Service overview
Windscribe
windscribe.com
Canadian VPN with open-source apps, a free tier and crypto payment
Open source
Privacy 6.8/10
Safety 8.1/10
Read the evidence
Surfshark review
Netherlands-based VPN with crypto checkout on desktop and a 30-day refund window
Privacy score
5.8/ 10
FairHow much you reveal
See the score breakdown Safety score
5.2/ 10
CautionHow well you’re protected
See the score breakdown Identity policy
1/ 4 KYC level
No ID mentioned Read the policy Evidence
Documentation reviewed Grades based on published terms and documentation.
0 published tests Two grades. Different questions.Understand the methodology
The overview
The essentials, at a glance.
Surfshark is a VPN. Its terms put it at KYC level 1 of 4: no ID mentioned. NoKYC Score grades it 5.8/10 for privacy (fair) and 5.2/10 for safety (caution). In its favour: no-logs policy and company named. To watch: it requires an email address and is closed source. No incidents are on record.
What stands out
- No-logs policy
States that connection or activity logs are not kept.
- Company named
The operating company and its jurisdiction are published.
Before you use it
- Email required
An email address is required to use the service.
- Closed source
The code is not public, so its behaviour cannot be checked.
No test transactions published yet.
About Surfshark
Surfshark is a commercial VPN whose terms say the contract is with Surfshark B.V. in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, while the terms themselves are governed by the laws of the British Virgin Islands. Payments are handled by Surfshark Limited (London) and Surfshark Inc. (California). An account tied to an email address is needed; the terms note that a Dedicated IP is linked to the account email unless the anonymous Dedicated IP option is chosen. The support centre lists cards, PayPal, Google Pay, Apple Pay and cryptocurrency, noting crypto cannot be used on mobile devices. The terms say crypto refunds are paid in the same cryptocurrency at the USD-equivalent amount, and the privacy section states that no logs are collected that would identify a user. The terms also reserve the right to verify account information before a refund.
Cite this review or read as plain text
NoKYC Score, "Surfshark review", reviewed 23 Oct 2026, https://nokycscore.com/service/surfshark
Open plain-text review ↗The feature review
Privacy, without the guesswork.
2 / 14 features confirmed2 warnings in the recorded terms
Identity
0 / 4 confirmed
- ID never requiredNot stated
The terms rule identity checks out, or the design makes them impossible.
- No account neededNo
Usable without creating an account, or the account is only a random number.
- No email neededNo
An email address is not required to sign up or use it.
- No phone numberNot stated
A phone number is never required.
Payment
0 / 3 confirmed
- Accepts MoneroNot stated
Monero hides sender, receiver and amount, so the payment cannot be traced to you.
- Accepts LightningNot stated
Bitcoin Lightning payments: fast, cheap and more private than on-chain.
- Accepts cashNot stated
Cash by post or in person: no bank and no blockchain record.
Access
0 / 2 confirmed
- Tor onion addressNot stated
An official .onion address, reachable only through Tor.
- Works without JavaScriptNot stated
Core functions work with scripts disabled, as in Tor Browser on its safest setting.
Trust
2 / 5 confirmed
- Open sourceNo
The code that matters is public and can be inspected.
- No-logs policyYes
States that connection or activity logs are not kept.
- Independent auditNot stated
A third party audited the code or the no-logs claim, and the report is public.
- Company namedYes
The operating company and its jurisdiction are published.
- 5+ years operatingNot stated
Has operated continuously for five years or more.
Warnings
2 flagged
- May ask for IDNot in terms
The terms reserve the right to demand identity documents, often after a risk flag.
- Email requiredYes
An email address is required to use the service.
- Phone number requiredNot in terms
A phone number is required to use the service.
- Closed sourceYes
The code is not public, so its behaviour cannot be checked.
- Nobody accountableNot in terms
No company or person is publicly responsible for the service.
“Not stated” means the service’s own pages do not say. Expand a group to see every check.
Identity requirements
Does Surfshark require KYC?
Level 1 of 4
No ID mentioned
- 0 Never
- 1 Not mentioned
- 2 Rare
- 3 On risk flag
- 4 Mandatory
No ID requirement appears anywhere in Surfshark's terms or documentation. Checked against its own terms.
- Account required
- Email may be asked
- Phone may be asked
- No ID documents
KYC level 1: No ID mentioned. No identity requirement appears anywhere in the terms or documentation.
No identity documents are required; the terms only reserve the right "to verify the validity of your account information" before issuing a refund.
Transparent by design
Every point, explained.
Both grades start at 50 points and move by fixed, published amounts. Nothing is adjusted by hand. The total is divided by ten.
Privacy
5.8/ 10
- Starting points 50
- KYC level 1: No ID mentioned +12
- Requires email -4
- No-logs policy +2
- Closed source -2
- Total, clamped to 0–100 58
Safety
5.2/ 10
- Starting points 50
- Legal entity disclosed +5
- Closed source -3
- Total, clamped to 0–100 52
Evidence, not promises
Test ledger 0
Published test transactions, with the route, amount and outcome available to inspect.
No test transactions published yet
The grades above rest on Surfshark’s terms and documentation. Tests will appear here with the date, route, amount band and result as they are run.
The track record
Incidents 0
No incidents on record
We have no documented cases for Surfshark. An empty record does not guarantee a service is risk-free.
Community experience
What users are saying 0
Reviews never change a grade. Reviews with a transaction reference are marked.
Have you used Surfshark?
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Write a review
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Alternatives to Surfshark
All alternatives → Service overview
Mullvad VPN
mullvad.net
Swedish VPN using numbered accounts; accepts cash by post and Monero
Open sourceAccepts Monero
Privacy 9.7/10
Safety 7.6/10
Read the evidence
Service overview
AzireVPN
azirevpn.com
Swedish-founded VPN with no-email sign-up; now card and PayPal payment only
No email needed
Privacy 7.2/10
Safety 7.4/10
Read the evidence
Service overview
Proton VPN
protonvpn.com
Swiss VPN with a free tier; paid plans payable in Bitcoin or cash
Open sourceAccepts cash
Privacy 6.4/10
Safety 7.3/10
Read the evidence
Surfshark vs WindscribeSurfshark vs Mullvad VPNSurfshark vs AzireVPNSurfshark vs Proton VPN
Surfshark: common questions
Does Surfshark require KYC?
Surfshark is rated KYC level 1 of 4 on this site: no ID mentioned. No identity documents are required; the terms only reserve the right "to verify the validity of your account information" before issuing a refund.
Is Surfshark safe to use?
Surfshark has a Safety grade of 5.2 out of 10 and a Privacy grade of 5.8 out of 10. No incidents are on record. Evidence level: documentation reviewed.
Is Surfshark legit?
Surfshark is a working VPN. It publishes the company that runs it, in Netherlands. Being real is not the same as being safe: its Safety grade here is 5.2 out of 10, built from custody, liquidity, track record and incidents.
Is Surfshark a scam?
NoKYC Score does not label services as scams; it records documented incidents with their sources and outcomes. No incidents are on record for Surfshark.
Do I need an account or email to use Surfshark?
Email required.
What fees does Surfshark charge?
Subscription plans; 30-day money-back guarantee on the first purchase. Fees were recorded from Surfshark's own pages and can change; check before you send.
Does Surfshark have a Tor onion address?
No official onion address was found on Surfshark's own pages.
Can I use Surfshark over Tor?
Surfshark does not publish an official onion address.
Listing history
- Listing added. Facts and KYC level set from the service's own terms and documentation.