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PureVPN review 2024


PureVPN is a major player in the VPN market, and after testing it thoroughly, I can see why. One feature that really impresses me is Always-On Audit, which shows PureVPN’s strong commitment to security and transparency. Another unique advantage is its support for port forwarding, which is great if you need more control over your connection – whether it’s for gaming, accessing home servers, or ensuring secure remote access.

However, no service is perfect. During PureVPN testing, I encountered some connection issues with certain servers, which can be frustrating if you're looking for consistent performance.

In this review, I’ll share the results of my testing, which I conducted with the help of the Cybernews research team. You’ll learn how well PureVPN handles streaming, security, and overall ease of use. Stick around to see if PureVPN is the right choice to keep you secure and connected, no matter where you are.

⭐ Rating:
4.2
🥇 Overall rank:#8 out of #41
📖 No logs policy:No logs
💵 Price:From $2.14/month
🖥️ Servers:6,500 + servers in 65 countries
🍿 Streaming services:Netflix, BBC iPlayer, YouTube
🔥 Coupons:PureVPN coupon 82% OFF

PureVPN pros and cons

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Recent updates
In this September update, I’ve refreshed the PureVPN review based on the latest findings from the Cybernews testing team. The performance and features of PureVPN were thoroughly evaluated to ensure the most accurate and up-to-date information. Additionally, I’ve included the newest insights from testing to provide the best recommendations possible.

PureVPN review: key takeaways

  • Performance. PureVPN uses WireGuard and OpenVPN tunneling protocols to ensure optimal speeds. The VPN is speedy enough to offer uninterrupted streaming and torrenting.
  • Streaming. With 6500+ servers across 65 countries, the VPN has no trouble unblocking access to Netflix, Hulu, Max, BBC iPlayer, and many other popular services. It’s also a decent option for torrenting.
  • Privacy and security. PureVPN offers strong 256-bit encryption and features like a kill switch to protect your data. The VPN also has a strict no-logs policy, supported by its Always-On Audit, ensuring that your online activities remain private.
  • Feature and functionality. PureVPN includes useful features such as port forwarding and split tunneling, giving users greater control over their connections. It also offers a password manager add-on, adding an extra layer of security to your online accounts.
  • Compatibility. PureVPN’s apps for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS devices are easy to set up and use. The VPN is also available for Linux via a Command Line Interface and a Graphical User Interface.
  • Pricing. With prices starting at $2.14/month, PureVPN is one of the most budget-friendly VPNs on the market. You can choose from 1-month, 1-year, and 2-year plans – the longer the subscription term, the cheaper the monthly price.

Visit PureVPN to learn more about the features

How we tested PureVPN

To provide a thorough and accurate assessment of PureVPN, I relied on a trusted VPN testing method developed with the help of the Cybernews research team. This method is consistently applied to every VPN review, ensuring reliable and fair results.

For this review, PureVPN was tested on a Windows Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 2, powered by a Ryzen 5 PRO 5650U processor and 16 GB of RAM. During this evaluation, I, with the help of the Cybernews research team, performed the following tests:

  • DNS and IP leak tests to verify if PureVPN successfully protects your identity and prevents leaks, ensuring your real IP address remains hidden.
  • Kill switch functionality to assess how well PureVPN safeguards user privacy in the event of a sudden connection drop.
  • Privacy policy and independent audits review to confirm PureVPN’s transparency and commitment to best practices in data handling.
  • Speed tests to measure PureVPN’s performance and compare it against previous benchmarks, focusing on download and upload speeds during various activities like streaming and torrenting.
  • Usability testing to evaluate how easy it is to switch servers, stream content, game, and download torrents using PureVPN.
  • Feature functionality checks to ensure that all of PureVPN’s advertised features are working correctly and providing the benefits they claim.
  • Cross-platform compatibility by assessing PureVPN’s performance on different devices and platforms to confirm seamless operation.
  • Customer support responsiveness by contacting PureVPN’s support team to gauge their effectiveness in resolving issues and providing assistance.
  • Connection consistency across various servers to determine the reliability of PureVPN’s network and to ensure minimal interruptions during use.

These tests were conducted to provide a comprehensive overview of PureVPN’s capabilities, helping you make an informed decision about whether this VPN meets your needs.

PureVPN price: great value for money

PureVPN is one of the cheapest VPNs on the market right now. With a long-term subscription plan as low as $2.14/month, it even beats such budget-friendly providers as Surfshark (from $1.99/month with a 2-year plan), Norton Secure VPN (from $3.33/month on the first year with a 2-year plan) it also beats market leader NordVPN which cost $2.99/month for a 2-year Basic plan.

Standard planPrice
5-year plan$2.16/month
2-year plan$2.14/month
1-year plan$3.99/month
Monthly$12.95

PureVPN offers four main plans: a monthly plan, a 1-year plan, a 2-year plan, and a 5-year plan, with the best value for money found in the longer-term options. No matter which PureVPN subscription plan you buy, you’ll get the same features together with the possibility to use the VPN on 10 devices simultaneously.

This is more than what ExpressVPN offers with 8 simultaneous connections or CyberGhost with 7 connections. However, some providers, like Surfshark and IPVanish, offer unlimited simultaneous connections, giving you even more flexibility. Just keep in mind that the VPN’s Terms of Service prohibit sharing your account with other people even family members.

The best value for PureVPN is there when you purchase a long-term plan. With the biggest savings on a 2-year plan, it's by far the cheapest option from the ones available. There’s also a 31-day money-back guarantee that lets you change your mind in case you're not satisfied with the service.

You can also get PureVPN for a single month for $12.95. PureVPN offers three monthly plans: the Standard plan, the Plus plan, and the Max plan. The Standard plan covers the essentials, while the Plus plan adds advanced security features. The Max plan offers the most comprehensive package, including dedicated IP, port forwarding, and all the additional features that PureVPN provides. However, if you are looking for a cheaper monthly VPN, you should consider providers like Bitdefender VPN. I

The payment options include PayPal, credit and debit cards, Google Play, and a variety of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin via CoinPayments. However, some PureVPN landing pages don’t display the crypto payment option, which is rather confusing.

  • Even though PureVPN is already cheap, you can save even more money by using these amazing PureVPN coupons!

PureVPN value for money

PureVPN offers 10 simultaneous connections, which is the industry standard for premium VPNs. While it doesn’t match the unlimited connections of Surfshark, it exceeds ExpressVPN’s 8 and CyberGhost’s 7. This makes PureVPN a solid value for those needing up to 10 devices connected simultaneously.

PureVPN offers three pricing plans, each with different features. The Standard plan at $2.14/month covers basic privacy needs, but doesn’t stand out compared to other major VPN providers like Surfshark, which offer more features at similar price.

The Plus plan at $3.33/month adds a secure password manager and end-to-end file encryption. While the password manager works fine, it’s fairly basic, providing standard features like password storage and autofill, without offering anything beyond what you’d expect from similar services.

The Max plan at $4.07/month includes everything in the Plus plan, plus the Personal Privacy Manager (PurePrivacy), which is supposed to block web trackers. However, the testing showed that it only blocked around 23% of trackers, which is below average and less effective than other tracker blockers on the market.

Overall, PureVPN’s plans are priced above average without delivering standout features. While the VPN itself is reliable, the added features in the higher-tier plans don’t offer enough value to justify the higher cost, especially when compared to other providers like Surfshark, which offer more comprehensive protection for similar prices.

Feature
Standard PlanPlus PlanMax Plan
Simultaneous Connections101010
Personal Privacy Manager (purePrivacy)❌ No❌ No✅Yes
Password Manager (pureKeep)❌ No✅Yes✅Yes
End-to-End File Encryption (pureEncrypt)❌ No✅Yes✅Yes
Full-featured, high-Speed VPN✅Yes✅Yes✅Yes
2-year plan cost$2.14/month$3.33/month$4.07/month

PureVPN features and functionality: our test results

If you’re looking for advanced features like ad blockers, advanced malware protection, or multi-hop connections, PureVPN’s cheaper plans might fall short. Some features, like a dedicated IP and port forwarding, need to be purchased separately, adding to the overall cost. If these features are important to you, be prepared for additional expenses beyond the base plan. However, if you’re content with the basic stuff like a kill switch and split tunneling, then you’re good to go.

Kill switch

A good kill switch is an essential feature of any VPN. When enabled, it automatically stops your internet connection as soon as you get disconnected from your VPN by accident. It’s especially useful when you’re using public Wi-Fi (which is prone to hacker attacks) or when you’re torrenting and don’t want your identity to get compromised.

PureVPN-Killswitch
PureVPN kill switch feature

PureVPN's kill switch is enabled by default (of course, you can disable it anytime you want). When I tested PureVPN’s kill switch, I force-quit the VPN process to check if my real IP would be exposed. The kill switch worked as intended, ensuring no IP or DNS leaks occurred during the test. There were no issues with the kill switch or during my DNS/IP leak tests, confirming that PureVPN effectively protects your privacy even in unexpected disconnections.

Split tunneling

At the moment, you can find the split tunneling feature only in the Windows and Android apps of PureVPN. This is quite a handy feature to have, so let’s hope they add it to the other apps in the future.

PureVPN split tunneling features

Split tunneling allows you to conserve bandwidth by letting you choose the applications (or, sometimes, websites) that will use the VPN connection. In other words, the traffic of some of your apps will be encrypted, while the rest of your internet traffic will go through an open network.

When trying to set up split tunneling on PureVPN, you get a list of the applications installed on your phone. Simply mark the ones that should connect through the VPN, and you’re good to go.

When I tested PureVPN’s split tunneling feature by adding a browser to the extensions list, I found that it worked as intended with no issues. The IP changed correctly for the selected apps, demonstrating that the feature functions smoothly and as expected.

Port forwarding

Port forwarding is an extra feature of PureVPN that you can buy for $1.49/month. When configured properly, it allows the computers outside your network to access a specific device connected to your local network.

To test PureVPN’s port forwarding, I set up gaming servers, tried hosting a small website, and accessed devices remotely. The feature functioned as expected, and it’s definitely worth considering the extra cost.

Obfuscation

PureVPN implemented an obfuscation feature in February 2023 which is beneficial for those who live in highly-censored countries and especially those that restrict VPN usage. However, I cannot recommend it for those who seek the fastest connection speeds.

PureVPN’s obfuscation functionality came with no surprises – I was able to hide VPN traffic and make it look as if I was browsing without the help of a VPN.

With obfuscation, you still receive all the benefits a VPN can give, like unblocking geo-restricted content, avoiding ISP throttling, and staying protected, but no one can detect your VPN connection and block it.

Additionally, PureVPN has added a domain fronting feature that uses different domain names from other parts of the website to make it look like you come from a different domain. And since it makes it harder to block the site, you have higher chances of bypassing blocked content wherever you’re located. Unfortunately, from my experience, it’s quite tricky to set up and it might slow down your connection.

PureKeep

To take your online safety to the next level, PureVPN has implemented a password manager add-on PureKeep to its application. All items in the vault are protected with state-of-the-art encryption and a master password known only by the owner. There, you can safely store and autofill your passwords and other sensitive information, such as bank details, documents, and more.

As you already get rid of the frustration of remembering your passwords, you also get help with creating new complex passwords. With the PureKeep password generator, you can generate long passwords that include numbers, symbols, lowercase and uppercase letters.

You can also share your passwords and send attachments securely with your family, friends, or colleagues by having collaborative vaults and organizations.

The add-on is available for only a single dollar a month. You can find it in the PureVPN application or through PureVPN member’s area.

Although PureVPN’s password manager can offer you the most basic password management features, it hasn’t made the list of the best password managers, and that’s because it simply cannot yet outperform NordPass, RoboForm, 1Password, and other top managers.

PureVPN upgrade options

PureVPN provides various upgrades to customize your VPN experience. You can add a dedicated IP or port forwarding, with an option to buy these two features combined, which is cheaper than purchasing them separately.

A dedicated IP is ideal for secure and consistent online activities, while port forwarding allows remote access to devices, making it useful for gaming, remote work, or managing networks from afar. PureVPN's strong offerings in these areas have earned it spots on our best VPN with dedicated IPs list and our best VPN with port forwarding list, highlighting its strengths in these categories.

Additionally, PureVPN offers multi-login (which increases the number of simultaneous connections), a dedicated server (providing exclusive server use for enhanced performance), and residential network options. The residential network feature assigns you IP addresses from actual residential locations, making it less likely for your connection to be blocked or flagged by CAPTCHAs, as it appears more like typical home internet traffic.

PureVPN servers and locations

With regard to the number of servers, at first glance, PureVPN can compete even with the most popular VPNs like NordVPN and ExpressVPN, as it offers 6500+ servers in 65 countries. To compare, NordVPN has 6400+ servers in 111 countries, while ExpressVPN has 3000+ servers in 105 countries.

RegionsCountriesNumber of servers
North AmericaUnited States, Canada, Bahamas, Barbados, Puerto Rico, Cayman Islands, and others1746 servers
EuropeUnited Kingdom, Netherlands, Belgium, France, Sweden, and others2992 servers
AsiaJapan, Singapore, India, China, Vietnam, Afghanistan, and others800 servers
Central AmericaPanama10 servers
South AmericaBrazil, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, and others91 servers
OceaniaAustralia and New Zealand350 servers
AfricaSouth Africa, 96 servers

There are two types of servers offered by PureVPN. A good chunk of them are physical, which means that they are physically located in the country they appear to be in.

However, a lot of PureVPN’s servers are virtual. A virtual server seems to be located in a different country than it actually is. For example, if you choose to connect to a Bulgarian server, it might be located in Greece. Luckily, you’ll be assigned a Bulgarian IP address anyway. What does it mean for you? Simply put, you can't hope to get a similar level of performance compared to a physical server.

Servers of purevpn
Servers of PureVPN

If you use PureVPN's Android app, you can also choose one of four modes to filter the servers according to your needs: Stream, Internet Freedom, Security/Privacy, and File Sharing. Besides that, if you don’t find a server in the country you need, you can contact support and request such a server.

Additionally, PureVPN has Quantum-Resistant servers in the US, the UK, Australia, Canada, Germany and the Netherlands. They use encryption keys that are generated using a verifiable quantum process to provide better security and privacy.

You can check out the full list of both virtual and physical servers on the official PureVPN website.

Expert comment
Content editor and security expert

Speed and performance: is PureVPN fast?

I conducted several speed tests with the help of the Cybernews research team to assess PureVPN’s performance across various global locations. The results highlight PureVPN’s solid speeds, especially when using the WireGuard protocol, which is known for its high efficiency compared to OpenVPN.

Data period: 10.25 - 11.08
Download retention
Upload retention
Australia Australia
96% (482 Mbit/s) 48 % (243 Mbit/s)
United Kingdom United Kingdom
83% (418 Mbit/s) 93 % (469 Mbit/s)
US (NY) US (NY)
93% (469 Mbit/s) 94 % (474 Mbit/s)
Singapore Singapore
86% (430 Mbit/s) 60 % (300 Mbit/s)
France France
95% (477 Mbit/s) 91 % (458 Mbit/s)
Download/Upload baseline speed - 500 Mbit/s

These results show that PureVPN offers competitive download speeds, particularly in Australia and France, where the retention rates are very high. Upload speeds do vary depending on the region, with the US and UK showing the strongest performance.

While PureVPN’s speeds aren’t quite on the level of top providers like NordVPN or Surfshark, they are still quite respectable. I recommend choosing a server location closest to your physical location for the best speeds.

I found the Windows app particularly user-friendly as it displays the ping for each location, making it easier to select the fastest servers without the need for trial and error. Additionally, the app shows real-time information on your upload and download speeds, as well as the active tunneling protocol, which is a handy feature.

Now, let’s take a look at how the best speeds of PureVPN compare to other fast VPN providers:

ProviderAverage download speed
NordVPN471.2 Mbps 🏆
PureVPN468.2 Mbps
ExpressVPN459.1 Mbps
  • Download/Upload baseline speed - 500 Mbit/s

As you can see, PureVPN falls right in the middle, offering decent speeds suitable for streaming and torrenting.

PureVPN performance with other protocols

PureVPN also showed impressive speed test results with OpenVPN UDP: many locations had low download speed drop-offs. On the other hand, the speed fluctuated quite a bit when connected to the US and UK servers, while the Canadian server speed appeared to be more stable.

And with a newly implemented extra security layer – multiport – OpenVPN tunnel automatically connected to one of the specified ports, which eliminates the struggle of a manual setup. Plus, you can connect to several servers simultaneously, so you don’t need to disconnect from a VPN to change them.

Testing showed that IKEv2 was much faster than OpenVPN TCP but also much less consistent. In fact, OpenVPN TCP severely impacted the speeds, making it one of the least effective options for more distant locations.

Here are the average download/upload speeds when using each of the available tunneling protocols (I tested 10 locations in total):

  • Baseline: 300Mbps download/300Mbps upload
  • WireGuard: 200/210
  • IKEv2: 167/12
  • OpenVPN UDP: 145/141
  • OpenVPN TCP: 37/14

You can clearly see that the speeds with WireGuard are the best.

Also, IKEv2 offers a bit better download speeds than OpenVPN UDP. However, its download speeds are far from impressive.

Moreover, you might have some connection issues when using the IKEv2 tunneling protocol. During the tests, some servers kept disconnecting and I lost internet access while connected to the VPN. This really hurt the average speed test scores.

Interface and ease of use

Your experience with PureVPN is likely to differ depending on your operating system you install it on. For example, Windows and macOS users generally get the best experience. However, both Android and iOS users are also likely to enjoy the ease of use that corresponding apps offer.

PlatformExperience
WindowsUsing PureVPN on Windows feels seamless, with quick server access, intuitive navigation, and practical features like Dark Mode and Tracker Blocker that enhance both usability and privacy.
macOSUsing PureVPN on macOS is straightforward and easy, with a clean interface that's now even better thanks to added features like Tracker Blocker and Residential Network.
LinuxUsing PureVPN on Linux, particularly with the new GUI app on Ubuntu, offers a smooth and user-friendly experience, closely mirroring the ease of use found in the Windows version.
AndroidUsing PureVPN on Android is efficient and feature-packed, offering a user-friendly interface that mirrors its desktop version.
iOSUsing PureVPN on iOS is refreshingly simple, with a streamlined design and features like "Remove My Data" and "Tracker Blocker" that make managing your privacy straightforward and intuitive.

Windows

Installing PureVPN on Windows is a quick and easy task. Download the file, install it, and log in. That’s pretty much the hard part. Once installed, the Windows version of PureVPN is quite intuitive and easy to use, albeit a bit plain-looking. It supports WireGuard, OpenVPN (TCP and UDP), and IKEv2 tunneling protocols. It lets you select the protocol, as well as enable/disable the kill switch and auto-connection.

The remaining features can be accessed via a menu on the left. It includes the Dashboard and the full Locations list.

PureVPN for Windows also includes features like Dark Mode, which enhances usability in low-light environments, and Remove My Data, which allows you to easily delete your data from PureVPN's servers. Tracker Blocker helps prevent online tracking, and the Residential Network feature provides more reliable connections with IPs from residential locations, reducing the chances of being blocked.

Using the Locations menu, you can easily connect to one of the 6500+ PureVPN servers. All you have to do is click on the globe icon and choose your preferred location. That’s it – in just a few steps, you can start enjoying the vast benefits of the VPN.

PureVPN-Windows
PureVPN Windows interface

Mac

The macOS version of the app is almost identical to the Windows one – except there’s no ping displayed next to each server, which is a bit disappointing. Also, this macOS VPN supports WireGuard, IKEv2, and L2TP/IPSec tunneling protocols.

Just like on Windows, the main menu of PureVPN is located on the left. It includes the following navigational elements: Dashboard, Locations, Remove my data, Password manager Notifications, Refer a Friend, Discover more, Support, and Profile. The Preferences menu can be accessed via a button in the bottom-left corner of the main window. The macOS app for PureVPN now includes the Tracker Blocker and Residential Network features, just like the Windows version.

The macOS app for PureVPN now includes the Tracker Blocker and Residential Network features, just like the Windows version.

Overall, the biggest benefit of PureVPN on macOS is that the application interface is simple, sleek, and easy to navigate.

PureVPN-macos
Mac interface PureVPN

Linux

The Linux version of PureVPN is the most different of them all. It functions through the Command Line Interface, which means that it is targeted at users with an IT background. It’s quite a common occurrence when it comes to Linux VPNs. The app offers WireGuard and OpenVPN (TCP and UDP) protocols.

PureVPN offers a Graphical User Interface (GUI) app for Linux, making it easier for users on Ubuntu to manage their VPN service. The app includes useful features like an auto connection option, an internet kill switch, and support for both TCP and UDP protocols.

Additionally, PureVPN's Linux version also provides the Connect to Fallback option. This option will connect you to the next best available option if you're unable to connect with your preferred protocol.

The app is very simple to use, quite minimal, and similar to the Windows version.

Connecting PureVPN on Linux 1
PureVPN on Linux interface

Android

Right now, the Android app of PureVPN is the most feature-rich of the bunch. It offers different server modes (Stream, Internet Freedom, Security/Privacy, and File Sharing), split tunneling, the possibility to choose the network type (NAT or non-NAT), as well as Dark and Light themes. Additionally, it includes a tracker blocker, a 'Remove My Data' feature, and a password manager. The UI has also been updated to resemble the desktop interface, making it more consistent across platforms.

The Android application offers WireGuard, IPSec, and IKEv2 tunneling protocols, and switching between them has proven to be quick and smooth.

PureVPN-Android
PureVPN Android interface

The PureVPN Android app's main screen shows your current server location, VPN IP address, and connection duration. A large, central button indicates whether you’re connected, with an easy option to change servers. Key features like the 'Tracker Blocker' toggle are accessible directly on this screen, alongside data usage stats, making it straightforward for users to manage their connection and privacy settings. The interface is clean and focused on essential functions, ensuring a user-friendly experience.

A significant problem with some popular VPNs is that different apps dedicated to different operating systems are often highly unbalanced, meaning that you have amazing features with desktop apps and lack of functionality with mobile apps, or vice versa. However, I’ve found that this is not the case with PureVPN. Especially on Android.

iOS

The PureVPN iOS app is more similar to the Windows version in terms of design and functionality. It supports WireGuard, OpenVPN (TCP and UDP), and IKEv2 protocols. It’s more basic than the Android app, but that’s usually the case with VPN apps for iPhone. Nonetheless, the basic functionalities are pretty much covered on this iOS app.

When testing the PureVPN iOS app, I found it to be more sleek looking, and the connection button is not as glaring as it is on the Android version. The menu button in the top-right corner gives easy access to the Locations, Notifications, and Settings menus.

The Settings menu makes it very easy to set up automatic reconnections, personalize server selections, and perform a speed test. Switching between protocols using the Connection Protocols menu is also quick and effortless.

PureVPN iOS home screen
PureVPN iOS home screen

The iOS app also includes the 'Remove My Data' and 'Tracker Blocker' features, enhancing its privacy and data management capabilities.

Is PureVPN safe?

PureVPN is a safe VPN service. It uses 256-bit encryption and offers reliable always-on audit. Continue reading this PureVPN review to find out more. Additionally, it features a kill switch and DNS/IP leak protection to enhance your privacy, ensuring your data stays secure even if the connection drops.

Encryption and tunneling protocols

All the tunneling protocols supported by PureVPN offer AES-256 encryption. It is the current industry standard of encryption, trusted by the US government, military, and companies that deal with sensitive data. The reason is the cipher’s complexity and the huge number of 256 possible key combinations.

PureVPN tunneling protocol selection
PureVPN tunneling protocol selection

PureVPN also implements lots of different tunneling protocols. All of them differ in speed and security, and you are free to pick the one that suits your needs from the options screen.

ProtocolFeatures
WireGuardThe highest speed, very secure
OpenVPN TCPLow speeds, very stable and secure
OpenVPN UDPHigh speeds, less stability
IKEv2High speeds, good for mobile devices
SSTPMight work in China
L2TP/IPSecThe most outdated of the bunch

For the best performance, you should use WireGuard it’s supported by all applications of PureVPN. Both variants of OpenVPN are also good choices, as they offer excellent security.

Logging

First things first, PureVPN is based in the British Virgin Islands. Previously, this VPN was based in Hong Kong – but in late 2021, it made a switch to a different jurisdiction.

Both Hong Kong and the British Virgin Islands have privacy-friendly data retention policies. However, many users were less certain where China's pressure on the city might make PureVPN a less desirable option. With the latest switch, these doubts have all but subsided.

Secondly, PureVPN has already proven that it can leak personal information to the authorities. In 2017, the company aided in the arrest of an alleged cyberstalker by providing his logs to the FBI. More precisely, they managed to trace two of the criminal’s email accounts to the same IP address.

After this incident, PureVPN altered its privacy policy to regain their users’ trust. They claim that they don’t collect IP addresses, assigned VPN server IP addresses, VPN session timestamps, browsing activities, and DNS requests. In addition, their privacy policy has been audited by Altius IT in 2018 and KPMG (in 2020) auditing firms.

However, PureVPN’s website states that they still keep track of your name, email address, and payment method, but that's just about the standard procedure. You can also pay with cryptocurrency for an anonymous monetary transaction. That being said – with independent audits and an excellent location, PureVPN now offers solid privacy features, rivaling even the best VPN providers.

Always-On Audit

In 2021, PureVPN announced that they were becoming the first VPN on the market with an always-on-audit. Their agreement with KPMG International Limited highlights that the auditing company can conduct a thorough surprise audit without notice. The message is clear – audits could happen at any time, so your privacy is safe at all times.

Most other VPN services agree on a particular date and time for being inspected, but not in this case. This means that there's no opportunity for a service to be cleaned up before the inspection. It ensures that the VPN you're using is safe and that their audit results cannot be tampered with. It's a significant step to making sure that the company is transparent with its day-to-day operations.

When KPMG inspected the service, they found no evidence that it doesn't adhere to the no-logs claims.

Customer support

Efficient customer support is important for every VPN user. Unfortunately, no matter how great a VPN tool might be, issues are bound to come up, and you want to receive help and assistance quickly and effectively.

Here’s how PureVPN offers customer support:

24/7 live chat
Email
Phone line
Guides or articles
FAQs
In-app chat bot

If you encounter a problem while using PureVPN, you can head straight to its support page and browse through the setup, troubleshooting, and FAQ sections. You can also fill in a support ticket. Interestingly, you have to log into the page with your PureVPN account before doing that. Or you can use the in-app troubleshooting feature to fix various issues instantly.

PureVPN-support
Chat with PureVPN customer support

There’s also the 24/7 live chat. When I tested this option, I simply entered a name and email address. A friendly and professional customer support agent contacted us in under a minute. Alternatively, you can get the support directly through the application via the built-in chat bot.

Is PureVPN good for streaming?

PlatformDoes it work?
Netflix✅ Yes
Hulu✅ Yes
BBC iPlayer✅ Yes

Compared to the best VPNs for streaming, PureVPN has room to grow. That said, during the tests, it had no trouble unblocking access to such popular platforms as Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Max, and Amazon Prime Video.

On top of that, PureVPN has a dedicated app for Apple TV, which is a big plus.

And for those who are willing to sacrifice security for a better streaming experience, PureVPN offers a Proxy Control feature. It allows you to access geo-restricted sites without connection encryption. Meaning that you may get better speeds by making a tradeoff between security.

Unblocking Netflix with PureVPN

I had no trouble unblocking the US library of Netflix on the first try. The VPN also unblocked the Japanese library without a flaw.

PureVPN wasn’t successful at unblocking the French and German Netflix libraries, but this is not due to the VPN itself. Netflix has a region-changing policy within the EU, which means it takes longer for the Netflix library to update when connecting from one EU country to another. As a result, you might still see content from your original geographical area. Also, your experience may vary depending on the tunneling protocol, server used, and your browser, but this policy is the main reason for the delay.

PureVPN-unblocks-Netflix
PureVPN unblocks Netflix

In case you have trouble accessing this streaming platform, you can check out our list of the best VPNs for Netflix.

Does PureVPN unblock other platforms?

I was pleasantly surprised when I was able to unblock BBC iPlayer with PureVPN. The connection remained stable, with no noticeable buffering, even during peak times. This indicates that PureVPN’s servers are capable of handling high traffic without significant slowdowns

Unsurprisingly, accessing geo-blocked content from YouTube TV was a piece of cake. But most VPNs have no trouble unblocking this streaming service.

Overall, PureVPN offers a decent selection in terms of streaming platforms. However, it's undeniable that a bigger number of unblocked streaming sites would be lovely.

Is PureVPN good for torrenting?

Yes, PureVPN is a decent choice for torrenting. However, keep in mind that not all PureVPN’s servers support it. That’s because the VPN provider has blocked P2P on servers located in countries that prohibit file sharing (for example, the US, the UK, and Canada). Luckily, there are still lots of servers to choose from.

You can see which of them support P2P in the list under the Locations tab.

During my tests, I checked whether torrenting with PureVPN truly works. The situation has improved since January; downloading a 5GB Linux installation image took about 7 minutes, a significant improvement from the previous 25 minutes. While not as fast as without a VPN, the speeds are now much more reasonable and suitable for most users.

Take a look at this list of the best VPNs for torrenting if you’re looking for better P2P speeds. For example, NordVPN – the #1 VPN for torrenting in 2024 – offers the SOCKS5 proxy and dedicated torrenting servers for fuss-free torrenting. Surfshark is another VPN that surpasses PureVPN when it comes to torrenting because it has enabled using P2P connection on all servers.

Is PureVPN good?

Yes, PureVPN is a solid choice for anyone looking for a reliable VPN. It offers essential features like split tunneling and a dependable kill switch, ensuring your online activities remain secure. PureVPN is also effective at unblocking popular streaming platforms like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and YouTube, and it performs well for torrenting.

With strong encryption and support for protocols like WireGuard and OpenVPN, PureVPN provides both security and good speeds. The Quantum-Resistant servers are designed to protect against potential future threats posed by quantum computers, offering an extra layer of security. Additionally, PureVPN includes a password manager add-on, which helps you securely store and manage your passwords, enhancing your overall online privacy.

PureVPN's SSTP tunneling protocol also makes it a viable option for users in countries with strict internet regulations, like China. All in all, PureVPN is a well-rounded VPN that balances security, performance, and features, making it a dependable option for most users.

FAQ

Comments

Deirdre Cline
prefix 2 years ago
Two questions, would I have to fully login to my bank, FB, Amazon,,, every time?

Do I have to subscribe to Netflix or such in order to unlock?
Cybernews Team
prefix 2 years ago
Hi!
To answer your questions, you won't need to constantly re-log to your accounts when connecting to a VPN or changing your server locations. However, if you wish to unblock the global content libraries of any streaming site, you will need to first have an account on that site first. Hope this helps!
Eve
prefix 2 years ago
PureVPN is pretty decent, used it and love it
Aston
prefix 3 years ago
PureVPN says they offer innovative modes, like stream mode, internet freedom mode, privacy mode. What is that? Am I not supposed to have everything at the same time when I’m using a VPN?
Rūta Rimkienė
prefix 3 years ago
Hello! These modes filter servers according to their specialization. For example, P2P servers are located in countries that allow torrenting, and so on.
Olive Rayner
prefix 3 years ago
I’ve heard a lot of bad reviews about pure vpn but I’m still tempted to try. actually not sure if I can trust reviews online. Like whosays the truth? some experts say it’s okay, some experts say avoid it all costs. only way is to try yourself but I’m no expert so I won’t understand if the code works alright.
Rūta Rimkienė
prefix 3 years ago
Hello! If you’re not sure about PureVPN, you can try a VPN service that’s universally liked by experts. You may want to check out NordVPN, Surfshark, or ExpressVPN.
Danyl Cousins
prefix 3 years ago
Hi, I’m interested in VPNs which offer dedicated server option. Does PureVPN have dedicated servers and if so, what’s the step-by-step process to turn it on
Rūta Rimkienė
prefix 3 years ago
Hello! Yes, PureVPN allows you to buy a dedicated IP (currently, for $2.99 a month). When buying the VPN, don’t forget to mark the checkbox for a dedicated IP and to choose your preferred country. You’ll find the checkbox under the payment methods.
Clive
prefix 3 years ago
After a bit of research I decided to try purchase Purevpn for my my hulu and netflix accounts. The only thing that stops me is the fear of being banned from these platforms. I’m afraid if they see I login with a different ip address each time, it will be regarded as suspicious activity and i will lose my account and the money I paid for the subscription. Is that possible?
Rūta Rimkienė
prefix 3 years ago
Hello! Don’t worry – Netflix and Hulu won’t block your account for using a VPN. The worst thing that could happen, you won’t be able to access the site while connected to the VPN. However, as soon as you disconnect, you’ll be able to view your country’s content. If the streaming services keep blocking your VPN, you can contact the VPN’s customer support or try another provider altogether.

However, I’m not sure if PureVPN is able to unblock Hulu – for that, I’d go with NordVPN instead.
Brandon-Lee Harwood
prefix 3 years ago
Can I use purevpn for kodi together with real debrid? thanks for answering.
Rūta Rimkienė
prefix 3 years ago
Hello, PureVPN should work for you in this situation.
Domenic Dwayne
prefix 3 years ago
Is PureVPN available on Apple TV? How do I install it? The easier the better. It’s for watching Netflix and geo-blocked content.
Rūta Rimkienė
prefix 3 years ago
Hi! As Apple TV doesn’t support VPN connections natively, getting it to work with PureVPN is not the easiest task, but it’s possible. You’ll most likely need to set up the VPN on your router. You can find some instructions here. If you want an easier way, you might want to consider getting ExpressVPN instead, as it allows for a less complicated setup.
civil
prefix 3 years ago
i want a low ping vpn, is purevpn suitable for gaming? speed is a must
Rūta Rimkienė
prefix 3 years ago
Hi! If speed is extremely important to you, I suggest you’d rather use NordVPN or Surfshark.
innit
prefix 3 years ago
Hey. Interesting PureVPN speed test! Woud you mind to explain why Wireguard protocol is needed and what benefits it gives compared to other protocols like OpenVPN or IKEv2?
Rūta Rimkienė
prefix 3 years ago
Hello! The main benefit of WireGuard is better speed. It also offers more stability on mobile devices than OpenVPN.
Renat
prefix 3 years ago
I have 2nd generation firestick and want to purchase vpn. The more.I read about purevpn, the more I am inclined to make a purchase. Seems real good and people on reddit recommend it all the time. Is purevpn good choice for firestick? (;
Rūta Rimkienė
prefix 3 years ago
Hello! It’s possible to set up PureVPN with Firestick, so it should be a good choice for you. Read this article for more info on this topic.
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