Surfshark now offers dedicated IP addresses. In a blog post on June 6, the company said it has dedicated IPs for a few locations and will add new locations soon.
According to Surfshark, its dedicated IPs won’t affect your browsing speed, and they’re compatible with all VPN protocols. You can also use a dedicated IP on an unlimited number of devices, including routers.
The absence of dedicated IPs was one of the few cons we observed while testing Surfshark. The company’s decision to add dedicated IPs means users can now link personal IP addresses to their emails. Among other things, this would support remote working as individuals can access corporate networks without having to get their IPs whitelisted every time.
What is a Dedicated IP?
A dedicated IP address is a unique, static IP reserved for a user. “You can think of a dedicated IP address like having a reserved parking spot in a parking lot,” Surfshark explained. “With a reserved spot, you don’t have to worry about someone else taking up the space & you always know where to park.”
Typically, when you use a VPN, you share an IP address with others. While this has the benefit of allowing you to blend in with the crowd and remain anonymous online, it also has some downsides. For example, you may get more CAPTCHA requests than usual if several people with the same IP are accessing a website or online service. Also, some websites or apps may restrict your access when your IP address changes.
A dedicated IP allows you to safely access platforms with high security, like banking and crypto-trading apps or corporate networks, without setting off any security alarms. It also reduces the chances you’ll be blocked from accessing online platforms and services.
“Just as a shared parking lot can become crowded and chaotic, a shared IP address can get overloaded & used by people with all sorts of intentions,” Surfshark said. “This makes the IP more prone to issues such as blocklisting, where the IP address is blocked due to the actions of other users sharing the same address.”
The main con of using Surfshark’s dedicated IP is that since it’s connected to your email, it’s easy for third parties to identify and track you if your email is compromised.
“If you wish, you can select the anonymous Dedicated IP option. This will remove the link between your Dedicated IP and email. Just like that, even we won’t know which Dedicated IP is yours,” Surfshark revealed in its blog post.
How to Use Surfshark Dedicated IP
You need a Surfshark or Surfshark One account to get a dedicated IP. Follow the simple steps below to start using Surfshark’s dedicated IP feature.
- Purchase a Surfshark subscription. Surfshark is one of the most affordable VPNs.
- Download and install the VPN client. It is available for all major operating systems, including iOS, Mac, Windows, Android, and Linux.
- Launch Surfshark and log into your account.
- Upgrade to get a Dedicated IP in your account or the Surfshark app.
- Activate the Dedicated IP in your Surfshark app via the “Dedicated IP” section under the search bar on your home screen. You should see your Dedicated IP. If not, click the “Have a token?” button and enter the token code you received after upgrading to a Dedicated IP.
Surfshark’s Dedicated IP Locations
Surfshark offers dedicated IPs for a few locations. The company said it will add new locations soon.
Surfshark currently has dedicated IPs for these locations:
- The US — Los Angeles
- The US — New York
- The US — Dallas
- The US — San Jose
- The UK — London
- The Netherlands — Amsterdam
- Hong Kong (coming very soon)
- Japan — Tokyo (coming very soon)
- Germany — Frankfurt (coming very soon)
- Italy — Milan (coming soon)
- South Africa — Johannesburg (coming soon)
- Australia — Sydney (coming soon)
- Canada — Toronto (coming soon)
- France — Paris (coming soon)
“The number of available Dedicated IPs per location is limited, meaning some may not always be available for purchase. But don’t worry — we’ll keep restocking them,” Surfshark said.
Check out Surfshark’s support page for more information about its dedicated IPs.
