⚡ Quick Verdict:
- Preisgestaltung: PureVPN Standard starts at $2.15/per month. McAfee Essential costs $39.99/yr for the whole bundle.
- Ideal für: PureVPN for streaming, torrenting and split tunneling. McAfee for antivirus plus identity protection in one app.
- Hauptunterschied: PureVPN is a full virtual private network with 6,500+ servers. McAfee Safe Connect VPN is an add-on to a security suite.
- Our pick: PureVPN, because it has a KPMG-audited no-logs policy and McAfee logs your ip address.
One of these is a vpn service. The other is antivirus software that happens to include one.
That single fact explains almost every difference below.
PureVPN has been selling a virtual private network since 2007.
McAfee bolted safe connect vpn onto its security suite in 2019.
So the real question is not which is better. It is what you actually need.
Überblick
This PureVPN vs McAfee VPN comparison covers pricing, speed tests, security features and streaming.
It also covers server locations, device support and customer support.
Unser Schriftsteller spent hands-on time with PureVPN. Those notes appear below.
For McAfee, we used our own 60-day review, published specs and G2 feedback.
By the end you will know which vpn provider fits your setup.
Was ist PureVPN?
PureVPN is a virtual private network that started in 2007.
Es betreibt über 6.500 Server in mehr als 140 Ländern.
The company is incorporated in the British Virgin Islands.
That jurisdiction has privacy-friendly data retention laws.
The server list mixes physical servers with virtual servers in harder regions.
Virtual locations cover places where hosting real hardware is difficult.
PureVPN offers dedicated P2P, streaming and quantum-resistant servers.
Our full PureVPN review breaks down every one of those PureVPN features.
Here is a walkthrough of how the apps actually behave day to day.
🏆 Gewinner: PureVPN
A full vpn service with dedicated P2P and streaming servers. Connect ten devices at once. KPMG audits the no-logs claim.
PureVPN-Preise
Here is PureVPN pricing as listed on our data sheet.
| Planen | Preis | Am besten geeignet für |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | 2,15 $ pro Monat | One person who wants a cheap vpn connection |
| Plus | 3,15 $ pro Monat | Households adding a password manager and extras |
| Max | 3,55 $ pro Monat | Anyone who wants every add-on included |
Pricing verified September 2026.
Kostenlose Testversion: A seven-day trial costs $0.99. There is no fully free tier.
Geld-zurück-Garantie: 31 days. That 31-day money back guarantee covers all plans.
📌 Notiz: PureVPN accepts payments by credit card, PayPal and Bitcoin. Some landing pages hide the Kryptowährungen option. Add-ons cost extra. A dedicated IP is $2.49 per month. Port forwarding is $1.49 per month.
⚠️ Pricing conflict flagged: Our sourced research lists PureVPN at $10.95 monthly, $44.95 for year one, and $54.95 for two years, renewing higher. Our data sheet lists Standard, Plus and Max at the rates above. The table follows the data sheet. Check the checkout page before you purchase PureVPN.
Wichtigste Vorteile von PureVPN
- Protokollierungsfreie Richtlinie: KPMG and Altius IT verified the claim. An always-on audit lets KPMG run surprise checks.
- Internet kill switch: PureVPN’s kill switch cuts internet traffic if the tunnel drops, so your real ip address never leaks.
- Split-Tunneling: Pick which apps use the vpn traffic and which use your normal internet connection.
- P2P and dedicated IPs: Dedicated P2P servers exist in several countries. Dedicated IPs are a paid add-on.
- Ten devices at once: One purevpn subscription covers ten simultaneous connections across desktop apps and mobile apps.
- Quantum-resistant servers: Some servers use keys built from a verifiable quantum process.
- Transparency report: PureVPN claims full disclosure and publishes how many government information requests it receives.
What Our Team Noticed
Our writer tested PureVPN across Windows and Android for several days on a paid account. Here is what stood out.
PureVPN: Vorteile und Nachteile
✅ Vorteile
- KPMG and Altius IT have audited the no-logs policy
- Ten simultaneous connections on one account
- Split tunneling, port forwarding and dedicated IPs are available
- Streams Netflix across multiple countries without issues
- 31-day money back guarantee and 24/7 live chat support
❌ Nachteile
- Auf entfernten Servern können die Geschwindigkeiten stark einbrechen.
- The interface pushes upsell ads for paid add-ons
- The Windows app is criticised for being clunky and can crash
- Discounted rates rise at renewal
Was ist McAfee VPN?
McAfee Safe Connect VPN launched in 2019 as part of a security suite.
You get antivirus, identity protection and a vpn connection in one app.
It runs roughly 2,000 servers across about 47 countries.
The tunnel uses the Catapult Hydra protocol, the same one Hotspot Shield Verwendungszwecke.
McAfee is based in the United States, inside the Five Eyes alliance.
Unlike standalone vpn services, it is sold as online security rather than online privacy.
That jurisdiction shapes how it responds to data disclosure requests.
Our full mcafee vpn review covers the setup and the app screens in detail.
McAfee VPN
Antivirus, password manager and vpn in one subscription. It turns on by itself on public Wi-Fi. Best as a bundle, not a standalone vpn.
McAfee VPN-Preise
McAfee sells the vpn inside its bundles rather than on its own.
| Planen | Preis | Am besten geeignet für |
|---|---|---|
| Essentiell | 39,99 €/Jahr | Basic online security for up to five devices |
| Fortgeschrittene Person | 89,99 $/Jahr | One person who wants identity theft cover |
| Erweiterte Familie | 119,99 $/Jahr | Families needing separate member accounts |
Pricing verified September 2026.
Kostenlose Testversion: Seven days. A limited free vpn tier caps you at 500MB per month.
Geld-zurück-Garantie: 30 days. Contact McAfee before the deadline for a refund.
📌 Notiz: Unlimited bandwidth is normally tied to auto-renewal. If you switch renewal off, the data cap can come back.
⚠️ Pricing conflict flagged: Our sourced research lists a $7.99 monthly option and a $19.99 first-year plan renewing at $47.99. Our data sheet lists the three annual plans above. The table follows the data sheet. Renewal on any annual plan is higher than year one.
Wichtigste Vorteile von McAfee VPN
- Automatic Wi-Fi cover: The vpn switches on by itself on unsecured public networks. That blocks man-in-the-middle attacks on banking details.
- AES-256 encryption: Standard encryption scrambles your data in transit across any connection.
- One bundle, many tools: Antivirus, identity protection, credit monitoring and a password manager sit in the same app.
- No ISP throttling: Encrypted traffic makes it harder for your mobile carrier to spot heavy downloads.
- Hidden ip addresses: Masking your ip address limits what third party advertisers can tie to your browsing history.
- Simple by design: The interface is user friendly with one big connect button and DNS leak protection on by default.
- Split tunneling on Android: Android users can send only chosen apps through the tunnel. iOS users do not get this.
What Our Team Noticed
Our writer paid for the suite and ran it for 60 days. Testing covered Windows, iOS and Android.
Speeds held up nearby at 97Mbps, and never fell below 75Mbps abroad. Netflix blocked every server we tried. The Windows app crashed twice.
McAfee VPN: Vor- und Nachteile
✅ Vorteile
- Fast nearby speeds thanks to Catapult Hydra
- Antivirus, VPN and identity protection in one price
- Turns itself on when you join public Wi-Fi
- Simple enough for non-technical family members
❌ Nachteile
- Logs your ip address and the sites you visit
- No kill switch on iOS or Android, and no multi hop
- Fails to unblock Netflix, Hulu and similar streaming services
- No macOS app and no support for Linux
Funktionsvergleich
Here are ten areas where these two products actually diverge. The table gives you the shape of it, then each section explains why the difference matters.
| Besonderheit | PureVPN | McAfee VPN |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | 2,15 $ pro Monat | 39,99 €/Jahr |
| Server | Mehr als 6.500 in mehr als 140 Ländern | ~2.000 in 47 Ländern |
| Kill switch on all platforms | ✅ | ❌ |
| Split-Tunnelbau | ✅ | ✅ Nur für Android |
| Portweiterleitung | ✅ Kostenpflichtiges Add-on | ❌ |
| Dedizierte IP-Adresse | ✅ Kostenpflichtiges Add-on | ❌ |
| Unblocks Netflix | ✅ | ❌ |
| P2P / torrenting | ✅ | ❌ |
| macOS app | ✅ | ❌ |
| Independent no-logs audit | ✅ KPMG | ❌ |
| Simultaneous connections | 10 | 5 |
| Am besten geeignet für | Streaming und Datenschutz | Bundled antivirus users |
1. Server Network & Server Locations
PureVPN: Over 6,500 purevpn servers sit in more than 140 countries. The server list covers hard-to-reach spots like Hong Kong using virtual locations. That breadth matters if you need a specific server location for work or study.
McAfee VPN: Roughly 2,000 servers across about 47 countries. Published figures vary between 23, 40+ and 47 countries depending on the source. It covers the major regions and little else.
2. Speed Tests & Download Speeds
PureVPN: Speed tests show it is fast on WireGuard, holding around 67% of base internet speeds on average. Nearby results were strong, with download speeds off by 7.61% and upload off 3.51%. Distant servers are where it wobbles.
McAfee VPN: A nearby speed test recorded 97Mbps, and international runs never fell under 75Mbps. Catapult Hydra is genuinely quick. Latency is the problem, with reported spikes of 600% on Windows.
⚠️ Warnung: Neither is a gaming pick. PureVPN raised latency by 18.2% in one test and much more on far servers. McAfee’s ping made competitive play unrealistic.
3. Streaming Services & Unblocking Netflix
PureVPN: It streams Netflix across multiple countries and reaches Hulu, BBC iPlayer and Amazon Prime Video. Some users could not open the French or German Netflix libraries. A dedicated Apple TV app helps on the big screen, and Android TV is covered too.
McAfee VPN: This is where the vpn fails. In our 60-day test it would not open Netflix or Hulu on any server. There is no smart DNS to fall back on for streaming sites.
4. Kill Switch & Internet Traffic Control
PureVPN: The internet kill switch stops all internet traffic the moment the tunnel fails. It ships on every desktop and mobile build, not just Windows.
McAfee VPN: The kill switch exists on Windows only. iOS and Android builds go without, which is a big deal if you rely on phones. Advanced security features like multi hop are missing entirely. The antivirus side is far stronger than the tunnel side.
5. DNS Leak Protection & IP Leaks
PureVPN: DNS leak protection keeps your dns queries inside the tunnel. Without it, your provider still sees every lookup even while connected.
Leak prevention goes a step further and guards the address itself.
McAfee VPN: It offers DNS leak protection and gives you a fresh dynamic address on each connect, so you rarely reuse the same ip address. Without a kill switch on mobile, dns leaks can still slip out during a drop.
6. Split Tunneling, Port Forwarding & Dedicated IPs
PureVPN: Split tunneling lets you route your bank app outside the tunnel while torrents stay inside. Port forwarding costs $1.49 per month and dedicated IPs cost $2.49 per month. Dedicated P2P servers exist in several countries.
McAfee VPN: Split tunneling is Android only. There is no port forwarding and no dedicated ip option. P2P traffic is not supported, so torrenting is off the table.
7. Apps, Browser Extensions & Device Support
PureVPN: Desktop apps and mobile apps share one layout, so switching devices is painless. PureVPN’s Android app is the most feature-rich of the set. PureVPN’s Windows app draws the most complaints for being clunky. Browser extensions cover Chrome, and ten simultaneous connections come standard.
McAfee VPN: Device support is the weak spot. There is no macOS app and no Linux client, so you are limited to Windows, iOS and Android. The vpn supports five simultaneous connections on Essential.
8. Privacy, Logging & Data Brokers
PureVPN: It handed logs to the FBI in 2017, then rebuilt its policy around that failure. KPMG and Altius IT have since audited the no-logs claim, and an always-on audit permits surprise checks.
McAfee VPN: Safe Connect logs identifiable information including your address and the sites you visit. That data is kept indefinitely and held 30 days past account deletion. The policy says it will hand information to any legal authority on request.
⚠️ Warnung: McAfee claims a no-logs stance, but the published policy is shared with the wider antivirus product and never names the vpn separately. Read it before you trust McAfee Safe Connect with sensitive online activities.
9. Identity Protection & Password Manager
PureVPN: Higher tiers add dark web monitoring for leaked credentials.
A password manager comes with the Plus and Max plans.
McAfee VPN: This is McAfee’s home ground. The bundle includes a password manager, identity monitoring and up to $1 million of theft coverage on Advanced plans.
Monitoring watches the dark web for your details and alerts you on a breach.
Advanced tiers add restoration help if someone does steal your identity.
10. Preisgestaltung & Kosten
| Stufe | PureVPN | McAfee VPN |
|---|---|---|
| Eintrag | Standard — $2.15/per month | Essential — $39.99/yr |
| Mitte | Plus — $3.15/per month | Advanced Individual — $89.99/yr |
| Spitze | Max — $3.55/per month | Advanced Family — $119.99/yr |
| Refund window | 31 Tage | 30 Tage |
PureVPN: The cheap headline rate needs a long commitment, and renewal costs more than year one. A seven-day trial for $0.99 lets you test PureVPN before you commit.
McAfee VPN: You are buying a security suite, not a vpn. Judged that way $39.99 for antivirus, identity protection and a tunnel is fair. Judged as a standalone annual plan, it is poor value.
Verschiedene Szenarien
| Falls Sie Folgendes benötigen: | Wählen | Warum |
|---|---|---|
| Netflix and BBC iPlayer | PureVPN | McAfee unblocks nothing |
| Antivirus in the same price | McAfee VPN | Full suite included |
| Torrenting | PureVPN | Dedizierte P2P-Server |
| A Mac or Linux machine | PureVPN | No macOS app on McAfee |
| Geprüfte Privatsphäre | PureVPN | KPMG bestätigte Protokollfreiheit |
| One-tap simplicity | McAfee VPN | Fewer settings to touch |
💰 Ihr Budget
PureVPN is cheaper per month, but only on long terms. McAfee costs more up front and replaces two subscriptions at once.
🔌 Ihre Geräte
Mac and Linux owners can stop reading about McAfee here. PureVPN also covers Apple TV and Android TV, which matters for living-room viewing.
🔒 Your Privacy Bar
If you want a quality vpn with an audited policy, PureVPN clears that bar and McAfee does not. For light cover on café Wi-Fi, either protects your online activity well enough.
🎓 Dein Erfahrungslevel
PureVPN exposes vpn protocols like OpenVPN UDP and WireGuard, plus a busy settings panel. Most vpn companies hide these. McAfee gives you a button, and that is deliberate.
🆓 Kostenlose Testversionen und Demos
PureVPN charges $0.99 for seven days. McAfee gives seven free days plus a 500MB monthly tier, which beats most free vpns for occasional use.
🛟 Supportoptionen
PureVPN runs 24/7 live chat support and you can file a support ticket inside the app. Its customer support draws mixed reviews on refunds specifically.
Umstellungsleitfaden
Already paying for one of them? Here is what changes.
🔄 Wechsel von PureVPN zu McAfee VPN?
✅ Was Sie davon haben:
- Antivirus and scam detection on the same subscription
- Identity monitoring and credit alerts
- A simpler app with almost nothing to configure
❌ Was Sie verlieren werden:
- Streaming access, P2P support and port forwarding
- Five device slots and your macOS client
- An audited no-logs policy
📋 So wechseln Sie:
- Claim your refund inside the 31-day window before cancelling
- Turn off auto-renew, then uninstall the desktop apps
- Install the McAfee suite and let the vpn auto-connect on Wi-Fi
🔄 Wechsel von McAfee VPN zu PureVPN?
✅ Was Sie davon haben:
- Working access to Netflix, Hulu and other streaming sites
- A kill switch on every platform, not just Windows
- Ten device slots and 140+ countries of server locations
❌ Was Sie verlieren werden:
- Antivirus, credit monitoring and identity theft cover
- Automatic connection when you join public Wi-Fi
- A one-button app with no protocol menus
📋 So wechseln Sie:
- Contact McAfee support inside the 30-day refund window
- Keep the antivirus if you want it and cancel only the bundle you replace
- Sign up, install, then turn on the kill switch and pick a vpn protocol
What Our Review Didn’t Cover
We looked at personal use, not Geschäft deployments. PureVPN’s Geschäft tier at $8.45 per person per month was outside our scope, and so were McAfee’s enterprise licences. We did not test router setups, obfuscated servers, or long-term reliability past our review windows. If you run a team, your priorities will differ from what is above.
Endgültiges Urteil
| Kategorie | Gewinner |
|---|---|
| 💰 Preisgestaltung | PureVPN |
| 🌐 Server network | PureVPN |
| ⚡ Geschwindigkeit | McAfee VPN |
| 📺 Streaming | PureVPN |
| 🔐 Privacy and logging | PureVPN |
| 👶 Ease of use | McAfee VPN |
| 🧰 Bundled extras | McAfee VPN |
| 💻 Device support | PureVPN |
| 🏆 Gesamtsieger | PureVPN |
🏆 WINNER: PUREVPN
PureVPN wins 5 of 8 categories.
Ideal für: Streaming, torrenting, multi-device households, audited privacy
These are not really competing products. PureVPN sells a tunnel and everything around it. McAfee sells device security and includes a tunnel because customers expect one.
McAfee is a reasonable pick if you already want its antivirus. The vpn then costs you nothing extra and covers public Wi-Fi well. Just do not expect it to unblock anything or hide much.
If the tunnel itself is the point, we recommend PureVPN. It has the servers, the streaming access, and the kill switch on every platform. That audit trail is what makes PureVPN safe enough for vpn users who care about more than public Wi-Fi.
Weitere PureVPN-Vergleiche
Weighing other vpn providers? Here is where PureVPN lands against each. Our PureVPN-Alternativen guide covers the rest.
PureVPN vs. NordVPN
PureVPN punktet in folgenden Kategorien: lower entry price, ten device slots versus fewer, wider country count at 140+
NordVPN punktet in folgenden Bereichen: faster long-distance servers, multi hop routing, a longer clean audit history
PureVPN vs. ExpressVPN
PureVPN punktet in folgenden Kategorien: far cheaper long plans, port forwarding as an add-on, more simultaneous connections
ExpressVPN punktet in folgenden Kategorien: steadier speeds abroad, a slicker router build, fewer streaming blocks
PureVPN vs. Surfshark
PureVPN punktet in folgenden Kategorien: longer track record since 2007, quantum-resistant servers, always-on surprise audits
Surfshark gewinnt in: unlimited devices, cleaner apps without upsell banners, stronger raw throughput
PureVPN vs Privater Internetzugang
PureVPN punktet in folgenden Kategorien: broader server locations, an Apple TV app, easier setup for beginners
Private Internet Access gewinnt in folgenden Kategorien: open-source clients, unlimited devices, court-proven no-logs record
Weitere McAfee VPN-Vergleiche
Most people comparing McAfee are really deciding between a suite and a dedicated tool. PureVPN works better as the second; McAfee only works as the first.
McAfee VPN vs. NordVPN
McAfee VPN punktet in folgenden Bereichen: antivirus in the box, credit monitoring, automatic Wi-Fi triggering
NordVPN punktet in folgenden Bereichen: verified no-logs, working streaming access, kill switch on every platform
McAfee VPN vs. Surfshark
McAfee VPN punktet in folgenden Bereichen: identity theft cover, password manager included, one app for the whole family
Surfshark gewinnt in: unlimited connections, macOS and Linux clients, reliable geo-unblocking
McAfee VPN vs ProtonVPN
McAfee VPN punktet in folgenden Bereichen: bundled malware scanning, simpler onboarding, family account structure
ProtonVPN punktet bei: Swiss jurisdiction outside Five Eyes, a real free tier, open-source audited apps
McAfee VPN punktet in folgenden Bereichen: device-level malware defence, identity alerts, no separate antivirus bill
CyberGhost gewinnt in: streaming-optimised servers, torrent support, far more server locations
Häufig gestellte Fragen
Wie vertrauenswürdig ist PureVPN?
KPMG and Altius IT have audited the no-logs policy, and surprise audits are allowed. The 2017 FBI incident still shapes its reputation, so judge it on the audits.
Ist PureVPN gut zum Streamen geeignet?
Yes. It opens Netflix in several regions plus Hulu, BBC iPlayer and Amazon Prime Video. A few libraries, including French and German Netflix, have failed for some users.
Ist McAfee VPN eine gute Idee?
It is worth having if you already buy the antivirus suite. As a standalone purchase it offers the bare minimum, with logging and no streaming access.
Blockiert Netflix McAfee VPN?
Yes. Across 60 days of testing, every server we tried was blocked. There is no smart DNS fallback, so streaming is not a realistic use case here.
Welche Nachteile hat McAfee VPN?
It logs your address and browsing, has no macOS client, lacks a kill switch on phones, blocks P2P, and sits under US jurisdiction.
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