Surfshark vs. PureVPN – At a Glance
Surfshark
Budget-friendly VPN provider Surfshark is not only reasonably priced, but it also provides reliable online security and enhancement for most popular devices.
The provider boasts a large server network, providing fast and well-protected access to content around the globe.
PureVPN
PureVPN also sports a low price but it doesn’t sacrifice fast connections and has excellent privacy protections and reliable customer support.
The provider offers comprehensive app support, and it also offers an impressive global server network.
How to Choose a VPN
When deciding on a VPN provider, always research and carefully consider what each provider offers.
This time around, I’ll be taking a close look at two VPN providers, Surfshark and PureVPN. I’ll take a look at both VPNs and their services, then declare a winner for each feature. I’ll then tally up the scores and declare an overall winner.
By the end of this article, you’ll have enough information to make the right decision about which VPN is best for your needs.
Surfshark vs. PureVPN – Features
In this section, I’ll cover the features you should always consider when deciding on a VPN.
Connection Speeds
A fast connection is a must for full online enjoyment. This is especially true if you stream video, play games online, or share large files.
I periodically perform VPN connection speed tests, performing the tests with the Speedtest.net app. Here’s how it works:
- Tests are performed on a North America-based Windows server with a gigabit Ethernet connection.
- I connect to VPN servers in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Hong Kong, at three different times of day over the course of three days.
- I use the Windows version of the providers’ apps for testing, and the app is configured to connect using the Wireguard protocol when available.
- I run the Speedtest app after connecting to each VPN server location, exiting the Speedtest app following each speed test.
During my connection speed testing, I saw one provider perform much better than its competitor.
PureVPN delivered average protected download speeds of 98.4 Mbps, which should handle any popular online pastime.
Meanwhile, Surfshark’s download speeds were more than four times faster, averaging in at 323.6 Mbps. This is blazingly fast and can easily handle buffer-free 4K video streaming, fast moving games, and any other demanding online activity.
Your connection speeds will likely be different from what we see here, due to your usual ISP-provided connection speeds, your location, and the VPN server you connect to.
Average Connection Speed Winner: Surfshark
| Provider | Avg. Connection Speed | Link |
| Surfshark | 323.6 Mbps | Visit Site |
| PureVPN | 98.4 Mbps | Visit Site |
Pricing
We’re paying more for everything these days. This means that many of us are looking to save a buck whenever we can. However, I urge you to never base your VPN buying decision-based solely on a low price.
Bargain basement VPNs may skimp on protective features, deliver slow connections, or not offer support for popular devices. This means you should always carefully consider a provider’s features in relation to its price.
Surfshark is a low-priced provider, charging the price of a good cup of coffee per month.
PureVPN’s annual subscription rate averages in at a monthly average of slightly less per month than Surfshark.
Both Surfshark and PureVPN offer a 30-day money-back guarantee.
I don’t use exact pricing listed in my articles, because VPNs regularly change their pricing and offer special deals. Visit a VPN provider’s website for their most current pricing.
Pricing Winner: PureVPN
| Provider | Money-Back Guarantee Period | Link |
| Surfshark | 30 Days | Visit Site |
| PureVPN | 31 Days | Visit Site |
Privacy
If you work or play online without using a VPN, you can be certain that you’ve left evidence of your activities behind. Trust me, there are plenty of folks that would like a peek at that evidence. This makes a VPN’s privacy protection an important consideration.
Consider the following when researching a VPN’s privacy protections:
- Is the provider located in a country that respects online privacy?
- Does the provider save user activity logs?
- Does the provider accept Bitcoin and other private forms of payment?
Surfshark is located in the British Virgin Islands and it takes advantage of that country’s privacy-respecting laws, saving no type of user activity logs. Surfshark’s acceptance of cryptocurrency keeps your payment privacy undercover. Use a disposable email address to sign up for additional payment privacy.
Surfshark operates all of its servers 100% from volatile RAM, saving no data at all to a physical hard drive or SSD. All data is completely wiped from the provider’s servers when they are rebooted, shut down, or unplugged.
Unfortunately, Surfshark introduces a privacy concern by using a third-party provider for one of its customer support features. I’ll discuss that later.
Hong Kong-based PureVPN takes advantage of the government’s lack of data retention laws. However, this could change at any time, as Hong Kong is once again a possession of the Chinese government. PureVPN accepts numerous forms of cryptocurrency. (There are no refunds on subscriptions purchased with cryptocurrency.)
PureVPN also owns and operates all of its servers, keeping outside contractors away from your personal info.
Privacy Winner: PureVPN
| Provider | Privacy Ranking | Site |
| Surfshark | 4.5 | Visit Site |
| PureVPN | 5.0 | Visit Site |
Security
As we established in the Privacy section, plenty of people are longing for a look at what you do online. Some of these Nosy Nellies will even try to follow you around during your online time. This makes a VPN provider’s connection security an important consideration.
Surfshark keeps your online antics incognito thanks to its banking-grade encryption and kill switch protection. OpenVPN, WireGuard, and IPSec/IKEv2 connection protocols are available. The provider’s “Camouflage Mode” disguises your VPN traffic, making it appear to be normal browser usage.
PureVPN also provides AES-256 encryption, using Wireguard, OpenVPN with TCP/UDP, L2TP, PPTP, and IKEv2 protocols. The service also offers kill switch protection, as well as IPv6 and DNS leak prevention.
Security Winner: It’s a tie.
| Provider | Overall Security Score | Link |
| Surfshark | 5.0 | Visit Site |
| PureVPN | 5.0 | Visit Site |
Simultaneous Connections
Most of us own and use multiple connected devices. Yes? I myself use tablets, smartphones, computers, streaming, and gaming devices on a daily basis. This makes a VPN provider’s concurrent connections allowance an important consideration.
Surfshark puts no limit on the number of devices that a user can simultaneously connect to its servers.
PureVPN allows five simultaneous connections.
Simultaneous Connections Winner: Surfshark
| Provider | Simultaneous Connections Allowed | Link |
| Surfshark | Unlimited | Visit Site |
| PureVPN | 5 | Visit Site |
Streaming Support
A large number of folks subscribe to multiple streaming services. Unfortunately, users are not getting all that they could out of their subscriptions. This is because many popular streaming services make their content available only in certain countries.
Luckily, via its ability to temporarily assign a new IP address to your connected device, a VPN can make it appear as if you are connecting to the internet from another area of the world. This opens access to content that might normally be unavailable in your country.
Surfshark delivers access to Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, ITV Hub, All 4, Hotstar, HBO, Sky, and multiple other streaming services.
PureVPN also unblocks numerous streaming services, both in the U.S. and in other countries. You can use the provider to access Disney+, Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and more.
Streaming Support Winner: Surfshark
| Provider | # of U.S. Streaming Services VPN Unblocks | # of International Services VPN Unblocks | Link |
| Surfshark | 10+ | 8+ | Visit Site |
| PureVPN | 5+ | 5+ | Visit Site |
BitTorrent Support
P2P file sharing via BitTorrent is a popular way to share files and documents with other users over the internet. While file sharing is legal (several organizations use the technology to share files and documents), it is illegal to share copyrighted materials, such as movies and music.
This means ISPs are facing pressure from the entertainment industry to prevent BitTorrent sharing by throttling or blocking your internet connection if they detect that you’re sharing files, whether the files are legal or not.
A VPN can help prevent connection throttling or blocking. A VPN encrypts your internet connection and temporarily assigns a new IP address to your connected device. This means no one can see what you’re doing online or see your real IP address.
Surfshark allows P2P file sharing on its entire server network.
PureVPN allows P2P file sharing on servers located in over 80 countries.
BitTorrenting Winner: Surfshark
| Provider | # of Countries Where VPN Allows BitTorrents | Link |
| Surfshark | All of them | Visit Site |
| PureVPN | 80+ countries | Visit Site |
Global Server Coverage
A VPN’s server network size directly affects your access to content located in other countries, so look for a provider that has servers stationed in multiple countries. Also, look for a provider that has multiple servers located in a single country, as it helps prevent any single server from being hit with too many users.
Surfshark has 3,200+ servers stationed in 100+ countries worldwide.
PureVPN has over 6,500+ servers spread out among 78+ countries.
Global Server Coverage Winner: Surfshark (better country coverage)
| Provider | Server Count | Countries | Link |
| Surfshark | 3,200+ | 100 | Visit Site |
| PureVPN | 6,500+ | 78+ | Visit Site |
Multi-Platform Support
Since many of my readers own multiple connected devices, a VPN provider’s app selection is an important consideration.
Surfshark provides app support for iOS, macOS, Android, Android TV, Windows, Linux, and Amazon Fire TV device platforms. Browser extensions for the Chrome, Edge, and Firefox platforms are also available. The provider offers extensive router support and offers pre-configured routers through Flashrouters.com.
PureVPN offers apps for Windows, Linux, Android, macOS, iOS, Android TV, and Amazon Fire TV devices. Router support is available, with an applet for use with DD-WRT routers, as well as pre-configured routers at Flashrouters.com. Browser extensions for the Chrome, Brave, Edge, and Firefox platforms are available.
Multi-Platform Support Winner: Tie
| Provider | Platforms Supported | Browser Extensions? | Router Support? |
Link |
| Surfshark | 7 | Yes (Chrome, Edge, Firefox) | Yes – Manual setup. Flashrouter options available. | Visit Site |
| PureVPN | 7 | Yes (Chrome, Edge, Brave, Firefox) | Yes – Flashrouter options available. | Visit Site |
Customer Support
While these VPN services are intuitive and reliable, you may still have an occasional question.
Surfshark’s 24/7 support, includes live chat, email support, and a searchable support library. Unfortunately, Surfshark uses a third-party contractor (Zendesk) to facilitate its live agent chat feature, introducing a slight privacy risk.
PureVPN offers 24/7 live support chat, a trouble ticket system, and a searchable knowledge base.
Customer Support Winner: It’s a tie
| Provider | Customer Support Rating | Link |
| Surfshark | 5.0 | Visit Site |
| PureVPN | 5.0 | Visit Site |
And The Winner Is…
While both VPNs provide comprehensive VPN protection and enhancement, It’s time to name an overall winner.
Surfshark is the overall winner this time around, thanks to its performance in the connection speed, simultaneous connections, streaming, BitTorrent, and global server coverage service columns.
Meanwhile, PureVPN scored victories in the pricing and privacy arenas.
It was a tie in the security, multi-platform support, and customer support columns.
For more information or to purchase a subscription, visit Surfshark.
