Surfshark Free Trial vs. Paid Subscriptions (2021) – What Do You Get From Each? Which One to Pick?

You'll find Surfshark often mentioned on our website, like in our guide on the best VPN trials and our overview of the best VPNs available today. That’s because this is a hugely powerful yet very simple VPN solution. With that said, we’re sure you’d like to try it out first. So, we wish you a warm welcome to our Surfshark free trial vs. paid subscriptions comparison!

Before we jump right in, a few valuable pieces of information. Know that Surfshark's free trial is available on Android and iOS/iPadOS. You’ll get to test it for 7 days – but you’ll be charged once your trial ends (you’ll need to agree to Surfshark’s annual plan while signing up). 

And then, you have an option to subscribe to Surfshark directly via its website. That means that all of the VPN’s features will unlock from the get-go. However, that also means that you’ll be charged immediately. If that sounds a bit confusing, stick with us until the end of this article, and all your questions will be answered. 

Surfshark Free Trial vs. Paid (2021)

Finally, let's start with our Surfshark free trial vs. paid subscriptions comparison by looking at a series of features and aspects of this capable VPN. 

Supported Devices & Simultaneous Connections

First, let’s see what devices and platforms are supported by Surfshark’s trial. Then, we’ll compare that to the VPN’s standard subscription plans. 

• Surfshark FREE TRIAL (iOS / Android): Keep in mind that you need to activate Surfshark's trial only via an iOS, iPadOS, or Android device. Once you activate your account, those credentials will be valid across all Surfshark's supported platforms. In other words, you'll get to test it on your computer, streaming device, and more. 
• Surfshark PAID: Subscribing to Surfshark directly means you'll get access to everything this VPN offers. You subscribe online via the VPN's website. And then, you can download its apps on your computer, Web browser, mobile device, and even on your router. 

User Privacy & Security (VPN Features)

Wondering whether Surfshark's free trial comes with limited features? Let's answer that and then compare it to what you get from Surfshark's premium subscriptions.

• Surfshark FREE TRIAL (iOS / Android): You'll be more than happy to know that Surfshark won't impose any limits on your trial account. During those 7 days, you'll get to test each and every one of its features – without any restrictions whatsoever. That even includes advanced features like a kill switch, split tunneling, and more. 
• Surfshark PAID: Everything said in the previous segment applies to Surfshark’s premium plans as well. It doesn’t come as a surprise that you’ll encounter an unlocked set of features, giving you full access to the VPN’s power. 

Server Count & Infrastructure

Surfshark comes with an extensive server network. So, let’s check what kind of access to that network you can expect, depending on your type of account/subscription.

• Surfshark FREE TRIAL (iOS / Android): If you think about it for a second, you’ll realize that Surfshark would want to show itself in the best possible light – especially while you’re testing it. So, you can easily see why you’ll have unrestricted access to the VPN’s servers during your week-long trial.
• Surfshark PAID: As soon as you pay for your subscription, an entire army of Surfshark's servers will become available to you. That means that you'll get to access all 3,200+ servers across all platforms supported by this VPN. 

Data & Speed Limitations

When testing or using any VPN, you don’t want to encounter any data or speed limitations. So, let’s check the situation with Surfshark’s trial and full subscriptions from that aspect.

• Surfshark FREE TRIAL (iOS / Android): In essence, Surfshark looks at trial accounts in the same way as paid subscriptions. That means that you won’t encounter any data limitations. The same applies to the VPN’s speed and performance. Even though Surfshark will slow you down a bit, this is normal for any VPN service. 
• Surfshark PAID: When testing this VPN, we found that it’s fast and stable. Of course, some VPN-induced throttling is present, which is something you can expect from any VPN. What’s important here is that Surfshark’s subscriptions impose no data or speed limitations, as those come unlocked (and can be further optimized). 

Media Streaming & Torrenting

You’ll find Surfshark mentioned in our guides on the best VPNs for media streaming, live sports streaming, and torrenting. That gives you an indication of what to expect from this segment. 

• Surfshark FREE TRIAL (iOS / Android): During the VPN’s 7-day trial, you’ll have plenty of time to test it with your favorite streaming services. The same applies to downloading P2P files. Surfshark is an excellent choice for both of those online activities, and you’ll find its lack of data restrictions to be very helpful for streaming and torrenting.
• Surfshark PAID: Everything said just above also applies to Surfshark's paid subscriptions. This is an easy-to-use VPN that works on its own, in the background. In other words, it provides a good base for online activities such as streaming and torrenting. It also comes with a special option to bypass even the strongest anti-VPN measures, making it suitable for unblocking any type of website. 

Customer Support

We'll talk about the VPN's customer support system in this segment of your Surfshak free trial vs. paid subscriptions comparison. Here's what you need to know. 

• Surfshark FREE TRIAL (iOS / Android): As soon as you become a Surfshark user (and yes, that applies to trial accounts as well), you get access to the VPN's comprehensive customer support system. Any issue you experience on any platform supported by this VPN will be resolved promptly – no matter which method of communication you pick. 
• Surfshark PAID: At any moment, you're free to get in touch with Surfshark's customer support agents. That can be done using the live chat option or submitting an official support ticket. The VPN also offers plenty of self-help resources, including written guides, a knowledge base, and more. 

Pricing

Let’s conclude our Surfshark free trial vs. paid subscriptions comparison by checking this VPN’s pricing structure. To begin, check the table just below. 

• Surfshark FREE TRIAL (iOS / Android): When getting Surfshark’s trial on iOS or Android, you’ll need to agree to a subscription plan first. In most cases, you’ll need to agree to use Surfshark’s annual plan, which means that you’ll be charged automatically once your trial ends. If you cancel on time, there won’t be any charge, which is why Surfshark’s trial really does come for free. 
• Surfshark PAID: Deciding to skip Surfshark's trial and paying for the VPN comes with many benefits. First, you'll get to choose from several subscription plans with varying prices. If you opt for a long-term subscription, such as Surfshark's 2-year plan, the price will come down to $2.49/month. On top of that, you'll get to enjoy this VPN's 30-day money-back guarantees, which come with no questions asked. 

In the End – Worth Getting Surfshark’s Trial? Should You Pay Straight Away Instead? 

Finally, before we draw our conclusions, let’s highlight some of the most prominent features of Surfshark’s free trial and paid subscriptions – and compare them directly. 

If you decide to get Surfshark’s 7-day trial, know that you won’t encounter any restrictions. Still, keep in mind that you’ll need to activate your trial on iOS or Android. And also, unless you cancel on time, you’ll be charged automatically once your trial ends. 

If you decide to get Surfshark’s subscription, you can do that via its website. Even though you'll be charged immediately, you can still count on Surfshark's 30-day money-back guarantee. On top of that, getting a subscription is cost-effective, as you can choose from a broader range of subscription plans. 

That would be all for our Surfshark free trial vs. paid subscriptions comparison. If you have any questions for us, post them via the comments section below. And finally, thank you for reading!