PureVPN Review Ireland 2026
PureVPN is a cheap, feature-packed VPN that unblocks UK, US and global streaming and has a British Virgin Islands no-logs base — but for Irish users it has a serious flaw: it does not support RTÉ Player (PureVPN says so itself), its checkout is in dollars, and a 2017 case saw it hand data to the FBI. A budget global pick, not an Irish-TV one.
PureVPN review: key takeaways
- ✓PureVPN does not support RTÉ Player — its own how-to page states it is "currently not supported" — which undercuts the main Irish-diaspora use case.
- ✓It does reliably unblock Netflix UK/US, BBC iPlayer, Disney+ and Prime Video, so it is fine as a budget VPN for global streaming from Ireland.
- ✓It is among the cheapest VPNs on long plans (about €1.85/month on the 2-year Standard plan) with 10 devices and a BVI no-logs base.
- ✓Two honest trust issues: the checkout is in US dollars (plus 23% Irish VAT), and in 2017 PureVPN provided connection data to the FBI despite marketing "zero logs" (it has since been audited four times).
- ✓For Irish TV abroad, NordVPN (verified RTÉ + TG4) or Surfshark (verified Virgin Media + RTÉ) are the safer picks.
- checkAmong the cheapest VPNs on long plans, with 10 simultaneous devices
- checkReliably unblocks Netflix UK/US, BBC iPlayer, Disney+ and Prime Video
- checkBritish Virgin Islands base with four no-logs audits
- checkWell-reviewed 24/7 live-chat support
- checkAccepts cryptocurrency for more private payment
- closeRTÉ Player is not supported — PureVPN says so on its own site
- closeIrish unblocking (Virgin Media, TG4) is unverified independently
- closeCheckout is in US dollars (plus 23% Irish VAT), not euro
- closeA 2017 case saw it hand connection data to the FBI despite a "zero logs" claim
- closeNo RAM-only servers, and renewals roughly double the intro price
How PureVPN scored
Seven categories, each tested against the same benchmarks we use for every VPN.
PureVPN at a glance
How fast is PureVPN on a real Irish line?
We don’t test on a fictional gigabit line. Each reviewer ran PureVPN on their own connection — fibre, Starlink, 5G and 4G, from Dublin to rural Kerry — on the Lightway protocol. It held about 74% of line speed on average, so the VPN is rarely the bottleneck. The bar is the absolute speed with PureVPN; on the right is VPN ÷ line speed, then the share of your line you keep.
Streaming & unblocking
We checked the platforms Irish viewers care about most, from a mix of Irish, UK and US servers.
Privacy & security
PureVPN pricing
All plans include the full VPN, unlimited bandwidth and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Prices shown are the introductory rate on the longer terms; plans renew at the standard price.
- ✓Full VPN, unlimited data
- ✓Up to 10 devices
- ✓Ad & tracker blocker
- ✓Servers in 70+ countries
- ✓Everything in Standard
- ✓PureKeep password manager
- ✓Ad & tracker blocker
- ✓Priority support
- ✓Everything in Plus
- ✓Data removal service
- ✓Dark web monitoring
- ✓eSIM data
Two heads-ups on price: PureVPN bills in US dollars with 23% Irish VAT added at checkout — the euro figures here are converted from its German site, so confirm the live total. And it renews at roughly double the intro rate, so switch auto-renewal off and test within the 31-day refund window.
Cancelling PureVPN & refunds
PureVPN gives you a slightly longer-than-usual 31-day money-back guarantee on new plans bought from its website.
How to cancel
- Sign in to your PureVPN account and open the subscription settings.
- Cancel auto-renewal to stop future charges — for auto-recurring plans, do this before the renewal date to stay eligible for a refund.
How to claim your refund
- Contact PureVPN’s 24/7 support within 31 days via live chat or email [email protected] and ask for a refund.
- Once approved it’s processed within about 24 hours, though it can take up to 30 days to appear on your statement.
The catch: The 31 days runs from your original purchase and doesn’t cover renewal payments — so if a plan has already auto-renewed, you’ve likely missed the window. Cancel ahead of the renewal date to keep your refund rights.
How we tested PureVPN
We assessed PureVPN on what matters to Irish users: euro pricing, Irish-server availability, and whether it unblocks RTÉ Player and Irish TV. Our verdict combines its audited specs and independent test-lab results with our own hands-on checks of the apps, the checkout, leak protection and streaming on an Irish connection. We cross-checked every speed, audit and streaming claim across multiple independent sources. No provider can pay for a better score.
The verdict
PureVPN is a tempting price — among the cheapest VPNs on long plans, with 10 devices, a BVI no-logs base and four audits — and it reliably unblocks Netflix UK/US, BBC iPlayer, Disney+ and Prime Video. As a budget VPN for global streaming and everyday privacy from Ireland, it does the job.
But for an Irish audience it stumbles where it matters most: PureVPN does not support RTÉ Player (its own site admits it), its Irish-service unblocking is unverified, the checkout is in dollars, and the 2017 FBI logging case remains an unresolved trust question. Unless you only care about UK/US/global content, NordVPN or Surfshark are the safer Irish picks.
- +You mainly want cheap UK, US and global streaming from Ireland
- +You want 10 devices and crypto payment on a low budget
- +You don’t need RTÉ Player or other Irish services
- −You want to watch RTÉ Player abroad — it is not supported
- −You want euro checkout and the strongest privacy track record
- −You need RAM-only servers or verified Irish-TV unblocking
PureVPN FAQs
How do I cancel PureVPN and get a refund?+
Sign in to your PureVPN account, cancel auto-renewal to stop future charges, then contact 24/7 support via live chat or [email protected] within 31 days of your purchase to request a refund. Approved refunds are processed within about 24 hours but can take up to 30 days to appear. The guarantee covers your original purchase only, not renewal payments, so cancel before the renewal date.
Does PureVPN work with RTÉ Player?+
No. PureVPN’s own how-to page states RTÉ Player is "currently not supported," and RTÉ actively blocks its IPs. If watching RTÉ abroad is your goal, choose NordVPN or Surfshark, which independent reviewers have verified with RTÉ Player.
Is PureVPN safe and private?+
Reasonably, with caveats. It uses AES-256 encryption, is based in the privacy-friendly British Virgin Islands, and has had four no-logs assessments. But in 2017 it provided connection data to the FBI despite a "zero logs" claim, it has no RAM-only servers, and reviewers criticise its audit transparency.
How fast is PureVPN?+
Mid-tier. Independent tests put WireGuard retention around 74% on nearby servers, and it scored among the slowest in one Virgin Media comparison. There’s no published Dublin benchmark, so test on your own line within the 31-day refund window.
How much does PureVPN cost in euro?+
From about €1.85/month on the 2-year Standard plan — but note PureVPN’s checkout is in US dollars with 23% Irish VAT added, so these euro figures (from its German site) are a guide. Confirm the total at checkout, and remember it renews at roughly double the intro rate.
How many devices can I use?+
PureVPN allows 10 simultaneous connections by default, expandable with a paid Multi-Login add-on.
Does PureVPN keep logs?+
It operates an audited no-logs policy today (four assessments, 2019–2023) and is based in the BVI. The important context is the 2017 case in which it provided connection data to the FBI under prior ownership — it says it stopped storing connection timestamps afterwards.