NordVPN vs PureVPN Comparison – Which One Is Better?

In the NordVPN vs PureVPN discussion, the research shows that they’re quite comparable, and both are considered by our testers to be two of the most secure VPNs available. However, we think PureVPN just beats it, offering an easy-to-use platform with excellent support at a much more affordable price.

NordVPN is a pretty solid option too, though, with better speeds and more advanced features like double VPN functionality. In essence, the best way to decide which option is better for you is to understand what you need it for, and the amount of money you’re willing to put aside to pay for it.

In this guide, you’ll learn about how NordVPN and PureVPN match up on everything from features and pricing to speed and privacy. You’ll even find out which one is best VPN for streaming Netflix.

PureVPN vs NordVPN: Key Differences

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

• PureVPN offers more affordable pricing than NordVPN.
• NordVPN offers faster speeds than PureVPN.
• PureVPN is easier to use than NordVPN
• PureVPN offers more servers than NordVPN.
• NordVPN has better security features, but both are good for privacy.
• PureVPN has better streaming features than 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 we have to hand the win over to PureVPN in the end. Still, it’s a close call.

On this page:

• PureVPN vs NordVPN: Key Differences
• PureVPN Overview
• NordVPN Overview
• PureVPN vs NordVPN: In-Depth Comparison
• NordVPN Pricing vs PureVPN Pricing
• Verdict: Which VPN Is Better?
• Frequently Asked Questions

PureVPN Overview

PureVPN can be used across five devices, meaning you can use it on your desktop PC, and 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 hotspot 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. Importantly though, it unblocked all the streaming services we attempted to unblock during our tests across two different devices (Windows and Android).

Best for: Simplicity and Value

Overall, PureVPN is refreshingly easy to use. Its interface is modern and sleek and the settings are easy to access. However, there’s quite a lot of in-app nudging to get you to upgrade your software to incorporate some of PureVPN’s other services, such as its data broker removal tool.

As far as setting up the VPN goes, it’s pretty quick and 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.

PureVPN can also be used by those looking to access geofenced content from streaming services like Netflix outside of their country, opening up entire new libraries of video content that until now have been unavailable.

To make this process even simpler for you, PureVPN also has a “Shortcuts” feature which will let you pair servers and streaming services together and save them for next time you want to watch your favorite shows.

PureVPN is one of the better-value VPNs on the market, with a lower starting price ($2.14 per month) than NordVPN ($3.39 per month). That might not seem like a lot, but it adds up over a two or three-year subscription period. You can also secure more devices with PureVPN (10) than NordVPN (6) with a single account, so you’ll be able to protect more tech for less or share the subscription with a family or friend.

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 $3.39 per month deal for the Standard VPN plan 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.

Plus, you can get up to 72% off in NordVPN’s special deal.

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, 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 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.

PureVPN vs NordVPN In-Depth Comparison

Now that we have an idea of how PureVPN and NordVPN match up on the basics, and how they operate individually, let’s take a deep dive into some different criteria to see how they compare. Here are the categories that we used to analyze PureVPN and NordVPN:

• Ease of Use
• Speed Tests
• Key Features
• Mobile App Interfaces
• Privacy Features
• Unblocking Content

PureVPN is easier to use than NordVPN

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.

However, our research found that PureVPN is an extremely easy-to-use platform, allowing users to select what you want to use the VPN for and having the settings automatically changed to fit that selection.

Overall, though, both of these platforms are intuitive enough for the average user to figure out quite easily.

Check out our how to set up a VPN guide for more information

PureVPN offers suggestions to help you cater the service to what you need it for. Image: PureVPN

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.

On our speed tests, NordVPN was quicker than PureVPN – but not by much. Overall, NordVPN received a combined penalty percentage score of 63.45% over four tests across two different operating systems – making it only just a little quicker than PureVPN, and average for speed.

However, many factors can impact your internet speed at any time, and if you discount NordVPN’s suspiciously poor performance in one connection, the readings are much more impressive. On the other three tests, it was among the top three quickest providers, with a penalty percentage score of just 16.25%.

Regardless, it’s still quicker than PureVPN, which scored a combined penalty percentage score of more than 76% on our speed tests. Remember, neither are slouches by any means – and any VPN is going to slow your connection down by some margin – but its NordVPN that takes this one.

Both NordVPN and PureVPN offer lots of 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 both offer.

Both NordVPN and PureVPN offer a great, detailed set of features that includes adblocking, kill switch, and antivirus technologies in addition to a broad selection of servers and protocols.

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.

The Double VPN feature from NordVPN sends your data through two servers instead of just one. Image: NordVPN

 NordVPN app is rated higher than PureVPN

If you’re looking to run a VPN on your mobile phone or tablet, then both services offer mobile app versions of their core VPN product, available for download on both iOS and Android.

However, the NordVPN mobile app is better rated than PureVPN’s app, on both the Apple and Android app stores. As of writing, NordVPN has 4.6 stars on the Google Play Store and 4.7 stars in the Apple App Store, while PureVPN has 3.6 stars on Google Play Store and 4.3 stars on the Apple App Store.

Take a look at the screenshots of the mobile apps for PureVPN and NordVPN below to decide for yourself – personally, we prefer the PureVPN interface, but there’s very little between them.

Both NordVPN and PureVPN have mobile apps available on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. Images: Play Store & App Store

PureVPN and NordVPN are both excellent for privacy

In our testing, we found that both providers offer great privacy assurances. Both providers have clear, easy-to-understand privacy policies and have both been independently audited multiple times over the past few years to ensure their no-logs claims are true. As far as VPNs go, both providers are going the extra mile.

Along with a clear privacy policy, PureVPN has an active always-on audit. This means they submit themselves to an unspecified amount of unscheduled audits every year, which means the company auditing them can turn up at any time and demand to inspect their no-logs claims. It’s the only major VPN to have this sort of agreement with auditors, at least to our knowledge.

The PureVPN interface is easy to navigate with lots of security functionality. Image: PureVPN

NordVPN is one of the best in the game when it comes to privacy, though. It has features like double VPN which we discussed earlier, which will reroute your connection through two VPN servers rather than one, as well as an onion-over-VPN feature which can hook users up to the ultra-secure Tor network for an even more private browsing experience.

NordVPN also has a RAM-only server network, which wipes data every time sessions or processes cease – PureVPN doesn’t have this, and this definitely gives NordVPN. There’s also a dark web monitoring device available, which will scan the dark web for your details and give you a heads-up if any of your data has been leaked.

PureVPN is better at unblocking Netflix than NordVPN

Netflix: It’s the streaming service that everyone around the globe wants to access. But it’s region-locked, so your location determines which titles you’ll have access to. A VPN can circumvent this issue by making your traffic appear to be originating from another country, opening up additional content in the process.

But Netflix has the tech to identify many VPNs, making it rare for one to consistently get through. In our testing, PureVPN and NordVPN were able to! PureVPN worked with Netflix a bit better when using the browser plugin, making it among the best VPNs for accessing the streaming service.

It’s also worth remembering that servers are an essential aspect of any VPN service — the more servers, the more streaming options you’ll have, and the quicker you’ll be able to connect. Over-congested servers can often cause VPN problems.

When pitched against each other, it’s PureVPN that wins the numbers game, with 6,500 servers across 78 countries, compared to NordVPN’s more than 6,000 servers in 111 countries. It also has a streaming tool called Shortcuts, which we discussed earlier. NordVPN has servers in more countries, so you may be able to unblock a little more- although any VPN with more than 50 separate locations should satisfy 95% of movie and TV buffs.

Wait, is that legal?

Netflix’s official terms of service are a little vague about VPN use, but they do include a line about not “thwarting” any of the “content protections” in its service. In other words, Netflix is within its rights to kick you off their service if they catch you using a VPN to unlock content you otherwise wouldn’t have access to.

Using a VPN is legal under US law, however, so whether you choose to hop on your VPN to catch the new season of Better Call Saul is between you and your conscience. All we’re saying here is that, if you’re planning on it, you’ll want to pick PureVPN over NordVPN.

Are VPNs Legal? see our full guide to learn your rights

PureVPN Pricing vs NordVPN Pricing

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. However, the prices for both drop sharply once you’re willing to commit to a one-year (or longer) plan, with PureVPN in particular offering some eye-popping good deals.

NordVPN pricing

NordVPN has three payment plans: A one-month plan priced at $12.99 per month; an annual plan priced at $4.99 per month; and their best deal, a two-year plan priced at a nice low $3.39 per month. You’ll be billed once for the entire plan period. It’s a pretty good value for money when compared to ExpressVPN or other pricier providers.

NordLayer is the service’s business-specific VPN solution, available in three plans that each bring different features and perks. The $8/user/month plan, Lite, includes centralized billing, user administration, control panel access, auto-connect, and third-party login options.

The $11/user/month plan, Core, includes all the Lite features plus a dedicated account manager, 24/7 priority support, dedicated servers, and custom gateways. Finally, the Premium plan includes all these features, plus centralized configuration, LDAP Active Directory, a key account manager, and dedicated on-premise servers — available for $14/user/month.

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

PureVPN pricing

PureVPN offers a range of payment plans: A one-month plan priced at $12.95 per month; a one-year plan priced at $4.08 per month; a two-year plan priced at $2.14 that includes three extra months for free; and a five year plan that charges $2.16 per month. You’ll be billed once for the full period of each plan.

Neither VPN service offers a free trial, 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 lowest cost plan, with $2.16 per month for half a decade. Granted, that’s likely too long for most, but PureVPN’s currently running a deal on its two-year plan that drops the price even lower, to $2.14 per month. That price point beats NordVPN’s costs, 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.

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