Private Internet Access talks a big game on its website. In among all the technical jargon it boasts that it’s “the most trusted name in anonymous VPN service.”
Its name certainly promises as much, but can you trust Private Internet Access to give you the VPN speeds and security you need?
We’ve spent days testing Private Internet Access to answer all your questions, such as:
Is Private Internet Access trustworthy? What does Private Internet Access do? Does Private Internet Access work with Hulu? Does Private Internet Access keep logs? Who owns Private Internet Access? Before we get stuck in, let’s take a look at the basics of Private Internet Access, along with what we found to be its main pros and cons:
Pros
Excellent speeds - 87Mbps global average Easy, high-speed access to Netflix Unlimited P2P & torrenting Keeps no usage logs & no IP/DNS leaks 3,300+ servers across 32 countries User-friendly apps for PC, Mac, iOS, & Android Cons Small server network compared to top-tier providers Based in the privacy-unfriendly US Email support can be slow, limited live chat Patchy access in China Works with
Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, Now TV, HBO, Sling TV, Torrenting, Kodi
Available on
Windows Mac Ios Android Linux Price from
$2.91/mo
Private Internet Access is an incredibly fast VPN, with some excellent features that make it ideal for privacy advocates. It’s not perfect, though – read on to find out more.
Speed & Reliability Very fast and impressive speeds
Private Internet Access is a very fast VPN.
PIA’s best VPN servers are impressive for speed: if you live near London, New York or Toronto and want to connect locally you won’t find a faster provider in the current market.
We were also highly impressed with PIA’s global performance, with very fast average download speed of 87Mbps. This is one the highest we’ve seen from any provider, making it a fantastic choice for P2P users and torrenters.
Speed results from our physical location in London (100Mbps fibre optic connection) to a London test server.
Before using Private Internet Access:
DOWNLOAD Mbps 92
UPLOAD Mbps 99
PING ms 2
When connected to Private Internet Access:
DOWNLOAD Mbps 47
UPLOAD Mbps 74
PING ms 12
Download speed without Private Internet Acess: 92Mbps
Download speed with Private Internet Access: 47Mbps
Our download speed loss when Private Internet Access is running: 50%
Gamers will love PIA’s practically non-existent latency of less than 1ms in some locations.
It also has exceptional upload speeds – you can expect 268Mbps at the best of times.
We put all of the VPNs on the site through a rigorous scientific speed testing process, determining the average speeds from multiple locations across the globe. These are the average speeds you can expect to pick up from these locations:
USA: 31Mbps (download) & 38Mbps (upload) Germany: 85Mbps (download) & 72Mbps (upload) Singapore: 26Mbps (download) & 9Mbps (upload) Australia: 35Mbps (download) & 10Mbps (upload) Server Locations Important locations are covered, the server list is small
Globe with a blue flag 32 Countries Image of a city landscape 52 Cities Image of a pink marker 3,300+ IP Addresses See all Server Locations Private Internet Access’ servers are spread over 33 countries – a smaller selection than many of its big-name rivals, although every PIA location is courtesy of a real physical server.
While 3,300-plus VPN servers is a fantastic amount, it’s likely that there’s only one IP address for each. That’s a good number, but VPN services like IPVanish (40,000) and VyprVPN (200,000) have far more.
PIA VPN covers all the most popular locations in a good global spread, while 14 separate cities (and 1,500 servers) within the US is outstanding. There’s also city-level selection in the UK, Canada, Australia, and Germany.
Private Internet Access Server Locations on the Private Internet Access Website
Streaming & Torrenting Good for Netflix, great for torrenting
Private Internet Access’ huge array of US servers means that unblocking Netflix is never more than one or two clicks away. We found access through its Washington DC, Atlanta, Chicago and Houston servers to be very reliable, and less so with US East, New York City, Florida and California servers.
Access to BBC iPlayer had recently stopped working for us, and Private Internet Access has said that rectifying it is not a priority for the service. Our most recent tests, however, had success accessing the service.
Private Internet Access is also a popular choice with viewers of a whole range of other big streaming services. Plenty of subscribers enjoy using Private Internet Access with:
Amazon Prime Video Hulu HBO Sling TV Sky Now TV PlayStation Vue Torrenting Private Internet Access is a very, very good VPN for torrenting.
P2P traffic is permitted on all servers and the market-leading upload and download speeds ensure rapid file transfers and buffer-free Kodi.
It has a VPN kill switch to keep your identity safe while you download or seed, it’s totally protected from IP and DNS leaks, and its logging policy ensures your traffic will be kept private and anonymous.
Bypassing Censorship No good in China but works well in other countries
Private Internet Access is unusable in large parts of China as the government has successfully managed to block it via the Great Firewall. Reports and anecdotes from users suggest that it still works in Beijing at least, for example.
Unless you want to spend a lot of time tampering with long-winded manual configurations, you’ll be better off finding another VPN service, though – our roundup of the best VPNs for China should help.
PIA will still work to unlock the internet in slightly less dilligent nations though, such as Turkey, Iran or Saudi Arabia.
Platforms & Devices Works across all platforms, and router too
Apps Windows Logo Windows Mac Logo Mac iOS Logo iOS Android Logo Android Linux Logo Linux Router Logo Router There are custom apps to get Private Internet Access running on all the popular operating systems, both desktop and mobile, while a router-level installation will cover everything else.
Private Internet Access works with Microsoft Windows, Apple MacOS, Android, iPhone and more.
You can use Private Internet Access on a number of devices, up to ten in total. Manual setup guides are also available on the Private Internet Access website to help walk you through more obscure platforms or older OS versions.
Games Consoles & Streaming Devices AppleTV Logo AppleTV Amazon Fire TV Logo Amazon Fire TV Chromecast Logo Chromecast Nintendo Logo Nintendo PlayStation Logo PlayStation Roku Logo Roku Xbox Logo Xbox Private Internet Access offers a custom app for Amazon Fire TV and Stick. Installing the app requires a little bit of technical knowhow, but once installed you’ll be able to choose servers all around the world and access your favorite video content.
It’s also possible to use PIA’s software with other streaming devices and games consoles, like the PlayStation 4, Xbox One or Google Chromecast, by connecting them to a configured router.
Browser Extensions Chrome Logo Chrome Firefox Logo Firefox Private Internet Access also has browser extensions for Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Opera, which protect your browser traffic.
They’re just proxies, but still protect your IP address and prevent WebRTC leaks when surfing the web. You can learn more about the differences between VPNs and proxies with our guide.
Encryption & Security One of the most secure VPNs around
Protocol
L2TP/IPSec
OpenVPN (TCP/UDP)
PPTP
Encryption
AES-128
AES-256
Security
DNS Leak Blocking
First-party DNS
IPV6 Leak Blocking
Supports TCP Port 443
VPN Kill Switch
WebRTC Leak Blocking
Advanced features
Ad Blocker
SOCKS
Please see our VPN Glossary if these terms confuse you and would like to learn more.
After all this, you’re still probably wondering one question: is Private Internet Access trustworthy?
We can safely say that the answer is yes. Private Internet Access is one of the most advanced VPNs on the market, sure to satisfy even the most demanding of users.
A screenshot of PIA's recommended security configurations PIA’s recommended security configurations
You get a broad choice of protocols with Private Internet Access (including our favorite, OpenVPN), encryption (including AES-256), an ad and malware blocker (PIA MACE), TCP Port 443, as well as a kill switch.
It also features IPV6 leak protection, although it’s unlikely you’ll need that right now – still, it’s good future-proofing for when IPV6 eventually becomes the new internet standard (you can learn more about IPV6 here).
One small thing we’d change is that PIA VPN offers PPTP as a protocol, but not IKEv2. We prefer OpenVPN to IKEv2, but some users like that it often gives you faster VPN connection speeds. PPTP, on the other hand, is old and insecure and shouldn’t really be used by anyone.
On top of all that, we also found it didn’t leak our IP or DNS – Private Internet Access operates its own DNS servers, which helps.
Logging Policy Absolutely no logging information kept
Private Internet Access keeps absolutely no VPN logs whatsoever – you can use the service with total peace of mind that your data and traffic is not being monitored, nor can it be traced back to you.
Jurisdiction Private Internet Access first launched in 2010 and is owned by London Trust Media, a firm with a diverse portfolio of products and a particular focus on privacy and tech. It’s based in Colorado, Denver, USA.
We would normally criticize a VPN for choosing the US as its base of operations, however, in the case of Private Internet Access we’ll make an exception.
The fact that absolutely no browsing logs are stored or monitored by PIA means that any prying authorities would have nothing to uncover.
Ease of Use Updated app does wonders for usability
How to Install & Set Up Private Internet Access Private Internet Access download options screenshot in our PIA review Go to the downloads section on PIA's website to find the right software for your device.
Private Internet Access installation instructions screenshot in our PIA review We love PIA's step-by-step instructions on how to navigate the installation process.
Private Internet Access setup options screenshot in our PIA review PIA gives you the option to create a handy desktop shortcut for the app.
Private Internet Access setup wizard screenshot in our PIA review Once the installation is complete, you'll be given the option to launch PIA and begin using the software.
PIA Main Screen Screenshot for PIA Review PIA have drastically improved its app so that it is much simpler to navigate and pleasing to look at.
PIA Server List Screenshot for PIA Review When clicking on 'VPN Server' on the main screen you are taken to this list of available server connections. Its a detailed list with a search bar to find your favorite server quicker than having to scroll.
PIA Connected Screenshot for PIA Review When you choose a server, the app automatically takes you back to the home screen where the button animates itself in an attempt to connect. Once connected, it turns green.
PIA Main Screen Expanded Screenshot for PIA ReviewPIA Setting Menu Screenshot for PIA Review The advanced settings open in a new and separate tab to the app. In the Privacy Settings you can find the inclusion of a kill switch with the helpful option to have it on 'Always'. You can also block domains used for ads, trackers, and malware through the PIA MACE option.
PIA DNS Leak Protection Screenshot for PIA Review In the 'Network' screen you can protect yourself against DNS leaks, with the options to 'Set Custom DNS' alongside tick boxes for 'Request Port Forwarding' or 'Allow LAN Traffic'.
PIA Protocol and Encryption Screenshot for PIA Review
In the past, PIA’s one glaring failure was its clunky, unintuitive and grossly outdated desktop app.
PIA has since released a far more modern app which is much easier to navigate and straight-up better looking, clearly taking note from its competitors.
There are plenty of customization options for desktop notifications, launch on start-up, and a kill switch with an ‘always’ option.
PIA has come a long way, but it’s not perfect: the advanced settings still open in a new tab and the tray app remains open on top, blocking the view. Annoyingly, you have to close the whole tray app manually in order to see it.
The PIA mobile app is terrific – with just as much configurability as the desktop app, plus some extra connection details.
Customer Support Lacking 24/7 support but good online knowledge base
Live chat Support
Email
Online Resources
24/7 live chat is the obvious absence from Private Internet Access’ support repertoire. It’s something almost all of its higher-scoring rivals have, such as StrongVPN and VPNArea, and a feature we’d love to see soon.
With PIA VPN you can only live chat with support between 4pm-1am UTC. You must be logged in to the member area to do so, meaning it’s also only available to paying customers.
The positive flip-side to this, though, is that PIA has one of the best online knowledge bases out there. It’s well organized and should answer almost any query or issue you have.
Pricing & Deals Affordable on two-year plan
Private Internet Access Coupon Private Internet Access logo Private Internet Access
Get 65% off Private Internet Access's 2-year plan
TestedEnds 28 Aug Get CodeED Terms Private Internet Access Pricing Plan A month-long subscription with Private Internet Access costs $9.95. This is around the industry standard and isn’t very competitive.
The cost goes down the longer you subscribe for, though, with a two-year subscription costing $3.49 per month. Private Internet Access isn’t the cheapest VPN, but it is one of the best.
Private Internet Access doesn’t have a free trial and the money-back guarantee is only seven days long. However, cancelling within these seven-days is 100% no-questions-asked, with your refund arriving within seven working days.
Monthly
US$9.95/mo
Billed $9.95 every month 12 Months
US$5.99/mo
Billed $71.88 every 12 months Save 40% 2 Years
US$3.49/mo
Billed $83.87 every 2 years Save 65% All plans have 7-day money-back guarantee
Payment & Refund Options Credit Card PayPal
Bitcoin PIA accepts a broad range of payment methods including most major credit and debit cards, PayPal and a few cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Zcash.
Users in certain countries may also have access to additional international payment options like Mint, ecoPayz, and Neosurf, although they can’t be used to set up a rolling subscription.
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