| # | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SurfsharkBest Value | from €2.19/mo (2-yr), renews higher | Check Price |
Surfshark is the best-value VPN for streaming in 2026: in our tests it retained about 85% of base speed with WireGuard, offers unlimited simultaneous devices, and has native apps for Fire TV, Apple TV and Android TV — all at a low price. It suits budget-minded households that want to protect many screens at once without sacrificing speed. As with rivals, the intro price rises on renewal. Here is how it performed in testing.
We tested Surfshark per our methodology, measuring speed retention, connection times and TV-app behaviour over several days on European servers.
Specifications
| Spec | Surfshark |
|---|---|
| Speed retention (nearby, tested) | ~85% |
| Protocols | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2 |
| Servers | 3,200+ worldwide, good EU coverage |
| Simultaneous devices | Unlimited |
| Logging | No-logs (independently audited) |
| Jurisdiction | Netherlands |
| TV apps | Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV |
| Price (obs. Jul 2026) | from €2.19/mo (2-yr), renews higher |
The headline is unlimited devices plus fast WireGuard speeds at a low price — see how a VPN works in how VPNs work.
Speed and Real-World Performance
Surfshark punches above its price in speed:
- Speed retention: ~85% of base speed on nearby EU servers with WireGuard; ~60–70% distant.
- Connection time: ~4–6 seconds.
- 4K streaming: smooth on a 100 Mbps line, across multiple devices.
- Stability: solid, with quick reconnection.
That is close to pricier rivals and easily enough for 4K HDR streaming. Encryption also helped against ISP throttling in testing.
TV Apps: Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV
Surfshark covers the living room well:
- Fire TV: a dedicated Amazon Appstore app, remote-friendly — see our VPN on Fire TV guide.
- Android TV: a full Play Store app.
- Apple TV: a native tvOS app for the Apple TV 4K.
Combined with unlimited devices, you can protect every TV and phone in the house on one subscription — a real advantage for families.
Pros and Cons
✅ Pros
- Very low intro price; excellent value
- Unlimited simultaneous devices
- ~85% speed retention; fine for 4K
- Native Fire TV, Android TV and Apple TV apps
- Audited no-logs policy
❌ Cons
- Renewal price is much higher than the intro rate
- Slightly slower on distant servers than NordVPN
- Smaller server network than the biggest rivals
Who It's For — and Who Should Skip It
- Buy it if you want the best value, need to protect many devices, and still want fast 4K streaming and TV apps.
- Skip it if you want the top overall speeds and network (NordVPN) or the strongest privacy pedigree (Proton VPN).
Price: Offer vs Renewal
| Plan | Intro price | Renews at |
|---|---|---|
| 2-year | ~€2.19/mo (billed upfront) | Higher — check current rate |
| 1-year | ~€3.19/mo | Higher — check current rate |
| Monthly | ~€12/mo | Same |
Surfshark is among the cheapest quality VPNs for the first term; it renews higher afterwards, so check the current renewal rate. Prices observed July 2026.
Alternatives
- NordVPN — faster overall, larger network, pricier.
- ExpressVPN — premium consistency, higher cost.
- Proton VPN — privacy specialist with a free tier.
- CyberGhost — another streaming-focused budget pick.
See our rankings in the best VPN for streaming guide.
Our Verdict
Surfshark is the value champion: ~85% speed retention, unlimited devices, and native TV apps at one of the lowest intro prices around. It is fast enough for 4K, easy on a remote, and protects an entire household on one plan. Like its rivals, it renews higher after the first term — but if value and device count matter most, it is the VPN to beat. Rating: 4.5/5.
New to VPNs? See how VPNs work and VPN protocols, or look up any term in the streaming glossary.