Purevpn for kodi VPN Download Easy, purevpn for kodi Mac VPN download (Get a VPN??) how to purevpn for kodi for Emergency service personel exit the 1 last update 2019/03/11 building Wednesday where the 1 last update 2019/03/11 Korean consulate is located in Melbourne, Australia.
Using a VPN for Kodi is now essential for unblocking restricted content while also protecting yourself from ISP snooping and potential copyright violation issues. This guide will show you how to find the best VPN for Kodi amidst a sea of mediocre, slow, and sometimes unsafe VPN services. We’ll also cover easy Kodi VPN setup options, Kodi add-ons, tips, and VPN to avoid with Kodi. In testing dozens of Kodi VPN services, I found that many popular VPNs do not work well for streaming Kodi. This is usually due to traffic leaks that expose your IP address, low-quality apps that crash, and/or slow speeds from server network congestion. In this guide we will cover which Kodi VPNs performed the best in testing, while also showing you which ones to avoid. WARNING: Streaming Kodi without a good VPN could pose a serious risk to your privacy and security.
In some areas, authorities are targeting people for copyright infringement with large fines and potential jail time. (We’ll show you examples below.) What is the best VPN for Kodi? The best VPN for Kodi based on the latest test results and user feedback is. Right now you can also get an exclusive ExpressVPN coupon to get (the coupon is applied on the checkout page). Ranking criteria – All of the Kodi VPN services below meet the following criteria:.
Offer custom VPN apps for all major Kodi streaming devices. Located in a good privacy jurisdiction (outside of ). Passed all tests with no leaks found whatsoever (no IP address leaks or DNS leaks). Reliable connections and fast speeds throughout the server network. Supports the OpenVPN protocol and strong encryption standards. Offers a money-back guarantee (between 7 and 30 days) If you are looking for the best VPN for Kodi, the providers below are all worth considering.
Here are the best Kodi VPNs in rank order for 2019: ExpressVPN for Kodi. Earns the top spot as the best VPN for Kodi. ExpressVPN gives you the largest selection of high-quality apps that can be used on all devices (Android Kodi boxes, Windows, Mac OS, iOS, routers, and more). All plans come with a 30 day money-back guarantee as well as premium 24/7 live chat support.
Aside from just streaming, ExpressVPN is an excellent VPN service that can be used for many other purposes. Whether you want more privacy and security online or a way to, ExpressVPN is a solid choice. ExpressVPN’s applications come with a great lineup of privacy and security features.
These features include smart DNS and IP leak protection, a good kill switch (network lock), and secure servers to keep your data safe. ExpressVPN is also a great and other streaming services such as BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and Sky Go. Another solid choice for Kodi is. It is based in Panama and offers a huge server network and decent apps for a very competitive price. In testing out the service for the latest update to the, I found everything to work well without any major issues or concerns. NordVPN offers some great privacy features, including double-hop VPN configurations, Tor-over-VPN servers, and an ad blocker. NordVPN’s updated server network is good for streaming Kodi, although I found the speeds to be somewhat variable with different servers. If maximizing speed is a primary concern, would be the best choice.
NordVPN is still a great option, however, with excellent 24/7 live chat support and a 30 day money-back guarantee. Setting up NordVPN to use with Kodi is simple with any device, plus the live chat support can help if you need assistance. The third Kodi VPN that earned a recommendation is.
This Bulgaria-based provider performed well in the latest update to the. VPNArea gives you great speed and excellent applications with secure leak protection features.
It’s a trusted service with an excellent track record. VPNArea also continues to work well with Netflix, BBC iPlayer and other streaming options. For privacy, VPNArea offers very secure applications with advanced leak protection, good privacy features, and ad blocking DNS servers. With every subscription, you get a 7 day money-back guarantee as well as 24/7 live chat support. The final VPN for Kodi we will check out is. VyprVPN is a Switzerland-based provider that owns every server in it’s network. This offers a high degree of security and also great speeds.
It’s a solid choice for Kodi streaming due to the performance aspect and large selection of user-friendly apps for all major devices and operating systems. It is one of the faster VPNs I have tested, which makes it popular for streaming both Netflix and Kodi. VyprVPN is also very affordable with the current discount below, dropping the prices down to only $3.75 per month for the basic plan, or $5.00 per month for the premium plan. VyprVPN Coupon Get 25% Off the Basic or Premium Subscription Plans (Coupon is applied on checkout page) Why you need a VPN with Kodi In the past few years, governments around the world have really started cracking down on copyright infringement. There are three major problems we see unfolding right now:. New laws which threaten jail time and massive fines for any form of copyright infringement, which includes accessing unofficial Kodi channels and streams. The US and UK both have laws threatening 10 years in jail for copyright infringement.
Censorship and actively blocking access to websites, Kodi add-ons, and streams. This is a huge problem in the UK. The blocks are often carried out by your internet service provider (ISP) on behalf of the copyright holders (industry) – but a VPN will easily get around these blocks. Lawsuits, DMCA notices, and other legal action for alleged copyright violations. This is a rapidly growing industry whereby “copyright trolls” (lawyers) target Kodi users with threatening notices and demanding you pay up (settle the suit) or face even higher fines. The scary thing here is that your internet provider will gladly hand over evidence of your online activity (if you’re not using a VPN). Here are just a few recent headlines to illustrate the trends we see unfolding: And here was a recent headline warning Kodi users in the United Kingdom: Fortunately, a good VPN is the solution to these risks because it will encrypt and anonymize your internet connection, while also giving you full access to all Kodi streams and third-party add-ons.
Using a VPN with Kodi A VPN is the ultimate solution for Kodi streaming and protecting yourself from the risks above. A good VPN service will allow you to easily: 1. Encrypt and anonymize your online activity A Kodi VPN will encrypt and anonymize all your internet traffic. This means that your internet service provider, authorities, hackers, and various third parties will not be able to spy on your browsing and online activities because your traffic is unreadable (thanks to encryption). Using a VPN will encrypt and anonymize your Kodi streaming. The graphic above from illustrates how a VPN protects your traffic from third parties, such as copyright trolls.
Access blocked Kodi addons Chances are, many of the Kodi add-ons you want to access may be blocked by your internet service provider. This is especially the case in the UK, but it’s being slowly rolled out elsewhere too.
To get around this problem, simply connect to a VPN server and access any blocked Kodi add-on or stream. With any of the recommended Kodi VPNs on this page, you will have instant access to a worldwide network of servers. Since these are regional restrictions, connecting to a VPN server outside your country will unlock whatever you need. This is the exact same technique used by people in China to access blocked websites. Stay safe online A VPN is an important security tool to protect your data whenever you are online – whether you are streaming Kodi or not. Hackers regularly exploit public wireless spots – such as in cafes, airports, and hotels. Using public WiFi without a VPN leaves you exposed to these risks, which could result in identify theft, fraud, or personal documents/passwords being stolen.
VPN services are also necessary for privacy since your online activities are being tracked and recorded by various third parties, such as your internet provider snooping/recording your activities. A VPN will give you the online privacy you need when streaming Kodi. Is a VPN with Kodi legal? Perhaps you are thinking: ‘Sounds great, but is this all legal?’ Yes. VPNs are perfectly legal and are used as a basic privacy and security tools by thousands of individuals and business every day. We see VPN services becoming mainstream all around the world. That being said, what you do with your VPN would fall under the laws of the country you are in.
Kodi streaming can be a grey area when it comes to copyright infringement issues. While many streams are perfectly legal, others scrape content from unofficial sources. Regardless of what Kodi streams you use, it’s best to always use VPN with Kodi to stay safe and protect yourself from third parties. What streams you access is entirely your business.
But never forget, you have a fundamental right to privacy – and that extends to all your Kodi streaming! How to use a VPN for Kodi streaming Setting up a VPN for Kodi is quick and easy if you are using a good VPN service provider. The Kodi VPNs recommended on this page all provide custom apps you can use on different operating systems and devices. This makes it easy to download and setup a VPN in just a few minutes. To use a VPN with Kodi you basically have two different methods. Method 1: Using a VPN to stream with Kodi separately Using a VPN with Kodi separately just means your VPN is running in the background, encrypting all your internet traffic, while you stream with Kodi as normal.
This is the most common option that will work well on many different platforms and devices. It also offers the most security against leaks by keeping your data completely secure through the native VPN application. We will go over setup instructions in the Kodi VPN Setup section below.
Method 2: Using a VPN within Kodi via add-ons/apps Using a VPN within Kodi via addons or apps is not an option for most devices (as of now). This VPN Kodi setup is limited to Linux-based platforms (OpenELEC and LibreELEC), Mac OS, and Raspberry Pi 3. We will cover setup steps in the Kodi VPN Addon section below.
5 minute Kodi VPN setup The steps below will show you how to install a VPN for Kodi. With this setup, your VPN will be running in the background and encrypting all internet traffic (using the VPN app) while you stream with Kodi as normal. You can use Kodi on the following platforms:. Windows – See the official. Mac OS – See the official. Android – Available on the or via manual.
iOS – See the official for jailbroken installation. Linux – See the official. And finally, you can also use Kodi on the following devices:. Nvidia Shield – To use Kodi on Nvidia Shield, simply download the Kodi Android app.
Amazon Fire Stick – To use Kodi on your Fire Stick, check out. Chromebox – To use Kodi on Chromebox, check out. Google Nexus Player – To install on Google Nexus Play you will need a separate installer –. OK, so you have Kodi setup and working on one of the devices/platforms above. Now let’s use Kodi with a VPN by following these four steps: Step 1: Subscribe to a good VPN service In this tutorial, we will be using because it offers the largest selection of Kodi apps that are fast, reliable, and secure.
It is the best VPN for Kodi in 2019 based on the most recent test results. ExpressVPN remains the top recommendation as the best VPN for Kodi. You can also get a to test out the service. Step 2: Install the VPN app for Kodi The next step is to simply install the VPN application on the device you will be using to stream Kodi. If you go with, setup will be quick and easy because includes numerous guides, how-to videos, and 24/7 live chat support to help you with the installation. Note – If you are using one of the many Android-based Kodi boxes, you can simply install the Android VPN app on the device.
If you have questions, simply ask ExpressVPN’s 24/7 live chat support, and they will walk you through the installation process. Setting up a VPN for Kodi will be different depending on the device you are using. Step 3: Connect to a VPN server After installing the VPN on your Kodi device, the next step is to login and connect to a VPN server. Tip – Connecting to the nearest server possible will improve both speed and reliability. If streams or websites are blocked in your country, connecting to a server in a nearby country should get around these restrictions.
With your Kodi VPN connection activated, you are now ready to stream with more privacy and security. Step 4: Open Kodi and enjoy your streaming Now that you have your VPN connected, you can stream anything you want with full privacy protection. Everything you stream on Kodi will be encrypted and secured by your VPN, making your online activities unreadable to third parties. As you can see, using Kodi with a VPN is actually quite simple. Kodi VPN addon Another way to use a VPN with Kodi is through addons.
With this option, you can control your VPN from within Kodi. Unfortunately, however, this setup is limited to only a few platforms (listed below). Another major drawback is that this method is generally less secure than using a dedicated VPN app outside of Kodi. That’s because dedicated VPN apps offer stronger privacy and security features to protect your data and these features will not be accessible when used within Kodi. And finally, setup will likely be more complex. Below we will discuss two options for using Kodi VPN addons. OpenVPN for Kodi The addon from Brian Hornsby is one option.
This open-source VPN add-on seems to work alright and does not require you to download any repositories. Unfortunately, the OpenVPN for Kodi add-on is limited to the following platforms:. Mac OS. Linux. (Linux) Aside from Brian Hornsby’s, you can also find more information on this VPN addon from his.
Zomboided VPN Manager The is another option for controlling your VPN directly from within Kodi. This VPN addon supports many different services (including all VPNs recommended on this page). The Zomboided VPN Manager works with OpenVPN and can be used on the following operating systems:. LibreELEC (7.x onwards). OpenELEC (5 onwards). Other Linux-based installs (e.g.
OSMC). Windows (Windows 7 tested) Unfortunately, the Zomboided VPN manager is limited to only these platforms. Consequently, you won’t be able to use it with most Kodi boxes, which run on Android. The also lists all of the VPNs that have been tested and found to work with this VPN addon.
Below are the basic steps for installing up Zomboided VPN Manager on Kodi. (Note: these are general instructions – the exact steps may be different for your situation and setup. See the for more info.). Download the Zomboided repository and transfer it to your device for uploading to Kodi. On Kodi, open SYSTEM Add-ons Install from zip file.
Navigate to where you downloaded the Zomboided repository, and then select it. Wait for the add-on enabled notification, then select Install from repository Zomboided Add-on Repository Services Install.
Now wait for the add-on enabled notification (it make take some time). In the VPN Configuration Window select your VPN provider, then enter your VPN username and password for authentication. Select the VPN Connection tab, select First VPN connection (optionally used to auto connect during boot). A pop-up window should appear and you will be able to select the location to connect to.
The option Second VPN connection should appear. This will allow you to add different VPN server locations. The same applies for more connections, with up to 10 different VPN locations. Kodi VPN add-ons conclusion – Installing VPN addons inside Kodi can sometimes be tricky – but it all depends on your setup.
If you are having trouble installing one of these Kodi VPN addons, you may just want to use Kodi and your VPN service separately (method 1 from above). VPN for Kodi box Many people enjoy streaming Kodi through a Kodi TV box. Installing a VPN on a Kodi TV box is quite easy in most cases. This allows you to unlock any blocked or restricted add-ons, while protecting your privacy at the same time. Use a VPN with your Kodi box for maximum privacy and streaming freedom. The most popular TV boxes are those based on Android. Android Kodi Boxes When it comes to using a Kodi box with a VPN, Android-based boxes are a great choice.
First, there is a very large selection of high-quality, high-performance Android Kodi boxes on the market. Second, using a VPN directly on your Android box is usually pretty simple. That’s because all of the VPNs on this page provide Android VPN apps that you can easily configure onto your Kodi box. Below are some of the best Android-based Kodi boxes that can be used with a VPN:. – Runs on a modified version of Android. (Only second generation or later will work with a VPN).
(see also the ) Here is a quick setup video for installing with Nvidia Shield. ExpressVPN Setup for Nvidia Shield. There are also setup videos for Fire Stick and other devices on the. Kodi VPN router Using a VPN on a router is another smart option for Kodi streamers. A good VPN router setup allows you to:. Secure your entire network and all devices with the VPN (everything that connects to your router).
Use any Kodi box or other streaming option without having to install any VPN software on the device. Have more flexibility with your home network by having one regular (unencrypted) router and one VPN router for Kodi streaming (with the ). A VPN router will encrypt and protect every device that connects to your network, without having to install additional software. VPN routers can get somewhat complex, depending on your setup. Check out the guide for more information. VPNs to AVOID with Kodi As you know by now, streaming Kodi with unofficial addons can sometimes be risky business.
Consequently, it is very important to use a safe, secure, and reliable VPN service. After all, a VPN that leaks your data will leave you exposed – and this makes the VPN worthless. Here are a few different VPNs that you may want to avoid – for various reasons. PureVPN – PureVPN is a service that markets itself as a privacy-focused VPN with a “zero logs policy”.
Unfortunately, PureVPN was found to be and providing this to the FBI (US authorities). Also concerning, when I tested PureVPN’s applications I found them to leak IPv4 addresses, IPv6 addresses, and DNS requests. The explains all the problems I found in detail. Hidemyass – HideMyAss is a very large VPN provider that is based in the United Kingdom (bad privacy jurisdiction). Unfortunately, like PureVPN, HideMyAss was caught logging customer data and turning this over to authorities – according to. Betternet – Betternet is another large VPN provider that is based in Canada.
When I tested out the applications for the I found numerous IP address leaks and DNS leaks. IPVanish – Although is a popular provider, it was found to be for US authorities. Free VPNs – Perhaps the biggest category of VPNs to avoid are free VPN apps, which steal your data for third parties. There are many other dangers of free VPN apps, which are explained in the guide.
Kodi VPN tips Here are a few tips to get the most out of streaming Kodi: Use a good VPN. Your data, privacy, and security are valuable. Choosing the wrong VPN could expose your identity, data, and activities to third parties. And as with all things, you typically get what you pay for when choosing a VPN. Test your VPN.
It’s good to periodically test your VPN to make sure it’s protecting your identity and keeping your data safe. See this guide. Connect to the closest server. Connecting to the closest possible server will give you the best speed and reliability. If you are in the UK, for example, and need to connect to a US server for a Kodi addon, it would be better to choose a VPN server in New York than one in Los Angeles.
Always use a VPN. If you have been streaming unofficial Kodi channels without a VPN, you should be careful.
Lawyers love to target people suspected of copyright infringement and hit them with lawsuits. Your internet service provider is most likely recording your activities (US, UK, and ), so be smart and always use a VPN to conceal your identity and online activities. This is basic privacy and common sense. Be careful with Kodi addons. Downloading third-party software from unknown sources always comes with risks. Before downloading unofficial Kodi addons, do your research.
Some Kodi addons may contain malware or other security problems. Tip: you can upload any file to to test for malware and other threats before installing anything. Consider your VPN protocol. VPN services usually offer a variety of protocols to choose from. Typically, the stronger the encryption the slower the speeds. OpenVPN provides a good mix of speed and security.
PPTP is considered insecure but will be faster than OpenVPN. Enjoy Kodi with the best VPN service The overall trends in online privacy and streaming freedom are clearly getting worse throughout the world. This is especially true when you consider the heavy fines for copyright violations and all the blocks and restrictions you see going up everywhere. But don’t let these trends discourage you. A good VPN service is your key to restoring your privacy and unlocking the freedom to access any Kodi stream or add-on you want. And even if you are not streaming Kodi, a good VPN will have the added benefit of protecting your privacy and securing your data from third parties. Enjoy your Kodi streaming and stay safe!
RECAP: Best VPNs for streaming Kodi Below is a recap of the best VPN services for Kodi. All of these Kodi VPN services meet the following criteria:. Offer custom VPN apps for all major Kodi streaming devices. Located in a good privacy jurisdiction (outside of ). Passed all tests with no leaks found whatsoever (no IP address leaks or DNS leaks).
Reliable connections and fast speeds throughout the server network. Supports the OpenVPN protocol and strong encryption standards.
Offers a money-back guarantee (between 7 and 30 days). Kodi is so 1990s. While the installation of the Kodi exe file is simple, configuring Kodi is frustrating to say the least. There are ridiculously so many steps that are required to configure something so basic. Preinstalled Kodi (Android) boxes are already configured saving you the headache. IWhat others do though, is use and download a bloated preconfigured configuration called”Kodi Build”.
The drawbacks here are many. The more add-ons (mini apps within Kodi) you have, the more it slows it down your system and Kodi. The only advantage which I can see is most people will rely on the developer to update the build as needed. The negatives, imo outweigh the positives.
The reality though, many developers are too sophisticated and anti-social. It usually takes someone else equally as sophisticated to troubleshoot upgrade issues resulting from the Kodi add on upgrade process. Developers update their builds playing the endless cat and mouse game by manually entering and changing their Kodi sources. As you can imagine, it’s very time consuming. This results in issues where the particular add-on won’t run and it might give you, what most people experience is “dependency errors”. Adding a Kodi source or add-on is terribly archaic and it involves many steps, all because of how Kodi was developed. It has changed much since it’s inception.
That’s why most people still stay with torrents and binary newsgroups to acquire their content. Unless you plan to stream on your desktop or laptop, the much prudent option is to use Android apps that are essentially plug and play. When an updated app becomes available, you just proceed as normal and update it accordingly with no fuss. With Android apps, we are fortunate because we can find one or two apps that have pretty much everything that Kodi has to offer. There is none of the issues like slowing down your device. Furthermore, You’ll also receive a much more richer and fulfilling user experience by using Android apps instead of Kodi.
And yes, you should use your VPN Android app and you never have to worry about configuring your complex Kodi application. The future is Android apps, not Kodi.
Good day Sven, I hope summer has been good to you. I’ve been reading online where many Android users (who have Kodi installed) are being geoblocked despite using a VPN. Some people are being blocked by not only the usual sites or apps like Netflix, but also music apps and media sites like those in Australia, China, and elsewhere. Even ExpressVPN has been blocked. While we have heard about Google leaking your location details, some users have suggested adding a suffix called “nomap” to their router SSID, using mock locations, or even disabling location services.
Unfortunately, that has not prevented the user from being blocked regardless of VPN provider. In contrast though, iPhone users have been quite successful in accessing these sites and apps, depending on their VPN.
One speculation is that you can actually completely disable location services from your iOS device unlike with Android. I’m considering buying an Android box but I don’t want to be limited or restricted because I’m using a VPN. Can you comment on this and any suggestions or workarounds you might have?
After taking a quick look at, you’ll be surely impressed by its advertised features. According to the website, this is the world’s fastest VPN and comes with a set of features that you won’t find elsewhere. After reviewing several dozen VPNs, we have to say that we couldn’t wait to get our hands on this application.
So, let’s show you all there is to know about this interesting provider. Welcome to our review of PureVPN! Before we start with our review, we’ll take a quick detour. We’re sure that some of you are reading this article to compare PureVPN to its competitors. So, we’ll start with the basic set of information to introduce you to this software. Quick Facts Jurisdiction Hong Kong Logs Keeps some logs Number of Servers 140+ countries / 2,000+ servers Parallel Connections 5 Encryption Standards OpenVPN, IKEv2, SSTP, L2TP, PPTP Speed Reduction 71.5% on average P2P Support YES Live Chat Support YES Supported Platforms Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Chromebooks & Compatible Routers Price $3.29/month The following table will give you a quick glance into PureVPN’s media streaming capability. Differently said, you’ll find the following table to be helpful if you plan on using a VPN to unblock media streaming websites.
The Bottom Line Pros Easy to use; Plenty of advanced features; Torrenting support; Thousands of servers; Very affordable. Cons Problematic data leaks; Troublesome past; Subpar performance. The Final Verdict PureVPN looks like an amazing VPN on the outside.
However, its troublesome past and detected data leaks show the reason for its low price. Still – it could be a good option for those not interested in total anonymity. Our Score 5.1/10 Next, what awaits us is our in-depth and hands-on review of PureVPN. So, make sure to keep on reading if you want a behind-the-scenes look at this VPN provider.
PureVPN – TechNadu’s Hands-On Review Just like we do in our every VPN review, we’ll try to take a good look at PureVPN. This starts with checking background information, and then we’ll proceed by explaining its features, performance, privacy policy, and plenty more. Background, Jurisdiction & Reputation There have been numerous privacy-related questions surrounding PureVPN – a company that’s shrouded in mystery. Our Score: 2/10.
Not matter which VPN you pick, you should know that it will process all your Web browsing data. As you can imagine, this includes your private data as well. This is why it’s imperative to check some background facts about the VPN that you’ll use. Here’s the situation that surrounds PureVPN. PureVPN Jurisdiction PureVPN proudly states that it’s based in Hong Kong. You probably know that Hong Kong is under the political jurisdiction of China – but you can look at it as an independent state. It has political autonomy in terms of free markets, freedom of speech and they even some independent diplomatic relations with other countries, outside of China.
Most importantly, the doesn’t apply to Hong Kong. So, we can presume that PureVPN is perfectly safe for use, right? Well, this is where things get complicated. First, you need to dig deep to learn about this VPN.
There is a company registration code on the website, and it corresponds to a company registered in Hong Kong. However, digging a bit deeper will lead you to another company – called Gaditek. This company is based in Karachi, Pakistan – and it even proudly showcases PureVPN’s logo on its official website. Pakistan is a problematic country to base your VPN operations as it has data retention laws and problematic political situation. It’s also worth noting that some reports have surfaced linking Gaditek to a series of VPN review websites with highly aggressive SEO (Search Engine Optimization) strategies. By operating these websites, Gaditek hires writers to produce highly positive reviews of PureVPN – and these articles rank high on Google.
In other words – false marketing. PureVPN’s Past Data Leaks There have been several privacy-related incidents directly connect to PureVPN. Most recently, it was discovered that since it’s storing them in a plain text format. This has happened in September 2018 and has been apparently solved since. In March of 2018, PureVPN found itself among.
Despite several protections in place, it was surprising to hear that PureVPN can leak your personal and ‘true’ IP – fully exposing your online activities. What’s interesting to note is that PureVPN has come up with a solution and upgraded it server since – according to the company’s representatives. However, as you’ll learn later in the article, this might not be the case. Supported Platforms & Devices PureVPN brings wide compatibility with currently popular devices and operating systems, both desktop, and mobile.
Router support is there as well. Our Score: 10/10. When choosing a VPN, you first need to pay attention to its native apps. Ideally, you want a VPN to offer native apps for any device that you own.
Leaving one device unprotected could lead to a leak, eliminating your privacy protection efforts. Here’s what PureVPN offers.
Platform Compatibility Desktop Platforms Windows, MacOS, Linux, Chromebooks. Mobile Platforms Android, iOS. Web Browsers Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. Routers DD-WRT, Tomato, and other compatible routers. Other Devices Android TV and Amazon FireOS. By taking a look at the table above, it’s clear that PureVPN has covered the basics. It offers native apps for desktop and mobile platforms – and you can install these at any moment.
There’s also support for devices such as Chromebooks, Android TV and Amazon FireOS, which is something we don’t see often. Of course, you can also install PureVPN on a router and therefore keep all your devices protected at once. It’s also worth knowing that you can use PureVPN on up to 5 devices at the same time. Using it on a router counts as a single device, no matter how many devices you can connect to that routers. This leaves plenty of empty slots, so you can protect yourself even on the go.
Installation & Initial Configuration Even though the installation went fine, finding the correct installer and downloading it from the website was unnecessarily complicated. Our Score: 5/10. As you can imagine, it all starts. You will then have to use your email address and your new password to log-in to the website’s account area.
However, finding that page proved to be quite difficult. There are dozens of buttons to buy this VPN – and we couldn’t find a clearly stated ‘My Account’ page. And trust us, we’ve reviewed several dozen VPNs so far. A quick Google search did the trick – and when we finally returned to the home page of PureVPN, the ‘My Account’ link was there.
So, this must have been a bug. We managed to log into our account, then clicked on a few links and finally managed to download one of the official applications. The actual installation went smoothly. We were asked to install a TAP driver for our Windows PC – and the entire procedure took about one minute. We felt like the entire process was unnecessarily complicated. The process of the installation went without a single problem.
However, we had to jump through several hoops to find out how to download the application to our computer. PureVPN needs to make this process a lot easier.
Prominent Features On the outside, PureVPN looks like a perfect VPN. It does come with interesting features, but they don’t quite work as advertised. Our Score: 5/10. This is where we take a look at the standard set of features that any capable VPN should bring. So, here’s a table explaining what to expect from PureVPN. VPN Features Checklist DNS Leak Protection YES IPv6 Leak Protection YES Kill-Switch YES Ad-Blocked, Anti-Malware YES Unlimited Server Switches YES Unlimited Bandwidth YES Unlimited Data YES On the outside, PureVPN seems like the perfect VPN. It includes different kinds of data leak protection, including DNS and IPv6.
There’s even a kill-switch that prevents your data from leaking if a secure connection drops. And as you can imagine, you can count on unlimited usage. However, if you continue reading, you’ll see that PureVPN’s features (especially data leak protection) don’t work as they should. Among other interesting features, PureVPN support. You can use this VPN only for certain apps if you want while leaving other apps outside of this VPN’s protection.
There are also dedicated streaming servers, which we’ll soon test. Server Count PureVPN doesn’t have the largest network of servers out there – but it has the power to take you to any corner of the Web. Our Score: 8/10.
The truth is that PureVPN has plenty of servers around the world. So, here are some quick facts regarding its server count. Server Count Info Number of Servers 2,000+ Number of Locations 180+ Number of Countries 140+ Specific Cities Selection YES Unlimited Switching YES Once again, PureVPN exceeds our expectations. Having more than 2,000 servers spread across the globe, this VPN is among those with the highest server count. Furthermore, this VPN is trying to be as transparent as possible by giving you not only an overview of the countries where its servers are located – you can also select specific cities. This could be helpful in those situations where certain Web services are available in a number of cities (like YouTube TV, for example). What’s also interesting to note is that a number of PureVPN’s servers are ‘Ozone-enabled’.
These are more advanced servers with several helpful features built-in. There’s an URL filter for screening websites that you visit. They also protect you against malware, ads, and tracking. You can select these from within the app and they don’t come at an additional cost. Ease of Use PureVPN doesn’t bring the most polished UI design, which can be confusing at times – especially for complete newbies.
Our Score: 5/10. PureVPN is trying to offer its services through a ‘relaxed’ design, which is evident by the looking of its website and native applications. They come with all kinds of funny graphics and vibrant colors, taking away the seriousness of VPN applications. So, let’s take a look at what you can expect.
Upon the first launch, you’ll have the option to select a mode – which includes streaming, Internet freedom, security/privacy, file sharing, and dedicated IP. Each of those modes comes with a predefined set of servers optimized for specific functions (as well some mode-specific options). When you get past this launch screen, you’ll get to see PureVPN’s home screen that lets you start using the application. As noted by some of our readers, PureVPN doesn’t always necessarily show the ‘Select Mode’ window at startup.
However, you can always change between different modes by going to the application’s options (top-right corner of the windows). This will optimize the VPN for different purposes, so make sure to use this feature.
On the left side of the screen, you’ll see two buttons, called Dashboard and Gravity. Here’s what these can do:. Dashboard: This is where you’ll be spending the majority of your time. It’s worth mentioning that the dashboard is based on your selected mode. For example, you can go with the ‘Stream’ mode that connects you to a secure server based on its country or city. Also, you can run a ping test to quickly check the performance of a number of servers.
You can either select a country or an individual city, and PureVPN will take care of the rest. After a few seconds, the connection will be made, and you can return to your regular online activities. Other modes bring a somewhat different UI but their goal is always the same – to connect to a VPN server. Gravity: This is a newly introduced feature that helps you fight viruses, malware, and hackers. You can click on ‘Configure’ to be taken to your account page, where you can fine-tune this option. Once you get back, simply enable this feature and it will work in the background.
The only thing that left for us to check is the application’s settings panel. You can access it by clicking on the cogwheel button, in the top-right corner:. App Settings: You’ll find some basic but highly important options here. To ensure maximum protection, you can set PureVPN to launch at startup and immediately connect to a predefined VPN server.
This is where you can also select one of the supported VPN protocols and choose from several languages. Select Mode: As said earlier, you can choose from different modes that prioritize specifically optimized servers. For example, there’s a mode for streaming, Web browsing, file-sharing, and more.
Network Type: If you’re a skilled VPN user, you can make sure that PureVPN works the way you want. This including letting the application pick the best network-related settings or you can force it to use a non-NAT network. Advanced Options: By default, these options come already enabled. For example, 256-bit encryption is already enabled as is IPv6 leak protection. However, what’s not enabled by default is a kill-switch. We strongly recommend you to use this option. VPN Hotspot: As you probably know, you can turn your computer into a hotspot and provide Internet connectivity to connected devices.
Well, PureVPN can share your VPN connection with other devices, so you can easily extend its reach. Split Tunneling: Now, here’s a very interesting feature. If you don’t want to use this VPN to protect only specific applications (like your torrent client, for example), you can use split tunneling. Port Forwarding: Connecting to a specific Web-connected device typically involved accessing certain ports. That’s why PureVPN allows you to do that without compromising your security.
Help & Support: Interestingly enough, PureVPN lets you create a support ticket from within the application – which is a really nice and convenient way to get help. Invite People & Log Out: Pretty self-explanatory, right? You can recommend PureVPN to your friend to get ‘surprise rewards’. All in all, PureVPN comes with a very simple UI that’s also easy to use.
It’s not the most intuitive at times nor is it highly polished – but it will get the job done. We liked the application’s comprehensive settings panel, that truly lets you dive deep into customizing your experience. Media Streaming & Torrenting Support According to our tests, PureVPN can only fully unblock Netflix and BBC iPlayer. Aside from that, it also fully supports torrenting – and that’s pretty much it. Our Score: 5/10. It’s time to see how successfully can PureVPN unblock media streaming website. Don’t worry, we haven’t forgotten fans of P2P traffic either.
Here’s what you need to know. Media Streaming & Torrenting Support Netflix US YES Hulu NO BBC iPlayer YES (via dedicated IP) Amazon Prime Video YES (very slow performance) Torrenting (P2P) Support YES We are sure that many of you want to use a VPN to unblock media streaming websites. This is precisely why we test every VPN that we review – and our test include the top four most popular streaming services. The good news is that when it comes to unblocking Netflix US, this VPN can help you. It’s interesting to note that you often hear that PureVPN can’t unblock Netflix.
However, this wasn’t the case during our testing. We managed to play US-only titles without any problems whatsoever. PureVPN wasn’t able to unblock Hulu and we managed to unblock BBC iPlayer after chatting with the company’s support team. For this service, you need to use a dedicated IP.
And when it comes to Amazon Prime Video, we did unblock it – but we weren’t able to play anything due to constant buffering. The bottom line – Netflix users are in luck, while users of other services will have to find the. And we have good news if you depend on P2P traffic. PureVPN allows torrenting via many of its servers.
For this purpose, you’ll have to go with the ‘File Sharing mode’ which will make downloading large files as easy as possible. Security & Privacy PureVPN can be recommended only to those whose main goal isn’t to be 100% anonymous online, as we’ve detected alarming data leaks.
Our Score: 1/10. As you could learn in the first segment of our review, PureVPN does have a somewhat problematic past.
So, let’s take a closer look and see how well it can protect the privacy of its users. Supported Encryption Standards PureVPN is using plenty of capable tools for encrypting your data. This means that it doesn’t allow a third-party to take advantage of your personal information. The core of this technology is military-grade 256-bit encryption – the strongest type available right now. In addition to using a highly capable encryption, PureVPN relies on a whole range of VPN protocols as well. These are OpenVPN (UDP/TCP), IKEv2, PPTP, L2TP, and SSTP.
Each of these comes with its strengths and weaknesses – where OpenVPN is considered to the best one right now. This means that PureVPN has covered the basics well. Logging Policy Even the strongest VPN protocols don’t mean much if your VPN collects your data. And in 2017, PureVPN completely. This was connected to a case where the FBI was able to catch a cyber-stalker by forcing PureVPN to hand over personal data of the person in question.
And all of this was happening at a time when PureVPN claimed that it doesn’t know anything about its customers. To improve its standing, PureVPN has done plenty to persuade its customers into staying. They’ve updated their privacy policy to make it more transparent and here’s what kind of information they log right now:. Information regarding your Internet Service Provider;. The date and time you connect to a secure server. The types of information mentioned above cannot be used to identify what you do online.
This means that your true IP address, connection timestamps or any other personally identifiable information are not collected. It’s true that PureVPN has had several problems in the past – and it already managed to disappoint its users once. However, we do believe that the company has improved its privacy policy and that it no longer collects personal data.
There’s also the question of the company’s real location, which is shrouded in mystery. DNS Leak Test Lastly, we are going to put PureVPN through a DNS leak test. This will tell us if websites can see our true information, or they only see what PureVPN serves them. Take a look at the following screenshot. The first test didn’t discover any DNS leaks.
During our first test, it all seemed to be just fine. We got a new American IP address, and we were able to hide our real identity.
However, knowing that PureVPN has had some problems in the past, we’ve decided to do another test, so we connected to another US-based server. The second test discovered an alarming DNS leak.
As you can see from the image above, we did get a new IP address. However, the problem was that this new IP came from Switzerland even though we were connected to an American server. This means that websites can see the server that PureVPN is presenting them but they can also see past that – DNS server provided by our Internet Service Provider. In other words, the test managed to list both our ‘fake’ and real IP address, which means that a leak has been detected. Speed & Performance On average, PureVPN slowed our Web connection down by around 70%. This is quite below what you can usually expect.
Our Score: 3/10. Now is the time to check the performance of PureVPN. For this purpose, we’ll use a connect to several secure servers, and run speed tests. However, we first need to set our baseline speed, without a VPN. Performance of our Web connection without a VPN. The image above shows the speed of our Web connection without using a VPN.
Even though our ISP is advertising 150Mbps, we got 148.14 Mbps (close enough) for downloads and 9.68 Mbps for uploads. These numbers will help you calculate the speed reduction imposed by PureVPN. Performance of a nearby PureVPN server. First, we’ve made a secure connection to a nearby server, located in our own country.
In general, we’ve expected to see some reduction but not by much. However, that’s wasn’t the case. We got 74.25 Mbps for downloads and 8.99 Mbps for uploads.
Performance of a remote PureVPN server (Boston). Then, we’ve connected to a remote server, located in the USA. This is when our speed deteriorated even further and came down to 37.01 Mbps for downloads and 4.24 Mbps for uploads. Once again, this kind of throttling is not usual and should not be drastic – especially when it comes to reputable and long-standing VPN providers.
Performance of a remote PureVPN server (Los Angeles) To give it another shot, we’ve switched to a ‘Streaming’ mode – hoping to get somewhat better results. Once again, we connected to a server in the USA. Unfortunately, this server throttled our Web connection in a big way. We only got 14.53 Mbps for downloads and 2.75 Mbps for uploads.
To make sense of this data, we are going to put all of the above-mentioned information in a table. This will help us calculate by how much did PureVPN reduced the speed of our Web connection. Download Speed Upload Speed Speed Reduction Baseline Speed 148.14 Mbps 9.68 Mbps 0% Nearby Server 74.25 Mbps 8.99 Mbps 49.8% Remote Server 1 37.01 Mbps 4.24 Mbps 75.0% Remote Server 2 14.53 Mbps 2.75 Mbps 90.0% We can conclude that PureVPN made our Web connection slowed up to 71.5%.
It’s true that VPNs can slow you down since your data needs to be travel more. However, this kind of drastic reduction is quite below what you can usually expect. Customer Support Even though PureVPN offers different communication channels, you won’t always find the information you’re looking for. Our Score: 3/10. We’ll also tell you what kind of customer support you can expect from PureVPN. After all, having someone to assist you in case of any question is quite important.
![Install Install](/uploads/1/2/5/4/125449009/965351894.jpg)
So, here are different ways to get help:. Live Chat Support: On every page of PureVPN’s website, you can find a live chat in the bottom-right corner. This is the best and speediest way to get help since you can talk to a real person. There aren’t any queues and you can start chatting with someone in an instant. Setup Guides: To help you install this VPN, you can rely on a number of setup guides. This perhaps isn’t needed when installing PureVPN on Windows or MacOS.
However, you’ll find resources helpful when installing the VPN on a router. FAQs: If you have any doubts about buying this VPN, you can check out frequently asked questions. Many of those are helpful if you have questions in mind before buying a subscription.
Support Tickets: Instead of sending an email, you can open a support ticket and send a message to PureVPN’s support team. You can expect a response in a day or two. Special Guides: PureVPN also offers some special guides for users in China, watching Netflix outside the USA, and more. Even though there are numerous communication channels available, you won’t always get the information you’re looking for.
For example, you will be told that PureVPN supports Hulu, and you might be offered a list of servers. When you try them, you’ll see that they don’t work. However, PureVPN will insist that they work and that you’ve only encountered a temporary setback. Deeper research will unveil that Hulu has not been an option for a while now. Pricing PureVPN is among the cheapest VPNs out there – which is an amazing thing only if you’re looking to unblock new websites. Our Score: 9/10. Lastly, we’ll take a look at PureVPN’s pricing structure.
We have put together a helpful table below where you can find information to get started. Subscription Plan Total Price Per Month Savings 1-Month Plan $10.95 $10.95 0% 1-Year Plan $49 $4.08 63% 2-Years Plan $79 $3.29 70% It’s evident that PureVPN’s annual plan is by far its best option. You can for $79 for 2 years, which comes down to $3.29 per month. We’ll be honest with you – and we’ll say that you’ll hardly find a better price right now. There are different ways to pay, including credit cards, Bitcoin payments, PayPal, AliPay, and even via gift cards. And finally, you should know that PureVPN offers a 31-day money back guarantees – with no questions asked. And you should also note that some payment methods do not include the refund option, such as the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
Do We Recommend PureVPN in 2019? So, the big question is – is PureVPN worth the money? If you’ve read this review carefully, you know that PureVPN is far from perfect. Most importantly, there are some questions regarding its ability to protect your data from leaking.
This is why we don’t recommend it to those who want a VPN to fully go anonymous online. However, other types of users would enjoy using PureVPN – for media streaming, torrenting, and unblocking new types of websites (as long as your privacy isn’t your top priority).
PROS: Simple to use; Plenty of interesting features, Thousands of servers across the world; Strong encryption. CONS: Data leaks; Below-average performance; Noticeable throttling. OUR SCORE: 5.1 out of 10! In case you think PureVPN could be a good fit for you, don’t hesitate. Even though it might not be the most secure option, we’re sure that some users would find it to be useful – especially considering its low price! Finally, we’d like to ask you to share this article online.
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