NordVPN Compared to PureVPN (2024): Which VPN Should You Opt For?

When it comes to a paid virtual private network service, PureVPN offers relatively affordable subscription costs, making it attractive to cost-conscious users and enterprises. On the other hand, NordVPN provides enhanced security and user-friendly features but at a higher price.

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The query that arises is this: Is investing more in NordVPN worthwhile? Or does PureVPN’s value proposition offer a more appealing option?

In this piece, we analyze which VPN service is the optimal choice for you and your business.

• PureVPN: Suited for small teams seeking to unlock geo-restricted content at an economical rate.
• NordVPN: Ideal for most enterprises in search of a secure, trustworthy, and high-performing VPN.

Comparison of PureVPN and NordVPN

Comparison of Pricing between PureVPN and NordVPN

When it comes to pricing structures, PureVPN and NordVPN have similar subscription models. They each provide three tiers of subscriptions, offering enhanced features as you progress to higher pricing levels.

PureVPN pricing breakdown

Under the PureVPN pricing structure, there are three subscription options: Standard, Plus, and Max. If you are seeking basic VPN services, the Standard plan from PureVPN presents an affordable choice.

For those interested in testing the service before committing, PureVPN offers a seven-day trial accessible on mobile devices and Windows. Initially, the free trial was only available through the mobile app, but now desktop users can also take advantage of this trial offer.

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With a focus on desktop usability, PureVPN has expanded the trial accessibility to cater to a wider audience, complementing the existing mobile trial access.

If you wish to delve deeper into PureVPN’s performance and features, you can read the comprehensive review of PureVPN.

Comparison of NordVPN Pricing

NordVPN, on the other hand, offers three subscription levels: Basic, Plus, and Ultimate. As you move up the tiers, additional security features such as data breach scanning and encrypted storage are included.

For individuals contemplating a trial run, NordVPN provides a seven-day free trial exclusively through its Android app. Although the service can subsequently be used across various platforms post sign-up on Android, expanded availability of the trial to a wider user base would be desirable.

If you want to gather more insights, you can peruse my detailed evaluation of NordVPN.

Feature comparison between PureVPN and NordVPN

Encryption and Security Measures

Draw

Both PureVPN and NordVPN boast nearly identical VPN protocols within their offerings. While PureVPN supports OpenVPN, WireGuard, and IPSec/IKEv2, NordVPN provides OpenVPN, IPSec/IKEv2, and NordLynx, their proprietary security protocol based on WireGuard.

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In my view, these three protocols strike a balanced blend of swiftness, safety, and reliability in the domain of VPNs. I appreciate the adoption of these protocols by both VPN service providers.

Similarly, both companies employ the military-grade AES-256 encryption standard for their VPN software. Once more, this exhibits a shared commitment to security standards, as AES-256 remains the established cryptographic algorithm expected from contemporary VPN software.

Geographical Distribution and Quantity of VPN Servers

Preferable Choice: NordVPN

Upon considering their respective server infrastructures, NordVPN emerges as the victor when pitted against PureVPN. At the juncture of this article’s publication, NordVPN features over 6,400+ servers dispersed across 111 countries — showcasing a robust server network that excels in both quantity and geographic reach.

NordVPN stands out with its extensive server network covering 111 countries compared to PureVPN’s 65 countries, boasting a total of more than 6,070+ servers. This diversity gives NordVPN the upper hand despite the similar server counts between the two VPN services.

NordVPN offers users a wider selection of countries, allowing more flexibility in their location choices. The increased country count can also potentially lead to better performance with servers located closer to the user’s actual position, resulting in improved speed.

While PureVPN doesn’t lag in server quantity, standing at 6,000+ servers, which is above the industry average, NordVPN’s more diverse reach gives it a competitive edge.

Third-party examinations and historical performance

Victor: NordVPN

NordVPN takes the lead in independent audits and historical credibility. The VPN service has undergone four independent audits affirming their commitment to a no-logs policy, with the most recent audit being released in January 2024.

NordVPN not only deserves recognition for the frequency of audits but also for the consistency in undergoing them, which enhances customer trust and emphasizes their commitment to transparency and privacy-focused practices.

On the contrary, PureVPN has also been subject to multiple security audits, with one each in 2019, 2021, and 2023, confirming their no-logs policy. However, in 2017, PureVPN allegedly shared user logs with authorities to help in a legal case, conflicting with their no-logs stance at that time.

Although PureVPN has bolstered its security measures and auditing processes since then, including “always-on audits,” NordVPN’s clean record in handling user data positions it as the preferred choice.

Speed and Performance Evaluation

Victor: NordVPN

Both VPN services, PureVPN and NordVPN, deliver consistent speed and connectivity. During my test runs, I encountered no disruptions while performing regular tasks like research, using Google Workspace, and participating in online meetings.

While both services remained stable, NordVPN outshone PureVPN in speed tests. NordVPN displayed smaller dips in speed for both downloads and uploads compared to PureVPN. NordVPN saw a 5.8% drop in downloads and a 16.2% decrease in uploads, whereas PureVPN experienced a 5.9% download reduction and a significant 79.9% upload decline.

For tasks involving frequent file uploads, PureVPN may fall short based on these results. However, both services deliver commendable performance in speed and reliability.

Remarkable

Enhanced protection features

Champion: NordVPN

For individuals seeking added safeguard features within their top-notch VPN solution, NordVPN is the ideal choice.

It presents a range of security functionalities, including its Meshnet encrypted file-sharing mechanism; specialized Threat Protection against malicious software, trackers and advertisements; an integrated dark web surveillance tool; and numerous others.

Additionally, it possesses a myriad of security-centric VPN server types, like dual VPN servers that alternate your IP addresses twice; camouflaged servers, which mask VPN usage; and onion over VPN servers that can direct your traffic to the Onion network.

In contrast, PureVPN offers respectable safeguard utilities such as divided tunneling, a VPN emergency shutoff and DNS leak prevention. Nevertheless, all these functionalities are also accessible on NordVPN.

If you desire a VPN equipped with clever safeguard functionalities, NordVPN is the obvious choice.

User-friendly experience

Champion: NordVPN

When considering the in-app interface and user-friendliness, NordVPN emerges victorious once again. It provides a pleasant blend of an easy-to-navigate layout, appealing design and an overall dependable application.

Personally, I admire how it effectively arranges all its characteristics without overwhelming end users. With a contemporary and user-friendly interface, it establishes a strong standard for what a robust VPN user interface should appear and feel like.

Conversely, PureVPN also possesses a moderately attractive desktop application. I particularly favor its simplistic UI, with immaculate white spaces and well-structured menus. To be candid, it bears a resemblance to NordVPN’s equivalent desktop app.

Sadly, the contrast between the two emerges with PureVPN’s in-app effectiveness, specifically with navigation and in-app user experience. Throughout my usage, I observed a hint of cumbersome operation when moving through menus and specific tabs. I also discovered that transitioning between servers and initiating new connections was marginally slower compared to NordVPN.

To give credit to PureVPN, once the connections were established, they stayed secure and uninterrupted. That said, if you prioritize a more refined and seamless application, NordVPN is the superior selection.

Simultaneous device connections

Draw: Equal

Concerning device restrictions and concurrent connections, we have a dead heat. Both PureVPN and NordVPN extend a maximum of 10 simultaneous device connections to their VPN service. This signifies that you can link a maximum of 10 distinct devices to a VPN server simultaneously without necessitating a second VPN subscription.

Although I would have personally preferred limitless simultaneous device connections, having 10 as a maximum still ranks high in terms of device constraints compared to other VPNs, which typically offer five to eight devices at max.

PureVPN advantages and disadvantages

Advantages

• Swift and trustworthy real-world speeds.
• 6,050+ servers.
• More affordable starting plan.

Disadvantages

• Incident involving FBI in 2017 logging.

NordVPN benefits and drawbacks

Benefits

• Variety of integrated security features.
• Servers spread across 111 countries.
• Impeccable security standing.

Drawbacks

• Higher cost.

Should your firm opt for PureVPN or NordVPN?

In my viewpoint, NordVPN is undeniably the superior option for most enterprises. It furnishes an extensive 111-country server network, rapid VPN speed and functionality, an array of security capabilities, and an all-around pleasant user encounter.

Moreover, it provides the same 10-device limit and an exceedingly robust history in terms of security. For me, the absence of security incidents justifies the slightly higher cost.

Regrettably, PureVPN’s 2017 logging incident significantly impedes it from being a premier VPN choice today. Despite implementing substantial measures to rebuild user confidence, I consider the risk not worthwhile, particularly if data privacy is of significant concern.

Otherwise, PureVPN could serve as a decent alternative for small teams or businesses seeking a more economical VPN to unblock regionally-restricted online content.

Approach

My evaluation of PureVPN and NordVPN entailed real-world testing of both VPNs and a thorough assessment of each VPN’s traits, cost, and performance.

To appraise each product, both VPNs were graded on a range of aspects from their pricing to their server networks. Particularly, I factored in five primary pillars, each carrying corresponding significance:

• Pricing (20%).
• Core VPN features (30%).
• Simplicity of use (15%).
• Client support (30%).
• Professional analysis (5%).

In addition, I considered real-world user feedback and trusted reviews to round out my assessment of both PureVPN and NordVPN. For velocity and operation, I trialed both services on my personal Windows desktop and conducted assessments through Ookla’s public Speedtest. Lastly, I contemplated which kinds of businesses or individuals would derive the most benefit from each VPN.

About Author

AndyC

Andy Curtis is an award-winning security consultant, researcher and public speaker. He has been working in the computer security industry since the early 1990s, having been employed by state and federal government, leading healthcare and banking providers across three continents. He has given talks about computer security for some of the world’s largest companies, worked with law enforcement agencies on investigations into hacking groups, and is a regular voice on TV and radio explaining IT security threats.

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