PureVPN Review: Reliable VPN Service That Comes with a Data Logging Caveat

In this review of PureVPN, we’ll delve into their encryption protocols, log policy, customer support, supported platforms, and more.

Additionally, we’ll explore their server locations worldwide and the number of countries in which they operate, to give you a comprehensive understanding of PureVPN’s features and capabilities.

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About PureVPN

PureVPN offers a fast and secure connection with a large server network, and strong encryption and leak protection. It also allows torrenting and streaming on popular platforms like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney Plus, and Amazon Prime Video.

With lower prices for long-term plans, you can save while enjoying up to 10 simultaneous connections.

PureVPN was launched in 2006 and they now have 300,000 IP addresses and 6,500 servers, and their jurisdiction is now in the British Virgin Islands (BVI). They were formerly based in Hong Kong, and the company’s roots are in Pakistan.

The BVI are outside the jurisdiction of the Five/Nine/Fourteen Eyes alliances, which are countries that monitor, record, and share mass surveillance data and collaborate to gather information about their citizens.

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PureVPN Pros & Cons

In this section, we will take a look at some of the pros & cons of using PureVPN.

Pros

• Discounted long-term plans
• Up to 10 simultaneous connections
• Additional features like file encryption for a nominal fee
• 31-day money-back guarantee

Cons

• • Not as many features as other VPN providers
  • Limited customer service options

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PureVPN Overview

Server Locations	78
Server Numbers	6,500+
Customer Support	Email / Live Chat / Contact Form
Log Policy	No Logs Policy
Encryption Protocols	OpenVPN, IKEv2, IPSec, WireGuard, L2TP (Manual setup) IKEv2
Supported Platforms	Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Kindle, Linux, Amazon Fire TV, Kodi, Android TV IKEv2
Routers Supported	DD-WRT Router in App/Others Manual
Simultaneous Connections	Up to 10
Split Tunneling	Yes
Kill Switch	Yes
Torrenting	Yes
Country of Registration	British Virgin Islands
Dedicated IP	Yes
Smart DNS	Yes, as an add-on
Multihop	Yes
Price	$2.29 – $10.95
Free trial/money-back guarantee	31-day Money-back Guarantee

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Streaming Movies and TV Shows With PureVPN

Pure VPN works with many popular streaming services including but not limited to the following:

• Netflix
• BBC iPlayer
• Amazon Prime Video
• Hulu + Live TV
• FuboTV
• Sling TV
• Disney+
• Apple TV
• HBO Max
• ESPN+
• Kodi
• Smart TVs

PureVPN is compatible with several streaming platforms and has no bandwidth cap. The company has 6,000 servers meaning you can use a nearby server to lower the risk of buffering when you’re trying to watch your favorite shows.

PureVPN supports iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, and Linux systems, and it’s possible to use the VPN on most devices (including Roku) using manual setup or through PureVPN’s router support.

The company also has more than 2,000 streaming-optimized servers, designed to offer a smooth streaming experience. They offer several streaming add-ons including an ad blocker which is designed to restrict ads in the background from consuming extra bandwidth while you are streaming online.

Using Streaming Devices with PureVPN

When it comes to streaming at home or on the move, PureVPN supports the following devices:

• Amazon Fire TV devices (Fire TV, Fire TV Stick, Fire TV Cube)
• Android TV
• Apple TV
• Samsung TV
• NVIDIA Shield
• Roku
• Chromecast

They also support several gaming consoles (which can also be used for streaming) including Playstation and Xbox.

The PureVPN app is available on multiple platforms, including Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Kindle, Linux, Android TV, and routers.

With ten simultaneous connections, you can secure multiple devices at once. Furthermore, PureVPN has browser extensions for Firefox, Chrome, and Edge.

In terms of mobile apps, they have an iOS app and an Android app on top of their standard Windows app and software compatible with MacOS and Huawei devices.

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PureVPN Features

Pure VPN has many features that set it apart from other competitors in the VPN marketplace. Here we will look at some of the company’s features up close.

VPN Protocols

Protocols are like the address and stamp on a letter. They dictate how data is transmitted between the VPN client and server.

PureVPN Supports Multiple Protocols, Including:

• Open VPN (TCP & UDP)
• IPSec
• IKeV2

These protocols are designed to offer flexibility and compatibility for different devices and network configurations and are widely used protocols in the VPN industry.

OpenVPN has strong security features, is open-source, and has cross-platform compatibility, making it popular among VPN providers and users alike because it runs on almost all platforms, has good firewall compatibility, and has an easy-to-use interface.

It supports both TCP (Transmission Control Protocol), which is used for things like web browsing, email, and UDP (User Datagram Protocol) which is useful for things like video streaming or online gaming where speed is of utmost importance.

IPSec (Internet Protocol Security) is widely used, and it offers robust encryption and authentication, making it great for ensuring data confidentiality and integrity.

IKEv2 (Internet Key Exchange version 2) is known for its efficiency, speed, and ability to quickly reestablish connections in case of network interruptions. It is commonly used on mobile devices due to its seamless switching between networks, so it is useful for users who frequently switch between Wi-Fi and cellular connections.

Split Tunneling

Split tunneling allows you to decide which applications you use your VPN with and which ones you don’t.

For example, you might want to use the VPN for your browser but not for Spotify or another streaming app. PureVPN provides this function for all subscribers.

Port Forwarding

Port Forwarding costs $0.99 when added to your VPN purchase, this feature enables incoming internet traffic to be directed to a specific device or service on your local network.

Dedicated IP

A dedicated IP address can help you avoid IP address bans (for example, if another person using the same IP address triggers a ban on a website), and you are less likely to be given CAPTCHA tests when accessing websites.

PureVPN provides dedicated IP addresses from many countries, including the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Germany, and Singapore.

A dedicated IP costs $1.99 per month if added during checkout when purchasing any regular PureVPN subscription. Here’s how to set it up:

1. If you haven’t already, subscribe to PureVPN and select the dedicated IP add-on under the heading “Addons for VPN” beneath your order summary.
2. Launch the PureVPN app on your device.
3. Locate and click on the globe icon situated in the left panel of the app.
4. Select the “Dedicated IP” option to establish a connection.
5. That’s it! You have now successfully connected with your dedicated IP address.

DNS leaks / IPv6 leak Protection

PureVPN offers DNS leak protection and is designed to keep you secure online at all times. DNS leaks allow others to see your real IP address online.

PureVPN routes all traffic through a secure tunnel instead of through your regular ISP. The company offers IPv6 leak tests and other tools to ensure that users’ actual IP addresses are hidden and not revealed publicly.

Audit Reports

PureVPN is a certified no-log VPN. This means they don’t store any information about the websites visited, files downloaded, or any other online activity that can be linked to the user’s identity. This ensures that your usage is not tracked.

A no-log certified VPN service is usually audited and verified by a third-party auditor to ensure that it complies with its no-log policy. This is to assure users that their online privacy and anonymity are protected.

PureVPN has successfully completed the fourth consecutive assessment of its stringent no-log policy by a top audit firm.

The recent technical evaluation was performed on VPN servers, configurations, and their supporting infrastructure across various countries. At the end of the assessment period, which spanned from the middle of February to the end of April 2023, the audit firm concluded the following :

• PureVPN does not log a user’s origin IP address
• PureVPN does not log a user’s assigned VPN IP address
• PureVPN does not log the specific time when a user connects to their VPN server
• PureVPN does not log a user’s activities through the VPN after connecting to the VPN server.

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PureVPN Pricing & Plans

PureVPN includes a wide range of prices and plans to suit all budgets.
Below is a list of the currently available plans:

Max Plan: Includes a full-featured VPN, secure password manager, end-to-end file encryption, and social media privacy. This plan has a monthly option at $16.90 per month or can be billed for two years at a 70% discount, at $109.95 total for the first two years, then $94.00 yearly after that. This is the only plan that includes social media privacy.

Plus Plan: This includes everything in the Max Plan besides social media privacy. This plan is either also $12.95 per month, or can be billed for two years at $69.95 total, then $64.95 for each following year.

Standard Plan: This includes the fully functional VPN and is either $10.95 if billed as a monthly plan, or $54.95 total for the first two years, then $54.95 for each year thereafter.

PureVPN’s Refund Policy

PureVPN offers a 31-day money-back guarantee on all subscriptions, allowing users to request a refund if they are not satisfied with the service. The company is dedicated to processing valid refund requests within 24 hours.

There is also the option to choose a 7-day trial for $0.99.

Payment Options

In this section, we will take a look at some of the payment options available for PureVPN.

• Credit card: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Union Pay
• Cryptocurrency: Bitcoin, Ethereum, or Litecoin
• Google Pay
• PayPal
• Payment Wall

Add-Ons

PureVPN offers several paid-for add-ons including:

Dedicated IP

$1.99 when added to your VPN purchase, a dedicated IP assigns an exclusive numerical address to a specific device, allowing it to have a consistent and independent identity on the internet.

Dedicated IP and Port Forwarding

$2.99 for both.

PureKeep Password Manager

$0.99 per month PureKeep is a password manager that lets you store your passwords and retrieve them anytime.

PurePrivacy Safeguards Your Digital Footprint

$2.49 per month, PurePrivacy is a security tool that blocks trackers and scans for data breaches.

PureEncrypt File Encryption

$1.29 per month, this feature is an encryption tool that encrypts your files for local and cloud storage.

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PureVPN’s Privacy & Security Features

In this section, we will take a look at some of PureVPN’s privacy and security features.

Encryption

Encryption ensures that your information is unreadable to anyone who tries to intercept it. If you were to use a VPN without encryption, it would be like sending a letter in the mail without an envelope – anyone who handled it would be able to read the message.

Advanced Encryption Standard 256 (or AES-256 bit encryption) is the industry encryption standard and is what PureVPN uses.

Malware Protection

Another feature is their web filter that can stop pop-up ads and the risk of malware or viruses that can come with them.

The content filter feature can also be used to stop children from streaming content that isn’t appropriate for their age group and to filter out gambling sites, or social media. It can also be used to block or whitelist specific websites.

Automatic Kill Switch

The automatic kill switch is a function you can choose to enable, that blocks internet traffic if your VPN connection suddenly fails.

This means that if your VPN drops and your connection is suddenly unencrypted then the VPN will block all traffic so that your data isn’t exposed. This works to prevent unencrypted data leaks and keeps your data safer when you’re using the internet.

Secure Core Multihop

Multi-hop is a feature that isn’t offered by every VPN company. It is designed to offer an extra level of security by using multiple servers to reach the destination rather than just one.

This works to hide your true identity even more so than a regular single-hop VPN would. PureVPN calls its multihop feature “Secure Core” and it sends your internet traffic through multiple servers in different countries for extra security.

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Technical Details

In this section, we will take a look at some of the technical details surrounding PureVPN.

Ease of Install

The installation process varies depending on the device you are installing it on.

For Windows, you can download the app from the PureVPN website. Once the download is completed, locate the installation file on your device and double-click the PureVPN setup.exe file.

The computer will ask if you want to allow this app to make changes to your device. Click yes and follow the installation instructions.

PureVPN Speed Test

We wanted to find out a bit more about the performance of PureVPN and its effects on download speeds and upload speeds.

So we decided to check out the PureVPN speed using Speedtest.com and here are the results between our WiFi internet connection and the PureVPN servers:

Country	DL (Mbps)	UL (Mbps)	Ping Idle (ms)	Ping DL (ms)	Ping UL (ms)
USA	3.4	1.38	719	758	731
UK	8.97	12.23	359	333	449
Germany	15.33	15.05	237	300	302

Server Locations

PureVPN has over 6,500 servers in 78 countries so whether you’re in Australia, Europe, Canada, or anywhere else and want to use (for instance) a US server then you can count on the Pure VPN server network. The company uses a mixture of virtual and physical servers spread across:

• North America
• Europe
• Asia
• Central America
• South America
• South Pacific
• Middle East

PureVPN has physical and virtual servers in the following locations:

Continent	Server Count
North America	2232 Servers
Europe	3052 Servers
Asia	560 Servers
Central America	4 Servers
South America	115 Servers
Africa	89 Servers
Oceania	483 Servers

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Does PureVPN work in China?

Many people visiting China struggle to access the internet properly due to restrictions put in place, which block access to websites not seen as favorable by the Chinese government.

Unfortunately, the government has taken to blocking the websites of many VPN companies. To connect from a country with strong internet censorship laws, do the following:

1. Ensure you have a working internet connection and a Premium PureVPN account.
2. Log in to the PureVPN member area.
3. Go to the Account & Billing section.
4. Click on the drop-down icon and select “Show/Update VPN password.”
5. Note down your PureVPN username and make your password visible.
6. Use your VPN credentials for manual configuration.
7. Follow the specific instructions for connecting PureVPN on your desired platform (Windows, Mac, Android, iOS).

According to our tests, PureVPN is not an ideal choice for users wanting to use a VPN in China.

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Customer Support

PureVPN offers 24/7 customer support through its live chat support function. This option can only be accessed with an account.

You can also raise a support ticket through email or via a contact form on the PureVPN website. They also have guides and articles on their site to help with troubleshooting.

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How Does PureVPN Stack Up to CyberGhost?

Both PureVPN and CyberGhost are affordable VPNs that offer a lot of features.

CyberGhost has servers in over 91 countries compared to 78 with PureVPN. PureVPNs’ money-back guarantee period is also shorter at 31 days, compared to 45 with CyberGhost.

PureVPN offers 10 simultaneous connections, while CyberGhost limits you to 7.

Which provider you choose will ultimately come down to your individual needs.

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Methodology

We personally try out each VPN for our reviews. We evaluate speed, security features, ability to unblock streaming services, support for torrenting, customer support, and many other factors. We also look at the VPN company’s jurisdiction, history, past security incidents, privacy policy, and audit reports to ensure that you get a complete picture of the service. Learn more about how we test VPNs on our methodology page.

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Wrapping Up

PureVPN offers several advantages over other VPNs and operates a vast network of servers, providing extensive coverage.

It boasts several security and privacy features, including encryption, dedicated IP, port forwarding, and a zero-log policy.

PureVPN utilizes the WireGuard protocol, which ensures reliable and speedy VPN connections.

It allows users to access geo-restricted content and platforms, such as Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and more.

PureVPN’s customer service is available 24/7, and it offers a 31-day money-back guarantee.

It supports various platforms, has 10 simultaneous connections, and offers a Smart DNS add-on for streaming movies. Its no-log policy is audited and verified by a third-party auditor, and it provides customer support via live chat, email, and FAQs.

PureVPN could well be a solid choice for people who want an affordable VPN to use on multiple devices.

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PureVPN FAQs

Is PureVPN a Chinese company?

No, PureVPN’s jurisdiction is in the British Virgin Islands. It is owned by GZ Systems Limited, a software company that creates cybersecurity apps and is headquartered in the BVI. PureVPN was launched in 2006 by Uzair Gadit and two others.

Is PureVPN worth the money versus a free VPN?

PureVPN has several features that free VPNs don’t. For example, dedicated IP, port forwarding, encryption, and a zero-log policy. With PureVPN, you can circumvent geo-restrictions on various content and platforms, including Netflix, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer. PureVPN also offers unlimited bandwidth and data, speedy connectivity, advanced security protocols, and 24/7 chat assistance.

If these are the types of features you’re looking for, then PureVPN will be a better choice over a free VPN.

PureVPN’s lowest price plan is $2.29 if you sign up for two years, and they offer an extended refund window of 31 days, so you can get a good idea of whether it works for you within that time.

How Does PureVPN Stack Up Against ExpressVPN?

PureVPN doesn’t have the visibility of other VPNs like ExpressVPN or NordVPN but it still offers an array of features in terms of server numbers, pricing, and features. They have many servers in different parts of the world.

PureVPN also offers 10 simultaneous connections while ExpressVPN offers 8, so if you have a large group of people who all need a single subscription at once, PureVPN would be a slightly better option.

How Does PureVPN Stack Up Against NordVPN?

PureVPN is slightly cheaper than NordVPN, but NordVPN offers a lot of value for the money. NordVPN has security features, as well as NordLynx, a custom modification of WireGuard designed to provide a combination of speed and security.

PureVPN has over 6,500 servers in over 70 countries. The PureVPN servers are located in Asia, Central America, South America, Europe, Africa, and North America. On the other hand, NordVPN has 5,000+ servers in over 50 countries worldwide.

The number of server locations is important because having more server locations gives you more options when it comes to choosing an IP address from a specific country. And if you’re trying to bypass geo-restrictions and access content that may be blocked in your region, having servers in multiple locations can really matter.

Does PureVPN work in India?

They are one of a few VPN websites blocked in India. PureVPN removed their servers from India after the government passed directives for all VPNs to log users’ data. PureVPN refused to comply and now has only virtual servers in India.