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A PureVPN alternative is worth a look if its history or setup bothers you. PureVPN renews at $47.95 a year, the lowest in our table, and has four KPMG audits, but it is operated from Pakistan under a British Virgin Islands registration, and its 2017 role in an FBI case still shapes its reputation. Port forwarding costs extra and there is no SOCKS5 proxy.
This guide matches seven alternatives to the usual reasons for leaving, with figures from our renewal, audit, device and refund tables.
Why People Look for a PureVPN Alternative
Our PureVPN safety guide covers the 2017 case, in which PureVPN logs helped the FBI identify a user, and the always-on KPMG audits that followed. Some users never regained trust. Others leave over features: port forwarding is a paid add-on and there is no SOCKS5, as our PureVPN SOCKS5 guide explains.
Ownership is another factor. PureVPN belongs to Gaditek, which absorbed Ivacy in 2024, according to our ownership table.
The Comparison
Our renewal table puts PureVPN at $47.95 a year, below every alternative here. CyberGhost renews at $56.94, Mullvad at about $65, Windscribe at about $69, Surfshark at about $79, Proton VPN at about $83.88 and NordVPN at $139.08. On audits, PureVPN’s four sit between CyberGhost’s three and Proton VPN’s five, with NordVPN at six and Mullvad at 10+.
NordVPN: Most Audits Among the Big Names
NordVPN has six audits by PwC and Deloitte in our table and obfuscated servers, and allows 10 devices like PureVPN. It costs much more to renew. Our NordVPN vs PureVPN page compares them.
Proton VPN: Independent and Audited
Proton VPN belongs to the Proton Foundation, with five Securitum audits and a free plan without a data cap. It suits users leaving PureVPN over trust. Our PureVPN vs Proton VPN page compares them.
Mullvad: Anonymous Accounts
Mullvad uses account numbers instead of email addresses, a flat price of about $65 a year, and 10+ audits in our table. It allows five devices. Our PureVPN vs Mullvad page compares them.
Private Internet Access: Built-In Port Forwarding
PIA includes port forwarding and SOCKS5 without a paid add-on, and sets no device limit, according to our tables. It belongs to Kape Technologies. Our PureVPN vs PIA page compares them.
Surfshark: Unlimited Devices
Surfshark sets no device limit, against PureVPN’s 10, with two Deloitte audits in our table. It renews at about $79. Our Surfshark vs PureVPN page compares them.
CyberGhost and Windscribe
CyberGhost renews at $56.94 with a 45-day refund window on longer plans and three Deloitte audits. Windscribe renews at about $69 with no device limit and a free tier, but only seven days, and under 10 GB of use, to ask for a refund.
Streaming and Speed
PureVPN performs reasonably for streaming in our guides, with Disney Plus and Hulu among its 2026 test results. A PureVPN alternative such as CyberGhost or Surfshark may do better on specific services; our CyberGhost Netflix guide and Surfshark streaming guide show the results.
Privacy Considerations
If trust is your reason, look at audits and ownership together. Our VPN audit tracker explains what each audit covered, and our VPN ownership guide shows which providers share a parent.
Is Switching Worth the Cost?
Because PureVPN renews lowest, every PureVPN alternative here costs more each year. By our renewal table, Proton VPN renews at about $83.88 and Surfshark at about $79 against PureVPN’s $47.95, while CyberGhost, at $56.94, is close. Decide whether independence, audits or features are worth that difference to you, and remember the gap repeats every year after the first term.
A Quick Rule
Happy with the price but not the history? Proton VPN or Mullvad. Happy with the history but missing features? PIA.
Refund Windows
PureVPN gives 31 days. CyberGhost offers 45 on longer plans, NordVPN, Surfshark and PIA 30, Proton VPN a full refund within 30 days per its terms, Mullvad gives 14 days, and Windscribe allows seven days, under 10 GB of use.
Price Over Time
First-term deals hide the real cost. Our renewal price guide compares what each provider charges after the first term, which is what you pay from year three onwards. A cheaper first term can cost more later, so compare renewals.
| Provider | Renewal price | Per month | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | $139.08/yr | ~$11.59 | Basic |
| Surfshark | ~$79/yr | ~$6.58 | Starter |
| ExpressVPN | $99.95/yr | ~$8.33 | Basic |
| CyberGhost | $56.94/yr | ~$4.75 | 2-year |
| PureVPN | $47.95/yr | ~$4.00 | Standard, 2-year (1-year renews $57.95) |
| IPVanish | $89.99/yr | ~$7.50 | Essential |
| Windscribe | ~$69/yr | ~$5.75 | Pro |
| Proton VPN | ~$83.88/yr | ~$6.99 | VPN Plus |
| Mullvad | ~$65/yr | ~$5.40 | flat, no tiers |
| Norton VPN | $79.99/yr | ~$6.67 | Standard |
| Hotspot Shield | ~$95.99/yr | ~$8.00 | Premium annual |
| Astrill | $300 every 2 yrs | ~$12.50 | 2-year, same at renewal |
Switching Without a Gap
Sign up for the alternative before cancelling PureVPN, so you are never without protection. Install it on one device, test the services you use most, and only then move the rest. Cancel PureVPN’s renewal afterwards, and request a refund if you are still inside its window, as our PureVPN refund guide explains.
Which PureVPN Alternative Fits
Trust and audits: NordVPN or Proton VPN. Anonymity: Mullvad. Port forwarding without add-ons: PIA. More devices: Surfshark or PIA. Each costs more to renew than PureVPN, so weigh what the extra buys. NordVPN and Surfshark share an owner, Nord Security. Our VPN alternatives guide covers the wider market.
How We Research
This page draws on our renewal, audit, device, refund and ownership tables, and our PureVPN guides covering the 2017 case, the KPMG audits and missing features. We cross-checked these sources against each other, and where they conflict or something can’t be verified, we say so in the text rather than guessing. We checked time-sensitive figures, including prices in US dollars, on 6 October 2026. Renewal, audit, device and refund figures from our tables. The main source we relied on is PureVPN’s audit announcement. Our full approach lives on the About Us page.
PureVPN Alternative FAQ
NordVPN or Proton VPN for audits and trust; PIA for port forwarding; Mullvad for anonymity.
Not by renewal: PureVPN’s $47.95 is the lowest in our table.
Its logs helped the FBI identify a user in 2017; audits since then aim to rebuild trust.
PIA, without a paid add-on.
Proton VPN, Mullvad and Windscribe, per our ownership table.
The Verdict
A PureVPN alternative costs more to renew, so switch for a clear reason: trust, anonymity, ports or devices. Match the reason to the provider and test within the refund window.