Technical Specifications
- Primary Protocol
- WireGuard / IKEv2 — Blocked
- Success Rate
- 0-10% (Regional Outliers)
- NoBorders Mode
- Server Switching Only
- GFW Resistance
- Failed (Instant Detection)
- Price
- $2.49/month (2yr plan)
- Refund Policy
- 30-Day Guarantee
The "NoBorders" Myth Explained
Surfshark markets its "NoBorders" feature as a solution for restrictive regions. In reality, NoBorders is marketing, not engineering. It simply switches to a different list of servers—it does not change the underlying protocol signature that the GFW detects.
The Great Firewall identifies VPN protocols by their traffic patterns, not by server IPs alone. NoBorders changes servers but continues using WireGuard or IKEv2, both of which are instantly fingerprinted and blocked.
Why Protocol Obfuscation Matters
Effective GFW bypass requires protocol-level obfuscation—making VPN traffic look like ordinary HTTPS web browsing. Surfshark lacks this capability entirely:
- WireGuard: High-entropy UDP packets instantly flagged
- IKEv2: Distinctive handshake pattern detected in milliseconds
- OpenVPN: Standard encryption without scrambling is identified
No Obfuscation Layer
Surfshark offers zero obfuscation protocols. Without traffic disguise (like StealthVPN, Chameleon, or VLESS), the GFW catches connections before they complete. NoBorders is cosmetic server rotation, not technical bypass.
Strengths and Limitations
Strengths (Outside China)
- ✓ Excellent value: Unlimited devices at low price
- ✓ Good streaming: Unblocks Netflix, BBC, etc.
- ✓ Modern apps: Clean interface across platforms
Limitations (China)
- ✗ No obfuscation: Protocols instantly detected
- ✗ NoBorders is fake: Just server switching
- ✗ 0-10% success: Only rare regional outliers
- ✗ Misleading marketing: Claims China support
Better Alternatives
If you were attracted to Surfshark for its budget pricing and unlimited devices, consider these options that actually work in China:
Budget Recommendation
LetsVPN offers similar budget pricing with actual obfuscation that works in China. For guaranteed reliability, Astrill VPN is the professional standard with StealthVPN protocol.