NordVPN is Faster Than PureVPN

Speed can be a tricky thing for a VPN to manage well. When it comes to using a VPN, you'll always be compromising your speed in some regard, as a VPN has to route your traffic through its own servers. You can mitigate this by choosing servers that are closer to you, and of course having decent speed broadband to begin with, but there will always be some concession to make.

PureVPN maintains good speeds when connecting to local servers (a 0.36% average download speed difference isn't bad, even if beaten by NordVPN's 0.04% difference), but we found it slowed down meaningfully when connecting overseas (PureVPN saw a 0.74% average international download speed difference, compared to NordVPN's 0.58%).

NordVPN, however, does an excellent job of keeping your downloads and streaming ticking along at a satisfactory pace.

NordVPN and PureVPN Draw for Features

Unlike some other VPNs, both NordVPN and PureVPN are fully realized VPN packages that jam in a host of options and features – probably more than you'll ever conceivably use. Whether you're a novice or a VPN expert, you'll be satisfied with what either offers.

PureVPN has some neat tricks up its sleeve, including the ability to use your device as a hotspot for other devices to connect to. It also has a kill switch, which will stop your connection dead if it fails to connect to the VPN server (rather than transferring your traffic back to your own ISP).

NordVPN also offers a kill switch which can be aligned with certain apps or sites, so you can say whether or not it will kick in. NordVPN has a heavy emphasis on security, and offers its users military grade levels of encryption – comforting to know when you're using a potentially skeevy connection at your local coffee shop.

Both suites are jam-packed with features, and there's plenty of overlap between the two, so it's difficult to pull out a winner. We'll say that if you pick either of them, the overall winner will be you.

 PureVPN is Better for Privacy Than NordVPN

There are two big privacy concerns when using a VPN – is my data being protected, and can I be sure my activity isn't being logged? The best services answer both questions with a resounding yes, and PureVPN and NordVPN both have your back there.

In our testing, we found that PureVPN had a more comprehensive suite of privacy options compared to NordVPN. Two that stand out are Ozone and Gravity. Ozone is an antivirus, content filtering tools which can block offensive material or named websites, and also boasts an intrusion tool that alerts you when someone is trying to hack your PC.

Gravity is essentially an ad-blocker that stop ads appearing during browsing, and also has the ability to hide results.

PureVPN and NordVPN Draw for Ease of Use

Good news: If you're new to VPNs, you've picked a good starting point with PureVPN and NordVPN. Both are extremely powerful tools, but don't confuse their users with reams of options and complicated tools.

PureVPN makes life easier by introducing different modes depending on what you want to use the service for. These are broken down into Internet Freedom, designed to work in countries where sites are censored; Security, which gives extra protection; File Sharing, which is designed for, well, file sharing; Stream, for streaming services such as Netflix; and others. What this means is that casual users can tell PureVPN what they want to do, and it will automatically select the best settings for the job.

NordVPN has excellent beginner guides for its multitude of features, and is happy to hold new starters by the hand. Its apps are also refreshing straightforward to use. VPNs should always be easy to set up, but that's not always the case. VPN newbies can rest safe knowing that both of these options offer an easy setup process.

 PureVPN is Priced Lower Than NordVPN

The best VPNs typically cost less than $13 a month, with significantly more savings for those willing to commit to their subscription for a full year or two. PureVPN and NordVPN are both priced along these lines, but PureVPN drops rapidly as soon as you commit to one or five years.

Granted, you'll need to use it for half a decade to earn your money's worth, but PureVPN's five-year plan of $1.32 a month is eye-poppingly low. Opt for NordVPN's three-year plan, though, and you'll still be paying pocket change, at $2.99 a month.

NordVPN does offer a free three-day trial, and PureVPN does not. Both paid plans support up to five devices.

While cost shouldn't be a determining factor when picking out the safest or most useful VPN for your needs, it's certainly a factor worth considering. Here's a look at the exact pricing plans to expect from both PureVPN and NordVPN.

Vedict: PureVPN or NordVPN – Which is Best?

If you're after a VPN, you won't go wrong with either PureVPN or NordVPN. In our testing, PureVPN came out on top – what's more, it's a little cheaper on a monthly basis, if you take advantage of the special offer.

If you're a speed buff and need your internet data as quickly as possible – important if you're a big torrenter for example – then NordVPN has the edge here, thanks to its ability to not slow down too much despite being routed through various servers. It's also incredibly secure thanks to that military grade encryption.

There are lots of VPNs vying for your business, and some are better than others. PureVPN and NordVPN set the standard for what to expect from a VPN, and for a few bucks a month, either would be an invaluable addition to your online tool bag.