PureVPN Evaluation (2023): Options, Pricing & Safety

PureVPN’s 6,500 servers throughout greater than 70 nations make it a beautiful selection for customers searching for a digital personal community with an intensive server community. It gives extra flexibility for unblocking content material and presents quicker speeds. PureVPN’s Home windows utility additionally has an intuitive design, making for seamless navigation.

Sadly, PureVPN suffers from a controversial logging incident with the Federal Bureau of Investigation that stops it from being a prime safety advice. Whereas it has made efforts to rebuild belief, its general package deal will not be sufficient for extra privacy-focused customers.

Soar to:

PureVPN pricing

PureVPN has three totally different subscriptions: PureVPN Commonplace, Plus, and Max. The principle distinction between the three is the included companies:

• PureVPN Commonplace comes with solely the VPN service itself.
• PureVPN Plus features a password supervisor and end-to-end file encryption.
• PureVPN Max consists of the VPN service, a password supervisor, end-to-end file encryption and a further private privateness supervisor.

Earlier than selecting a plan, I like to recommend attempting PureVPN’s 7-day free trial. Whereas there isn’t a devoted trial for desktop, a trial is accessible through PureVPN’s cellular apps on iOS or Android. When you join the free trial on a cellular machine, you’ll be able to log into your account through desktop. The trial permits customers to decide on which subscription (Commonplace, Plus, Max) they wish to take a look at drive. In my expertise, establishing the free trial was pretty straightforward and trouble-free.

In the event you plan on utilizing a paid plan, PureVPN Commonplace for 2 years at $2.29 monthly is the best choice. That is very reasonably priced in comparison with different VPNs with the identical period. It’s additionally a greater choice in comparison with the month-to-month $12.45 Commonplace subscription that’s on the pricier finish for a month-to-month plan.

I’d’ve most well-liked if both the extra password supervisor, encrypted file system or privateness supervisor have been included within the VPN itself; this may’ve given PureVPN extra distinctive options to set it other than the competitors.

You should purchase both the Plus or Max subscriptions to get these options however having at the least one in every of them included, with out a further cost, would’ve given PureVPN extra bang-for-your-buck worth.

Is PureVPN secure and reliable?

PureVPN comes with the three most vital safety protocols for a contemporary VPN: OpenVPN, WireGuard, and IPSec/IKEv2. It additionally options AES 256-encryption, a kill swap and area title system leak safety.

Sadly, a difficulty arises with its no-logs coverage. Like most VPNs, PureVPN claims to have a no-logs coverage the place they state that they don’t log shopping actions, connection logs, authentic IPs and shopping historical past.

Nonetheless, PureVPN was concerned in an incident again in 2017 the place the corporate allegedly handed off logs to the FBI. Specifically, the FBI used logs from PureVPN to trace down a suspected cyberstalker and harasser. Whereas catching such criminals is vital, the issue was in PureVPN’s privateness coverage on the time — which acknowledged that it saved no logs. This can be a huge blow to the credibility of PureVPN’s no-logs coverage, particularly as a result of holding anonymity is likely one of the major causes to make use of a VPN.

Since then, PureVPN has come out with two third-party unbiased audits that confirm their no-logs coverage. First was with Altius IT in 2019 and the second with KPMG in 2021 — each discovering no proof of the corporate holding any logs. The KPMG audit is noteworthy as a result of it was an “always-on” audit that allowed KPMG to audit PureVPN’s community with out prior discover.

Total, PureVPN appears to be a secure VPN, given its safety features and two current audits. Although, the incident in 2017 is a tough capsule to swallow and a sound motive to attempt a unique service as a substitute, particularly if safety is your primary precedence.

Key options of PureVPN

In the event you’re contemplating PureVPN, it’s vital to know the options that set it other than different VPNs. Let’s check out a few of PureVPN’s key options.

Massive server suite

PureVPN comes with round 6,500 servers worldwide (Determine A), making it one of many largest server networks accessible. That is particularly helpful for those who’re trying to unblock geo-restricted content material, because it permits you extra flexibility and selection within the servers you should use.

Determine A

The PureVPN community additionally consists of servers from 88+ areas and greater than 70 nations — a plus if you wish to use a various set of servers from totally different areas.

Break up tunneling

PureVPN presents a cut up tunneling function that means that you can management which on-line exercise is routed via the VPN and which is routed via your common web service supplier (Determine B).

Determine B

This can be a handy function that may assist you to reduce the bottleneck in your VPN server’s velocity as a result of not all functions, reminiscent of music streaming, want a VPN’s safety.

In my testing, PureVPN’s cut up tunneling labored as marketed and was capable of reliably filter my chosen apps via the VPN correctly. It have to be famous, although, that cut up tunneling doesn’t work on PureVPN’s WireGuard protocol. Hopefully, PureVPN permits cut up tunneling with the quicker WireGuard in a future replace.

As much as 10 machine connections

PureVPN permits for 10 simultaneous machine connections or logins (Determine C). With some VPNs providing solely 5–8 simultaneous connections, PureVPN’s 10 allowable logins is a major value-add for customers with a number of gadgets.

Determine C

This may be an vital finances consideration for potential VPN customers, particularly in the event that they’re nervous about paying for an additional subscription solely to accommodate extra of their gadgets.

Pace and efficiency: How briskly is PureVPN?

PureVPN presents quick speeds and an general dependable connection. In my testing, I skilled comparatively snappy speeds whereas utilizing Google Workspace apps reminiscent of Docs, Drive and Preserve, streaming 1080p YouTube movies, net shopping for analysis, and attending on-line video conferences. Web sites loaded quick, and I didn’t have any noticeable drops in velocity or connectivity.

By way of web velocity checks, PureVPN offered nice outcomes for downloads because it solely had a 5.98% lower in velocity in comparison with my ISP. Nonetheless, I recorded a major drop in add velocity with a drop of 79.92% — even whereas utilizing PureVPN’s really helpful server location. In case your common workflow includes often importing massive information, this can be an vital consequence to think about.

To check for DNS leaks, I ran PureVPN a number of instances utilizing a public DNS leak device. After a number of checks utilizing totally different servers and areas, I recorded zero leaks.

For in-app efficiency, PureVPN’s Home windows utility was first rate. The consumer interface has a minimalist design (Determine D) that’s straightforward to navigate and use.

Determine D

I discovered that activating options inside the utility felt a bit clunky. For instance, going to the app’s Server Tab takes a further second or two earlier than it opens. The story is similar with switching servers, because it takes a second to ascertain a brand new connection. To PureVPN’s credit score, it was capable of preserve connectivity reliably as soon as the connection was established.

PureVPN servers and areas

PureVPN grants customers entry to round 6,500 servers in additional than 88 areas, unfold throughout 70+ nations. This makes it one of many bigger server suites accessible — an vital function for those who plan to make use of your VPN to bypass geo-blocked content material.

The VPN additionally gives a wholesome unfold of servers worldwide.

Whereas the majority of PureVPN’s servers are in Europe and North America, it’s nonetheless good to see that the community is ready to present choices throughout all seven continents.

I additionally recognize how PureVPN robotically segments which of their servers are finest for peer to see file-sharing. It lessens the steps it’s important to take if you wish to use the VPN for torrenting. I want PureVPN had extra privacy-focused options out of the field, as its extra distinctive safety features (i.e. encrypted file-sharing and password supervisor) require further cost. In any other case, their server community is a particular sturdy level.

PureVPN professionals

• Massive community with 6,500 servers
• 7-day free trial through cellular
• As much as 10 simultaneous machine connections
• Intuitive utility
• Comparatively good speeds
• Contains cut up tunneling function

PureVPN cons

• Prior incident handing off logs to FBI
• Activating options feels a bit clunky
• Distinctive safety features are paid add-ons

Who’s PureVPN finest for?

PureVPN is finest for customers who worth having a big server community as one in every of their major concerns in a VPN service. Its 6,500 servers throughout 70 nations is a significant worth proposition to unblock geo-restricted content material or entry servers in particular areas. PureVPN additionally presents usually good speeds inside a minimal and intuitive consumer interface.

Nonetheless, its logging incident with the FBI in 2017 prevents it from being a great choose if privateness and safety are your major considerations. Whereas it has made strides to rebuild buyer belief, customers searching for a VPN with a great observe file in holding their privateness and no logs insurance policies ought to look elsewhere.

PureVPN options

Whereas PureVPN is an honest VPN resolution, it could not have the correct mix of options in your wants. We’ve listed beneath related options that would function higher choices.

Mozilla VPN

In the event you’re a longtime consumer of the Firefox browser, Mozilla VPN could also be a great choice. Coming from the maker of Firefox, Mozilla VPN presents advert blocking, zero bandwidth restrictions and multihop routing. It presently presents round 500+ servers in 30+ nations.

ExpressVPN

For extra safety, ExpressVPN presents TrustedServer safety that provides customers further privateness safety via independently audited, RAM-only servers. ExpressVPN additionally presents a selection of 17 different languages in each its app and browser extensions.

CyberGhost VPN

CyberGhostVPN is likely one of the finest VPN picks for its nation unfold. It has servers in over 100 nations worldwide, making it a best choice for unblocking content material in different areas. It additionally permits for seven simultaneous machine connections and gives 24/7 stay buyer assist.

How we evaluated PureVPN

My assessment of PureVPN concerned an in depth evaluation of its safety features, price and real-world efficiency. I had hands-on time with PureVPN via its free trial through their cellular utility. Particularly, I examined the model of PureVPN supplied with the Max subscription on my Home windows laptop.

For add and obtain speeds, I examined PureVPN utilizing Ookla’s public Speedtest. To verify for DNS leak safety, I ran PureVPN a number of instances via DNSLeakTest.

Lastly, I scored PureVPN on every thing from its safety protocols to its value based mostly on an inner algorithm to get a score of three.9 out of 5 stars. I checked out PureVPN each by itself and in relation to different VPN companies.