For anyone who has been waiting for the right moment to lock in a VPN subscription, Surfshark's Memorial Day offer cuts through the noise with something unusual: not just a discounted rate, but a free Amazon gift card handed to new subscribers at the end of their first month. The deal is exclusively available to TechRadar readers and expires on June 2, leaving a narrow window to act. Given that VPN discounts rarely combine cash-equivalent incentives with multi-year pricing this low, the offer deserves a close look before it disappears.
What the Deal Actually Includes
The core structure is straightforward. Sign up for a two-year Surfshark plan and receive three additional months of protection at no extra cost - bringing total coverage to 27 months. On top of that, a free Amazon gift card is delivered on day 31 of the subscription, a deliberate design choice that sits just outside the 30-day money-back window. That timing is worth noting: you cannot simultaneously collect the gift card and invoke the refund guarantee. The trade-off is transparent, but it requires a genuine commitment to the service.
Three pricing tiers are available:
- Starter plan: $1.99 per month, billed upfront at $53.73 - includes a $10 Amazon gift card
- One plan: $2.49 per month, billed upfront at $67.23 - includes a $20 Amazon gift card
- One+ plan: $113.13 upfront - includes a $30 Amazon gift card, plus identity theft protection via Surfshark
The middle tier - the One plan at $2.49 per month - offers the most balanced value. The $20 gift card meaningfully offsets the upfront cost, and the jump to the One+ plan adds only $10 in gift card value while nearly doubling the total price. Unless identity theft protection is a priority, the One plan is the rational choice for most subscribers.
Why a VPN Still Matters in 2025
Discounts aside, the underlying case for a reputable VPN has not weakened. Internet service providers in many jurisdictions retain the legal right to log and sell browsing data. Public Wi-Fi networks - in airports, hotels, cafés - remain structurally insecure, exposing unencrypted traffic to interception. Geo-restrictions continue to fragment access to streaming libraries and news sources across borders.
A VPN addresses these concerns by routing traffic through an encrypted tunnel to a remote server, masking both the user's IP address and the content of their connection from local network observers and ISPs alike. Surfshark, which operates under Dutch jurisdiction and maintains a verified no-logs policy, has built a reputation for broad device compatibility and a no-simultaneous-connection limit - meaning a single subscription covers an entire household without additional fees. Those qualities matter when evaluating a multi-year commitment.
How Surfshark Compares to Current Alternatives
Surfshark is not the only provider running Memorial Day pricing. For readers whose needs differ, three alternatives stand out at distinct positions in the market:
- NordVPN at $3.09 per month offers stronger security architecture and leads independent streaming tests - the better option for users who prioritize raw performance and encryption depth over cost.
- ExpressVPN at $2.79 per month suits users new to VPNs who want an intuitive interface, fast connection speeds, and built-in password management - features Surfshark's base plans do not include.
- Proton VPN at $2.99 per month is headquartered in Switzerland, which subjects it to some of the strictest privacy regulations in the world, and offers 188 server locations globally - a compelling option for users where legal jurisdiction is a primary concern.
Each of these providers occupies a defensible position. NordVPN leads on overall capability. ExpressVPN leads on accessibility. Proton VPN leads on legal privacy guarantees by jurisdiction. Surfshark leads on value per dollar, particularly with the gift card factored in - which is precisely why this Memorial Day offer is structurally different from a standard percentage discount.
The Practical Case for Acting Before June 2
Multi-year VPN plans carry inherent risk: services can change, companies can be acquired, and privacy policies can shift. Surfshark's 30-day refund window mitigates some of that exposure, though the gift card structure, as noted, makes the refund option and the bonus mutually exclusive. Subscribers who intend to retain the service long-term are the obvious beneficiaries here.
The deadline is firm. After June 2, the gift card component disappears, and pricing reverts to standard promotional rates. For households already paying for a VPN at higher rates - or for users still relying on free services that log traffic and sell data to fund operations - switching before the window closes is a straightforward upgrade in both protection and economics.
