PureVPN vs NordVPN (2024): Which VPN Ought to You Select? – Uplaza

PureVPN has pretty inexpensive subscription costs for a paid digital non-public community service, which may be interesting to extra budget-conscious customers or companies. In the meantime, NordVPN seems to supply extra safety and value options — at a extra premium price ticket.

SEE: Can a VPN Be Hacked? (TechRepublic)

The query is: Is it price spending extra for NordVPN? Or is PureVPN’s worth proposition the higher deal?

On this article, we check out which VPN service is finest for you and your group.

• PureVPN: Greatest for small groups trying to entry geo-restricted content material at an inexpensive value.
• NordVPN: Greatest for many companies in search of a safe, dependable and fast-performing VPN.

PureVPN vs. NordVPN: Comparability

	PureVPN	NordVPN
Our score	3.9 out of 5 stars	4.7 out of 5 stars
Safety protocols	OpenVPN, WireGuard, IPSec/IKEv2	OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec, NordLynx (primarily based on WireGuard)
No. of servers	6,070+ servers	6,400+
VPN server places	65+ international locations, 80+ places	111 international locations
Simultaneous gadget places	10	10
Free trial	7-day free trial for Home windows	7-day free trial through Android (can check in on different platforms afterwards)
Beginning value (annual)	$3.99 per thirty days	$4.99 per thirty days

PureVPN vs. NordVPN: Pricing

When it comes to subscriptions, PureVPN and NordVPN make use of comparable subscription tiers. Each VPNs supply three tiers, with extra options as you progress up in value.

PureVPN pricing

PureVPN gives three subscription tiers: Normal, Plus and Max. Should you’re keen on primary VPN performance, PureVPN’s Normal plan is a cheap choice.

	Normal	Plus	Max
Month-to-month plan	$12.95 per thirty days	$15.95 per thirty days	$19.95 per thirty days
1-year plan	$3.99 per thirty days	$5.82 per thirty days	$7.07 per thirty days
2-year plan	$2.14 per thirty days	$3.33 per thirty days	$4.07 per thirty days
5-year plan	$2.16 per thirty days	n/a	n/a
Characteristic variations	VPN service	VPN service. Password supervisor. Finish-to-end file encryption.	All Plus options. Private privateness supervisor.

Free of charge trials, PureVPN gives a seven-day trial through cell and Home windows. After I first tried PureVPN final yr, I used to be solely capable of entry the free trial via the PureVPN cell software.

SEE: Does a VPN Sluggish Down Your Web Velocity? (TechRepublic)

This yr, nonetheless, PC customers can entry the trial via their desktop machines as properly. As somebody who primarily makes use of desktop, I’m glad PureVPN gave us this selection on high of the cell free trial entry.

If you wish to study extra about my ideas and expertise with PureVPN, try my full PureVPN overview.

NordVPN pricing

NordVPN additionally has three subscription tiers: Fundamental, Plus and Final. As you go larger in value, Nord contains extra security-focused options like an information breach scanner and encrypted storage.

	Fundamental	Plus	Final
Month-to-month plan	$12.99 per thirty days	$13.99 per thirty days	$15.99 per thirty days
1-year plan	$4.99 per thirty days	$5.99 per thirty days	$7.99 per thirty days
2-year plan	$3.69 per thirty days	$4.69 per thirty days	$6.69 per thirty days
Characteristic variations	VPN providers and risk safety	All Fundamental options plus NordPass password supervisor, information breach scanner	All Plus options plus 1TB encrypted NordLocker cloud storage

For folks questioning a few free trial, NordVPN has a seven-day free trial that’s solely accessible through its Android app. Whereas you should use NordVPN on different platforms after the preliminary Android join, I hope Nord may make entry to their VPN trial accessible to different customers as properly.

If you wish to study extra, you may learn my full NordVPN overview.

PureVPN vs. NordVPN: Characteristic comparability

Safety protocols and encryption

Winner: Tie

PureVPN and NordVPN supply virtually equivalent VPN protocols with their respective providers. PureVPN contains OpenVPN, WireGuard and IPSec/IKEv2. However, NordVPN gives OpenVPN, IPSec/IKEv2 and NordLynx — their proprietary safety protocol primarily based on WireGuard.

SEE: The way to Begin a Profession in Cybersecurity (TechRepublic Premium)

In my view, these three protocols supply the perfect mixture of pace, safety and stability within the VPN area. With that, I’m blissful to see each VPN suppliers using these protocols of their respective providers.

In the identical vein, each distributors supply military-grade AES-256 encryption for his or her VPN software program. As soon as once more, it is a win for either side since AES-256 is the business customary algorithm we anticipate out of contemporary VPN software program.

VPN server community and places

Winner: NordVPN

Taking a look at their respective server networks, NordVPN wins over PureVPN. On the time of this text’s publication, NordVPN at present gives round 6,400+ servers unfold throughout 111 international locations — a wholesome server community providing each quantity and a broad nation unfold.

In distinction, PureVPN’s server fleet has round 6,070+ servers from 65+ international locations. Whereas each VPNs include comparable server counts, NordVPN’s various server community spanning 111 international locations offers it the win.

With over double the international locations to select from, customers could have extra flexibility in location selection with NordVPN than PureVPN. In concept, this will additionally assist customers get higher efficiency, because the bigger nation depend offers customers a greater probability of getting servers nearer to their precise location, providing higher speeds.

That’s to not say that PureVPN is lackluster within the server division. Taking a look at its server depend, PureVPN’s 6,000+ servers are already above the common 3,000-4,000 servers of different VPNs I’ve examined.

However with Nord’s extra in depth and various server community, I’ve to offer NordVPN the higher hand.

Third-party audits and observe report

Winner: NordVPN

For impartial take a look at outcomes and firm observe report, I give the benefit to NordVPN. As of right now, the VPN supplier has undergone 4 third-party audits confirming their no-logs coverage. Its most up-to-date one was revealed in January 2024.

I commend NordVPN not just for the variety of audits finished but additionally for doing them so usually. This helps construct buyer belief and reveals that they’re dedicated to offering clear and privacy-centric providers.

However, PureVPN has additionally undergone a superb variety of safety audits: one in 2019, one in 2021 and one other in 2023. All three audits confirmed the corporate’s no-logs coverage, exhibiting it’s a protected VPN to make use of right now.

A noteworthy facet of PureVPN’s audits is the kind of impartial testing it undergoes. That is particularly referring to PureVPN’s 2021 analysis, which is known as an “always-on audit.” This kind of audit allows the impartial auditor to look at PureVPN with out prior discover.

As a lot as I laud PureVPN for its assured strategy to impartial testing, there’s one main hiccup. Again in 2017, PureVPN allegedly handed off logs to the FBI with a view to catch a suspected cyberstalker, regardless of claiming to log zero info on customers. PureVPN mentioned this matter and gave its model of occasions in a weblog publish.

Whereas apprehending these people is necessary, it’s disappointing to know that PureVPN each saved logs and handed them over to authorities, regardless of their claims of being no-logs throughout that point.

Whereas it’s clear that PureVPN has since applied good measures to alleviate person issues, comparable to their always-on auditing, I’ve to offer NordVPN the win for its lack of any type of incident relating to person logs or information.

Efficiency and pace

Winner: NordVPN

Each PureVPN and NordVPN supply persistently quick speeds and dependable connectivity. Whereas utilizing each VPNs, I had no bother doing my normal workflow of looking on a number of websites for analysis, utilizing Google Workspace apps like Docs and Drive and attending on-line conferences for work.

Stability-wise, I had zero points for each as properly, with no noticeable drops in pace whereas related to their respective VPN servers.

NordVPN positive factors a bonus, nonetheless, in relation to pace assessments. Throughout my testing of each merchandise, NordVPN recorded smaller drops in pace for each downloads and uploads. Per my testing, NordVPN recorded a 5.8% drop for downloads and a 16.2% drop for uploads. In the meantime, PureVPN logged a 5.9% obtain drop and a 79.9% add lower.

In case your workflow requires frequent file uploads, PureVPN might wrestle primarily based on these outcomes.

That being mentioned, I discovered each PureVPN and NordVPN to be stable performers by way of pace and efficiency.

Standout safety features

Winner: NordVPN

For customers in search of extra safety features with their premium VPN service, NordVPN must be your decide.

It gives a wide range of safety capabilities, comparable to its Meshnet encrypted file-sharing system; devoted Risk Safety in opposition to malware, trackers and advertisements; a built-in darkish net monitor; and lots of extra.

It additionally has a bevy of security-focused VPN server sorts, comparable to double VPN servers that swap your IP addresses twice; obfuscated servers, which disguise VPN use; and onion over VPN servers that may route your visitors to the Onion community.

In the meantime, PureVPN contains first rate safety instruments like break up tunneling, a VPN kill swap and DNS leak safety. Nonetheless, all these options are additionally accessible on NordVPN.

If you would like a VPN that comes with nifty safety capabilities, NordVPN is the no-brainer decide.

Ease of use

Winner: NordVPN

If we have a look at in-app expertise and ease of use, NordVPN takes one other spherical. It gives a pleasant stability between an intuitive format, good design and an general steady software.

I personally like the way it neatly organizes all its options with out changing into overwhelming for finish customers. With a contemporary and easy-to-understand interface, it units a superb benchmark for what a stable VPN person interface ought to feel and look like.

However, PureVPN additionally has a reasonably handsome desktop software. I notably like its minimalist UI, with clear white areas and properly organized menus. If I’m sincere, it has an identical look to NordVPN’s equal desktop app.

Sadly, the distinction between the 2 arises with PureVPN’s in-app efficiency, notably with navigation and in-app expertise. Throughout my use, I seen a little bit of clunkiness at any time when I navigated via menus and sure tabs. I additionally discovered switching servers and establishing new connections to be a step slower in comparison with NordVPN.

To be honest to PureVPN, as soon as the connections have been established, they remained steady and related. That being mentioned, if having a extra polished and smoother software is necessary to you, NordVPN is the higher selection.

Simultaneous gadget connections

Winner: Tie

On gadget limits and simultaneous connections, now we have a tie. Each PureVPN and NordVPN supply a most of 10 simultaneous gadget connections to their VPN service. This implies you may join a most of 10 completely different gadgets to a VPN server on the identical time while not having a second VPN subscription.

Whereas I personally would have most well-liked limitless simultaneous gadget connections, having 10 as a most remains to be on the higher finish of gadget limits in comparison with different VPNs, which solely supply 5 to eight gadgets max.

PureVPN execs and cons

Execs

• Quick and dependable real-world speeds.
• 6,050+ servers.
• Cheaper beginning plan.

Cons

• 2017 logging incident with FBI.

NordVPN execs and cons

Execs

• Number of built-in safety features.
• Servers throughout 111 international locations.
• Clear safety status.

Cons

Ought to your group use PureVPN or NordVPN?

In my view, NordVPN is clearly the higher selection for many companies. It supplies a bigger 111-country server community, quick VPN pace and efficiency, a set of safety capabilities and an general nice person expertise.

It additionally gives the identical 10-device restrict and a really sturdy observe report, security-wise. For me, the dearth of safety incidents makes spending a bit extra price its weight in gold.

Sadly, PureVPN’s 2017 logging incident actually holds it again from changing into a high VPN choice right now. Whereas it has applied vital measures to regain person belief, I don’t suppose it’s price taking the danger, particularly if information privateness is of explicit concern.

In any other case, PureVPN could be a first rate selection for small groups or companies in search of a inexpensive VPN to unblock geo-restricted on-line content material.

Methodology

My comparability of PureVPN and NordVPN concerned real-world testing of each VPNs and an in depth evaluation of every VPN’s options, price and efficiency.

To guage every product, each VPNs have been scored on every little thing from their pricing to their server networks. Specifically, I thought-about 5 essential pillars, every having corresponding weights:

• Pricing (20%).
• Core VPN options (30%).
• Ease of use (15%).
• Buyer assist (30%).
• Skilled evaluation (5%).

I additionally took under consideration real-world person suggestions and respected critiques to spherical out my evaluation of each PureVPN and NordVPN. For pace and efficiency, I examined each providers on my private Home windows laptop and ran them via Ookla’s public Speedtest. Lastly, I thought-about which forms of companies or people would finest profit from every VPN.