabling to stream ad-funded streaming services.
Surfshark isn’t quite in the same league as NordVPN when it comes to unblocking streaming services but it’s mostly a good choice on this front.
Like NordVPN, and most of the best VPN services, all of Surfshark’s servers are optimzed for streaming. I didn’t need to waste any time trying to find lists of streaming servers. I just found the country I wanted and connected to any server on the list.
We tested Surfshark to see if it could unblock Netflix in five different locations and it did so without hitch, the same as all the other top VPN providers. It’s behind the rest, though, when it comes to certain US streaming services.
Amazon US/UK
Disney+ US/UK
YouTube US
NordVPN Plus
✅
✅
❌
Surfshark
❌
❌
❌
ExpressVPN
❌
✅
❌
Proton VPN
✅
❌
❌
Surfshark is able to unblock Disney Plus in the US and UK but we did have to try a few different servers to get it to work. We've marked it down as a 'no' in the streaming table below for this reason which makes Surfshark look worse than it is, but many users will not have the patience or knowledge to try more than one server location before giving up.
Read more about Surfshark's streaming service unblocking ▼
We also found that Surfshark servers couldn't be used to unblock Amazon Prime Video in the US or UK, no matter how we tried. This is a change from our last test when Surfshark saw success with this service.
YouTube US is one that none of our VPN services managed to unblock this time. We choose a licensed US-geo-locked test video and we weren't able to stream it from the UK with Surfshark or any of the others. This is worth considering if you tend to watch YouTube more than any other platform, although most videos tend not to be geo-specific.
Surfshark proved useful at unblocking all of the free streaming services we tried in the UK and Australia, though. It has a cross next to ITV in the table below because Surfshark didn't manage to unblock it at the first attempt but, again, it did succeed after a server switch.
Surfshark had previously had similar issues when trying to access 10Play in Australia but there were no troubles in this round of tests.
BBC iPlayer
ITV
Channel 4
TVNZ Plus
NordVPN Plus
✅
✅
✅
✅
Surfshark
✅
❌
✅
✅
ExpressVPN
✅
✅
✅
✅
Proton VPN
✅
❌
❌
❌
It's worth noting that you may need to disable CleanWeb when trying to watch shows on ad-funded streaming services such as Channel 4 and ITV. CleanWeb's built-in ad-blocker, and the streamer's need to serve reels of ads before and between the programming, don't work well together and cause things to grind to a halt.
The only downside, of course, is that it does leave you without web-based malware blocking for a time. So, make sure you're watching a trusted service. And make sure to turn CleanWeb back on after.
When we tested Proton VPN we found the same problem but the significant difference there is that we could turn off just the ad-blocking of NetShield while leaving the malware protection running. We also didn’t have to disconnect and reconnect to change the setting, unlike with CleanWeb.
Ultimately, if you're not prepared to tinker – and why should you – then NordVPN is the best streaming VPN but let Surfshark's results in this department put you off. It's still good for unblocking streams.
Score: 7/10
P2P and torrenting
Torrenting supported at all of Surfsharks server locations.
Search for P2P optimized servers for best performance.
No port forwarding.
Surfshark works well for torrenting thanks to its high download speeds and reliable privacy.
I opted for the OpenVPN protocol using TCP to be doubly sure my ISP wouldn't be able to see what I was up to. Sure enough, I've had no nasty letters through the post.
Using uTorrent, I didn't notice anything out of the ordinary as I chose a selection of different file sizes to download. Knowing that Surfshark performs significantly better over short connection distances (see Speed section) I made sure to choose the closest server possible.
All of Surfshark’s locations support torrenting but only some are optimised for P2P use and they’re not so easy to find as with Proton VPN or NordVPN, both which have P2P filters on their server choice lists in the apps.
We figured out that you can type ‘P2P’ into the search field of the server location list with Surfshark and the system will narrow to include only the torrenting optimized servers, but even then it’s very hard to tell that that’s what you’re looking at. There’s nothing in the knowledge base or help sections about it. How most people are supposed to discover this is a bit of a mystery.
The actual torrenting experience, though, once connected, is very similar to any of the top VPNs. My connection speed was limited more by the number and quality of peers for the file I tried to download.
Like many VPNs these days, Surfshark does not support port forwarding for reasons of security – understandable given that’s a VPN’s prime function. You can read Surfshark’s take on it here.
The article even suggests a way you can set up port forwarding manually but, if that’s really something you want that much, then you’re best off choosing Proton VPN which supports the feature directly in its apps.
Score: 4/5
Compatibility
Surfshark is compatible with all modern platforms.
Exceptionally large feature set available for iPhone users.
Use browser extensions for maximum privacy.
Surfshark does a good job of keeping consistency in look, feel, and functionality across its suite of apps. In fact, it scores better than most top VPN vendors with almost all of its features supported on mobile as well as desktop.
iPhone users should take particular notice. Surfshark’s iOS app is exceptionally well stocked compared to the normally underpowered versions peddled by most VPN companies. Split tunneling, auto connect, and use of all three of Surfshark’s VPN protocols are present and correct on both major mobile operating systems.
Like all the very top VPNs, Surfshark is compatible with every modern platform you’d care to mention. There are apps for the likes of Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV and Linux as well as the usual big four of Windows, Mac, Android and iOS.
Features available on iPhone
Surfshark
NordVPN
ExpressVPN
Proton VPN
Kill switch
✅
✅ (automatic)
✅
✅
Autoconnect
✅
✅
❌
❌
Split tunneling
✅ (websites only)
❌
❌
❌
Protocols
WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2
NordLynx, OpenVPN
Lightway, OpenVPN, IKEv2
WireGuard, Stealth
Malware blocking
✅
❌
✅
✅
GPS spoofing
❌
❌
❌
❌
Custom DNS
❌
❌
❌
❌
Read more about Surfshark's compatibility ▼
There are also Chrome, Edge and Firefox browser extensions and these are more important than you might think.
We’d recommend using Surfshark from within your browser to get the most out of the CleanWeb phishing, advert and malware blocking abilities of your VPN, for example. It’ll keep you a little safer online even if the VPN itself is turned off. See the Security section for more details.
But, there's more. Surfshark's browser extensions can mask your real location better than using just using your device's VPN app alone. That's because some websites can ask your browser its country-level location. That’s not something that’s related to your IP address.
We found we got fewer CAPTCHAs when we tried it. Searching Google for VPN-related terms often digs up request for bicycles, buses and road crossing identifications but it was a rare event with Surfshark's Chrome extension on.
We’d recommend using Surfshark from within your browser to get the most out of the CleanWeb phishing, advert and malware blocking abilities of your VPN
The browser extension doubles down on protecting your real location with its ‘Block WebRTC’ feature too. WebRTC (Web Real-Time Communications) is another internet technology which can be used by websites to find your real IP address. Surfshark’s browser extension should stop any red flags by making sure WebRTC doesn’t run on your device.
Surfshark does a good job of maintaining all of its apps with regular updates to many of them throughout the year.
We took a look at the number of updates that the big VPN providers made to their iOS apps between January and December 2025 for an indicator of how well they support their software. iOS apps are often the least well maintained.
iOS app updates in 2025
This is the number of updates the iOS apps of each of these VPNs has had in 2025
iOS app updates
NordVPN
23
Surfshark
21
ExpressVPN
25
Proton VPN
22
PureVPN
18
Mullvad
9
IPVanish
10
Windscribe
11
CyberGhost
0
Private Internet Access
3
iOS app updates Data
Product
Value (number)
NordVPN
23
Surfshark
21
ExpressVPN
25
Proton VPN
22
PureVPN
18
Mullvad
9
IPVanish
10
Windscribe
11
CyberGhost
0
Private Internet Access
3
Looking at the table above, Surfshark is certainly one of the better companies for this with it pretty much on a par with other top VPNs Proton VPN, NordVPN and ExpressVPN.
The overall story for us here is that Surfshark has done a really good job, and we’re confident that it will continue to do so on whatever platform you wish to use.
Score: 5/5
Usability
Make sure to disable the auto-renew function on set-up.
Clear and consistent UX across all major Surfshark apps.
Kill switch mode should be clearer on the UI.
After signing up for a Surshark account (don’t forget to take advantage of the Surfshark 7-day free trial while it’s here), the Surfshark online dashboard is a good place to start.
There’s a handy set-up guide to make sure you get the best of all the features – connecting to the VPN, setting up Antivirus, data leak alerts, Surfshark’s search and how to use Alternative ID. All well worth your time.
It’s also a good place to download your apps and extensions. The Download apps panel is surprisingly complete. There are QR codes to scan and buttons both of which offer direct links to the relevant app stores for smart TVs, browser extensions and Linux as well as the big four laptop, phone and tablet apps. You can even pick up the Android APK for any side-loading you might need to do.
Read more about Surfshark's usability ▼
The only thing to watch out for is that we got a little confused by the Windows app installer. It said “Welcome to Surshark One Security Suite Setup Wizard”, when we’d only purchased Surfsharker Starter originally. Sadly, it wasn’t a free upgrade. Ignore it. That’s how the standard installer lookers.
You can access the help center, view the length left of your subscription and, of course, upgrade to a dedicated IP address and an Alternative ID phone number while you're there, should you wish.
Switch off auto-renew and avoid a nasty price hike
Our top tip of all, though, is to head immediately to the Payments tab in the Your Subscriptions section of the My Account menu where you can switch off auto-renew and avoid a nasty price hike once the term of your original subscription ends. Ignore this at your peril, or face paying about twice what you did originally per month on a 12-month contract.
If you do get stung by Surfshark’s auto-renewal, though, don’t panic. The company cares about its reputation and its customers. A little sweet talk to the customer support within a week and you’re highly likely to get a refund.
User Experience
The Surfshark user experience is pretty much identical across the range. There are differences – Android has a home tab, Windows and iOS don’t, for example – but the look and feel is consistent and all the features and settings are in very similar places.
Like all good VPN apps, there are short explainers next to most of the settings and that’s important because it’s by far and away the easiest way to learn about the product. Only Proton VPN stands out as superior on this front with an info button that opens up some really clear pop-up explainers, that are as easy to understand as they are to dismiss.
There’s no map on any Surfshark app. All server locations are listed in alphabetical order and that’s perfectly sensible and easy to navigate. There’s also a search bar to stop you having to scroll to the bottom for UK, US and everything else that’s useful down there.
You can even search for the kind of server you want, instead of the location. Type in ‘P2P’ if you want one for torrenting, for example. We typed in ‘Frank’ and got not only the main Frankfurt server but also a list of those with static IPs as well as the preset MultiHop route of Frankfurt via the GB-London server.
Surfshark home page running on Android. It's a very clear interface easy access to VPN server selection and connection. There is tabbed access to the settings and product features at the bottom. (Image credit: Future Publishing)
If that’s not fast enough for you, there are connection shortcuts with buttons for your recently used servers, your fastest available connection and your nearest country too. There are also stars next to each server in the list so that you can favourite ones that you like or use most often.
We prefer the tabbed layout on the Windows app compared to the mobile versions but then that’s not a huge surprise given that there’s more space to play with on a laptop screen. The tabs make a bit more sense on a computer (VPN, Alternative ID, Alerts, Antivirus, Search and Settings). It’s quick access to pretty much everything you need right there.
Compare that to the four tabs on Android – Home, Products, News, Settings. News doesn’t really offer much but head to Products and you’ll find a list of the same tabbed sections as on the Windows app. In other words, access to the same areas is one step removed. It’s not a big deal and it still works fine.
The desktop apps are still actually quite small – more than the budget mobile port look and feel of cheaper VPNs like Hide.me,Windscribe and PrivadoVPN but nothing like the luxury of space you get with NordVPN, Proton VPN or ExpressVPN.
We don’t really mind that. It’s still attractive, tidy and maybe a massive VPN software windows is exactly the kind of getting-in-the-way that VPNs shouldn’t do. It’s also kind of fitting of Surfshark’s more reasonable price point.
Surfshark's desktop application is not a full screen desktop experience but I don't have a problem with that. It's neat, tidy, easy to use and doesn't get in the way of your other apps and files. (Image credit: Future Publishing)
It’s also a misnomer to think that its size means less complexity. The Surfshark Windows app has 23 buttons, icons and other areas where you can click something. NordVPN’s Windows app also has 23. Proton VPN comes in at a similar 19.
If you want something really stripped back but still nicely put together, then go for ExpressVPN with its 8 – but then that does mean fewer functions at your fingertips. It depends what you’d rather trade off.
Probably the only part of the Windows UX that we find a bit odd is the VPN home page itself, or, more specifically, the information that’s on there. There’s data on connection time, VPN IP address, up and download data so far, what protocol you’re using and whether or not CleanWeb is on.
It’ll also tell you when the kill switch is enabled, but, the strange part is that it says nothing about the kill switch at all when it’s off – and that’s exactly when you need to know about the kill switch: when it’s not protecting you!
Oddly, Android users can tell if it’s off because it’s displayed as a toggle rather than the word On or Off.
Is it a problem? Well, potentially but you can avoid it by making sure your kill switch is activated by default. Otherwise, it would be a concern if your real IP was leaking and you didn’t know about it.
That aside, we really have no complaints to make about how Surshark has put its apps together. They’re easy on the eye and generally a pleasure to use.
Score: 4/5
Accessibility
Middling accessibility score for the Surfshark website.
Average language support.
Extremely poor for keyboard-only use.
Surfshark's accessibility credentials are so-so, at best with both the website and number of languages available in-app about average. Keyboard support is really quite but Siri voice commands for VPN functionality save the day for iOS users.
We used AccessibilityChecker to scan Surfshark’s home page and it came out with a score of 41%. It’s only a single page but it’s a good indicator of what to expect across its website.
That’s a long way behind the likes of Mullvad (89%) and NordVPN (83%), but it still outperformed big names like Proton VPN (35%), ExpressVPN (21%) and Private Internet Access (10%).
The audit report showed that Surfshark’s website passed all navigation tests. It was deemed to have excellent support for screen readers although it didn’t fully support them everywhere.
Read more about Surfshark's accessibility ▼
Equally, the site uses an appropriate color scheme, and text with strong contrast, even though it didn’t match color contrast standards across a few elements.
VPN Accessibility
Accessibility score for the website home page of each VPN
Accessibility score (%)
NordVPN
83
Surfshark
41
ExpressVPN
23
Proton VPN
35
PureVPN
35
Mullvad
89
IPVanish
71
CyberGhost
17
AdGuard VPN
17
PrivadoVPN
10
Hotspot Shield
23
TunnelBear
74
Accessibility score (%) Data
Product
Value (Percentage %)
NordVPN
83
Surfshark
41
ExpressVPN
23
Proton VPN
35
PureVPN
35
Mullvad
89
IPVanish
71
CyberGhost
17
AdGuard VPN
17
PrivadoVPN
10
Hotspot Shield
23
TunnelBear
74
There’s clearly room for improvement here, but this isn’t a bad score. If you’re partially sighted, then, there are better options out there than Surfshark.
Looking at Surfshark’s desktop apps, we found that the Windows application supports 13 languages including common options such as English, French, German, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Japanese, Korean and Chinese (Simplified and Traditional.)
There are 13 languages supported on Surfshark. Not as many as other VPNs and a few key options missing. (Image credit: Future Publishing)
But it’s missing others – Arabic, Norwegian, Swedish, Turkish – and many VPNs provide more. Norton VPN supports 26 languages, for instance, and Proton VPN has 28. So, if you would rather have a VPN that talks your native tongue, you might find more luck elsewhere.
Next we tried ditching our mouse. If a user can’t operate a mouse, they should be able to access every feature of the app from the keyboard. Sadly, Surfshark has extremely poor keyboard support.
Pressing Tab allowed us to move around the window, but in many cases the app didn’t highlight the current element (the button, the list, or whatever else we were accessing), leaving us with no idea where we were.
Language support
Language options available in the Windows apps of each of these VPNs.
no. of languages available
NordVPN
13
Surfshark
13
ExpressVPN
17
Proton VPN
31
PureVPN
12
Mullvad
20
IPVanish
8
Windscribe
20
CyberGhost
12
Private Internet Access
18
010203040
number
no. of languages available Data
Product
Value (number)
NordVPN
13
Surfshark
13
ExpressVPN
17
Proton VPN
31
PureVPN
12
Mullvad
20
IPVanish
8
Windscribe
20
CyberGhost
12
Private Internet Access
18
Even when we could see we had reached an important element, like the location list, it turned out not to be optimized for keyboard use.
For example, PIA’s Windows app allowed us to scroll up and down to highlight a country, and connected as soon as we hit Enter. That’s easy and intuitive, we figured it out right away.
With Surfshark, we could browse up and down the location list with the keyboard, but hitting Enter did nothing. Experimenting, hitting Tab and then Enter allowed us to connect some of the time, but we regularly got lost and had to use our mouse to start again.
Overall, if you need keyboard support then Surfshark’s Windows app isn’t a good choice. Check out PIA instead.
Score: 2/5
Customer support
Surfshark has 24/7 live chat, email and site customer support.
Handy and easy to use on-site knowledge base.
Email support will reply with a solution within 24-hours.
Surfshark offers customer support via a support site, live chat (24/7) and email (24/7).
We test VPN support sites by searching for common technical terms and issues, and exploring what comes up. Surfshark’s support site scores well for its vast number of articles.
When we searched for ‘DNS’, for instance, the site gave us 120 results including plenty of useful guides. That compares to 60 for ExpressVPN, and only 5 for Hotspot Shield (and only one of those was useful for setup or troubleshooting).
The only subject area almost completely absent was P2P and torrenting but perhaps for obvious thorny legal reasons.
Read more about Surfshark customer support ▼
All the help articles we read were well written, clear, nicely laid-out and very, very non-threatening.
Most Surfshark support users won't need the search, though, because the site is very well organised.
It displays links to its most important articles on the front page, grouped into topics such as ‘Getting Started’, ‘Fixing Issues’, ‘Billing’ and ‘Account’. It’s likely that many visitors will find the article they need in a couple of clicks.
We noticed that some of the support articles were a little out-of-date. Screenshots didn’t always match the latest version of the app, for instance. But that’s not unusual with VPNs that have a large number of articles, and we didn’t spot any guides where this genuinely had a significant negative result, like telling us to take an action which was no longer possible, for instance.
More to the point, all the articles we read were well written, clear, nicely laid-out and very, very non-threatening. Most people will feel confident of following the advice of this resource and rightly so.
Surfshark’s live chat appears to be well staffed. We were able to talk to helpful agents within a couple of minutes of opening a session. Getting some information about how to set the VPN up for P2P seemed like a good idea and the online agent did not let us down.
Surfshark’s live chat appears to be well staffed, and we were able to talk to helpful agents within a couple of minutes.
They said that all of their servers were fit to use for P2P, they suggested OpenVPN, with UDP for better speeds, and to make sure we had the kill switch on. All pretty sage stuff. And the whole chat took less than 5 minutes once we’d gone through a couple of layers of AI bot automation.
Email support isn’t as speedy. Proton VPN replied to a test question in minutes during its last review; Surfshark says it will reply in 24 hours, and our 21-hour wait suggests that’s about right.
Our reply was short, but friendly, accurate, and with an invitation to keep asking if we needed more help, and that earns a thumbs up from us.
Score: 4/5
User reviews
Like all user reviews, you should take Surfshark's scores on the Trustpilot and the mobile app stores with a pinch of salt, but they do paint the picture of a VPN that you can trust.
Across Google Play and the Apple App Store, it holds ratings on par with the very top VPNs. It's 4.4/5 Trustpilot rating is based on over 27,000 reviews. Around 9% of those are 1-star reviews.
Read them and you'll most find that they're complaints over the auto-renewal system that most VPNs use, and it's easy to make sure that you don't become one of those statistics. You can turn auto-renew off from any point after signing up. Please do it.
Google Play
App Store
Trustpilot
NordVPN
4.6
4.7
4.2
Windscribe
4.6
4.6
4.7
Surfshark
4.6
4.7
4.4
Proton VPN
4.6
4.6
2.0
ExpressVPN
4.7
4.7
4.0
Track record: can you trust Surfshark?
Surfshark has never suffered any hacks or data leaks.
Apps, logging policy and server infrastructure has all been audited.
We'd like to see audits undertaken on an annual basis.
Surfshark has not had to suffer the ignominy of any major hacks or bugs that have gone public, and the NIST Vulnerability Database doesn’t have a single item with the keyword 'Surfshark'. That’s quite unusual.
Proton VPN has three old bugs in the database; ExpressVPN has three; NordVPN also has three old vulnerabilities (all from 2018.) Surfshark does have the advantage of being the youngest of all of these VPNs, though, launched, as it was, in 2018. For the record, Proton VPN is only one year older.
It’s a positive sign that hackers and security researchers haven’t found any major issues in Surfshark’s apps.
The biggest uproar was when the company decided to switch its legal HQ from the British Virgin Islands to the Netherlands.
Surfshark did cause controversy when it added a ‘fake news detector’ feature to its browser extension. The idea was to highlight sources of misinformation, but the feature falsely flagged too many legitimate sites. It also raised a few eyebrows for privacy issues with the idea that this automated feature would decide, on its own, whether a particular source was trustworthy or not. Surfshark removed the feature in 2022 and the company hasn’t tried anything similar since.
Read more about Surfshark's track record▼
For sure, the biggest uproar, though, was when the company decided to switch its legal HQ from the British Virgin Islands to the Netherlands, as we mentioned in the Privacy section of this review.
Audited, but not as well or regularly as Proton VPN
Surfshark has had all the significant parts of its processes and infrastructure audited by third parties over the years but it could do with ramping up the frequency.
Surfshark had its no-logs policy reviewed by Deloitte in 2022. The report was released in January 2023 and agreed that Surfshark’s claims matched its real-life user data procedures. More recently its no-logs claims were audited in June, 2025, and, again, everything was found to be ship shape. (The full report is available to Surfshark users.)
It’s good to see any VPN provider have the courage to put itself through a public audit, but we'd like to see Surfshark do this a little more regularly.
Proton VPN has a no-logs audit every year, and Surfshark needs to do something similar. We’d like to see regular audits of the apps, too.
✅ Anyone looking for cheap VPN: You can get two years of service for less than $70 total and there's a 7-day free trial which means you can try it out for nothing.
✅People who want an antivirus product with their VPN: Surfshark is one of the few VPNs with a full antivirus system. None of NordVPN, Proton VPN nor ExpressVPN offer this. Make sure to sign up to Surfshark One or One+ for antivirus.
✅P2P users looking for a good torrenting VPN: Surfshark gave us fast speeds when torrenting and is very easy to use.
❌ Streamers: Surfshark can certainly unblock most streaming services from abroad but it can be a little fiddly for some important ones like Disney Plus and ITV. NordVPN is better for streaming.
1. NordVPN – from $2.99 per month The best VPN overall and best for streaming If watching geo-blocked streaming services is the main reason you want a VPN, then NordVPN is a better choice than Surfshark. It's our #1 rated VPN overall and unblocked every streaming service in our tests at the first attempt. It's easy to use and excellent at everything else too. The only downside is that it's more expensive than Surfshark but you get what you pay for. Try it for yourself with a 30-day money-back guarantee.View Deal
Surfshark FAQs
Does Surfshark have a free trial?
Yes, a free 7-day trial is available to new users signing up to 1 and 2-year contracts for any of Surfshark's plans.
Is Surfshark VPN owned by China?
No. Surfshark was founded in 2018 by Vytautas Kaziukonis. It has offices in Lithuania and Poland, where the company remains today. Surfshark was registered in the British Virgin Islands until 2021 when its legal home was switched to the Netherlands.
Surfshark merged with NordVPN in 2022. The company offices are on the same campus in Vilnius, Lithuania, but remain separate from one another.
Is Surfshark VPN trusted?
Yes. Surfshark operates according to secure and trustworthy VPN practices. It uses a RAM-only server network and has an audited no-logs policy to prove that it does not collect of store user data. Surfshark has never had a hack or data leak. You can read more about this in the Track Record section of this review.
Is Surfshark blocked by Netflix?
No. We were able to access five different global Netflix libraries. These were Japan, USA, Canada, UK and Australia. Surfshark was able to unblock Netflix in these locations at the first time of trying – so without switching to any different servers and without changing any settings. (Read more about it in the Streaming section of this review.) We recommend Surfshark as a good VPN for watching Netflix wherever you go.
What are the downsides of Surfshark?
Even though Surfshark is excellent for unblocking Netflix streams, it's not quite as great for streaming as some other VPNs, such as NordVPN and ExpressVPN.
Is Surfshark legal in the US?
Yes. Surfshark is legal to use in the US and in all other locations where VPN use is not banned. VPN bans exist in countries such as Russia, China, Iran, Turkey, India, Saudi Arabia and a few other places. Find out more about where VPNs are banned.
Surfshark testing methodology
I’ve tested and written about VPNs for over five years. I’ve had Surfshark installed on my Windows PC and my mobile phone during that time along with nine other VPNs. Of those, Surfshark is my go-to VPN for my phone even when I'm not reviewing it.
I like the Android app and I particularly like having my Alternative ID at hand to copy into registration fields when I’m signing up for new sites and services. You can read my thoughts on Alternative ID in the Features section.
I use Surfshark most days and I update this review with my thoughts on the service and new Surfshark features each month. The latest this time is the Web Content Blocker tool which you can read about in the Features section too.
Our VPN test lab is where we put all VPNs through the same battery of tests to ensure a level playing field. Mike has been lab testing VPNs for over 11 years and has developed TechRadar’s VPN testing methodology over that time.
Read more our Surfshark testing methodology ▼
Each VPN is put through full lab testing every six months. As with all the VPNs, Surfshark has been tested for speed, ad-blocking, anti-phasing and malware, streaming service unblocking, local IP address leaks and the server network has been spot-checked to confirm that the VPN server locations are accurate.
As well as this, Surfshark’s privacy and security credentials have been checked in-lab by reading through the company’s privacy policy in detail and by looking through VPN configuration files and monitoring connection logs to ensure that each VPN protocol will operate appropriately.
Surfshark is my go-to VPN for my mobile phone even when I'm not reviewing it.
I have subjectively user tested the rest of Surfshark’s in-app privacy and security features on my own devices in real-world situations – on my mobile connection, on public Wi-Fi and on my home network too. These include Search, Autoconnect, Alert, and Alternative ID. You can read our findings in the Privacy and Security sections.
As with all of our VPN lab tests, Surfshark’s speed testing took place on our cloud PC set-up over a 10 Gbps line. We took 10 measurements from two different server locations (Dublin and Los Angeles) and recorded both local and transatlantic VPN connection speeds. We did this on both WireGuard (for a measure of the fastest speeds) and on OpenVPN (for those who wish to use a more secure connection).
Surfshark apps running on the four major operating systems in the TechRadar VPN lab. (Image credit: Future)
Our final scores are a median average of each set of 10 to avoid any skew from outlier data points. As with all VPN speed testing, it only provides a snapshot in time but, in our experience, it’s representative of average performance.
I’ve added my real-world user experience of Surfshark's speed performance to Mike’s results. You can read about both in the Speed section of this review
Mike tested Surfshark’s CleanWeb tool (anti-phishing and anti-malware) by exposing it to the 100 latest phishing and malware websites and seeing what percentage of these it could detect and block. You can see results in the Security section where I’ve added my thoughts on what it’s like to browse websites using CleanWeb, whether it makes a difference to the number of ads seen on pages, and whether it was able to reduce cookie consent pop-ups.
To test streaming service unblocking, Mike built a tool to sequentially run through a series of streaming platforms, as accessed from a different set of global locations. These include Netflix access to content libraries in Japan, the US, UK, Australia and Canada, access to Prime Video, Disney Plus, and local free streaming services such as BBC iPlayer, ITV, Channel 4, 10Play, 9Now and more.
The streaming tool checks whether or not Surfshark is able to access these services from abroad. If it fails, we try to access these services using different servers or by making tweaks to Surfshark’s set-up. For us, there’s a big difference in usability between a VPN that we need to tweak and one which will offer access first time.
Surfshark has been tested for speed, ad-blocking, anti-phasing and malware, streaming service unblocking, local IP address leaks and the server network has been spot-checked
I do a lot of streaming from abroad using VPNs – particularly with services such as Peacock, Sling and FuboTV. I regularly use Surfshark on my Windows PC for this. You can read my thoughts about Surfshark’s streaming quality and consistency, as well as Mike’s lab results, in the Streaming section of this review.
Finally, and certainly not least for the lab testing, is kill switches. This is arguably the most important feature we test in the lab. Mike sets up software to record the reported IP address of his test devices and switches on the VPN. He then performs a series of ways to break the VPN’s operation and checks that the kill switch kicks in without registering any leaks of the lab’s actual IP address.
The last port of call in our Surfshark testing was to test out its customer support. Mike puts his VPN knowledge to some pretty fiendish use and approaches live chat and email support with a complicated but not impossible technical query. You can see how Surfshark did in our Customer Support section.
This review has been fact checked across the VPN team, as well as with information provided by Surfshark. We update this review each month to include any new Surfshark features, or information about the product, to make sure that what you’re reading is 100% up to date and as you would find the product if you downloaded and used it today.
If you notice anything in your experience of using Surfshark that does not tally with what you read on this page, please let us know in the comments, or by emailing us direct, and we will endeavour to provide you with product support information or include corrections and warnings to other users, depending on which is appropriate.
