PureVPN Speed Test 2023: 30+ servers tested

Published

author: Jeremy Roderick

Fact-checked by Ruben Olav

UPDATED: July 27, 2023

As a long-term VPN user I understand the importance of server speed and performance. In this article, I’m going to provide an in-depth analysis of PureVPN server speeds based on real test results. My goal is to give you a better understanding of PureVPN’s performance and help you decide if it’s the right choice for your needs. If you want to read more about PureVPN, check out the full analysis of PureVPN and its features.

PureVPN’s Global Server Network

PureVPN boasts a vast network of over 6,500 servers across 71+ countries. These servers are strategically distributed across six continents, ensuring a robust infrastructure for its users. This extensive network allows users to enjoy an optimal connection, no matter where they are located.

Factors Affecting PureVPN’s Server Performance

Several factors can affect the performance of PureVPN’s servers, including server load, distance from the server, and the user’s internet connection. Server load refers to the number of users connected to a specific server at a given time, and higher loads can result in slower speeds. The distance from the server also plays a role in latency, with farther distances typically resulting in higher latencies. Additionally, the user’s internet connection speed can impact the overall performance of the VPN.

The performance of servers plays very important role also if you need VPN specifically for streaming of torrenting and I’ve discussed if PureVPN is good for torrenting in my previous article.

How I tested the speed?

To conduct this analysis, I connected to various PureVPN server locations and performed 3 speed tests to measure download speed, upload speed, and latency. The results below are always the average of all 3 measurements to exclude outlier results. I made sure to select a diverse range of locations to ensure a comprehensive review.

Performance based on the continent

ContinentDownload (Mbps)Upload (Mbps)Latency (ms)Difference from Benchmark (%)
Europe397.16229.8335.56-47.53
Africa251.60100.17140.00-69.15
Americas214.47138.44151.14-69.77
Oceania261.78112.66177.00-65.12
Asia247.96103.31166.00-69.09
Note: The table shows the average results per continent for the PureVPN server speed tests. The difference from the benchmark server, is also shown in percentage.

From the test results, it’s evident that PureVPN’s server speeds vary significantly depending on the continent. Europe emerges as the best-performing region with the highest download and upload speeds and the lowest latency. Conversely, the Americas and Asia exhibit comparatively slower speeds and higher latencies.

Europe

The European servers showed impressive performance overall. The fastest download speed was recorded in Zurich, Switzerland with an amazing 628.27 Mbps of Download speed and 447.39 Mbps Upload Speed. The Latency in Zurich was also very good and averaged around 20 ms.

Middle East and Africa

Servers in the Middle East and Africa exhibited mixed results. The Johannesburg server provided the best download speed at 445.08 Mbps and an upload speed of 164.43 Mbps, while the Cairo server had the lowest performance in this region, with a download speed of 58.12 Mbps and an upload speed of 36.90 Mbps.

North America

In North America, the Montréal server outperformed its peers, with a download speed of 597.32 Mbps and an upload speed of 185.00 Mbps. Latency was also relatively low at 103 ms. The Bridgetown server, on the other hand, had the slowest download and upload speeds in the region at 16.64 Mbps and 15.01 Mbps, respectively.

South America

South American servers showed moderate performance. The São Paulo server had the highest download speed at 312.73 Mbps and an upload speed of 187.99 Mbps. The La Reja server had the lowest latency at 249 ms.

Asia-Pacific

The Asia-Pacific region had some of the most varied results. The Auckland server had the highest download speed at 339.94 Mbps, while the Bunkyo server had the lowest upload speed at 0.38 Mbps. The Perth server had the highest latency at 211 ms.

Which servers performed the best?

Fastest download speeds:

  1. Zurich: 628.27 Mbps
  2. Oslo: 606.81 Mbps
  3. Montreal: 597.32 Mbps

Fastest upload speeds:

  1. Zurich: 447.39 Mbps
  2. Istanbul: 352.89 Mbps
  3. Tirane: 309.28 Mbps

Lowest latency:

  1. Frankfurt: 17 ms
  2. Amsterdam: 19 ms
  3. Zurich: 20 ms

Full Results

Server NameCountryDownload (Mbps)Upload (Mbps)Latency (ms)Diff. vs Benchmark (%)P2P Support
BenchmarkBenchmark702.81472.0760.00Yes
ZurichSwitzerland628.27447.3920-10.61Yes
MontréalCanada597.32185.00103-15.02Yes
OsloNorway606.81220.2130-13.64Yes
MoscowRussia495.04189.7651-29.56Yes
FrankfurtGermany523.12116.9817-25.57Yes
TallinnEstonia567.88106.0335-19.24Yes
JohannesburgSouth Africa445.08164.43201-36.61No
MumbaiIndia422.31117.36227-39.84No
São PauloBrazil312.73187.99207-55.46No
OdessaUkraine307.75256.3942-56.22Yes
AmsterdamNetherlands389.93283.6919-44.53Yes
TiraneAlbania321.65309.2833-54.18Yes
IstanbulTurkey298.90352.8941-57.51Yes
AlahsaSaudi Arabia292.7256.97113-58.39No
ParisFrance173.23193.5927-75.34Yes
MadridSpain181.32177.1644-74.18Yes
New YorkUSA172.57147.93100-75.43Yes
LondonUK140.29134.1428-80.08Yes
PerthAustralia143.7084.33211-79.54No
Punto FijoVenezuela120.81122.44169-82.84Yes
PureVPN’s server speed results ranked from the highest to the lowest

Compared to other top VPN providers, PureVPN’s server speeds are competitive, especially in Europe. However, some regions, like the Middle East and Africa, have room for improvement. Overall, PureVPN offers reliable performance for most users if you choose the right server and play a bit with the settings.

Conclusion

Based on the test results, PureVPN offers solid performance across various continents. However, users may experience varying levels of performance depending on their location and chosen server. With a vast network of servers to choose from, PureVPN users should be able to find a server that meets their speed and performance requirements. It’s important to remember that multiple factors can influence server speeds, and users may need to experiment with different server locations to find the optimal connection.

About the author

Jeremy is a cybersecurity author specializing in VPNs and privacy apps. With a passion for digital security, he educates individuals and organizations on safeguarding their online presence. Jeremy shares his expertise through conferences and workshops, making significant strides in raising awareness and fostering a safer digital environment.

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