Surfshark vs PureVPN: which VPN is right for you?
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VPNs let you access geo-restricted content and improve online privacy without much effort. That is, if you choose the right VPN provider. Surfshark and PureVPN are both pretty popular, offering an intuitive UI, loads of servers, and an excellent price-to-value ratio.
Surfshark stands out with low prices, unlimited simultaneous connections, and a built-in online security suite. Similarly, PureVPN is a budget-friendly VPN with a massive server network, comparable to NordVPN, although with fewer countries.
In this Surfshark vs PureVPN comparison, I teamed up with the Cybernews research team and tested both providers in terms of plans and pricing, speed and overall performance, security, features, usability, and customer support. Read on to find out which one is the right for you in July 2025.
Surfshark vs PureVPN: overview
Surfshark and PureVPN stand out as budget-friendly options with a lot to offer. Both follow the cybersecurity standards for VPNs, have undergone multiple independent audits, and follow a strict no-logs policy.
Surfshark continuously ends up in our best VPN list, and for good reason. Starting at $1.99/month, it’s one of the cheapest VPNs on the market. Despite its low price, Surfshark delivers more than just a fast VPN service. It comes with a variety of tools to improve your online security and privacy – ad and tracker blocker, antivirus, and alternative ID – all with the Surfshark One plan.
At first glance, PureVPN is not much different. It’s also affordable and includes an online security suite, although only with its more expensive plans. Unfortunately, it’s less reliable when it comes to unblocking geo-restricted content, even though it has more servers. Lastly, it allows 10 simultaneous connections, which is nothing compared to Surfshark’s unlimited device policy.
| Surfshark VPN | PureVPN | |
| ⭐ Rating: | ||
| 🥇 Overall rank: | #2 out of #41 | #7 out of #41 |
| 🖥️ Servers: | 4,500+ servers in 100 countries | 6,000+ servers in 65 countries |
| 📖 No logs policy: | No logs | No logs |
| 💵 Price: | From $1.99/month | From $2.15/month |
| 🔥 Coupons: | Surfshark coupon 87% OFF | PureVPN coupon 83% OFF |
| 🔒 VPN protocols: | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2 | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, SSTP, L2TP/IPSec |
| 🍿 Streaming services: | Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and more | Netflix, BBC iPlayer, YouTube |
| 🖥️ Platforms: | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS |
| 📥 Simultaneous connections: | Unlimited | 10 |
| 💁🏻 Support: | Knowledge base, 24/7 live chat, email support | Knowledge base, tickets, live chat |
We spare no effort to test the products & their features. All information is gathered by our in-house research team & fact-checked by our team of experts. Discover the ins and outs of our testing procedures.
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Key differences between PureVPN and Surfshark
While Surfshark and PureVPN may seem similar, there are a few key differences you should keep in mind when making your decision:
- Surfshark is cheaper. Surfshark’s starter plan costs $1.99/month while PureVPN’s starter plan Standard costs $2.15/month. The difference is minimal, but you can really see it when you compare the mid-tier plans that include more tools.
- Surfshark includes online security and privacy tools. Surfshark has a more extensive security suite with an ad and tracker blocker, antivirus, leaked data alerts, and more. In comparison, PureVPN only includes a tracker blocker and a password manager.
- PureVPN has more servers. PureVPN has over 6,000 servers across 65 countries while Surfshark has more than 4,500 servers in 100 countries. While PureVPN has more servers, Surfshark covers nearly twice as many countries.
- Surfshark is slightly faster. During our in-house testing, we found that Surfshark retains around 93.32% of the original internet speed while PureVPN retains around 93.06%. While this makes Surfshark faster on paper, you’ll hardly feel any difference in real life.
- Surfshark has unlimited simultaneous connections. You can use Surfshark on as many devices as you want whereas PureVPN only allows 10 connections at the same time.
- PureVPN offers port-forwarding. PureVPN includes a nifty feature that’s particularly useful for torrenting. Surfshark currently doesn’t have this feature.
Speed, performance, and streaming
I tested Surfshark vs PureVPN for speed, performance, and streaming. Below you can see my findings.
Surfshark and PureVPN speed comparison
To see which VPN is faster, our research team ran speed tests using the Wireguard protocol in different countries. Then, we measured the average download and upload retention speeds to get a clear image on how much the VPN slows down your internet.
Surfshark is one of the fastest VPNs on the market, which is no surprise as it uses the WireGuard tunneling protocol. Nonetheless, the swift protocol is also part of PureVPN’s arsenal, meaning connection speeds should be comparable.
Using WireGuard, Surfshark averaged download speeds of around 462 Mbps, while upload speeds averaged 284 Mbps. Conversely, PureVPN delivered 455 Mbps download speeds, while uploads were at 389 Mbps on average. In our tests, Surfshark delivered stronger download retention, while PureVPN performed better in upload retention.
However, you should analyze the table below if you want thorough information about the upload and download speeds of the two providers. Note that Surfshark VPN uses WireGuard, while PureVPN uses OpenVPN.
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Download retention
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96% (482Mbit/s) | 93% (469Mbit/s) |
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93% (467Mbit/s) | 83% (418Mbit/s) |
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96% (481Mbit/s) | 95% (477Mbit/s) |
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89% (449Mbit/s) | 86% (430Mbit/s) |
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86% (433Mbit/s) | 96% (482Mbit/s) |
|
Upload retention
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79% (399Mbit/s) | 94% (474Mbit/s) |
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84% (424Mbit/s) | 93% (469Mbit/s) |
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79% (395Mbit/s) | 91% (458Mbit/s) |
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15% (75Mbit/s) | 60% (300Mbit/s) |
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25% (127Mbit/s) | 48% (243Mbit/s) |
Using the WireGuard protocol, the results reveal that Surfshark and PureVPN are well-matched across most locations, making the comparison particularly meaningful.Yet, let’s zoom in on the results a little bit. The most notable difference appears in how each provider handles speed retention. When testing download speeds, Surfshark shows better retention results than PureVPN. However, the situation shifts with upload speeds, where PureVPN takes the lead.
Moving to more tunneling protocol speed tests, it seems that the scenario stays the same as the strength of VPNs remain pretty much equal:
| OpenVPN UDP | Surfshark | PureVPN |
| Download average | 120.2 Mbps | 145 Mbps |
| Upload average | 140.3 Mbps | 141 Mbps |
It’s interesting how different providers can deliver such similar results, even after the change of tunneling protocol. In this case, PureVPN offers slightly better download speeds while the upload speeds remain somewhat the same.
| OpenVPN TCP | Surfshark | PureVPN |
| Download average | 25.8 Mbps | 37 Mbps |
| Upload average | 28 Mbps | 14 Mbps |
With OpenVPN TCP, both competitors plunge down. Considering that this protocol is more for stability rather than speed compared to OpenVPN UDP, there’s nothing to be ashamed of.
Streaming and geo-blocking
Streaming is one of the most common reasons why people use a VPN in the first place. So, seeing how Surfshark and PureVPN handle streaming was a no brainer. We started by connecting to servers in different countries to evaluate how well they can unblock geo-restricted content. Then, we streamed some shows to see how it affects video quality and loading time.
| Platform | Surfshark | PureVPN |
| Netflix | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Amazon Prime Video | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| YouTube | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Hulu | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| BBC iPlayer | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Netflix was our first stop, and I’m happy to say both Surfshark and PureVPN unblocked Netflix. However, within the unblocking point, their ways separate. Surfshark showed zero signs of a struggle; it unblocked multiple global libraries, such as Netflix US, UK, Australia, or Germany, and streamed videos in full HD. On the other hand, PureVPN was more limited. During our tests, it was able to unblock a limited number ofNetflix libraries, such as US, UK,Japan, Turkey, and Australia, although not as reliably. Yet, we can’t complain about the quality of the videos; there were no significant speed drops or buffering.
Moving the contest to other streaming sites only reveals similar results. Yes, PureVPN does unblock BBC iPlayer, YouTube, and more; nonetheless, Surfshark does it even better. Not only does it unblock mentioned streaming platforms without a flaw, but it also offers even more streaming sites to enjoy, such as Disney+, Hulu and more.
Luckily, both VPNs have implemented the WireGuard tunneling protocol. So, if you have a good internet connection, slow speeds should be seen once in a blue moon, as well as lags during your movie session.
Torrenting
Both competitors are suitable for torrenting as they support P2P connections making their services optimized for faster downloading. With Surfshark, you can use a P2P connection on any of its servers, and choosing a closer server location to you can result in better download speed. While PureVPN is a bit more limited, it allows a P2P connection only on those servers that are located in countries where P2P is legal.
Plans and value
Even though pricing seems easy to compare because it’s only numbers, we have a different approach here. Whenever choosing a VPN, it’s crucial to evaluate the quality and price ratio. Therefore, a smaller price can’t really determine whether the deal is actually better.
I compared Surfshark’s Starter, One, and One+ plans with PureVPN’s Standard, Plus, and Max plans. I mainly focused on the advanced features included in the subscription to see the overall price-to-value ratio.
One of the main aspects of our approach can be seen between Surfshark and PureVPN. By choosing Surfshark, you can connect unlimited devices simultaneously, whereas PureVPN allows only up to 10 simultaneous connections.
| Plan | Surfshark | PureVPN |
| Monthly | $15.45/month | $12.95/month |
| One year | $3.19/month | $2.55/month |
| Two years | $1.99/month | $2.15/month |
| Check Latest Discounts | Check Latest Discounts |
Starting with the shortest-term subscription, we can see that PureVPN offers a smaller price of $2.15/month; meanwhile, Surfshark asks for two bucks more. However, remember that the longer the subscription term is, the cheaper it gets, not to mention the money-back guarantee on the side.
If you’re considering a monthly subscription, we can guess that you’re still not sure whether to stay with the service for longer. Nevertheless, fewer boundaries around a VPN mean more online freedom. So, having unlimited connections and a versatile suite of security (a VPN + antivirus) that Surfshark offers can eventually cost you less.
You can choose between a monthly, one-year, or two-year plan. Having the opportunity to choose between the length of subscriptions will definitely cause less commitment. Meanwhile, with PureVPN, you can choose between a month-long subscription, a one-year plan, a two-year, and even a five-year subscription.
As for payment, Surfshark offers quite an extensive list of payment options; you can choose between credit cards, PayPal, Google Pay, Amazon Pay, Apple Pay, and cryptocurrencies. PureVPN is more restrictive than its competitor, offering only credit cards and PayPal payment methods. Fortunately, both VPNs offer a money-back guarantee; just PureVPN makes it one day longer (a 31-day money-back guarantee).
Surfshark vs PureVPN – server comparison
Server network is an important aspect of any VPN. The more servers, the better speeds you’re likely to see. Countries, on the other hand, determine what geo-restricted content you’ll be able to access. I reviewed Surfshark’s and PureVPN’s server location list and compared the number of servers, countries, and specialty servers.
It’s self-evident that both VPNs offer insanely good server location coverage. PureVPN has over 6,000 servers in 65 countries. While Surfshark has expanded its server locations number to 100 and has 4,500 servers across them. So, with one provider, you receive a larger fleet of servers, whereas another has better location coverage.
| Surfshark | PureVPN | |
| Servers | 4,500+ | 6,000+ |
| Countries (total) | 100 | 65 |
| Virtual locations | Yes | Yes |
| Specialty servers | Yes | Yes |
However, both providers also have virtual servers. Meaning, their actual location is different from the IP address. Consequently, the connection speed might be slower than what you get with choosing a physical server.
Comparing the features
I downloaded Surfshark and PureVPN to test out the features myself. I started by installing the apps on my laptop and tested both VPNs side by side. My goal was to see if the provided features were actually useful in real life. Together with the research team, I ran tests on the kill switch, obfuscated servers, and other features to see if they actually work. I also dived deeper into the additional tools like ad blocker, antivirus, and Alternative ID to see if they add more value to the service.
Kill switch
Protecting your actual IP address at all times is essential not only in highly-restricted locations but also while using public wifi, traveling, and in other situations. The kill switch feature must be included in any reputable VPNs security suite. It’s a crucial aspect of protecting yourself from DNS leaks when a VPN connection drops.
The good news is that Surfshark and PureVPN do have the kill switch included. Yet, both of them have strengths and weaknesses.
Surfshark’s kill switch is available in two different modes; it’s the soft kill switch feature and the strict one. With the soft one, your network connection will be disabled once the VPN connection drops. Meanwhile, the strict mode doesn’t allow the internet connection at all until a VPN is enabled. This can either sound too restrictive or very secure. Yet, we didn’t get a single notification regarding the lost connection, so we weren’t aware if anything was wrong.
PureVPN’s kill switch is simpler. There is only one mode and it can be enabled in settings. The promised functionality doesn’t seem to differ from what we have already seen on the VPN market. However, during our tests, the feature didn’t perform flawlessly. Even an IP leakage was detected.
Split tunneling
Split tunneling is another no less important feature. It allows you to route your VPN traffic in a more precise way, as you can exclude preferred apps and websites from a VPN sight.
Surfshark offers Bypasser (in-house built split tunneling feature) for Windows, Android, macOS, and iOS devices.For a long time, Bypasser wasn’t available on iOS, and Surfshark took a long time to launch it. It’s also built into the browser extension. Even though it would be lovely to have split tunneling on iOS as well, the overall functionality of the feature is worth your trust.
Similarly, PureVPN’s split tunneling was only available on Windows and Android devices for a long time. Currently, you can enable split tunneling on Windows, Android, Fire TV Stick, and Android TV apps.
Obfuscation
Obfuscation technology or obfuscated servers are excellent in times when you need to hide your VPN connection. With it, it will look as if you’re regularly browsing without leaving a VPN trace.
Whether you choose Surfshark or PureVPN – both have obfuscation servers in their apps. However, PureVPN has put some extras to it by adding a domain fronting feature that uses different domain names from other parts of the website. This way, it looks as if you have come from a different domain, and it becomes easier to bypass content blocks.Surfshark also has this feature, although they don’t explicitly advertise it.
Meanwhile, Surfshark’s Camouflage Mode is a regular but functional obfuscation feature that’s great for those who live in a highly-censored location where VPN usage is forbidden. It’s important to note that it can only be used with the OpenVPN protocol.
Dedicated IP
Both Surfshark and PureVPN offer dedicated IP solutions for an additional price, coupled with your VPN subscription. Using a dedicated IP will lower your chances of getting blocked by a streaming service or gambling site, or allow you easier connections to work and school networks.
Surfshark's dedicated IPs are available in 13 locations. This number used to be way lower, so it’s nice to see Surfshark upping their game. Due to a limited number of dedicated IP addresses, some locations may not be available at all times. You can add Surfshark dedicated IP both to your regular or to your Surfshark One subscription for an additional cost of $3.75/month.
PureVPN also offers dedicated IPs, although in 10 locations. It has also increased over time, although not by much. It is also less expensive: you can easily add a PureVPN dedicated IP to your subscription for just $2.99/month. $0.76 might not look like a big difference in pricing, but over months it does add up.
PureVPN offers port forwarding
If torrenting or gaming is why you’re considering a VPN, then port forwarding should be at the center of your attention. This feature allows remote gadgets and servers to access the devices that are behind a firewall and backward.
Port forwarding is only available with PureVPN. However, to have it, you would have to pay an additional $0.49/month next to the subscription.
Keep in mind that this feature requires some technical knowledge as it has to be properly configured to be beneficial. Yet, once you set it up, it comes as quite a handy feature that helps you to access your computer, tablet, or whatever device remotely. With it, you can also host game servers, permit file transfers, use torrent applications, and more.
Surfshark includes a top-class antivirus
As the VPN market is constantly improving, some providers are thinking of new ways to stand out. Surfshark did this by including an antivirus with their VPN plans.
Even though it’s nowhere as extensive as the market-leading antivirus programs, the security suite is still comprehensive enough to ensure robust protection, particularly while browsing. There’s a customizable device scanning feature for detecting threats, real-time protection, data breach monitoring, and more.
On the contrary, PureVPN offers an additional ID protection bundle called PurePrivacy. It scans your social media accounts, monitors for data breaches, and overall enhances your online privacy. It also offers data removal, eSIM data (although very little) and password manager. You can get this with the most expensive plan, so it’s quite pricey when compared to Surfshark.
Comparing privacy and security
Since VPNs route your traffic through their network, it’s crucial to ensure that the VPN adheres to cybersecurity standards. I started by reviewing the official website of both providers to learn about their end-to-end encryption practices, VPN protocols, and no-logs policy. I looked for independent audits to ensure that all of their claims were true as well.
Both Surfshark and PureVPN fall into the most secure VPNs category. It’s undeniable that these providers are very security-focused. Advanced features, audited applications, and complete privacy is what you get by choosing each of them. Some of their security decisions are the same, like the choice of encryption and tunneling protocols.
| Surfshark | PureVPN | |
| Encryption | AES-256-GCM and Chacha20Poly1305 | AES-256-GCM |
| Hash | SHA-512 | SHA-384 |
| RAM-only servers | Yes | No |
| A member of the 5-Eyes, 9-Eyes Alliance? | Yes | No |
| No-logs policy | Audited | Audited |
| Kill switch | Yes | Yes |
| Ad blocker | Yes | No |
| Tracker blocker | Yes | Yes |
| DNS leak protection | Yes | Yes |
Encryption and protocols
At this point, Surfshark’s and PureVPN’s road crosses. With either competitor, your online traffic is encrypted using industry-leading AES-256 encryption. It would either take ages or wouldn’t work out at all for an intruder to decrypt your data.
A similar situation can also be seen in terms of tunneling protocols. Both VPNs have a few options to choose from, but most importantly, the WireGuard tunnel is included. This tunneling protocol is somewhat vital for the VPN market today. It ensures that your internet speed remains rather unaffected without compromising your safety as well.
Surfshark has three additional tunneling protocols to offer. It’s OpenVPN (TCP/UDP) that’s one of the most popular protocols among users due to stable but fast network connection. And IKEv2 that’s easily compatible with mobile devices and works well with a wobbly internet connection.
Meanwhile, PureVPN has two more to add to the listed tunnels above. Overall, with it, you get the WireGuard, OpenVPN (TCP/UDP), IKEv2, SSTP, and L2TP/IPSec. Although, not all of the VPN protocols are available on the PureVPN mobile app. Even though visually the list seems more impressive, SSTP is only great for bypassing China’s restrictions, and L2TP/IPSec is a noticeably outdated protocol.
Infrastructure
Most VPNs, including PureVPN, store your activity logs on a hard drive. Meaning, your data can still be accessed for quite some time. No need to panic here, as PureVPN is truly a privacy-focused VPN, but a better situation can be seen on Surfshark’s deck.
Only several VPNs on the market have upgraded their servers to run only on RAM. Luckily, Surfshark is one of them. This way, a VPN guarantees that there’s no hard drive where your logs settle down.
Plus, RAM-only servers are less likely to become breached. Whenever servers reload, your data gets wiped out!
Privacy
Surfshark is a Netherlands-based VPN. Unfortunately, the Netherlands belongs to the Nine Eyes intelligence alliance, meaning it will share sensitive information with other alliance members in emergency situations. On the other hand, the company isn’t legally required to collect or store your data, so it doesn’t.Therefore, even if a government agency asked Surfshark to share such data, there would be nothing to share as it simply doesn’t collect it. This was confirmed by the team behind Surfshark in our recent Surfshark interview.
And yet, PureVPN seems like a more privacy-friendly option in terms of location. Even though previously it was located in Hong Kong, where online surveillance is very common, now it’s the British Virgin Islands-based company. So, neither your activity logs will be collected or shared with a third party.
No-logs policy assessment
Although PureVPN’s country of jurisdiction is a more privacy-friendly place, the provider’s past isn’t crystal clear. Back in 2017, the company provided information to the FBI to help arrest a cyberstalker. Even though the act could be respected, a VPN is all about privacy, and any type of information leak isn’t tolerable.
Nevertheless, now, PureVPN is one of the few VPNs that have an always-on-audit. This means the company can be audited at any time without prior notice. Consequently, no security or privacy gap can be covered, and your privacy remains always protected.
Now, Surfshark has a spotless history with no security breaches or privacy violations. It follows a strict no-logs policy that was audited by the Deloitte firm, meaning it doesn’t collect any activity logs. The company has also undergone two independent security audits performed by Cure53 penetration testers. After testing browser extensions, the application, and the infrastructure, there were no flaws, and the overall result was splendid.
So, perhaps PureVPN’s location is better, but Surfshark is still a more reliable option to stay fully anonymous online.
User Experience
Our team and I spent some time playing around with Surfshark and PureVPN to see how it feels using it for our day-to-day tasks. We compared the apps on different operating systems and ensured that all of the features are available no matter what device you’re using.
Overall, Surfshark and PureVPN are almost identical regarding device compatibility. Both have apps for major desktop and mobile operating systems, feature-rich browser extensions, and extra software for various home entertainment systems.
However, a few key differences could be the deciding factor for potential buyers. As you can see in the table below, Surfshark supports unlimited simultaneous connections, while PureVPN only grants 10 per subscription. This is a significant disparity that makes Surfshark the winner in this category.
On the other hand, Surfshark lacks the DD-WRT router applet PureVPN offers. And while this is a solid addition, it doesn’t make a massive difference since both VPNs are compatible with routers using OpenVPN configuration files.
| Surfshark | PureVPN | |
| Supported OS | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS |
| Other software and devices | Android TVs, Apple TVs, Fire devices | Amazon Fire Stick, Android TV |
| Browser extensions | Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Brave | Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Yandex, Brave, Vivaldi, and more |
| Simultaneous connections | Unlimited | 10 |
| Usability level | Easy | Easy |
There’s not much to say regarding ease of use. Surfshark and PureVPN apps are straightforward to navigate, and the features are self-explanatory. They are well set up by default and won’t require complex configuration to get up and running. Plus, all settings are easy to find if you want to make changes, regardless of your OS.
Desktop apps
Usually, desktop applications are the most feature-rich and nice-looking. Consequently, both Surfshark’s and PureVPN’s Windows apps are the best among what other devices get.
Surfshark strikes again and offers a splendid application that’s nice to look at and easy to use. Meanwhile, PureVPN offers a more simplistic-looking application, but the functionality doesn’t disappoint either.
Moving to macOS, Surfshark comes with a different approach and has two different macOS versions. One can be downloaded from Surfshark’s own website, and another from Apple’s App Store. However, both apps lack some features, including split tunneling.
PureVPN’s case with the macOS app is a bit better. It’s almost identical to the Windows application, except for the part where there’s no ping displayed next to each server.
Yet, rather than always, Linux users are left alone with the Command Line Interface, which can also be seen in PureVPN. On the other hand, Surfshark has decided to shake the VPN market and introduce it with a dedicated Linux application with a nice graphical interface and a full list of features.
Clearly, a dedicated Surfshark app for Linux devices should be a motivational kick for the whole VPN market.
Mobile apps
Surfshark has literally transferred its Windows app straight to the Android application. It includes all the available features, the design remains smooth, and it’s also user-friendly. Likewise, PureVPN offers a somewhat excellent Android application with even additional features, such as different server modes or the possibility to choose the network type.
In terms of iOS applications, Surfshark remains quite similar compared to the Android app. However, there are still some excluded features (no GPS spoofing and Whitelister feature).
PureVPN’s iOS app is more similar to the Windows version rather than the Android application. It’s intuitive and user-friendly, but doesn’t have those extra features that Android users get.
Customer support
I went through both VPN’s help centers, looking for step-by-step setup guides, troubleshooting, and technical explanations. I also looked if they had 24/7 live chat availability in case of emergency.
If you don’t have a lot of technical knowledge, the best solution is to go straight for live chat support. Both Surfshark’s and PureVPN’s live chats work 24/7, meaning your issue can be solved in a matter of a minute at all times.
| Surfshark | PureVPN | |
| 24/7 live chat | ✅ | ✅ |
| ✅ | ✅ | |
| Phone line | ❌ | ❌ |
| Guides or articles | ✅ | ✅ |
| FAQs | ✅ | ✅ |
Email is another effective way to get an answer regarding your case. Sure, it will take longer compared to live chat; however, it’s even possible to inspect the case more thoroughly this way.
Finally, both VPNs have customer support pages, extensive guides, and FAQs that are the fastest way to learn and find the answer you need. Yet, this option is friendlier for tech-savvy users.
How we tested and compared these VPNs
I collaborated with the Cybernews research team and evaluated Surfshark and PureVPN following our VPN testing guidelines. Here are the main aspects we evaluated:
- Security and privacy features (25%). I read through the security measures Surfshark and PureVPN take to make sure your data is secure. I was looking for end-to-end encryption, independent audits, and a no-logs policy. With that out of the way, I dived into the security and privacy features included with the subscription plan.
- Server network, speed, and overall performance (25%). I compared the number of servers and countries each provider covers. Then, the research team ran speed tests to see if it retains most of the original internet speed.
- Ease of use (25%). I downloaded and installed Surfshark and PureVPN on my laptop and compared it side by side. Besides ease of use, I also looked at customer support options for quick and efficient problem solving.
- Streaming and torrenting capabilities (25%). Our team used Surfshark and PureVPN to unblock a variety of Netflix libraries in different countries. We also compared the features available for torrenting such as P2P optimized servers and port-forwarding.
Surfshark vs PureVPN – which one wins?
Surfshark comes out on top in this Surfshark vs PureVPN comparison. While they’re quite similar, Surfshark offers more value to the user in almost all aspects.
| Category | Surfshark | PureVPN |
| Speed | ✅ | ❌ |
| Features | ✅ | ❌ |
| Privacy | ✅ | ❌ |
| Streaming | ✅ | ❌ |
| Torrenting | ✅ | ❌ |
| Price | ✅ | ❌ |
| Server locations | ❌ | ✅ |
| Ease of use | ✅ | ✅ |
| Customer support | ✅ | ✅ |
Both deliver fast speeds and overall great performance, but Surfshark is much better at unblocking geo-restricted content, despite having a smaller server network than PureVPN. Surfshark also includes better tools to improve your online experience, such as ad and tracker blocker, Alternative ID, and antivirus. Whereas PureVPN only comes with a tracker blocker and password manager, unless you’re willing to pay a premium price. Plus, you can use Surfshark on an unlimited number of devices – great for families or groups of friends.
FAQ
Which is better, Surfshark or PureVPN?
Surfshark is a better VPN service than PureVPN based on our in-house testing. It offers a versatile suite of security that includes only the most advanced features. With it, your connection speed remains lightning-fast, you’re protected from all sorts of cyber threats, and it helps you bypass geo-restrictions.
Is PureVPN trustworthy?
Yes, PureVPN is trustworthy. Even though it doesn’t have a spotless past, it’s one of a few VPNs that have an always-on-audit, meaning, the company can be audited without prior notice.
Does PureVPN work with Netflix?
Yes, PureVPN does work with Netflix. However, only a couple of libraries (the US and Japan) were successfully unblocked during our tests. If you want to enjoy more Netflix libraries, Surfshark should be your choice instead.