We review vendors based on rigorous testing and research but also take into account your feedback and our affiliate commission with providers. Some providers are owned by our parent company.
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vpnMentor was established in 2014 to review VPN services and cover privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on vpnMentor are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.
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vpnMentor was established in 2014 to review VPN services and cover privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on vpnMentor are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.

PureVPN vs Astrill VPN 2024

Table of Contents
    Our Score: 7.6/10
    %s User Reviews
    More Info
    Our Score: 5.3/10
    %s User Reviews
    More Info
    Editors' Note: Intego, Private Internet Access, Cyberghost and Expressvpn are owned by Kape Technologies, our parent company.

    Which VPN is better?

    Author Image Daniel Krohn
    Daniel Krohn

    Cybersecurity Researcher

    PureVPN and Astrill are strong competitors in the current VPN market. Both can be used on any device and operating system, even Linux. Astrill is great for bypassing strict firewalls — it works exceptionally well in China, Turkey, and the UAE.

    PureVPN lags slightly in this area, although it uses obfuscation technology on the OpenVPN protocol. However, PureVPN is easier to use, faster, more affordable, and has a money-back guarantee. Plus, it has over 6,500 global servers, while Astrill only offers 118. Discover which one is the ultimate winner.

    Our Score

    Features 7.6/10
    Pricing 8.0/10
    Ease of Use 9.0/10
    Reliability & Support 6.0/10
    Features 5.3/10
    Pricing 3.6/10
    Ease of Use 5.0/10
    Reliability & Support 7.4/10

    Reviews

    Review by our expert
    Author Image Matthew Amos
    Matthew Amos

    Senior Editor

    Our Score: 7.6/10

    PureVPN is a highly-rated and affordable VPN, but its had its share of controversies. A past incident involving the FBI caused significant damage to its reputation. So, has it done enough to improve its policies since then? To find out, I did a deep dive into its privacy policy and everything else it offers. I also tested its speeds, thoroughly explored its server network, examined its security ...

    Read all
    Latest positive user review
    R
    Rich
    10.0/10
    An excellent value, all things considered

    While they will absolutely throttle p2p in most servers, it's easy to find and log into the p2p server... s. They responded promptly when I had questions (although once it was basically to say "sorry, tough luck"). Overall though, I think I paid something like $20 for a year's subscription - I really can't complain. I'm sold on the service, although I think the fact that it's based out of HK is a bit spooky. 9/10More

    Latest negative user review
    J
    John
    2.0/10
    Not Private! They cooperate with FBI! Application will NOT CLOSE (only minimizes)

    PureVPN COOPERATES WITH FBI INVESTIGATIONS! You can verify this with any search! PureVPN REQUIRES ... USERS TO PROVIDE REAL NAME TO USE THE SERVICE! VPN Does NOT Support Close Application, Against Windows Standards! Close Actually Minimizes and it Keeps Running. Company refuses to change this back (used to operate correctly) A clear violation of your rights as owner of your PC.More

    Read the full review
    Review by our expert
    Author Image Matthew Amos
    Matthew Amos

    Senior Editor

    Our Score: 5.3/10

    Astrill VPN is one of the most popular VPNs to use in China. But it's also one of the most expensive VPNs available and doesn't have a money-back guarantee. With such a big investment, is it still the best VPN for China, and should you try it if you're located elsewhere? After my tests, I can confirm it's an excellent VPN for China but falls short in other areas. It offers slow speeds and clunky a...

    Read all
    Latest positive user review
    N
    Nestor
    10.0/10
    Been using it for a long time.. but have to go

    I have been using Astrill for more than 10 years. Never had a problem. A couple of times I used the ch... at for support and it was excellent. However this is probably going to be my last year. Reason .... price. With the virus crisis I am unemployed and can not afford it. They do not give any kind of discount and keep raising the price year after year. I am not in China so I suspend it, I do not need all those features.More

    Latest negative user review
    J
    Jim
    2.0/10
    Don’t even think of it if you own Apple products

    Worst VPN ever. Unreliable, unstable. It’s utterly expensive. Forget about streaming. Apple products a... re almost useless with it. Technical support team answers are pretty much like “Why don’t you turn it off and on?”. Please don’t waste your money as I did. They don’t even have a refund policy!More

    Read the full review

    Pricing

    Starting price $2.03/month
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 31 Days
    Number of devices per license 10 devices
    Starting price $12.5/month
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 0 Days
    Number of devices per license 5 devices

    Best VPN by Category

    Best VPN Overall

    PureVPN beats Astrill with its ultra-fast servers spread over 78 countries and better unblocking capabilities. PureVPN can access many streaming services, including Diensy+, BBC iPlayer, and HBO Max. While Astrill might eventually work with most platforms, finding a server that will give you access takes quite a lot of effort.

    Best VPN for Torrents

    With P2P-optimized servers, port forwarding, and strong security measures like a kill switch, Astrill is better for torrenting than PureVPN. While PureVPN is faster overall, P2P sharing is not allowed on all its servers, and you’d have to pay extra for port forwarding.

    Best VPN for Windows

    PureVPN has an easy-to-use Windows app with a modern and sleek design. It truly outshines Astrill, which is neither as visually appealing nor as user-friendly. Astrill VPN’s app is quite complex, and the settings change based on your protocol.

    Best VPN for Android

    The simplicity and clean design of its Android app make PureVPN a winner of this round. There aren’t as many options as on the Windows client, but you still get split tunneling and the option to personalize server selection. Astrill’s main flaw on Android is its server list. It doesn’t have a search option, and the counties are listed in seemingly random order. This makes finding the right server unnecessarily difficult.

    Best VPN for Mac

    Although PureVPN’s Mac app is quite stripped-back, it includes a number of features designed to improve user experience. It’s superior to Astrill, whose app includes many complex security options that most users might find intimidating.

    Best VPN for iOS

    Astrill VPN is very limited on iOS, lacking many crucial features. There's not much else besides the ON/OFF button, a server list, and protocol selection. It doesn't even include the industry-standard OpenVPN protocol. PureVPN wins with its simple but powerful app, offering valuable features like split tunneling.

    Best VPN for USA

    PureVPN is better for the US. Not only does it have servers in over 13 US locations, but it’s also superfast. Additionally, almost all its servers are physically located in America to provide stable, faster connections.

    The Bottom Line

    See Plans & Pricing

    When compared with Astrill, PureVPN clearly wins when it comes to providing better services and access. With servers in more than 78 countries, it makes accessing international content child's play. The encryption is much better in comparison and offers much tighter security. The customer service of PureVPN is also fantastic in comparison. Another setback for Astrill is the fact that it gives trouble to users when they try to use it as a hotspot while on the move. The company claims that it is indeed possible with Astrill's software, but this has not proved useful so far.

    Time to decide which one is best for you

    Go with PureVPN
    Go with Astrill VPN
    Or click here to check best VPNs, rated by {{review_count}} users

    FAQ

    Is PureVPN better than Astrill VPN?

    Yes, PureVPN is better overall than Astrill VPN. It has 6500 servers in 78 countries, fast speeds, and impressive security features.

    Best of all, you can take advantage of its latest discount and get it for only $2.03 a month.

    What should I keep in mind when choosing between PureVPN and Astrill VPN?

    When choosing a VPN, you want to pay close attention to its number of servers, overall speed score, pricing, and the number of simultaneous device connections it offers. While some VPNs provide a flawless online experience, others will really slow you down.

    If you’re ready to commit, then PureVPN may be perfect for you due to its performance during the tests .

    Is PureVPN faster than Astrill VPN?

    Yes, PureVPN is faster than Astrill VPN. Since your VPN is your computer’s main connection to the internet, you need to use a service that won’t slow you down by more than 20%.

    If speeds are important to you, then I recommend you take a look at ExpressVPN. It’s the fastest service out there, provides unlimited bandwidth, and you won’t experience any slowdowns even when you connect to the other side of the planet. You can try it out risk-free. It’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can get a full refund if you don’t like it.

    Do PureVPN or Astrill VPN offer any deals?

    Both PureVPN and Astrill VPN offer deals on occasion. You can check out the current coupons and discounts here. However, ExpressVPN has the best deals. Right now, you can get a 49% discount and up to 3 months for free with a new subscription.

    We review vendors based on rigorous testing and research but also take into account your feedback and our affiliate commission with providers. Some providers are owned by our parent company.
    Learn more
    vpnMentor was established in 2014 to review VPN services and cover privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on vpnMentor are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.

    About the Author

    Technical writer with a passion for online privacy.