PureVPN vs Surfshark [2022]: Speed, Netflix, Firestick, China, Etc

This is a comparison of two popular VPNs, but it also serves as an introduction to the market. PureVPN’s brand new service promises unlimited speeds and Netflix access for just $2/month. Surfshark has been around longer with more features that are cheaper than those offered by their competitor.

PureVPN vs Surfshark is a comparison of two VPNs that were released in March 2022. The speed, Netflix, Firestick, China, Etc. are all compared and contrasted.

PureVPN is one of the most well-known VPN services in the world. It is sometimes compared to Surfshark, another famous game. Experts in the field of online security unanimously believe that Surfshark is much better. We’ll even go so far as to declare it’s the greatest VPN service available right now.

PureVPN

Surfshark

Comparison

Here’s a table that compares all of the VPNs’ peculiarities and features:

	PureVPN	Surfshark
Policy on Logging	Logging is not permitted.	Logging is not permitted.
Jurisdiction	Hong Kong	The British Virgin Islands are located in the Caribbean.
Encryption	AES-256	4096-bit RSA Key Exchange ChaCha AES-256 SHA-256 Hash Authentication
Protocols	UDP OpenVPN TCP IPSec/IKEv2 IPSec/L2TP PPTP SSTP OpenVPN	UDP OpenVPN Shadowsocks OpenVPN TCP IPSec/IKEv2 IPSec/L2TP
Adblockers and anti-malware software	Yes	Yes
On/Off switch	Yes	Yes
Tests for Leaks	There were no leaks discovered.	There were no leaks discovered.
Tests of Speed	Fast	Fast
Torrenting & P2P	Yes, indeed (Optimized P2P Servers)	Yes, indeed (Optimized P2P Servers)
Streaming	Netflix Amazon Prime is a subscription service that allows you to iPlayer (BBC) Firestick Roku is a streaming media player (Via Router) Kodi Apple TV is a device that allows you to watch (Via Router) Android Television (Android TV)	Netflix Amazon Prime is a subscription service that allows you to Hulu iPlayer (BBC) Firestick Roku is a streaming media player (Via Router) Kodi Apple TV is a device that allows you to watch (Via SmartDNS) Android Television (Android TV)
Gaming	iOS and Android on Windows Xbox One is a video game console that was released (Via Router) PS4 is a game console that was released in (Via Router) Nintendo Switch is a game console that was released in (Via Router)	iOS and Android on Windows Xbox One is a video game console that was released (Via DNS or Router) PS4 is a game console that was released in (Via DNS or Router) Nintendo Switch is a game console that was released in (Via DNS or Router)
Compatibility	Chrome for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS Firefox Routers Selected by Tor	Chromebook Chromebook Chromebook Chromebook Chromebook Chromebook Chromebook Chromebook Chromebook Chromebook Chromebook Chrome Chrome Firefox Selected by Tor Routers
Simultaneous Connections are when two or more things happen at the same time. are when two or more things happen at the same time.	10	Unlimited
Servers	6500+	1700+
China	Yes	Yes
Tunneling in Two Parts	Yes	Yes, indeed (As Whitelister)
Features Not Included	Dedicated IP for Wi-Fi security (Add-On Feature) Forwarding of Ships (Add-On Feature) Protection Against DDoS (Add-On Feature)	HackLock by CleanWeb (Add-On Feature) Searching in the Dark (Add-On Feature) MultiHop
Prices	$5.82/month $10.95/Month (1-Year) $3.33 per month (2-Years)   Special Promotion: Special Promotion: $0.99 for a 7-day trial plus 47% off for a 1-year subscription.99 for a seven-day trial and 47% off for a one-year membership	$12.95/Month $6.49 per month (6 Months) $2.49 per month (2 Years)   Special Promotion: Save 81 percent on a two-year membership and 50% on a six-month subscription.
Our Opinion	4.6	4.9
Website	www.purevpn.com	www.surfshark.com

As you can see, there are several differences between PureVPN and Surfshark. However, there are several parallels between the two. As a result, you’ll need to take a closer look at everything each VPN has to offer in order to figure out which one is ideal for you to buy and use.

Privacy & Security

Surfshark is based in The British Virgin Islands are located in the Caribbean., while PureVPN operates from Hong Kong. While these two places can’t be more different, they’ve got one thing in common. They don’t fall under the Jurisdiction of the world’s surveillance alliances.

Comparison of Encryption

Both services use AES-256 encryption, which is military-grade. Surfshark is distinguished by its use of SHA-256 hash authentication and an RSA-4096 key exchange.

Protocols for Virtual Private Networks

The two VPNs maintain support for OpenVPN (UDP & TCP) and IPSec (LT2P & IKEv2). That said, only Surfshark lets you toggle the Shadowsocks proxy. Meanwhile, only PureVPN allows you to employ PPTP and SSTP, which are both quite secure.

Protection Against Leaks

Here’s the outcome of my leak test when connected to PureVPN’s Tokyo server:

PureVPN Tokyo IP Leak Test

And here’s how Surfshark fared once I connected to their Hong Kong server:

Surfshark Hong Kong IP Leak Test

Neither service was successful in masking my genuine Philippine IP address. As a result, it’s reasonable to conclude that both can be trusted to keep you completely anonymous when surfing the web.

Server Safety

Surfshark is unique in that it is one of the few VPNs using a RAM-based network. As a result, all of its servers are unable to store logs. 

PureVPN, on the other hand, has yet to make the switch to a 100 percent RAM-based network. On the plus side, the business adheres to a zero-logs policy, which means it does not keep track of its users’ personal information.

Final Thoughts

Surfshark is the victor of this round of our PureVPN vs. Surfshark match. Why is that? It features a RAM-based network and improved encryption. It also supports Shadwosocks, a protocol that is much better than PPTP or SSTP.

Test your speed

Reports consistently state that Surfshark is one of the fastest VPNs around. In Comparison, lots of people say that PureVPN can at times be rather sluggish. I did a couple of Tests of Speed to know the truth. Here’s a screenshot of how PureVPN and its server in Tokyo fared:

Test your speed – PureVPN Tokyo

And here is how the HK server of Surfshark altered things:

Test your speed – Surfshark Hong Kong

The difference in upload and download speeds was minor with both VPN providers. Only PureVPN, on the other hand, caused my ping to skyrocket. As a result, Surfshark is the winner of this round, as I predicted.

Torrenting & P2P

Surfshark and PureVPN both allow torrenting. Despite the fact that neither has completely functional P2P networks, they both have a large number of servers that are well-suited to the task. Furthermore, the two are fully compatible with popular torrent clients such as uTorrent, Vuze, and qBittorrent. 

I put both services through their paces to determine whether they were suitable for torrenting. Here’s how Surfshark and its Singapore-based server fared:

Surfshark Singapore conducts a torrent leak test.

Now, here’s how things changed once I switched to PureVPN’s Japan server:

PureVPN Tokyo Torrenting Leak Test

Surprisingly, both VPNs were successful in masking my IP address. They’ve shown that they’re capable of keeping me secure throughout torrenting sessions by doing so. As a result, deciding on a clear winner for this round in our Surfshark versus PureVPN match would be premature.

Tie for first place

Streaming

Surfshark and PureVPN may be used to stream prohibited material. Popular sites like Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus, Amazon Prime, and BBC iPlayer all have geoblocks that these two can get through. Furthermore, they are able to do it with remarkable consistency.

Netflix

When it comes to streaming services, Netflix is unbeatable. As a result, it was only logical that I utilized it to evaluate both VPNs’ streaming capabilities. A snapshot of my effort to watch Spotlight while connecting to Surfshark’s New York server may be seen below:

Surfshark – Netflix – Netflix – Netflix – Netflix – Netflix – Netflix

And here’s how PureVPN and its server performed:

PureVPN – Netflix US

Both VPNs surprised me by granting me access to the movie I wanted to view. Apart from that, they were able to broadcast in high-definition without buffering. As a result, I’m still undecided about the winner of this round of our Surfshark versus PureVPN duel.

Tie for first place

Gaming

While connected to PureVPN and Surfshark, I’ve played a variety of games on my PC, console, and mobile devices. Simply said, both services delivered outstanding results. Neither of these options resulted in lagging or a decrease in FPS. When I was gaming, I almost never realized I was using a VPN.

In this round of our PureVPN vs Surfshark fight, there will be no victor since both services are excellent for gamers.

Tie for first place

Compatibility

PureVPN and Surfshark have made sure that their VPNs are compatible with a wide range of browsers and operating systems. Please check the table below for a list of all platforms on which each service is available:

PureVPN	Surfshark
Chrome for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS Firefox Routers Selected by Tor	Chromebook Chromebook Chromebook Chromebook Chromebook Chromebook Chromebook Chromebook Chromebook Chromebook Chromebook Chrome Chrome Firefox Selected by Tor Routers

Surfshark is the winner in this category, as you can see above. It has a Chromebook OS built in, unlike its competition. As a result, those who utilize that platform will not be left out.

Simultaneous Connections are when two or more things happen at the same time. are when two or more things happen at the same time.

Surfshark is one of a handful of VPNs that allows for unlimited Simultaneous Connections are when two or more things happen at the same time. are when two or more things happen at the same time. under one account. In Comparison, PureVPN lets you connect a maximum of 10 devices at the same time per subscription. Due to that, it’s the loser of this round of our match between the two.

Servers

PureVPN’s network spans the world and includes over 6500 servers. It’s a lot bigger than Surfshark’s, which only has 1700+ servers. The fact that Surfshark is a new company means that it doesn’t have a lot of servers.

China

Despite its Hong Kong headquarters, PureVPN has no trouble getting beyond China’s Great Firewall. When it comes to utilizing it, all of our testers around the nation have had great success. As a result, it’s a VPN service that anybody who travels regularly should consider using.

Surfshark, like its competitor, can consistently circumvent China’s harsh internet censorship policies. However, since there are fewer servers, the service does not provide as many connection possibilities. As a result, it’s the loser in this round.

Interface & Usability

Surfshark’s several apps all have a minimalistic feel to them. All you need to access will be on the home screen once you open them. You won’t have to waste time messing with applications to go where you need to go.

Interface of Surfshark

PureVPN’s applications are a little more sophisticated. People who aren’t tech-savvy will need some time to learn how to use them. Apart from that, they’re clumsy and unresponsive, particularly in comparison to Surfshark’s applications. On the plus side, they all seem to be in excellent shape.

Interface of PureVPN

In general, Surfshark is the VPN service with the best apps. As a result, it is unquestionably the winner of this round. PureVPN’s applications, on the other hand, are far from being poor.

Features Not Included

The usage of all of Surfshark’s unique features is not free. The first is a proprietary search engine called Blindsearch. Meanwhile, the second is HackLock, a security alert system. It notifies you if your personal information has been compromised in any way.

There are three premium add-on features available with PureVPN. A dedicated IP address may be obtained for a little price. You may also use port forwarding and DDoS protection to improve your security. There’s also Secure Wi-Fi, which protects you while connecting to public hotspots.

PureVPN is the victor of this round since it provides more helpful features. After all, most people aren’t interested in what Surfshark has to offer.

Customer Service

See what each service has to offer in terms of customer service in the table below:

	PureVPN	Surfshark
Live Chat	Yes	Yes
Email Customer Service	Yes	Yes
Support over the phone	No	No
Ticket Assistance	Yes	Yes
Video Instructions	No	No
Knowledge Base on the Internet	Yes	Yes
Average Time to Respond	1 Hour	4 Minutes

As you can see, Surfshark has a faster Average Time to Respond. Moreover, reports consistently state that it has better live chat support. Lots of people have said that PureVPN’s agents deliver vague answers and seem like robots when communicated with.

Prices

The price methods of each VPN provider are shown in the table below:

	PureVPN	Surfshark
Lengths of Subscriptions	$10.95/Month	$12.95/Month
	1 year at $5.82 per month	$6.49 per month (6-Months)
	$3.33/month for 2 years	$2.49 per month (2-Years)
The Most Expensive Month	$10.95	$12.95
Lowest Monthly Rate	$3.33	$2.49
Price for two years	$69.95	$2.49
Guaranteed Money-Back	31 Days	30 Days
Special Promotion	For a trial, it’s $0.99 for a trial plus 47% off for a 1-year subscription.99, with a 1-year membership saving you 47%.	For a 2-year membership, you’ll save 81 percent; for a 6-month subscription, you’ll save 50 percent.

The prices of the VPN services are very similar. However, PureVPN is cheaper by a slight margin. Furthermore, it also has a better Guaranteed Money-Back policy and a 7-day trial that costs less than a dollar. As such, it’s the winner for this final round of our match.

Verdict

Is PureVPN a better alternative to Surfshark?

Nope. Surfshark is superior to PureVPN in many aspects. For starters, it has better security and Compatibility. Moreover, it allows for unlimited Simultaneous Connections are when two or more things happen at the same time. are when two or more things happen at the same time. and excellent apps that anyone can use. Finally, it has superb Customer Service and is way faster than its competitor.

But don’t get me wrong. PureVPN isn’t a poor service by any means. In fact, due of all it has going for it, it’s absolutely worth considering.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Surfshark a Chinese company?

A: Yes.

Is Surfshark a good VPN for Netflix?

A: Surfshark is a trustworthy VPN for Netflix. They have servers in over 40 countries and are able to unblock many popular streaming services such as Netflix US, BBC iPlayer, Hulu etc.

Is Surfshark a strong VPN?

A: Surfshark is a good VPN service. It may be better suited for some people than others, but in general it provides enough security that most users should feel safe using it.