Surfshark VPN cuts up to 88% off cost in bumper birthday sale

Travellers looking to stay protected online while jetsetting can do so for less this month as Surfshark launches its bumper birthday sale. The popular cybersecurity brand has marked the occasion by slashing up to 88% off VPN plans, which now start at £1.49 per month – reducing the price from £331.83 to £40.23 for the first 27 months.

A VPN is used by travellers to ensure their data remains private and protected from around the world. It’s also ideal for unblocking websites and services that usually only work in the UK – such as BBC iPlayer – without tracking or censorship so you don’t miss out on the latest sports action.

A VPN – or virtual private network – protects a user’s privacy by encrypting the data from a smartphone, computer, or whichever device it’s running on. It can also be set to change a device’s IP address to anywhere else in the world using any one of the more than 3,200 Surfshark servers. These are in 100 countries around the world, including the US, UK, Europe and Australia.

For the reduced rate of £1.49, the Surfshark Starter plan provides 27 months access – including a three-month bonus – and comes with a secure VPN, advert and cookie pop-up blockers, a constantly changing IP address and the ability to use it on unlimited devices simultaneously. The firm also offers 24/7 customer support via live chat or email. However, it’s worth noting that Surfshark Starter doesn’t offer antivirus protection, but this and more is included with the £1.89 Surfshark One plan.

Designed for multifunctionality, this package includes a full array of security features, with 27 months of VPN, antivirus, alert, search, and alternative ID. On top of the benefits of Surfshark Starter, this plan can detect and remove viruses and malware in real time, prevent advertising companies and bots tracking online activity and sending alerts if an email address appears in breached online databases.

It can also monitor credit cards  and perform private web search queries without leaving any digital footprints. Surfshark rivals the likes of NordVPN, which has more than twice the amount of servers but is also more expensive at £2.39 per month for its Basic plan.

ExpressVPN is another alternative, which is said to be easier to use than other services but is also more expensive at £4.04 on its 24-month plan. Our tech writer Chris Hall compared the three services and was impressed by Surfshark’s ‘great value’ and the ability to use it across several devices.

He said: “Surfshark offers great value for money and that’s one of the big attractions. It’s actually owned by the people behind NordVPN, but this is their budget offering – not that the features are lacking. 

“There are apps for a wide range of devices, but Surfshark doesn’t put a limit on the number of devices on the same contract, so you can sign-in across all your devices, making sure your whole family is protected.”

However, Chris also noted a potential downside, adding: “Surfshark has fewer servers than some of its rivals and can sometimes be a little slower, but unless you’re moving huge amounts of data around, that’s unlikely to be a problem.”

On Trustpilot, Surfshark has achieved a 4.4-star rating, with users impressed with the customer service. One wrote: “So nice to talk to a human when tech issues arise.”

It may not suit everyone though, as this reviewer said: “It has trouble connecting on my iPhone 12. Ok on iPad but seems to slow everything down.”

But a repeat customer added: “I’ve been a customer for over three years. Surfshark is simple, intuitive and very efficient.”