Last updated: September 2026
Key Takeaway:
PureVPN is one of the longest-running consumer VPNs, with the features most people need, WireGuard support and a series of third-party no-log audits. It also has a 2017 case in which its records helped identify a user while it was advertising “no logs”. For everyday privacy — public Wi-Fi, hiding browsing from your ISP, changing your location — it’s a reasonable option to try. If you’re a high-risk user, that history matters. Either way, run the leak checks below before the refund window closes.
How This Review Works
You won’t find a score out of 100, speed percentages or a “passed every test” badge here. Numbers like that describe one connection on one day, and most VPN review sites don’t show how they got them.
Instead, this review is built from what PureVPN publishes, what its audits say, and the public record. Anything that depends on your own device and connection — leaks, speed, streaming — comes with a way to check it yourself, using free tools, inside the refund window.
PureVPN at a Glance
| Item | What to know |
|---|---|
| Operator | GZ Systems Limited |
| Registered in | British Virgin Islands (moved from Hong Kong in 2021) |
| Around since | 2007 |
| Protocols | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2 |
| No-logs evidence | Repeated third-party audits, the earlier ones by KPMG — check the date of the latest report |
| Privacy history | 2017 case where its records helped identify a user |
| Leak protection and kill switch | Offered — verify on your own device with the VPN leak test |
| Price and refund | Changes often — check the current offer, the renewal price and the money-back terms at checkout |
What Is PureVPN?
PureVPN is a commercial VPN service run by GZ Systems Limited. It has been operating since 2007, which makes it one of the older names in consumer VPNs, and it offers apps for all the major platforms along with paid add-ons such as a dedicated IP address and port forwarding.
It’s aimed at everyday users rather than specialists: people who want to hide their browsing from their ISP, stay safe on public Wi-Fi, and connect from another country. It isn’t built around maximum anonymity the way some privacy-first providers are.
Who it suits
- Everyday privacy — keeping your ISP and public Wi-Fi operators out of your browsing.
- Travellers — connecting to services at home from abroad.
- People who need a fixed address — the dedicated IP add-on helps with remote access and with sites that block shared VPN addresses.
- Households — apps for computers, phones, TV devices and routers under one account.
Who should look elsewhere
Journalists, activists and anyone whose safety depends on a provider being unable to identify them. For that level of risk, a provider with a stronger public record — ideally one whose “no logs” claim has held up when records were actually demanded — is the safer place to start.
⚠️ The 2017 Logging Case
In October 2017, US prosecutors announced the arrest of a man accused of a long cyberstalking campaign against a former roommate. The court papers described how records from PureVPN helped link the harassment to his home and work IP addresses. At the time, PureVPN’s privacy policy said it did not keep logs.
PureVPN’s explanation was that it didn’t log browsing activity, but did keep connection information that could be matched to an account. That distinction is exactly why “no logs” on its own means little: any record of when and from where you connected can be enough to identify you.
What changed afterwards
- Its privacy policy was rewritten to describe more precisely what is and isn’t collected.
- It commissioned independent no-log audits, the earlier ones by KPMG, and has since described an ongoing audit arrangement.
- GZ Systems moved its registration from Hong Kong to the British Virgin Islands in 2021.
How to weigh it
An audit is evidence about how a service was set up at the time of the audit. It isn’t a guarantee for the future, and it isn’t the same as a provider having nothing to hand over when records are demanded. Before you subscribe, read PureVPN’s current privacy policy, find the most recent audit report, and check its date and what it actually covered. Also note that registration and operations aren’t always in the same place: the wider group behind GZ Systems is reported to operate largely from Pakistan.
For general privacy, many people will find the audits and policy changes reassuring enough. For high-risk use, the history counts against it.
Security and Privacy Features
Protocols and encryption
- WireGuard — modern, lightweight and usually the fastest choice. A good default.
- OpenVPN — older and well studied; the TCP mode can help on networks that block other VPN traffic.
- IKEv2 — reconnects quickly when a phone switches between Wi-Fi and mobile data.
All three use modern encryption. The protocol choice mostly affects speed and how well the connection survives network changes, not whether it’s secure.
Features to switch on
- Kill switch — blocks traffic if the VPN drops. Check it’s enabled on each device; see what a kill switch does.
- DNS and IPv6 leak protection — keeps lookups and IPv6 traffic from going around the tunnel.
- Split tunnelling — sends only chosen apps through the VPN. Useful, but anything left outside uses your real address.
Paid add-ons
- Dedicated IP — an address only you use. Handy for remote access and for fewer CAPTCHAs, but it makes your traffic easier to tie together, which works against privacy.
- Port forwarding — needed for hosting services or some peer-to-peer apps behind the VPN.
Most people don’t need either. Expect them to be offered during checkout.
🔍 Check PureVPN Yourself Before the Refund Window Closes
This is the part of any VPN review that matters most, and the part only you can do properly, because it depends on your device, browser and connection. Allow half an hour in the first few days.
- Record your baseline. With the VPN off, note your IP address and ISP with the IP address tool, and run the speed test a couple of times.
- Set it up properly. Install the app, choose WireGuard, and turn on the kill switch and leak protection.
- Run the VPN leak test. Your real IP address, your ISP’s name and your ISP’s DNS servers should appear nowhere. Repeat it in each browser you use.
- Test the kill switch. Start a large download and switch Wi-Fi off and on. The download should stop rather than carry on without the VPN.
- Measure the speed cost. Run the speed test on a nearby server and on the one you’d actually use, and compare against your baseline. Some slowdown is normal; the question is whether it’s enough to bother you.
- Try what you bought it for. Your streaming service, work tools, banking app — some block VPN addresses.
- Repeat on your phone. Mobile apps often have different defaults.
If it fails anything that matters to you, cancel and ask for the refund. Read the refund conditions before you pay, not after.
Streaming
PureVPN advertises streaming support, but no VPN can promise a particular service will work on a particular day. Streaming platforms block VPN addresses continuously, and providers replace them continuously, so what worked last month is no guide to this week.
Two things are fixed, though. Netflix says it doesn’t support VPNs at all on its ad-supported plans or for live events. And using a VPN to reach another country’s catalogue goes against most streaming services’ terms. The VPN for Netflix guide covers how to test it within a refund window.
Pricing: What to Check
Prices aren’t listed here because they change constantly. When you look at the current offer, check three things:
- The renewal price. Long plans are heavily discounted for the first term and usually renew at a higher rate.
- The refund conditions. How long the window is, and what counts as eligible.
- The basket at checkout. Make sure no add-ons are included that you didn’t choose.
A sensible approach is to pick a plan that covers the refund window, run the checks above, and only then decide whether a longer commitment is worth it.
Pros and Cons
| ✅ Pros | ❌ Cons |
|---|---|
| Long track record, operating since 2007 | 2017 case where its records helped identify a user |
| Repeated third-party no-log audits | Registration and operations are in different places |
| WireGuard, OpenVPN and IKEv2 | Add-ons pushed during checkout |
| Dedicated IP and port forwarding available | Introductory prices renew higher |
| Apps for computers, phones, TV devices and routers | Not the first choice for high-risk users |
Is PureVPN Safe?
For everyday use — public Wi-Fi, keeping browsing from your ISP, travelling — it’s a reasonable choice, provided you turn on the kill switch and leak protection and confirm they work with the leak test.
If your safety depends on a provider being unable to identify you, its 2017 history is a real reason to choose a provider with a stronger record instead. What to look for in a private VPN sets out what that record looks like.
How to Set Up PureVPN
- Choose a plan on PureVPN’s website and check the basket for add-ons.
- Install the app on your device and sign in.
- In the settings, choose WireGuard and turn on the kill switch.
- Connect to a server in the country you need.
- Run the VPN leak test to confirm nothing is leaking.
Verdict
PureVPN is a mainstream VPN with the features most people need and more audit history than many competitors, alongside a 2017 case that shows why “no logs” should always be checked rather than believed. For everyday privacy it’s worth a try. For high-stakes privacy, look elsewhere.
Whichever you choose, the decision shouldn’t rest on a review — this one included. Use the refund window to check it on your own connection.
Check PureVPN’s current offer →
Frequently Asked Questions
Is PureVPN trustworthy after the 2017 case?
It has since rewritten its privacy policy and commissioned independent no-log audits. That’s reassuring for everyday use. For high-risk use, an audit is not the same as a record of having nothing to hand over when asked, and the 2017 case is worth weighing.
Does PureVPN keep logs?
Its current policy says it doesn’t log browsing activity or connection records, and its audits examined that claim. Read the latest audit report and check its date and scope before relying on it.
Where is PureVPN based?
Its operator, GZ Systems Limited, is registered in the British Virgin Islands, having moved from Hong Kong in 2021. The wider group is reported to operate largely from Pakistan.
Does PureVPN work with Netflix?
It advertises streaming support, but no VPN can guarantee it on a given day, and Netflix doesn’t support VPNs on ad-supported plans or for live events. Test it with your own account inside the refund window.
How many devices can I use?
PureVPN allows several simultaneous connections per account. The limit has changed over time, so check the current figure on the plan page.
How do I check PureVPN is actually working?
Connect, then run the free VPN leak test. Your real IP address, your ISP and your ISP’s DNS servers shouldn’t appear anywhere in the results.