PureVPN Evaluation (2023): Options, Pricing & Safety

PureVPN’s 6,500 servers throughout greater than 70 international locations make it a lovely selection for customers searching for a digital non-public community with an in depth server community. It offers extra flexibility for unblocking content material and affords quicker speeds. PureVPN’s Home windows software additionally has an intuitive design, making for seamless navigation.

Sadly, PureVPN suffers from a controversial logging incident with the Federal Bureau of Investigation that forestalls 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.

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PureVPN pricing

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

• PureVPN Normal 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 an extra private privateness supervisor.

Earlier than selecting a plan, I like to recommend making an attempt PureVPN’s 7-day free trial. Whereas there isn’t a devoted trial for desktop, a trial is accessible by way of PureVPN’s cell apps on iOS or Android. When you join the free trial on a cell system, you may log into your account by way of desktop. The trial permits customers to decide on which subscription (Normal, Plus, Max) they wish to take a look at drive. In my expertise, establishing the free trial was pretty straightforward and trouble-free.

For those who plan on utilizing a paid plan, PureVPN Normal 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 possibility in comparison with the month-to-month $12.45 Normal subscription that’s on the pricier finish for a month-to-month plan.

I’d’ve most popular if both the extra password supervisor, encrypted file system or privateness supervisor have been included within the VPN itself; this is able to’ve given PureVPN extra distinctive options to set it aside from the competitors.

You should purchase both the Plus or Max subscriptions to get these options however having at the least one among them included, with out an extra 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 change and area identify system leak safety.

Sadly, a problem 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 said that it saved no logs. It is a large blow to the credibility of PureVPN’s no-logs coverage, particularly as a result of retaining 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 retaining 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.

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

Key options of PureVPN

For those who’re contemplating PureVPN, it’s vital to know the options that set it aside from 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 obtainable. 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+ places and greater than 70 international locations — a plus if you wish to use a various set of servers from totally different areas.

Cut up tunneling

PureVPN affords a break up tunneling function that lets you management which on-line exercise is routed by the VPN and which is routed by your common web service supplier (Determine B).

Determine B

It is a handy function that can permit you to reduce the bottleneck in your VPN server’s pace as a result of not all purposes, akin to music streaming, want a VPN’s safety.

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

As much as 10 system connections

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

Determine C

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

Velocity and efficiency: How briskly is PureVPN?

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

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

To check for DNS leaks, I ran PureVPN a number of occasions utilizing a public DNS leak instrument. After a number of exams utilizing totally different servers and places, I recorded zero leaks.

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

Determine D

I discovered that activating options throughout the software felt a bit clunky. For instance, going to the app’s Server Tab takes an extra 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 keep connectivity reliably as soon as the connection was established.

PureVPN servers and places

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

The VPN additionally offers 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 respect 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 security measures (i.e. encrypted file-sharing and password supervisor) require extra cost. In any other case, their server community is a particular robust level.

PureVPN professionals

• Massive community with 6,500 servers
• 7-day free trial by way of cell
• As much as 10 simultaneous system connections
• Intuitive software
• Comparatively good speeds
• Contains break up tunneling function

PureVPN cons

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

Who’s PureVPN finest for?

PureVPN is finest for customers who worth having a big server community as one among their major issues in a VPN service. Its 6,500 servers throughout 70 international locations is a significant worth proposition to unblock geo-restricted content material or entry servers in particular places. PureVPN additionally affords usually good speeds inside a minimal and intuitive person interface.

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

PureVPN alternate options

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

Mozilla VPN

For those who’re a longtime person of the Firefox browser, Mozilla VPN could also be a superb possibility. Coming from the maker of Firefox, Mozilla VPN affords advert blocking, zero bandwidth restrictions and multihop routing. It at the moment affords round 500+ servers in 30+ international locations.

ExpressVPN

For extra safety, ExpressVPN affords TrustedServer safety that offers customers extra privateness safety by independently audited, RAM-only servers. ExpressVPN additionally affords 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 international locations worldwide, making it a best choice for unblocking content material in different areas. It additionally permits for seven simultaneous system connections and offers 24/7 dwell buyer assist.

How we evaluated PureVPN

My assessment of PureVPN concerned an in depth evaluation of its security measures, value and real-world efficiency. I had hands-on time with PureVPN by its free trial by way of their cell software. Particularly, I examined the model of PureVPN supplied with the Max subscription on my Home windows pc.

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

Lastly, I scored PureVPN on every little thing from its safety protocols to its value primarily based on an inside algorithm to get a ranking of three.9 out of 5 stars. I checked out PureVPN each by itself and in relation to different VPN providers.