Reviewed by the VPNStreamer Team · Last updated: October 2026 · How we compare VPNs
Our rating: 4.5 out of 5.
Surfshark is our #2 pick overall on the full best VPN for Australia list: the cheapest premium option here, and the only one with genuinely unlimited device connections. Since merging with Nord Security (NordVPN’s parent company) in 2022, it has grown well past its early “budget newcomer” reputation into one of the most fully featured VPNs on the market, while continuing to operate independently.
- 4,500+ servers in 100 countries, including 40 across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide
- Unlimited simultaneous devices on every plan, a genuine point of difference for households
- Starter plan from US$2.49/mo on the 2-year plan (currently with 3 extra months free)
- 7-day free trial on top of a 30-day money-back guarantee on every plan
- Audited no-logs policy, RAM-only servers, and post-quantum encryption support
30-day money-back guarantee
Get Surfshark See our Surfshark Australia guide for local server cities and AUD pricing.
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Pros
Cons
Surfshark Pricing
Surfshark runs three plan tiers now, not just one flat VPN:
- Starter: the core VPN, with unlimited connections, CleanWeb, kill switch, Bypasser (split tunneling), Dynamic MultiHop, and Camouflage Mode.
- One: everything in Starter, plus Surfshark Antivirus, Surfshark Alert (data breach monitoring), a private search engine, webcam protection, and the newer scam protection tools.
- One+: the full bundle, adding Surfshark’s identity theft protection tools and Incogni data removal.
| Plan | Price/mo | Billing |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Years (Best Value) | US$2.49 | Billed US$67.23 for the first 27 months (24 months plus 3 free) |
| 1 Year | Around US$3.19 | Billed about US$47.85 for the first 15 months (12 months plus 3 free) |
| 1 Month | Around US$15.45 | Billed Monthly |
Pricing verified 17 October 2026 against surfshark.com/pricing (Starter 2-year tier, current Black Friday deal). The annual and monthly figures are the most recent rates reported by PCMag Australia (September 2026), since Surfshark rotates promotions frequently and checkout totals vary by region, currency and VAT.
Pricing above is for the Starter tier. One and One+ cost more but bundle in the extra privacy tools, and right now the Black Friday deal prices One at the same US$2.49/mo as Starter, with One+ at around US$3.99/mo. Payment methods include credit card, PayPal, and cryptocurrency (bitcoin, Ethereum and Ripple among them). A genuine 7-day free trial is available on mobile and desktop (a card is required to activate it, so remember to cancel before the trial ends if you don’t want to be charged), and every plan also carries a 30-day money-back guarantee on top of that.
Key Features
Servers
Surfshark runs 4,500+ servers across 100 countries, all upgraded to 10Gbps connections, on RAM-only, diskless hardware that wipes itself on reboot. For Australian users there are 40 local servers spread across five cities: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide. Some other locations use virtual servers, meaning the server software reports a different country than where the physical hardware sits, usually because that country lacks reliable local infrastructure. Surfshark discloses which locations are virtual directly in the app.
Protocol Support
WireGuard and OpenVPN using AES-256-GCM encryption, with IKEv2 still available on Android, iOS and macOS. Surfshark also launched its own Dausos protocol in April 2026, built on AEGIS-256X2 post-quantum encryption and independently audited by Cure53. It is currently macOS only, but it puts Surfshark ahead of several competitors on post-quantum readiness.
DNS Service
All servers run Surfshark’s own private DNS, reducing DNS leak risk.
Platforms Supported
Native apps for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS, plus a graphical Linux app and support for Apple TV, Fire TV, consoles, and routers via manual setup guides. Browser extensions cover Chrome, Firefox and Edge.
Device Support
Unlimited simultaneous connections on every plan. Genuinely unusual among premium VPNs, and the standout reason to pick Surfshark over NordVPN or ExpressVPN if you’re covering a full household. The only limit: the 7-day free trial caps you at 3 devices until it ends.
Privacy and Security
Surfshark is headquartered in the Netherlands, a Nine Eyes intelligence-sharing member, worth knowing if jurisdiction outside any alliance matters most to you (NordVPN and ExpressVPN sit outside all of them). See our 5/9/14 Eyes explainer for more.
Its no-logs policy and infrastructure have been independently audited multiple times: Cure53 audited the browser extensions in 2018 and the full server infrastructure in 2021, and Deloitte has audited the no-logs policy itself, most recently in 2025. Worth being precise here rather than absolute: Deloitte’s audit confirmed Surfshark does retain your session IP address for up to 15 minutes after you disconnect, specifically to prevent abuse of the unlimited-device policy. Your browsing activity itself isn’t logged, but that’s a real, if minor, distinction from “nothing is ever retained.” The RAM-only server fleet and an active warrant canary add further transparency.
Dynamic MultiHop routes your connection through two servers instead of one, adding an extra layer between you and the exit point. Camouflage Mode disguises the fact you’re using a VPN at all, which can help in networks or countries that actively block VPN traffic.
Ease of Use
Sign-Up
Pick a plan, create an account with your email, choose a payment method, and you’ll receive a confirmation email with a link to download the app for your devices.
Setup and Interface
The interface is clean: a large connect/disconnect button front and centre, with Dynamic MultiHop, Bypasser (Surfshark’s split tunneling feature, formerly called Whitelister), and CleanWeb accessible from the side menu. The mobile app strips this down further to a single connect button with icon-based navigation to the rest of the features.
Advanced Features
The kill switch blocks your IP from leaking if the VPN connection drops, though Top10VPN’s September 2026 retest found it is not switched on by default, so check it after install. CleanWeb blocks ads, trackers, and malware domains, and the newer build also clears cookie pop-ups. Bypasser lets you route specific apps or sites outside the VPN tunnel while everything else stays protected. Camouflage Mode and Dynamic MultiHop add extra obfuscation and routing security for anyone in a heavily restricted network environment. Beyond those, you get Alternative ID (disposable email addresses and personal detail generators), IP Rotator, and NoBorders mode for getting connected when VPN traffic is being blocked.
Browser Extensions
Available for Chrome, Firefox and Edge, working as a browser-level proxy rather than a full security tool. They mask your browser traffic but don’t replace the full app’s protections.
Performance and Servers
Surfshark consistently ranks well in independent, third-party speed testing, particularly given its server count relative to price. Recent 2026 lab tests measured WireGuard downloads between roughly 750 and 900 Mbps on nearby servers (CyberInsider recorded 752 Mbps, techbusinessnews.com.au up to 901 Mbps), with typical download speed drops under 20%. We haven’t run our own lab-based speed tests on this specific connection (see our methodology), so treat performance claims as a reflection of current third-party benchmarks rather than an in-house result. NordVPN generally edges it out on raw speed and server count if that’s your top priority.
Streaming and Torrenting
Surfshark reliably unblocks Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, Stan, Kayo, and Foxtel from overseas. Top10VPN’s September 2026 testing counted 10 Netflix libraries unblocked and CyberInsider reported 15+. Some services can still be inconsistent by region: in our testing, Amazon Prime Video specifically failed to unblock outside the UK, while other 2026 reviewers report it working on first attempt, so expect to switch servers occasionally. Torrenting is supported with no restrictions.
SPECIAL OFFER: Save 87% on the 2-Year Plan
Customer Service
24/7 live chat, with a chatbot that’s quick to bypass in favour of a human agent. Email support typically responds within a few hours. A detailed help centre with tutorials and setup guides covers most common questions.
Is Surfshark Right for You?
Surfshark is our #2 pick for good reason: it’s the best-value premium VPN on this list, and the only one with truly unlimited device connections. If you’re covering a full household or just don’t want to think about device limits, it’s an easy recommendation. If raw speed, server count, or the most extensive audit history matter more to you than price, NordVPN or ExpressVPN are worth comparing directly.
Alternatives to Surfshark
| NordVPN | Read Review | Visit Site |
| ProtonVPN | Read Review | Visit Site |
| ExpressVPN | Read Review | Visit Site |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many devices can I use with Surfshark at the same time?
Unlimited devices, on every plan. One subscription covers your whole household across phones, laptops, smart TVs and consoles at once, which is the main reason to choose Surfshark over connection-capped rivals. The one exception is the 7-day free trial, which is limited to 3 devices until it ends.
Is Surfshark a good VPN for Australia?
Yes, and it’s our #2 pick on the best VPN for Australia list. Surfshark runs 40 servers across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide for low-latency local connections, reliably unblocks Stan, Kayo, Foxtel, Netflix and other services from overseas, and every plan carries a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can test it risk-free. See our Surfshark Australia guide for AUD pricing and local server details.
How much does Surfshark cost?
The Starter plan starts at US$2.49/mo on the 2-year plan, currently billed US$67.23 for the first 27 months thanks to a Black Friday deal with 3 extra months free. The annual plan runs around US$3.19/mo and the monthly plan around US$15.45. One and One+ bundles cost more but add antivirus, breach alerts, a private search engine, and data removal tools. All plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Is Surfshark safe to use and does it keep logs?
Yes, Surfshark is safe to use: AES-256-GCM encryption with WireGuard or OpenVPN, an independently audited no-logs policy (Deloitte most recently in 2025, earlier by Cure53), and RAM-only servers that leave nothing on disk. The honest caveat is that Deloitte’s audit confirmed Surfshark retains your session IP address for up to 15 minutes after disconnecting, to police the unlimited-device policy. Browsing activity is not logged. Surfshark is based in the Netherlands, a Nine Eyes member, which matters if you insist on a jurisdiction outside all intelligence-sharing alliances.
Our rating: 4.5 out of 5.
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