PureVPN is a genuinely budget-friendly VPN with a wide server network, but its 2017 FBI logging incident is a real factor for anyone whose priority is a clean privacy track record. I run Ecommerce Paradise, where I teach high-ticket dropshipping.
Here are three real alternatives to PureVPN worth considering, along with exactly who each one actually fits.
| VPN | Best For | Starting Price (2-yr) |
|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | Best all-around: speed, privacy, and streaming | ~$2.99/mo |
| Surfshark | Best for unlimited device connections | ~$2.19/mo |
| ExpressVPN | Best for consistent streaming reliability | ~$4.99/mo |
Not sure PureVPN is the wrong fit yet? Read the full PureVPN review first →
1. NordVPN: Best All-Around Upgrade
NordVPN costs approximately $0.84 more a month than PureVPN on a 2-year plan and delivers five independent no-logs audits from firms including Deloitte, PwC, and Cure53, with no prior logging incidents. According to PCMag’s NordVPN testing, its NordLynx protocol consistently delivers among the fastest speeds in the VPN category. See my full NordVPN vs PureVPN comparison for the detailed head-to-head.
2. Surfshark: Best for Unlimited Devices
Surfshark matches PureVPN closely on price but supports unlimited simultaneous device connections, versus PureVPN’s 10-device cap. It has no prior logging incidents and has completed independent audits of its no-logs policy. For households or teams protecting many devices under one subscription, Surfshark’s unlimited-device model is the more practical choice. See my full Surfshark vs PureVPN comparison for the full breakdown.
3. ExpressVPN: Best for Streaming Reliability
ExpressVPN costs noticeably more than PureVPN, starting around $4.99 a month on its longest plan, but it consistently ranks among the most reliable VPNs for unblocking Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and other geo-restricted streaming platforms. According to CyberInsider’s ExpressVPN testing, its Lightway protocol and RAM-only TrustedServer architecture deliver consistently fast, stable connections even on longer routes where PureVPN has shown inconsistency.
Best Alternative If Privacy History Is Your Top Priority
NordVPN is the strongest pick if the 2017 FBI incident is a dealbreaker for you. Its five completed audits and Panama jurisdiction give it the cleanest verified privacy record of the three alternatives here.
Best Alternative If You Need to Cover Many Devices
Surfshark’s unlimited device support makes it the practical choice for a household or small team running multiple laptops, phones, and streaming devices under a single subscription without hitting a connection limit.
How I Evaluated These Alternatives
I weighted three factors: verified privacy track record and audit history compared against PureVPN’s 2017 incident, real-world speed and streaming performance from independent testing, and price relative to PureVPN’s budget positioning. According to Security.org’s VPN comparison data, audit frequency and jurisdiction remain the two strongest predictors of which providers hold up under real privacy scrutiny.
Can You Run PureVPN and an Alternative Together?
Some users keep PureVPN active for its included port forwarding while running a second VPN for privacy-sensitive browsing, though paying for two full subscriptions rarely makes financial sense for most people. It is more practical to pick the single provider whose trade-offs fit your actual use case and commit to it.
Pairing an Alternative With Your Broader Business Setup
Whichever VPN you choose, it is one piece of a larger privacy and security stack. If you are running a niche ecommerce store while traveling, pair your VPN with solid supplier relationships and a password manager so your business accounts stay protected end to end, not just your browsing traffic.
Budgeting the Switch Into Your Business Costs
If you are still working through business formation and financial planning, treat your VPN as a small recurring line item you may revisit as your travel patterns and privacy needs change, not a one-time decision locked in for years.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the closest alternative to PureVPN on price?
Surfshark, which lands at a similar starting price on a 2-year plan while adding unlimited device support.
Is NordVPN worth the extra cost over PureVPN?
For most users prioritizing privacy assurance, yes. The roughly $0.84 monthly premium buys five independent audits and a clean incident history versus PureVPN’s 2017 logging disclosure.
Which alternative is best for streaming?
ExpressVPN, based on consistent independent testing showing the most reliable unblocking across major streaming platforms, though it costs more than PureVPN or the other alternatives listed here.
Do any of these alternatives include port forwarding like PureVPN?
Not included free the way PureVPN offers it. This is one of PureVPN’s genuine advantages worth weighing against the privacy trade-offs.
Should I switch away from PureVPN just because of the 2017 incident?
That depends on your threat model. For everyday browsing and streaming, PureVPN’s rebuilt audit posture may be adequate. For privacy-sensitive work, an alternative with a clean track record is the safer choice.
Building a location-independent ecommerce business and want your tech stack sorted? See how my done-for-you store build service works →
Or grab my free beginner’s guide to see how tools like a VPN fit into a complete high-ticket dropshipping system.
Trevor Fenner is an ecommerce entrepreneur and the founder of Ecommerce Paradise, a platform focused on helping entrepreneurs build and scale profitable high-ticket ecommerce and dropshipping businesses. With over a decade of hands-on experience, Trevor specializes in high-ticket dropshipping strategy, niche and product selection, supplier recruiting and onboarding, Google & Bing Shopping ads, ecommerce SEO, and systems-driven automation and scaling. Through Ecommerce Paradise, he provides free education via in-depth guides like How to Start High-Ticket Dropshipping, advanced training through the High-Ticket Dropshipping Masterclass, and fully done-for-you turnkey ecommerce services for entrepreneurs who want a faster, more hands-off path to growth. Trevor is known for emphasizing sustainable, real-world ecommerce models over hype-driven tactics, helping store owners build scalable, sellable, and location-independent brands.
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