Are you living in Canada and looking to boost your internet privacy and security? You’re not alone. Many Canadians are leveraging VPN solutions to make their online experience smoother and unblock various types of content.
To become a part of the cool kids club and take in all the benefits of accessing the web through a VPN, you’ve come to the right place. There are plenty of providers who promise to strengthen your online safety, but not every one of them will tick all the boxes, especially regarding performance and security features.
Surfshark for Canada (as luck would have it) is one popular choice due to its wide network of servers across the territory, fast connections, and impervious security measures.
Continue reading this guide to get a full rundown of performance, key functionalities, and speed tests that put Surfshark through its paces. Let’s get this show on the road!
Key points on using Surfshark for Canada
- Surfshark VPN provides an exemplary service in Canada, with over 120 servers, fast performance, and a fair share of security features and perks, including 256-bit encryption, advanced obfuscation, and unlimited device connections.
- In our speed tests of Surfhsark’s Canadian servers (Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal), we logged speeds over 600 Mbps – a performance matched only by NordVPN (check out the NordVPN for Canada guide for more info).
- Surfshark provides competitive pricing plans, along with a 30-day money-back guarantee and 24/7 customer service.
- To get the best savings possible, make use of the 86% off coupon here.
To get a full picture of the finest VPN apps in Canada, go through our generalized best VPN for Canada.
Surfshark Canada: An overview
Website | Surfshark.com |
Based in | The Netherlands |
Logs | No logs (audited) |
Price | $1.99/mo. |
Support | 24/7 live chat |
Refund | 30 days |
Deal | 87% Off Coupon |
Why choose Surfshark? We’ll go into more details later, but for now, here’s a short list of what this provider offers:
- Fast and secure connections recognized for their reliability
- More than 120 servers scattered over three large Canadian cities
- Unlimited device connections
- Affordable pricing
- Advanced security features like Clean Web (a VPN ad blocker), split tunneling, Dynamic Multi-hop (double VPN), etc.
Server locations in Canada
The company maintains a presence in three major cities:
- Montreal
- Toronto
- Vancouver
There are over 120 strategically placed servers in these locations, allowing users to establish faster and overall more reliable connections. Peeps over at Surfshark know what they’re doing as proximity to the server is key in regards to the connection quality.
As such, you’ll always have a server close to home, drastically improving your overall VPN experience. In other words, you’ll enjoy a lag-free VPN journey regardless of which part of Canada you’re in. As a plus, these locations are also helpful for those outside of Canada eager to access Canadian media or streaming platforms such as STACKTV.
As you can see in the screenshot below, it’s easy to find these locations in the Surfshark app:
Choose Canada in the list of servers followed by picking the city, or use the ‘Search’ function. You can also enable auto-connect and opt for a preferred server that you’ll connect to automatically each time you fire up the app.
Benefits of using Surfshark for Canada
Unfortunately, Canada is a member of the Five Eyes alliance (later extended to nine and then again to 14), so you can bet it’s very stern on surveillance, online included. Thus, you should always hide your identity when using the internet. At the same time, you also need to worry about advertisers collecting your data.
Surfshark is an effective provider that will effectively put an end to third parties monitoring your online data and traffic. Not only does it encrypt your traffic (hiding it from your ISP too), but it also helps unblock content and provides you with easy ad blocking, making it one of the best VPNs for Canada.
It’s more than just your privacy. Surfshark can also improve your online shopping security with its encryption, even if you’re using a public network. We also recommend relying on a VPN as a way to gain a brand new identity by connecting to a server located in different areas – allowing you to access better prices, avoid price discrimination, and qualify for discounts.
Surfshark also shines in terms of connection stability and reliability. Expect a stable connection even when dealing with irregular network conditions. This means you’ll always be able to enjoy content and a seamless experience without any interruptions.
In terms of prices, Surfshark is one of the best cheap VPNs on the market, with prices around $2.20 per month when you use the coupon below.
Surfshark VPN Coupon:
Get 87% off Surfshark VPN plus an additional 4 months extra with the coupon below:
(Coupon is applied automatically; 30 day money-back guarantee)
Surfshark Canada speed test results
We put this affordable VPN through its spaces via a 1,000 Mbps connection in our US lab. The results were conclusive – Surfshask can deliver dependable and fast connections across its many Canadian servers.
In fact, only NordVPN is on par in terms of speed, as you can see in our NordVPN for Canada post. This is no small feat considering NordVPN is hailed as the most robust solution out there and Surfshark is only about 30-50 Mbps short of matching it.
Surfshark Vancouver speed test results
The first speed test of Sursfhark in Vancity was the best one. We managed to log download speeds of 633 – not rusty at all.
Still, you should keep in mind that our US test lab is in the Pacific Northwest, which is in close proximity to the server – something that plays a major role in VPN connection speed.
This result is more than excellent and will be enough to handle bandwidth-intensive activities such as gaming – you can read more in our article on Surfshark for gaming.
Surfshark Toronto speed test results
While slightly slower than Vancouver, Surfshark’s Toronto server delivered a quality connection with a download speed of 594 Mbps, as the screenshot shows.
No surprises here, at least according to our speed tests which show Surfshark is on average 40 Mbps slower than NordVPN. Don’t let this discourage you, though. As we previously discussed, your location will play a huge role in the quality of the connection. So, if you live in and around Toronto, you’ll get a higher speed.
Surfshark Montreal speed test
In Paris of North America, the speed we logged was 577 Mbps. Do note that the Pacific Northwest is over 2000 miles away from Montreal.
This connection is also more than capable and shows exactly why Surfshark is consistently found in the upper echelons of most lists portraying the best VPN services. Apart from NordVPN, Surfshark generally outperforms other VPNs, as can be seen in the following guides:
User experience
Whether you’re familiar with how VPNs work or not, Surfshark offers an intuitive user-friendly interface that you’ll gel with immediately. The design drastically simplifies the process of connecting to a remote server, while also making various security features super accessible.
Everything is at arm’s reach, as you can see:
The experience is consistent across the board. Surfshark supports many platforms, including Windows, macOS; Linux, iOS, and Android.
Surshark – Advanced features
Surfshark does what a VPN is supposed to do: data encryption and hiding your true IP address. If you peek under the hood, you’ll find a comprehensive suite of elaborate features that provide that extra level of protection if you want your privacy to be fully guarded.
From specialty servers for more layered protection to various encryption options such as split tunneling (which we’ll cover in more detail below), there’s plenty to go around.
Let’s see what’s in store:
Specialty servers
Surfshark has a broad offering of specialty servers, such as:
- Obfuscated: As the name suggests, these servers hide your online traffic, allowing you to smash through any VPN blocks or censorship. This is a key feature if you’re looking for a reliable VPN for UAE and Dubai or a VPN for China.
- Multi-hop VPN (double VPN): Routes online traffic through two VPN servers instead of one, effectively providing double the data encryption for a higher level of anonymity. With Dynamic Multi-hop, you can choose the entry and exit points in two different countries for maximum anonymity.
- P2P: The majority of Surfshark servers are optimized for torrents and file-sharing, making Surfshark the top two on our list of best VPNs for torrenting.
- DNS: These servers transform URLs into IP addresses and stop your DNS from leaking.
Security enhancements
Surfhsark also delivers in the additional protection department, coming in with features like:
- CleanWeb: Intricate adblocker bundled with all subscription tiers that blocks ads, trackers, and malicious websites.
- Advanced encryption protocols: Surfshark sports all industry standards such as Wireguard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2. Sift through our Wireguard vs OpenVPN comparison to learn more about these protocols.
- VPN Kill Switch: Cuts your internet connection, ensuring you don’t stay online without a VPN, thereby eliminating the chance of sensitive data leaks.
- Split tunneling: Choose which websites and apps go through the VPN and which are transmitted directly.
- Rotating IP: Changes your IP address at a set interval without interrupting your connection while keeping your IP address hidden.
(opens in a new tab)”>See all Surfshark security features here >
Unlimited device connections
The most welcome feature (and something that sets Surfshark apart from other providers) is the support for unlimited simultaneous connections. Whether you use smartphones, tablets, PCs, or smart TVs, Surfhsark can protect you on every device in your household under one account.
As a comparison, NordVPN supports only ten connections.
Considering the range of devices supported and the ease of installation, Surfhsark can become a cornerstone of online security in your entire household.
Streaming with Surfshark in Canada
Surfshark practically gives you access to all the internet, including geo-blocked content. As you know, the majority of streaming platforms restrict access to people in certain regions and aggressively block VPNs. Despite this, Surfshark makes it easy to circumvent these regional restrictions.
That way, you can enjoy streaming platforms and restricted content available outside of Canada. To learn more, here are detailed guides for major streaming platforms:
Torrenting support
While torrenting tech is not illegal, downloading copyrighted material might be. Canada laws are pretty complex regarding the matter – uploading or downloading copyrighted works such as software or films is illegal, but sharing music files is fine if you’re not planning to distribute them.
Either way, you can avoid potential legal issues by using Surfshark.
Since most Surfshark servers are P2P-friendly and offer robust speeds at an affordable price, you really can’t go wrong by making it your guard when downloading pirated software and such.
Surfshark pricing and plans for Canada
If all of the above sounds good on paper so far, wait until you hear about the price! Surfshark is famous for its affordability, offering top-notch security functions at a competitive price.
At the time of writing, a subscription starts at $2.49 per month with a 2-year plan, which is undoubtedly the best price you can get for such a comprehensive solution. Compared to its competitors, Surfshark simply offers more. For example, ExpressVPN will run you $6.67 per month when billed annually.
So, if you want to boost your online privacy without breaking the bank, Surfshark is the most favorable choice.
Subscription options
You get three subscription plans catered to different user needs:
- Surfhsark Starter: All VPN features with an addition of Alternative ID (a virtual phone number) and email masking.
- Surfshark One: Everything in the ‘Starter’ plan plus Alert (alerts that notify you if your info appears in data breaches) and BlindSearch (Surfshark’s anonymous search engine).
- Surfshark One+: Everything included in the ‘One’ plan with data deletion services from search sites being part of the deal.
According to our tests, the cheapest subscription tier is enough to cover most uses.
You can save even more money by using Surfshark’s many coupons, such as this one:
Surfshark VPN Coupon:
Get 87% off Surfshark VPN plus an additional 4 months extra with the coupon below:
(Coupon is applied automatically; 30 day money-back guarantee)
Money-back guarantee
Don’t want to buy without a test drive?
No problem!
Surfshark provides a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you’re dissatisfied with the service, you will be able to get a full refund within 30 days of the purchase. This allows you to freely explore all the features without committing financially, making Surfhsark one of the better free trial VPNs out there.
Privacy and security for Canadians
Although Surfshark is based in the Netherlands (a country that is a member of the Nine Eyes alliance), it upholds a strict no-logs policy and has its share of sophisticated security features and robust encryption protocols.
No-logs policy
As the name suggests, this ensures the VPN won’t record and store your online activity, keeping your data hidden from prying eyes like your ISP and safe from potential cyberattacks.
Generally, these policies must be validated by independent audits. In the case of Surfhsark, they passed such an audit by Deloitte, meaning you’re perfectly safe.
For an in-depth look into what makes a VPN trustworthy in this regard, read through our list of best no-logs VPNs.
Encryption and security protocols
With VPN software, security protocols do most of the legwork – from conducting authorization to authentication. Surfshark provides you the choice of three great protocols:
- WireGuard – advanced modern protocol that offers an amazing balance of security and speed.
- OpenVPN – secure yet slower protocol.
- IKEv2 – one of the fastest options for mobile.
Surfhsark also shines in terms of encryption, relying on bulletproof AES-256 encryption and ChaCha20 for the Wireguard protocol.
Customer support and resources
You’ll never have to face issues (at least those that have to do with a VPN) on your own because this provider offers exemplary 24/7 customer support via email and live chat.
Irrelevant of the time of day, Surfshark support has got you covered if you ever experience a hiccup you can’t resolve on your own using Surfshark’s free resources. The official website has a comprehensive Help Center where you can find plenty of troubleshooting guides, setup tutorials, and FAQs enough for you to solve most problems solo.
Surfshark alternatives for Canada
All the strengths aside, exploring VPN solutions other than Surfshark is recommended. The two best alternatives are NordVPN and ExpressVPN. They both offer amazing security and reliable connections.
NordVPN comparison
Website | NordVPN.com |
Based in | Panama |
Logs | No logs (audited) |
Price | $2.99/mo. |
Support | 24/7 live chat |
Refund | 30 days |
Deal | 74% Off Coupon |
NordVPN is by far the most comprehensive VPN solution on the market at the moment. It has secure and fast servers that generally outperform Surfshark. If speed is your main concern, an extra 40 Mbps may be a good reason to opt for NordVPN.
This VPN provides 480 servers in three cities, optimal performance, and a slew of security features, including malware protection, split tunneling, Onion over VPN, etc.
NordVPN is slightly more expensive, but it’s worth the money when you consider the extra boost in speed.
To learn all the info, look over our detailed NordVPN vs Surfshark comparison.
ExpressVPN comparison
Website | ExpressVPN.com |
Based in | British Virgin Islands |
Logs | No logs (audited) |
Price | $6.67/mo. |
Support | 24/7 live chat |
Refund | 30 days |
Deal | 49% Off Coupon |
A worthy competitor to Surfshark with a long history in the privacy game, ExpressVPN offers plenty of goodies that make it a valid pick.
What distinguishes it is its support for VPN routers, RAM-only servers, and its reliable Lightway Protocol.
Still, it’s the priciest provider out of the three and noticeably slower than Surfshark.
Considering choosing this nifty app? Read the detailed ExpressVPN review first.
Summary – A killer piece of software in an affordable package
Surfshark stands apart as an amazing choice for Canadian users with its wide server network in the country, robust privacy and security, and the ability to bypass geo-restrictions.
It’s a comprehensive solution for all your privacy needs that comes with a long list of benefits, including a competitive price, a no-logs policy, and support for an unlimited number of devices.
Whether you’re only looking to keep your activities safe from your ISP or stream restricted content, Surfshark delivers dependable connections that supply a smooth online experience. Other perks like the 30-day money-back guarantee and world-class customer support make it a safe choice for the whole country.
Other Canada VPN guides:
- Best VPN for Canada
- NordVPN for Canada
- ExpressVPN for Canada
- Proton VPN for Canada
- Top 5 Cheapest VPNs for Canada
- How to get a Canadian IP Address
- Best VPNs for Toronto
- Best VPNs for Vancouver
- Best VPNs for Montreal
Frequently Asked Questions
How many devices can I connect to Surfshark simultaneously?
Surfhsark supports an unlimited number of devices under a single subscription, making it a perfect choice for households with multiple devices.
Can Surfshark help me access geo-blocked content on Netflix?
Yes, Surfshark is effective in bypassing various forms of geo-restrictions, allowing you to access geo-blocked content with little effort.
What is Surfshark’s no-logs policy?
A no-logs policy is essential for complete online privacy. It ensures the VPN provider is not monitoring, tracking, or storing any user data, keeping your online activities perfectly secure.
Is there a money-back guarantee with Surfshark?
Yes. Surfshark offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try the service with no risk.
This article on using Surfshark for Canada was last updated on July 15, 2024.
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