PureVPN Review 2024: Is It Safe and Good?

PureVPN has established itself as a popular and affordable VPN on the market, with many positive reviews from its users. With its huge server network and features, users have generally been quite happy with the service. However, it has not been without its critics, particularly regarding its past speed and reputation with privacy.  

But in 2024, PureVPN can put any privacy concerns its users had firmly in the past, as they’ve become the very first VPN to have an Always-On audit, giving its privacy and security a major upgrade and making it one of the best VPNs for those with privacy concerns.

PureVPN has plenty of good reviews, but does it live up to the hype? Is this a safe and good service worth subscribing to? Everything from the VPN’s speeds to its unblocking capabilities with streaming services has been tested to make that determination. In this PureVPN review, we analyzed every aspect of this VPN service so you can decide if it’s worth the PureVPN subscription.

Keep reading to learn more about PureVPN.

PureVPN pros and cons

There are numerous pros and cons when it comes to PureVPN, all of which are important to consider when deciding if this VPN is right for you.

PureVPN overview

PureVPN is a VPN provider that offers its users many great features, incredible privacy, and a vast server network, all at an affordable and attractive price. Founded in 2007, PureVPN is owned by GZ Systems Ltd.The service is based in the British Virgin Islands after relocating from Hong Kong, where its parent company is located, so it’s not in a jurisdiction where it is required to share its users’ data. In 2024, moneyGenius has declared PureVPN the best VPN of 2024.

This VPN boasts more than 6,500 servers spread across 65 countries, giving its users plenty of server options to choose from. It also lets you connect to up to 10 devices under one subscription. It works with streaming services such as Netflix, YouTube, Hulu, HBO Max, and BBC iPlayer. While some users complained previously about PureVPN’s speeds and ability to work with Netflix, those issues largely seem to be a thing of the past, and the service is constantly improving.

PureVPN utilizes WireGuard and OpenVPN protocols to provide users with optimal speeds and secure connections. This VPN has robust security features that include strong encryption, a kill switch, an Always-On Audit, and more.

This VPN is compatible with most major devices, including Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, Apple TV, Chromecast, Firestick, gaming consoles like Xbox and PlayStation, and some routers. It also offers Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Brave browser extensions.

While PureVPN does have a no-logs policy, this has been part of a controversy with the VPN in the past, in which PureVPN provided information to the FBI, which, while not violating the fine print of their privacy policy, did have users question the validity of their no-logs policy. However, PureVPN has sought to put that controversy behind them and reestablish trust with their customer base by allowing for frequent surprise audits. And according to the audits conducted, PureVPN does not store their users’ logs, meaning your privacy is secure.

Pure VPN is very user-friendly, with apps compatible with most devices and operating systems. It’s also available at an affordable price, making it ideal for those on a budget who don’t want to sacrifice features for the cost.

PureVPN plans & pricing

PureVPN is one of the least expensive VPN services on the market, and its affordability is one of the most attractive aspects of this provider. It offers a few subscription plans for you to choose from:

The nice thing about PureVPN is that regardless of which plan you choose to subscribe to, you will still have access to all of the features available and can use your subscription on up to 10 devices at the same time. If you’re unhappy with the service, they offer a 31-day money-back guarantee.

Can you get PureVPN for free?

PureVPN is not a free service and does not offer a free version. So, in order to access the service’s features, you will need to subscribe to one of the plans available. However, PureVPN does offer its users the option to try the service risk-free for 31 days with a money-back guarantee, so in a sense, you can get the VPN free for up to a month before either canceling or paying.

Is PureVPN safe?

PureVPN is among the top VPN services when it comes to safety. They offer many of the top standard security features.

Encryption

PureVPN has one of the highest levels of encryption on the market, AES-256-bit encryption. This encryption is considered the best in cyber security and is utilized by government agencies, military, and high-level companies.

Tunneling protocols

PureVPN offers several tunneling protocols so that VPN users can determine which protocol best suits their needs. Each protocol differs in security and speed:

• WireGuard. WireGuard protocol is the one we recommend the most, with its strong security and highest speeds. It is also supported by all PureVPN apps.
• OpenVPN TCP. OpenVPN is a great choice that has good security and is very stable. However, its speeds leave a bit to be desired and are slower than WireGuard.
• OpenVPN UDP. Like the other variant of OpenVPN, UDP is also very secure. It also has super-fast speeds but is less stable than other options.
• IKEv2. This protocol is great for mobile devices and has high speeds.
• SSTP. Could work if you’re in China.
• IPSEC/L2TP. This is not a protocol we recommend using, as it’s the most outdated one on the list and might have issues.

Kill switch

A reliable kill switch is a crucial feature in a VPN and keeps you safe from potential hackers. The way a kill switch works is by automatically shutting down your internet connection as soon as something disrupts your VPN connection. This is so hackers can’t access your data from your server, and it is especially useful if you’re using a non-secure internet connection like public Wi-Fi.

PureVPN’s default settings have the kill switch automatically enabled, but you are free to disable it if you wish. Testing showed that the kill switch was largely successful in doing what it was supposed to do.

PureKeep

PureVPN’s password manager add-on, PureKeep, takes your internet safety to the next level. With PureKeep, you can store and autofill things like passwords, bank details, important documents, and sensitive information. Everything is stored in a virtual vault with a singular master password that only you know.

The PureKeep password generator can also help you generate long and secure passwords with letters, numbers, and symbols. You can also have collaborative vaults if you need to be able to share passwords with co-workers, friends, or family.

However, the password manager doesn’t come free; it is an extra one dollar per month. You can find and access it through the PureVPN app.

Logging policy

PureVPN has a no-logs policy, meaning they will not log your data while you’re using the VPN server.

However, the company’s zero log policy came under fire in 2017 when they provided the logs of an alleged cyberstalker to the FBI. Despite the criminal activity involved, users felt that by sharing logs with federal authorities, their trust was completely broken in PureVPN’s logging policy.

The company has since been working to reestablish trust with its customers and has promised it will not keep logs of VPN session timestamps, browsing activities, IP addresses, assigned VPN server IP addresses, and DNS requests. But they will still keep track of your name, email, and payment method.

Independent security audits

As part of reestablishing trust with users, PureVPN has been audited by the auditing firms KPMG and Altius IT.

PureVPN is also the first VPN on the market to have an Always-On Audit feature. While most audits are typically scheduled and arranged ahead of time, with the Always-On policy, an agreement was made with KPMG that the company could be subjected to a thorough audit at any time without warning. These surprise audits help keep everything on the up and up and ensure that PureVPN is completely transparent with its services.

The reports from KPMG are all published publicly, and so far, the inspections confirm that PureVPN is adhering to its no-logs policy, which has gone a long way towards customers trusting their logs are safe again and proving that PureVPN has kept its word.

Jurisdiction

PureVPN was originally located in Hong Kong but then relocated to the British Virgin Islands in 2021. Both of these locations are ideal privacy-friendly jurisdictions that are not part of any alliances in which they may be required to share their users’ information and data. While there were some past concerns over the VPN’s location in China and pressure from the Chinese government, now that the jurisdiction has changed to the British Virgin Islands, there’s nothing to worry about.

PureVPN: Is PureVPN fast?

A number of speed tests have been conducted with PureVPN to determine how fast it is in various circumstances. While its speeds aren’t quite up to the standards of some of the other top VPNs on the market, when using the WireGuard protocol, it had very fast speeds.

With a baseline of 300 Mbps, the average download speed was 200 Mbps, and the average upload speed was 210 Mbps. Your best chance of optimizing those speeds is to connect to a server closest to your physical location. After testing with various servers, this is what we found:

• On US servers, download retention was 90%, and upload retention was 89%.
• On French servers, download retention was 93%, and upload retention was 92%.
• On UK servers, download retention was 81%, and upload retention was 94%.
• On Australian servers, download retention was 95%, and upload retention was 50%.
• On Singapore servers, download retention was 87%, and upload retention was 63%.

	Download retention	Upload retention
US (NY)	90%	89%
UK server	81%	94%
Australian server	95%	50%
French server	93%	92%
Singapore server	87%	63%

However, be aware that when using WireGuard, there are some features that you won’t be able to use at the same time, like split tunneling or using a dedicated IP address.

PureVPN performance with other protocols

In the speed tests, we found that OpenVPN UDP had good speeds, but some locations had slower download speeds. Servers in the US and UK seemed a bit unstable with their speeds on this protocol, but servers in Canada seemed relatively stable.

OpenVPN TCP, on the other hand, is much slower and less consistent and is particularly problematic if you need to connect to a server far away from your physical location.

The benefit of the OpenVPN protocol is that it has extra security by automatically connecting to one of the specific ports, so you won’t have to do any manual setup. It also lets you connect to several servers at the same time.

The IKEv2 protocol is faster than OpenVPN TCP and has better download speeds than OpenVPN UDP. However, its speeds were still far from impressive and lacked consistency. It can also be difficult with the VPN connection, causing occasional disconnection.

PureVPN features

PureVPN has several desirable features that users look for in a VPN service.

Split tunneling

Split tunneling is a great feature, but unfortunately it is only available on the Windows app and Android app. Split tunneling is a feature that helps you conserve bandwidth by allowing you to choose the apps or websites that will utilize the VPN connection. Essentially, it allows some internet traffic to go through an open network while the VPN traffic on your apps will be encrypted.

PureVPN will give you a list of installed applications that you can use split tunneling with, so all you need to do is select the ones you want to connect to through the VPN. All of our tests on split tunneling have gone well, with no issues.

Port forwarding

Port forwarding is a feature that doesn’t come for free but doesn’t cost much to add and usually costs less than a dollar a month. This is a fantastic feature for those looking to access their devices remotely, as it allows devices outside of your network to access a specific device connected to the local network, even from a distance.

Tests confirmed that this feature works very well, and if you need to be able to access a device remotely for work or travel, then it’s definitely worth the extra cost.

Obfuscation

PureVPN’s obfuscation feature is fairly new and is a great option for those living in countries with strict internet censorship and restrictions. It allows your VPN to go undetected by hiding the VPN traffic while still having access to all the important features. However, obfuscation can impact your speeds, so deciding if this is something you need to be using is important.

In addition to obfuscation, Pure VPN also added a domain fronting feature that makes it look like you’re coming from a different domain by using different domain names from other parts of the website. This is particularly useful for bypassing geo-restriction, but it can slow your speeds and be difficult to set up.

PureVPN servers and locations

When it comes to the server network and server locations, PureVPN can compete with all the best VPN services and even surpass some of them. This service has more than 6,500 servers spread across 78 countries, so chances are you’ll find one that works for you. The locations of servers break down as follows:

• North America – 1,746 servers
• South America – 91 servers
• Central America (Panama) – 10 servers
• Europe – 2992 servers
• Asia – 800 servers
• Oceania (Australia and New Zealand) – 350 servers
• Africa (South Africa) – 96 servers

PureVPN offers two types of VPN servers. The common type of servers that most people are familiar with are the physical servers, meaning the servers are physically in the server locations you connect to. However, PureVPN also offers a number of virtual servers, which are servers that are located in a different country but will still give you an IP address from the country you select with a PureVPN server. For example, when looking for Indian IP addresses, the virtual server is actually located in the UK, or a Belgian server might actually be physically located in Greece.

If you’re located in the US, the UK, Australia, Canada, Germany, or the Netherlands, PureVPN has quantum-resistant servers that use special encryption keys to give you even better privacy and security.

If you’re on the Android app, the servers are filtered through four modes that you get to choose from: Security/Privacy, Stream, Internet Freedom, and File Sharing. If you don’t find a server in the country you need, you can issue a request from customer support.

How does PureVPN work?

How to download and install PureVPN

PureVPN is fairly simple to get on your devices. Follow these instructions to start using PureVPN:

1. Go to PureVPN’s website and choose the subscription plan that works best for you.
2. Follow the instructions for creating an account and provide the necessary check-out information.
3. Download the PureVPN app on your chosen device and follow the installation instructions.
4. Open the app and log in to your account with your details.
5. Once you’re all logged in, select the server you would like to connect to and start using the VPN!

Is PureVPN good for streaming?

While there’s certainly room for improvement, overall, PureVPN has no problem unblocking popular streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, BBC iPlayer, YouTube TV, and Amazon Prime Video.

If security isn’t your priority, PureVPN has a Proxy Control feature that can enhance your streaming experience by allowing you to access geo-blocked sites without connection encryption. This feature can help increase your speeds for streaming, but it does mean sacrificing your security.

Additionally, PureVPN has a dedicated app for Apple TV, making streaming as easy as can be.

Unblocking Netflix with PureVPN

While PureVPN can unblock Netflix, it’s not successful with every library. While you should have no problem unblocking Netflix libraries in countries like the US and Japan, the VPN provider did struggle with unblocking libraries in countries such as France and Germany.

Some users have complained that PureVPN hasn’t been as successful for them with Netflix, and sometimes, the site won’t load when the VPN is active. However, this could depend on which features and settings you are using with the VPN, including which tunneling protocol you choose, which server you connect to, and which browser you use.

Unblocking other streaming platforms with PureVPN

PureVPN has had success with unblocking other streaming platforms, but like with Netflix, it can be hit or miss with when it works and when it doesn’t.

This VPN works very well with YouTube TV and has had zero issues when it comes to unblocking that site. It can also unblock BBC iPlayer, but users have complained that PureVPN’s speeds when using this streaming service were very slow and that they experienced a lot of buffering.

In general, you will be able to find access to most of the popular streaming platforms. However, the quality of streaming with PureVPN can vary, and users hope to see this aspect improved and expanded upon.

Is PureVPN good and safe for torrenting?

Overall, PureVPN is a good choice for torrenting, but be aware that not all of PureVPN’s servers will support it. In countries that prohibit file sharing, like Canada, the US, and the UK, PureVPN has blocked P2P servers for those locations.

But never fear; despite this, there are still plenty of servers you can choose from that will support torrenting. Simply look for them under the “locations” tab.

However, while you can torrent with PureVPN, the speeds during torrenting leave much to be desired and are not as fast as some of its competitors.

Apps and devices: What does PureVPN support?

PureVPN supports most devices, including Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Linux. However, your user experience could vary depending on which operating system you have the VPN on or which browser you may be using.

Windows and macOS apps 

The Mac and Windows apps are very similar and provide good user experiences overall.

It is super easy to install the VPN’s Windows app, and once it’s installed, it is very intuitive and simple to use. It supports several tunneling protocols that you can choose from, including WireGuard, both versions of OpenVPN, and IKEv2. You can select which protocol you would like to use and choose the settings for the kill switch feature. The rest of the features can be easily found in the menu.

The app for Mac is virtually the same as the Windows app, with only one real difference. While on Windows, the ping is displayed next to each server, and this is not the case with Mac. Additionally, Mac supports the following tunneling protocols: WireGuard, IKEv2, and L2TP/IPSec.

Just like with Windows, most of the features can be found in the menu on the left-hand side. In general, this is an app that is easy to navigate, simple, and looks decent.

Android and iOS apps

The mobile apps for PureVPN are both good, but the Android apps, in particular, are very rich in features compared to all of the other apps available. It has Dark and Light themes, lets you choose your network type, has split tunneling, and offers different server modes (Internet Freedom, Stream, File Sharing, and Security/Privacy).

Android apps give you the option of three tunneling protocols: WireGuard, IKEv2, and IPSec. Switching between the protocols is generally a smooth and easy process.

The iOS app, on the other hand, is more basic than Android and is more similar to the Windows application. However, it still includes all the basic functions that you should need.

On iOS, you have the options of WireGuard, both OpenVPN protocols, and IKEv2 protocol. You can use the Connection Protocols menu to switch between tunneling protocols effortlessly.

Visually, it has a bit of a sleeker look compared to Android, and the menu button will take you to all the basic features that you should need. The Settings menu makes customizing your server selections as easy as can be, as well as setting up automatic reconnections and performing a speed test.

A common issue with some VPNs is that they might have desktop apps that have all the features while the mobile apps are more basic, or vice versa, but that’s not the case with PureVPN. This is something that’s nice about the PureVPN apps: you can access the features you want regardless of your device.

Linux

Compared to the others, Linux is the most different. It’s generally targeted towards users with a background in IT because it functions through a Command Line Interface, which is fairly common with most Linux options on VPNs. For tunneling protocols, it has the options of WireGuard, OpenVPN TCP, and OpenVPN UDP.

To make the VPN service easier to use for Linux users, PureVPN recently launched a new Graphical User Interface (GUI), which is now available on Ubuntu. This comes with a kill switch, both OpenVPN protocols, and has an auto-connection feature.

Linux with PureVPN also offers the Connect to Fallback option. How it works is that if you find yourself unable to connect to the protocol you wanted, it will instead connect you to the next best available option.

Overall, the app for Linux isn’t overly complicated to use, is minimalistic, and is somewhat similar to the Windows app interface.

PureVPN customer support

No matter what product you’re using, things won’t always go right 100% of the time, which is why most VPN users want to know that the service they subscribe to can provide them with solid customer support. Luckily, PureVPN offers several options for customer service if you find yourself having issues and in need of assistance. You can get help through the following methods:

• Email
• 24/7 live chat support
• In-app chat-bot
• Guides and articles
• FAQs

There are a few options for seeking help. The first is that you can log in to your PureVPN account and fill in a customer support ticket so that the representatives can get back to you about the problem. You can also try the troubleshooting feature in the app to try to fix any glitches you may be having instantly.

If you want to be more independent, you can head to PureVPN’s site, access their support page, and look through the various guides, articles, and FAQs to see if your problem has been discussed with possible solutions.

If you want an immediate response to your problem from a customer service representative, then it’s worth using their 24/7 live chat support. Simply enter your name and email address, and a patient and professional support agent should contact you very quickly. But if you’d rather not speak directly to a human, there is also the option to seek help from the chatbot that’s built into the app.

PureVPN: Good alternatives

If PureVPN isn’t what you’re looking for, there are several other great VPNs on the market that might better suit your needs. These are three that we recommend checking out:

ExpressVPN: ExpressVPN is considered one of the top-rated VPNs on the market. This is an ideal VPN for those looking to stream movies and TV shows, and it allows you to game safely and torrent without annoying buffering. It has super fast speeds and excellent security features.

NordVPN: NordVPN is a favorite among users and is a consistently reliable VPN that has earned a great reputation among its competitors. It offers its users great speeds, top-notch security, good unblocking capabilities, and more.

Surfshark: Surfshark is the ideal VPN for those who are on a budget and want a low-price VPN without having to sacrifice quality and access to features. This VPN has all the top-standard security features you could want, plus fast speeds, unblocked streaming sites, and more.

FAQs

Is PureVPN safe?

Yes, PureVPN is safe. PureVPN has strong security features to keep you safe, including AES-256-bit encryption, a kill switch, and secure tunneling protocols. It also has DNS leak protection and a no-logs policy.

Is PureVPN good?

While PureVPN may not quite be up to the standards of some other VPNs in the industry, it is still a very good VPN. It has good privacy and security features, decent speeds, is good with streaming platforms, and comes at an affordable price.

Is PureVPN legit?

Yes. PureVPN is a legitimate VPN provider that is fully functional and legal to use.

Does PureVPN keep logs?

PureVPN has a zero-logs policy, which means they will not keep logs of their users’ activity or data. However, in 2017, there was a controversial incident in which PureVPN provided logs of an alleged criminal to the FBI, causing users to question how authentic the no-logs policy is with this service and if they can be trusted now with your data.

However, as of 2024, it seems that PureVPN is sticking to the no-logs policy and trying to be as transparent as possible with the Always-On audit that allows them to be surprise audited at any time to confirm they aren’t keeping their customers’ logs.

Does PureVPN work in China?

Yes, PureVPN can work in China. It is typically able to bypass the Great Firewall that China is known for by supporting the SSTP tunneling protocol.

How many servers does PureVPN have?

PureVPN boasts a huge server network that includes over 6,500 servers spread across 78 countries.

Is PureVPN a Chinese company?

No, PureVPN is not a Chinese company. While the VPN used to be based in Hong Kong, it has since relocated to the British Virgin Islands and operates under the jurisdiction there.

Which is better, NordVPN or PureVPN?

While there is plenty to like about PureVPN, when it comes down to the details, NordVPN is the better product. NordVPN has faster speeds, better unblocking capabilities, is better for gaming, and has better customer service. In terms of overall quality, NordVPN is superior. However, PureVPN certainly wins when it comes to affordability and offers better prices.

Conclusion

PureVPN is one of the top-rated VPN providers on the market, and after going through every aspect of this PureVPN review, our conclusion is that PureVPN can be a great service for many users, although it may not be the right choice for everyone.

There are many things to like about PureVPN, including its top-of-the-line security features, gigantic server network, and the user-friendly apps that it offers. We also appreciate the clear improvements that PureVPN has made to its privacy policies, and that they have demonstrated this with their audits. It also is a great option for those looking for a VPN that won’t break the bank but still can provide them with strong security.

Nevertheless, this provider does have its drawbacks, including inconsistent speeds and connectivity issues that can affect you while streaming, gaming, or torrenting.

If you’re unsure if PureVPN is the right VPN for you, we recommend taking advantage of the VPN provider’s 31-day money-back guarantee so that you can try it out risk-free before making any final decisions.