If you’ve read PureVPN reviews before, you’ll know there’s a lot to like about this competitively-priced VPN. But how does it fare against rivals in 2023? And what should you know about its features and functionality before you sign up?
Here, our experts are taking an in-depth look at PureVPN, from its safety features and security protocols to how it performs when streaming content from overseas. We’ll also provide a breakdown of PureVPN’s pricing options and how it compares to its counterparts in terms of cost, features, and performance.
Where else to start our PureVPN review than by assessing the platform’s safety features and security protocols? After all, regardless of a platform’s quoted streaming speeds and other bells-and-whistles functionality, the safety of your data and privacy is paramount when selecting a new VPN.
So, what of the safety of PureVPN? Well, we’re happy to report that the platform is about as secure as it gets, with a string of recent updates bolstering its security yet further. Let’s take a look at some of the excellent safety features you can benefit from as a PureVPN user.
In the past month or so, PureVPN became the first VPN operator to confirm that it’s now bound by “always-on auditing”. That means its services and technology can be audited at any time by auditing firm KPMG without prior warning.
How does that help you? Well, it ensures that PureVPN adheres to its own user safety guarantees and pledges. For instance, the company has a zero-logging policy; the threat of an audit by KPMG at any time means you can trust in the fact that your data and privacy are protected.
As with the best VPN providers out there, PureVPN offers AES-256 encryption as standard across all its premium VPN plans. Trusted by governments and financial organizations alike, this is the gold standard in data encryption and ensures that while you’re using the PureVPN network, your identity remains completely anonymous.
Alongside this watertight encryption protocol, PureVPN also leverages a choice of six unique network tunneling options, including WireGuard, OpenVPN TCP, OpenVPN UDP, IKEv2, SSTP, and L2TP/IPSec. For standard users, WireGuard is the go-to choice for reliable and safe performance, but you may like to experiment with different configurations depending on your jurisdiction and device.
The presence of obfuscation functionality brings PureVPN into the inner circle of some of the world’s most trusted operators; this is a feature typically found only on market-leading VPNs. Perfect for those that live in countries with a high rate of internet censorship, obfuscation masks your internet traffic, making it appear that you’re not using a VPN at all.
Sure, using obfuscation can reduce your webpage connection speed, but if you want to browse the web undetected, it’s an essential feature that we’re thrilled to see make an appearance on the PureVPN platform.
It’s no exaggeration to say that this PureVPN review would go on and on if we continued rattling through all its safety features individually. So, with that in mind, here’s a quick roundup of its other noteworthy security functions:
Is PureVPN good? What are its benefits and downsides? And can I trust it to keep my data and privacy safe online?
It’s understandable that you may approach PureVPN with a degree of skepticism and have lots of questions about the merits of using this particular service compared to other VPN operators. After all, PureVPN was embroiled in a privacy scandal over its logging policy in 2017, though it’s clear the platform has since taken major steps to right its wrongs and put user safety at the center of its offering.
So, with all that said, what are the pros and cons of using a VPN service like PureVPN? Our experts have listed the platform’s plus points and pitfalls below to give you an impartial overview of what to expect from the operator.
Pros
Cons
That’s right, if you’re looking for a VPN with a low monthly price tag, PureVPN should definitely make your shortlist. The service comes in cheaper than almost any other premium VPN on the market, including the likes of Surfshark, which has earned a reputation for its affordable plans.
So, just how much will a PureVPN subscription set you back? Here’s a quick rundown of how the platform’s pricing model works.
| Subscription length | Price |
|---|---|
| Two-year subscription | $2.08/month |
| One-year subscription | $3.24/month |
| Monthly subscription | $10.95/month |
* Quoted prices based on ‘Standard’ premium plan; monthly costs will vary for other tiers.
As with most VPN services, PureVPN adjusts its subscription costs depending on the length of your commitment, with those that sign up for a two-year deal receiving the highest discount. Even if you’d prefer to keep your options open with a monthly subscription, though, $10.95/month represents excellent value for a VPN – particularly when you consider the features and functionality on offer here. As such, PureVPN’s pricing gets a big thumbs up from us.
Unfortunately, there is no dedicated free version of PureVPN, which does come as a slight surprise. Users can, however, sample the platform’s full VPN service for 7 days for a one-time fee of $0.99 – a reasonable compromise that should give you more than enough time to decide if it’s the right VPN provider for you.
Don’t forget, too, that as well as its 99¢ trial session, PureVPN also offers a no-quibble 31-day money-back guarantee. This applies whether you opt for the monthly, one-year, or two-year plan, so you can claim a refund if it transpires that the service isn’t working out for you.
Read enough PureVPN reviews to convince yourself that it’s the right VPN for you? Then it’s time to get started by downloading the PureVPN app and registering for an account, the process of which we’ve outlined for you below.
Once you’ve successfully logged into the PureVPN app on your preferred device, you can proceed to connect to one of the platform’s 6,000 global servers. Here’s a breakdown of how to do exactly that:
And that’s all there is to it – easy, right? In our PureVPN test, we found the app super simple and intuitive, with no complicated configuration steps or setup requirements standing in the way. Within a few clicks – or taps – you can easily connect to the server location of your choice and start enjoying the benefits of safe, anonymous browsing and streaming.
Anyone who’s ever used a VPN service before will know that the number of server locations a platform has ultimately dictates the speed, reliability, and performance of the platform. With that in mind, we’re delighted to report that PureVPN certainly holds its own so far as server locations are concerned, offering around 6,000 dedicated server sites in 78 countries around the world.
You can review how these figures stack up against comparable VPN operators in the section below, but for now, let’s take a closer look at how PureVPN’s server network is distributed all across the globe.
| Region | Server numbers |
|---|---|
| North America | 1,788 |
| Europe | 2,750 |
| Asia | 576 |
| Australia and New Zealand | 451 |
| South America | 171 |
| Africa | 124 |
| Central America | 15 |
Plenty of you reading this PureVPN review will be interested in one thing and one thing only: is it any good for streaming content from other countries and regions?
In short, yes. PureVPN’s vast server network and WireGuard functionality mean you can access just about any streaming service you can think of, with powerful unblocking capabilities that let you bypass even the most state-of-the-art anti-VPN protocols.
In tests, PureVPN was able to connect to Netflix, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer with ease, all while offering a nice streaming resolution and mostly ad-free playback. The only downside is that the platform can struggle to unblock content in specific countries, particularly those in the EU. If you’re looking to access US streaming content, however, you should run into very few problems.
With so many VPNs to choose from, finding your favorite can be tricky. So, how does PureVPN compare to some of its rivals? We’ve put the platform alongside three competing services to see how it fares.
| Feature | PureVPN | NordVPN | CyberGhost | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free version | No | Yes, 7-day trial | Yes, 7-day trial | Yes, device dependent |
| Server no. | 6000 in 78 countries | 5700+ in 60 countries | 9700+ in 90 countries | 3200+ in 100 countries |
| Streaming | Yes – Netflix, Hulu | Yes – Disney+, Netflix | Yes – Hulu, BBC iPlayer | Yes – Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ |
| AES-256 encryption | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Monthly cost | $2.08/month | $3.49/month | $2.19/month | $2.30/month |
That’s right, as we draw our review of PureVPN to a close, we’re happy to lend the service our seal of approval. Despite historic issues with logging and privacy, it’s clear PureVPN has put serious measures in place to protect its users, including an unprecedented always-on auditing protocol. This, coupled with the platform’s other safety and security features, should certainly be enough to convince you of the safety, security, and broader benefits of the PureVPN platform.
Looking for additional VPN content, guides, and reviews? Strafe has everything you need to find the VPN service that’s right for you.
If you’re interested in trialing the PureVPN service, our guide can fill you in on how to sample this excellent VPN platform and whether or not a free version is currently available.
If you’re interested in using PureVPN, it’s certainly worth reading trusted reviews first to gain insights into its performance, safety, and usability. Our expert review can help you decide if this is the VPN you’ve been searching for.
PureVPN is packed with features and offers excellent unblocking capabilities across all major streaming services – but exactly how safe and secure is it? Our experts have been taking a look as part of our comprehensive PureVPN review.
This site is using Cloudflare and adheres to the Google Safe Browsing Program. We adapted Google's Privacy Guidelines to keep your data safe at all times.
