Surfshark takes gift cards, allowing users to choose the prepaid payment option to buy an account anonymously.
However, there are limitations to where Surfshark officially allows gift card usage, and you might not qualify for some of the fundamental guarantees of a Surfshark subscription with this payment method.
Likewise, users can alternatively apply gift cards for their Surfshark payment to avoid going the official route.
I’ve broken it all down in the rest of this piece.
How to Pay for Surfshark Using Gift Cards? (Official)
I spoke with Surfshark customer support and learned that the official way to pay for Surfshark via gift cards is through your mobile app merchants.
Thus, you’d have to sign up for Surfshark from your Apple App Store (iOS or iPad) or Google Play Store (Android) to get this functionality.
Here’s how:
- Go to the Surfshark website via your iOS or Android. I’ll use an iOS device for this example.
- Scroll to the bottom of the page and tap “VPN download.”
- Tap “Download apps” on the next page.
- The page scrolls down to available apps. Tap your mobile operating system. In my case, that’s iOS.
- Tap the mobile app download prompt on the next page. That’s “Download on App Store,” in my case.
- You’ll be referred to your mobile app store. Tap “Get” to install the app.
- Tap “Open” once the download completes.
- Tap “Create account.”
- Enter your email address and tap “Next.”
- Enter your password and tap “Create account.”
- Once in, tap “Pick A Plan” at the top of the screen.
- Tap “Subscribe now.”
- Confirm your account subscription. Note that you’ll get a 7-day free trial first.
- Next, go to your device’s app store again. That’s the iOS app store for me.
- Tap your account icon in the upper right corner.
- For iOS users, tap “Redeem Gift Card or Code.”
- Follow the rest of the on-screen instructions to enter your gift card details. Ensure you buy one with a value more than the needed Surfshark subscription.
- The balance is added to your account and charged after the 7-day free trial lapses.
Alternative Ways to Pay for Surfshark With Gift Cards
Purchasing a Surfshark subscription using gift cards on mobile may get you unfettered access to what the VPN service provider offers. However, your refund requests and other critical account requests may no longer be handled directly by Surfshark.
Luckily, there are other ways to use gift card payments for the provider.
Via Amazon
There are two ways to leverage Amazon as a gift card payment option for Surfshark.
The first option is to go to the Amazon official website to search for Surfshark and purchase a plan via the e-commerce giant. During checkout, you can pay with an Amazon Gift Card, which you’ll buy on the platform.
Alternatively, purchasing Surfshark via its website gives you an Amazon Pay payment option. So, you should fund your Amazon Pay account with a gift card before the VPN purchase.
Here’s how to do this:
- Go to the Surfshark website (get discounts here).
- Click “Get the Best VPN” or “Get VPN Deal” to enjoy my discounts.
- Choose any of the plans. I recommend the 24-month “Get Starter” deal if you only want a VPN service. You’ll get 2 extra months with my special discount.
- Enter your email address in the provided box.
- Click “Amazon Pay.”
- Click the Amazon Pay button to continue.
- Sign into your Amazon account to authorize the payment.
- Follow the rest of the on-screen instructions.
Not all regions support Amazon Pay payments yet, so check that before attempting it.
Via Google Pay
Surfshark also allows users purchasing an account via its website to pay via Google Pay. And, if you’ve guessed it, you can also fund your Google Pay account with gift cards.
Before attempting this, you should purchase a Google Play gift card equivalent (or more) to the Surfshark plan you want to buy.
Once you’ve done so, follow the steps below:
- Go to the Surfshark website (follow this discount link).
- Follow steps 2-4 from above.
- Click “Google Pay.”
- Click “Buy with G Pay.”
- Log in to the Google account associated with your desired G Pay to initiate the payment process.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the payment.
Can You Get a Refund After Purchasing Surfshark With Gift Cards?
You can’t get a refund after purchasing Surfshark using gift cards.
This was confirmed to me by the Surfshark customer care agent, showing that the 30-day money-back guarantee doesn’t apply here.
This is most likely because
- Surfshark isn’t responsible for handling refund requests via the officially supported gift card payment method (mobile). Instead, you’ll have to deal with your merchant (Google or iOS) for a refund.
- Surfshark likes to refund payments to the same method they came from, and gift cards can’t be refunded in value once used.
So, it’s best to be sure you’re okay with the VPN service provider before you commit to a gift card subscription. Fortunately, mobile users can see if the VPN is worth it via the 7 days free trial.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Buy Surfshark Gift Cards?
You can buy Surfshark gift cards on third-party providers like CoinGate to anonymously purchase the VPN service provider. However, Surfshark doesn’t directly offer gift cards to customers.
So, always read the terms and conditions of the platform you’re purchasing the Surfshark gift card from to know what you’re getting, possible refund support, and get answers to other relevant queries.
Stay Anonymous and Secure
Gift card payments allow users to remove the VPN purchase from their financial history, ensuring higher privacy. This guide shows you the various ways to employ this payment option on Surfshark and the shortcomings to know about.
On top of that, you can also explore Surfshark’s cryptocurrency payment method for the same level of privacy. Just ensure to learn about its pros and cons beforehand too.
No matter your choice, grab these Surfshark discounts to save more on the already-affordable VPN.
