NordVPN vs. PureVPN 2025: Advanced Security or Beginner-Friendly Coverage?

NordVPN and PureVPN are both leading VPN services, but they cater to different types of users. NordVPN excels in providing seamless streaming and advanced security features, making it an ideal choice for users who demand top-notch performance and robust protection while accessing geo-restricted content on various streaming platforms.

Although we think NordVPN is the better VPN provider for most people, PureVPN stands out for its cost-effective pricing and extensive server coverage, appealing to users who prioritize affordability and a good selection of server locations for reliable and secure global VPN connections. 

In this head-to-head comparison, we'll explore the pricing, features, speed, compatibility, and customer service of NordVPN vs. PureVPN. 

NordVPN vs. PureVPN at a glance

• NordVPN: Best for streaming
• PureVPN: Best budget choice

	Our pick
Price	Starts at $2.99/mo	Starts at $1.99/mo
Max # of connected devices	10	10
24/7 customer support
Compatibility	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Edge, Firefox	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS
# of servers	8,400+ servers in 120+ countries	6,000+ servers in 65+ countries
VPN protocol	OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec, NordLynx	OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec, WireGuard
No-logs policy	No logs	No logs
Unblocks Netflix?
Learn more	Get NordVPN Read NordVPN Review	Get PureVPN Read PureVPN Review

NordVPN pros and cons

NordVPN offers 8,400+ servers in 120+ countries, including specialty servers and advanced features like double VPN, Onion over VPN, P2P, obfuscated servers, and dedicated IP. 

Nord VPN supports various devices and operating systems, such as Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, smart TVs, and more. It caps at 10 simultaneous connections, but you can connect up to 60 devices with Meshnet.

NordVPN is one of the most secure VPNs on the market. It supports OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec, and its proprietary NordLynx.

PureVPN pros and cons

While both VPNs offer affordable options, PureVPN edges out NordVPN with a slightly lower starting price of $1.99/mo, compared to NordVPN's starting price of $2.99/mo. PureVPN boasts 6,000+ servers in 65+ countries, which is comparable to NordVPN, though the latter has a wider global reach. 

PureVPN also offers up to 10 simultaneous connections and broad device compatibility. It's also a secure VPN with OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec, and WireGuard protocols. 

Which VPN is the better value?

		Our Pick
Price range	$2.99–$17.99/mo	$1.99-$19.95/mo
Best value plan	Basic 2-year for $2.99/mo	2-year Standard for $1.99/mo
Money-back guarantee	Yes — 30 days	Yes — 31 days
Learn more	Get NordVPN Read NordVPN Review	Get PureVPN Read PureVPN Review

NordVPN and PureVPN offer competitive pricing plans, but there are some differences in their cost structures. NordVPN's monthly prices range from $2.99–$17.99/mo, with the best value plan being its Basic two-year plan at $2.99/mo. 

However, NordVPN offers four main plans (Basic, Plus, Complete, Prime), all available in either monthly, yearly, or bi-yearly payment structures. The price decreases with the greater length of your plan.

On the other hand, PureVPN's prices range from $1.99-$19.95/mo, with its most cost-effective option being the two-year plan at $1.99/mo, which would save money on VPN.

Both VPN providers offer money-back guarantees, allowing you to test the services risk-free and request a refund if you are not satisfied. NordVPN offers a 30-day guarantee, while PureVPN goes a step further with a 31-day guarantee. 

NordVPN vs. PureVPN: payment options

NordVPN and PureVPN both offer a variety of payment options, including credit cards, PayPal, and cryptocurrencies. Accepting cryptocurrencies as a payment method provides an additional layer of privacy for users who prefer to keep their transactions anonymous.

NordVPN payment options

• Credit or debit cards
• PayPal
  
• Cryptocurrency (bitcoin, ether, and more)
• Google Pay

PureVPN payment options

• Credit/debit cards
• PayPal
• Google Pay
• Payment Wall
• CoinGate (Bitcoin, litecoin, and other electronic wallets)

Which VPN is faster?

Fast and stable internet speeds are crucial for a seamless online experience, whether it's for streaming, gaming, or simply browsing. To evaluate the internet speeds of NordVPN and PureVPN, we conducted tests on different server locations using a variety of devices. 

NordVPN vs. PureVPN speed test results 

	Best Speeds
Average speed change	13% slower	37% slower
Learn more	Get NordVPN Read NordVPN Review	Get PureVPN Read PureVPN Review

In our speed test results, PureVPN’s download and upload speeds varied significantly from server to server, even when connected to a U.S. server. On the other hand, NordVPN provided more consistent download and upload speeds that only slowed slightly depending on the server location. It's normal for VPN servers to experience slower speeds because they're routing your internet traffic. It's expected that the further away the server is, the more the speed drops. 

However, NordVPN blew our speed tests out of the water by actually increasing our download and upload speeds when connected to different domestic and international VPN servers during historic testing. 

Which VPN is more secure?

Feature	Our Pick
Number of servers	8,400+ servers in 120+ countries	6,000+ servers in 65+ countries
No-logs policy	No logs	No logs
VPN headquarters	Panama	British Virgin Islands
Encryption	AES-256-GCM	AES-256
VPN protocol	OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec, NordLynx	OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec, WireGuard
Kill switch
Split tunneling
DNS leak protection
Ad blocker
Learn more	Get NordVPN Read NordVPN Review	Get PureVPN Read PureVPN Review

NordVPN and PureVPN both offer a range of features designed to enhance your online privacy and security, including a kill switch and split tunneling. Both providers use military-grade AES 256-bit encryption and support multiple VPN protocols, including OpenVPN, IKEv2, and WireGuard. However, NordVPN also offers the proprietary NordLynx protocol, which is based on WireGuard and delivers faster speeds and enhanced security.

While both VPNs boast a no-logs policy, NordVPN's headquarters in Panama and PureVPN's in the British Virgin Islands provide different jurisdictional advantages. Panama is a more privacy-friendly location with no data retention laws. NordVPN had its no-logs policy audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers AG, which adds an extra layer of trust to its claims. On the other hand, PureVPN's no-logs policy was audited by KPMG. Both VPNs also passed our DNS leak and WebRTC leak tests, so you get leak protection with either option.

Some bonus features set NordVPN apart from PureVPN. Nord comes with Threat Protection, a built-in ad, tracker, and malware blocker to help protect you from malware and intrusive ads. It also provides dark web monitoring to keep an eye on your personal information if it appears on the dark web. NordVPN also provides specialty servers, including a dedicated IP, obfuscated servers, and more.

Compatibility and customer support

Windows
macOS
Android
iOS
Linux
Router
Smart devices
Browser extensions	Chrome, Firefox, Edge	Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Brave
24/7 customer support
Customer support options	Live chat, email, online guides	Live chat, email, online guides
Learn more	Get NordVPN Read NordVPN Review	Get PureVPN Read PureVPN Review

Both NordVPN and PureVPN have intuitive and easy-to-use interfaces for their applications across various platforms. Their respective services work seamlessly as desktop apps, mobile apps, browser extensions, and smart TV apps. The settings within each VPN are straightforward and easy to find, and no significant difficulties are experienced during use.

NordVPN is known for its clean, minimalist design, which highlights important features and server options, while PureVPN's interface is user-friendly and visually appealing, making it simple for users to navigate through its features and settings.

As far as customer support, both NordVPN and PureVPN provide 24/7 live chat and email support. Their websites also feature extensive online guides to help users troubleshoot issues or learn more about each VPN’s features.

NordVPN and PureVPN alternatives

Both NordVPN and PureVPN top our list of the best VPNs. Based on our experience, we think NordVPN is the best VPN provider overall due to its reasonable pricing, strong feature set, and unrivaled performance throughout historic testing. But we would still recommend PureVPN for VPN beginners who want a customized experience and lots of tutorials. 

That said, if you're looking for a reliable budget VPN, we recommend Surfshark. And if you're looking for even more security, we recommend Proton VPN. Here's how NordVPN compares:

FAQs

Is NordVPN or PureVPN better?

NordVPN is our overall winner, thanks to its consistent streaming capabilities and advanced security features. While PureVPN is a budget-friendly option, NordVPN’s superior performance and features make it a more comprehensive and reliable VPN service.

NordVPN offers advanced security features, seamless streaming capabilities, and a strong no-logs policy. It is known for its ease of use and compatibility across multiple devices, making it a popular choice for a secure and reliable VPN. However, NordVPN's pricing is slightly higher than PureVPN’s, especially for the shorter subscription plans.

PureVPN offers a more cost-effective pricing structure with a larger server network, offering 6,000+ servers in 65+ countries. Although this VPN has solid security and privacy features, it lacks some of the advanced features that NordVPN offers. PureVPN works well with streaming services, but its performance is not as fast or consistent as NordVPN’s.