Surfshark sells three plans, Starter, One and One+, and every plan allows an unlimited number of devices at the same time. Starter is the VPN plus Alternative ID. One adds antivirus, data leak alerts and Search. One+ adds Incogni data removal and identity theft coverage, but those two extras are limited by country. First-term prices are low; yearly renewals are $79, $99 and $119 before tax.
This is a documentary review based on Surfshark’s official pages. We have not bought a plan, installed the apps, measured speed or contacted support, so nothing here is a performance or security verdict.
What a VPN does and does not do
A VPN encrypts traffic between your device and the VPN server and hides your IP address from the sites you visit. That is useful on public Wi-Fi and limits what your internet provider sees. It does not make you anonymous: accounts you sign in to still identify you, and cookies, trackers and browser fingerprinting still work. It does not clean an infected device or stop you from entering a password on a phishing page.
Before buying, it helps to build a personal threat model and to check which protections you already have.
Prices: first payment vs renewal
Prices and plan details were checked on the providers’ official pages on 5 November 2026. Figures are in USD and exclude tax where applicable. Surfshark’s own FAQ says prices may vary with currency, VAT and coupons, and it bills in GBP, EUR, CAD, AUD and other currencies in some countries. Prices vary by country, currency, taxes and promotions, so confirm the final amount at checkout.
The 24-month plan runs 27 months (24 plus 3 free months) and is billed once upfront. The 12-month plan runs 15 months (12 plus 3 free). After that, both renew for 1-year periods.
| Plan | 24-month plan (27 months) | 12-month plan (15 months) | Renewal, per year | 1-month plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | $67.23 upfront ($2.49/month) | $44.85 upfront ($2.99/month) | $79 | $18.95/month |
| One | $67.23 upfront ($2.49/month) | $44.85 upfront ($2.99/month) | $99 | $19.95/month |
| One+ | $107.73 upfront ($3.99/month) | $104.85 upfront ($6.99/month) | $119 | $22.85/month |
The arithmetic: Starter on the 24-month plan costs $2.49 × 27 = $67.23 for the first 27 months, then $79 per year, about $6.58 per month. One renews at $99 per year (about $8.25 per month) and One+ at $119 per year (about $9.92 per month).
One detail stands out. On 5 November 2026, One cost exactly the same as Starter for the first term, on both the 24-month and 12-month plans. The difference shows up only at renewal: $20 more per year for One. One+ on the 12-month plan costs almost as much upfront as on the 24-month plan ($104.85 vs $107.73) for 12 fewer months.
Surfshark’s renewal-price page shows prices based on your current location or IP address and says Surfshark reserves the right to A/B test prices, including displayed renewal prices. Treat the renewal figures as a guide and check the renewal line at checkout.
What each plan includes
Starter includes the VPN, with an ad blocker, cookie pop-up blocker, Bypasser split tunneling, rotating IP and Dynamic MultiHop, plus Alternative ID.
One adds antivirus (scheduled scans, webcam protection, real-time protection), Alert (alerts for leaks of personal data, credit cards and ID, plus security reports) and Search.
One+ adds Incogni data removal from company databases and people-search sites, and identity theft coverage of up to $1 million.
This mapping comes from Surfshark’s help centre and renewal-price page. The pricing page itself was less clear: its comparison table could not be reliably matched to plan columns, and a summary of the English page suggested all three plans list the same features. We could not confirm per-plan inclusion of scam protection or identity theft coverage beyond the renewal-page listing, so check the plan card at checkout.
One+ availability limits
The two One+ extras are not available everywhere. Surfshark says Incogni data removal is only for residents of the US, UK, EU, Switzerland and Canada. Identity theft coverage is only for US residents, including territories and DC, and excludes New York State. The coverage is issued by HSB Specialty Insurance Company, and Surfshark states it is not a licensed insurer.
If you live outside those areas, One+ costs more and the extras do not apply to you, so One is the more logical choice. If data brokers are your main concern, read our guides on minimising personal data collection and data removal services compared before deciding whether a bundle or a standalone service suits you.
Add-on prices
Surfshark’s renewal-price page lists add-ons, before tax: Dedicated IP at $3.75 per month or $45.00 per year, Alternative Number at $2.29 per month or $27.48 per year, Incogni at $3.99 per month or $47.88 per year, Incogni Unlimited at $5.99 per month or $71.88 per year, and the One add-on (Antivirus, Alert, Search) at $1.49 per month or $17.88 per year. Intro prices for add-ons were not displayed.
The 7-day trial and refunds
Surfshark offers a 7-day free trial on 12-month and 24-month plans. You need a payment method (credit card, PayPal or Apple Pay), the trial covers up to 3 devices at once, and you are charged automatically after 7 days unless you cancel. Trial accounts have restrictions; for example, you cannot change the account email or two-factor settings.
The refund window is 30 days after the initial purchase. Surfshark’s terms say it applies only to the initial purchase, one refund per service, and recurring payments are not refundable. Exceptional refunds after 30 days are at Surfshark’s discretion.
There are exclusions: purchases through resellers other than Paddle, Google Play or Cleverbridge; payments by prepaid or gift card; Alternative ID and the anonymous Dedicated IP, which are non-refundable; and accounts that received a free trial of 30 days or longer. The terms do not address Apple App Store refunds, so if you buy through the App Store, expect to deal with Apple.
What Surfshark says about privacy
Surfshark says its no-logs policy is audited and that it does not track, log or store your activities. It says Deloitte assured this claim in 2023 and 2025 under ISAE 3000. It also says it uses RAM-only servers that cannot store logs and are wiped on reboot, that WireGuard connections automatically use post-quantum encryption, and that it is based in the Netherlands. It lists 4,500+ servers in 100 countries.
These are Surfshark’s claims; we have not verified them. An audit covers a period or a point in time, not every future day. A VPN also cannot unlock any particular streaming catalogue for you or let you get around a law or a service’s terms.
The Black Friday deal
On 5 November 2026 Surfshark’s pricing page showed a Black Friday banner, and the 24-month One plan was labelled as the Black Friday offer. No end date was shown, so the deal may end at any time.
How to decide
Starter fits if you only want a VPN and plan to stay beyond the first term, since it has the lowest renewal at $79. One is worth a look if you want the antivirus and leak alerts: it costs the same as Starter for the first 27 months and $20 more per year after. One+ only makes sense if you live where Incogni and the identity cover apply. Unlimited devices make Surfshark practical for larger households.
To compare costs with NordVPN, read our NordVPN vs Surfshark comparison. If you want to check the current offer, see Surfshark and read the renewal line before paying.
Checklist before you buy:
- Note the upfront amount and the yearly renewal ($79, $99 or $119 before tax).
- Check that you live where One+ extras apply before paying for them.
- If you start the 7-day trial, set a reminder before day 7.
- Avoid gift cards and unlisted resellers if you may want a refund.
- Confirm the plan’s feature list on the checkout page.
- Treat the Black Friday price as temporary.
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