Surfshark Antivirus Review 2025: Your Cybersecurity Lifeguard

Our hands-on testing proves that Surfshark Antivirus isn't just an add-on to Surfshark VPN, it's also a lightweight security tool with proven malware protection. Despite being a newer player in the antivirus market, Surfshark has already earned near-perfect scores from independent testing labs, signaling strong reliability right out of the gate.

While we’d still like to see features such as a built-in firewall and stronger phishing protection, Surfshark Antivirus delivers impressive real-time security, smooth performance, and valuable extras through the Surfshark One bundle. 

In our Surfshark Antivirus review, we break down everything from features and test results, to pricing, compatibility, and alternatives.

Overview

Price	$1.99–$20.65/mo
Free plan	No
# of devices protected	1 - 5
Malware scans	Manual and scheduled
Real-time protection	Yes
EICAR test results	2/3
Firewall	No
Phishing protection	Yes
Compatibility	Windows, macOS, Android
Extras	VPN, ad blocker, identity theft protection, data removal
24/7 customer support	Yes
Details	Get Surfshark Antivirus

We last tested Surfshark Antivirus on November 14, 2025.

Our experience

We weren't expecting much from an antivirus that's included with another product, but our experience with the Surfshark Antivirus was largely positive. The app was easy to use and the scans themselves were quick, effective, and gave us confidence. 

First, we ran a quick scan. The scan took less than five seconds to scan almost 1,400 files. This is exactly what we hope for from a quick scan. 

We were only disappointed that Surfshark Antivirus missed the malware test files we downloaded onto our computer before installing the antivirus. Especially because Surfshark Antivirus has found these files in past quick scans. 

We also didn't notice any annoying slowdowns on our computer while scans were running, so it was easy enough to continue browsing while Surfshark did its job.

Plus, Surfshark Antivirus is part of the Surfshark One bundle, which includes Surfshark's virtual private network (VPN), a private search engine, and data breach alerts. 

One gripe we have with Surfshark is its phishing protection. This is currently supported by Surfshark CleanWeb, which blocks ads, trackers, and malicious websites. However, it doesn't yet block the dummy phishing site we test with, so it may not be as robust as other antivirus extensions. 

Overall, we were impressed with Surfshark Antivirus and its effectiveness, ease of use, and reliability. Although it doesn't yet include a firewall, we believe that it can stand well on its own.

Who is Surfshark Antivirus best for?

• Recommended for individuals and families seeking comprehensive security across multiple devices without breaking the bank.

Surfshark Antivirus is an excellent choice for those who want to safeguard their digital lives without compromising on quality or affordability. Its key features, such as malware and phishing protection, are designed to provide robust security for a wide range of users. 

The inclusion of Surfshark VPN and tools like CleanWeb and Surfshark Search further enhance privacy and security by protecting your device from hackers, malware, trackers, and more.

With its competitive pricing, Surfshark Antivirus is particularly attractive for families on a budget. Its user-friendly interface and compatibility with Windows, Mac, and mobile platforms also make it easy for users of varying technical skill levels to navigate and manage their cybersecurity needs. 

Additionally, the Surfshark money-back guarantee provides users with the confidence to try out the service risk-free, ensuring they get the best value for their money.

Surfshark Antivirus cost

Surfshark plans that include Surfshark Antivirus range from $1.99–$20.65/mo. It comes with Surfshark One or Surfshark One+ plans.

While the lack of a standalone app might be limiting, the value provided by the Surfshark One bundle is substantial, given the comprehensive security and privacy features included.

You can purchase Surfshark Antivirus for a monthly, annual, or two-year subscription. See how these plan prices compare in the table below. 

Plan	1-month cost	1-year cost	2-year cost
Surfshark One	$17.95/mo	$3.39/mo	$2.19/mo
Surfshark One+	$20.85/mo	$6.29/mo	$4.19/mo

Plan comparison

Surfshark Antivirus is available only if you subscribe to the Surfshark One or Surfshark One+ packages. These plans include Surfshark VPN, Surfshark Search, and a data breach detector called Surfshark Alert, with additional data removal technology if you opt for One+. 

When compared to other antivirus software, the Surfshark One bundle may appear to be more expensive. But Surfshark comes with additional benefits and features that make it a worthwhile investment for those looking for an all-in-one cybersecurity solution. 

Here's what you get with the Surfshark One and One+ bundles.

Features	Surfshark One	Surfshark One+
# devices supported	5	5
VPN
Ad blocker
Identity protection
Private search
Antivirus
Data removal
Details	View plan	View plan

Surfshark Antivirus features

Surfshark Antivirus boasts a suite of standout features that provide comprehensive security and privacy protection for your devices, thanks to being part of the Surfshark One and One+ bundles. These packages offer a range of additional features like:

• Surfshark VPN
• Surfshark Search
• Surfshark Alert
• Data removal (One+ only)

While Surfshark One provides a well-rounded security solution, some might find the lack of a standalone antivirus plan limiting. Let's take a closer look at the features offered by Surfshark One.

Malware and antivirus scan

Surfshark Antivirus offers both automatic and manual scans, providing you with flexibility and control over your device security. 

You can run a quick scan, which covers the most vulnerable areas of the device, or a full scan, which provides a thorough inspection of the entire system. You can also scan specific files, folders, and even USBs and hard drives.

During our testing, the scanning process was fast, efficient, and unobtrusive. We received prompt notifications when computer virus threats were detected and moved into quarantine.

Phishing protection

Surfshark Antivirus protects you from phishing with Surfshark CleanWeb. This feature can block ads, trackers, and malware, but only works when the VPN is connected.

CleanWeb 2.0 is exclusive to the Surfshark browser extension. It provides advanced ad, tracker, and malware blocking. 

You can toggle on CleanWeb by going to Settings, then selecting VPN settings. To set up CleanWeb 2.0, download the Surfshark extension and CleanWeb will be enabled by default. 

Real-time protection

Surfshark Antivirus provides real-time protection to keep devices safe as they browse the web, access emails, or use apps. During our testing, we discovered that Surfshark's real-time protection functioned flawlessly, with no noticeable slowdowns or interruptions.

The antivirus program recognized and destroyed threats in real time, sending out fast warnings regarding the activities performed.

Surfshark One and One+ bundle features

Surfshark Antivirus is part of Surfshark One and One+, complete security packages that contain various tools designed to safeguard your privacy and secure your online activity.

Surfshark VPN

Surfshark VPN allows you to hide your IP address and encrypt your internet connection, providing online browsing that is private and more secure. The VPN also shields data and personal information from hackers, internet service providers (ISPs), and trackers. 

Surfshark VPN offers 4,500+ servers in 100 countries, which can help you access geo-restricted material and streaming services.

Surfshark Search

Surfshark Search is a private search engine focused on providing security as you search the internet. Unlike most search engines, this tool doesn’t monitor your search history, keep any personal data, or display any ads tailored to your history.

Surfshark Alert

The Surfshark Alert tool checks for data breaches involving your email addresses, passwords, or credit card information. If your data is taken, Surfshark Alert will notify you immediately, allowing you to take action to safeguard your accounts and avoid identity theft or fraud.

Surfshark Antivirus test results

In order to make sure an antivirus product is performing as it should, we put it through a series of rigorous tests and track down trusted third-party results. Surfshark performed fairly well, providing efficient scans and earning perfect malware protection scores. 

Read on for more details on Surfshark Antivirus's performance. 

Scan effectiveness

• Result: Found no EICAR files during quick scan, found all EICAR files during full scan

Surfshark Antivirus's quick scan was done before we could blink. We believe quick scans should take no later than five minutes and one minute is fast, so Surfshark Antivirus blew these expectations out of the water. 

But we were disappointed that it didn't detect any of the EICAR files we planted on our desktop, in our downloads folder, and in our documents folder before installing the software. 

The full scan with Surfshark Antivirus took less than 10 minutes, which is also a speedy result. We did feel better knowing that the EICAR files were detected with this scan. 

Scan type	Quick scan	Full scan
Time spent	3 seconds	7 minutes, 9 seconds
# of files scanned	1,399 files	640,729 files
Did it find EICAR files?	No, 0/3	Yes, 3/3

EICAR test results

• Result: 2/3

The European Institute for Computer Anti-Virus Research (EICAR) put together a series of tools that can help consumers determine if their antivirus software is performing as it should. These consist of files that are made to act like viruses without actually being malicious, as well as pages meant to trigger phishing detection.

Test	Surfshark Antivirus score
Malware detection	Pass
Drive-by malware downloads	Pass
Phishing pages detection	Fail

Test results as of 11/14/2025.

Surfshark was able to detect and quarantine both types of malware files flawlessly while performing a full scan. This brings us great confidence in its real-time protection capabilities.

But the antivirus didn't detect the fake phishing page, even with the Surfshark browser extension installed. We hope Surfshark implements more comprehensive phishing protection in the future. 

AV-TEST results

• Result: Surfshark Antivirus had near-perfect marks on its Windows program. 

AV-TEST is a respected independent testing organization that evaluates antivirus software based on various criteria, including protection, performance, and usability.

It's important to note that Surfshark was tested only on Windows. This is not unusual since antivirus companies have to pay for third-party tests, and Windows is the most widely used platform. We hope to see further investment in third-party testing from Surfshark.

Test type	Windows score	macOS score	Android score
Protection	6/6	N/A	N/A
Performance	5.5/6	N/A	N/A
Usability	5.5/6	N/A	N/A
Total	17/18	N/A	N/A
Date	June 2025	N/A	N/A
Link to test	Link	N/A	N/A

When tested on Windows, Surfshark received a perfect score for protection, receiving 100% for protection against zero-day malware attacks and detection of widespread and prevalent malware.

However, Surfshark was docked 0.5 points for performance and usability. In the performance category, Surfshark had significantly more impact when launching popular websites and when installing frequently used applications. 

The industry average for slowing down when launching popular websites was 22% while Surfshark's impact was 34%. Additionally, the industry average for slowing down when installing frequently used applications was 19% while Surfshark's impact was 28%. 

In the usability category, Surfshark detected two false positives in two separate tests. One was a false blockage of certain actions while installing and using legitimate software. The other was a false warning concerning certain actions while installing and using legitimate software.

Surfshark Antivirus compatibility

Surfshark Antivirus is limited to the following operating systems:

• Windows 10+
• macOS Big Sur 11+
• Android 10+

It's currently not compatible with iOS or Linux. 

Surfshark Antivirus customer support

Surfshark’s customer support provides several solutions so consumers can get help when they need it. A comprehensive help center is available with a multitude of articles and instructions covering numerous issues relating to Surfshark's products, installation, and troubleshooting. The online instructions are well-organized and straightforward, allowing users to quickly discover solutions to their queries.

Surfshark, in addition to the help center, offers a live chat feature, which allows customers to communicate with customer care experts in real time. Our experience with live chat support was great: the staff was knowledgeable, polite, and quick to respond to our questions.

Surfshark also provides email assistance for those that prefer a more conventional mode of contact. There's no phone line at the time of writing.

Top alternatives

We love that Surfshark Antivirus is part of a comprehensive security suite. However, you might be in the market for just an antivirus or you might not be sold on its features. Here are some other antivirus programs to consider:

Surfshark Antivirus FAQs

Bottom line: Is Surfshark Antivirus good?

Surfshark Antivirus is an efficient security solution that can protect your device against malware. However, it's available only as part of the Surfshark One or Surfshark One+ bundles, which may be a detriment to those looking for a standalone antivirus program.

We recommend Surfshark Antivirus for consumers who want a comprehensive cybersecurity solution that includes a VPN, private search, and data breach scanner. The Surfshark One and One+ packages give outstanding value and all-around digital safety. 

If you're still looking for a cheaper solution, check out our full list of the best antivirus software.