PureVPN Review (April 2024)
A self-described 'lifestyle product' that goes above and beyond the typical VPN offering.
Overall Rating
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PureVPN is quickly becoming one of the better known VPN services on offer today. It has achieved this through a well-rounded offering that should satisfy the vast majority of users.
While certain niche features can only be accessed through a paywall, the flexibility and scope of the server network on offer make PureVPN a perfect option for those looking to maintain privacy without sacrificing streaming quality.
Pros
- 20GB Servers
- Impressive Speeds
- Strong, audited, privacy practices
Cons
- Various Features Locked Behind Paywalls
Accessibility
PureVPN hits it out of the park when it comes to accessibility, supporting all of the major operating systems(windows, max, iOS, android, etc.) as well as a various browser extensions. A few examples of these extensions include,
- Chrome
- Brave
- Firefox
- Edge
On the server front, PureVPN continues to impress with a network comprised of over 6500, spanning 78 countries. Among these are servers dedicated for specific purposes, in order to provide the best performance possible for the task required (i.e. Streaming, P2P file sharing). PureVPN notes that its entire network is comprised of private servers.
In addition to an expansive network, available across a bevy of operating systems, PureVPN accounts benefit from,
- Unlimited bandwidth
- 10 simultaneous connections
- Unlimited devices
Aside from a few options on the market which allow for unlimited connections, PureVPN offering 10 is decidedly above average, with most offering 5-7. By offering 10 simultaneous connections, it means that an entire household can ensure all of their devices are protected.
For those interested in circumventing geo-blocks imposed by streaming platforms, PureVPN indicates that not only will it do this, it has specific servers optimized for such activity. While it may take some time to find a server that will work, this is no different than any other provider.
Security Features
Although PureVPN excelled from an accessibility standpoint, we do have a few gripes with regards to security. For the average user though, there should be no issues here. PureVPN boasts all the core security features required by most – including both a working kill switch, and 256bit AES encryption.
Where things change though, are the decision to put advanced features such as port-forwarding, and a dedicated IP, behind an extra paywall as an ‘add-on’ feature.
Aside from certain features only being accessible at an extra costs, there are a few notable omissions in the PureVPN offering.
- 2FA
- Ad-Blocker
- Malware-Blocker
While these are definitely not deal-breakers, it is only fair to bring attention to the lack of their inclusion, as various top-VPN offerings have gone the extra mile to include them.
Privacy
The number one reason people turn to a VPN is to regain a slice of privacy long lost in the digital age. While almost every VPN boasts increased privacy, this is not always the case. For this to be true, a VPN service needs to check off all three of the following.
- Strict no-log policy
- Situated in a country boasting strong privacy laws (outside of the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliances)
- Undergo third-party audits on privacy practices
For those considering PureVPN, it hits all three of these marks, with the company stating, “We never monitor, store, or share your private information with anbody. What you do online is your business along!”
In addition to its approach towards privacy, PureVPN is based in the British Virgin Islands – a tiny country found in the Caribbean known for its strong stance towards end-user privacy. Notably, BVI is not a member of the aforementioned 5/9/14 Eyes Alliances.
Finally, PureVPN is one of the few companies of its kind to actually back up its claims surrounding privacy. It has undergone audits by not only Altius IT, but big-four firm KPMG. Each audit verified PureVPN does NOT log any of the following information.
- user’s origin IP
- user’s assigned VPN IP
- VPN server connection times
- activity over VPN connection
To top it off, PureVPN notes that its audit through KPMG is ‘always-on’. What this means is that at any given time, KPMG has the ability to perform another. This demonstrates that that PureVPN doesn’t just clean-house when visitors are arriving, but maintains tidy operations at all times.
The only notable omission with regards to privacy would be support for ‘multi-hops’, which allow for a user to connect through multiple VPN servers at once, further obfuscating ones activity and point of origin.
Performance
From a performance standpoint, PureVPN excels by supporting a wide variety of protocols, including,
- OpenVPN
- L2TP/IPSec,
- PPTP,
- SSTP,
- IKEv2
- WireGuard
Between its support for Wireguard (and a variety of other protocols, including OpenVPN), and its 20GB servers, speed is one thing that users of PureVPN should never worry about.
On top of this, features like split-tunneling are supported, providing even more flexibility, as users can opt to route only selected programs through the VPN.
Purchasing
For those interested in purchasing a subscription to PureVPN, the company has made it as easy as possible to pay. Not only does it accept the expected forms of payment (credit cards & PayPal), it also accepts a trio of cryptocurrencies.
- Bitcoin (BTC)
- Litecoin (LTC)
- Ripple (XRP)
While support for the aforementioned digital assets great, it would however be nice to see support for an asset such as Monero (XMR), or zCash (ZEC). Each are digital assets built with privacy in mind – a clear theme and selling point among VPN providers.
Depending on the features you need, PureVPN is either a great deal, or middle of the road. For its basic plan (which should satisfy the vast majority of users), plans range from $1.99/mth on a 27mth subscription, to $10.95 on a month-to-month basis.
Like most VPN services, its longer term subscriptions are promotional in nature. For example, the $1.99/mth rate lapses after the subscription ends, with rates going to $4.49/mth after.
For the advanced user, there are a few add-ons that may be of interest. These include,
- Port Forwarding $0.99/mth
- Dedicated IP $2.99/mth
- Dedicated IP with Port Fowarding $3.49/mth
- DDoS Protection $3.99/mth
Overall, there is enough flexibility in the types of plans, and payment methods available, that everyone should be able to find a package that suits their needs.
Conclusion
PureVPN is shaping up to be a very competitive offering in a very competitive sector. The service boasts impressive speeds, flexibility, and most importantly it should do well to protect your privacy.
For the everyday user, PureVPN is also a solid option for streaming online content. Not only will its performance allow for a great experience, its vast network of servers ensures that you should never have issues circumventing geo-blocks.
With various features such as ‘Quantum Encryption’ being rolled out in select countries, and continual upgrades coming to its app and feature integrations, PureVPN should have no issue remaining competitive for the foreseeable future.