How to Cancel Surfshark VPN in 2026 (Get a Refund + Why Free VPNs Are Worse)
Updated 2026-02-22 · 6 min read
📌 Surfshark = Nord Security Now
Surfshark merged with NordVPN's parent company (Nord Security) in 2022. They still operate as separate brands, but they share infrastructure. This matters for privacy: the same company now controls both of the most-marketed VPNs.
How to Cancel Surfshark
Step 1: Turn Off Auto-Renewal
Log into my.surfshark.com
Go to Subscription
Click "Don't renew" or "Cancel auto-renewal"
Confirm (you keep VPN access until your current period expires)
Step 2: Request a Refund (If Within 30 Days)
Surfshark has a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you're within 30 days of purchase or renewal:
Contact support via live chat at surfshark.com (24/7)
Say: "I'd like to cancel and request a refund under the 30-day guarantee"
They'll ask why and offer alternatives — be firm
Refund processes in 5-10 business days to your original payment method
⚠️ The 2-Year Plan Auto-Renewal Trap
Surfshark's advertised price ($2.49/month) requires a 2-year upfront payment (~$60). When it renews, the price jumps to $15.45/month (billed annually at $185.40). That's a 6x price increase. Set a calendar reminder 30 days before your renewal date to cancel and re-evaluate.
If Subscribed Through Apple/Google
Cancel through your phone's subscription settings. The 30-day refund guarantee may not apply to app store purchases — use Apple's or Google's refund process instead.
Do You Actually Need a VPN in 2026?
VPN companies market fear — "hackers are watching your browsing!" The reality is more nuanced:
You DON'T need a VPN for: General browsing (HTTPS encrypts your data), home Wi-Fi, online banking (bank encryption is sufficient), "hiding from hackers" (that's not how hacking works)
You DO need a VPN for: Public Wi-Fi (coffee shops, airports), streaming content from other countries, torrenting, bypassing censorship in restrictive countries, hiding traffic from your ISP (if they sell data)
If your main use case was "general privacy," a VPN doesn't do what you think. Your VPN provider can see all your traffic instead of your ISP — you're just choosing who to trust.
Alternatives
iCloud Private Relay (iPhone/Mac): Already included in your iCloud+ subscription ($0.99/month). Hides your IP from websites. Not a full VPN but covers the main privacy use case.
Proton VPN (free tier): Swiss-based, no-log policy, unlimited bandwidth on free tier. Slower than paid VPNs but genuinely free without selling your data.
Mullvad VPN ($5.50/month): Privacy-focused, accepts anonymous payment, no account system (just a random number), independently audited. The choice for people who actually care about privacy.
Cloudflare WARP (free): Not a full VPN but encrypts your DNS and nearby connections. Good enough for public Wi-Fi.
🔍 Security Subscriptions Add Up
VPN, antivirus, password manager, identity theft protection, credit monitoring — security subscriptions average $30-60/month. Most people need 1-2 of these, not all of them. JustCancel scans your bank statement to find every recurring charge.