By ExamineIP / Last Updated: May 6, 2026
💡 Affiliate Disclosure: ExamineIP may earn a commission if you purchase PureVPN through our links. This helps us keep our free tools running while maintaining honest, unbiased reviews. We only recommend services we’ve tested and believe provide genuine value.
PureVPN has been around since 2007 — one of the oldest VPNs on the market. It scored 98/100 in our internal testing, passed every leak test we threw at it, and comes in at just $2.14/month on the 2-year plan.
But is it actually worth buying in 2026? We tested it properly — DNS leaks, WebRTC leaks, kill switch, streaming, and real-world speeds — and here’s the honest picture.
⚡ Quick Verdict
| ExamineIP Score | 98/100 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Price (2-year) | $2.14/month |
| DNS Leak Test | ✅ Passed |
| WebRTC Leak Test | ✅ Passed |
| Kill Switch | ✅ Working (50/50 score) |
| Speed Loss | ~8% on nearby servers |
| Netflix / Streaming | ✅ Works |
| Servers | 6,000+ in 65+ countries |
| Simultaneous Devices | 10 |
| Money-Back Guarantee | 31 days |
What Is PureVPN?
PureVPN is a Hong Kong-based VPN provider founded in 2007 by GZ Systems Ltd. With over 6,000 servers across 65+ countries, it’s one of the largest VPN networks available. It recently acquired Ivacy VPN, expanding its server footprint further.
It targets everyday privacy users — people who want to hide their IP, prevent DNS leaks, unblock streaming content, and protect themselves on public WiFi. It’s not positioned as an enterprise tool or a privacy-first VPN like Mullvad or ProtonVPN.
Who Is PureVPN Best For?
- Casual privacy users — want to hide their IP from their ISP
- Streamers — unblocking Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer from abroad
- Budget-conscious users — want a reliable VPN at the lowest price
- Multi-device households — 10 simultaneous connections covers the whole family
- Public WiFi users — encrypting traffic on untrusted networks
Not ideal for: High-security users, activists in authoritarian countries, or anyone who needs maximum anonymity (consider Mullvad or ProtonVPN instead).
PureVPN Pricing 2026
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Billed As | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Month | $12.95/mo | $12.95 | — |
| 1 Year | $3.99/mo | $47.88 | 69% off |
| 2 Years ⭐ Best Value | $2.14/mo | $51.48 | 83% off |
All plans include a 31-day money-back guarantee. The 2-year plan is the obvious choice — at $2.14/month it’s one of the cheapest premium VPNs available.
→ Get PureVPN at 83% Off (2-Year Plan)
Add-Ons (Optional)
- Dedicated IP — $2.99/month extra. Useful if you need a static IP for remote access or to avoid CAPTCHAs.
- Port Forwarding — $0.99/month. Needed for torrenting or hosting services behind VPN.
- PureKeep — Password manager add-on.
- PurePrivacy — Data removal from data brokers.
Most users don’t need the add-ons. Start with the base plan.
Our Leak Test Results (Tested with ExamineIP Tools)
We ran PureVPN through our own VPN leak test — the same test we used on all 47 VPNs in our study. Here’s exactly what happened:
✅ DNS Leak Test — PASSED
With PureVPN connected, all DNS queries routed through PureVPN’s own DNS servers. Zero queries leaked to our ISP’s DNS. This is the most important test — a DNS leak means your ISP can see every website you visit even while connected to a VPN.
Result: No DNS leak detected. PureVPN uses its own encrypted DNS resolvers and does not fall back to your ISP’s DNS.
✅ WebRTC Leak Test — PASSED
WebRTC is a browser feature that can expose your real IP address even when connected to a VPN. We tested on Chrome, Firefox, and Edge.
Result: Real IP was hidden on all browsers. PureVPN’s apps properly disabled WebRTC IP exposure.
Note: For extra protection, you can also use our VPN leak test to verify this yourself after connecting.
✅ IPv6 Leak Test — PASSED
Some VPNs only route IPv4 traffic through the tunnel, leaking your real IPv6 address. PureVPN routes both.
Result: No IPv6 leak. IPv6 traffic was either tunneled or blocked entirely.
✅ Kill Switch — WORKING
We force-disconnected PureVPN mid-session to test the kill switch. Internet traffic stopped immediately — no data leaked during the reconnection window.
Result: Kill switch works reliably on Windows. Score: 50/50 in our testing. Note: kill switch behavior on mobile apps is less consistent — enable it manually in settings.
⚠️ Important: Our testing showed PureVPN passed all leak tests — but only with the kill switch enabled. Always verify your VPN connection with a leak test after connecting. You can use our free VPN leak test to check in 30 seconds.
Speed Test Results
We tested speeds from Romania (EU) connecting to servers in the US, UK, Germany, and Netherlands.
| Server Location | Download Speed | Speed Loss | Protocol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany (nearby) | ~92% of base | ~8% | WireGuard |
| Netherlands | ~89% of base | ~11% | WireGuard |
| UK | ~85% of base | ~15% | WireGuard |
| US (East) | ~78% of base | ~22% | WireGuard |
Verdict: Excellent speeds on nearby servers. Acceptable speed loss on transatlantic connections. WireGuard protocol is the fastest option — always select it manually if the app doesn’t default to it.
For reference: our base internet speed was 200 Mbps. Even the US connection delivered ~156 Mbps — more than enough for 4K streaming, gaming, and video calls.
Security & Privacy Features
Encryption
PureVPN uses AES-256 encryption — the same standard used by governments and military organizations. Practically unbreakable with current technology.
Protocols Supported
- WireGuard — Fastest, modern, recommended for most users
- OpenVPN (UDP/TCP) — Battle-tested, slower than WireGuard but highly compatible
- IKEv2/IPSec — Good for mobile, fast reconnection after network changes
- L2TP/IPSec — Legacy, not recommended
- SSTP — Windows only, useful for bypassing firewalls
No-Logs Policy
PureVPN claims a strict no-logs policy, independently audited by KPMG in 2023. However, there’s an important historical context:
⚠️ The FBI Incident (2017): In 2017, PureVPN provided connection timestamps to the FBI that helped identify a cyberstalker. At the time, PureVPN claimed to be a “no-logs” VPN. The company later clarified it only retained anonymous connection timestamps — not browsing data. Since then, PureVPN has overhauled its privacy policy and undergone independent audits. The current policy is significantly better than 2017, but if you need truly zero-knowledge privacy, consider Mullvad or ProtonVPN instead.
Other Security Features
- Kill Switch — Cuts internet if VPN drops (Windows/Mac/Android)
- Split Tunneling — Route only selected apps through VPN
- DNS Leak Protection — Forces all DNS through PureVPN’s servers
- IPv6 Leak Protection — Blocks or tunnels IPv6 traffic
- Dedicated IP — Available as add-on
- Obfuscation (Stealth Mode) — Hides VPN traffic, useful in restrictive countries
Streaming Performance
We tested PureVPN against the major streaming platforms:
| Service | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Netflix US | ✅ Works | Consistent, no proxy errors |
| Netflix UK | ✅ Works | UK library accessible from EU |
| BBC iPlayer | ✅ Works | UK server required |
| Hulu | ✅ Works | US server required |
| Disney+ | ✅ Works | – |
| Amazon Prime | ⚠️ Inconsistent | Some servers blocked |
Streaming performance is one of PureVPN’s strengths. Most major platforms work reliably — Amazon Prime was the only inconsistent one.
Device Support
PureVPN supports 10 simultaneous connections and works on:
- Windows, macOS, Linux
- Android, iOS
- Browser extensions (Chrome, Firefox)
- Routers (manual setup)
- Smart TVs, Fire TV Stick, Apple TV
- QNAP NAS, Kodi
The Windows and Android apps are polished and easy to use. The iOS app is functional but has fewer settings. Linux requires manual configuration.
PureVPN vs Competitors
| VPN | Our Score | Price/mo | Speed Loss | Leak Test |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PureVPN ⭐ | 98/100 | $2.14 | ~8% | ✅ Passed |
| IPVanish | 95/100 | $3.33 | ~12% | ✅ Passed |
| Surfshark | 92/100 | $2.19 | ~22% | ✅ Passed |
| NordVPN | 85/100 | $3.39 | ~10% | ⚠️ IPv6 leak |
Bottom line: PureVPN offers the best combination of price, speed, and leak protection of any VPN we tested. NordVPN failed our IPv6 leak test despite its higher price and marketing spend.
→ See the full comparison: Best VPN Comparison 2026
Pros & Cons
| ✅ Pros | ❌ Cons |
|---|---|
| Passed all leak tests (DNS, WebRTC, IPv6) | 2017 FBI incident still raises questions |
| Cheapest premium VPN at $2.14/mo | Based in Hong Kong (not ideal for privacy-first users) |
| Only 8% speed loss on nearby servers | Kill switch less reliable on mobile |
| 10 simultaneous connections | Amazon Prime Video inconsistent |
| Works with Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu | Linux requires manual setup |
| 31-day money-back guarantee | Support can be slow at peak times |
| KPMG-audited no-logs policy (2023) | Upsells add-ons during checkout |
Is PureVPN Safe?
For most users — yes. PureVPN uses AES-256 encryption, passed our leak tests, and has an independently audited no-logs policy. It’s safe for hiding your IP from your ISP, using public WiFi, and accessing geo-restricted content.
For high-risk users (journalists, activists, whistleblowers), the 2017 FBI incident is worth considering. In that case, connection timestamps — not browsing data — were handed to authorities. If zero-knowledge privacy is critical for your situation, we’d recommend Mullvad or ProtonVPN instead.
For everyone else, PureVPN is a solid, well-tested choice.
How to Set Up PureVPN (Quick Start)
- Go to PureVPN’s website and choose your plan
- Download the app for your device (Windows, Mac, Android, iOS)
- Log in with your account credentials
- In settings, enable the Kill Switch and set Protocol to WireGuard
- Connect to a server in your desired country
- Verify your connection is leak-free: Run our free VPN leak test →
The leak test takes 30 seconds and confirms your DNS, WebRTC, and real IP are all hidden.
Final Verdict: Should You Buy PureVPN in 2026?
After testing 47 VPNs with Wireshark — PureVPN was one of only 3 that passed every single test. At $2.14/month it’s also the most affordable of the three.
If you want a VPN that:
- ✅ Actually passes DNS and WebRTC leak tests
- ✅ Doesn’t slow your connection significantly
- ✅ Works for Netflix and streaming
- ✅ Covers 10 devices for your whole household
- ✅ Costs less than a cup of coffee per month
…then PureVPN is worth it.
Get PureVPN — 83% Off
$2.14/month · 10 devices · 31-day money-back guaranteeGet PureVPN Now →
After connecting, verify with our free VPN leak test
Frequently Asked Questions
Is PureVPN trustworthy after the FBI incident?
The 2017 incident involved connection timestamps only — not browsing history or content. Since then, PureVPN has updated its privacy policy and passed an independent KPMG audit. For everyday use, it’s trustworthy. For high-risk privacy needs, choose Mullvad or ProtonVPN.
Does PureVPN work in China?
PureVPN has a Stealth Mode (obfuscation) designed to bypass the Great Firewall. Results vary — we recommend testing it before committing to a long-term plan.
How many devices can I use with PureVPN?
PureVPN allows 10 simultaneous connections on all plans — enough for a whole household.
Does PureVPN keep logs?
PureVPN claims a no-logs policy audited by KPMG (2023). It does not log browsing activity, DNS queries, or IP addresses. Historical connection timestamps were an issue in 2017 but the policy has been overhauled since.
What’s the best PureVPN plan?
The 2-year plan at $2.14/month is the best value. It includes the full 31-day money-back guarantee so there’s no risk in trying it.
How do I test if PureVPN is actually working?
After connecting, run our free VPN leak test. It checks DNS leaks, WebRTC leaks, and your real IP in under 30 seconds.