AppBreakup

PureVPN alternatives: 4 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave PureVPN: apps feel less polished than leading rivals, and frequent plan and bundle changes. We ranked 4 alternatives by how directly each one replaces PureVPN, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Surfshark currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Surfshark logoSurfsharkPaidNoWindows, macOS, Linux +34 of 466.5
2CyberGhost VPN logoCyberGhost VPNPaidNoWindows, macOS, Linux +36 of 662.6
3Private Internet Access logoPrivate Internet AccessPaidNoWindows, macOS, Linux +35 of 559.6
4NordVPN logoNordVPNPaidNoWindows, macOS, Linux +33 of 357.2
  1. Surfshark logo

    1. SurfsharkTop pick

    Best for: Households that want to cover lots of devices on one cheap subscription

    PaidWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from PureVPN

    Similarly cheap, with unlimited devices and more polished apps.

    Pros

    • No cap on simultaneous devices
    • Low price on long plans
    • Built-in ad and malware blocking

    Cons

    • Best prices need a multi-year commitment
    • Speeds vary more between locations than top rivals
    • Bundles push extra security products
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Surfshark a good PureVPN alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Devices per account
    Unlimited
    Checked Oct 25, 2026surfshark.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Money-back guarantee
    30 days
    Checked Oct 25, 2026surfshark.com(opens source in a new tab)
    RAM-only servers
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026surfshark.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, TVs, browsers
    Checked Oct 25, 2026surfshark.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. CyberGhost VPN logo

    2. CyberGhost VPN

    Best for: Beginners who mainly want streaming access with a long trial period

    PaidWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from PureVPN

    Budget option with a longer 45-day refund window.

    Pros

    • Servers labelled by use case, such as streaming and torrenting
    • 45-day refund window on longer plans
    • Large server network

    Cons

    • Monthly plan has only a 14-day refund window
    • Linux app is command-line only
    • Fewer advanced settings than rivals
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is CyberGhost VPN a good PureVPN alternative?

    Verified facts

    6 of 6 verified
    Monthly price
    $12.99/month
    Checked Oct 25, 2026cyberghostvpn.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Refund window (monthly)
    14 days
    Checked Oct 25, 2026cyberghostvpn.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Refund window (long plans)
    45 days
    Checked Oct 25, 2026cyberghostvpn.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Simultaneous devices
    7
    Checked Oct 25, 2026cyberghostvpn.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Server countries
    100
    Checked Oct 25, 2026cyberghostvpn.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, some Linux
    Checked Oct 25, 2026cyberghostvpn.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Private Internet Access logo

    3. Private Internet Access

    Best for: Tinkerers who want port forwarding and fine-grained settings on unlimited devices

    PaidWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from PureVPN

    Cheap long plans plus open-source apps and free port forwarding.

    Pros

    • Unlimited simultaneous devices
    • Port forwarding and detailed connection settings
    • Open-source desktop and mobile apps

    Cons

    • Monthly plan is expensive compared with long terms
    • Busy interface for beginners
    • Owned by a group that also runs several rival brands
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Private Internet Access a good PureVPN alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Monthly price
    $11.95/month
    Checked Oct 25, 2026privateinternetaccess.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Money-back guarantee
    30 days
    Checked Oct 25, 2026privateinternetaccess.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Devices per account
    Unlimited
    Checked Oct 25, 2026privateinternetaccess.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Server countries
    113
    Checked Oct 25, 2026privateinternetaccess.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS
    Checked Oct 25, 2026privateinternetaccess.com(opens source in a new tab)
  4. NordVPN logo

    4. NordVPN

    Best for: People who want a mainstream VPN that works for streaming, travel and everyday privacy

    PaidWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from PureVPN

    More polished apps and faster speeds for a bit more money.

    Pros

    • Large server network with consistently good speeds
    • Apps for desktop, mobile, browsers and TV devices
    • Meshnet links your own devices without extra software

    Cons

    • Renewal prices are much higher than the first term
    • Apps push bundled add-ons and upsells
    • Desktop and mobile apps are closed source
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is NordVPN a good PureVPN alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Platforms
    Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, browsers, TV
    Checked Oct 25, 2026support.nordvpn.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Owner
    Nord Security
    Checked Oct 25, 2026support.nordvpn.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Linux client licence
    GPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best PureVPN alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Surfshark logo

Best PureVPN alternative for most people

Surfshark

Similarly cheap, with unlimited devices and more polished apps.

CyberGhost VPN logo

Best PureVPN alternative for Mac

CyberGhost VPN

Budget option with a longer 45-day refund window.

Private Internet Access logo

Best PureVPN alternative for Windows

Private Internet Access

Cheap long plans plus open-source apps and free port forwarding.

NordVPN logo

Best PureVPN alternative for Linux

NordVPN

More polished apps and faster speeds for a bit more money.

Surfshark logo

Best PureVPN alternative for iPhone and Android

Surfshark

Similarly cheap, with unlimited devices and more polished apps.

PureVPN alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to PureVPN?

Surfshark ranks first right now. Similarly cheap, with unlimited devices and more polished apps. CyberGhost VPN and Private Internet Access follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to PureVPN?

None of the 4 alternatives we track has a free plan; all are paid, though some offer trials.

Is there an open-source alternative to PureVPN?

None of the 4 alternatives in this list is open source.

Which PureVPN alternatives work on Linux?

Surfshark, CyberGhost VPN, Private Internet Access and NordVPN run on Linux.

Why do people switch from PureVPN?

The complaints we hear most: apps feel less polished than leading rivals; frequent plan and bundle changes; lowest prices need a five-year commitment.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces PureVPN, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.