SurfEasy VPN Review

VPNs are the epitome of online security currently. Furthermore, they vary in implementation and are an amalgamation of technology. We use them in the corporate world and now individually. But as with any market, the VPN industry is over-saturated with affluent providers. One such provider is SurfEasy. It ranks amongst the few best VPNs services out there. However, is it a genuinely good product? But does the service offer advanced features, or is it privacy-friendly?

How does SurfEasy operate? Where is the company headquarters? Who owns the service, and what does it have to offer? There may be similar questions plaguing you as a potential user. However, VPNs are not cheap. Usually, users can’t experience them firsthand, and they don’t know what to expect. Although it does offer a free trial, is it enough to bet your money on it? Thus, curious readers can scroll down and find a detailed SurfEasy VPN review.

Note — The opinions and views presented are a subjective representation of the writer. We do not endorse a particular product, nor do we condone the usage of a VPN against the law.

SurfEasy Overview

The company started operations as a browser extension and security software firm in 2011. As a startup, it was soon backed by a world-leading browser company, Opera. Since its inception, SurfEasy has been an easy-to-use VPN. Yes, it lacks the latest features, and there may be a few key components missing. However, the vendor has established a reputation in the VPN industry for being value for money. Although it still lacks a world-class server network, the provider has shown steady growth. Additionally, with the latest acquisition from Symantec, the parent company of Norton, the future looks bright for this VPN.

But the same merger has also raised a few glaring issues for the VPN. As a privacy software, the company falls under the jurisdiction of Canada, a member o the Five Eyes alliance. Furthermore, it has since changed its logging policies. Although the provider claims to be a no-logs VPN, it clearly states that, if asked, the company will hand over any relevant PII (Personal Identifiable Information) to the governing body. Generally, this wouldn’t be an issue for a genuine zero-log policy. However, SurfEasy has started to log IP addresses, device info, and more.

However, save this logging issue, nothing critical seems to be the problem with the VPN. It has a growing network of over 1000+ servers in 31 different countries. It offers stable and fast speed. SurfEasy VPN also bypasses Netflix US, although, the unblocking may not always work. But, with dedicated customer support, the latest OpenVPN protocol, and 256-Bit AES encryption, you won’t go wrong with choosing this VPN, especially when it comes at a far lower price. Furthermore, there is also an option of a free trial and a 14-day money-back guarantee.

Key Data

Given below is the latest relevant data regarding this VPN. For a more detailed SurfEasy review, scroll down.

Features	SurfEasy VPN
Bandwidth	Unlimited
Connection Speed	72 Mbps
Logging Policy	Logs IP address among other possible PII (Personal Identifiable Information) subject to lawful disclosure
Data Leaks	No
Jurisdiction	Canada (Five-Eyes Member)
Servers	1,000+ in approximately 28 countries
Torrenting	Not recommended
Simultaneous Connections	5
Works in China	No
Support	Live Chat
Cheapest Price	$2.49
Money-Back Guarantee	14-day money-back guarantee
Official Website	Surfeasy.com

SurfEasy Features

Even before its acquisition, SurfEasy was a straightforward, easy-to-use VPN. Sure, it can handle heavy tasks, but most users feel that it is a suitable lightweight VPN. However, given the price, even with some additional benefits missing, you can use the service for most of your VPN needs. A detailed SurfEasy VPN review will follow that will highlight some of its features below. Such as:

Pricing

SurfEasy offers two subscription plans. The first one at $5.99 per month and another for $29.88 annually, which comes down to $2.49 monthly At this price, the service is a good value-for-money.

Servers and performance

This VPN provider has around 1000+ servers in 31 different countries, meaning it’s lagging compared to leading VPN services. But the good thing is that the spread of servers is pretty decent as they cover Hong Kong, Israel, India, South Africa, and Turkey. Performance-wise, the VPN takes it easy and doesn’t make rash promises. Although it claims to unblock streaming content, the outcome is not stable, and that too only works with a select few: Netflix, HBO Max, and BBC iPlayer.

For torrenting, it offers exclusive servers but only with the annual subscription. Furthermore, the bit rate is less than the ideal at 2.3 Mbps. However, with its intrusive logging practices, we won’t be able to recommend torrenting in good faith anyway.

Privacy and Security

SurfEasy logs the following data:

• Account information such as name, email, password, country
• Your connecting IP address
• Cookies from web sessions
• Your connecting Device ID
• Norton Account ID
• Your Browser details
• Your PII regarding payments

This amount of data is enough for browser fingerprinting!

Let’s continue! For security, it employs a host of standard features and functionalities, detailed as follows:

• VPN protocol — IKEv2/IPsec, L2TP/IPsec, and OpenVPN with both TCP and UDP
• Encryption — AES 256-bit
• Protection — DNS Leak Blocking, first-party DNS, supports TCP port 443 and an ad-blocker

Advanced Features

The provider lacks advanced features. Save one ad-blocker, It doesn’t offer any additional benefit. It lacks a kill switch which can be a primary issue for the privacy-centric crowd and doesn’t offer things like multi-hop, Tor, split tunneling, obfuscated servers, and so on.

Exclusive Apps

SurfEasy VPN has exclusive apps for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. They don’t have one for Smart TVs and routers, but you can install it manually. The provider offers five simultaneous connections.

User Experience and Customer Support

Although the app can be a bit clunky, it lacks apprehensiveness for beginners. Furthermore, users have claimed it to be an easy-to-use service. While the company provides both live chat and a phone number to get human assistance, they do not offer a 24/7 service.

SurfEasy Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
SurfEasy is an easy-to-use VPN.	It has very few servers and that too in limited locations.
It is beginner-friendly.	SurfEasy is a very barebones product that lacks many advanced features.
It works with Netflix and BBC.	Lacks kill switch.
SurfEasy does offer exclusive servers for torrenting.	Although it claims to be a no-logs VPN, after the ownership transfer, it started logging data.
Market standard in encryption and security protocol.	SurfEasy hails from Canada, a Five Eyes state.
It works with major platforms and routers.	It offers limited device compatibility.
The provider offers browser extensions.	It doesn’t support Bitcoin or another cryptocurrency.
SurfEasy also has a free trial version with capped bandwidth.	Fails to unblock content most of the time.
It comes equipped with Smart DNS.	Only 14 days money-back guarantee.
It is inexpensive.	It lacks 24/7 customer support.
SurfEasy has a tracker blocker inbuilt.
It has no leaks.

Conclusion

In conclusion, all I can say is that the VPN is not for those who expect utmost privacy. Given its affiliation with Symantec, it becomes obvious that the service falls under data retention jurisdiction. However, those with a lighter handle on things can find this product to be worthwhile. Although it lacks some advanced features, the nitty-gritty of the VPN remains. It operates on the OpenVPN protocol and provides 256-bit AES encryption, which is more than enough for your daily use. Users have also hailed the product to be beginner-friendly and easy to use.

In summary, if you do not want a rigidly private VPN, give SurfEasy VPN a go at affordable prices. If you are unsure, the company also offers a free trial.