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ExpressVPN vs PureVPN 2023

Table of Contents
    Rated: 9.9/10
    %s User Reviews
    More Info
    Rated: 7.8/10
    %s User Reviews
    More Info

    Which VPN is better?

    Author Image Daniel Krohn
    Daniel Krohn

    Cybersecurity Researcher

    ExpressVPN and PureVPN offer users a wide range of great features. Neither VPN keeps logs of your data and are based in the privacy-friendly British Virgin Islands, which is outside the 5/9/14-eye alliance. Plus, both services protect you from hackers with AES 256-bit encryption, multiple security protocols, kill switches, split tunneling, and IPv6leak protection. However, there are some key differences. PureVPN has more servers (6,500 compared to ExpressVPN's 3,000), but ExpressVPN's servers are spread out in more countries (94), PureVPN covers 78 locations.

    One other advantage PureVPN has over ExpressVPN is that they allow 10 simultaneous connections while ExpressVPN only allows 8, plus it's more affordable. But ExpressVPN can access all streaming platforms, while PureVPN gets blocked by some. Also, ExpressVPN's speeds are superior to all other VPNs  tested, including PureVPN. Read on to find out what makes each service unique. 

    Rating

    Features 9.9/10
    Pricing 9.4/10
    Ease of Use 10.0/10
    Reliability & Support 10.0/10
    Features 7.8/10
    Pricing 6.0/10
    Ease of Use 8.6/10
    Reliability & Support 8.3/10

    Reviews

    Review by our expert
    Author Image Keira Waddell
    Keira Waddell

    Senior Writer

    10.0/10

    ExpressVPN is one of the most popular and trusted names in the industry. It’s known for being one of the safest, fastest VPNs around, so I wanted to see if it can live up to these claims. It’s not the cheapest VPN, but it often offers discounts that make it a better value for the money. Other decent VPNs offer similar security features for much cheaper. So, do you really need to pay that much...

    Read all
    Latest positive user review
    H
    H
    10.0/10
    Perfect vpn

    Very fast, stable, and secure VPN. No drawbacks that I know of. I especially like the number of ways t... o increase the remaining days on your subscription, referring only 2 people can get you 2 months extra.More

    Latest negative user review
    C
    Charli
    6.0/10
    Ok, but expensive

    Seems ok, but I wouldn't say it's worth $20AUD a month. That's steep if you live in a backwater like A... ustralia, where the currency is not valuable. Easy enough to set up - you don't need to be Einstein - but unless you're a tech nerd who can take a look under the bonnet, you'll just have to trust what they say about their product. It frequently drops out without the slightest warning, often when it's the only thing online at the time - despite fast and flawless fiber internet, rendering expression entirely useless UNLESS you have it sitting on your desktop where you can keep an eagle eye on it to actually see it when it drops out so you can kick it back into service again (it doesn't do it by itself), which seems to defeat its purpose, so I'm taking away 2 stars for that. Support is good and they do get back to you as fast as they can.More

    Read the full review
    More Info
    Review by our expert
    Author Image MJ Marsden
    MJ Marsden

    Cybersecurity Researcher

    8.4/10

    PureVPN claims to be a superfast VPN for streaming with great security at a low price. It offers an extensive server network, military-grade encryption, and much more. But is it really as good as its most popular competitors? To find the answer, I performed extensive tests on its speeds, security features, and everything else it offers. This included seeing how well it works with the top strea...

    Read all
    Latest positive user review
    R
    Rich
    10.0/10
    An excellent value, all things considered

    While they will absolutely throttle p2p in most servers, it's easy to find and log into the p2p server... s. They responded promptly when I had questions (although once it was basically to say "sorry, tough luck"). Overall though, I think I paid something like $20 for a year's subscription - I really can't complain. I'm sold on the service, although I think the fact that it's based out of HK is a bit spooky. 9/10More

    Latest negative user review
    H
    Hassan
    2.0/10
    Scam! Worst SUPPORT. WORST BILLING SYSTEM.

    I paid for the subscription using crypto, and the money was withdrawn from my account to theirs, I wai... ted 30 minutes upon the request of their system and nothing happened, then their system told me that the session was expired and no payment was received! I reached out to their support, and they kept telling me that my issue was moved to some higher level support and they will reach out. I waited, and I waited, and while I was waiting, three of their customer support reached out to me asking about my experience with the service... and when I answer and tell them that I have no service! they just ignore it. After more than 24 hours, I reached out to their support, and they told me that I'll get an answer in 2 hours, waited for 5, and still no answer. Reached out again, and they told me that the money didn't go to their accounts! I send them a screenshot that proves otherwise again, and they told me to wait again And in the end, they told me that the money will be converted back to my account in 15 days, 18 days later, and still nothing. Reached out again, and they asked me to re-tell the situation 10 times! and still no solution. All I hear from them is, I apologize for the inconvenience, we'll solve this soon, we'll move this ticket to the next level of support, and we'll reach out to you soon... empty promises!More

    Read the full review
    More Info

    Pricing

    Starting price $6.67/month
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 30 Days
    Number of devices per license 5 devices
    See Plans
    Starting price $2.08/month
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 31 Days
    Number of devices per license 10 devices
    See Plans

    Best VPN by Category

    Best VPN Overall

    Both vendors offer native apps that are easy to install and use. However, ExpressVPN provides faster and more stable connections. PureVPN does offer unlimited bandwidth and server switching, as well as split tunneling and excellent customer services, but is unable to access all major streaming platforms.

    Best VPN for Torrents

    ExpressVPN supports P2P / torrenting on all its servers and works with the Tor Network. PureVPN allows P2P on some of its services, however, its approach to privacy is a concern for users looking for a torrenting service.

    Best VPN for Windows

    Both providers offer easy to install and use apps for Windows. Users of PureVPN benefit the inclusion of a ‘use intelligence’ feature that assigns a server based on your needs. ExpressVPN users, however, benefit from faster and more stable connections, and greater number of server locations.

    Best VPN for Android

    Both vendors provide apps that are easy to install and straightforward to use. ExpressVPN’s app does not require any configuration, while the app from PureVPN offers a variety of usage modes, so users can get the best type of connection for their needs.

    Best VPN for Mac

    Both vendors offer easy to install and use apps for this operating system. ExpressVPN enables users to set the OpenVPN protocol as their default setting, ensuring consistent privacy and security. PureVPN offers several different versions of its app depending on the exact operating system being used.

    Best VPN for iOS

    PureVPN was one of the first providers to offer an app for iOS and the app offers a variety of well-tested features that aim to improve usability. ExpressVPN users benefit from its military grade encryption, no logging policy, and fast speeds, as well as having an iOS app that does not need further configuration.

    Best VPN for USA

    Both PureVPN and ExpressVPN have servers within the USA, and both can be used to access geo-restricted content. However, PureVPN cannot consistently access Hulu. It is the speed, reliability, and American server numbers of ExpressVPN, as well as its continuing ability to bypass US geo-blocks, which puts it in the lead.

    The Bottom Line

    Both providers offer user-friendly apps that facilitate private browsing. Yet, ExpressVPN proves superior with its unparalleled speed, effortless circumvention of geo-blocks, and the advantage of supporting torrenting across all its servers.

    Time to decide which one is best for you

    Go with ExpressVPN
    Go with PureVPN
    Or click here to check best VPNs, rated by {{review_count}} users

    FAQ

    Is ExpressVPN better than PureVPN?

    Yes, ExpressVPN is better overall than PureVPN. It has 3000 servers in 94 countries, fast speeds, and impressive security features.

    Best of all, you can take advantage of its latest discount and get it for only $6.67 a month.

    What should I keep in mind when choosing between ExpressVPN and PureVPN?

    When choosing a VPN, you want to pay close attention to its number of servers, overall speed score, pricing, and the number of simultaneous device connections it offers. While some VPNs provide a flawless online experience, others will really slow you down.

    If you’re ready to commit, then ExpressVPN may be perfect for you due to its performance during the tests .

    Is ExpressVPN faster than PureVPN?

    Yes, ExpressVPN is faster than PureVPN. Since your VPN is your computer’s main connection to the internet, you need to use a service that won’t slow you down by more than 20%.

    If speeds are important to you, then I recommend you take a look at ExpressVPN. It’s the fastest service out there, provides unlimited bandwidth, and you won’t experience any slowdowns even when you connect to the other side of the planet. You can try it out risk-free. It’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can get a full refund if you don’t like it.

    Do ExpressVPN or PureVPN offer any deals?

    Both ExpressVPN and PureVPN offer deals on occasion. You can check out the current coupons and discounts here. However, ExpressVPN has the best deals. Right now, you can get a 49% discount and up to 3 months for free with a new subscription.

    About the Author

    Technical writer with a passion for online privacy.