⚡ Quick Verdict:
- Pricing: PureVPN starts at $2.15/month. AuraVPN starts at $10/month for the Kids plan.
- Best for: PureVPN for a real virtual private network. AuraVPN for identity theft protection with a VPN attached.
- Key difference: PureVPN runs 6,500+ VPN servers you can pick from. Aura’s VPN assigns your server location automatically.
- Our pick: PureVPN for most people who want a VPN service, based on server count, protocol choice, and price.
These two products are not really competitors.
PureVPN is a virtual private network built for privacy.
AuraVPN is identity theft protection with a VPN bolted on.
Both hide your IP address on public Wi-Fi.
Only one of them lets you choose a server.
Overview
This PureVPN vs AuraVPN comparison covers pricing, security features, and daily use.
Our sources include published specs, documentation, and public user reviews.
Our writers also spent hands-on time with both apps.
Those notes sit in the “What Our Team Noticed” sections below.
By the end you will know which one fits your needs.
What is PureVPN?
PureVPN is a VPN service that launched back in 2007.
That makes it one of the older VPN providers still running.
It encrypts your internet traffic and hides your real IP address.
The company moved its base from Hong Kong to the British Virgin Islands.
That region has privacy-friendly data retention laws.
PureVPN offers 6,500+ servers across more than 140 countries.
One account covers ten simultaneous connections.
Here is a closer look at how the apps behave day to day.
🏆 Winner: PureVPN
A full VPN with 6,500+ servers in 140+ countries. KPMG has audited the no-logs policy twice. Ten devices on one subscription.
PureVPN Pricing
PureVPN pricing runs on three tiers.
| Plan | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | $2.15/per month | Basic privacy on a budget |
| Plus | $3.15/per month | Adding password manager tools |
| Max | $3.55/per month | Full suite with data broker removal |
Pricing verified September 2026.
Free trial: No open free tier. You can test PureVPN through a paid seven-day trial priced at $0.99.
Money back guarantee: 31 days on paid plans. That is a longer day money back guarantee than most rivals give.
📌 Note: Two extras cost more. A dedicated IP runs about $2.49 per month, and port forwarding runs about $1.49 per month. PureVPN accepts payments by credit card, PayPal, and Bitcoin, though some landing pages hide the crypto option.
⚠️ Pricing conflict flagged: Our CSV lists $2.15, $3.15, and $3.55 per month. PureVPN’s public pages show much higher rolling monthly rates, near $10.95 for Standard and $12.95 month-to-month. The low figures apply to long multi-year terms, and renewal rates climb after the first term. We use the CSV figures throughout this article. Check the checkout page before you purchase PureVPN.
Key Benefits of PureVPN
Here is what makes PureVPN worth a look:
- Audited No-Logs Policy: KPMG and Altius IT have both checked the no-logs claims. An Always-On Audit lets KPMG run surprise checks.
- Large Server List: More than 6,500 PureVPN servers sit in over 140 countries. The mix includes physical servers and virtual servers.
- Internet Kill Switch: PureVPN’s kill switch cuts your internet access the moment the VPN connection drops. That stops IP leaks.
- Split Tunneling: Pick which apps route through the VPN tunnel and which use your normal internet connection.
- DNS Leak Protection: Your DNS queries stay inside the encrypted tunnel instead of leaking to your provider.
- Quantum-Resistant Servers: Some PureVPN servers use encryption keys generated through a verifiable quantum process.
- P2P and Add-Ons: Dedicated P2P servers run in several countries. Dedicated IPs and port forwarding are sold as an add on.
What Our Team Noticed
Our writer bought a PureVPN subscription and used it for a week of ordinary browsing. Here is what stood out from that hands-on time:
PureVPN Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- 6,500+ servers across more than 140 countries
- No-logs policy audited by KPMG and Altius IT
- Kill switch, split tunneling, and DNS leak protection included
- Ten simultaneous connections on one account
- 31-day refund window and 24/7 live chat support
❌ Cons
- Speeds swing widely on distant servers
- Interface pushes upsell ads for paid extras
- The Windows app is criticised as clunky and can crash
- Renewal prices jump sharply after the first term
What is AuraVPN?
AuraVPN is the VPN inside Aura’s identity theft protection service.
You cannot buy it on its own.
The subscription bundles identity protection, antivirus software, and a password manager.
Aura’s VPN gives you 100+ virtual locations for safe browsing.
It also blocks known malicious sites and phishing pages.
Aura helps guard your online accounts and bank accounts from identity thieves.
The platform scans data broker sites and pulls your personal information down.
The walkthrough below shows how the dashboard is laid out.
AuraVPN
One subscription covers VPN, antivirus, and credit monitoring. Every adult member gets $1M identity theft insurance. All aura plans share the same core features.
AuraVPN Pricing
Aura offers four plans based on how many people you cover.
| Plan | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Kids | $10/month | Parental controls and child safety |
| Individual | $12/month | One adult wanting full protection |
| Couple | $22/month | Two adults on one subscription |
| Family | $32/month | Up to five adults plus children |
Pricing verified September 2026.
Free trial: Yes. A 14-day free trial lets you test Aura and cancel without a charge.
Money back guarantee: 60 days on annual plans.
📌 Note: There is no tiered feature ladder here. Every plan ships the same core features, and only the headcount changes. Family plans stretch to five adults and unlimited children, with up to 50 devices in total.
⚠️ Pricing conflict flagged: Our CSV lists $10, $12, $22, and $32 per month. Public sources list higher month-to-month rates near $15 Individual, $29 Couple, and $50 Family. The lower numbers reflect annual billing. We use the CSV figures throughout. Introductory rates also rise at renewal, so read the renewal terms first.
Key Benefits of AuraVPN
Here is what makes Aura worth a look:
- Identity Theft Insurance: Each adult member gets up to $1M for eligible losses and legal fees.
- Credit Monitoring: Aura watches your credit reports and flags credit fraud up to 250 times faster than rivals. It tracks your annual credit report and most credit inquiries.
- Credit Lock: Lock your Experian credit file instantly to block new credit inquiries against that Experian file.
- Financial Fraud Alerts: Aura checks financial accounts for odd financial transactions. It adds investment account monitoring and home title monitoring.
- Dark Web and Broker Scans: Aura sweeps the dark web and data brokers for your details, plus address monitoring and spam list removal.
- Aura Antivirus: Real time malware protection scored 98% to 100% in independent tests. Real time protection runs quietly on your operating system.
- Parental Controls: The family plan adds screen time limits, safe gaming, and filters for dangerous sites.
- Password Manager and Vault: Aura’s password manager warns you when saved logins turn up in data breaches. A digital vault holds sensitive information.
What Our Team Noticed
Our writer ran Aura on a Windows laptop and an Android phone for several days. Here is what stood out:
AuraVPN Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- VPN, antivirus, and identity protection in one subscription
- $1M identity theft insurance per adult member
- 60-day refund window plus a 14-day free trial
- Parental controls and unique features for families
❌ Cons
- No kill switch on the VPN
- You cannot pick a server location
- Not built for streaming or torrenting
- No support for China or parts of the Middle East
Feature Comparison
These two products overlap in one place only: the VPN tunnel. Everything else pulls in opposite directions. Here are ten areas that decide the match.
| Feature | PureVPN | AuraVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $2.15/per month | $10/month |
| Server Network | 6,500+ in 140+ countries | 100+ virtual locations |
| Choose Your Server | ✅ | ❌ |
| Kill Switch | ✅ | ❌ |
| Split Tunneling | ✅ | ✅ |
| Streaming & Torrenting | ✅ | ❌ |
| Identity Theft Protection | ❌ | ✅ |
| Credit Monitoring | ❌ | ✅ (3-bureau) |
| Antivirus Software | ❌ | ✅ |
| Best For | Privacy and streaming | Identity theft protection |
1. Server Network, Virtual Locations and Streaming
PureVPN: The server list covers 6,500+ machines in 140+ countries, mixing physical servers with virtual servers. You pick from the full list of server locations by hand, including dedicated P2P nodes. A dedicated IP is sold as an extra if you want the same IP address every session. Reports show PureVPN unblocking Netflix across several libraries, plus Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime Video, though unblocking Netflix can fail on the French and German catalogues. A dedicated Apple TV app helps on the big screen.
AuraVPN: Aura’s VPN offers 100+ virtual locations for reaching global content safely. You cannot choose a server location at all. The app decides for you. Aura is described as a decent all-rounder rather than a tool for streaming sites or torrenting, and it is not supported in China or parts of the Middle East.
⚠️ Warning: PureVPN speed tests are inconsistent. Published results range from a 7.61% drop in download speeds and 3.51% on upload, all the way to 99% losses on far-flung routes. WireGuard held roughly 67% of base internet speeds on average. Upload fell 11% on Windows and 48% on Mac. Latency rose 18.2%, which rules out competitive gaming.
2. Kill Switch and IP Leak Prevention
PureVPN: The internet kill switch stops all traffic if the VPN connection drops. That keeps your real IP addresses hidden during a reconnect. Split tunneling lets you route only chosen apps through the VPN.
AuraVPN: There is no kill switch. If the tunnel fails, your VPN traffic falls back to the open connection without warning. Aura allows P2P but does not recommend torrenting for exactly this reason. Split tunneling is available.
3. DNS Leak Protection and Antivirus
PureVPN: DNS leak protection keeps DNS queries inside the tunnel, so a leak test comes back clean. The VPN supports OpenVPN and IKEv2 among its VPN protocols, and OpenVPN UDP is the faster of the two OpenVPN modes. There is no bundled antivirus.
AuraVPN: Aura antivirus brings real time malware protection with detection between 98% and 100%, catching most malware in testing. It runs on Windows, Mac, and Android. It has no firewall, no Wi-Fi network protection, no scan scheduling, and no scan logs. Aura also blocks malicious websites before they load.
4. Dark Web Monitoring and Identity Theft Protection
PureVPN: Dark web monitoring ships on the higher plans. It watches for your details in leaked databases. There is no insurance, no restoration desk, and no credit product behind it.
AuraVPN: This is Aura’s whole reason to exist. Identity theft protection services check your personal information against billions of data points. Aura’s identity theft protections are reactive, meaning alerts arrive after a hit is detected. U.S. fraud specialists handle the cleanup.
5. Credit Monitoring and Credit Lock
PureVPN: No credit monitoring of any kind. A VPN provider has no view into credit scoring systems or your credit file.
AuraVPN: Aura tracks credit reports and alerts you to credit fraud far faster than the industry average. One click locks your Experian credit file. Every plan gets the same score of coverage here, so a cheaper tier is not a weaker one.
6. Identity Theft Insurance and Financial Fraud
PureVPN: No identity theft insurance and no financial cover. PureVPN’s transparency report does list how many government requests it receives, which is a different kind of trust signal.
AuraVPN: Every adult gets $1M in insurance for eligible losses and legal fees. Aura watches bank accounts and other financial accounts for suspicious financial transactions, and adds investment account monitoring plus home title monitoring.
7. Data Broker Removal and Spam Protection
PureVPN: The Max plan includes a data brokers removal tool that files opt-out requests on your behalf. It is a bonus feature, not the main product.
AuraVPN: Removal from data broker sites is deeper here, paired with address monitoring and spam list removal. Spam call and message filtering cuts the follow-up noise for added protection. Aura alerts you when your details show up in new data breaches.
8. Password Manager and Digital Vault
PureVPN: A password manager comes with the Plus and Max tiers. It stores logins and syncs them across devices. Coverage is basic next to a standalone vault.
AuraVPN: Aura’s password manager builds strong logins and reaches across apps. It warns you when a saved password appears in a breach. The linked vault protects sensitive information and files, and it ties into the wider identity protection dashboard.
9. Apps, Browser Extensions and Customer Support
PureVPN: Desktop apps and mobile apps share one layout, so switching devices is painless. PureVPN’s Android app is the richest of the set, while PureVPN’s Windows app draws complaints for being clunky and crash-prone. Browser extensions cover Chrome and Firefox, and there are builds for Android TV and Apple TV. Live chat runs 24/7, and you can file a support ticket from inside the app. Refund handling gets mixed reviews.
AuraVPN: The Android app and iOS apps sit alongside Mac and Windows builds. There is no Linux client and no TV app. Individual plans cover ten devices, and family plans reach 50 across five adults. Customer support runs 24/7 with U.S. fraud specialists, though billing disputes are a common complaint.
10. Pricing & Cost
Here are the plans side by side, using the figures from our data sheet.
| Tier | PureVPN | AuraVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Entry | Standard — $2.15/per month | Kids — $10/month |
| Mid | Plus — $3.15/per month | Individual — $12/month |
| Top | Max — $3.55/per month | Couple — $22/month |
| Multi-user | ❌ | Family — $32/month |
PureVPN: Even the top Max tier costs less than Aura’s cheapest plan. For VPN users who only want encrypted traffic and a wide server choice, that is hard to argue with. A business tier runs about $8.45 per person per month for teams.
AuraVPN: Aura costs more because you are buying four products at once. Priced separately, credit monitoring, antivirus software, a password manager, and a VPN would run higher, so a bundle can save money. If you only want a VPN, you are paying for shelf space you will never use.
Different Scenarios
| If You Need… | Choose | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A real VPN for privacy | PureVPN | 6,500+ servers, manual selection |
| Identity theft protection | AuraVPN | $1M insurance, credit monitoring |
| Streaming and torrenting | PureVPN | Unblocks Netflix and BBC iPlayer |
| Antivirus in the same bill | AuraVPN | 98-100% detection scores |
| The lowest monthly cost | PureVPN | Starts at $2.15/per month |
| Cover for a whole household | AuraVPN | Five adults, unlimited children |
| Torrent safety | PureVPN | Kill switch stops IP leaks |
💰 Your Budget
PureVPN is cheaper than the vast majority of paid VPN companies. Aura only makes financial sense if you would otherwise buy identity protection services separately.
🔌 Your Tech Stack
PureVPN reaches Android TV, Apple TV, routers, and browsers. Aura sticks to Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices with no TV or Linux client.
🛡️ Your Threat Model
Worried about your ISP or a café network? A quality VPN like PureVPN covers that. Worried about someone opening a loan in your name? Aura is built for it.
📺 Your Streaming Habits
Does PureVPN work with a blocked streaming service? Usually, though results shift by server and protocol. Aura’s VPN is not designed for this job.
🆓 Free Trials and Demos
PureVPN charges $0.99 for a seven-day trial and refunds within 31 days. Aura gives a 14-day free trial and 60 days to change your mind.
🛟 Support Options
Both run 24/7 live chat. Is PureVPN safe to contact about refunds? Reviews are mixed, and Aura draws similar billing complaints.
Switching Guide
Already paying for one of these? Here is what changes.
🔄 Switching from PureVPN to AuraVPN?
✅ What you’ll gain:
- $1M identity theft insurance for every adult on the plan
- Three-bureau credit monitoring and instant credit lock
- Bundled antivirus with real time protection
❌ What you’ll lose:
- 6,500+ servers and the ability to pick one
- The kill switch and dedicated P2P nodes
- Streaming access and a very low monthly price
📋 How to switch:
- Cancel inside your PureVPN account before the renewal date
- Start Aura’s 14-day free trial and finish identity verification
- Get Aura installed on every device and link your accounts
🔄 Switching from AuraVPN to PureVPN?
✅ What you’ll gain:
- Manual server choice across 140+ countries
- A kill switch, split tunneling, and protection from DNS leaks
- A much smaller monthly bill
❌ What you’ll lose:
- Identity theft insurance and fraud specialists
- Credit monitoring and financial alerts
- Antivirus, parental controls, and other features in the bundle
📋 How to switch:
- Request a refund inside Aura’s 60-day window
- Buy a PureVPN plan and download the app for your platform
- Turn on the kill switch, then run a leak test before browsing
What Our Review Didn’t Cover
We looked at individuals and small households. We did not test router-level setups, business deployments, or Aura’s claims process after a real identity theft event. Our speed figures come from published test data, not our own lab. If you live outside the U.S., Aura’s credit features may not apply to you at all.
Final Verdict
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| 💰 Pricing | PureVPN |
| 🌐 Server Network | PureVPN |
| 🔒 VPN Security Features | PureVPN |
| 📺 Streaming & Torrenting | PureVPN |
| 🆔 Identity Protection | AuraVPN |
| 💳 Credit Monitoring | AuraVPN |
| 👨👩👧 Family Coverage | AuraVPN |
| 🏆 Overall Winner | PureVPN |
🏆 WINNER: PUREVPN
PureVPN wins 4 out of 7 categories.
Best for: Everyday privacy, streaming, torrenting, and tight budgets.
This verdict comes with a caveat. PureVPN wins because the question was framed as a VPN comparison. Judged against dedicated VPN services, Aura’s VPN is the weakest part of an otherwise strong product.
If you searched for Pure VPN because you want encrypted browsing on café Wi-Fi, PureVPN is the cheaper and more capable pick. We recommend PureVPN for that job, with one caution: check the renewal price before your term ends.
If your actual worry is someone using your Social Security number, no VPN fixes that. Aura is worth the higher bill in that case, and the $1M policy is the reason.
More of PureVPN Compared
Here is how PureVPN lines up against other VPN providers:
PureVPN vs NordVPN
PureVPN wins on: Lower entry price, 140+ country coverage, longer 31-day refund window
NordVPN wins on: Higher sustained download speeds, steadier streaming results, cleaner app with no upsell banners
PureVPN wins on: Broader country list, quantum-resistant server option, Always-On Audit by KPMG
SurfsharkVPN wins on: Unlimited device connections, more consistent speeds on far servers, built-in ad blocking
PureVPN vs Private Internet Access
PureVPN wins on: Wider country footprint, bundled password manager on higher tiers, dedicated Apple TV app
Private Internet Access wins on: Open-source clients, deeper manual configuration, court-tested no-logs record
PureVPN vs CyberGhost
PureVPN wins on: Cheaper top tier, quantum-resistant servers, add-on dedicated IPs and port forwarding
CyberGhost wins on: Streaming servers labelled by platform, 45-day refund window, larger raw server count
Our full list of PureVPN alternatives goes deeper on each of these.
More of AuraVPN Compared
Here is how Aura lines up against other identity protection services:
AuraVPN vs Identity Guard
AuraVPN wins on: Bundled VPN and antivirus, parental controls, 60-day refund window
Identity Guard wins on: Cheaper entry tier, simpler alert dashboard, longer track record in credit alerts
AuraVPN vs NordVPN
AuraVPN wins on: Credit and financial monitoring, $1M insurance, family coverage for five adults
NordVPN wins on: Real server selection, kill switch, far better streaming and torrenting results
AuraVPN vs McAfee VPN
AuraVPN wins on: Data broker removal, three-bureau credit files, dedicated U.S. fraud specialists
McAfee VPN wins on: Lower standalone price, more mature antivirus engine with firewall, scheduled scans
Frequently Asked Questions
Is PureVPN safe to use?
Yes. KPMG and Altius IT audited the no-logs policy, and the company now sits in the British Virgin Islands. A 2017 logging incident pushed it to rewrite those privacy rules.
How much does PureVPN cost?
Plans run $2.15, $3.15, and $3.55 per month on our data sheet. Rolling month-to-month rates are far higher, near $12.95, and renewals climb after the first term.
What does Aura VPN do?
It encrypts your internet connection and blocks scam and phishing pages across 100+ virtual locations. It sits inside a wider identity theft protection service rather than shipping alone.
Is Aura a good VPN?
It works for public Wi-Fi. It has no kill switch and no server choice, so it falls short as your main privacy tool.
Which one is better for streaming?
PureVPN. It reaches Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime Video, with an Apple TV app. Aura’s VPN is not built for streaming and results are unreliable.
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