Review Insights · App Store
Surfshark VPN: Fast VPN App
Surfshark · 115,684 ratings · ★ 4.7
4.7
★★★★★
115,684 ratings
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Top complaints - extracted from 47 negative reviews
Recurring phrases mined from 1-2★ reviews. The bigger the percentage, the more users have the same problem. Fix the top 2-3 in your version and you have product-market fit on day one.
1
"work"
9 negative reviews mention this · 19% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Auto Connect has been ruined. Auto Connect now makes it impossible to use the vpn on your home network without removing that network from your trusted networks, meaning it will ALWAYS connect at home. So using the vpn for anything on a trusted network and you must go ad…" - Seth007
2
"connection"
7 negative reviews mention this · 15% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Spiraling. Been with Surfshark for about 4 yrs. Compared to competitors, product is falling behind with connection quality & efficacy. Rarely works as advertised. I don’t believe I will be with Surfshark, this time, next year (after subscription laps…" - DAZN LIES
3
"internet"
7 negative reviews mention this · 15% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Leo. The internet stop working with surfshark" - Geller54321
4
"surfshark"
6 negative reviews mention this · 13% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Spiraling. Been with Surfshark for about 4 yrs. Compared to competitors, product is falling behind with connection quality & efficacy. Rarely works as advertised. I don’t believe I will be with Surfshark, this time, next year (after subscription laps…" - DAZN LIES
5
"been"
5 negative reviews mention this · 11% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Auto Connect has been ruined. Auto Connect now makes it impossible to use the vpn on your home network without removing that network from your trusted networks, meaning it will ALWAYS connect at home. So using the vpn for anything on a trusted network and you must go ad…" - Seth007
6
"service"
5 negative reviews mention this · 11% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Scam. This is the worst customer service I have ever encountered. It felt like I was corresponding with wooden dummies-or perhaps an AI-named Kevin and Jeffrey. I purchased a VPN subscription for my parents, paying for a full year upfront. Not on…" - jummy_neytron
7
"year"
5 negative reviews mention this · 11% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Scam. This is the worst customer service I have ever encountered. It felt like I was corresponding with wooden dummies-or perhaps an AI-named Kevin and Jeffrey. I purchased a VPN subscription for my parents, paying for a full year upfront. Not on…" - jummy_neytron
8
"other"
5 negative reviews mention this · 11% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Scam. This is the worst customer service I have ever encountered. It felt like I was corresponding with wooden dummies-or perhaps an AI-named Kevin and Jeffrey. I purchased a VPN subscription for my parents, paying for a full year upfront. Not on…" - jummy_neytron
9
"sites"
5 negative reviews mention this · 11% of all complaints
★★★★★ "SLOW. I've had a few different VPNs. This one is by far the slowest experience I have ever had. If they could fix that then it would be usable but as it is now the connection is so slow that many websites and apps cant even load." - BaIIFondler
📋 All 47 negative reviews
Every 1-2★ review we fetched. Use the copy button to grab them all for your own analysis (paste into ChatGPT/Claude with a prompt like "summarize core user problems, group by theme, ignore bugs, focus on missing features").
这个软件涉及了几个问题
第一、连接时会影响其他App的速度，甚至不会暂停卡顿的，非常厉害，甚至会影响聊天，在线的上线影响非常严重！
第二、时常连接到97%就不动了，点击连接到连接上的时间较长……
我的系统已经是iOS 26.4
第二、时常连接到97%就不动了，点击连接到连接上的时间较长……
我的系统已经是iOS 26.4
Scam
This is the worst customer service I have ever encountered. It felt like I was corresponding with wooden dummies-or perhaps an AI-named Kevin and Jeffrey. I purchased a VPN subscription for my parents, paying for a full year upfront. Not only do they lack a server in the specific country I needed, but my parents would practically have to be programmers just to get the VPN set up. When I buy a product, I expect to be able to click a single button, not spend hours tinkering with settings. In the end, I simply threw away $50, as the service is completely unusable for me; yet, they refuse to issue a refund, offering nothing but canned responses along the lines of, "We are unable to assist you." They are scammers-don't even think about buying from them. There are plenty of other excellent VPN services out there, both paid and free.
Get out of the Water!
I’ve been using Surfshark about 5 years now and have never had any issues or problems with the service. And when it comes down to it isn’t that what we all want from an app? Ease of use, no heavy learning curve & consistent performance.. Surf Shark delivers all and more! If i could change on thing about the mobile version, it would be adding the ability to bypass certain apps like i can with the version on my TV. Perhaps there’s such a setting and i just haven’t found it yet? If so 🙈 my F-up.. wrapping this up I have no plans in using any other service, my current plan runs through August 2026.. and i’ll pay for another year.. and there’s always a great deal available if you know where to look 👀!
Does not work
You have to turn it off every time you need to use the Internet, so what’s the point?
Awful stay away
I’ve had surfshark for years and it just keeps getting worse. Basic functionality fails while they add more and more bloatware. The servers IPs are banned so tons of content is blocked and you have to hunt for one that isn’t. The app crashes randomly on mobile and desktop leaving you completely exposed. Or on mobile it will just disconnect and not tell you-but kill switch doesn’t work either! Just awful. Deceptive and predatory advertising and pricing too. Terrible!!!
Poor connection
Most of the time the connection is very sporadic. It is rare to be able to connect immediately or for more than an episode!
太贵
太贵了
垃圾软件
吹牛逼多牛 没见过这么垃圾的VPN根本就连不上 还不如免费的VPN 还有脸要50美元一年 你配吗
Hard to work with , can’t find login code
Difficult to set up
SLOW
I've had a few different VPNs. This one is by far the slowest experience I have ever had. If they could fix that then it would be usable but as it is now the connection is so slow that many websites and apps cant even load.
Blocking apps
Blocking apps and wifi at home
cant work at all
experience has been extremely frustrating. Every time I encounter issues, you claim that certain regions are under restrictions. However, the few nodes that remain available are unstable and often don’t work at all.
It feels like an excuse rather than a real solution. As a paying customer, I expect reliable service and access to the full functionality you advertise. Right now, it seems like you’re not making any real effort to ensure users can actually use your product properly.
Please address these issues seriously and provide stable, usable nodes instead of limiting access with ineffective alternatives.
It feels like an excuse rather than a real solution. As a paying customer, I expect reliable service and access to the full functionality you advertise. Right now, it seems like you’re not making any real effort to ensure users can actually use your product properly.
Please address these issues seriously and provide stable, usable nodes instead of limiting access with ineffective alternatives.
Problem with iPhone 17. Cannot text
Cannot send text with iPhone 17
Good Luck getting started
I am not happy with what it took to get started and talk to a real life person. This company will hand you all the videos to figure it out yourself. No help. Sucks. Never again
Fuggetaboutit!
Surfshart works ok sometimes. Other times, your internet connection just dies. Lots of luck if you’re in the middle of something important.
App bricks my phone
When VPN is on it bricks my phone. iPhone cannot even open App Store!! WTH ?!
In a constant state of pause.
Surfshark does not work well with CarPlay and many TV streaming apps. I am constantly having to pause Surfshark in order for these applications to function.
Horrible
I cannot go to normal sites- baseball, football, news- unless I turn off surf shark. I see why you have to pay in advance.
Не работает
Не тратьте деньги. Бесполезное приложение.
Works only on mobile devices
You must restart it for it to work, it significantly slows down the internet connection, and it functions only on mobile devices and browsers extensions and is not suitable for computers, as it blocks internet access.
Degrading at every step
Problem’s problem’s problem’s
DONT BUY, subscription scam
These guys lure you in with a bait and switch 3 year plan. Then automatically enroll you annually after the 3 years. Nobody’s going to remember they did that, especially because they make you go through their site to get it and not the apple app. Them they refuse refund even if asked within their 30 day policy. Total waste.
Getting frustrated
It is slowing down the device or does not let me connect to the net.. I have to disconnect and do my stuff and connect it back.. not even uber apps work when VPN is on.. this is very frustrating
Slow to none
Really slows done the internet/wifi. Some sites I can’t even use unless I pause this VPN app. Especially for important website I really want this app for.
Unstable
👎🏼 frustrating
钱都卖广告了，链接质量非常差
千万避免这个app。我是误信youtuber推销。看到卖这个品牌广告的youtuber你就避雷就对了。
垃圾
妈的用了你这么年，现在一直登不上去，我还有好几年的会员，我要求退款！太垃圾了
Auto connect does not allow me to use VPN
Before the update I was able to connect to VPN on a trusted network with auto connect enabled. Now when I try to connect to VPN on a trusted network it removes that network from the trusted list. I want to use VPN on a trusted network without this hustle. It’s annoyance and frankly a security risk because I have to remember to change the trusted network with autoconnect enabled otherwise when I want auto connect to work on an untrusted network it won’t! Bring back user choice!!!
5% above useless
How many stars do you give a product that is almost, not completely, just almost useless? One star seems to be appropriate. Many apps hate it, many websites hate it, and sometimes it is a slow as cold honey. It just barely works.
Scam service
Many a times the vpn goes off and you won’t notice. When I switched to another provider, they deducted money for a year and denied me service too. Pathetic service. I lost my hard earned money to these guys.
Issues galore
I’ve used other VPNs, but none of them have had issues similar to Surfshark. Since switching to this, I have been consistently blocked from sites, routed to slow servers, and had issues with delayed connections. It came very highly rated, but I donor see the benefit. Don’t be like me and fall for a cheap intro rate. They’ve had issues consistently for me and haven’t been worth any purported savings.
In china
Failed
Internet blocked
The internet is blocked when I use the VPN in my computer
连不上，没用
连不上，没用
Auto Connect has been ruined
Auto Connect now makes it impossible to use the vpn on your home network without removing that network from your trusted networks, meaning it will ALWAYS connect at home. So using the vpn for anything on a trusted network and you must go add the network back to your trusted networks list after. It’s infuriating
Not free VPN
Not free
Spiraling
Been with Surfshark for about 4 yrs. Compared to competitors, product is falling behind with connection quality & efficacy. Rarely works as advertised. I don’t believe I will be with Surfshark, this time, next year (after subscription lapses). Just OK now. Middle of the road, which I believe is just fine with them. That’s not fine with me…
Leo
The internet stop working with surfshark
Not consistent at all
Very user friendly interface but connection is shoddy and drops often. Needed this when traveling and it failed me many times
Had to remove the app
Because it was ignoring my commands and would not allow me to access the vpn settings. Couldn't turn it off. It was not letting any traffic thru so nothing worked. I've noticed when it needs an update on my other devices it locks down internet usage there. I'm starting to look at other options because this is not what I want in a vpn.
Usually must be suspended
Quite frequently I have to suspend a session in order to see the sites I want: most recently…a funeral home site to read an obituary, and a search on a well known singer.
What’s the point of a VPN if it has to be paused so much of the time?
What’s the point of a VPN if it has to be paused so much of the time?
Still have to constantly check it
Another amazing incidence of bad reviews not being saved, but how can I give a good review if it doesn’t stay connected? How am I safe if I’m exposed to stalkers like most tech firms?
It doesn’t work
I always have to delete and redownload the app whenever I want to use it. It keeps defaulting to IKEv2 even when it says it will use Wiretuard. IKEv2 doesn’t even work. When I try to change protocols, it doesn’t work. It’s so annoying when I have to redownload. I swear I’ve done it at least 20 times recently. Please just fix your app.
Disconnects
It disconnects after 4 mins of use and I have to reconnect every time and it only connects on the third time
慢了
速度慢了1/3
A Pain to Use
I’m constantly having to go into the app to change the site. It’s constantly blocking my apps and sites that I am always on. Once I change the site then I can use whatever I want to use for a few hours.
Bs
Service always turning off. I always have to establish connection
Sentiment summary
93%
Positive (4-5★)
3%
Neutral (3★)
5%
Negative (1-2★)