PureVPN Review: Features, Price & My Verdict (2026)

PureVPN is slowly climbing the ranks to become a recognized top-tier VPN.

It’s proven to its users that it takes privacy seriously and online security is a priority. However, like most VPNs, it’s not without its flaws.

Read my PureVPN review to see what I mean.

Now, I’ve used my share of VPNs and know what to look for in a quality service. So, I put the improved PureVPN to the test and found it ticks most of the right boxes.

With its cheap subscription fees, you can’t expect the very best service, but for protection with decent(ish) speeds, you’ll have adequate cover!

My score: 8 out of 10. On 23 October 2026, PureVPN cost $2.15 a month on its 2-year plan (83% off plus 3 extra months), with 6,000+ servers in 65+ countries, 10 devices and a 31-day money-back guarantee. My hands-on tests date from 2022, and I flag them as such.

Continue reading for an in-depth analysis…

General Info & Features

PureVPN Review: At a Glance

My overall experience with PureVPN was good – no huge complaints. 

For a budget VPN, you’ll have access to features you don’t always get, including Split Tunnelling, plus Port Forwarding as a paid add-on.

I was also surprised at how easy it was to unblock Netflix in my tests! Although, I couldn’t unblock Hulu at all.

If your mission is to unblock Hulu, then try Surfshark.

This is another budget-friendly VPN with better unblocking results.

But considering PureVPN’s almost unbeatable price of $2.15 a month on its 2-year plan, slower speeds and subpar streaming are easy to overlook. 

Let’s face it; you’re still getting a big bang for your buck!

What PureVPN does deserve recognition for is security.

Your paid subscription will give you access to DNS leak protection, WiFi protection, a killswitch, a tracker blocker, and the most popular protocols.

But that’s not all I like about this VPN.

Like its rival, NordVPN, PureVPN allows 10 simultaneous connections. It also covers a vast range of devices, including Windows, Android, Mac, iOS, Linux, routers, Apple TV, and a few other Smart TVs and media sticks.

Torrenting using PureVPN also gets a thumbs-up. 

I just made sure to connect to a P2P server (PureVPN allows P2P on servers in 36 countries, not on all of them).

But if you want a better picture, here’s a glance at my PureVPN review results:

The overall score is the average of the ten categories (7.95, rounded to 8). Each section below says what changed since my first review.

Generally speaking, if you want a secure VPN to browse and torrent with, PureVPN will meet your needs.

But if you want a VPN to stream geo-locked content without the need for extensions, there are better options (I’ll share a few suggestions below).

My continued detailed review will help with your final decision if you’re on the fence.

Let’s get to it!

Try PureVPN Now

Privacy & Jurisdiction

Since this is quite a hot topic, I’ll start with PureVPN’s logging policy. 

I’ll also briefly discuss the VPN’s “scandalous” past and what it’s done to rectify its mistakes.

I’ve lowered this score from 9 to 8.5: PureVPN’s latest published no-logs assessment is from early 2023, and it found a logging slip on older protocols (more below).

PureVPN’s No-Log’s History

PureVPN doesn’t have a spotless record where user privacy is concerned. 

Back in 2017, the provider shared stored logs with the FBI, helping them solve a vulnerable case. While the company’s intent was good, they proved that their “strict” no-logs policy was a farce.

Following customer backlash, PureVPN quickly altered its privacy policy to regain users’ trust. Since this uproar, the VPN provider worked hard to get to its current “zero-logs” status and gained favor in its community once more.

Current Logging Policy

As stated in PureVPN’s Privacy Policy, it does not “keep any logs that can identify or help in monitoring a user’s activity” when you use its VPN.

In other words, the provider doesn’t log:

• Browsing activity or history
• A user’s original IP or records of IPs assigned
• A customer’s original IP
• Connection time
• Sites visited or content or data accessed
• DNS queries generated by the user

Keep in mind that, like other VPN providers, you’ll still need to give PureVPN your name, email address, contact details, and payment info when signing up. They also track your bandwidth consumption and software statistics.

However, PureVPN assures users that it doesn’t sell or rent this data to third parties.

Now, the next question:

Has PureVPN Been Audited?

The answer is “yes.” PureVPN has been audited several times, though not recently.

After it found itself in hot water, PureVPN put a new air-tight privacy policy in place and got two auditing companies to give customers a sought-after nod of approval.

The first auditor is an independent US-based firm named “Altius IT.” 

Altius IT certified that it found no evidence of log files that could identify a user’s activity when using PureVPN’s service.

If this isn’t reassuring enough, PureVPN also has an “always-on” contract with KPMG. This means that PureVPN can be audited anytime, without notice.

PureVPN counts four successful no-logs assessments. The latest ran from February to April 2023 and confirmed it doesn’t log IP addresses, connection times or activity, with one catch: servers for its legacy protocols (used for manual setups) recorded when users first and last connected. PureVPN fixed that during the assessment, and the assessor verified the fix.

There’s been no newer published assessment since, and PureVPN’s no-log page now credits a “Well known audit firm” rather than naming KPMG. On the plus side, it holds ISO 27001 certification and the 2026 VPN Trust Seal, and says it handed over nothing for the 43,000+ data requests it got in the first half of 2025.

In the company’s own words: “PureVPN keeps zero logs of your internet activity.”

Who Owns PureVPN?

PureVPN is owned and operated by GZ Systems Limited, a British Virgin Islands company that sells the VPN under the PureVPN brand.

But the VPN’s roots run deeper.

PureVPN launched in 2007, when young graduates Uzair, Umair, and Aqib started selling a product they had built in their free time. It now claims 5 million+ users and has taken over Ivacy VPN’s customers (“Ivacy Powered by PureVPN”).

“This was the foundation of their vision – empowering people to use the internet the way it was meant to be used.”

Where Is PureVPN Based?

PureVPN’s company used to be based in Hong Kong, but in 2021 it moved its legal home to the British Virgin Islands, where both the VPN and its operator, GZ Systems Limited, are now incorporated.

Hong Kong was a clever strategy at the time.

By situating itself in Hong Kong, the VPN gained a supporting Chinese customer base. Why? Because the Chinese government has enforced heavy censorship, whereas its neighbor, Hong Kong, sits outside the full force of the Great Firewall.

That changed in 2020. After China imposed its National Security Law on Hong Kong, PureVPN pulled its Hong Kong servers (they’re back now) and started looking for a new legal home.

As for the British Virgin Islands, well, this is an independent judiciary that stands in favor of privacy and anonymity laws, allowing PureVPN to retain a firm grasp on its no-logs Privacy Policy. There are no mandatory data retention laws there, so PureVPN isn’t legally required to store user data.

Security

Security is one of the main reasons internet users subscribe to a VPN. 

Luckily, PureVPN has your back in this regard!

In this section, I’ll discuss PureVPN’s security features and share tests (from 2022) that verify these features.

I’ve trimmed the score from 9.5 to 9: PureVPN offers obfuscated servers and quantum-resistant keys, but the iPhone app still has no kill switch, split tunneling is missing on Mac, iPhone and Linux, and weak PPTP is still offered for manual setups.

Ready? Here we go!

How Secure Is PureVPN?

PureVPN is a very secure VPN and offers the same military-grade encryption and security features as many top-tier VPNs.

It uses 256-bit AES encryption and some of the best security protocols to guarantee online safety. It also has a suite of premium security features, such as DNS Leak Protection, public WiFi protection, a killswitch, and split tunneling (on some apps), plus obfuscated servers that disguise VPN traffic as regular HTTPS and quantum-resistant encryption keys (on OpenVPN, in the US, UK, Australia, Germany, Canada, and the Netherlands).

Let’s discuss these features and see which ones passed my tests with flying colors.

PureVPN’s Encryption Status

PureVPN runs on 256-bit AES encryption to keep your online activity indiscernible.

To make sure it’s working, I conducted a test using Wireshark (a free program that can be used to test network encryption).

PureVPN Encryption Test:

First, I linked up to the VPN’s WireGuard protocol.

Then, I analyzed individual TCP, UDP, DNS, and HTTP data packets.

To do your own test, you can install Wireshark and capture traffic by right-clicking on one of the appropriate packets. Then, select “Follow…UDP/TCP stream.”

If the live capture shows an illegible script, it’s encrypted!

Here’s a sample image of a TCP stream:

I tested all traffic types (TCP, UDP, DNS, and HTTP), and all results came back as “encrypted.”

DNS Leak Protection

PureVPN runs its own private DNS servers and switches DNS leak protection on by default in its apps, so your DNS requests stay inside the encrypted VPN tunnel once you’re connected.

I’ve read contradicting reviews on the VPN’s DNS functionality, so I put it through my own test.

DNS Leak Tests

I used dnsleaktest.com to do my test.

The first test came back as follows:

If you’re wondering why it shows “M247 Ltd,” I contacted PureVPN’s support for an official answer.

The agent gave me long-winded feedback on how a VPN works, and I felt he was avoiding my question, “why does the name M247 Ltd reflect?”

After a bit of back and forth, I got the answer I wanted.

The PureVPN IP/server routes your traffic to a public IP address, which was the M247 Ltd based in New York. I’m testing from South Africa.

To back up this data, I performed the same test using ipaddress.com. 

I got the same results: there were no DNS leaks.

From my side, PureVPN passed the DNS leak test with flying colors. 

I repeated the test using a German server and my closest local server to back up my results. Again, pass!

PureVPN’s WebRTC Leak Protection

For your added peace of mind, PureVPN also offers WebRTC Leak Protection in its Chrome and Firefox extensions.

So, if you use your browser for video calls or file sharing, the provider promises to stop WebRTC leaks from exposing your real IP address.

Testing PureVPN for WebRTC leaks was my next step:

Test passed! I’m happy with the result.

Again – there’s contradicting info on the net, with some PureVPN users claiming their DNS leak tests failed. The only thing I can think of is that some servers are more volatile than others. My advice is to perform a DNS Leak test on each server before starting your online activity.

PureVPN Protocols

PureVPN’s site says it supports safety protocols on all its servers. 

But essentially, its apps support 3: OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPSec, and WireGuard.

WireGuard (PureVPN’s recommended protocol) and OpenVPN are in the Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Linux apps, and IKEv2 is in all but Linux.

PureVPN also still supports PPTP, L2TP/IPSec, and SSTP for manual setups, for those who prioritize speed over security (PPTP tops out at 128-bit encryption, so I’d avoid it).

WireGuard and OpenVPN are the best at keeping your activity and details from prying eyes, with WireGuard having the advantage of speed. 

IKEv2 is also a secure VPN protocol because it encrypts data twice.

All in all, I’m happy!

Kill Switch

PureVPN has a Kill Switch feature on its Windows, Mac, and Linux apps, and Android uses its Always-on VPN setting instead.

This feature kills your internet if your VPN connection is interrupted and can be enabled in your app’s “settings” panel.

PureVPN states on its website that its killswitch (the Internet Kill Switch) “automatically cuts off internet access if VPN disconnects.”

PureVPN Killswitch Test

To put the VPN’s money where its mouth is, I ran a quick Killswitch test on my Windows device.

These are the steps I followed:

1. First, I disabled the killswitch.
2. Then, I connected to a PureVPN server and opened a site.
3. I then enabled the Kill Switch and quickly changed to another server (the Windows app allows you to do this).

During this quick drop, my opened site threw a “this site can’t be reached” error. A positive sign that the killswitch worked!

WiFi Security

PureVPN now protects you on public WiFi automatically. Its Secure Wi-Fi feature switches the VPN on when you join an untrusted network (on Android since September 2025, Windows since November 2025, and iPhone since February 2026).

In 2022, there was no WiFi detection feature like some VPNs offer, so I checked with customer support to clarify:

As you can see, the agent raised the use of the Kill Switch. 

And while he’s not wrong in his method, I’m glad PureVPN has since put more effort into this service. One gap remains, though: there’s still no killswitch feature for iOS users! The iPhone app offers Reconnect on Disconnect and VPN on Demand instead.

Split Tunneling

PureVPN reserves split tunneling for its Windows, Android, Fire TV Stick, and Android TV apps. 

There’s no split tunneling in the Mac, iPhone, or Linux apps.

If your device/s works on one of the supported systems, you’ll benefit from routing some traffic through your VPN while the rest is processed through your usual (not VPN-protected) network.

The apps let you choose either way round: send only the apps you pick through the VPN and leave the rest on the unprotected network, or protect everything except the apps you exclude (PureVPN calls this inverse split tunneling).

Read: 7 Best VPNs With Split Tunneling (PureVPN makes the cut)!

How to Use PureVPN Split Tunneling on Android

What I like about PureVPN’s split tunneling feature is its ease of use on both Android and Windows.

Enable split tunneling on Android by:

1. Opening the app and navigating to the “Settings” menu.
2. Next, select “Advanced.”

3. Select “Split Tunneling.” This window will provide you with three options: “All apps will use VPN,” “Allow only selected apps to use VPN,” and “Do not allow selected apps to use VPN.”

4. Select your preferred option. The allow/do not allow options will raise an app menu to select apps that you do/don’t want to run through the VPN.

How to Use PureVPN Split Tunneling on Windows

Here’s how you can use PureVPN’s split tunneling on Windows:

1. Open your app and click on the settings cog found in the bottom left corner.

2. Next, click on “Split Tunneling.”
3. Click on the toggle to enable split tunneling.

4. Click on “Modify Apps” to select/deselect which apps you want to run through the VPN-protected network.

I really do appreciate how PureVPN simplified the process.

Android & iOS App Permissions

The last thing I wanted to investigate under PureVPN’s security status was its app permissions.

Unfortunately, I don’t have access to an iOS device, but pinpointing requests for Android was simple. I used the exodus tool.

Note that these Exodus reports date from 2021 and 2022, so check the latest report before you install. At the time, there were two PureVPN app versions available, each with its own permissions. Both have the same number of trackers, but the most recent version (8.23.32) includes (way) more permissions.

Let’s check the most recent first:

The last report for version 8.23.32 was created on December 15, 2021, and updated on February 10, 2022.

To date, this version of the PureVPN Android app features five trackers: Adjust (analytics), AppsFlyer (analytics), Google CrashLytics (crash reporting), Google Firebase Analytics (analytics), and MixPanel (analytics & advertisement).

I can’t complain about these results, as the only trackers used are for analytical, reporting, and advertisement purposes.

What’s a little excessive are the 16 permissions, although none of them are harmful.

Version 3.3.0 eases up on the permissions.

Google Analytics and Google Tag Manager (analytics) replaced Adjust (analytics) and AppsFlyer to keep to a total of 5 trackers.

There are also only six permissions:

Version 3.3.0 was last updated on February 10, 2022, following the most recent report on July 2, 2021.

Overall, there was nothing concerning on either of the app versions.

My research indicates that iOS apps are harder to gauge, and there’s no useful tool like exodus to round them up. You’ll have to view the permissions in your app to see if there are any red flags. If there are, make use of PureVPN’s refund policy.

Countries & Servers

Next, I’ll go over PureVPN’s server network in-depth, including its server locations and access to dedicated IP addresses.

Plus, you’ll get the full scoop on the provider’s virtual servers!

I’ve raised this score from 7 to 7.5: the network still covers 65+ countries, but almost all of its servers are now physical, and its busiest locations run on 20 Gbps servers.

PureVPN’s Servers

In terms of server numbers, PureVPN competes with the most popular VPNs: its 6,000+ servers come close to NordVPN’s 7,000+, though they cover far fewer countries (65+ against NordVPN’s 150). With several servers to choose from, you shouldn’t have a problem finding one that provides fast speeds and excellent unblocking properties (more on this below).

Here’s a glimpse of the VPN’s network as PureVPN describes it (checked on 23 October 2026):

That said, PureVPN offers two types of servers. Almost all of its servers are physical, meaning they’re solid servers located in the country they’re allocated to.

But a few of PureVPN’s servers are still virtual. 

A virtual server seems to be situated in a different country than it is. 

For example, if you connect to a German virtual server, the physical box may be in Belgium. Luckily, you’ll be assigned a German IP address anyway.

Unluckily, a virtual server won’t provide you with the same level of speed and stability as a physical server.

When I first reviewed PureVPN, that was a real concern. In June 2023, though, PureVPN said it had shelved dozens of virtual servers, leaving just 69, so 98.7% of its network is now physical. It doesn’t say which locations are virtual, which is a tad inconvenient, but you’re unlikely to land on one.

Does PureVPN Have P2P servers?

Yes, PureVPN has P2P Servers, but not in all locations. 

This is because some countries have strict policies on file sharing. PureVPN allows P2P on servers in 36 countries, including Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Romania, and Portugal. 

I used the filter on my Android’s PureVPN app to find the P2P-supported servers to take my pick. I found this to be a straightforward and convenient feature.

My only gripe is that there are no P2P servers in the most popular locations, including all UK, USA, Canada, and Australia. This makes torrenting on these servers impossible (more about this below).

Port Forwarding

PureVPN is one of few VPNs that offer port forwarding. 

But before you get excited, know that this comes at an additional cost as a paid add-on (from $1.49 a month).

If you’re willing to fork out the extra cash, you can open up to 15 ports at once, so other players, peers, and devices can reach yours directly through the VPN.

If you’re a serious online gamer, PureVPN is worth considering for this feature alone: open ports let you host game servers and can improve your NAT type. They also help with seeding torrents and remote access.

While PureVPN has made this feature easy enough to use, the process can still be tricky to implement. Unless you’re already tech-savvy, you may want to do some research before reaching for your wallet.

Countries & Cities

At the beginning of 2021, PureVPN had 6,500 servers across 180+ locations in 140+ countries. Today (I checked on 23 October 2026), the VPN provider lists 6,000+ servers but only covers 80+ locations in 65+ countries.

But this isn’t a bad thing.

Suppose you have a selection of well-populated locations, and you’re guaranteed that a single server doesn’t become overloaded or detected by streaming providers. In that case, a wider location coverage isn’t necessary. 

In fact, Surfshark excels as a VPN by keeping its 4,500+ servers in 100 countries from getting overcrowded.

Like Surfshark, PureVPN managed to keep a good balance, and its servers aren’t overused or busy enough to catch the eye of streaming police (in most cases).

Does PureVPN Bypass Censorship?

PureVPN bypasses censored content, and its obfuscated servers disguise VPN traffic as regular HTTPS traffic to get past VPN blocks. However, like with all VPNs, governments and streaming companies can detect and block VPN servers quickly.

So, a server can perform well one minute and fail the next. 

Perhaps that’s why I couldn’t unblock Hulu from South Africa, but other PureVPN users had success?

That said, a good VPN should never disappoint and allow customers to always stream geo-blocked content.

What does play in PureVPN’s favor in this regard are its dedicated IP addresses. I’ll admit that I held onto my cash and didn’t purchase a “fancy” dedicated IP (more on this below). Perhaps if I did, I would have gotten to see what Hulu’s about!

Dedicated IP Addresses

A VPN with a dedicated IP can unblock almost every geo-restricted website. PureVPN provides two types of IPs.

The first is a shared IP, included for all VPN subscribers, so you’ll be sharing it with other PureVPN users. I used one to try to access Hulu, but I still didn’t come right.

The second type is a true dedicated IP – the “fancy” one I mentioned. 

It’s fancy because you won’t need to share it with anyone, and it’s unlikely to get blacklisted. This option is perfect for gamers and those who are adamant about unblocking sites. However, this exclusive dedicated IP costs extra as a paid add-on (from $2.49 a month on top of your subscription plan), with locations in the US, UK, Germany, Singapore, and other countries.

Does PureVPN Work in China?

PureVPN says it can work in China, with some tweaking: its help center tells users there to switch to the UDP protocol, or set the VPN up manually if the app can’t log in. I couldn’t test this from inside China (here’s how to use PureVPN in China).

That would be an impressive feat, as some top-tier VPNs battle to get past the infamous “Great Firewall.”

BUT!

When I first tested PureVPN, Chinese users who wanted a nearby server were out of luck – its China servers were unavailable! I asked customer support why and got the following reply:

Hmm. Not very reassuring! However, it’s near impossible to find a VPN that’s not temperamental.

P.S. I did try to connect to a server in China a day later and got the same feedback. I also never received an email to date to say that a server’s available.

Speed & Performance

It’s time to discuss PureVPN’s speeds.

I tested several servers and compared the provider to popular VPNs such as NordVPN and Surfshark (another affordable VPN).

These tests are from February 2022. PureVPN has since upgraded key locations to 20 Gbps servers, but I haven’t retested, so the score stays at 7.5.

PureVPN Speed Tests

VPN speeds can be tricky to gauge because numerous factors influence the results. Your location, device, how many users are on the server, and distance from the server all affect speed. To give you the best feedback, I tested PureVPN as thoroughly as possible.

To start, I did two sets of speed tests using the same WireGuard protocol.

First, I tested PureVPN’s speeds on the five locations closest to me.

Here they are from closest to furthest:

• Johannesburg, South Africa
• Luanda, Angola
• Mombasa, Kenya
• Lagos, Nigeria
• Cairo, Egypt

Then, I used the five fastest servers according to PureVPN’s app.

These were (from fastest to slowest):

• Johannesburg, South Africa
• Mombasa, Kenya
• Lagos, Nigeria
• Bucharest, Romania
• Vienna, Austria

As you can see, my nearest server location (Johannesburg) promises the fastest speeds. But I was surprised that Romania and Austria replaced Egypt and Angola, as neither are nearby. 

Now for the juicy bits – let’s see how my results faired!

Speed Test Results

Before I delve in, here’s a picture of my base internet speed for comparison:

The three fastest PureVPN servers were South Africa, Egypt, and Romania.

South Africa being the fastest makes sense. Kenya and Nigeria have poor connectivity infrastructures, so it’s no surprise that I got better speeds from Egypt and even Romania!

Here are my speed results for South Africa:

My results for Egypt:

And, finally, my results for Romania:

The results were erratic, but this was to be expected (so many factors to consider). For example, Vienna placed fourth but had a lower ping than Romania! And Egypt’s ping, well, that’s just off the charts!

Here’s a table for better perspective:

All in all, you’re likely to get decent download and upload speeds on at least one server, though I can’t say if it’ll be a nearby server or one from PureVPN’s suggested “fastest” servers.

To be honest, the speed results are not the best, but they’re not the worst, either!

I’ll discuss this next.

PureVPN Speeds Compared to Other Top VPNs

Compared to other top VPNs, PureVPN is at a comfy middle ground.

How do I know? I did a quick speed test on five of the provider’s competitors using their fastest available servers.

I compared these results to the server that gave me the best speeds (South Africa) using PureVPN.

My base internet speed was 19.65 Mbps.

Here are my results:

In the end, PureVPN performed well enough to beat IPVanish and CyberGhost, two popular top-tier VPNs!

Also, most server speed results I got were still fast enough to enjoy online activities, such as streaming, gaming, and torrenting. 

One thumb’s up from me.

Is PureVPN a Slow VPN?

PureVPN is not a slow VPN. However, it’s not as fast as some of the most popular VPNs.

After my testing, I concluded that PureVPN offers average speeds. 

If you have a fast line speed and connect to one of the fastest recommended servers, you should have no problem streaming or torrenting files without interruptions.

Media Streaming

This section will discuss if PureVPN works with major streaming platforms.

I tested the provider with Netflix, Hulu, and HBO Max in February 2022. PureVPN now advertises more (including UK and Japanese Netflix), but I haven’t retested, so the score stays at 7.

Is PureVPN Good for Streaming?

Yes and no. PureVPN is good for streaming because it offers adequate speeds for a lag-free streaming experience – although streaming in 4K might be a problem.

But it didn’t unblock all the streaming services I tried to access, hence the “no” and the rating of 7 out of 10 (the best VPNs can unblock ALL sites).

There are tons of reviews that say PureVPN does unblock all media sites. 

But many also said it didn’t. So, I put it through my own tests.

Does PureVPN Work With Netflix?

Yes, PureVPN works with Netflix.

I’m in South Africa, and we have our own version of Netflix over here. 

But I’m always curious to see what’s happening on the US version.

To test if I could access Netflix America, I attempted to sign up without connecting to PureVPN. It immediately re-directed me to a South African server. Notice the plans offered in South African rands (R):

Then, I connected to a PureVPN US server and refreshed my browser. 

When I created my account, I was kept on the US portal.

Notice the figures are now in US dollars:

I entered my account details and was immediately given access to Netflix US. Success!

I got to watch a recently added US-only title (Stand by Me). 

It works!

I’m on team “PureVPN works with Netflix.”

Does PureVPN Work With Hulu and HBO?

My tests indicate that PureVPN does not work with Hulu, but does work with HBO.

After I had such simple success unblocking Netflix in the US, I thought I’d have the same outcome unblocking Hulu. But no, PureVPN does not work with Hulu. I even reached out to customer support to see if they could offer me a hack.

They did suggest connecting using PureVPN’s browser extension instead of the app. At this time of writing (February 2022), I couldn’t unblock Hulu.

As for HBO, my experience was similar to unblocking Netflix – it was smooth sailing.

Once I connected to a US server, I could move through the actions of entering my details.

So far, I’ve watched a bunch of stuff on HBO with no issues.

Overall, I’m happy with these streaming service results. 

I can live without Hulu. The question is, can you?

Torrenting

If you’re wondering if PureVPN supports torrenting, this section is for you!

Is PureVPN Good for Torrenting?

PureVPN would be a great choice for torrenting if it didn’t block P2P servers in popular countries like the US, UK, Canada, and Australia, where it says file sharing is not allowed. It allows P2P on servers in 36 other countries. 

For this pure reason, I gave the provider a torrenting rating of 7 out of 10.

Other than this hiccup, the torrenting is pretty good when connecting to a P2P server. I already mentioned that the speeds are adequate.

Another positive is that the VPN bases itself in the British Virgin Islands. 

From a torrenting perspective, this means there are no mandatory data retention laws, so PureVPN isn’t required to keep records that could link a download to you.

PureVPN also sells port forwarding as an add-on (from $1.49 a month), offering users an even smoother portal to share files with.

PureVPN Torrenting Test

I like to investigate before recommending a VPN for a certain service. 

Testing  PureVPN for its torrenting capabilities was, therefore, a must.

In my 2022 test, I connected to the fastest P2P server and downloaded a file using uTorrent.

My average download speed was 1.7 MiB/s with a max download speed of 2.3 MiB/s.

Remember, our connections in South Africa are much slower than in first-world countries, and I’m also currently sitting with a 20 MB line (poor me).

My 2.04 GB file downloaded in 13 minutes. In my opinion, this is good.

Multi-Platform Compatibility

PureVPN supports several devices with dedicated apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and Apple TV.

I’ve raised this score from 8 to 8.5, mainly for the new Apple TV app.

It also allows you to connect ten devices to one account, which is more than some bigger players allow. It matches NordVPN, which also allows up to 10 simultaneous connections. This means you can use PureVPN on your smartphone to browse the web and stream content safely on your Smart TV simultaneously!

What Devices Does PureVPN Support?

PureVPN supports the following devices with apps or manual setup guides:

• Windows
• macOS
• iOS
• Android
• Linux
• DD-WRT Router
• Kindle
• Apple TV
• Android TV
• Kodi
• Amazon Fire TV
• Amazon Fire TV Stick
• Blackberry
• QNap

Let’s discuss this list.

PC, Mobile, & Miscellaneous Devices

PureVPN offers native apps for Windows (10 and 11), macOS (10.12 Sierra and later), iOS, Android, and Linux (with a graphical app or a command-line version). These apps connect you to a VPN-protected server with a quick click of a button.

There are also manual setup guides for QNAP, Blackberry, and Kindle (Fire HDX).

Routers

PureVPN offers a dedicated “applet” (not an app) for DD-WRT routers only.

This means you can install the provider’s VPN on the router without going through the schlep of an entire manual setup.

It does support several other routers, with manual setup guides for ASUS, Linksys, Netgear, TP-Link, GL.iNet, MikroTik, pfSense, Tomato, and more. 

However, a manual setup for these devices is required, with the setup being specific to each router.

Consoles & Smart TVs

PureVPN offers dedicated apps for Android Smart TVs, Amazon Fire TVs, Firestick, and Apple TV (tvOS 17 and later). The Apple TV app is new since my first review, when router setup was the only way to cover an Apple TV, so kudos to PureVPN in this regard! Its old Kodi add-on is a different story (more below).

However, its router setup is still the only support it offers for other Smart TVs and gaming consoles (like PlayStation and Xbox).

Where Can I Download PureVPN?

The safest way to purchase PureVPN is via its official website, found here.

Whether you’re downloading the app for your PC, Smartphone, router, or TV – it’s best to get your VPN right from the source, as you never know when you’ll come across a fake PureVPN app.

Does PureVPN Have Browser Extensions?

PureVPN offers browser extensions for Google Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. 

The extensions are free with any PureVPN plan.

Browser extensions tend to work better at unblocking content. 

Saying this, they got me nowhere with my attempt to unblock Hulu. 

My bad luck, maybe?

The thing to remember with extensions is to use them cautiously. 

They don’t offer the same level of security as a VPN app, no matter what VPN you use.

How to Use PureVPN With Kodi?

PureVPN works with Kodi, but its old Kodi add-on hasn’t been updated since 2018, and PureVPN’s help center no longer mentions it. Today, you run the PureVPN app and then open Kodi:

1. Start by signing up for PureVPN. Then, choose and pay for a subscription plan.
2. Install the PureVPN app on the device that runs Kodi (Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, Android TV, or Fire TV).
3. Connect to the server location you need and check that your IP address has changed.
4. Open Kodi and use it as you normally would.

That’s it. Your activities in the Kodi app will be protected!

For the record, here’s how the old add-on worked in 2022: you opened Kodi’s “Add-ons” menu, installed the zip file with the “Package installer,” and entered your PureVPN login in the add-on’s “Configuration panel.”

Customer Support

I had to reach out to PureVPN’s customer support team several times throughout my review process in 2022 (I haven’t retested), and a few things stuck out to me.

First, the Live Chat feature isn’t “live” from the get-go.

I had to click through a series of options before I was directed to a real agent. These options were also very general, and mostly, they had nothing to do with my questions. 

So, I clicked on random selections just to be directed to a human.

However, this hasn’t been the worst customer service I’ve received from a VPN provider, and at the end of the day, my support ticket was acknowledged, and my questions were answered swiftly, with an average response rate of 2 minutes.

Indeed, the 24/7 live chat support was 24/7 (some VPNs lie about this).

However, I have one gripe. I feel the support agents could’ve done better at going the extra mile with each of my requests. 

For example, I’d either get short responses or get directed to a general article where I’d have to sift the wheat from the chaff.

I’ll demonstrate.

PureVPN Customer Support Test

After opening my Live Chat and filtering out irrelevant robot responses, I asked the question, “Does the PureVPN app on Firestick (from Amazon app store) support Wireguard?”

The first feedback I received was from ANOTHER bot, and I was directed to an article on “How to Set Ip PureVPN With Amazon FireTV and Amazon Firestick.” This article did not answer my question.

At least, I was offered another button, “I am not able to set up Pure VPN.” I clicked on this.

Only then was I directed to an agent, Scott. Annoyingly, I was prompted to ask my question again.

To give Scott his due, he responded quickly and directly.

“No, the Wireguard is only available on PUREVPN Application on Windows and Android for now.”

(That has since changed: PureVPN’s Fire TV app now lists WireGuard as its recommended protocol.)

I decided to ask him if there was an alternative solution. 

This was when I was offered a clearly “copy and paste” response.

Not cool.

Perhaps Scott was lazy or just having a bad day, but he could have put more research into my question. If he did, he might have found a solution like one of the PureVPN moderators did on Reddit:

I was also a little offended that Scott didn’t ask me if there was “anything else” he could help me with before I received his final goodbyes. 

But it wasn’t just him, I must have dealt with over five different agents while doing my research, and I felt like each one had something better to do.

The final message ended in hope…

User Experience & Usability

PureVPN’s apps follow the “less is more approach.” This is good if you’re not a tech genius, but you’ll still want to use your VPN to its full potential.

This makes PureVPN’s apps easy to use.

The interface is also clean and easy to navigate, and the settings are straightforward.

And if there’s not an app for your device, the provider’s guides for manual setups are easy to understand.

How to Use PureVPN?

In this section, I’ll explain step-by-step how to use PureVPN on Windows and Android, including what PureVPN features to enable (and how to enable them)! The screenshots are from my 2022 tests, and PureVPN has moved a few settings since, so I note where the labels have changed.

I don’t have an iOS or Linux device, so I can’t share my feedback with PureVPN on these devices, but I’ll share a helpful “how-to” guide from a reliable source.

Windows

Setting up the PureVPN Windows app was a breeze.

Here are step-by-step instructions:

1. If you haven’t already, purchase a PureVPN subscription. You can get a major deal here.
2. Download and install PureVPN for Windows.

3. Open the PureVPN app and log in using your credentials.
4. You’ll be met with the following opening screen (your recommended server may differ):

5. Before you connect to a server, I suggest you tweak your settings. Click on the cog in the bottom left corner to customize your experience (in today’s app, it’s More > Settings in the left panel).
6. First, click on “General” and enable your killswitch (it now sits in the Connection tab as the Internet Kill Switch).

7. Now, select “Protocol” and choose your favorite protocol. I recommend WireGuard.

8. If you want to direct some of your apps through the VPN tunnel but not others, then navigate to the last settings feature, “Split Tunneling.”
9. Head back to the servers’ menu and select your preferred server – sort locations by Alphabet, Popularity, or Ping.

10. Connect.

11. Check your connection for leaks. I use IPLeak.
12. Enjoy PureVPN on your Windows device!

Now, let’s go through the motions using the Android App.

Android

The PureVPN Android app was also easy to install and use – just follow these instructions:

1. If you haven’t already, purchase a PureVPN subscription. You can get an awesome deal here.
2. Follow the provider’s official PureVPN website link to download and install the Android app.

3. Open the PureVPN app and log in using your credentials.
4. You’ll be met with the following opening screen (your recommended server may differ):

5. Before connecting to a server, head over to the settings menu and select “Settings.”
6. Select the “Always-on” setting and enable the “Always-on” toggle. This is Android’s version of the PureVPN Killswitch.

7. Navigate back to the settings menu and click on “Connection Protocol.” Click on your preferred protocol.

8. If you want to direct some of your apps through the VPN tunnel but not others, navigate to the last settings feature, “Split Tunneling.”

9. Head back to the servers’ menu and select your preferred server. Sort locations Alphabetically or Popularity – or search your preferred location.
10. Click on the “funnel” icon to filter servers by “P2P Supported.”

11. Connect.

12. Check your connection for leaks. I use IPLeak.
13. Enjoy PureVPN on your Android device!

Once again, setting my PureVPN Android up was super easy; I could successfully connect to a leak-free server.

iOS and Linux

As mentioned, I don’t have access to a Linux or iOS device.

However, PureVPN created a very useful guide for using the different apps on different devices. I don’t know about you, but I appreciate this gesture! 

You can find the guide here.

Pricing

What are PureVPN’s prices, and how do they compare to other quality VPNs?

And does PureVPN offer a VPN for free?

Find out in this section, along with the provider’s refund policy and payment methods.

The score stays at 9.5: PureVPN’s 2-year plan is the cheapest per month in my comparison table below and renews for the least. Paid add-ons and refund exclusions keep it off a 10.

PureVPN Pricing & Plans

PureVPN’s prices are very affordable, though the best regular deal is its 24-month plan.

See for yourself:

Here are PureVPN’s US prices on 23 October 2026:

The 1-year plans (12 months plus 4 extra) cost $2.55, $4.55, and $5.55 a month.

Black Friday: PureVPN’s Black Friday page sells a 5-year Standard plan at $1.69 a month ($101.55 for 60 months). Our links open the regular 2-year deal; see my PureVPN Black Friday guide for the 5-year offer.

No matter which plan you choose, you get the full VPN with all of its security features; Plus and Max add the extra privacy tools.

Keep in mind that Dedicated IPs, Port Forwarding, and a Dedicated Server come at an extra cost, shown at checkout:

• Dedicated IP (from $2.49 a month)
• Dedicated IP with Port Forwarding
• Port Forwarding (from $1.49 a month)
• Dedicated Server (from $14.99 a month)
• Residential Network, a home IP address in the US or UK (from $12.49 a month)
• Extra logins beyond 10 devices (from $1.49 a month)

It’s disappointing that PureVPN asks extra for Port Forwarding, as some rivals include it for free.

But…

Don’t forget – this sign-up link takes you to PureVPN’s current deal.

Try PureVPN Now

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Payment Methods

PureVPN accepts several payment methods, including Visa, Mastercard, American Express, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and local methods through Paymentwall.

When I first wrote this review, there were no cryptocurrency options. Today, PureVPN accepts Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies through CoinPayments, but crypto payments can’t be refunded.

Can I Get PureVPN for Free?

The answer to this is a solid “no.” You cannot get PureVPN for free.

In fact, unlike most VPNs that offer a free trial period, PureVPN charges for its 7-day trial: $0.99 for Standard ($1.99 for Max). The cheek!

While the paid trial does give you access to all the premium features, it’s a little off-putting to potential customers who want to test-drive the VPN before forking out money.

What happens after the trial is also confusing: unless you cancel by day 7, the Standard trial becomes a 12-month plan at $47.95 (about $4 a month, almost twice the 2-year price), and trial renewals can’t be refunded. Hmm.

What Is PureVPN’s Refund Policy?

PureVPN offers users a 31-day money-back guarantee.

So, if you’re unsatisfied, you can request a refund before the 31 days are up. 

Just know what it doesn’t cover: renewals, trial renewals, and payments made with crypto, Google Play, or the App Store can’t be refunded.

The provider claims that this is a “no questions asked” policy. 

However, they also mention that they “will first try to resolve your issue successfully before processing the refund request.”

In my mind, they would have to ask questions to do this, no?

How Does PureVPN Compare to Other Top VPNs?

PureVPN is a cheap VPN. In fact, it’s one of the most affordable VPNs on the market and even beats Surfshark’s deals. On 23 October 2026, its 2-year price was the lowest per month of the five VPNs below, and so was its renewal price.

Here’s a table to help you compare:

BONUS: PureVPN for Business

PureVPN also offers a business solution for “teams” (companies and organizations), now called PureVPN for Teams.

There are three plans to choose from – “Starter,” “Pro,” and “Custom” (for which you book a demo).

Subscription prices are calculated according to the scale of how many team members will need to connect to the VPN. The price per user drops as you add more members: on monthly billing, Starter costs $9 per user a month for 3–10 seats, falling to $4 per user for 501+ seats.

Here’s a preview of what’s included (checked on 23 October 2026):

The plans may seem more costly than your basic PureVPN subscription at first glance, but if you have a large team that you need to cover, you’ll save a lot of money by going the “PureVPN for Teams” route.

What Do Customers Think About PureVPN?

Finding “real” and honest reviews on PureVPN service was a bit of a headache, but “find” them I did!

First is a review from a fellow South African. His stance is that he “wouldn’t recommend PureVPN if it wasn’t a bargain:”

After searching Facebook for opinions, I headed over to TrustPilot. 

Surprise, surprise! PureVPN had an excellent score of 4.7 out of 5 from 13,607 reviews when I first checked, and 4.4 out of 5 from 17,967 reviews on 23 October 2026.

The feedback is mostly good, and the few complaints lean towards customer service, billing, and the refund policy more than the VPN’s abilities.

I’ll share a few examples with you:

I also had a quick peek at Google Playstore, where PureVPN scored 4.2/5 in 2022 but 3.7/5 (about 42,800 reviews) today.

In 2022, the “rave” reviews were all about the VPN’s performance while the complaints circled, you guessed it, the refund policy!

All in all, PureVPN’s customer feedback is decent. 

For its affordable price, the VPN seems to be living up to its claims (apart from its refund policy, that is)!

On Trustpilot, it actually scores level with ExpressVPN (4.4) and ahead of NordVPN (4.2). Not bad!

I’ll finish this section off with one of my favorite reviews:

If you browse through Google Play and Trust Pilot, you’ll find several reviews similar to this.

PureVPN Alternatives

In my experience, no VPN is flawless, and PureVPN runs quite a tight ship for the most part. However, if you have your doubts, I can recommend a few PureVPN alternatives that offer excellent service.

Here are my top 3 suggestions:

ExpressVPN – The Works

ExpressVPN is one of the fastest VPNs and generally places first in my speed tests. It also unblocks all major streaming servers, including Hulu.

ExpressVPN also has excellent security features and offers a kill switch, proprietary protocol, no-logs, split tunneling, and RAM-only servers in 113 countries.

I also appreciate how their Live Chat directs me straight to an agent; there’s no beating around the bush, and helpful, detailed advice is given straight from the horse’s mouth.

See ExpressVPN’s current deal here.

Try ExpressVPN Now

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NordVPN – Best Security

If your primary concern is security, NordVPN won’t fault you.

It features everything from military-grade encryption, two killswitches, NordLynx proprietary protocol, and a double VPN to split tunneling and obfuscation features. The no-logs policy has also been verified.

The speeds are superiorly fast for gaming and streaming, and unblocking abilities are above par.

Grab NordVPN’s current deal here.

Try NordVPN Now

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Surfshark – Budget-Friendly

If you are considering PureVPN because of its affordable price, then Surfshark is another budget-friendly alternative.

It’s one of the best VPNs for unblocking content, and I have never had a problem streaming restricted sites.

Surfshark also offers blazing-fast speeds, unlimited simultaneous connections, a killswitch, and obfuscation (once called Camouflage Mode) to conceal your online activity.

Follow this link for a full Surfshark review or – grab Surfshark’s current deal here.

Try Surfshark Now

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All VPNs Compared

To help you compare PureVPN to ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and Surfshark, here’s a table:

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FAQs

That’s a Wrap!

Do I recommend PureVPN?

If you’re torn between the choice of purchasing a really cheap VPN or having no VPN, then I say “yes” – I recommend PureVPN. The security features have proven to be efficient, and it’s not all that bad for streaming either. 

My final score is 8 out of 10: great value at $2.15 a month (83% off plus 3 extra months), with solid security and a no-logs record I’d like to see re-audited soon.

Try it now!

But if you do have a few extra dollars to spare, perhaps consider Surfshark as an affordable alternative? The overall experience is a tad better. 

Find a full review on Surfshark here.