PureVPN Review: 6,500 Servers, Strong Encryption—But Past Logging Issues
Improved significantly from a rough start, but trust takes time to rebuild.
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.
Jump to section
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
PureVPN by the Numbers
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.
Plans, Products & Prices
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
PureVPN Payment Methods
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.
How Do the Plan Tiers Compare?
How Does This Compare to Other VPN Bundles?
| VPN Bundle Pricing Compared | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Provider | VPN-Only Price | Full Bundle Price | Bundle Premium | What's in the Bundle | Free Alternatives Exist? | Bundle Value |
| PureVPN 3 tiers | $2.14/mo Standard | $3.48/mo Max | +$1.34/mo |
|
|
Good value |
| Surfshark 3 tiers | $2.24/mo Starter | $4.71/mo One+ | +$2.47/mo |
|
|
Mixed |
| ProtonVPN 2 tiers | $4.49/mo VPN Plus | $7.99/mo Proton Unlimited | +$3.50/mo |
|
|
Mixed |
| NordVPN 4 tiers | $3.39/mo Basic | $7.39/mo Prime | +$4.00/mo |
|
|
Mixed |
| ExpressVPN 3 tiers | $3.49/mo Basic | $7.49/mo Pro | +$4.00/mo |
|
|
Mixed |
Prices shown are the best available rate (typically 2-year plan). "Bundle premium" is the difference between the VPN-only tier and the most expensive bundle tier. "Free alternatives" shows widely available free products that serve the same purpose as the bundled extra.
Streaming TV & Movies With PureVPN
PureVPN is compatible with several streaming platforms and has no bandwidth cap. The company has 6,500+ 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.
Streaming on TV & Other Devices
When it comes to streaming at home or on the move, PureVPN supports the following devices:
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.
Performance & Speed
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 |
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.
Privacy & Security
| Obfuscated Servers | ✗ |
| Tor/Onion Support | ✓ (manual setup) |
| Port Forwarding | ✓ |
| RAM-Only Servers | ✗ |
| Independent Audit | ✓ KPMG (2 audits) Jul 2023 |
| Config File Export | ✗ |
We monitor PureVPN's legal documents daily for changes and summarize what changed.
Last checked: 20/04/2026 · 0 changes detected since 29/03/2026
Audits & Transparency
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 2026, 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.
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.
What Features Does PureVPN Offer?
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.
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:
- 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.
- Launch the PureVPN app on your device.
- Locate and click on the globe icon situated in the left panel of the app.
- Select the “Dedicated IP” option to establish a connection.
- That’s it! You have now successfully connected with your dedicated IP address.
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.
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
| Platform | Kill Switch | Split Tunneling |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | Internet-level No always-on | ✓ App-based, Inverse |
| macOS | Internet-level No always-on | ✗ Not available |
| Android | Internet-level No always-on | ✓ App-based, Inverse |
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.
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.
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.
Which Apps & Devices Are Supported?
In this section, we will take a look at some of the technical details surrounding PureVPN.
How to 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.
VPN Server Locations
PureVPN has servers in 10 US states across 12 cities . Last updated: 29/03/2026
-
New York
(NY)
1 city
New York
-
Illinois
(IL)
1 city
Chicago
-
Florida
(FL)
1 city
Miami
-
Georgia
(GA)
1 city
Atlanta
-
Virginia
(VA)
1 city
Ashburn
-
District of Columbia
(DC)
1 city
Washington DC
-
Texas
(TX)
2 cities
Dallas, San Antonio
-
Arizona
(AZ)
1 city
Phoenix
-
Utah
(UT)
1 city
Salt Lake City
-
California
(CA)
2 cities
Los Angeles, San Francisco
Customer Support
Live Chat
PureVPN offers 24/7 live chat support, though this option can only be accessed with an account. If you’re not yet a subscriber, you’ll need to use email or the contact form instead.
Email Support
You can raise a support ticket through email or via a contact form on the PureVPN website. This is the primary contact method for non-subscribers.
Knowledge Base
PureVPN has guides and articles on its website to help with troubleshooting common issues, though the range is more limited than some competitors.
Who Isn’t PureVPN Right For?
Based on our testing and research:
Past FBI cooperation incident – In 2017, PureVPN provided connection logs to the FBI to identify a stalking suspect, despite its stated no-logs policy at the time. PureVPN has since overhauled its logging practices and introduced an “Always-On Audit” with KPMG. However, trust, once broken, takes time to rebuild – and the incident is on public record.
Consider instead: NordVPN, Proton VPN, or ExpressVPN
Jurisdiction vs operations gap – PureVPN is registered in the British Virgin Islands (outside 5-Eyes), but its parent company, GZ Systems (Gaditek), is operated out of Pakistan. Pakistan has no strong data protection framework and its intelligence agencies operate under broad surveillance powers. The BVI registration offers less protection than it appears when operations are Pakistan-based.
Shared parent with Ivacy – PureVPN and Ivacy VPN are both owned by Gaditek. Users seeking diversification across VPN providers should know these are the same underlying business.
No refund on gift card payments – PureVPN accepts gift card payments but does not issue refunds on these transactions. The 31-day money-back guarantee does not apply if you pay via retail gift card.
PureVPN Competitors
| PureVPN | ExpressVPN | NordVPN | Surfshark | CyberGhost | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best rate | $2.14/mo | $3.49/mo | $3.09/mo | $1.99/mo | $2.19/mo |
| Monthly price | $12.95 | $12.99 | $12.99 | $15.45 | $12.99 |
| Servers | 6,500+ | 3,000+ | 8,400+ | 4,500+ | 9,700+ |
| Countries | 70 | 105 | 167 | 100 | 100 |
| Devices | 10 | 8 | 10 | Unlimited | 7 |
| Jurisdiction | 🇻🇬 BVI ⓘ | 🇻🇬 BVI ⓘ | 🇵🇦 Panama ⓘ | 🇳🇱 Netherlands ⓘ | 🇷🇴 Romania ⓘ |
| Money-back | 31 days | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days | 45 days |
| Kill switch | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Split tunneling | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| No-logs audited | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Dedicated IP | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Open source | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| RAM-only servers | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Ad/tracker blocker | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Our rating | 6.5/10 | 8.6/10 | 8.8/10 | 8.2/10 | 7.4/10 |
| Review | Read review → | Read review → | Read review → | Read review → | Read review → |
Our Verdict
Based on our hands-on testing and data analysis, here is our overall assessment of PureVPN.
Frequently Asked Questions
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 6,500+ servers in 70 countries. The PureVPN servers are located in Asia, Central America, South America, Europe, Africa, and North America. On the other hand, NordVPN has 8,400+ servers in 167 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.
Improved significantly from a rough start, but trust takes time to rebuild.
Our rating scale
| Rating Rubric | |
|---|---|
| 9 - 10 | Exceptional - best in class, no significant weaknesses |
| 8 - 8.9 | Excellent - highly recommended with minor trade-offs |
| 7 - 7.9 | Good - solid choice for most users |
| 6 - 6.9 | Adequate - works but has notable limitations |
| 5 - 5.9 | Below average - consider alternatives |
| Below 5 | Not recommended |
Update history
This page was revised 36 times between August 2022 and April 2026.
Added corporate structure references with links to ownership records.
Organized Customer Support section into dedicated subsections covering 24/7 live chat access, email ticketing, and self-service troubleshooting resources.
Connected device limit and money-back guarantee references to live verified data.
Added company background section covering PureVPN's 19-year history since 2007.
Added ISO certification details: ISO/IEC 27001:2022 verified credentials.
Added ecosystem overview showing PureKeep, PurePrivacy, PureEncrypt available alongside the VPN subscription.
Added table of contents with section-by-section navigation for faster access to specific topics.
Updated server network overview covering 6,000 servers across 65 countries, with interactive coverage map and nearest-server highlighting.
Redesigned quick-reference spec table showing 10 simultaneous connections, 6,000 servers, 65 countries, AES-256-GCM encryption, and 31-day money-back guarantee.
Added source citations and verification dates to all factual claims in the PureVPN review.
Added policy change monitoring showing recent updates to PureVPN's privacy policy with paragraph-level diffs.
Added transparency tracker with transparency report data showing government and DMCA request volumes.
Reordered sections to match how readers evaluate a VPN: streaming first, then speed, privacy, features, and pricing.
Expanded privacy section with BVI jurisdiction analysis, KPMG-audited no-logs policy (2 independent audits).
Improved pros and cons with more specific language grounded in test data and verified claims.
Added curated "Not Right For" section with severity-coded concerns addressing speed and compatibility limitations.
Removed outdated editorial commentary and unverifiable claims from the PureVPN review.
Added payment methods section for PureVPN covering accepted cards, digital wallets, and cryptocurrency options.
Rewrote protocol comparison covering WireGuard, OpenVPN (UDP), IKEv2/IPsec with per-platform availability and security ratings.
Added platform compatibility breakdown for PureVPN showing kill switch and split tunneling availability per operating system.
Added ownership transparency section identifying GZ Systems (Gaditek) as parent company.
Reorganized review content into clearer sections, moving misplaced blocks and removing layout inconsistencies.
Replaced static overview tables with live data-driven spec cards for PureVPN, ensuring pricing and server counts stay current.
Added overview section with pros/cons table, server details, and expanded streaming compatibility information to provide readers with structured comparison data.
Removed redundant introductory sentence and streamlined opening paragraph for conciseness.
Rewrote introduction to remove vague language, streamlined pros/cons section, and corrected multiple protocol/platform listing errors in overview table.
Removed redundant introductory sentence and cleaned up article opening to eliminate vague language about "understanding."
Removed redundant phrases from introduction for conciseness.
Removed redundant "understanding" phrase and streamlined introduction for conciseness.
Removed "understanding" phrase and streamlined introduction for conciseness.
Removed incomplete sentence fragment at end of streaming section and cleaned up formatting throughout overview table.
Removed multiple empty list items and fixed incomplete sentence at end of streaming section.
Added new H1 heading, expanded introduction section, added PureVPN History section with founding details, created Pros/Cons list, and added Overview table with 16 key specifications.
Added image caption for PureVPN website screenshot and restructured content with new section headings and synopsis table for improved scannability.
Added extensive new content including company profile section with founder background, data logging analysis, security incident history from 2013 and 2017, and detailed synopsis table with 11 key metrics.
Removed incomplete sentence at end of logging section and truncated content appears to be partial diff output.
Run our independent leak test while connected to your VPN and see the results for yourself. We check for IP, DNS, and WebRTC leaks in under 30 seconds. Every test adds to our public dataset.
Join Our Test Panel →PureVPN Alternatives
Considering PureVPN? See how it compares
Based on independent testing data and specifications from each provider.
How we test VPNs
Our testing process involves purchasing each VPN with our own money and installing it on Windows, macOS, and mobile devices. We run a three-stage leak test (IP, DNS, and WebRTC) multiple times across different servers to check for data exposure.
We also test streaming access, kill switch reliability, and split tunneling functionality. All testing is conducted without notifying the provider. Specifications and pricing are verified directly from the provider's website.
Our full testing methodology is published at vpntesting.com/methodology.