We put these VPNs to the test to find out which is the best!
Witopia and PureVPN are mid-range in terms of speed, and much below what you’d find with a VPN like ExpressVPN or NordVPN. When it comes to consistency across their server list, PureVPN has the clear edge.
| VPN vendor |
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|---|---|---|
| Download speed reduction | 40% (UK) | 57% (UK) |
| Upload speed reduction | 37% (FRA) | 66% (FRA) |
| Ping time to google.com | 41ms | 456ms |
| Average time to connect (sec.) | 11ms | 19ms |
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| Visit Site | Visit Site |
Speed determines how fast content uploads, so if you're torrenting or streaming, you want the speed to be somewhat identical to your regular internet speed. Since a VPN encrypts your data, it usually takes a bit longer to send your data back and forth, which can slow down your connection. However, if your ISP deliberately slows down your connection (also known as throttling) a VPN might increase your internet speed. Testing a VPN is somewhat pointless because new servers pop up and affect speed. Your speed can also differ according to your location, so your speed test might not match ours. Having said that, we tested the speed in numerous locations to provide you with the average.
PureVPN offers 750+ servers in over 140 countries, which gives you a lot of options. Witopia has about 300+ in over 45 countries, which seems to be a reason as to why their speeds are inconsistent due to the user ratio. They are still adding servers, and certain locations will have better speeds.
| VPN vendor |
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|---|---|---|
| Server Locations | 180 | 60 |
| Server Countries | 141 | |
| IP Addresses | 750 | 74 |
| Dynamic Server Switching | ||
| Visit Site | Visit Site |
The ratio of servers to countries is an important factor to look at when choosing a VPN. Only paying attention to location or number of servers can get you in trouble. More servers generally means faster speeds, but if VPN X has a few more servers than VPN Y but twice as many users, VPN X will typically have slower speeds. Ideally, you want a VPN that has a lot of servers in every location. This way you won’t have to worry that server/country that you want will be overburdened and running slow.
Customer support is about even for both of these VPNs. Witopia and PureVPN have very responsive live chats, and an organized email ticket system too. Witopia is often able to provide a more personalized service for customers with unique needs, and their support sections on their respective sites are full of info and guides.
| VPN vendor |
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|---|---|---|
| Email Response Time | 7 | 11 |
| 24/7 Support | ||
| Live Chat | ||
| Knowledge Base | ||
| Video Tutorials | ||
| Visit Site | Visit Site |
We personally test the customer support team of every VPN we review. This means asking technical question through the live chat feature (where applicable) and measuring the response time for email questions. Whether you need to connect to a specific server, change your security protocol, or configure a VPN on your router, finding a VPN with quality customer support should be important to you.
PureVPN app is easy enough to be used by novice VPN users and offers enough settings to appeal to a seasoned player. The basic interface is simple and you just have to select a server and click on Connect. The default protocol is automatic but you can pick another option from the list. There are some tabs that let users change the settings and customize the app according to their needs.
PureVPN has apps for all major platforms, and has browser extensions as well. There is a large selection of servers and special servers for online streaming, sports streaming, anonymous file sharing, and data retention security. Or you can just connect to the fastest server of a particular country. PureVPN works on mobile devices, and is generally successful accessing Netflix and Hulu, and definitely works in China.
Witopia is easy to install and run, and it does give you an automatic connection with the fastest speed, with an option to manually choose your server if desired. The interface just got a much needed facelift, which should make older users happy. Everything is clean, organized, and simple to figure out during your first use.
The map feature lets you view available connections, but it would be nice if it was interactive.
Witopia is available on all devices, including readers like Kindle Fire. That’s a rarity with many other VPNs right now. Unfortunately, it has trouble accessing Netflix and other streaming services, but it does work very well bypassing China’s firewall.
