SurfShark VPN Review with Dedicated IP – Bypassing ID checks with domain-based routing and speed tests

I reviewed SurfShark back in 2018 when times seemed simpler and happier.

Things have changed a lot since then. In particular, this year, the UK has implemented ID checks for any website content that is deemed adult material under the Online Safety Act.

It is a ridiculous law that doesn’t just block porn but casts a wide net, blocking anything deemed adult. My partner complained that she was unable to access the true crime subreddit, and I was unable to access the UK medical cannabis subreddit. There have also been plenty of reports about it blocking access to other medical and mental health resources. 

Then, it is very easy to bypass with a  VPN, or for other people, they are going to websites that skirt this law, which is more likely to lead them to much more harmful content, which the government was trying to block in the first place. 

Back in 2018, I was on a 350Mbps package with Virgin, and the peak speeds I pulled down were just 75Mbps. Now I am on 1000Mbps and waiting for a CityFibre 2500Mbps connection, so 75Mbps on VPN wouldn’t really cut it in 2025.

So, for this review, I won’t rehash what I previously wrote. Instead, I will focus on seeing if the speeds have improved, the dedicated IP option and if that makes a difference to both speeds or the captchas from websites. Then, I have documented how to route specific domains and devices through the VPN using a Unifi gateway.

Ordering a dedicated IP

When you order a dedicated IP from SurfShark, you have to select a location, and that can’t be changed (because it is dedicated).

You can order a dedicated IP when you sign up, or after. You will be charged for the same number of months as your existing subscription.

Then, when you have ordered the service, when you go to the Surfshark website, under VPN > Dedicated IP, you can select your location.

Before choosing my location, I tested some countries to see how fast the speed and latency were.

I had hoped to select Ireland, as this is the most logical choice, with it being close to England and an English-speaking country, but this was not available under the dedicated IP options.

I eventually settled on the Netherlands – Amsterdam.

Dedicated IP speed tests vs standard servers

For speed tests, I tested various locations and different options, to see how things had improved since my last review. Thankfully, the speeds have improved substantially.

I am currently on a Virgin Media gigabit line, which can peak at around 1100Mbps download with 105Mbps upload and pings of 25ms  with a latency of 28ms down and 69ms upload

The following tests were all done using the SurfShark Windows app and a wired connection.

For the dedicated IP:

The higher number was the day after I added the VPN to my Unifi.

Does a dedicated IP reduce CAPTCHAs?

When I initially added SurfShark to my Unifi router, I routed my partner’s phone through it for everything, only for her to complain that Google wasn’t working.

This is what led me to get the dedicated IP, with claims that it will reduce “are you robot” CAPTCHAs.

Using the SurfShark Windows app, when I use one of the standard locations, I consistently get asked if I am a robot, and I have found that the Google reCAPTCHA system has become increasingly challenging to pass, often requesting you to complete multiple image-based tasks before allowing you through.

So far, with the dedicated IP, I have seen very few CAPTCHAs. I can’t guarantee it will be perfect, as I don’t route all my traffic through this, but my limited testing has shown a significant improvement.

Bypassing ID checks for the Online Safety Act

The boom in users downloading VPNs in the UK is entirely due to the ridiculous Online Safety Act, which introduces age verification for anything perceived as adult or potentially harmful content.

However, this casts a wide net and blocks all sorts of content, including medical information, or, for my partner, the true crime subreddit.

Using a VPN can bypass this restriction. I originally used Ireland as my exit point, and this worked perfectly well, and should hopefully reduce the odds of having websites change the language on you while also maintaining decent speeds and latency compared to other English-speaking countries.

Policy-Based Routing with Unifi – Use your VPN for specific domains

If you have a Unifi gateway, and likely other prosumer/enterprise routers, you can route traffic through the VPN based on specific conditions.

For Unifi, you have the combination of specific devices and/or domains.

For me, I routed any domain that brought up the verify your age pop-up through my dedicated VPN IP. So, all of Reddit now goes through this.

There have been reports that services like Spotify will roll out similar checks, so at some point, I may end up routing most traffic through the VPN.

Additionally, I run YouTube through Andorra to avoid adverts.

I have covered setting up policy-based routing in Unifi in more detail.

Each time I set up a new VPN in Unifi, I will add speedtest.net and iplocation.net to the domains so I can test it is working as expected.

So far, the results have been great. I can browse websites freely at home without having to fire up a VPN intermittently just to look at some random subreddit.

Price and Alternative Options

SurfShark, like all VPNs, constantly has some sort of sale on, and the prices jump around a lot. So, I can’t guarantee these prices will be 100% accurate for everyone but they are what were displayed to me when viewing VPN websites in incognito mode.

For SurfShark on a 2-year plan with 3 months extra free (27 months), the price is £51.03 or £61.24 including VAT.

If you are an existing account holder needing to review, it is worth going through the cancellation process. I paid just £35.49 in 2025 after trying to cancel and receiving a discount offer.

For a dedicated IP, that is an additional £2.78 per month or £75.06+ VAT. So the total price for 27 months would be £151.31, including VAT

NordVPN seems to be the most popular alternative to SurfShark. That is £64.53+VAT for 27 months then £2.89+vat PCM for a dedicated IP. This would be £171.07 including VAT for 27 months.

Mullvad is one of the best-regarded VPNs for its privacy. They don’t complicate things with discounts; it is just 5-Euros per month, or around £4.35. So, substantially more expensive, and they do not offer a dedicated IP.

CyberGhost is £ 49.92 for 26 months, and they offer a dedicated IP at £2.25 per month. The final price, including VAT would be £ 124.70 for 26 months.

Express VPN charges $251.32 for 28 months with a dedicated IP. This works out at around £187.98.

Overall

So far, SurfShark has been a fantastic investment to avoid all the issues with ID checks for UK users. For the standard VPN option, the price is very attractive, and the performance has been superb. It doesn’t match my Internet speeds, but I consistently get over 500Mbps download speeds with decent latency, making it viable to use as a full-time connection (if you want).

The dedicated IP works brilliantly, speeds are better, and there are significantly fewer CAPTCHAs displayed. However, it more than doubles the price of the base subscription, and once you select a location, you can’t change it. So, while I can give the dedicated IP a strong recommendation, you should also consider if you will make the most of it to justify the cost.

James Smythe( Editor-in-chief )

I am James, a UK-based tech enthusiast and the Editor and Owner of Mighty Gadget, which I’ve proudly run since 2007. Passionate about all things technology, my expertise spans from computers and networking to mobile, wearables, and smart home devices.

As a fitness fanatic who loves running and cycling, I also have a keen interest in fitness-related technology, and I take every opportunity to cover this niche on my blog. My diverse interests allow me to bring a unique perspective to tech blogging, merging lifestyle, fitness, and the latest tech trends.

In my academic pursuits, I earned a BSc in Information Systems Design from UCLAN, before advancing my learning with a Master’s Degree in Computing. This advanced study also included Cisco CCNA accreditation, further demonstrating my commitment to understanding and staying ahead of the technology curve.

I’m proud to share that Vuelio has consistently ranked Mighty Gadget as one of the top technology blogs in the UK. With my dedication to technology and drive to share my insights, I aim to continue providing my readers with engaging and informative content.