Head to head · Updated August 13, 2026
NordVPN vs PureVPN
NordVPN takes it by 15 points, 84.0 against 69.0. That margin is worth reading past — PureVPN wins 2 of the seven criteria outright.
NordVPN
84.0The most complete all-round package here, provided you accept closed-source clients and a renewal price well above the introductory rate.
- From
- $3.39/mo
- Based in
- Panama
- Devices
- 10
- Audits
- 2
We earn a commission if you subscribe through this link. It does not change NordVPN’s score.
PureVPN
69.0Cheap and broadly capable, carrying a documented 2017 logging incident that the current audit arrangement is designed to answer.
- From
- $2.11/mo
- Based in
- British Virgin Islands
- Devices
- 10
- Audits
- 1
We earn a commission if you subscribe through this link. It does not change PureVPN’s score.
Criterion by criterion
NordVPN wins 5, PureVPN wins 2. Each row shows the raw score out of ten and the weighted contribution to the total.
| Criterion | Weight | NordVPN | PureVPN | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent audit | 20 | 9/10 (18.0) | 7/10 (14.0) | NordVPN |
| Jurisdiction and ownership | 15 | 9/10 (13.5) | 6/10 (9.0) | NordVPN |
| Protocol and crypto stack | 15 | 8/10 (12.0) | 9/10 (13.5) | PureVPN |
| Leak protection | 15 | 9/10 (13.5) | 7/10 (10.5) | NordVPN |
| Transparency | 15 | 6/10 (9.0) | 4/10 (6.0) | NordVPN |
| Price and refund terms | 10 | 8/10 (8.0) | 9/10 (9.0) | PureVPN |
| Platform coverage | 10 | 10/10 (10.0) | 7/10 (7.0) | NordVPN |
| Total | 100 | 84.0 | 69.0 | NordVPN |
Where each one actually wins
NordVPN is ahead on
- Independent audit. Deloitte re-audited the no-logs claim in 2023 and Cure53 audited the applications; both reports are public.
- Jurisdiction and ownership. Incorporated in Panama, outside the Fourteen Eyes agreement, with disclosed parent ownership under Nord Security.
- Leak protection. Kill switch on all desktop and mobile apps, with DNS resolved inside the tunnel and RAM-only server infrastructure.
- Transparency. Clients are closed source and signup requires an email, offset by a published transparency report and warrant canary.
- Platform coverage. Native apps across desktop, mobile, Apple TV, Android TV and routers, with 10 simultaneous connections.
PureVPN is ahead on
- Protocol and crypto stack. WireGuard and OpenVPN both available across platforms.
- Price and refund terms. Effective $2.11/month on a two-year term with a 31-day refund window.
Choose NordVPN if
Readers who want one subscription to cover a household of mixed devices.
Choose PureVPN if
Readers who want a low price and are satisfied by the current audit arrangement.
Reasons to pick neither
Skip NordVPN if: You need open-source clients or want to pay month to month. At $12.99 monthly it is one of the most expensive short-term options here.
Skip PureVPN if: Past conduct matters to you. The 2017 incident is a matter of public court record, and no later audit erases it.
Questions
- Is NordVPN or PureVPN better?
- NordVPN scores higher overall, 84.0 against 69.0, a gap of 15 points out of 100. The most complete all-round package here, provided you accept closed-source clients and a renewal price well above the introductory rate.
- Which is cheaper, NordVPN or PureVPN?
- PureVPN, at $2.11/mo against $3.39/mo. Both rates require committing to the provider’s longest term; the monthly rates are considerably higher.
- Which one has been audited more recently?
- Both published audits in 2023.
- Does jurisdiction differ between them?
- Yes. NordVPN operates from Panama and PureVPN from British Virgin Islands. Both sit in the same position relative to the Fourteen Eyes agreement.
Related comparisons
Comparison generated from the same dataset as the ranking. Emphasis criterion definitions are on the rubric page. Criterion labels: Independent audit, Jurisdiction and ownership, Protocol and crypto stack, Leak protection, Transparency, Price and refund terms, Platform coverage.