PureVPN Review: Features, Pricing, Pros & Cons
Overview of PureVPN
In this comprehensive PureVPN review for 2023, we will investigate the most recent features, performance, and security updates that have transformed this well-known VPN service into a more dependable and user-friendly choice. Keep watching as we examine the pros and cons of PureVPN, enabling you to make an informed decision regarding your online privacy needs.
PureVPN is one of the leading VPN services available today. It offers fast VPN servers, strong encryption, zero logging policies, and affordable pricing. With PureVPN, you can protect your privacy and security on the internet by masking your online activities and location.
PureVPN uses strong encryption techniques like AES 256-bit encryption to scramble all your internet traffic and hide your browsing habits from prying eyes. It has a no-logging policy that ensures no information related to your online behavior is recorded. Using PureVPN allows you to access region-restricted streaming content, bypass censorship firewalls, and enhance your privacy when using public Wi-Fi networks. The service provides apps for all major platforms along with easy-to-use desktop software for Windows, Mac, and Linux. With affordable plans starting at $9.95/month, PureVPN is a great option if you want an all-around secure and private VPN.
Features of PureVPN Review
- Zero Logging or No-Logging Policy
- No Bandwidth Caps
- Strong 256-bit AES Encryption
- Fast Speed and Uptime
- Multiple Device Support
- BYPASS Censorship
- Private Browsing
- VPN apps for All Platforms
- 24/7 Customer Support
- Compliance with Privacy Laws
- 30 Days Refund Policy
PureVPN Servers in Different Countries
PureVPN offers servers in over 140 countries worldwide, ensuring you stay secured and anonymous wherever you go online. Some of the major locations include the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Netherlands, Sweden, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Singapore, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, India, Russia, Ukraine, etc.
Having such a large network of servers distributed globally provides many benefits when using PureVPN. It allows you to circumvent censorship, bypass geographic restrictions on streaming content, and mask your online identity by appearing to connect from any other country. For example, if a website is blocked in your country, you can simply connect to a PureVPN server in another country where that content is available.
Similarly, PureVPN makes it easy to access region-locked content on platforms like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and others by connecting to their servers. No matter what kind of entertainment you are looking for, PureVPN has a server located in the country where it may be offered. This flexibility and selection of servers across the world is what enables PureVPN to meet all your requirements for privacy, security, and bypassing censorship.
PureVPN Strict No-Log Policy (Zero-Log Policy)
PureVPN follows a strict no-log policy which means they do not collect or store any information about your online activities or browsing data. PureVPN does not log the IP addresses assigned to your devices when using the service. This helps prevent others from discovering your true IP address and location.
PureVPN does not log details about the websites you visit, apps you use, streaming content accessed, or any other information related to how you use the internet. It does not log details about the devices that connect to the service like model number, hardware information, device names, etc. which ensures your devices remain anonymous.
PureVPN does not require or collect any personal information like names, addresses, emails, phone numbers, credit card details, etc. Anonymous sign-up options are also available. It completely refrains from logging user activity or storing any related information. There are no logs retained for any period of time. Everything is encrypted and discarded instantly.
PureVPN Works with Different VPN Protocols
PureVPN supports several advanced VPN protocols to securely encrypt all your internet traffic and hide your online identity. The primary protocols are OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPSec, L2TP/IPsec, and PPTP which PureVPN uses in various variants for compatibility across devices and networks. OpenVPN is considered the most secure protocol and PureVPN provides both UDP and TCP versions of OpenVPN for fast, encrypted connections.
IKEv2/IPSec combines authentication and encryption into a single protocol suite to set up encrypted tunnels between VPN servers and clients. When paired with IPsec, it delivers military-grade security for PureVPN connections. L2TP/IPsec is also supported for compatibility with other VPN services and devices. Although less secure, PPTP is included for legacy systems and website restrictions.
To automatically select the best performing protocol, PureVPN offers its proprietary Chameleon protocol. Chameleon dynamically chooses between OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPSec, L2TP/IPsec or PPTP based on the connecting device, network factors and requirements to provide the fastest and most optimized experience.
Hide your VPN Connection with PureVPN
PureVPN effectively hides your VPN connection using several methods to prevent others from discovering you are using a VPN. First, PureVPN’s no-log policy strictly prohibits logging any information related to users or their online activities. No IP addresses, browsing details, device information or personal facts are recorded, ensuring complete anonymity.
PureVPN also does not require any personal information during sign-up and anonymous sign-up options are available. This avoids creating any account details or profiles that could potentially be linked back to you. PureVPN employees have zero access to customer accounts, data or information. Strict controls and audits are in place to prevent unauthorized access or leaks.
WireGuard Access Content Safely with PureVPN
PureVPN provides access to websites and streaming media content that may be restricted in your location using advanced features like WireGuard VPN tunnels and IP rotation. WireGuard is a new VPN protocol developed by PureVPN that delivers fast speeds, strong encryption and anonymity. WireGuard VPN tunnels mask your online activity and hide your true IP address, making restricted content appear accessible.
Some websites implement geographic restrictions to limit access to content by region or location. PureVPN defeats such restrictions with its worldwide network of high-speed VPN servers. You can choose a server in the country where the content you want to access is available, masking your location and IP address to that place. This tricks the website into thinking you are connecting from there, unlocking access to region-locked content.
Kill Switch by PureVPN
PureVPN employs a kill switch to immediately sever your internet connection if the VPN tunnel drops for any reason. The kill switch helps prevent any data leaks by blocking network access when the encrypted tunnel no longer obscures your online activity. Without a kill switch, your browsing data, location and online identity remain exposed if the VPN fails.
PureVPN’s kill switch works continuously in the background to monitor the status of your VPN connection. Once the VPN disconnects for any cause, the kill switch temporarily cuts off access to the network. This stops any unencrypted data from transmitting out to prying eyes – effectively killing the switch until you re-establish a VPN tunnel and the connection is re-secured.
The kill switch works quickly to block access even for a brief moment without a VPN going up. It is designed to be triggered even if the VPN disconnection only lasts a fraction of a second – preventing leaks or monitoring during what could be a critical time. With a robust VPN kill switch enabled, you can rest assured your privacy and security are protected even if issues beyond your control cause the VPN to drop unexpectedly.
PureVPN is Best to Unblock Streaming Services
PureVPN uses advanced techniques to bypass geographic restrictions imposed by streaming media services and access content libraries that may be blocked in your location. Services like Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer and others frequently limit access or region-lock content based on user geography for licensing reasons. However, PureVPN masks your real IP address and location, tricking services into thinking you are connecting from another place.
By choosing a PureVPN server in a country where a particular TV show, movie, sports event or other media is available, you can access that content as if actually located there. PureVPN makes it appear as though your connection is originating from that server location. Streaming services have no way of determining you are using a VPN or situated elsewhere. All they see is the IP address of that PureVPN server, unlocking access to region-locked libraries.
Some streaming platforms actively block known VPN IP ranges and services to prevent circumvention of geographic limits. To counter these measures, PureVPN employs advanced techniques like IP rotation that constantly change your IP address from their network. Frequently rotating your IP makes it difficult for services to effectively ban all PureVPN connections or ranges. As your IP changes, access to blocked libraries may suddenly become possible again. IP rotation helps you maintain uninterrupted streaming even on restrictive platforms.
Secure Downloads & File Sharing with PureVPN
PureVPN secures all your internet traffic using powerful encryption techniques to hide downloads, file-sharing activity, and torrenting. Any unencrypted data transmitted over the network can potentially be seen by network operators, internet service providers, or anyone monitoring connections. PureVPN encrypts each and every packet of data before routing it through their secure VPN network, obscuring all details of your downloads, uploads, searches, messages, and more.
Using a VPN protocol like OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPSec, or L2TP/IPsec, PureVPN fully encrypts your data and hides details of your file transfers, torrenting, or messaging from prying eyes. No unscrambled information is sent over the internet, preventing others from seeing what files you download, share, or search for on torrent sites. With PureVPN, your downloads, file sharing, and torrenting remain completely concealed.
PureVPN masks your real IP address by assigning you an IP from one of its VPN servers in your chosen location. This hides your geographic location and identifies your online activity as coming from that server. Network admins or ISPs cannot trace your encrypted data back to your original IP address. Websites and services also cannot see your true IP or location, hiding the fact that you are using a VPN. Torrent sites and other file-sharing services cannot detect your VPN usage or block your account.
PureVPN Customer Support
PureVPN offers friendly customer support to help you with any questions or issues you encounter using the service. PureVPN support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week via phone, email and live chat. Experienced customer support agents can assist with setup, installation, account issues, billing inquiries, router configuration, streaming access problems, and general VPN usage questions.
PureVPN support is committed to resolving issues quickly and thoroughly. Agents will work with you until your problem is fully resolved if needed. While using other VPN services, setup and installation issues often have to wait hours between responses or require multiple emails to solve. PureVPN support delivers fast, focused assistance to get you connected and using the service effectively.
PureVPN Pros and Cons
Pros of PureVPN
- It does not log any user activity, browsing data, or personal information
- Uses advanced techniques like AES 256-bit encryption and OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPSec for fully encrypted VPN tunnels.
- Offers fast VPN servers with minimal impact on browsing and streaming performance.
- No bandwidth caps on the amount of internet usage or data that can be encrypted through the PureVPN network.
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Pay with Bitcoin, gift cards, balance transfers or other anonymous options to avoid tying payment details to your PureVPN account.
- Frequently rotate your IP address and appear to connect from multiple locations. Prevents streaming blocks, and censorship detection and limits restrictive bans on IP ranges known for VPN usage.
- Ensure your internet connection is severed immediately when PureVPN disconnects.
- Easily switch between locations in one tap with the auto-connect feature automatically selecting the nearest PureVPN server.
Cons of PureVPN
- The PureVPN kill switch only works for the platform you have the PureVPN app installed on. It does not provide protection if the service disconnects on another device or platform where PureVPN is also running, potentially exposing your activity.
- Although PureVPN claims to not restrict any legal internet activity, some users report issues accessing certain torrent websites or limited bandwidth for P2P file sharing.
- PureVPN focuses primarily on consumer users and does not currently offer any dedicated business VPN plans with additional features like quality-of-service options, device management, or advanced routing capabilities that larger business users require.
- While PureVPN does offer support 24/7 across chat, phone, and email, some users report issues getting live agents or experience long wait times.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, PureVPN offers reasonably priced encrypted VPN access with user-friendly features, but some limitations remain in device connectivity and streaming quality. While PureVPN provides solid security and privacy for basic usage, more sophisticated VPN needs may be better suited to a competitor’s product. For casual VPN users on a budget though, PureVPN gets the job done sufficiently and continues to improve over time.
PureVPN Review FAQs
Is PureVPN free?
PureVPN does offer a limited 7-day free trial but is otherwise not a free service. Subscription plans start at $10.95 per month.
Is PureVPN anonymous?
PureVPN implements a strict no-log policy and does not collect personal information. It also offers anonymous sign-up options. However, the service is operated by a US-based company. PureVPN claims no logs are ever shared under US government duress but some prefer non-US VPNs.
Does PureVPN have Kill Switch?
Yes, PureVPN has a kill switch feature that can immediately block your internet connection if the VPN tunnel drops. The kill switch prevents data leaks by cutting off access when encryption is no longer obscuring your online activity.
How many servers does PureVPN have?
PureVPN currently has over 140 servers located in more than 60 countries worldwide. The wide server selection allows choosing any location to mask your IP address and access region-restricted streaming media or other restricted websites.
Which countries does PureVPN support?
PureVPN servers are available in popular locations including the US, Canada, UK, Netherlands, Australia, and India as well as many European, Asian, and Latin American countries. You can view the full list of countries and servers on the PureVPN website.
Does PureVPN allow torrenting?
While PureVPN does not explicitly forbid torrenting and claims no censorship of legal activity, some users report limited bandwidth for torrenting or issues accessing certain torrenting websites. PureVPN may not be the ideal choice if you intend to do a lot of torrenting.
Which devices does PureVPN support?
The PureVPN service and apps support Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android as well as Linux, Fire TV, and router installations. This allows using PureVPN on a wide range of devices including desktop computers, laptops, smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles, and even network routers. The multi-device installation allows running PureVPN across 5 devices simultaneously.
Verified A Professional Content Writer
Riha Mervana is a professional content writer at SearchVPN.org, with extensive experience crafting engaging and informative content. She has established herself as an expert in the VPN industry, creating content that educates readers on the importance of online privacy and security.