Is Surfshark VPN Free?
Short answer: no, not permanently. Surfshark doesn't have a free-forever plan. What it does offer is a short free trial on some devices, plus a 30-day money-back guarantee on every paid plan — which in practice lets you try the full product for free as long as you cancel in time.
Is there a completely free version of Surfshark?
No. Some VPNs — Proton VPN and Windscribe are two well-known examples — offer a permanent free tier with limited servers or data. Surfshark doesn't work that way. Every Surfshark plan is a paid subscription; there's no version you can keep using indefinitely without ever paying. If a fully free VPN is a hard requirement for you, our free VPN vs. paid VPN comparison breaks down what you actually give up — usually speed, data caps, or server choice — by going with a free provider instead.
What Surfshark offers instead are two different ways to try it without committing money right away, and it's worth understanding both, because they're not the same thing.
Surfshark's 7-day free trial
Surfshark offers a 7-day free trial, but it comes with a couple of conditions worth knowing upfront:
- It's typically activated through the Android or iOS app, not the desktop version.
- It's usually tied to a 12-month or 24-month plan — you're signing up for that plan, just with 7 free days before you're charged.
- You can cancel any time during those 7 days to avoid being charged at all.
Trial availability can vary a bit by region and by how Surfshark is running its promotions at any given time, so it's worth double-checking directly on the app store listing or Surfshark's own site before you sign up expecting one.
The 30-day money-back guarantee (basically a free trial for any plan)
This is the option that works the same way regardless of which platform you're on. You pay for a plan up front — monthly, annual, or two-year — and if you're not happy with it any time in the first 30 days, you can contact Surfshark's support and request a full refund.
How to download and install Surfshark VPN
The process is the same basic idea on every device — here's what it actually looks like, step by step:
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Go to the official Surfshark website
Open surfshark.com directly, or search for "Surfshark" in your device's official app store (App Store, Google Play, or Microsoft Store). Avoid downloading the app from any other website — that's the one step where cutting corners can actually cost you.
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Choose a plan
Pick the plan length that fits you. If a free trial is showing for your device, you can start there instead of paying immediately — more on how that works below.
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Create your account
Sign up with an email address and password, or continue through your app store account if you're installing on mobile.
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Download and install the app
Get the version built for your device — Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, or a browser extension for Chrome/Firefox/Edge are all available separately.
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Log in and connect
Open the app, sign in with the account you just created, pick any server location, and hit connect. That's the entire setup — no configuration files, no manual settings.
Once you're connected, it's worth confirming the tunnel is actually doing its job — run our WebRTC leak test and DNS leak test to check nothing is slipping outside the encrypted tunnel, and our VPN speed comparison tool to see how much throughput you're actually losing on your specific connection.
How Surfshark is different from other VPNs, in plain terms
A few things that set it apart, without getting into the deep technical weeds — see how it stacks up directly against the competition in our best VPNs of 2026 comparison:
- Unlimited devices. One subscription covers every device you own at the same time — no counting how many phones and laptops are connected. Most other VPNs cap this at 5–10 devices.
- Budget-friendly long-term pricing. Surfshark is usually one of the cheaper full-featured VPNs if you commit to a longer plan, though the price goes up after your first term ends.
- Independently checked privacy claims. An outside accounting firm (Deloitte) has verified Surfshark's "we don't log your activity" claim more than once, rather than Surfshark just saying so on its own.
- Bundled extras on higher plans. Antivirus and data-breach alerts are built into the higher-tier plans, instead of needing separate apps for each.
Want the fuller picture, including the trade-offs? Read our complete Surfshark VPN review.
So is Surfshark VPN free or not?
Not permanently, no. Surfshark doesn't offer a free-forever plan the way a small number of other VPNs do. What it does offer is a short free trial on some platforms, plus a 30-day money-back guarantee on every paid plan — which functions like a free trial for the full-price version, just with an extra step of requesting a refund.
What's the actual difference between the free trial and the money-back guarantee?
The free trial is 7 days and typically needs to be activated through the Android or iOS app, tied to an annual or two-year plan — you pay nothing during those 7 days and can cancel before being charged. The money-back guarantee is different: you pay for a plan up front, then have 30 days to request a full refund if you're not happy, on any platform, not just mobile. Trial availability by platform and region can change, so it's worth double-checking on Surfshark's own site before you sign up expecting one specifically.
Will I be charged automatically after the free trial ends?
Yes, unless you cancel before the trial period ends. This is standard for nearly every subscription free trial, not specific to Surfshark — set a reminder a day or two before the 7 days are up if you're only testing it out.
Is it safe to download Surfshark from a site other than surfshark.com?
No — stick to the official website or your device's official app store. Third-party download sites and "modded" APK files are a common way malware gets bundled with legitimate-looking software, and there's no reason to take that risk when the real app is free to download directly from the source.
Does Surfshark have a free browser extension?
The browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge require an active Surfshark subscription to connect, the same as the desktop and mobile apps — they're a companion to the paid service rather than a standalone free tool.