NordVPN and PureVPN are two of the most popular names in the VPN industry. These providers are well known for the advanced technology that they offer and the great selection of features that they support. If you are trying to decide between these two high quality VPN services, this comparison will help you to find out which one takes the lead. We have analyzed the main aspects of these providers to tell you which one is better in each category, and which one is the best one overall. By looking at the essential criteria that needs to be examined for any VPN provider, it is possible to establish the advantages and downsides of both services and in the end, we will discover who is the winner.
What aspects have we considered for this comparison?
NordVPN and PureVPN have been around for quite a while and both providers have solid reputations in the VPN industry. NordVPN is based in Panama, while PureVPN is based in Hong Kong. These two locations are not included in spying alliances like the 5 Eyes or the Fourteen Eyes and they are both privacy and online freedom-friendly countries. In order to compare this two services, we have focused on key areas that should be considered when choosing a VPN service. These areas include security, protocols, apps, support, reliability and pricing.
It is important to keep in mind that the two providers offer different features and the options supported vary between them. In some cases, the final decision doesn’t come down to overall quality but to which provider offers the functionality that you need. For instance, you may need a server in a specific country that is not supported by one provider, or their service may not work on the platform you want to use. Just because one provider gets ahead in different areas, it doesn’t mean that it is the best option for you. Without further ado, here are the different areas examined and the comparison between NordVPN and PureVPN.
Compatibility and Apps
NordVPN is compatible with all the leading desktop and mobile operating systems, including Windows Phone, which is not supported by many VPN providers. One thing to keep in mind is that at the moment it doesn’t support Xbox One, which is a downside if you are an avid gamer and need to secure your traffic on this specific platform. With that being said, it is possible to find routers that are already running the service, meaning that you can enjoy NordVPN on any device. When it comes to PureVPN, you can enjoy support for all major platforms such as Windows, macOS, Android and iOS. Xbox and routers are also supported, but at the moment, Windows Phone is not in the list of options supported. Both providers offer easy to use, high quality apps but in the end, the choice will depend on the platform you are looking to use with the VPN.
Support
NordVPN is known for offering professional, knowledgeable support and customers can find useful information in the comprehensive knowledge base and the FAQ section. There is also a live chat, which is a practical and efficient way to get help whenever needed. You can also reach out to the support team via email. While there is no phone support available, the truth is that most provider don’t support this option. The good thing is that the majority of questions that you may have about NordVPN can be solved by looking at the FAQs. PureVPN also offers live chat that allows you to get quick responses and the support team is available 24/7. PureVPN has an extensive selection of options available on their support section, including a dedicated area for customers in China. While PureVPN has more resources on their support section than NordVPN, both providers deliver good customer service and you will have a good experience when you contact them.
IP address Type
NordVPN does a great job at offering a varied selection of IP addresses. You can get dynamic shared, or static, dedicated IP addresses, if that is the best option for your needs. PureVPN supports dynamic, as well as dedicated IP addresses. Keep in mind that in both cases, getting an IP address requires you to pay an additional fee. A dedicated IP address only allows you to select a specific country. This means that you can only appear as if you are in that particular location. The advantage of a dedicated IP address is that it lets you access online banking and other services that would work better when you use the same IP address. NordVPN has dedicated IP addresses in Germany, United States, United Kingdom and Netherlands. PureVPN has dedicated IPs in the same countries, plus Canada, New Zealand and Australia. The choice here depends on whether you need a dedicated IP address or not, and if you do, which country suits you best.
Pricing
One month of NordVPN costs $11.95, which is higher than the $9.95 charged by PureVPN. In both cases, when you extend the length of your subscription, you can get good discounts. For instance, if you pay for a full year of NordVPN, the monthly price is reduced to $5.75 and if you pay for two years in advance, the monthly cost is just $3.29. PureVPN doesn’t offer an annual plan, but you can get a six-month plan that reduces the monthly cost to $7.95.
There is also the possibility of paying for two years in advance and this takes the monthly price down to $2.45. While PureVPN’s prices are cheaper, in the end the choice depends on what is more convenient for you. Just think if you prefer a short-term plan or one that extends for longer. Another point to keep in mind is that PureVPN only offers a 7-day money back guarantee, while NordVPN has a 30-day money back guarantee.
In addition, NordVPN offers a free trial that lets you test the service for tree days. PureVPN doesn’t have a free trial, but it offers the possibility of testing the service for 3 days, if you pay $2.50. Both provider accept Bitcoin, which is the best option for enhancing your anonymity. Overall, PureVPN offers more payment options than NordVPN.
Protocols
NordVPN supports OpenVPN (UDP and TCP), L2TP and PPTP. PureVPN offers more options as it supports not only OpenVPN, PPTP and L2TP/IPSec, but also SSTP and IKEv2. The choice here depends on whether or not you need a specific protocol.
Performance and reliability
Currently, NordVPN has over 3200 servers in 60 countries and it has options optimized for particular purposes such as P2P and DDoS protection. PureVPN has more than 750 servers in 141 countries and it also allows P2P. With NordVPN, you can connect up to 6 devices at the same time, while PureVPN lets you have up to five connection simultaneously. NordVPN supports features like Tor over VPN and double VPN encryption that take security to a a higher level. PureVPN offers split tunneling, which gives you greater control over your connection. Both services offer unlimited bandwidth and good speeds. However, NordVPN has more features that let you enjoy good performance for specific purposes.
Security and Protection
NordVPN has a zero logs policy and it protects data with AES-256 bit encryption. As previously mentioned, it supports advanced security features. It also has a kill switch to keep your IP address protected, even if the VPN suddenly drops. PureVPN offers a kill switch as well, and it adds other features like NAT firewall and IPv6 support. Although PureVPN also secures data with AES-256-bit encryption, it keeps some logs. The privacy policy states that your online activities are not logged. However, recently the company came under fire as it was revealed that authorities were able to track a cyber-stalker who used PureVPN, thanks to the logs kept and handed over by the provider.
While this case refers to a criminal activity and it is likely that those who use PureVPN according to the law don’t have reason for concern, the case previously mentioned should be kept in mind if you are looking for high protection for your privacy.
Conclusion
While both providers have their pros and cons, in the end, NordVPN takes the lead thanks to its high security and strong commitment to privacy. The final decision depends on your specific needs, but if you are trying to decide between NordVPN and PureVPN, you may want to opt for the first one.
