PureVPN provided user logs to the FBI in 2017 while claiming a no-logs policy, and has since introduced independent audit coverage. PrivateVPN is independently owned in Sweden with no published third-party audit and no documented incident. Both sit in that space — one with verified current practices and a troubled history, the other with a clean record and no external verification.

What you get that PrivateVPN doesn't offer

Published independent audit of the current no-logs policy — PrivateVPN has no third-party verification. BVI registration outside all Eyes alliances; PrivateVPN is registered in Sweden, a 14-eyes member. Streaming access maintained as a product commitment. Broader simultaneous connection limit.

What you give up

PrivateVPN is independently owned — GZ Systems, a Hong Kong-based company, owns PureVPN. Port forwarding at PrivateVPN; PureVPN also includes it — equal on this dimension. SOCKS5 proxy at PrivateVPN. The 2017 logging incident is part of PureVPN's history regardless of the current audit program.

What you get that PureVPN doesn't offer

Independent Swedish ownership — no Hong Kong-based parent. SOCKS5 proxy support. No documented incident in the service history. Simpler corporate structure. Both include port forwarding — equal on this dimension.

What you give up

No published independent audit — PrivateVPN's no-logs claim is stated but not third-party verified. Sweden is a 14-eyes member; PureVPN's BVI entity sits outside that alliance. PureVPN's current audit addresses practices going forward. GZ Systems carries Hong Kong-based corporate jurisdiction risk — a different concern than PrivateVPN's unverified-but-clean record.