Surfshark VPN has officially been named the #1 VPN of 2022 by the prominent technology site TROYPOINT after months of extensive testing and analysis. This review and ranking is monumental news in the VPN industry, cementing Surfshark‘s position as the top VPN available today.
But what exactly prompted TROYPOINT to award Surfshark the coveted #1 ranking over industry stalwarts like ExpressVPN, NordVPN and others? In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll explore the key strengths and capabilities that make Surfshark stand out from the crowd:
Surfshark‘s Exceptional Growth
First, some background. Surfshark is a relatively new player in the VPN space, launching just a few years ago in 2018. Despite its youth, Surfshark has absolutely exploded in popularity over the past 2 years.
Some stats illustrate Surfshark‘s meteoric rise:
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Surfshark has gone from 500 servers in 2018 to over 3,200 servers today, an over 500% increase. This expanded infrastructure powers faster speeds.
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Their user base shot up from just 500,000 users in 2018 to over 10 million active users today. That‘s 20x growth in 2 years.
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Google search interest and volume for "Surfshark" has steadily risen 150% year-over-year as people become more aware of the service.
Clearly Surfshark is resonating with consumers and dominating in terms of growth. But what factors directly led to this rapid adoption?
Key Strengths Powering Surfshark‘s Rise to #1
Based on TROYPOINT‘s extensive evaluation, Surfshark‘s unique combination of advantages across these key areas make it the most well-rounded VPN available:
1. Unlimited device support – Most VPNs limit you to 5 or 10 connected devices simultaneously. Surfshark imposes no such limits, allowing you to run its apps on every phone, laptop, tablet, router and smart TV in your home without issue. This degree of flexibility is extremely rare.
2. Working kill switch on Fire TV and Android TV – Using a VPN on streaming devices often causes connectivity issues. Surfshark cunningly developed kill switches for Firestick and Android TV that reliably cut your internet connection if the VPN drops. This prevents any leaks of your private data.
3. Powerful unblocking of streaming sites – Surfshark consistently jumps regional restrictions on major platforms like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Amazon Prime and ESPN+. This opens up tons of extra shows and films normally geo-blocked where you live. Surfshark outsmarts geo-blocks with ease.
4. Next-gen WireGuard protocol – Surfshark baked WireGuard into all its apps, providing up to 2x faster speeds than competitors relying on dated OpenVPN. WireGuard is a game-changing new protocol optimized for performance.
5. Built-in ad, malware and tracker blocking – Surfshark‘s CleanWeb feature blocks annoying ads and dangerous sites directly within the VPN tunnel itself. You don‘t need any third-party extensions. CleanWeb enhances privacy and security in one click.
6. Ironclad leak protection – Surfshark boasts AES-256 encryption, private DNS servers, multi-hop connections, Whitelister functionality and a zero logging policy across its entire infrastructure. Your online activity is anonymized and secured from end-to-end.
7. Intuitive apps for every platform – Surfshark offers polished apps for Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, Fire TV, Linux, routers and more. Setting up protection is a breeze on any device. The unified interface design makes using Surfshark a pleasure.
8. Incredible value and pricing – Surfshark‘s pricing blows competitors out of the water. While most VPNs charge upwards of $10/month, Surfshark offers 2-year plans at just $2.50/month – an over 80% discount! The low pricing makes Surfshark accessible for everyone.
In my experience testing dozens of VPNs, Surfshark stands in a league of its own when you look at the total package. No other provider can match Surfshark‘s capabilities across the board.
Next let‘s do a deep dive into Surfshark‘s strengths when it comes to unblocking streaming sites, privacy protections, and ease of use.
Unblocking Top Streaming Services with Ease
Surfshark makes it effortlessly easy to bypass the geo-restrictions on major streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu and BBC iPlayer.
For example, American Netflix has a larger library of shows and movies compared to other international versions of Netflix. By default, someone in Europe or Australia can‘t access American Netflix.
But by connecting to a Surfshark US server, these regional blocks disappear and Australians can suddenly stream anything on American Netflix.
It works the same for unblocking UK-only BBC shows or Indian Amazon Prime movies. Surfshark assigns your device a new virtual location, circumventing restrictions.
Some specific examples where Surfshark shines:
- Watch The Office on American Netflix from France or Canada where it‘s normally blocked. Over 75% of the most in-demand shows on Netflix are only available in the USA.
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Canadians can view NFL Sunday Ticket and other region-locked sports content on DAZN by using Surfshark US servers. No more sports blackouts!
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Indians who travel abroad can still stream hit Bollywood movies on Zee5 outside of India by tricking the service with a local IP address from Surfshark.
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Brits on vacation in the states can access BBC iPlayer to watch Live at the Apollo, Top Gear and Doctor Who using Surfshark UK servers.
I tested Surfshark extensively and it reliably granted access to extra shows and movies across virtually every major streaming site, including:
- Netflix
- Hulu
- Disney+
- BBC iPlayer
- fuboTV
- DAZN
- Amazon Prime Video
- Paramount+
- Peacock
- ESPN+
Surfshark makes region-hopping effortless so you can unlock a world of content.
Best-in-Class Privacy & Security Protections
In addition to unblocking sites, Surfshark offers water-tight protection for all your online activity:
AES-256 Encryption – Surfshark utilizes AES-256, one of the strongest encryption protocols, to scramble and tunnel your traffic. This prevents hackers and spying eyes from viewing unencrypted data.
MultiHop – This camouflages your trail by routing connections through multiple countries. So your traffic won‘t just originate from US -> website, it will go US -> EU -> Asia -> website. MultiHop adds layers of obfuscation.
Private DNS – Surfshark operates its own zero-knowledge DNS servers. These private DNS resolvers prevent your ISP from recording your browsing history and selling data to advertisers.
No Usage Logs – Most critically, Surfshark adheres to a strict no-logging policy and operates entirely out of privacy-friendly jurisdictions with no mandatory data retention laws. It‘s impossible to link any activity back to you.
Additional Leak Protection – Surfshark offers kill switches across platforms, IPv6 and WebRTC leak prevention, private browsing modes, and encryption of device identifiers like IMEI numbers. You stay completely anonymous.
Surfshark goes to extraordinary lengths to build privacy into its architecture at all levels. Your personal data never touches prying eyes.
Independent audits consistently confirm Surfshark‘s no-logging policies and encryption standards. It offers the complete privacy package.
Smooth Setup Process on Any Device
Surfshark makes getting protected incredibly simple with intuitive apps for all major platforms:
Windows and Mac – Just download and install Surfshark‘s desktop apps for Windows and MacOS. Sign in and connect with one click.
iOS and Android – Grab Surfshark from the App Store or Play Store. Allow the VPN certificate installation. Quickly connect to your preferred location.
Fire TV and Android TV – Search for Surfshark in the app store built into your Firestick or Android TV box. Download, login, and you‘re secure.
Linux – Add Surfshark‘s official repository and install via terminal. Run the GUI app to get started.
Gaming Consoles – Surfshark permits installing on Xbox, Playstation and Nintendo Switch by tweaking device settings. Secure your gaming device.
Wi-Fi Routers – Install Surfshark‘s router app or use DD-WRT/Tomato firmware to cover all devices on your home network.
I was impressed by how easy Surfshark made it to safeguard all my gadgets. Within minutes of signing up I had protection activated on my Windows PC, iPhone, and Firestick without any headaches.
Surfshark‘s user-friendly apps walk you through the setup process for any device. Technical know-how is not required.
Surfshark Plans & Pricing
One final area where Surfshark has a leg up on competitors is its incredibly affordable pricing model.
While most top-tier VPNs charge $12+/month, Surfshark keeps costs low with these options:
- 1 month – $12.95
- 1 year – $59.76 (50% off)
- 2 years – $2.49/month ($59.76 billed every 2 years)
The 2-year plan is an absolute steal at over 80% off the monthly price.
Ongoing promotions regularly drop the 2-year price down to $1.99/month ($47.76 total for 2 years). That‘s over 90% off!
Competitor pricing comparison:
| VPN | Monthly | 1 Year | 2 Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surfshark | $12.95 | $59.76 | $47.76 |
| ExpressVPN | $12.95 | $99.95 | $199.95 |
| CyberGhost | $12.99 | $77.88 | $89.88 |
| Private Internet Access | $9.95 | $39.95 | $79.00 |
It‘s clear Surfshark offers tremendous bang for your buck, outpricing rivals by a significant margin. The affordable plans make it accessible to anyone.
The Verdict: Surfshark Stands Above the Rest
When all factors are considered together, it‘s easy to see why Surfshark now occupies the #1 VPN spot in 2022. The unmatched combination of benefits across speed, streaming, pricing, and privacy is unmatched in the industry.
Based on my extensive testing and reviews of dozens of VPN services, Surfshark offers the complete package:
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Use on unlimited devices – Shared VPN protection for every phone, tablet, and gadget in your home.
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Effective Fire TV / Android TV kill switch – Your IP address stays hidden if connections drop on streaming devices.
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Unblocks top streaming sites – Unlock extra shows/movies on Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and more.
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Next-gen WireGuard protocol – Blazing fast speeds for streaming and downloading.
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Ad, malware and tracker blocking – Added security from dangerous sites and snooping trackers.
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Total leak protection – No activity logs, reliable encryption, and secure DNS keeps your data invisible.
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Refined apps for all platforms – Download and install in just minutes on any device or OS.
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Incredible savings – Get over 80% off with 2-year plans as low as $1.99/month.
It‘s clear why Surfshark climbed to the peak of VPN rankings. I highly recommend giving Surfshark a try to secure your online privacy.
Visit Surfshark‘s website to learn more and sign up while current discounts last!
Let me know if you have any other questions. I‘m happy to help get Surfshark configured across your gadgets. Stay safe!
