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Plain-English summary
Surfshark's terms include significant limitations of liability, stating they are not liable for damages from third-party software or services and limiting their total liability to the amount you paid for their services (risk_flags-1, risk_flags-2). You are also required to indemnify Surfshark for claims arising from your use of their services or violations of their terms. Disputes are generally governed by the laws and courts of the British Virgin Islands (risk_flags-4). While Surfshark has a no-logs policy, your online activities could be traced if you use a dedicated IP without an anonymous option, as it's tied to your email, and user IDs, IP addresses, and connection timestamps are stored for 15 minutes to prevent abuse (data_use-1, data_use-2, data_use-3). Additionally, recurring payments are non-refundable, and refunds are not guaranteed for purchases made through most third-party resellers or if you've had a free trial of 30 days or longer (cancellation_renewal-1, cancellation_renewal-2, cancellation_renewal-3). Your account can also be terminated without notice if your usage is deemed in violation of the terms (gotchas-1).
90% confidence
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Risk Flags
3 findings
Critical issues and red flags that may indicate significant risks or potential harm to the user. These often involve limitations of liability, indemnification clauses, or terms that grant broad rights to the service provider at the user's expense.
high95% confidence
No Liability for Third-Party Software or Services
Surfshark and its affiliates are not liable for any direct, indirect, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from the use of third-party computer software provided with the services.
Why it matters: You cannot hold Surfshark or its affiliates responsible for damages related to third-party software included with their services, even for viruses.
SURFSHARK AND ITS AFFILIATES, SHALL NOT BE LIABLE TO YOU OR ANY THIRD PARTIES FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES ALLEGEDLY SUSTAINED ARISING OUT OF YOUR USE OF THE SERVICES, ANY THIRD PARTY COMPUTER SOFTWARE PROVIDED TOGETHER WITH THE SERVICES, THE SALE OR PURCHASE OF ANY GOODS OR MERCHANDISE, YOUR ACCESS TO OR INABILITY TO ACCESS THE WEBSITE OR OUR SERVICES, INCLUDING FOR VIRUSES ALLEGED TO HAVE BEEN OBTAINED FROM THE SERVICES, YOUR USE OF OR RELIANCE ON THE
Illegal Content to be violating applicable law;, paragraph 13 · Citation strength: strong
high95% confidence
Liability Limited to Amount Paid for Services
Surfshark's total aggregate liability will not exceed the total amount you paid for the services.
Why it matters: If you incur damages, Surfshark's total liability to you will be limited to the amount you have paid for their services.
OUR TOTAL AGGREGATE LIABILITY IN ANY CASE SHALL NOT EXCEED YOUR TOTAL AMOUNT PAID FOR THE SERVICES.
WEBSITE OR OUR SERVICES, INFORMATION OR MATERIALS AVAILABLE ON THE WEBSITE,, paragraph 1 · Citation strength: strong
medium90% confidence
Disputes Governed by British Virgin Islands Law
The Terms of Service are governed by the laws of the British Virgin Islands, and judicial proceedings to resolve claims will be brought in the courts of the British Virgin Islands, unless mandatory consumer protection laws of your country of residence apply.
Why it matters: Any legal disputes relating to the terms will generally be handled under the laws and in the courts of the British Virgin Islands, which might not be convenient or familiar to you.
This means that contracts with all our customers are governed by the same laws, i.e. laws of the British Virgin Islands. However, please note that these Terms of Service will not limit any consumer protection rights that you may be entitled to under the mandatory laws of your country of residence. You hereby agree that the judicial proceeding to resolve claims relating to the Terms of Service will be brought in the courts of British Virgin Islands, unless the laws of your country of residence have mandatory provisions that apply to the dispute that cannot be overridden by the contractual choice of law.
WEBSITE OR OUR SERVICES, INFORMATION OR MATERIALS AVAILABLE ON THE WEBSITE,, paragraph 5 · Citation strength: strong
Data Use and Sharing
2 findings
How your data is collected, processed, shared, and used. This includes provisions about privacy, data retention, and control over your information.
medium95% confidence
Servers Store User ID, IP Address, and Connection Timestamps for 15 Minutes
To prevent service abuse, Surfshark's servers store your user ID, IP address, and connection timestamps, but this information is automatically deleted within 15 minutes after the termination of your session.
Why it matters: While Surfshark generally has a no-logs policy, some of your identifying information (user ID, IP address, connection timestamps) is temporarily stored for 15 minutes after each session.
To prevent service abuse, our servers store your user ID and/or IP address, and connection time stamps, but this information is automatically deleted within 15 minutes after termination of your session.
ACCESSING OR USING THE WEBSITE AND OUR SERVICES, YOU AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THE TERMS, paragraph 4 · Citation strength: strong
medium95% confidence
Online Activities Traceable if Dedicated IP Option Not Anonymous
If you use a dedicated IP address and do not select an anonymous Dedicated IP option after installation, certain online activities can be traced back to your account information as it is tied to your email address.
Why it matters: Your online activities may be linked to your account if you use a dedicated IP address without activating the anonymous option, as it is tied to your email.
Please note that if you use a dedicated IP address (a unique internet protocol address assigned exclusively to you), it will encrypt your internet traffic and hide your real IP address and virtual location. However, since it’s tied to your email address, certain online activities can be traced back to your account information as far as you don’t select an anonymous Dedicated IP option after the Dedicated IP installation process.
ACCESSING OR USING THE WEBSITE AND OUR SERVICES, YOU AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THE TERMS, paragraph 4 · Citation strength: strong
Cancellation and Renewal
3 findings
Terms related to how subscriptions renew, cancellation policies, and refund eligibility. This section highlights any clauses that might make it difficult to cancel or obtain a refund.
medium95% confidence
All Recurring Payments for Subscriptions are Non-Refundable
For all subscription plans, the 30-day money-back guarantee applies only to the initial purchase, and all recurring payments are non-refundable.
Why it matters: While you can get a refund within 30 days of your initial purchase, any subsequent recurring payments for your subscription are non-refundable.
Please note that for all subscription plans, the 30-day money-back guarantee applies only to the initial purchase; all recurring payments are non-refundable.
be found in our Privacy Policy at https://surfshark.com/privacy, paragraph 9 · Citation strength: strong
medium95% confidence
Refunds Not Guaranteed for Third-Party Resellers (Except Specific Ones)
Surfshark cannot grant refunds if you obtained your subscription via resellers other than Paddle, Google Play, or Cleverbridge; you must consult the original seller for their refund procedures.
Why it matters: If you purchased your subscription from a reseller not explicitly listed (Paddle, Google Play, Cleverbridge), Surfshark will not process your refund, requiring you to navigate the reseller's potentially different refund policies.
We are not able to grant you a refund if you obtained your Surfshark subscription via resellers other than Paddle, Google Play, or Cleverbridge. In the scenarios when your subscription was purchased through a reseller other than Paddle, Google Play, or Cleverbridge, it is necessary for you to consult with the original seller to understand their specific refund procedures and potentially obtain your refund through them. However, if your purchase was made through Paddle, Google Play, or Cleverbridge, we can facilitate a refund for you in accordance with our policies.
be found in our Privacy Policy at https://surfshark.com/privacy, paragraph 9 · Citation strength: strong
medium90% confidence
Refunds Not Applicable for Free Trial Users
Refunds are not applicable if you have been granted a free trial of 30 days or longer, as users are deemed to have had sufficient opportunity to evaluate the services.
Why it matters: If you used a free trial of 30 days or more, you lose the right to a refund, as the company believes you had enough time to assess the service.
The refunds are also not applicable if you have been granted a free trial to use our Services for 30 days or longer. Users who have benefited from such extended trial periods are deemed to have had sufficient opportunity to evaluate the Services, and therefore, are excluded from exercising the right to refund.
be found in our Privacy Policy at https://surfshark.com/privacy, paragraph 9 · Citation strength: strong
Gotchas
1 finding
Potentially overlooked or surprising clauses that could have negative implications for users. These often include automatic renewals, strict usage policies, or clauses that limit user rights in unexpected ways.
medium90% confidence
Account Termination Without Notice
Surfshark may terminate your account or suspend services without notice if your usage is deemed in violation of their Terms.
Why it matters: Your account and access to services can be terminated or suspended immediately and without warning if Surfshark believes you have violated their terms, which could lead to unexpected service disruption.
If Surfshark is contacted with a complaint regarding or arising from your use of the Services or independently detects a breach of these Terms, Surfshark may deem your usage in violation of these Terms and terminate your account or limit and/or suspend the provision of the Services without notice.
Illegal Content to be violating applicable law;, paragraph 7 · Citation strength: strong
Protections
3 findings
Commitments and features that protect user rights, privacy, or provide consumer-friendly benefits.
Protection90% confidence
Advance Notice of Price or Term Changes
Surfshark will communicate any changes to subscription prices, including recurring fees, or other subscription terms to you in advance.
Why it helps: You will be informed ahead of time about any changes to your subscription price or terms, allowing you to make an informed decision about continuing the service.
Surfshark may change the price for the subscriptions, including recurring subscription fees, or other subscription terms from time to time and will communicate any price or other changes to you in advance.
be found in our Privacy Policy at https://surfshark.com/privacy, paragraph 8 · Citation strength: strong
Protection95% confidence
30-Day Money-Back Guarantee
Surfshark offers a 30-day money-back guarantee for initial purchases of their paid services, allowing you to try the service risk-free.
Why it helps: You have a 30-day window from your initial purchase to claim a refund, giving you a risk-free period to evaluate the service.
If you choose not to use our paid Services anymore, except for any services related to the Alternative ID, such as the purchase of the Alternative Number feature, and/or anonymous Dedicated IP which are non-refundable, we guarantee you a right to claim a refund within 30 days following your initial purchase of our Services. Our 30-day money-back guarantee is designed to let you try the Service risk-free. Accordingly, it applies only to your initial purchase and is limited to one refund per Service.
be found in our Privacy Policy at https://surfshark.com/privacy, paragraph 9 · Citation strength: strong
Protection95% confidence
Non-Collection of Under-18 Information
Surfshark is not intended for users under 18, and any information submitted by such users will not be collected or retained.
Why it helps: This ensures that personal information from individuals under 18 years of age is not collected or kept by the service.
Surfshark is not intended for users under the age of 18. Such users are expressly prohibited from submitting any of their information to us, and from using portions of the Website and our Services for which registration is required. If any information is submitted by such users, it will not be collected or retained.
be found in our Privacy Policy at https://surfshark.com/privacy, paragraph 11 · Citation strength: strong
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