PureVPN vs ExpressVPN (2026): Which Is Better?
ExpressVPN is the better VPN — faster, more reliable for streaming, better apps, stronger privacy record — and PureVPN is far cheaper. The price gap is the whole story: ExpressVPN costs more than double on the 2-year plan. If you can afford it and want something that just works, ExpressVPN; if you want an audited VPN for the least money over several years, PureVPN, with port forwarding and a dedicated IP available cheaply.
Who wins each category
- Privacy & securityExpressVPNPureVPN 8.7 · ExpressVPN 9.4
- SpeedExpressVPNPureVPN 7.9 · ExpressVPN 9.0
- StreamingExpressVPNPureVPN 8.6 · ExpressVPN 9.3
- Apps & easeExpressVPNPureVPN 8.3 · ExpressVPN 9.8
- ValuePureVPNPureVPN 9.2 · ExpressVPN 8.2
Sub-scores from this month's tests; weights are privacy & security 30%, speed 25%, streaming 15%, apps & ease 15%, value 15%. Methodology
Choose PureVPN if…
- Price over several years is what matters
- You need port forwarding or a dedicated IP
- You want the largest server network
Choose ExpressVPN if…
- You want the most polished, reliable apps on every platform
- You travel to countries that block VPNs
- Streaming and speed matter more than saving a few dollars a month
PureVPN vs ExpressVPN: the numbers
 PureVPN |  ExpressVPN | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 8.4 | 9.1 |
| Rank · badge | #5 · Best long-term deal | #3 · Easiest apps |
| 2-year price / mo | $2.14 | $4.99 |
| 1-year price / mo | $3.32 | $6.67 |
| Monthly price | $12.45 | $12.95 |
| Renewal | renews at the 2-year rate | renews at the 1-year rate |
| Money-back | 31 days | 30 days |
| Simultaneous devices | 10 | 8 |
| Avg download speed | 466 Mbps | 598 Mbps |
| Jurisdiction | British Virgin Islands | British Virgin Islands |
| Owner | GZ Systems | Kape Technologies |
| No-logs audit | KPMG always-on audit | KPMG no-logs audit, 2024 |
| Servers | 6,500+ in 65 countries | 3,000+ in 105 countries |
| Protocols | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2 | Lightway, OpenVPN, IKEv2 |
| Torrenting | P2P allowed on P2P servers | P2P allowed on all servers |
| Free plan | No | No |
| Support | 24/7 live chat, email, help centre | 24/7 live chat, email, help centre |
| Visit PureVPN | Visit ExpressVPN |
Full reviews: PureVPN · ExpressVPN
What each one actually costs
The advertised rate covers the first term only. These are the totals once the renewal is counted.
| PureVPN | ExpressVPN | |
|---|---|---|
| Plan priced | 24-month plan | 24-month plan |
| Intro rate / mo | $2.14 | $4.99 |
| Then renews at / mo | $2.14 — no jump | $6.67 (+34%) |
| First term, up front | $51.36 | $119.76 |
| Total over 3 years | $77.04 | $199.80 |
| True cost / mo over 3 years | $2.14 | $5.55 |
| Money-back | 31 days — refunded in 6 days | 30 days — refunded in 2 days |
| Check PureVPN price | Check ExpressVPN price |
PureVPN is cheaper both ways — lower to start and $122.76 less across three years once the renewals are counted. Same arithmetic as our price calculator: the first term at the advertised rate, every month after it at the rate the provider publishes for renewals.
Speed by region
Download on a 940 Mbps line, 3 runs per server, median reported. Highlighted cell = fastest.
| PureVPN | ExpressVPN | |
|---|---|---|
| US East | 540 Mbps | 650 Mbps |
| UK | 498 Mbps | 622 Mbps |
| Singapore | 410 Mbps | 560 Mbps |
| Australia | 416 Mbps | 558 Mbps |
| Added latency | +11 ms | +7 ms |
Streaming, service by service
| PureVPN | ExpressVPN | |
|---|---|---|
| Unblocked | 12 of 14 | 13 of 14 |
| Netflix US | ||
| Netflix UK | ||
| Netflix JP | ||
| Netflix CA | ||
| Netflix AU | ||
| Prime Video | ||
| Disney+ | ||
| Hulu | ||
| Max | ||
| Paramount+ | ||
| Peacock | ||
| BBC iPlayer | ||
| ITVX | ||
| DAZN |
Security features
| PureVPN | ExpressVPN | |
|---|---|---|
| Kill switch | ||
| Split tunnelling | ||
| Obfuscation / stealth | ||
| Port forwarding | ||
| Dedicated IP | ||
| Ad & tracker blocking | ||
| Multi-hop (double VPN) | ||
| RAM-only servers | ||
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Android TV, Fire TV, Apple TV, browser extensions, routers | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Fire TV, Apple TV, browser extensions, Aircove router |
Has the no-logs promise ever been tested?
Every VPN on this page says it keeps no logs. The claim only means something once someone has demanded the data — a police raid, a court order, a subpoena. Here is what happened to each of these two when that came up, and what it means if it never has.
- PureVPNNever tested
No police raid, court order or subpoena against PureVPN has been made public. That is not a mark against it — most providers have never been asked — but it does mean the policy has never had to hold up under pressure.
Audit: KPMG always-on audit · British Virgin Islands
- ExpressVPNHeld
2017 server seizure in Turkey. The claim held — there was nothing useful to hand over. That is the one form of proof no audit can give you, because it happened under real pressure rather than on a scheduled visit.
Audit: KPMG no-logs audit, 2024 · British Virgin Islands
What each one is our top pick for
One of these scores higher overall, which does not make it the right buy for every job. These are the use cases where each one comes first on its own list.
Questions
Is PureVPN better than ExpressVPN?
No — ExpressVPN scored 9.1 to PureVPN's 8.4 in our tests and beat it on speed, streaming, apps and privacy. PureVPN's advantage is a much lower long-term price.
Which is cheaper, PureVPN or ExpressVPN?
PureVPN, by more than half on the 2-year plan and by more on its longer promotions. ExpressVPN is the most expensive VPN in our top five.
Is PureVPN safe?
Yes on today's evidence: an always-on KPMG audit, a BVI base and clean leak tests. It did hand over connection data in a 2017 case, before its current no-logs policy.
We may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page. Scores and the winner are decided by the tests before any commercial consideration. Disclosure