⚡ Quick Verdict:
- Pricing: PureVPN starts at $2.15/month vs StrongVPN at $3.97/month
- Best for: PureVPN for streaming sites and a long server list, StrongVPN for physical servers only
- Key difference: PureVPN’s no-logs policy is KPMG-audited. StrongVPN has no audit.
- Our pick: PureVPN for most users — more servers, lower price, verified privacy
Both of these VPN companies have been around longer than most.
StrongVPN started in 2005. PureVPN followed in 2007.
Age is the smallest difference between them.
One runs 6,500+ VPN servers across 140+ countries.
The other runs 950+ physical servers in 30.
That gap shapes almost everything below.
Overview
This PureVPN vs StrongVPN comparison covers pricing, security features, and server locations.
We also look at speed tests, streaming, and customer support.
Our writers reviewed documentation, pricing pages, and user reviews for both.
They also spent hands-on time inside each app.
Those notes sit in the “What Our Team Noticed” sections.
By the end you will know which one fits your internet connection.
What is PureVPN?
PureVPN is a virtual private network run from the British Virgin Islands.
It hides your IP address and encrypts your internet traffic.
The network spans more than 6,500 servers in over 140 countries.
That server list includes both physical servers and virtual locations.
Most people pick it for streaming, torrenting, and the extra security features.
🏆 Winner: PureVPN
A veteran VPN provider with quantum-resistant servers and a KPMG-audited no-logs policy. Ten devices on one PureVPN subscription.
PureVPN Pricing
PureVPN pricing runs on three tiers. Here is the current breakdown.
| Plan | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | $2.15/per month | Basic VPN connection on a budget |
| Plus | $3.15/per month | Streaming and everyday privacy |
| Max | $3.55/per month | Password manager and extra tools |
Pricing verified September 2026.
Free trial: A 7-day trial is available for $0.99. There is no permanently free tier.
Money-back guarantee: 31 days. That is one day longer than most rivals.
📌 Note: PureVPN accepts payments by credit card, PayPal, and Bitcoin. Some landing pages hide the crypto option. Add-ons cost extra: a dedicated IP is $2.49/month and port forwarding is $1.49/month. Dedicated IPs help if a site keeps blocking shared addresses.
⚠️ Pricing conflict flagged: Our research notes list a $10.95 Standard monthly rate, a $44.95 first-year price renewing at $54.95, and a two-year deal at $54.95 renewing at $69.95. Those figures do not match Column I. We have used the CSV figures above throughout. Renewal rates rise after the intro term either way, so check the checkout page before you purchase PureVPN.
Key Benefits of PureVPN
Here is what makes PureVPN worth a look:
- Audited Privacy: KPMG and Altius IT have both checked the no-logs claim. An Always-On Audit lets KPMG run surprise checks.
- Huge Server Network: 6,500+ VPN servers in 140+ countries. Finding a server closest to you is rarely a problem.
- Quantum-Resistant Servers: Encryption keys come from a verifiable quantum process. No other mid-priced VPN provider offers this yet.
- Ten Devices at Once: One account covers ten simultaneous connections across desktop apps and mobile apps.
- Extra Security Tools: Dark web monitoring, a password manager, and data broker removal sit inside the higher tiers.
- Transparency Report: PureVPN publishes how many government information requests it receives each year.
- P2P Servers: Dedicated torrenting servers in several countries, with port forwarding available as a paid add-on.
What Our Team Noticed
Our writer signed up and used PureVPN across a Windows laptop and an Android phone for several days. Here is what stood out from that hands-on time:
PureVPN Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- No-logs policy audited by KPMG and Altius IT
- 6,500+ servers across more than 140 countries
- Ten simultaneous connections on one account
- 31-day money back guarantee, longer than most rivals
- Dedicated P2P servers and optional port forwarding
❌ Cons
- The app pushes upsell ads for paid add-ons
- The Windows app can feel clunky and sometimes crashes
- Speeds swing hard on distant server locations
- A 2017 logging incident still shapes its reputation
What is StrongVPN?
StrongVPN is a US-based VPN company that has operated since 2005.
It routes your web traffic through an encrypted VPN tunnel.
StrongVPN’s servers number just over 950, spread across 30 countries.
Every one is a physical server, so there is no virtual location guesswork.
The trade-off is a small server network compared to the rest of the VPN industry.
Runner Up: StrongVPN
A plain, two-plan VPN service with physical servers only. Twelve devices, SmartDNS, and phone support you can actually call.
StrongVPN Pricing
StrongVPN keeps it simple. You pick monthly or annual, and that is the whole menu.
| Plan | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Plan | $3.97/month | Best value across a full year |
| Monthly Plan | $11.99/month | Short-term or one-off use |
Pricing verified September 2026.
Free trial: None. StrongVPN does not offer a free version of its VPN service.
Money-back guarantee: A 30-day money back guarantee covers the annual plan.
📌 Note: Both plans carry the same feature set — 12 devices, SmartDNS, and every VPN protocol. Payment options include credit cards, PayPal, and Alipay. Subscriptions have historically bundled 250GB of SugarSync cloud storage, and that free cloud storage perk has been phased out on newer signups.
⚠️ Pricing conflict flagged: Our research notes show a $69.99 first-year total renewing at $89.99, alongside a $10.99 monthly rate. Column I lists $3.97/month annual and $11.99/month monthly, and those CSV figures are what we use everywhere here. Expect the renewal price to climb after year one.
Key Benefits of StrongVPN
Here is where StrongVPN earns its keep:
- No Virtual Servers: Every server sits in the country it advertises. Your IP addresses always match real hardware.
- Twelve Connections: More devices StrongVPN allows at once than most VPN providers, including PureVPN’s ten.
- SmartDNS Included: Unblock geo-restricted streaming platforms without the encryption speed hit.
- Five VPN Protocols: WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, SSTP, and L2TP all ship in the app.
- P2P Everywhere: Torrenting is allowed on every server, not just a labelled subset.
- Phone Support: One of very few VPN companies with a live phone line beside chat and email.
- Manual Setup Guides: Written walkthroughs cover routers, Chrome OS, and hardware without native apps.
What Our Team Noticed
Our writer ran StrongVPN on desktop and mobile devices, poking through the settings menu and running leak tests. Here is what stood out:
StrongVPN Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Every server location is physical, never virtual
- Twelve simultaneous connections on both plans
- Phone support alongside live chat and email
- P2P transfers allowed on the whole server network
❌ Cons
- Based in the US, part of the Five Eyes alliance
- No independent audit of its no-logs claims
- Small server network with only 30 countries
- No free trial and no browser extensions
Feature Comparison
Here is the head-to-head across ten areas that actually change how a VPN feels day to day.
| Feature | PureVPN | StrongVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $2.15/per month | $3.97/month |
| Servers | 6,500+ in 140+ countries | 950+ in 30 countries |
| Simultaneous Connections | 10 | 12 |
| Independent Audit | ✅ KPMG, Altius IT | ❌ |
| Kill Switch | ✅ | ✅ |
| Split Tunneling | ✅ | ✅ (Android only) |
| Browser Extensions | ✅ Chrome | ❌ |
| Dedicated IP | ✅ $2.49/mo add-on | ❌ |
| Free Trial | ✅ 7 days for $0.99 | ❌ |
| Best For | Streaming and wide coverage | Simple, physical-only servers |
1. Server Network and Locations
PureVPN: More than 6,500 PureVPN servers sit in over 140 countries, including Hong Kong and most of Europe. The server list mixes physical servers with virtual servers, so a listed country is not always the hardware’s real home. You may also share the same IP address with other users on a busy node. For most people that only matters if you need a specific legal jurisdiction.
StrongVPN: Around 950 servers across 30 countries, and none of them are virtual locations. That honesty is the selling point, but it also means fewer server locations to pick from. If you live outside North America or Western Europe, the closest server may be a long way off.
2. Security and Encryption
PureVPN: AES-256 strong encryption protects your VPN traffic, with quantum-resistant servers as an unusual extra. Those servers generate keys through a verifiable quantum process. IP leak prevention and DNS leak protection stop your real IP address escaping the VPN tunnel.
StrongVPN: Also AES-256, paired with DNS leak protection and a kill switch. The security features are solid but plain — no dark web monitoring, no password manager, no breach alerts. What you get is a clean, encrypted VPN connection and nothing more.
3. Privacy, Logging and Jurisdiction
PureVPN: Incorporated in the British Virgin Islands, outside the Five Eyes alliance. KPMG and Altius IT have both verified the no-logs policy, and an Always-On Audit lets KPMG drop in unannounced. PureVPN also publishes a transparency report covering government data requests.
StrongVPN: Based in the United States, squarely inside Five Eyes. StrongVPN claims a strict no logging policy and says the only personal information it holds is billing details and an email address. No browsing history, no timestamps, no IP addresses — but nobody outside the company has checked.
⚠️ Warning: PureVPN handed logs to the FBI in a 2017 case and rewrote its policy afterwards. Two audits now back the current claim. StrongVPN’s strict no logging policies have never been audited at all. Both facts deserve weight before you decide.
4. Speed and VPN Protocols
PureVPN: Speed tests are all over the map. Nearby connections lost as little as 7.61% of download speeds with latency up 18.2%, and WireGuard held roughly 67% of base speed on average. Distant hops are a different story, with drops reported as steep as 99%. Upload speeds fell 11% on Windows and 48% on Mac, and ping rises enough to rule out competitive gaming.
StrongVPN: Nearby servers show only a 5-7% loss, with a wider 20% average dip depending on the route. Upload speeds are weaker, retaining about 13% of base rate under load, and average download retention lands near 31%. Latency runs higher than the fastest rivals, so gaming is not its strength either. This VPN supports WireGuard, OpenVPN UDP, IKEv2, SSTP, and L2TP.
5. Streaming and Unblocking
PureVPN: Unblocking Netflix works across multiple country libraries, and Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime Video are all reachable. A few libraries, including French and German Netflix, have failed for some users. There is an Apple TV app, and buffering depends on which server location and VPN protocol you choose.
StrongVPN: It handles the major streaming platforms with minimal buffering, and SmartDNS bypasses geo-blocks without encrypting your traffic at all. That keeps full speed for streaming sites on an Android TV box or a games console. BBC iPlayer can be stubborn and sometimes needs a browser workaround.
6. Kill Switch and Leak Protection
PureVPN: The internet kill switch cuts all internet access the moment the tunnel drops. PureVPN’s kill switch sits in the main settings menu on every platform. DNS queries stay inside the tunnel, which is what stops DNS leaks exposing your browsing activity and keeps you safe online.
StrongVPN: The kill switch does the same job and killed our connection cleanly in leak tests. DNS leak protection is on by default. There is no separate always-on audit or public report to back any of it up.
7. Split Tunneling and Routing
PureVPN: Split tunneling lets you send banking apps outside the VPN while everything else stays encrypted. It works on the Windows app and PureVPN’s Android app. Port forwarding is a $1.49 monthly add-on for torrent seeding.
StrongVPN: It does offer split tunneling, but only inside the Android app. On a Windows laptop or a Mac the option simply is not there. There is no port forwarding either.
8. Apps and Platform Support
PureVPN: Native apps cover Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS, plus browser extensions for Chrome. The Android app is the most feature-rich of the bunch, while PureVPN’s Windows app draws the most complaints for crashes. Desktop apps and mobile apps share a layout, so switching devices is painless.
StrongVPN: Native apps run on Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android devices, with the Android apps available through the Google Play Store. There is no browser extension, and no Amazon Fire TV or Chrome OS app either. Manual setup guides cover routers and anything else without native apps.
9. Extra Tools and Support
PureVPN: PureVPN features stack up well past the basics — dark web monitoring, a password manager, data broker removal, and dedicated IPs. Customer support runs 24/7 live chat, and you can raise a support ticket from inside the app. Refund requests are where reviews turn mixed.
StrongVPN: StrongVPN features stay minimal by design. Identity protection and SmartDNS are the extras, and there is no ad blocker or dedicated IP option. Support is the standout: live chat, email, and an actual phone line, which almost no other VPNs offer.
10. Pricing and Cost
Here is the money side by side, straight from each provider’s plan list.
| Plan | PureVPN | StrongVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Entry tier | Standard — $2.15/per month | Annual Plan — $3.97/month |
| Mid tier | Plus — $3.15/per month | ❌ Not available |
| Top tier | Max — $3.55/per month | Monthly Plan — $11.99/month |
| Free trial | 7 days for $0.99 | None |
| Money back guarantee | 31 days | 30 days (annual only) |
PureVPN: Every tier undercuts StrongVPN’s cheapest rate. The Max plan at $3.55 still costs less and throws in the password manager and dark web monitoring. Add-ons like dedicated IPs and port forwarding are billed separately, so the real total depends on what you switch on.
StrongVPN: A StrongVPN subscription costs more for less. There are only two prices and no add-ons to worry about, which some people genuinely prefer. A business tier does not exist here, while PureVPN sells one at $8.45 per person per month.
Different Scenarios
| If You Need… | Choose | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest price | PureVPN | $2.15 vs $3.97 monthly |
| Audited privacy | PureVPN | KPMG and Altius IT checks |
| Physical servers only | StrongVPN | No virtual locations at all |
| Most device slots | StrongVPN | 12 versus 10 connections |
| Phone support | StrongVPN | Live phone line available |
| Streaming reach | PureVPN | More servers, more libraries |
💰 Your Budget
PureVPN undercuts StrongVPN on every tier, and even its top plan costs less than StrongVPN’s entry rate. If price decides it, this is not close.
🔌 Your Devices
StrongVPN covers 12 devices to PureVPN’s 10, which matters in a busy household. But PureVPN adds a browser extension and an Apple TV app that StrongVPN lacks.
🔒 Your Privacy Bar
A no-logs claim is only as good as its audit, and only one of these has one. We strongly advise PureVPN if verified privacy is the deciding factor.
🎓 Your Experience Level
StrongVPN’s two-plan setup and quiet interface suit anyone who wants to connect and forget. PureVPN packs more in, but the upsell prompts get tiring fast.
🆓 Free Trials and Demos
You can test PureVPN for seven days at $0.99 before committing. StrongVPN has nothing equivalent, so its 30 day money back guarantee is your only safety net.
🛟 Support Options
Both run 24/7 live chat, and PureVPN lets you file a ticket in-app. StrongVPN is one of the few VPN services where you can phone a human.
Switching Guide
Already paying for one of them? Here is what changes if you move.
🔄 Switching from PureVPN to StrongVPN?
✅ What you’ll gain:
- Two extra device slots and no upsell ads in the app
- Every server physically located where it says
- A phone support line and unrestricted bandwidth usage
❌ What you’ll lose:
- Audited no-logs verification and the transparency report
- 5,500 more servers and 110 extra countries
- Password manager, dedicated IP option, and port forwarding
📋 How to switch:
- Cancel inside your PureVPN account and claim the refund if you qualify
- Sign up for StrongVPN and install it on your mobile devices
- Pick the server closest to you and switch on the kill switch
🔄 Switching from StrongVPN to PureVPN?
✅ What you’ll gain:
- Far more servers, including Hong Kong and 140+ countries
- Audited privacy plus quantum-resistant server options
- A lower price and a 31-day refund window
❌ What you’ll lose:
- Two device slots and the guarantee of physical-only servers
- Phone support and the SmartDNS streaming service
- An interface free of promotional prompts
📋 How to switch:
- Cancel StrongVPN and remove your saved payment information
- Buy a plan and download the desktop and mobile apps
- Add a dedicated IP if a site keeps blocking the same IP address
What Our Review Didn’t Cover
This comparison focused on personal and household use. We did not benchmark internet speeds on every server, test PureVPN’s business tier, or run each VPN protocol through separate speed tests. Router firmware behaviour and gaming console setups were also out of scope. If you manage a company account for dozens of vpn users, your priorities will differ from what is covered here.
Final Verdict
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| 💰 Pricing | PureVPN |
| 🚀 Server Network | PureVPN |
| ⚡ Speed | StrongVPN |
| 🔒 Privacy & Audits | PureVPN |
| 📺 Streaming | PureVPN |
| 👶 Ease of Use | StrongVPN |
| 🛟 Customer Support | StrongVPN |
| 🧰 Extra Features | PureVPN |
| 🏆 Overall Winner | PureVPN |
🏆 WINNER: PUREVPN
PureVPN wins 5 out of 8 categories.
Best for: Streaming, torrenting, wide country coverage, tight budgets
PureVPN and StrongVPN are aimed at different buyers. PureVPN offers scale — more servers, more countries, more tools, and a lower price. Two independent audits back what PureVPN claims about logging, which StrongVPN cannot match.
StrongVPN is a good VPN if you want a quiet app, physical servers, and someone to call when it breaks. Its speeds are steadier on nearby routes too. But a small server network and zero audits keep it in second place.
For most people hunting the best VPN that stays out of the way, we recommend PureVPN as the stronger of the two.
More of PureVPN Compared
If you are still weighing PureVPN alternatives, here is how it lands against three close rivals.
PureVPN vs NordVPN
PureVPN wins on: Lower entry price, coverage in 140+ countries versus roughly 110, quantum-resistant server options, cheaper dedicated IP add-on
NordVPN wins on: Faster long-distance routes, a longer audit history, Threat Protection malware blocking, more reliable Netflix library access
PureVPN vs ExpressVPN
PureVPN wins on: Roughly a quarter of the monthly cost, ten device slots against eight, built-in password manager, port forwarding available
ExpressVPN wins on: Steadier speeds worldwide, the Lightway protocol, a polished router app, a far cleaner interface with no upsells
PureVPN vs Private Internet Access
PureVPN wins on: Dark web monitoring and data broker removal, quantum-resistant servers, an Apple TV app, a 31-day refund window
Private Internet Access wins on: Open-source apps, unlimited device connections, court-proven no-logs record, deeper per-connection settings
More of StrongVPN Compared
And here is where StrongVPN sits against the wider field of VPN providers.
StrongVPN vs NordVPN
StrongVPN wins on: Twelve connections versus ten, physical-only hardware, phone support, a two-price menu with nothing hidden behind add-ons
NordVPN wins on: Roughly six times more servers, audited logging claims, obfuscated servers for restrictive regions, meaningfully faster speeds
StrongVPN vs CyberGhost
StrongVPN wins on: No virtual locations anywhere, live phone support, P2P allowed on the entire network, simpler app for first-timers
CyberGhost wins on: A far larger fleet, streaming-labelled servers, a 45-day refund window on long plans, browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox
StrongVPN vs Proton VPN
StrongVPN wins on: Cheaper annual rate, phone support, twelve device slots, SmartDNS bundled at no extra charge
Proton VPN wins on: A genuinely free tier, Swiss jurisdiction, open-source audited apps, Secure Core routing and more servers overall
Frequently Asked Questions
How trustworthy is PureVPN, and is PureVPN safe?
KPMG and Altius IT have both audited the no-logs policy, and surprise audits continue. A 2017 logging case still stains its record, but the current setup keeps your online activity private.
Is PureVPN good for streaming?
Yes for Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime Video. A few regional libraries fail. Pick a nearby purevpn server and WireGuard for the smoothest playback on any streaming service.
How many devices can you have on StrongVPN?
Twelve at once, on either plan. That beats PureVPN’s ten. Both cover Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android, though only PureVPN adds a Chrome browser extension.
Is StrongVPN free?
No. There is no free tier and no trial. Your only escape route is the 30-day refund on the annual plan, so test it properly in that window.
How much does PureVPN cost?
Standard runs $2.15 per month, Plus $3.15, and Max $3.55. A seven-day trial costs $0.99. Dedicated IPs and port forwarding are billed as separate add-ons.
English 
Spanish 
Chinese 
German 
French 
Arabic 
Russian 
Portuguese 
Japanese 
Korean 
Italian 
Turkish 
Dutch 
Polish 
Indonesian 
Thai 
Vietnamese 