What PureVPN gets right

PureVPN has a simple pitch: a fully audited, working VPN at a price that's hard to match. It won't outperform NordVPN or ExpressVPN on speed or iPlayer reliability. But for most people's everyday streaming needs it does the job, and it does it for a fraction of the cost of the higher-end options.

If you're new to VPNs and not sure whether you'll actually use one regularly, PureVPN is a low-risk way to find out. And if you decide you want something more polished down the line, the step up to NordVPN or ExpressVPN is always there.

Streaming performance

PureVPN works with the main UK and international streaming services: BBC iPlayer, Netflix UK and US, Disney+, Channel 4, and My5. For these everyday services it's reliable enough for regular use. Sky Go is where it struggles most: it's the hardest streaming service to unblock with any VPN, and PureVPN didn't get through on every attempt. ITVX was more consistent.

PureVPN labels some servers as streaming-optimised, and these are worth going to first rather than picking a standard server, especially for iPlayer. It took us a couple of minutes to find them the first time, but once you know where to look they're easy to get to. When we tried iPlayer using one, we got through on the second server we picked, which took about thirty seconds all in.

For Netflix, PureVPN got through to both the UK and US libraries consistently. Netflix is aggressive about blocking VPN IP addresses, and PureVPN keeps enough clean IPs in rotation that access was generally consistent. We did need to switch servers a couple of times across our sessions, which is pretty normal with any VPN and Netflix.

Honest comparison: iPlayer works with PureVPN, but you may need to try a couple of servers before getting through. That's a normal part of using a budget VPN. If you want better first-attempt reliability, NordVPN has a stronger track record for iPlayer specifically.

Speed and reliability

The most important tip for PureVPN: switch to WireGuard in the protocol settings before you do anything else. The default on some platforms is IKEv2 or OpenVPN, which are older and noticeably slower. Switching to WireGuard takes about thirty seconds and makes a real difference.

With WireGuard active, speeds were more than adequate for HD streaming on a standard UK broadband connection. There's a bigger speed gap compared to NordVPN and ExpressVPN, but it's not the kind of gap that causes buffering. We streamed without any issues once WireGuard was selected.

Connection stability was solid throughout our time with it. We didn't run into unexpected drops during streaming sessions. We tested the kill switch by cutting the connection mid-stream: it clamped down straight away, and checking our IP immediately afterwards showed our real address hadn't been exposed. Reconnection after a forced drop was a little slower than the higher-end options, but not by enough to cause any real frustration.

Privacy and security

Based in the British Virgin Islands, PureVPN sits in the same jurisdiction as ExpressVPN: outside the Five Eyes intelligence alliance and beyond the reach of UK and US data-retention laws (laws that require companies to keep records of your internet activity).

The no-logs policy has been audited by KPMG, who confirmed that no connection logs, IP addresses, browsing activity, or session timing data is retained. One audit round is fewer than NordVPN and ExpressVPN have had, but it's a real, independent check from a well-known firm.

There's an important piece of history to be aware of. PureVPN was previously based in Hong Kong, and in 2017 it handed connection logs to the FBI in a criminal case. That was a significant incident. The company has since moved to the British Virgin Islands and rebuilt its infrastructure under a verified no-logs policy, which KPMG has independently confirmed. We think the current setup is a genuine step forward, but we believe it's worth being upfront about.

DNS and WebRTC leak protection is on by default. We ran a leak test straight after connecting for the first time and came up clean, with no DNS or WebRTC leaks showing across any of the browsers we checked.

Apps and usability

PureVPN has apps for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Android TV, Linux, and browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox. The interface is a bit busier than NordVPN or ExpressVPN: there's more going on visually, and finding specific features takes slightly more navigation. The Android app was easy enough to navigate for everyday use once we'd found our way around, even if it's not quite as slick as the higher-end options.

The kill switch is in the settings menu and needs to be switched on manually. It's worth doing before you connect for the first time so your real IP is always protected if the connection drops unexpectedly.

One option PureVPN offers that the others don't: a dedicated IP address add-on. A dedicated IP is one that only you use, which makes it less likely to be blocked by a streaming service because of another user on the same shared address. Most people won't need it, but it's a good option to know about if you keep running into blocks on a particular service.

Getting started with PureVPN

Here's how to get up and running:

  1. Sign up on the PureVPN website. The long-term plan is the best value. You can get started here.
  2. Download and install the app. PureVPN has apps for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and more. Download from the website or your device's app store.
  3. Log in and switch to WireGuard. This is the most important step. Go into Settings, find Protocol, and switch to WireGuard. Do this before you connect.
  4. Enable the kill switch. Still in Settings, turn on the kill switch. This stops your real IP from being exposed if the VPN drops mid-session.
  5. Connect and test. Tap Quick Connect, then open your streaming service. If a server isn't getting through, head to the streaming-optimised server category in the app and try one of those.

The WireGuard step is the main thing most people miss when setting up PureVPN, and it makes a noticeable difference to the speeds you'll see. From downloading the app to streaming with WireGuard active took us around four minutes, most of which was the download itself.

Pricing and plans

PureVPN's prices shift with promotions, and the site is priced in USD rather than GBP, so the amount you'll pay in pounds depends on the exchange rate at the time. The best thing to do is check the website directly for the current rate. That said, even at full price the long-term plan is consistently one of the cheapest audited VPNs available. The monthly plan is considerably more expensive and only makes sense if you need a VPN for a short period.

One subscription covers up to ten devices at once. The 31-day money-back guarantee is slightly longer than most competitors: if it doesn't work for you, you have a full month to test it and request a refund.

Verdict

PureVPN does what it promises at a price that's hard to argue with. It gets through the main UK streaming services, has a verified no-logs policy, and covers ten devices on one account. The interface takes a little getting used to compared to the higher-end options, and having to switch to WireGuard manually is an extra step that shouldn't be necessary. But if budget is your priority and you want a VPN that handles the basics, PureVPN delivers. Go in with realistic expectations and you won't be disappointed.