PureVPN vs NordVPN: Which One is the Best?
We put these VPNs to the test to find out which is the best!
After comparing NordVPN (our #1 recommended VPN) with CyberGhost (#4) and ExpressVPN (#5), it’s time to clash it against the #3, PureVPN.
NordVPN will obviously win this one too. But why and by what margin? We’ll find that out. With this article, we intend to put PureVPN and NordVPN on a virtual scale to measure & compare features, ease of use, speed, security, privacy, server network, customer support, and pricing.
By the end of it, you’ll know which one is worth buying and for what reason(s).
PureVPN vs NordVPN : How do these compare?
Vendor |  |  |
|---|---|---|
Features | 10/10 | 8/10 |
Ease of use | 10/10 | 8/10 |
Security/Privacy | 10/10 | 10/10 |
Support | 9/10 | 8/10 |
Pricing | 10/10 | 8/10 |
Cell |
PureVPN (started in 2006) is a lot older than NordVPN (began in 2012). Both started with a similar aim- provide online privacy. And both very well achieves it. However, there’s much more to VPN in today’s market than just providing privacy, like accessing geo-blocked content, speed requirements, P2P, features, etc. We tested both VPNs for all such factors, and the following shows our findings in full.
Features
NordVPN is our features-king. You know it if you have read any of our NordVPN comparison articles or our full review. This doesn’t mean PureVPN doesn’t have useful features, though.
Both NordVPN and PureVPN have the needed features, including:
- Internet Kill Switch.
- Split tunneling.
- Apps for Android, iOS, macOS, Linux, Firestick, etc. Also, extensions for Chrome and Firefox.
- IP and DNS leak protection.
- Ad Blockers- For PureVPN, it’s ‘Content Filter’; for NordVPN, ‘Cybersec.’
- SmartDNS.
Apart from these, NordVPN has many additional features such as DoubleVPN, DDoS protection (it’s a paid add-on on PureVPN), Obfuscated servers for China, Onion over VPN, etc.
All in all, NordVPN has more and useful features that PureVPN simply doesn’t.
Winner: NordVPN
Ease of use
Vendor | | |
|---|---|---|
Payment options - Cryptocurrencies? | Yes | No |
Interface | Map-based & list-based | List-based |
Apps (Android, iOS, etc.) | All devices | All |
Cell |
Both VPNs are commercial products. Hence, making the process as user-friendly as possible should be a priority. This includes everything from registering to using.
Signing up with both VPNs is straightforward. Visit the respective sites, select the plan, and pay. PureVPN has CC and Paypal payment options, which is perfectly fine. However, NordVPN also allows cryptocurrencies as payment, making it a better choice for privacy-conscious users.
As for the interface, PureVPN uses a list-based interface. It has a list of the best-for-you servers. You can choose from that list or search for the location of the server. Moreover, you will see a few P2P-labeled servers, which are optimized for torrenting.
There’s a setting option as well for accessing & managing the (previously mentioned) features.
On the other hand, NordVPN’s interface includes both a list view and a map view. The list view is similar to PureVPN’s UI. As for the map view, it has a world map with all the server locations marked — just zoom in to the country of your choice and select a server. It has a quick connect option and settings menu as well.
Overall, NordVPN’s map-based interface and the option to pay with cryptocurrency makes it more user-friendly than PureVPN. Plus, NordVPN’s UX is better, in our opinion.
Winner: NordVPN
Servers & Speeds
Vendor | | |
|---|---|---|
Server locations | 59 countries | 140+ countries |
Number of servers | ~5400 | 2000+ |
Unblocks streaming platform | Netflix, Hulu, HBO Go, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime, etc. | Netflix, Hulu, HBO Go, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime, etc. |
P2P/Torrenting | Yes | Yes |
Avg. Download speed reduction | ~20% | ~40% |
Avg. Upload speed reduction | ~15% | ~33% |
Avg. Ping | ~100 ms | ~150 ms |
PureVPN has over 2000 servers in more than 140 countries. Meaning, it has servers almost everywhere in the world! Compared to that, NordVPN’s 59 countries seem like a small number, but it covers all primary countries you’d want to unblock content of. Moreover, NordVPN’s 5400 servers guarantee better bandwidth or lesser people on one server.
As for unblocking streaming platforms, both work seamlessly for Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, HBO Go, BBC iPlayer, and more. NordVPN is a bit better because of its speed.
PureVPN’s average ping is approx. 150 ms. Compared to that, NordVPN’s 100 ms is way better, especially for gaming. Furthermore, PureVPN’s download speed reduction is about 40% and upload speed reduction is 33%, which is worse than NordVPN’s 20% & 15%.
If you have a mediocre internet connection, you might find streaming FHD with PureVPN a bit laggy. NordVPN keeps the stream flawless. The same goes for torrenting too — it doesn’t lag, of course, but there’s a significant speed difference.
Winner: NordVPN
Security & Privacy
Vendor | | |
|---|---|---|
VPN protocols | OpenVPN, IPSec/IKEv2, WireGuard’s NordLynx | PPTP, L2TP, SSTP, IKEv2, OpenVPN, Stealth |
Encryption | AES-256 | AES-256 |
Key size | 4096-bit | 2048-bit |
Logs | No logs | Keeps connection logs |
Location | Panama | Hong Kong |
Other features | Kill switch, DoubleVPN, Onion over VPN | Kill switch |
PureVPN is based in Hong Kong, and NordVPN’s headquarter is in Panama. Both these places are not in the 5/9/14 alliance, making both private from the government.
As for VPNs themselves, neither keeps the logs of your searches. NordVPN doesn’t even keep the connection logs, which PureVPN does. Considering the overall zero-logs policy and the fact that it accepts cryptocurrencies, NordVPN is better than PureVPN as far as privacy is concerned.
Now, let’s discuss security.
PureVPN uses top of the line VPN protocols such as OpenVPN, IKEv2, l2TP, Stealth, etc. NordVPN uses quite similar protocols. However, NordVPN’s NordLynx has been proven to be the fastest of all protocols, making NordVPN a slightly better option.
The same goes for encryption. Both use AES 256-bit encryption, which is used by the military itself and is practically impossible to decrypt by force. NordVPN using a 4096-bit key over PureVPN’s 2048-bit, makes it a bit more securer option.
Overall, NordVPN is slightly better from both security and privacy standpoint.
Winner: NordVPN
Customer Support
Vendor | | |
|---|---|---|
Communication option | Live chat & Email | Live chat & Email |
Response time | Live chat: < 1 minute Email: ~3 hours | Live chat: < 2 minutes Email: ~3 hours |
Quality of response | 9/10 | 8/10 |
Customer support is as vital as anything with a digital product that can go haywire or completely unresponsive.
PureVPN and NordVPN offer email support and 24/7 live chat. Apart from that, both have extensive FAQs and Knowledgebase for commonly asked questions.
In our experience with live chat, NordVPN’s support agents responded a bit earlier than PureVPN. Moreover, NordVPN’s agent solved our queries a bit faster than PureVPN’s employee, proving NordVPN’s support team better than PureVPN’s.
Winner: NordVPN
Pricing
|
|---|
Starting Price Per Month: $11.95 |
Best price: $3.71/month (2 years) |
Number of connections per plan: 6 |
Money-back guarantee 30 days |
VS
 |
|---|
Starting Price Per Month: $10.95 |
Best price: $6.49/month (1 year) |
Number of connections per plan: 10 |
Money-back guarantee 31 days |
PureVPN’s best plan costs $6.49/month, which is its 1-year plan. Initially, you pay only $0.99 for a 7-day trial. With this plan, you can connect 10 devices simultaneously — meaning, if you don’t have ten devices to join, you can lend your account to someone else or waste it.
NordVPN’s best plan is the $3.71/month one, which is for a two-year tenure. This plan allows up to six simultaneous connections, making it an ideal choice for most people. Even if calculated for 10 devices, it is cheaper [3.71*10/6 = ~$6.1/month]. Plus, given the sheer value of NordVPN…
Winner: NordVPN
P.S. Both have a one-month money-back guarantee, so you can try either.
Conclusion | Which one is the Winner?
The Winner Is - NordVPN
It doesn’t come as a surprise that NordVPN is the eventual winner. After all, it’s perhaps the best VPN in the market.
- NordVPN has more features than PureVPN.
- Among the two, NordVPN is the only one accessible for China.
- The speed reduction when connected to NordVPN is lower than that of PureVPN.
- The security & privacy protocols are also better with NordVPN.
- NordVPN’s customer support team is fantastic.
This doesn’t mean PureVPN is a terrible choice. It’s, in fact, a great VPN, but compared to a giant like Nord, it seems mediocre.
Total Score: 10/10
NordVPN Pros
Starts at
$2.95
per month
• Uptime 99.99%
• Free SSL certificate
• WordPress official recommendations