Surfshark Review Canada 2025: Solid Budget VPN with Unlimited Devices

Surfshark Overview - Who Is This VPN Really For?

Surfshark positions itself as the budget-friendly VPN with premium features, and after testing it extensively from Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal, that claim mostly holds up. This is a VPN that works well for most people without breaking the bank - but it's not perfect.

The standout feature is unlimited simultaneous connections. Unlike competitors that cap you at 5-10 devices, Surfshark lets you protect your entire household, office, or every device you own with a single subscription. For families or tech-heavy users, this alone justifies the price.

During our testing, Surfshark delivered solid performance across the board: streaming worked reliably, speeds were respectable (though not class-leading), and the apps are clean and beginner-friendly. However, we did encounter occasional connection drops and slightly slower speeds on distant servers compared to premium alternatives.

Surfshark operates over 3,200 servers in 100 countries, including dedicated servers in Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal. The company is based in the Netherlands (part of the EU, with strong privacy laws) and maintains an independently audited no-logs policy verified by Cure53 in 2024.

Privacy Policy & Security Features - What You Need to Know

Surfshark is based in the Netherlands, a country with strong privacy protections under GDPR. While the Netherlands is technically part of the Nine Eyes intelligence alliance, Surfshark's strict no-logs policy means there's nothing to hand over even if compelled.

The company's no-logs policy is straightforward: they don't store your IP address, browsing history, used bandwidth, session information, or connection timestamps. This policy was independently audited by Cure53 in 2024, confirming that Surfshark's infrastructure matches their privacy claims.

Surfshark uses AES-256-GCM encryption, the same military-grade standard used by governments and banks. All connections default to the WireGuard protocol (fast and secure), with OpenVPN and IKEv2 available as alternatives. During our security testing, we found zero DNS leaks, zero WebRTC leaks, and zero IPv6 leaks.

The kill switch performed reliably in our tests. We intentionally disconnected the VPN multiple times and confirmed that our real IP never leaked. However, the kill switch must be manually enabled in settings - it's not on by default, which is a minor oversight for a security-focused service.

Speed Test Results - How Fast Is Surfshark Really?

Speed is where Surfshark shows both its strengths and limitations. On nearby servers (Canada and US), performance is solid. On distant servers (Europe, Asia), it lags behind premium competitors.

Testing from Toronto to Surfshark's Toronto server yielded 420 Mbps download and 195 Mbps upload on our 500 Mbps connection. That's a 16% speed reduction - very usable but noticeably slower than NordVPN (3% loss) or ExpressVPN (8% loss).

Connecting to US servers (New York, Chicago) maintained 380-400 Mbps speeds. European servers (London, Amsterdam) delivered 240-280 Mbps. Distant servers in Asia and Australia ranged from 120-180 Mbps - adequate for HD streaming but not ideal for 4K or large downloads.

Surfshark defaults to the WireGuard protocol, which is faster than OpenVPN while maintaining strong security. In our comparative tests, WireGuard was 40-60% faster than OpenVPN on the same servers. The speed variability we experienced likely stems from server load rather than protocol limitations.

Streaming Performance - Netflix, Disney+, and More

Surfshark performs well for streaming, though not quite as consistently as top-tier alternatives. We tested it with 12+ streaming platforms from multiple Canadian locations over several weeks.

Netflix US worked reliably from Canada using New York or Los Angeles servers. We streamed 4K content without major buffering issues, though initial load times were occasionally 5-10 seconds longer than with premium VPNs. Surfshark successfully unblocked Netflix libraries in the US, UK, Japan, and Canada.

Disney+ Canada, Prime Video, and Paramount+ all worked without issues. Canadian sports streaming (TSN, Sportsnet) was accessible, though we experienced one instance where TSN temporarily blocked the connection (resolved by switching servers).

For UK content (BBC iPlayer, ITV), Surfshark worked about 80% of the time. Occasionally, we encountered blocks that required switching to a different UK server. This is common with UK streaming services that actively fight VPNs, but it means Surfshark isn't quite as bulletproof as ExpressVPN or NordVPN for UK streaming.

Apps and User Experience - Easy or Complicated?

Surfshark's apps are some of the most user-friendly we've tested. The interface is clean, modern, and doesn't overwhelm beginners with technical jargon. Advanced users can access protocol settings, kill switch, split tunneling, and custom DNS, but these are tucked away in settings.

The desktop apps (Windows, macOS, Linux) feature a Quick Connect button that automatically selects the fastest server. The server list is organized by location and includes favorites. Connection times averaged 3-5 seconds in our testing.

Mobile apps (iOS, Android) mirror the desktop experience with the same clean interface. The Android app includes a unique feature called Override GPS location, which changes your device's GPS location to match your VPN server - useful for location-based apps. Battery impact was minimal during our week-long mobile testing.

One standout feature: unlimited simultaneous connections means you can install Surfshark on every device you own without worrying about hitting a device limit. We tested connections on 8 devices simultaneously (2 laptops, 3 phones, 2 tablets, 1 Fire TV) with no performance degradation.

Pricing Plans - Is Surfshark Worth the Money?

Surfshark's pricing is its strongest selling point. At $2.19/month for the 2-year plan (85% off), it's significantly cheaper than NordVPN ($3.19/month) and ExpressVPN ($6.67/month). For budget-conscious users or families needing multiple device connections, the value is exceptional.

The 2-year Surfshark One plan ($2.69/month) adds antivirus, search engine, and alert system for data breaches. Whether you need these extras depends on your setup - if you already have antivirus software, the base VPN plan is sufficient.

Monthly plans cost $15.45/month, which is terrible value. The 12-month plan at $3.99/month is better but still not ideal. The sweet spot is clearly the 2-year commitment, which brings the cost down dramatically.

All plans include unlimited devices, 3,200+ servers, 24/7 support, and a 30-day money-back guarantee. We tested the refund process and received our money back within 6 business days with no pushback or lengthy surveys.

Surfshark for Canadians - What Works, What Doesn't

Surfshark maintains dedicated servers in Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal, providing fast local connections for Canadian users. During testing, these servers consistently delivered the best speeds and lowest ping times.

For Canadians concerned about Bill C-11 and online privacy, Surfshark's Netherlands jurisdiction and audited no-logs policy provide solid protection. The company cannot be compelled to hand over user data to Canadian or US authorities because they don't store any identifiable logs.

Canadian banking and financial services worked without issues through Surfshark. We tested major banks (RBC, TD, Scotiabank, BMO, CIBC) and encountered no blocks or security flags. Two-factor authentication worked normally.

Accessing US content from Canada is reliable with Surfshark. US Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, and Disney+ all unblocked successfully. The unlimited device limit is particularly valuable for Canadian households wanting to protect multiple family members' devices.

Customer Support - Fast or Frustrating?

Surfshark offers 24/7 live chat support, which sounds great on paper but is inconsistent in practice. During our testing, we contacted support 6 times at different hours. Wait times ranged from 2 minutes (best case) to 18 minutes (worst case).

Support agents were generally knowledgeable and helpful, though responses sometimes felt scripted. For basic questions (refunds, setup, troubleshooting), the support was adequate. For advanced technical questions (protocol configurations, split tunneling issues), agents occasionally struggled or escalated to senior support.

The knowledge base is comprehensive with detailed setup guides, troubleshooting articles, and FAQs. Most common issues can be resolved without contacting support. Articles include screenshots and step-by-step instructions.

Email support is available but slow - responses typically arrive within 24-48 hours. For urgent issues, live chat is the better option despite the variable wait times.

Final Verdict - Should Canadians Buy Surfshark?

Surfshark is an excellent budget VPN that delivers solid performance for most users without the premium price tag. It's not the fastest VPN, not the most consistent for streaming, and not the most reliable for enterprise security - but for $2.19/month with unlimited devices, it offers exceptional value.

Who should use Surfshark: Budget-conscious users, families needing unlimited device connections, casual streamers, travelers, and anyone wanting decent VPN protection without spending $6-12/month. It's particularly appealing for Canadian households with multiple devices.

Who should avoid Surfshark: Power users needing absolute top-tier speeds, professionals requiring enterprise-grade security audits, users who frequently stream UK content (BBC iPlayer can be hit-or-miss), and anyone who prioritizes consistency over price.

Compared to alternatives: Surfshark is cheaper than NordVPN but slightly slower and less consistent. It's significantly cheaper than ExpressVPN but lacks the rock-solid reliability. For most Canadians, Surfshark hits the sweet spot between price and performance.

Frequently Asked Questions