Is PureVPN good in 2026?
PureVPN is a fast, low cost VPN with a few features most rivals do not sell at all, such as port forwarding, dedicated servers and residential IPs. It is registered in the British Virgin Islands, which has no data retention law, and its no logs policy has been checked by KPMG under an always on audit agreement that allows surprise inspections. The network covers more than 6,000 servers in 65+ countries, and every plan protects 10 devices at once.
The downsides are real. Many useful features are paid add ons, the apps constantly push upgrades, the servers are not RAM only, and PCMag saw the Windows app freeze and crash. To weigh it against every other provider first, see our best VPN rankings, or compare it with our NordVPN review.
Speed and performance
PureVPN is quicker than its reputation suggests. It supports WireGuard, the lean open source protocol described on the official WireGuard site, and on nearby servers it keeps most of your line speed.
Download and upload speeds
In PCMag testing PureVPN lost just 12.55 percent of download speed and 6.36 percent of upload speed, beating the average in every category. Cybernews kept between 83 and 96 percent of a 500 Mbps line on WireGuard, while TechRadar measured peaks of about 480 Mbps on WireGuard but only 113 Mbps on OpenVPN. The table below summarises their published results.
| Test | Result | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| PCMag, 2025 | 12.55 percent download loss, 6.36 percent upload loss | Well ahead of the industry average |
| Cybernews Australia | 482 Mbps down, 243 Mbps up | 96 percent download retention, the best result |
| Cybernews France | 477 Mbps down, 458 Mbps up | Strong in both directions |
| Cybernews New York | 469 Mbps down, 474 Mbps up | Fast US connection |
| Cybernews United Kingdom | 418 Mbps down, 469 Mbps up | 83 percent download retention, the weakest result |
| TechRadar, OpenVPN | 113 Mbps peak | Use WireGuard instead whenever you can |
Speeds are good enough for 4K streaming and large downloads, but they still trail NordVPN and Surfshark on long distance routes. Stick with WireGuard, because OpenVPN TCP was by far the slowest protocol in every test.
Latency and gaming performance
PCMag measured a 95.65 percent latency increase, which is decent but not class leading. PureVPN has no dedicated gaming servers, but it does offer DDoS protected IPs and port forwarding as paid extras, which help if you host a game server for friends.
- Pick a server close to the game server, not just close to you
- Use WireGuard for the lowest ping PureVPN can offer
- Add port forwarding only if you host matches or need open NAT
- Check the ping shown next to each location in the Windows app before you connect
For competitive shooters, NordVPN adds less ping, which is why it leads our best VPN for Warzone list.
Does PureVPN work with streaming services?
Yes, and this is one of its strongest areas. PCMag reached open Netflix libraries in the US, Canada, the UK, Japan and Australia, and TechRadar unblocked every Netflix region it tried plus Prime Video, Disney+ and BBC iPlayer without needing a residential IP.
| Service | Works with PureVPN | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Netflix | Yes | US, UK, Canada, Japan and Australia libraries tested |
| Amazon Prime Video | Yes | Worked in TechRadar testing |
| Disney+ | Yes | Worked in TechRadar testing |
| BBC iPlayer | Yes | Stable with no buffering, ITV and Channel 4 also worked |
| 10Now | No | The only service TechRadar could not unblock |
Netflix recommends at least 15 Mbps for 4K in its internet speed guide, which PureVPN cleared easily on nearby servers. If a stream still shows a proxy error, our guide on how to fix the HBO Max VPN error covers the cache and DNS steps that work for most services. PureVPN has native apps for Android TV, Fire TV and Apple TV, which is why it appears as the budget pick in our best VPN for onn 4K Pro guide.
Security and encryption
PureVPN encrypts traffic with AES 256 and supports WireGuard, OpenVPN and IKEv2, plus IPSec on Apple devices. PCMag and Cybernews both found no DNS or IP leaks, and the kill switch is on by default. In Cybernews testing it blocked all traffic when the VPN process was force closed.
Key security tools include:
- Kill switch enabled by default on desktop and mobile
- Quantum resistant servers in the US, UK, France, Germany, Australia and Canada
- Obfuscation, added in 2023, to hide VPN traffic on restrictive networks
- Tracker Blocker on every plan
- Split tunneling on Windows and Android
What is missing matters. There is no multi hop, servers are not RAM only like NordVPN or CyberGhost, and the tracker blocker did nothing against ads on YouTube, Twitch or Netflix in PCMag testing. TechRadar also found that the residential IP add on can be traced back to a normal PureVPN address through WebRTC.
Privacy, logging and audits
PureVPN says it does not log your origin IP, assigned VPN IP, connection times or browsing activity. It does track total bandwidth per user, keeps a dedicated IP on record for 25 days after you cancel, and relies on Twilio for dark web monitoring. The British Virgin Islands do not require VPNs to store user data, and PureVPN publishes a transparency report listing law enforcement requests.
| Year | Auditor | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Not named | Further assessment mentioned, results not published |
| 2023 | KPMG | No logs assessment of servers in several countries, 16 to 22 February |
| 2021 | KPMG | Always on audit agreement allowing surprise inspections |
| 2020 | KPMG | First KPMG no logs assessment |
| 2018 | Altius IT | Privacy policy and logging audit |
History is the weak point. In 2017 PureVPN helped the FBI identify a cyberstalking suspect, which showed it was logging IP addresses with timestamps at the time. It changed its policy and moved from Hong Kong to the British Virgin Islands in 2021, and it now holds ISO 27001 certification. Still, Proton VPN publishes its audit reports for anyone, which is more open. The EFF guide to choosing a VPN explains why audits and track record matter.
Apps and devices
Every plan covers 10 devices at once, twice the old industry average, though Surfshark has no limit at all. Mobile apps are clean and simple, while the Windows app is busy, full of upgrade prompts and was the least stable in testing.
| Platform | Protocols | Standout features |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2 | Split tunneling, ping per location, P2P filter |
| macOS | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, IPSec | VPN on Demand, tidier layout |
| iOS | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, IPSec | Clean design, built in speed test |
| Android | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2 | Split tunneling, server modes by task |
| Linux | WireGuard, OpenVPN | Graphical app on Ubuntu with kill switch |
| Android TV, Fire TV and Apple TV | TV apps and router setup | Covers smart TVs and streaming sticks |
PCMag saw connections hang and the Windows app crash when switching servers, and turning off the fallback protocol only partly helped. If Windows is your main device, compare the options in our best VPN for PC guide first.
Plans and paid add ons
PureVPN sells three tiers. Standard includes the VPN and Tracker Blocker, Plus adds a password manager, and Max adds data removal, dark web monitoring and a small eSIM data bundle. Many features other providers include for free cost extra:
- Dedicated IP from $4.99 a month
- Port forwarding from $1.49 a month
- Residential Network from $19.99 a month, US and UK only, with a 12 GB cap
- Dedicated server from $15 a month
- Multi login for more than 10 devices
Prices drop on longer plans, but the totals add up quickly, and the apps remind you about these extras often.
Torrenting and P2P
PureVPN allows torrenting on P2P labelled servers, which you can filter in the Windows and Android apps. It blocks P2P in some countries, including the US, UK and Canada, so pick a server from the P2P list. Cybernews downloaded a 5 GB Linux image in about 7 minutes. The port forwarding add on is a real advantage for seeders, though Proton VPN includes it for free.
Using PureVPN for travel and remote work
PureVPN works well on hotel, airport and cafe Wi-Fi, and its obfuscation helps on networks that try to block VPNs, which CyberGhost cannot do. With servers in 65+ countries you can reach home streaming libraries and banking apps from most places.
For remote work, these features help the most:
- Dedicated IP keeps one fixed address for company tools that allowlist IPs
- Port forwarding lets you reach a home PC, NAS or camera from anywhere
- Split tunneling keeps local printers or video calls outside the tunnel
- Ten devices cover a laptop, phone, tablet and TV on one plan
Always check local laws before you travel. For a trip to Japan, see how it compares in our best VPN for Japan guide, and for a simpler app with labelled streaming servers, read our CyberGhost review.
Customer support
PureVPN offers 24/7 live chat that you can use without an account, plus email tickets and a large help center. Chat starts with an AI bot before a human agent joins, and PCMag found the answers scripted, while TechRadar rated its agent prompt and helpful. Refunds are easy: a refund button in your account handles requests within the 31 day money back guarantee, and PCMag's refund was processed immediately.
