NordVPN vs PureVPN Comparison – Why Nord is Better

NordVPN vs PureVPN is a close call between two of the best VPNs you can choose, but NordVPN is a better choice than PureVPN based on our independent tests and assessments. Nord just takes the lead in our comparison, thanks to its top-tier security precautions, excellent ease of use and well-rated mobile app for both iOS and Android.

There are regular PureVPN deals and discounts that make it narrowly cheaper than NordVPN, but NordVPN has one killer edge in that there is a risk-free money-back guarantee for NordVPN you can use.

Either way, a VPN is an excellent way to ensure that your surfing habits are private, and your data protected. With over twenty VPNs thoroughly tested to date, including free and paid-for software, we know a great VPN when we see one. NordVPN and PureVPN are packed with features, making them powerful, but they're also simple to use, meaning they aren't too daunting for new users.

On this page:

• PureVPN vs NordVPN: Head-to-Head
• NordLayer vs PureVPN for Business
• PureVPN Overview
• NordVPN Overview
• Mobile Apps
• Speed
• Features
• Privacy
• Netflix
• Ease of Use
• Pricing Comparison
• Verdict
• Frequently Asked Questions

PureVPN vs NordVPN: Head-to-Head

Although PureVPN has a lot going in its favor, NordVPN is the better overall service. Here are some of the key differences:

• NordVPN offers faster speeds than PureVPN, based on our test findings
• NordVPN's smartphone app is far better rated by users than PureVPN's app
• PureVPN does offer more servers than NordVPN each has over 5,000 to choose from
• NordVPN offers a risk-free money-back guarantee, while PureVPN takes you straight to signup

PureVPN and NordVPN perform similarly in many ways. Both offer a great, detailed set of features that includes adblocking and antivirus technologies in addition to a broad selection of servers and protocols. In addition, they're both easy to learn and intuitive to use, with appealing designs that should make adaptation relatively easy for users of any age or experience.

However, NordVPN offers a few perks that PureVPN does not, including one notable benefit – its speed. Short-range and long range connections are both faster when routed through NordVPN than through PureVPN. Since any VPN will slow your traffic down, this can make the difference between a slick service and a VPN that's a pain to use.

PureVPN is a better price, though, with its cheapest plan coming out to mere $1.65 per month if you're happy to sign onto a five-year commitment, compared to NordVPN's cheapest priced plan, $3.71 per month for a two-year deal.

Servers are an essential aspect of any VPN service – the more servers, the more choice when it comes to routing your traffic. When pitched against each other, it's PureVPN that wins the numbers game, with 6,500 servers across 180 countries, compared to NordVPNs 5,363 servers in 59 countries.

In our head-to-head testing, the results were as follows:

• Best features: Draw
• Best ease of use: Draw
• Best speed: NordVPN
• Best price: PureVPN
• Unlocks Netflix: Draw
• Best mobile app: NordVPN
• Best for servers: PureVPN
• Best security and privacy: NordVPN

Both PureVPN and NordVPN are great ways to protect your identity and your data. The two top VPN services are both feature-rich and offer fantastic value, but given the fact that VPNs are all about privacy, we have to hand the win over to NordVPN in the end. Still, it's a close call.

NordLayer vs PureVPN for Business

In a business era defined by massive security breaches and ransomware attacks, securing your company's data has never been more important. Fortunately, both PureVPN and NordVPN offer business-facing options (PureVPN for Business and NordLayer) that will make work more secure, whether it be in the office or at home. But which one is better? Here's how these two VPN providers match up when it comes to business:

• NordLayer is more affordable than PureVPN for Business
• PureVPN for Business provides access to more servers than NordLayer
• PureVPN for Business is easier to connect to VoIP services than NordLayer
• NordLayer has better security features than PureVPN for Business
• Both NordLayer and PureVPN for Business have a control/admin panel
• Both NordLayer and PureVPN for Business offer 24/7 customer support

In earnest, both of these VPNs are great for business, but we'd likely give the nod to NordLayer over PureVPN for Business for the same reasons as the personal use accounts. It's faster and more secure, and the business plans are actually more affordable, which makes it a bit of a no-brainer.

PureVPN for Business Pricing

PureVPN for Business offers three different pricing options. The first is a simple cloud VPN service for your business, dubbed simply VPN for Teams. This plan costs $8.45 per user per month, and comes with five VPN accounts for your team. You'll also get access to free port forwarding for VoIP services and an admin panel to manage your team's usage.

PureVPN also offers a Dedicated IP VPN for Teams plan that costs $9.99 per user per month and adds another layer of security. This plan specifically provides five dedicated IP addresses, so you have a bit more control over your data.

Finally, PureVPN offers an enterprise-level solution that provides a full-on Dedicated VPN Server for Teams and that will cost $300 per month. This gives you a full-on platform for your security needs, and puts virtually all the power in your hands.

NordLayer Pricing

NordLayer also offers three different pricing plans. The first is the Basic plan, which comes in at $7 per user per month and offers all the standard features, like control panel, kill switch, centralized billings, and two-factor authentication.

Next up, NordVPN offers the Advanced plan, which comes in at $9 per user per month. This plan adds the ability to add on dedicated IP addresses ($40 per month each), as well as access to additional servers, priority support, and a dedicated account manager.

Finally, NordLayer also has an Enterprise plan, but it doesn't provide public pricing for it. You can bet it's pretty expensive though, as it adds API access, premium custom features, on-premise dedicated servers, and even custom logo and app branding.

PureVPN Overview

PureVPN can be used across five devices, meaning you can use it on your desktop PC, your phone (with the associated app), and still use it on three more compatible computers, phones or tablets. This service also includes detailed settings and useful third-party integrations, as well as handy security features that not all VPNs provide, including a killswitch and a dedicated hot spot function.

Two additional applications are included with the main VPN product: Ozone, an antivirus feature, and Gravity, an adblocker. They both run in the background, keeping your online browser safe and streamlined, and saving you from fears of malware or pop-ups.

In addition, our tests found PureVPN's speed to be serviceable and enough to leave most users happy, even if it won't break any records.

Best for: Simplicity

Overall, PureVPN is refreshingly easy to use. Getting set up and using the package is straightforward, making it a great choice for VPN newbies. In addition to this short learning curve and easy-to-parse layout, PureVPN offers live chat and email support for anyone who needs a helping hand.

One extra bonus? PureVPN can also be used by those looking to access Netflix outside their country, opening up entire new libraries of video content that until now have been unavailable.

NordVPN Overview

NordVPN is one of the best VPN packages we’ve tested. It might be a little too feature-rich for the novice user, but for those who like full control, its versatility will be very appealing. NordVPN is fast as well, and can maintain speeds at an impressive rate, beating many competitors (including PureVPN). There is always some small loss of speed when using a VPN, but with NordVPN, it’s minimal.

The price is right, too. For our money, the $3.71 per month deal is a great value option to go for, and NordVPN has a risk-free money-back guarantee to let you test the app for yourself.

Best for: Security

A suite of extra security features means that NordVPN is an excellent choice for those looking to protect their data. First, there's NordVPN's military-approved 256-bit AES encryption. It's impressive and will keep your data safely encrypted on public networks, but it's not uncommon among VPNs.

Where NordVPN really stands out is its raft of cybersecurity features: It has a firm no-logging policy, so your data won't be tracked; It offers “Double VPN,” a feature that runs your traffic through a second server for another layer of encryption; It has a granular killswitch function that can be set to “global” in order to stop all connections or can instead be set to drop specific apps; and, if used on a PC, includes an ad- and malware-blocking function.

On top of this, just recently, NordVPN updated their Windows client and brought some features over from their Mac and mobile OS programs. A Security Score, for example – expressed as a percentage – shows just how many of NordVPN's security features you're taking advantage of. Another new tool for Windows users is a scanner that will crawl the dark web for the email address on your NordVPN account – so you know quickly whether your data has been leaked in a breach.

The service has rolled out diskless RAM production servers for more security, and NordVPN also supports Peer-to-Peer file-sharing, although only on specific servers. NordVPN also recently added a Threat Protection tool to their arsenal of security features, which will scan files downloaded onto your device for malware, help you avoid malicious websites, and block advertisements and trackers.

NordVPN pricing

NordVPN has four price plans: A one-month plan priced at $11.95 per month; an annual plan priced at $4.92 per month; and their best deal, a two-year plan priced at a nice low $3.71 per month. You'll be billed once for the entire plan period.

NordLayer is the service's business-specific VPN solution, available in three yearly plans that each bring different features and perks. The $84/user/year plan, Basic, includes centralized billing, user administration, control panel access, auto-connect, and third-party login options. The $108/user/year plan, Advanced, includes all the Basic features plus a dedicated account manager, 24/7 priority support, dedicated servers, and custom gateways. Finally, the Enterprise plan includes all these features, plus centralized configuration, LDAP Active Directory, a key account manager, and dedicated on-premise servers — businesses will need to contact NordVPN directly for an Enterprise plan quote.

Want to learn more about business VPNs? Check out our guide to VPNs for Business

PureVPN pricing

PureVPN offers five plans: A one-month plan priced at $10.95 per month; a six-month plan priced at $8.33 per month; a one-year plan priced at $4.08 per month; a two-year plan priced at $2.91. You'll be billed once for the full period of each plan.

Neither VPN service offers a free trial (PureVPN offers a paid seven-day trial for $0.99), but they do both offer money-back guarantees with no questions asked. The NordVPN money-back guarantee is up to 30 days after the purchase, and PureVPN one-ups them with a 31-day guarantee.

PureVPN has the best deal, with $1.65 per month for half a decade. Granted, that's likely too long for most, but PureVPN's two-year deal of $2.91 still beats NordVPN's prices, and will likely be the most attractive option for most customers.

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.

FAQs