PureVPN has been around for quite some time, and despite that unfortunate blip in its history, it gets a lot of things right. It’s solid for streaming and unblocks most services without much trouble. Additionally, its budget-friendly pricing makes it appealing to anyone looking to save a few bucks.
But we get it. Despite some commendable improvements in recent years, the dark cloud from the past hasn’t completely disappeared, and it’s understandable why you’d be exploring the best PureVPN alternatives. Beyond the obvious concerns, users have also reported one or two other issues.
Whatever your reason for considering a switch, it’s valid. That’s why we’ve done the legwork to provide you with the best alternatives. Before diving in, let’s take a look at the common reasons people seek other options.
What to Look for in the Best PureVPN Alternatives
When choosing a VPN, there are several key factors to keep in mind. Your privacy and security should always come first, and then the specific functionalities that matter to you. If a provider falls short in an area you consider a priority, there’s nothing wrong with seeking out another option.
Of course, it’s important to understand that there’s no perfect VPN. Still, a good alternative to PureVPN should outperform it in the areas you consider essential while keeping pace in other aspects.
Below, we’ll explore some sticking points that could be improved and that we touched on during our PureVPN review.
1. Cleaner Track Record
In 2017, PureVPN was caught up in a scandal after handing over browsing logs to law enforcement authorities that helped arrest a Massachusetts man cyberstalking a woman.
That action sparked waves of controversy that the provider’s reputation has never really recovered from, especially since it initially insisted that the information didn’t exist because “we Do Not monitor user activity nor do we keep any logs.”
While the arrest was justified, it raised serious questions over PureVPN’s privacy policy and eroded trust. The VPN has since gone on to clean up its act and now has a no-logs policy validated by an independent audit.
However, it hasn’t managed to win over everyone just yet, and some privacy buffs are still put off by its rough past.
2. Stricter Privacy Policy
To be fair, PureVPN does have some transparency going for it. You can get a feel of that by going through its privacy policy.
There, PureVPN says that it doesn’t store identifiable logs or help monitor your activities, which is a good start. However, it admits to collecting certain information for customer support and service maintenance and lists all its trackers. There’s no ZERO-logs VPN, and other providers do at least a little of this.
While we appreciate the transparency (every VPN should be as open), we have to say we would have preferred that it had less tracking.
Frankly, there are quite a few, and based on the provider’s past slip-ups, that’s bound to raise some red flags if you’re serious about keeping your data completely private. It’s one of the main reasons why people are looking for PureVPN alternatives and competitors in 2026.
3. Flexible Renewal Policies
Like most competitors, PureVPN offers various pricing plans to choose from. However, one frustrating aspect is its lack of flexibility when it comes to renewing your subscription.
If you choose an annual plan, for instance, you’ll only be given the option to renew the same plan after it expires, even though other options are still advertised for new users. It’s like you’re stuck with it.
To switch to another plan, you may be forced to create a brand-new account from scratch with a different email. Now, we wouldn’t call that overwhelming, but it’s more hassle than it should be.
4. More Simultaneous Connections
PureVPN allows you to connect up to ten devices simultaneously on one account. That’s above the industry average for premium VPNs and will probably cover all your devices.
But what if you have a large household? An increasing number of providers have taken that into consideration and are offering significantly more value for money by removing those restrictions entirely. If you’d rather not use a VPN with your router (which PureVPN allows), you could seek out PureVPN alternatives with unlimited simultaneous connections.
5. Smooth Connections
One fairly frequent complaint we came across on Reddit and other forums is PureVPN’s occasional connection issues. Users reported problems with the VPN failing to connect to a server, which can be incredibly frustrating when you’re in the middle of something important.
Reliable PureVPN alternatives offer consistent, stable connections without forcing you to troubleshoot every time.
The 5 Best Alternatives for PureVPN in 2026
Now that we’ve covered the common issues with PureVPN, let’s dive into some of the best alternatives. While not every VPN on this list will solve every single problem you may have had with PureVPN, they all stand out in at least some areas where the VPN falls short.
8922 servers
127 covered countries
30 days money-back guarantee
10 simultaneous connections
9.4 /10
3000 servers
105 covered countries
30 days money-back guarantee
10 simultaneous connections
9.1 /10
27000 servers
91 covered countries
30 days money-back guarantee
Unlimited connections
9 /10
17500 servers
127 covered countries
30 days money-back guarantee
10 simultaneous connections
8.8 /10
4500 servers
100 covered countries
30 days money-back guarantee
Unlimited connections
8.7 /10
1. NordVPN
The best PureVPN alternative is arguably the most highly-rated VPN on the market. NordVPN’s combination of reliability, security, performance, and functionality is simply on a different level compared to competitors.
NordVPN has a much cleaner track record in terms of privacy. It claims a strict no-logs policy and has never handed over identifiable data to third parties.
Considering how many independent audits of its systems it has commissioned, the provider is pretty serious about demonstrating a commitment to safeguarding your privacy. It helps that it’s based in privacy-friendly Panama and uses RAM-only servers that wipe all information following each reboot.
NordVPN is even better than PureVPN when it comes to providing unrestricted access. It unblocks blocked websites and apps hassle-free and is the best VPN for school Wi-Fi. You should have no issues accessing exclusive streaming libraries in other countries on platforms like Netflix, Prime Video, and Hulu. Plus, as it’s the fastest VPN around, you can expect to enjoy stable connections, whether you’re streaming, playing online games, or just browsing.
NordVPN supports all the major platforms through native apps or manual configurations. Like PureVPN, it allows up to ten simultaneous connections, which you can extend to your entire local network with a router.
For all that, the provider’s plans won’t tear a hole in your pocket. If you’re unsatisfied for any reason, you can claim a full refund within 30 days of your subscription.
2. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN has earned a reputation over the years for all the right reasons, and it’s no surprise that it ranks so high on this list of the best PureVPN alternatives of 2026.
It’s trustworthy, for one. Even privacy buffs know that ExpressVPN takes shielding their data seriously, with a strict no-logs policy and a history of never handing over user data. Instead, it has consistently proven the validity of its claims — impressively, ExpressVPN has completed and published more audits of its system than any other VPN.
And since it operates out of the British Virgin Islands (which PureVPN has now moved to), you get peace of mind knowing your data is safe from prying eyes.
Interested in streaming or safe, unrestricted online gaming? ExpressVPN is one of the best VPNs to get the job done. It easily bypasses geo-restrictions, helping you access services like Paramount Plus outside the US. You also get low latency for gaming and smooth, buffer-free streaming. Additionally, you can use the VPN for sports betting.
ExpressVPN offers lightweight, user-friendly apps for many popular operating systems. It does away with the clutter on VPNs like PureVPN, leaving you with visually appealing apps that even beginners find easy to navigate. Admittedly, with eight simultaneous connections, you have fewer simultaneous connection spots than PureVPN.
ExpressVPN is also on the pricier side. That said, it often has discounts and doesn’t suffer the flexibility issues of PureVPN, so you can switch plans whenever you want. What’s more, every subscription comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
3. Private Internet Access
Remember how we mentioned PureVPN being on the affordable side of the VPN pricing spectrum? Well, Private Internet Access is even more budget-friendly. In fact, it’s the cheapest VPN among the top providers on the market.
But don’t let the low price fool you; PIA doesn’t skimp on features. For instance, get this: if you combined all the servers of every other VPN on this list, including PureVPN, PIA’s network would somehow still be bigger. You’re spoiled for choice with such a vast collection and can enjoy reliable access to content from around the globe.
PIA’s elephant in the room when it comes to privacy is its United States jurisdiction, as that’s a 5-Eyes country. But don’t let it bother you. When pressed (in court, no less), PIA didn’t buckle like PureVPN and proved it really didn’t collect and store logs that could link back to its users.
To show it doesn’t cut corners, the VPN publishes quarterly transparency reports revealing all the requests (court orders, subpoenas, etc.) it receives for user data.
PIA has also taken a significant step forward by making all its apps open-source. That way, you can poke under the hood if you have the technical know-how.
Private Internet Access is one of the few providers with no cap on the number of devices you can connect simultaneously. Couple that with its low pricing, and you’ll get incredible value with this PureVPN alternative.
4. Proton VPN
If Proton Mail rings a bell, you can already guess that Proton VPN carries a focused commitment to security and user privacy. It has earned a reputation as a security-focused VPN, making it an excellent PureVPN alternative for privacy buffs.
Proton VPN doesn’t take its trustworthiness lightly. It has a squeaky clean track record, with no controversy or breaches. Being based in Switzerland, the VPN benefits from some pretty strong data protection laws. On top of that, it enforces a no-logs policy that security experts have verified. You can rest assured your browsing history won’t land in the wrong hands.
While it’s not a feature Proton VPN actively promotes, it’s a really good VPN for streaming. The VPN successfully unblocked all the streaming services we threw at it and delivered stable connections. Plus, you won’t have to worry about ISP throttling since Proton VPN optimizes your bandwidth for a seamless viewing experience.
Proton VPN’s apps are designed to be intuitive, which is a bonus if you’re a newbie. It offers open-source apps for a wide range of operating systems and allows up to ten simultaneous connections.
The VPN’s plans are slightly more expensive than PureVPN’s, but it makes up for that with the best free VPN plan on the market and flexible subscription options. It also has a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.
5. Surfshark
Surfshark has established itself as a reliable and feature-rich VPN, making it a solid choice for those seeking the best alternative to PureVPN in 2026.
With Surfshark, what you do online is your business. It doesn’t have any scandals involving user privacy. The VPN is determined to keep it that way if undergoing multiple audits of its no-logs statement is any indication. Even though its Dutch headquarters is in a 9 Eyes member jurisdiction, the country doesn’t mandate VPNs to log or retain data.
When it comes to bypassing geo-restrictions, there are few VPNs better than Surfshark. Through multiple tests, it has demonstrated strong unblocking capabilities, easily unlocking foreign content across various platforms. For example, you can rely on it to change your location on YouTube TV. Additionally, since upgrading its servers from 1 Gbps to 10 Gbps, it has consistently delivered fast connection speeds.
Like PIA, Surfshark’s unlimited simultaneous connections allowance means you can protect all your devices with a single subscription. That’s a pretty significant advantage over PureVPN’s ten-device limit, which makes it ideal for big families with many devices.
Surfshark used to have a low-budget tag which has only been eroded by its now expensive monthly plans. You’ll still enjoy pocket-friendly prices on longer-term subscriptions, though. Thankfully, you can easily switch after expiration, unlike with PureVPN.
Final Thoughts
Today, PureVPN has come a long way from what it used to be years ago. Still, it may not check all your boxes when picking a VPN. In this article, we show you how it stacks up against some of the best providers on the market.
The best PureVPN alternatives are NordVPN, ExpressVPN, PIA, Proton VPN, and Surfshark. NordVPN is our favorite, thanks to its superior blend of quality and reliability.
You can take advantage of a 30-day money-back guarantee to check it out for yourself. Don’t worry; if it doesn’t cut it, you can request for a full refund.