trusted formPureVPN Full Review: A KPMG Certified VPN | Several.com
Although we earn commissions from partners, we ensure unbiased evaluations. More on our 'How We Work' page
Purevpn

PureVPN Full Review: A KPMG Certified VPN

PureVPN Full Review: A KPMG Certified VPN

It is important to take steps to ensure the security and privacy of your online activity. Don't let anyone convince you to relax your guard. One way to secure your internet connection is by using a VPN. At Several.com, we have many VPN options, but for this review, we have chosen PureVPN. We will examine its pricing, plans, pros and cons, as well as its best features in detail. PureVPN offers a range of features, including a kill switch, a no-log policy, split tunneling, and the ability to unblock geo-restricted content.

Pros

No-log and human-friendly policy
31-day money-back guarantee
Split-tunneling
Kill-switch
24/7 customer support
Unblocks geo-restrictions

Cons

Port forwarding, dedicated IP, and DDoS protection are paid features
No trial duration except for the one-year subscription

Content

Quick Stats

Price
$3.33/month for the two-year subscription
Free Trial
1
Money-Back Guarantee
31 Days
Number of Simultaneous Connections
Up to 10 devices
Global Coverage
1
Number of Servers
Available
Customer Experience
Available

Did You Know This About PureVPN?

PureVPN is a company that offers over 6,500 self-managed VPN servers in 140 countries and has built a customer base of over 3 million people worldwide since its establishment in 2006. The company is located in Hong Kong, but there has been recent controversy surrounding the possibility of it shutting down its headquarters there due to the National Security Laws. Although no official announcement has been made by the company regarding any expected changes.

PureVPN Speed

The speed of a VPN is a major concern for many users because VPNs can affect a device's performance and slow down internet speeds. Some VPNs can cause a noticeable decrease in download, upload, and ping speeds. The question is how much the speed decreases and if it's significant enough that using a VPN becomes more frustrating than helpful. In this context, we will assess PureVPN's performance in speed tests, the number of available servers, and their distribution.

1. PureVPN in speed tests

It's important to note that several factors can affect your connection speed while using VPNs, such as the number of servers, physical distance, and protocol type. However, PureVPN has proven to be an impressive VPN service, performing well on both local and distant servers. While it's not shocking that local servers had better results, what's remarkable is that PureVPN maintained a good speed even on faraway servers. The connection speed was sufficient for streaming videos, playing games, and browsing the internet, with only occasional and tolerable lags.

2. Number of servers and geographic distribution

The VPN service PureVPN offers over 6500 self-managed servers located in 140 countries, helping to alleviate internet traffic congestion.

3. Fastest available protocol

PureVPN servers offer various protocols like PPTP, L2TP, SSTP, IKEv2, and OpenVPN to secure your data transmission. For a faster connection with less privacy compared to OpenVPN, we recommend using the IKEv2 protocol, which provides good security while ensuring a speedy connection.

PureVPN Security & Privacy

Many users find it challenging to choose a VPN, as security and privacy are two essential factors that determine their selection. However, we have come up with a solution that can help you make an informed decision. The features listed below provide valuable information that can guide you in choosing the right VPN for your needs.

1. Encryption and protocols

PureVPN offers 256-bit encryption, which is also known as military-grade encryption - one of the most secure encryption methods used in modern security algorithms, protocols, and technologies. This encryption ensures that your data cannot be accessed by hackers, snoopers, or government agencies. Even if someone tries to decrypt or view your data, it will appear as complete gibberish.

Pro mode: PureVPN servers use military-grade 256-bit data encryption and support PPTP, L2TP, IKEv2, and OpenVPN protocols to transmit your data through secure encryption tunnels.

Protocols PPTP L2TP/IPsec IKEv2 OpenVPN
Platform All platforms All platforms Windows, macOS, iOS, Linux, FreeBSD, and BlackBerry All platforms
Security Basic encryption (weakest) supports encryption keys up to 128-bits, and it uses MPPE (Microsoft Point-to-Point Encryption) IPSec encryption IPSec encryption AES encryption (most secure)
Firewall TCP port 1723, and IP port 47 (easiest to block/ least reliable) UDP port 500 (easy to block) UDP ports 500 and 4500, and ESP IP Protocol 50 uses 443 port (hard to block)
Speed Possibly the fastest due to low encryption (fewer data to transfer) Relatively slow due to the double encryption Generally fast (faster than OpenVPN) Generally fast


2. PureVPN logs policy

Your online activity is your personal business and nobody should be allowed to store, use, or access it without your consent. PureVPN shares this belief and enforces a strict no-log policy to safeguard your sensitive data. PureVPN's no-log policy has been validated by KPMG, which confirms that the VPN provider does not keep logs for browsing activities, original IPs, session timestamps, connection logs, and browsing history. PureVPN's privacy policy is clear and straightforward, making it easy for users to understand their commitment to protecting their privacy.

3. PureVPN kill switch

A kill switch is a useful feature that prevents any leaks that may occur when your VPN connection fails for some reason. It works by disconnecting your device from the internet right away when the VPN stops working. A reliable kill switch immediately cuts off the connection when the VPN fails because even a short period of time without protection can pose a risk.

4. PureVPN RAM-based servers

A server with RAM saves data on random-access memory instead of SSD drives. This provides better security because RAM is wiped clean each time the server reboots.

5. Based country

PureVPN is headquartered in Hong Kong, located outside the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliance. VPN companies located within the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliance are considered potential security threats as these countries are known to monitor their citizens and share information internally.

6. Warrant Canary

A Warrant Canary is a way for companies to indirectly notify their customers about any attempts by the government to subpoena their data. The presence of the warrant on the company's official website indicates that the government hasn't made any such attempts yet. If the Warrant Canary disappears from the company's page, it means that they have been asked for their data.

7. Wi-Fi Security

It is important to be aware that when connecting to Wi-Fi networks that use weak and easily cracked protocols or authentications, your data, activities, and communications can be accessed. PureVPN provides a solution to keep your internet connection safe through AES-256-bit encryption. This technology ensures that your data is transmitted securely through a tunnel, providing an extra layer of protection.

Tips to avoid information leaks:

  • Keep changing your password, and don’t make it easy to guess
  • It is better not to give your Wi-Fi network credentials to your guests or friends; you can type them yourself or consider changing them periodically
  • Make sure that you use the strongest encryption
  • Secure your network by using security products, such as a VPN; make sure to depend on a trusted one
  • Turn off your Wi-Fi when you are not using it or when you are not home
  • Think twice before connecting to a public Wi-Fi network

It is not uncommon for dozens or even hundreds of devices to connect to a Wi-Fi network simultaneously, which makes it an inviting target for hackers. To prevent any leaks, it is highly recommended to use a VPN. However, it's important to note that a VPN may not be enough to fully shield your connection if you download a browser extension or an app without checking its purpose and resources.

In addition, make sure that the Wi-Fi network is using a secure protocol. Checking this only takes a minute and ensures a safe internet connection. Simply click on "Properties" and read what is written next to "Security Type". If it says "WPA2" or "Wireless Protected Access2", your connection is strongly protected.

PureVPN in Practice

In terms of the applications of VPN in the real world, we dive further into how PureVPN fares against the rest in the following categories:

1. Streaming

You can enjoy your favorite online games, videos, TV shows, or any online content with PureVPN on your device. It supports many platforms, like Hulu, Disney, Amazon Prime, BBC iPlayer, and Netflix US.

To go online with full access to almost all content, we recommend using  CyberGhost and Private Internet Access, to enjoy full online access wherever you are.

2. Torrent

PureVPN offers specialized servers designed to ensure fast and secure P2P file sharing. With PureVPN, you can enjoy your favorite content without any worries. But why is it important to use a VPN while visiting torrent websites? Firstly, it's important to note that Several.com does not encourage piracy or sharing illegal content. However, some websites do offer pirated or illegal content. By using a VPN, your IP address is masked, protecting you from any files that may contain viruses or malware. Additionally, a VPN can prevent hackers from attempting to track your online activity.

3. Gaming

You can depend on PureVPN for an enhanced gaming experience. With PureVPN's specialized servers, you will live your favorite games as you wish and with zero lags. PureVPN is an absolute winner in the game of VPNs. Let's not forget to tell you that PureVPN can get you access to regional limited games and content. Here are some features that gamers will love:

  • Port-forwarding for $0.25

  • Dedicated IP for $0.99

  • DDoS protection for $0.99

4. Tor over VPN

Torrent onion router (Tor) is a P2P program to enter the dark web. Using a VPN adds an extra layer of anonymity, especially at the entry node, with the addition of data encryption.

5. PureVPN dedicated IP

PureVPN also shields your devices against DDoS attacks via dedicated IPs. DDoS attacks overwhelm your device with heavy traffic, causing a drop in your VPN network and holding back your connection speed. Why would you need a dedicated IP address?

  • Business Security
  • Secure online payment
  • Avoid getting blacklisted
  • Avoid CAPTCHAs

6. Geo-censorship bypass (obfuscation)

You can enjoy your favorite online games, videos, TV shows, or any online content with PureVPN on your device. It supports many platforms, like Hulu, Disney, Amazon Prime, BBC iPlayer, and Netflix US, on multiple operating systems and browsers, like Android, macOS, iOS, Windows, Chrome, Firefox, and Linux.

If you want to guarantee an unlimited online experience, you can depend on one of our tops. CyberGhost and Private Internet Access are there to let you enjoy your favorite content with no limitations.

7. Split tunneling

Route your internet traffic between the domestic ISP connection and PureVPN servers. With Split tunneling, you can exclude certain traffic from passing the encrypted tunnel so that you can access local and overseas content simultaneously. A VPN with this feature improves your connection efficiency and makes your online experience more convenient by picking which browsers and applications launch using the VPN and which not.

Extensions & Compatability

PureVPN is compatible with:

  • Windows
  • macOS
  • Android
  • iOS
  • Linux

PureVPN is available as an extension on:

  • Google Chrome
  • Microsoft Edge
  • Firefox
  • Opera

Windscribe User Experience

1. Supported Languages

Windscribe supports the following languages:
1. English
2. Chinese
3. French
4. German
5. Italian
6. Russian
7. Spanish
8. Portuguese

2. Customer Support

PureVPN User Experience

PureVPN offers assistance in every possible way, and you can choose from a long list of options. Their knowledge base is excellent and has sections for every single problem you might encounter; it includes a setup guide, troubleshooting, account and billing, VPN use cases, and FAQs.

You can also report a problem in the ticket section or have a one-on-one live chat with one of the customer support team members, who are available around the clock and 7 days a week.

1. Supported languages

PureVPN supports the following languages:

  • Arabic
  • Chinese
  • English
  • French
  • German
  • Portuguese
  • Spanish
  • Italian

2. Customer support

PureVPN makes sure that all your problems will get solved by offering a bunch of assistance methods:

  • Live chat
  • Knowledge base
  • Email
  • Articles and guides
  • Tickets
  • Phone

Pricing & Payments

PureVPN offers three subscriptions: monthly, annually, and biennially. The prices vary in terms of duration only. Features in all plans are the same, though. Let's take a look:

  • One-Month Plan: It is billed every month for $10.95. There is no discount or free trial for this plan
  • One-Year Plan: $3.74 per month, billed annually
  • Two-Year Plan: $2.91 per month, billed every 24 months.

All PureVPN plans have a 31-day money-back guarantee.

Available payment methods include:

  • PayPal
  • VISA
  • Mastercard
  • American Express
  • Cryptocurrency
  • Alipay
  • Mint
  • Yandex Money
  • AmazonPay
  • Sofort
  • UnionPay
  • GooglePay

In a Nutshell

With a bevy of features and more than 3 million satisfied users, PureVPN deserves a try, especially since you can get your money back within the 31-day money-back guarantee duration. PureVPN is packed with inviting features, such as split tunneling, kill-switch, and P2P networks. It also unblocks a vast majority of restricted online content. 

Take a look at our full reviews on the top VPNs on the market, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access.
FAQs
Can the subscription be cancelled after the trial?
Is there a free trial for PureVPN?
How many devices can be protected using PureVPN?
Is there a free version available of PureVPN?
Does PureVPN keep users' logs?