PureVPN vs. NordVPN

When it comes to comparing VPNs, we can’t take them at face value alone. We have to dive fully into the details, comparing features, pricing, performance, and apps, among other things. Today, we’re comparing PureVPN and NordVPN, two well-known names in the world of VPNs. We’ve tested both VPNs; now we’re pitting them against each other. Let’s see who comes out on top.

The Case for NordVPN

In terms of brand recognition, NordVPN is to PureVPN as Bloomingdales is to Filene’s Basement. While the NordVPN site has been viewed over 14 million times,1 PureVPN’s site has only been viewed about one and a half million times.2 But we don’t equate popularity with quality; rather, there were a few key areas that NordVPN outshined PureVPN in.

• Support for Proxy and NAS: Unlike PureVPN, NordVPN works with proxy servers and network-attached servers (NAS), allowing users more flexibility in how they use their VPNS.
• Larger server infrastructure: NordVPN offers slightly more servers with over 6,800 compared to over 6,000 with PureVPN, but their servers are more spread out allowing you to connect through more locations. While connected to NordVPN, we could route our connection through 111 countries. PureVPN only gave us 65 countries to choose from.
• More advanced features: From obfuscation, which hid our traffic so well that it didn’t look like we were using a VPN to our network, to multihop that doubled our encryption and tunneling, NordVPN’s feature set is one of the most impressive we’ve seen.
• More stable speeds: NordVPN and PureVPN were two of the fastest VPNs we tested. Our PureVPN speed tests actually yielded slightly better readings, but NordVPN was more stable. We noticed that PureVPN has a tendency to just randomly crawl to a stop while browsing. NordVPN didn’t do that. So while PureVPN had objectively better results, NordVPN was more stable.

The Case for PureVPN

There’s no doubt that compared to NordVPN, PureVPN is the underdog, but we love an underdog story (Little Giants is one of our favorite movies, in fact). Here’s how PureVPN tipped NordVPN on its head.

• Roku Streaming: Although we only tested it out on macOS and Windows, PureVPN offers an app for Roku devices. That makes it easier to use than NordVPN when streaming with Roku. To use NordVPN with Roku, you’d need to set up a VPN router. Once connected, you can confirm your VPN connection by checking your Roku IP address and confirming it changes when connected through the VPN. Here’s a quick comparison of supported devices between NordVPN and PureVPN.

But, if you’re looking for a VPN for the Fire TV Stick, for example, PureVPN and NordVPN make quality native apps.

• Less data logged: Overall, we were happy with how little data either VPN logged; for example, neither logged the websites we visited or the IP addresses of our devices we connected to the VPN. However, NordVPN logged more data than PureVPN, including our device identifiers and the timestamps of our last session, although this information was deleted after 15 minutes. And that practice of deleting data was confirmed by multiple third-party audits. While they were pretty close, NordVPN definitely collected more data in terms of pure numbers, and when it comes to logging policies, less is more.

• Longer money-back guarantee: Okay, so it’s only longer by a day, as NordVPN has a 30-day money-back guarantee. But if you want 31 days to cancel your VPN subscription for a full refund, PureVPN is for you.

• Faster speed test readings: As we alluded to earlier, PureVPN’s speed test results were marginally better than NordVPN. But again, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s better. A speed test takes just a few seconds; what matters more to us is the overall experience. To show you how fast both VPNs were though (especially PureVPN), here’s how their results compared.

• Lower priced long-term plans: PureVPN was cheaper when buying at least an annual plan, with plans starting at just $1.69 per month compared to NordVPN’s $3.59 best price. But on a month-to-month basis, NordVPN is cheaper at $12.99 compared to $15.95.

What You’ll Get With Either VPN

The truth is that, as much as we love comparing and contrasting, NordVPN and PureVPN have a lot in common.

• No government surveillance: Since NordVPN is based in Panama and PureVPN is based in Hong Kong, our data was safe in their hands and wouldn’t be shared with the government by legal force. While that may sound essential, it’s not always the case; VPNs like TunnelBear are based in the U.S, a founding member of the Five Eyes surveillance alliance that could legally force companies to hand over their customer’s data. To learn more, read our TunnelBear review.
• Kill switch: Both VPNs shut our web browsers in case they failed so that our Internet Service Providers wouldn’t see our activity…not that we were doing anything bad, of course.
• Split tunneling: Similarly, both VPNs have split tunneling for Android and Windows. Split tunneling splits traffic from your device; some will undergo encryption while others won’t, although you’ll choose which apps will and will not be encrypted.
• Netflix access: Like anyone with a pulse and an Internet connection, we can binge on Netflix for hours on end without stopping. Fortunately, the servers we connected to on PureVPN and NordVPN weren’t blocked when we logged onto the streaming giant so we could enjoy content from other countries outside of the U.S. The same goes for Prime Video, although NordVPN’s the only one that made our list of the best VPNs for Prime Video.

• 256-bit encryption: Both VPNs employed the industry standard, AES-256. If you’re unsure, it’s the same encryption method that banks use, the highest available.
• No DNS or WebRTC leaks: Don’t feel like reading our full PureVPN review or NordVPN review, in which we perform full security tests? Just know that we didn’t see any leaks of our domain names or private IP addresses with either VPN.
• Compatibility with Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux and routers: Both VPNs worked with the devices we use the most, which was expected.
• Browser extensions for Chrome, Edge and Firefox: PureVPN and NordVPN also had browser extensions for Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Firefox, if you prefer an extension to an app.

So, Which VPN Do We Recommend?

After testing both PureVPN and NordVPN, we can confidently say that NordVPN offers the better service overall. While you can save a few dollars with PureVPN, we think the price of NordVPN is well worth it. Just because it’s the better service overall doesn’t mean it’s the best choice for every use case though. So, here are the main differences that should impact your decision.

Are you wondering about things like free trials, cancellation and refund policies, and money-back guarantees? Dive into our NordVPN pricing and our PureVPN pricing pages, which go over all of the ins and outs when it comes to money. Another option is to check out our best VPN pages if neither sounds appealing. From the best VPNs for Android to the best VPNs for iPhone and everything in between, you’re sure to find one VPN you like that we’ve tested out.