PureVPN 2026 Review – Affordable Price, Still Shadowed by 2017 FBI

PureVPN now charges $2.15 per month for a two‑year subscription, giving users access to more than 6,500 servers in over 65 countries and support for ten simultaneous devices [1]. The low price masks a lingering concern: in 2017 the service, which then claimed a strict no‑logs policy, handed connection logs to the FBI that helped convict a cyberstalker [1]. That breach of its core promise remains the most consequential privacy incident in VPN history.

Since the leak, PureVPN has overhauled its privacy posture. It moved its legal registration to the British Virgin Islands—a jurisdiction outside the Five Eyes data‑retention regime—and launched an “always‑on” audit program with KPMG. The accounting firm conducts surprise, unannounced checks of PureVPN’s infrastructure, a practice the review calls the most aggressive audit commitment in the industry [1]. Two audits—Altius IT in 2019 and multiple KPMG reviews from 2020 onward—have reportedly confirmed that the current no‑logs policy is being followed [1]. Independent reviewers remain split: some view the audits as sufficient rehabilitation, while others argue that no audit can fully erase the memory of a proven log‑keeping breach.

Performance-wise, PureVPN delivers solid fundamentals at its price point. Speeds are acceptable for everyday browsing and streaming, though they can be inconsistent on distant servers [1]. Dedicated streaming servers reliably unblock Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, and Hulu, and port forwarding is included at no extra charge—a rare perk for budget‑focused users [1]. The apps, however, suffer from a cluttered interface and occasional rough edges, and advanced features like a password manager are locked behind higher‑tier plans [1].

For users whose primary concern is privacy assurance, alternatives such as NordVPN, ProtonVPN, or Mullvad—each with stronger, audit‑verified track records and no history of log leaks—remain the safer bets [1]. PureVPN may still appeal to budget‑conscious consumers who need a wide server network, torrenting support, and ten‑device coverage, provided they accept the rebuilt but once‑violated privacy stance.

The real question for prospective subscribers is whether KPMG’s ongoing audits are enough to restore confidence, or if the 2017 incident permanently tarnishes PureVPN’s credibility for privacy‑sensitive users.