PureVPN is considered among the top VPN services by many people. But is it actually any good? More importantly, is it worth your money? We take a look at this honest PureVPN review.
PureVPN Overview
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Jurisdiction |
Hong Kong |
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Total number of servers |
More than 2000, spread across 140+ countries |
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Available tunneling protocols |
OpenVPN, IKEv2, L2TP/IPSec, SSTP, PPTP |
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Speed performance |
Decent with average speed drop of 25% |
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Netflix support |
Unblocks 7 Netflix libraries, including American Netflix |
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Torrent support |
87 specialized servers for P2P and torrenting applications |
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Compatible devices |
Windows, Mac, iOS, Linux, Android, selected smart TVs, streaming devices, and more |
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Pricing |
Available for as low as $5.83/mo on a 1-year plan |
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Free trial (if any) |
No free trial but offers a 31-day money-back guarantee for risk-free testing |
PureVPN base location
Since its incorporation, PureVPN has operated from Hong Kong, a country long-deemed as a safe-haven for VPN companies, having the utmost respect for user privacy.
However, in July 2020, PureVPN announced it would be moving its main office (and all corresponding servers) away from Hong Kong following the roll-out of the National Security Law in the jurisdiction. The management found the legislation anti to internet freedom.
As of writing, the location of PureVPN’s new HQ is still unknown.
Also Read: 7 Key Advantages of Using a VPN During the Work from Home
PureVPN servers
PureVPN runs one of the largest server networks in the industry. It has over 2000 servers in 140+ countries and six continents. Most of these are physical servers, meaning you get low latency when surfing the web. The virtual servers are marked with a ‘V’ on the server list.
Europe tops the continent chart with the highest number of servers. On the country level, the US ranks first. You can choose servers on both country and city-level, with PureVPN providing city-to-city coverage for most countries.
PureVPN security
PureVPN uses a wide range of tunneling protocols such as OpenVPN, IKEv2, L2TP/IPSec, SSTP, and PPTP to protect your online traffic. Unfortunately, it doesn’t offer the option of WireGuard, the latest and arguably the most secure tunneling technology developed to date.
Still, PureVPN is a safe VPN to use, and you can count on it without thinking twice. In fact, the company even holds independent security audits from time to time to maintain transparency and ensure that users get the best security experience when using the VPN.
PureVPN upload and download speeds
While many VPNs would slow down your internet connection drastically, PureVPN provides decent upload and download speeds. Howtowatchinaustralia.com tested 3 different PureVPN servers (Australia, Canada, and the US) on a 20 Mbps internet connection and noticed an average speed drop of 25% across the board.
That’s not bad at all. You can find the complete details of the speed tests on their website here.
Bear in mind, however, the upload and download speeds of a VPN are heavily dependent on the quality of the internet connection. So, if you live in the countryside (or outback) where the internet quality tends to be poor, your VPN is likely to act slow.
PureVPN Netflix support
We bet you love watching Netflix. The good news is PureVPN works with Netflix like a breeze and unblocks the streaming service in seven regions. These include the USA, Canada, Australia, France, Germany, Japan, and the UK.
You can watch Netflix on PureVPN by connecting to a server installed in a Netflix country of your choice in Internet Freedom mode. Alternatively, you can switch to Stream mode and select a Netflix library from the list of popular websites and enjoy unlimited streaming in HD – anywhere, anytime.
Aside from Netflix, you can also watch other OTT video streaming services on PureVPN. Some popular ones include BBC iPlayer, YouTube TV, HBO Now, HBO Max, Amazon Prime US, Hulu, Hotstar, ITV, and Foxtel Now.
PureVPN torrent support
PureVPN also offers reasonable torrenting and P2P support. It has got 87 specialized servers for the task. These servers can be accessed under File-Sharing mode.
The company keeps no record of the files that are shared or downloaded, which is essential for maintaining privacy. In case if your VPN connection drops, an automatic VPN kill switch is there to protect you against identity leaks.
PureVPN works well with all major torrenting clients, including BitTorrent, uTorrent, Vuze, etc. It’s recommended to choose a server with low ping to get the best speeds. Avoid using the general (non-specialized) servers for torrenting or P2P applications.
PureVPN compatible devices
PureVPN is available on a wide range of devices and platforms. Whether it’s your Windows desktop, Macbook, Linux computer, Android phone, iPad, smart TV, Apple TV, or gaming console – you can set up PureVPN in a matter of minutes and enjoy full internet freedom independent of your location.
What’s even more impressive is the fact it lets you connect up to ten devices on one account simultaneously. That’s excellent if you like sharing your VPN subscription with your family or friends.
PureVPN pricing
PureVPN has got three pricing plans. There is a 1-month plan, which costs $10.95 per month. Next, we have a 6-month plan, priced at $49.98. Finally, there is an annual plan available for $69.95. All three plans come with a no-questions-asked 31-day money-back guarantee.
PureVPN free trial
Unfortunately, PureVPN does not offer a free trial. However, it has a 7-day paid trial that costs $0.99 only. That’s almost free, if not completely free.
Alternatively, you can use PureVPN’s 31-day money-back guarantee to test the VPN risk-free. If you don’t like the service for any reason, you can cancel your subscription and get a full refund.
Also Read: Why Should You Start Using a Reliable VPN?
Should you buy a PureVPN?
PureVPN is a decent VPN service. It has extensive server coverage, robust tunneling protocols, reasonably fast upload, and download speeds, and good Netflix and device support.
There are a few areas it can improve upon, like adding WireGuard to its security arsenal or increasing the number of P2P servers. But all in all, it’s a solid get-job-done-type VPN. As always, evaluate your needs and budget, search and compare other VPN providers, and then make a decision accordingly.
Happy VPN shopping!