Last tested: March 2026 · Tested from Brisbane, QLD on 100Mbps NBN
Speed Test Results — Australian Servers
All speed tests were conducted on a 100Mbps NBN FTTP connection in Brisbane using WireGuard protocol. Tests ran between 7–9 PM AEST on weeknights during peak congestion hours.
| Server Location | Download (Mbps) | Upload (Mbps) | Ping (ms) | Speed Retention |
|---|
| Sydney, AU | 82.4 | 33.1 | 20 | 82% |
| Melbourne, AU | 79.8 | 31.2 | 27 | 80% |
| Brisbane, AU | 85.6 | 34.7 | 9 | 86% |
| Perth, AU | 72.3 | 27.8 | 55 | 72% |
| Singapore | 67.9 | 25.3 | 101 | 68% |
| US West (Los Angeles) | 51.2 | 18.6 | 172 | 51% |
| UK London | 44.7 | 15.9 | 283 | 45% |
Key takeaway: PureVPN's domestic speeds are acceptable for the price — 80-86% retention on Australian servers is fine for streaming and general browsing. International speeds are where it falls behind premium competitors, with noticeable drops on US and UK connections. For the price you're paying, these speeds represent fair value, but if speed is critical, NordVPN or ExpressVPN are measurably faster.
Streaming: What Works in Australia
We tested all major Australian and international streaming platforms over two weeks in March 2026:
- Netflix AU ✅ — Works on Sydney/Melbourne servers
- Stan ✅ — Reliable on all Australian servers
- Kayo Sports ✅ — Works on AU servers
- Binge ✅ — Works on AU servers
- Disney+ ✅ — Works on AU servers (US library inconsistent)
- Paramount+ ✅ — Works on AU servers
- 7plus ✅ — Works from overseas via AU servers
- 9Now ❌ — Blocked intermittently; worked 60% of the time
- ABC iView ✅ — Works from overseas via AU servers
PureVPN handles most Australian streaming services well, with the notable exception of 9Now which was hit-and-miss during our testing. Netflix AU worked consistently on Sydney servers, and Stan and Kayo were reliable throughout. International Netflix libraries (US, UK) were less consistent — we had to switch servers several times during our testing period.
Honest note: PureVPN's streaming performance has improved significantly from where it was two years ago. It's now a viable option for domestic streaming, though it still can't match the consistency of NordVPN or ExpressVPN for international content.
Privacy & Security Deep Dive
Jurisdiction: British Virgin Islands (company registered in BVI, with operational presence in Hong Kong). The BVI offers strong privacy protections with no mandatory data retention laws and no participation in intelligence-sharing alliances. However, PureVPN's historical ties to Hong Kong — and its past cooperation with the FBI in a 2017 cyberstalking case — remain part of its record.
Logging policy: PureVPN now maintains a strict no-logs policy. They don't record browsing activity, connection timestamps, IP addresses, or DNS queries. This represents a significant change from pre-2018, when PureVPN did log connection data (which led to the 2017 FBI case). The company has comprehensively overhauled its privacy practices since then.
Audit history: This is PureVPN's strongest privacy card. In 2023, PureVPN established an always-on audit arrangement with KPMG, one of the Big Four accounting firms. Unlike periodic audits that capture a snapshot in time, KPMG can audit PureVPN's infrastructure at any time without advance notice. This was independently confirmed and is among the strongest audit arrangements in the VPN industry. Prior audits were conducted by Altius IT (2019, 2020).
Encryption: AES-256-GCM on OpenVPN, ChaCha20/Poly1305 on WireGuard. IKEv2/IPsec also supported. Perfect forward secrecy is enabled across all protocols. Standard encryption suite — nothing exceptional, but solidly implemented.
Kill switch: Available on Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. We tested it by forcing a VPN disconnect — traffic was blocked within 2–3 seconds on desktop. Slightly slower response than premium competitors but functionally adequate. The kill switch must be manually enabled in settings.
DNS leak tests: Zero DNS leaks detected on most servers. We did detect one brief IPv6 leak on the Perth server during testing, which resolved after reconnecting. PureVPN runs its own DNS and disables IPv6 by default, but the brief leak is worth noting.
Additional features:
- Port forwarding: Included at no extra cost — configure specific ports for torrenting, gaming, or self-hosted services
- Split tunnelling: Available on Windows and Android — choose which apps use the VPN
- Dedicated IP: Available as paid add-on for consistent streaming and reduced CAPTCHAs
- Quantum-resistant encryption: PureVPN has begun rolling out quantum-resistant key exchange on select servers — future-proofing against quantum computing threats
App Experience
PureVPN's app has been completely redesigned and the improvement is substantial. The current interface features a clean home screen with a prominent connect button, your selected location displayed clearly, and quick-access tiles for different use modes (Streaming, Internet Freedom, Security/Privacy, File Sharing). It's intuitive and well-organised.
Clicks to connect: One click for quick connect. Two clicks to choose a specific location. The app defaults to the fastest available server based on your location, which is sensible. The mode-based tiles (Streaming, File Sharing, etc.) automatically select appropriate servers, which is helpful for less technical users.
Server selection: Servers are listed by country with search functionality. You can filter by purpose (streaming, file sharing, dedicated IP) and favourite specific servers for quick access. Each server shows ping and load percentage. The server list is comprehensive given the 6,500+ network, but navigation is clean enough.
Settings: Protocol selection (WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2), kill switch, split tunnelling, auto-connect, port forwarding configuration, and DNS settings. The settings are well-organised and accessible without being overwhelming. Not as deep as TorGuard but more than adequate for most users.
Mobile vs desktop: iOS and Android apps mirror the desktop design closely. Both support WireGuard and include the kill switch. Android adds split tunnelling support. The mobile apps are well-optimised and battery-friendly on WireGuard. Overall, a much-improved experience from PureVPN's earlier apps.
Pricing Breakdown
All prices in AUD, current as of March 2026:
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Total Cost | Savings |
|---|
| Monthly | $10.95/mo | $10.95 | — |
| 1-Year | $3.24/mo | $38.88 | 70% off |
| 2-Year | $2.14/mo | $51.36 (+ 3 months free) | 80% off |
Money-back guarantee: 31 days. A day more than the industry standard 30-day window — a small but appreciated touch. We tested the refund process and it was straightforward via live chat.
Payment methods: Credit/debit cards, PayPal, cryptocurrency (BitPay), and various regional payment methods. Decent selection covering most preferences.
Value assessment: At $2.14/month, PureVPN is one of the cheapest VPNs we recommend. The inclusion of port forwarding, 10 device connections, and the KPMG always-on audit at this price point represents excellent value. The main question is whether the speed and streaming inconsistencies are acceptable trade-offs for the savings.
Who Should Use This VPN
Best for:
- Budget-conscious Australians: At $2.14/month with 10 devices and port forwarding included, PureVPN offers exceptional value for money
- Torrenters: Port forwarding included free, plus solid P2P speeds on Australian servers
- Users who value audit transparency: The always-on KPMG audit arrangement is among the strongest in the industry
- Households: 10 simultaneous connections covers most families comfortably
Not ideal for:
- Users concerned about past privacy incidents: The 2017 FBI cooperation case remains in PureVPN's history, despite comprehensive reforms since then
- International streaming enthusiasts: US/UK Netflix access is inconsistent compared to premium options like NordVPN
- Speed-sensitive users: International speeds fall noticeably behind premium competitors
How It Compares
PureVPN competes directly with CyberGhost and Surfshark in the budget segment. Against CyberGhost, PureVPN offers more device connections (10 vs 7) and includes port forwarding, but CyberGhost has better streaming server organisation and a longer money-back guarantee. Compared to Surfshark, PureVPN is slightly cheaper but loses on speed, streaming reliability, and device limits (10 vs unlimited). Against StrongVPN, another mid-range option, PureVPN wins on server count and features but both share the limitation of inconsistent international streaming.
PureVPN's unique edge is the KPMG always-on audit combined with its low price — no other budget VPN can claim that level of independent oversight. For the full picture, check our best VPN for Australia guide.
