We put these VPNs to the test to find out which is the best!
Editor's Note: We value our relationship with our readers, and we strive to earn your trust through transparency and integrity. We are in the same ownership group as some of the industry-leading products reviewed on this site: ExpressVPN, Cyberghost, Private Internet Access, and Intego. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.
It’s hard for PureVPN to compete with ExpressVPN on any level beyond customer support. There’s also the issue with logging, as PureVPN has been caught in the past turning over logs to law enforcement. ExpressVPN is the opposite, taking a strict stance against keeping logs, or turning over any information to officials.
If there’s one thing ExpressVPN is known for, it’s their insanely fast speeds that are not matched by any other VPN. This makes ExpressVPN ideal for streaming, and also any downloading and uploading. PureVPN has average speeds that are fine for streaming, but nothing like what ExpressVPN can provide.
| VPN vendor |
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|---|---|---|
| Download speed reduction | 11% (UK) | 40% (UK) |
| Upload speed reduction | 16% (FRA) | 37% (FRA) |
| Ping time to google.com | 24ms | 41ms |
| Average time to connect (sec.) | 11ms | 11ms |
| Unblock successful for |
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| Visit Site | Visit Site |
Speed determines how fast content uploads, so if you're torrenting or streaming, you want the speed to be somewhat identical to your regular internet speed. Since a VPN encrypts your data, it usually takes a bit longer to send your data back and forth, which can slow down your connection. However, if your ISP deliberately slows down your connection (also known as throttling) a VPN might increase your internet speed. Testing a VPN is somewhat pointless because new servers pop up and affect speed. Your speed can also differ according to your location, so your speed test might not match ours. Having said that, we tested the speed in numerous locations to provide you with the average.
PureVPN has an astounding list of servers in various countries—140 to be exact—which is their one main advantage over ExpressVPN. But Express is no slouch either, offering servers in 94 countries, with 148 total servers.
| VPN vendor |
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|---|---|---|
| Server Locations | 3,300 | 180 |
| Server Countries | 105 | 141 |
| IP Addresses | 1,500+ | 750 |
| Dynamic Server Switching | ||
| Visit Site | Visit Site |
The ratio of servers to countries is an important factor to look at when choosing a VPN. Only paying attention to location or number of servers can get you in trouble. More servers generally means faster speeds, but if VPN X has a few more servers than VPN Y but twice as many users, VPN X will typically have slower speeds. Ideally, you want a VPN that has a lot of servers in every location. This way you won’t have to worry that server/country that you want will be overburdened and running slow.
Both of these VPNs have a strong commitment to customer support. ExpressVPN and PureVPN provide their users with 24/7 live chat, email ticketing, and large knowledge bases on their respective websites. You’ll also find helpful video tutorials there as well.
| VPN vendor |
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|---|---|---|
| Email Response Time | 0.3 | 7 |
| 24/7 Support | ||
| Live Chat | ||
| Knowledge Base | ||
| Video Tutorials | ||
| Visit Site | Visit Site |
We personally test the customer support team of every VPN we review. This means asking technical question through the live chat feature (where applicable) and measuring the response time for email questions. Whether you need to connect to a specific server, change your security protocol, or configure a VPN on your router, finding a VPN with quality customer support should be important to you.
Downloading and installation of ExpressVPN was fast and easy.
After opening the app, we were able to stream our favorite shows on Netflix and Hulu without any issue. There was never any buffering thanks to the superior speeds of ExpressVPN.
We tested out our IP address in numerous countries without a problem and found the interface easy enough for a beginner to use. If you are worried about getting around China’s firewall, there is a solution to that: Just download ExpressVPN prior to your arrival. It can be installed on an Android device or laptop, but not the iPhone, so keep that mind.
With this connection, you can still visit your favorite sites and protect your information from authorities. Another thing of note is that ExpressVPN can unblock content on most any streaming platform — another reasons why it’s so popular.
PureVPN app is easy enough to be used by novice VPN users and offers enough settings to appeal to a seasoned player. The basic interface is simple and you just have to select a server and click on Connect. The default protocol is automatic but you can pick another option from the list. There are some tabs that let users change the settings and customize the app according to their needs.
PureVPN has apps for all major platforms, and has browser extensions as well. There is a large selection of servers and special servers for online streaming, sports streaming, anonymous file sharing, and data retention security. Or you can just connect to the fastest server of a particular country.
PureVPN works on mobile devices, and is generally successful accessing Netflix and Hulu, and definitely works in China.
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