What is Surfshark’s FastTrack and how does it improve VPN speed?
FastTrack is a proprietary technology by Surfshark that dynamically optimizes VPN traffic routing for faster connection speeds. Instead of routing your VPN data along a fixed path, FastTrack continuously analyzes latency and network conditions across Surfshark’s entire global infrastructure. It identifies the fastest possible route to the chosen VPN server, even if that path is geographically longer but technically superior due to better equipment and network quality. This real-time route optimization can yield VPN speeds up to 70% faster than standard connections.
Which servers currently support FastTrack and how to find them?
FastTrack now covers over 2,000 servers, representing more than half of Surfshark’s total network of approximately 4,500 servers across every continent. If you are using Surfshark’s app on Mac or iOS, you can look for the FastTrack icon next to the server in the list to know if the optimization is available in your location. This expansion greatly increases the chances that FastTrack is active in your city or preferred VPN server destination, enabling faster and more stable connections.
What additional benefits and limitations does FastTrack have?
Besides speed improvements, FastTrack reduces routing errors by leveraging Surfshark’s Nexus routing infrastructure, which has multiple redundant network paths. This redundancy means if one route slows down or fails, traffic is automatically redirected to a better path, minimizing interruptions and overall service instability. Additionally, FastTrack uses data center networks independent of traditional ISPs to avoid typical throttling and network constraints.
The main current limitation is that FastTrack is only available on Surfshark’s Mac and iOS apps. There is ongoing feedback collection to prioritize expansion to other platforms like Android in the future.
How will FastTrack upgrades impact your VPN experience?
For Surfshark users on Mac and iOS, FastTrack’s expansion to thousands of servers means significantly faster and more reliable VPN connections across many locations worldwide. This makes it an excellent choice for activities sensitive to speed and latency, such as video streaming, online gaming, or large file transfers. As Surfshark continues to gather user feedback and potentially roll out FastTrack to more platforms, the overall VPN performance for users is set to improve substantially.
To maximize benefits, users should check their app for FastTrack-enabled servers and connect accordingly. Keep in mind that while FastTrack boosts speeds, overall VPN performance also depends on your base internet connection and server load.