What is Private Internet Access?
Founded in 2009, Private Internet Access is an established and trusted VPN provider. In 2019 it was acquired by Kape, making PIA is known for its huge network offering. It has recently upped its server spread from 83 to 84 countries giving you a good variety of locations to choose from.
PIA also has excellent privacy and security credentials. You’ll get access to OpenVPN and WireGuard, and you’ll also be able to choose your level of encryption, plus data authentication and handshake methods. The apps are open source, the kill switch was totally effective in our testing, and the no-logs policy seems watertight – although an independent audit would make that concrete.
You’re able to access this VPN network via apps for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS and Linux, browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox and Opera, and there are detailed setup tutorials for routers and many other device types.
All of its apps use WireGuard and OpenVPN encryption protocols, which are regarded as the most secure, making it a very safe VPN. With OpenVPN, you can either use the default AES-128 or the more secure AES-256 cipher. Additionally, there are additional ciphers RSA-2048 and RSA-2096 for maximum security.
PIA can unblock US Netflix, but a number of other libraries such as Canada and Japan were off limits. PIA also added BBC iPlayer to the list, alongside Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video which were reliably unblocked. This makes it a lucrative service for streaming fans. Torrenting is permitted on any server and the port forwarding function is tailored to P2P sharers.
Desktop apps are simple and effective, with easy access to tons of additional features. Mobile apps are similarly powerful, which makes a nice change from the bare-bones offerings from a number of other providers.
Private Internet Access
What popular features do you get with Private Internet Access?
- Secure Kill Switch
- Advanced Split Tunneling
- World Class Protocol
- Reliable Automation Rules
- Customizable setting
- Built-In Ad Blocking
- Torrenting support
- Multi-device support
Who is Private Internet Access ideal for?
If you’re after a secure, stable VPN and don’t hugely care about streaming, then Private Internet Access is a very worthwhile option that’s also very affordable if you commit for three years. PIA VPN hides your internet traffic data from your ISP or network administrator, which prevents your browsing data from being stored, collected, and sold by these third parties and helps you bypass restrictions like speed throttling or censorship.
Pros and Cons
- Well-designed app
- Simultaneous connections
- Excellent kill switch
- Numerous server locations
- Advanced network settings
- Outstanding speed test scores
- Unusual login system
- Below average speeds
People like you also researched
Here are some products we think might be a good fit based on what people like you viewed.
Express VPN
- High-speed servers in 90+ countries
- Military-grade encryption
- No-log policy
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Apps for all major platforms
- 24/7 customer support
NordVPN
- 24/7 customer support
- Easy to use and compatible with various devices and operating systems
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Specialty servers for specific purposes
McAfee®
- Encrypted internet connection
- Malware protection
- Secure web browser
- Access to restricted websites
- Unlimited data
- 24/7 customer support
How much does Private Internet Access cost?
*based on information provided by the vendor. Actual cost may vary.
The Private Internet Access monthly plan starts at $9.95. The annual plan is cheaper than most at $3.33 a month, but if you opt for the three-year plan and this drops to just $2.03 a month.
PIA offers dedicated IPs in Australia, Canada, Germany, Singapore, UK and US. This gets you the same IP address every time you log on, and you are less likely to find you’re block-listed due to someone else’s fraudulent activities. But using the same IP also means you’re more likely to be recognized by websites.
Pricing for a dedicated IP is reasonable at $5 a month, $4.25 on the one-year plan, $3.75 over three years. You can pay for PIA via Bitcoin, credit card or PayPal.
Unfortunately, Private Internet Access VPN doesn’t have a free trial yet. But you can use their 30-day money-back guarantee if you feel that PIA and you are not a good fit.
Customer Support is available at Private Internet Access
The Support Center hosts a web knowledgebase, containing articles covering various account problems, technical complications, general troubleshooting, and more. For additional support, your options are raising a support ticket or starting a live-chat conversation on their dashboard.
Conclusion
PIA is a good VPN, but it could do with some polish here and there. It can be run on pretty much anything, it has an abundance of advanced features, is very user-friendly and easy to use. Having unblocked Netflix and almost everything else, it’s very affordable if you sign up for the three-year plan. It has the right balance between usability and features with plug-and-play apps for all manner of devices, plus advanced functionality such as command line VPN control and multihop servers.
However, it lags in terms of sheer performance power and unblocking abilities. While PIA can unblock geo-blocked content and speeds are fine, other services offer more reliable content unblocking that’s always fast and always works. PIA doesn’t have exceptional speeds and has a vague and unclear privacy policy).
All in all, Private Internet Access is worth your consideration if you don’t particularly care about logging policies or need it only for unblocking US Netflix or Hulu. Visit their website to see if it is right for you.
