PrivateVPN vs PureVPN – At a Glance
PrivateVPN
PrivateVPN offers reliable online security and privacy, but is lacking in a few important service arenas, including global server coverage and multi-platform app support. However, if you’re looking for good, basic, low-priced VPN protection, PrivateVPN could be for you.
PureVPN
PureVPN provides comprehensive online security and privacy protection, comprehensive app support, and an impressive global server network. The provider offers above-average app support and fast-protected connections.
How to Choose a VPN
If you’re in the market for quality VPN protection, I strongly urge that you take the time to research VPNs, just like you’d do when mulling over any important purchase.
In this article, I’ll be taking a close look at two well-known VPN providers, PrivateVPN and PureVPN. I’ll pit them in a head-to-head competition. I’ll compare both VPNs in several important service categories, declare a winner for each category, then add up the scores and declare an overall champion.
By the end of this article, you should have plenty of knowledge, allowing you to make an informed decision about which VPN best fits your needs.
Features of PrivateVPN and PureVPN
In the sections below, I’ll take a look at each VPN and its performance in several categories you should consider before subscribing to a VPN.
Connection Speeds
Whichever online activities you enjoy – whether it’s streaming video and music, online gaming, or sharing large files – a fast connection makes it better.
I perform VPN connection speed tests on a regular basis, using the Speedtest.net app to test each provider’s download speeds.
The tests are performed in the following way:
- I use a North America-based Windows server with a gigabit Ethernet connection.
- I connect to VPN servers located in New York, London, and Hong Kong, at three times of day over three days.
- I use the Windows version of the providers’ apps, connecting via the OpenVPN protocol over UDP when available.
- Once I’ve connected to a VPN server location, I run the Speedtest app, shutting the app down between each test.
My testing showed that while one provider offered barely sufficient connection speeds, the other provider delivered impressively fast connection speeds.
PureVPN delivered average protected download speeds of 151 Mbps.
PrivateVPN’s were reasonably fast, coming in at 40 Mbps.
Both VPN providers delivered download speeds that were fast enough for streaming, online gaming, and file sharing. However, PureVPN users may face a much longer buffering period when streaming 4K content.
You’ll likely experience different connection speeds from what I saw, depending on your usual connection speeds, your location, and the VPN server’s location.
Average Connection Speed Winner: PureVPN
| Provider | Avg. Connection Speed | Link |
| PrivateVPN | 40 Mbps | Visit Site |
| PureVPN | 151 Mbps | Visit Site |
Pricing
Inflation is running rampant these days, with prices rising on everything. This means that many of us are looking for ways to save money. However, I strongly urge you to never make a decision about any VPN based solely on price.
If you purchase a bargain basement-priced or a free VPN, you may think that you’re getting a good deal at first. However, in both cases, these VPNs often skimp on protective features, throttle your speeds, impose data usage caps, and even sell your usage data to nosy third-parties.
A month of PrivateVPN will cost about the same as a microwave burrito and a small drink at your typical freeway convenience store when you buy a three-year subscription. The provider offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
As for PureVPN’s annual subscription rate, it averages in at a monthly average of around 25 cents per month more than CyberGhost. PureVPN offers a 31-day money-back guarantee.
You won’t see me tell you exact pricing in my vs. articles, as many VPN providers regularly change their prices and/or offer special deals on a regular basis. Visit a provider’s website for their current pricing.
Pricing Winner: PrivateVPN
| Provider | Money-Back Guarantee Period | Link |
| PrivateVPN | 30 Days | Visit Site |
| PureVPN | 31 Days | Visit Site |
Privacy
Someone is interested in getting a look at the records of your online travels. Whether it’s your ISP, advertisers, or law enforcement, someone is interested in what you do online. This is why a VPN provider’s privacy protections are an important consideration.
Keep the following in mind when researching a VPN service’s privacy protections:
- Is the provider located in a privacy-respecting country?
- Does the provider save user activity logs on their servers?
- Does the provider accept private payment like Bitcoin?
Swedish provider PrivateVPN keeps no type of user traffic logs and also accepts cryptocurrency as an undercover method of payment. (For added anonymity, use a disposable email address to sign up.)
Hong Kong-based provider PureVPN currently saves no user logs. However, since Hong Kong is once more a Chinese possession, this could change at any time. While PureVPN accepts cryptocurrency, there are no refunds on subscriptions purchased this way.
PureVPN also owns and operates all of its servers, adding additional privacy protection by keeping outside contractors away from your personal information.
Privacy Winner: It’s a tie
| Provider | Privacy Ranking | Site |
| PrivateVPN | 5.0 | Visit Site |
| PureVPN | 5.0 | Visit Site |
Security
Nosy types would love to be able to track you in real-time while you’re online. A VPN offers protective measures to prevent outsiders from following you around during your internet travels.
PureVPN’s banking-grade encryption, kill switch protection, and IPv6 and DNS leak prevention keep your online travels undercover. Available connection protocols include Wireguard, OpenVPN with TCP/UDP, L2TP, PPTP, and IKEv2.
PrivateVPN encases your connection in a tunnel of military-grade encryption. Its connection protocols include WireGuard, OpenVPN over UDP/TCP, L2TP/IPSec, IPSec, PPTP, and IKEv2. Kill switch protection is also available. A “Stealth VPN” feature disguises your VPN usage as normal browsing activity.
Security Winner: It’s a tie
| Provider | Overall Security Score | Link |
| PrivateVPN | 5.0 | Visit Site |
| PureVPN | 5.0 | Visit Site |
Simultaneous Connections
If you’re like me, you have more than one connected device and you likely use more than one of those devices at a time. This is why it’s important to find a VPN provider with a large simultaneous connections allowance.
PrivateVPN and PureVPN both allow up to 10 simultaneous connections at a time.
Simultaneous Connections Winner: Tied
| Provider | Simultaneous Connections Allowed | Link |
| PureVPN | 10 | Visit Site |
| PrivateVPN | 10 | Visit Site |
Streaming Support
Streaming video and music are arguably two of the most popular online activities. Unfortunately, streaming fans are not getting all that they could be from their subscriptions. This is because the contracts streamers sign with movie and record studios limit accessibility to content to viewers in specified areas of the world.
A VPN helps you avoid these content blockades, as it temporarily assigns a new IP address for your device, making it appear as if you and your device are connecting from inside another country. This opens up access to content that might normally only be available to viewers inside the selected country.
PrivateVPN provides access to a large number of streaming services, including Netflix US, Netflix UK, Hulu, Disney+, and more.
PureVPN also delivers access to numerous streaming services around the globe. You can use the provider to access Disney+, Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and more.
Streaming Support Winner: PrivateVPN
| Provider | # of U.S. Streaming Services VPN Unblocks | # of International Services VPN Unblocks | Link |
| PrivateVPN | 9+ | 5+ | Visit Site |
| PureVPN | 5+ | 5+ | Visit Site |
BitTorrent Support
Sharing files via peer-to-peer connections is an excellent way to share information with other users. While file sharing itself is completely legal in most countries, it is illegal nearly everywhere to share copyrighted materials, including movies, music, and games.
This means the entertainment industry puts pressure on ISPs to throttle or block your internet connection if they detect that you’re engaging in file sharing activity, even if the files you’re sharing are legal.
PrivateVPN allows BitTorrenting activity on its network, although it recommends that users connect to its Swedish servers when sharing files.
PureVPN allows P2P file sharing on servers located in over 37 countries.
BitTorrenting Winner: It’s a tie. Both VPNs allow file sharing
| Provider | # of Countries Where VPN Allows BitTorrents | Link |
| PrivateVPN | All of them | Visit Site |
| PureVPN | 37 countries | Visit Site |
Global Server Coverage
A VPN with a large global server network provides better access to geo-fenced content in many regions of the globe.
PrivateVPN has 200+ servers stationed in 63+ countries.
PureVPN has over 6,500+ servers spread out among 70+ countries.
Global Server Coverage Winner: PureVPN
| Provider | Server Count | Countries | Link |
| PrivateVPN | 200+ | 63+ | Visit Site |
| PureVPN | 6,500+ | 70+ | Visit Site |
Multi-Platform App Support
I own several devices, many of which run different operating systems. This makes a VPN provider’s app support an important thing I pay attention to.
PrivateVPN provides apps for only iOS, macOS, Android, and Windows device platforms. It lacks any type of browser extensions. The service can be manually set up on Linux devices and select routers. (Pre-configured routers are also available through Flashrouters.com.)
PureVPN does better in the app support department, providing apps for Windows, Linux, Android, macOS, Chromebook, Huawei, iOS, Android TV, and Amazon Fire TV devices. Browser extensions for Chrome, Brave, Edge, and Firefox platforms are also available. Router support is available, and pre-configured routers can be found at Flashrouters.com.
Multi-Platform Support Winner: PureVPN
| Provider | Platforms Supported | Browser Extensions? | Router Support? |
Link |
| PrivateVPN | 5 | No | Yes – Manual setup. | Visit Site |
| PureVPN | 9 | Yes (Chrome, Edge, Brave, Firefox) | Yes – Flashrouter options available. | Visit Site |
Customer Support
While most VPN providers’ apps are reliable and easy to use, you may still occasionally have a question or two about your service.
PrivateVPN offers a live messaging option, email support, and a non-searchable FAQ support section. Free remote help and installation are available.
Meanwhile, PureVPN offers live support chat, a trouble ticket system, and a searchable knowledge base.
Customer Support Winner: It’s a tie
| Provider | Customer Support Rating | Link |
| PrivateVPN | 5.0 | Visit Site |
| PureVPN | 5.0 | Visit Site |
And The Winner Is…
PrivateVPN and PureVPN both provide comprehensive VPN protection. However, there is only one reason for this article and it’s to name an overall winner.
PureVPN took the overall crown, thanks to its performance in the Connection Speeds, Global Server Coverage, and Multi-Platform App Support arenas.
Meanwhile, PrivateVPN was victorious in the Pricing and Streaming Support columns.
It was a tie when it came to Privacy, Security, Simultaneous Connections, BitTorrent Support, and Customer Support areas.
For more information or to purchase a subscription, visit PureVPN.
