PIA VPN review
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Private Internet Access VPN has been on the market for over a decade and has become a well-known name among experts and other users.
I’ve been testing PIA VPN for over three years now and have witnessed its changing performance over the years. I observed that despite being one of the oldest VPN services, PIA is falling behind its newer competitors, like NordVPN and Surfshark.
In this PIA VPN review, I put it through multiple hands-on tests to assess its performance, ease of use, and price. Further, I share my personal experience with PIA to help you decide if it’s still worth it.
| TOP Choice | ||
| NordVPN | Private Internet Access VPN | |
| ⭐ Rating: | ||
| 🥇 Overall rank: | #1 out of #41 | #14 out of #41 |
| 🖥️ Servers: | 7,950 + servers in 126 countries | 35,000 + servers in 91 countries |
| 📖 No logs policy: | No logs | No logs |
| 💵 Price: | From $3.39/month | From $2.03/month |
| 🔥 Coupons: | NordVPN coupon 76% OFF | PIA coupon 83% OFF |
| 🔒 VPN protocols: | OpenVPN, WireGuard (NordLynx), NordWhisper | Wireguard, OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec |
| 🍿 Streaming services: | Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, and more | Netflix, YouTube TV, Hulu, BBC iPlayer |
| 🖥️ Platforms: | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS |
| 📥 Simultaneous connections: | 10 | Unlimited |
| 💁🏻 Support: | Knowledge base, FAQs, email, 24/7 live chat | Knowledge base, FAQs, tickets/email, 24/7 live chat |
| Get NordVPN |
Private Internet Access VPN strengths and weaknesses
We spare no effort to test the products & their features. All information is gathered by our in-house research team & fact-checked by our team of experts. Discover the ins and outs of our testing procedures.
PIA VPN review – key takeaways
PIA VPN is considered by many users and industry experts as one of the best VPN services on the market. Here’s a brief overview of what it has to offer:
- Privacy and security – 8/10. I found PIA VPN to be a secure service, working on RAM-only servers and offering a functional kill switch. However, it offers only basic protection with customizable encryption levels, which might sometimes confuse beginners.
- Cost and value for money – 9/10. In terms of pricing, I compared PIA VPN with other providers and I can say that it’s one of the most affordable VPNs out there. It offers great value for money and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Speed and performance – 7/10. Private Internet Access VPN offers decent performance, thanks to the powerful WireGuard protocol. However, its speed left me wanting more, as during my testing it showed average results.
- Server network – 9/10. I couldn’t accurately evaluate PIA’s server fleet size since it doesn’t disclose the exact number publicly. However, it has servers in 91 countries in the Americas, Asia Pacific, Middle East, Africa, and Central Asia, which means great global coverage.
- Features and functionality – 8/10. PIA VPN offers an excellent selection of features, including extra ones for no additional cost, like an ad blocker, a private browser, and Identity Guard.
- Compatibility – 10/10. What truly surprised me was PIA VPN’s compatibility with various systems and browsers. I tested it with Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS devices and it worked great with all. In addition, it’s compatible with Chrome, Firefox, and Opera browser extensions.
- Customer support – 9/10. I found PIA’s customer support quick to respond and helpful. The agents are reachable through 24/7 live chat, however there is no phone line. You can also check the knowledge base or reach out to the community.
Alternatives to Private Internet Access
PIA is a decent VPN service, but it might not have enough features for you. If fast speeds and a variety of security features are non-negotiable, Private Internet Access simply won’t work. Its speed is only average and it’s equipped with only basic security measures.
If you’re looking for alternatives, I recommend NordVPN and Surfshark. NordVPN is the fastest VPN I’ve tested and offers advanced security measures for an affordable price. Surfshark VPN is another great alternative that, in terms of speed, is only second to NordVPN. Also, it’s one of the cheapest VPNs on the market, but doesn’t compromise on the performance and features.
How much does Private Internet Access cost?
PIA VPN offers three billing plans, with prices starting at $2.03/month for the 2-year plan. The longer the subscription, the better deal you get:
| Plan | Price |
| 1-month plan | $11.99/month |
| 6-month plan | $7.50/month ($45 in total) |
| 2-year plan | $2.03/month ($56.94 in total) |
Compared to other VPN providers, PIA’s price tag of $2.03/month is really affordable. However, NordVPN for a slightly higher price of $3.39/month offers a more rounded-service and includes more features.
Also, unlike NordVPN or Surfshark, PIA VPN doesn't offer a free trial. On the other hand, if you subscribe to PIA VPN, you get a free email breach monitor. Besides, you can use their 30-day money-back guarantee if you realize that PIA is not right for you.
Additionally, you can also now get a dedicated IP at an extra cost. Much like with VPN plans, the pricing for dedicated IP increases with the subscription duration, starting from $2.50/month for the 2-year plan.
Speed performance: is PIA VPN fast?
Right off the bat – I found that Private Internet Access is not the fastest VPN out there. If you want blazing-fast speed, this provider might not always fulfill your needs to the max.
- Baseline: 500 Mbps download, 500 Mbps upload
| Location | Download speed (Mbps) | Upload speed (Mbps) |
| US | 637 | 205 |
| UK | 600 | 451 |
| Japan | 443 | 59 |
| Australia | 467 | 86 |
Even though PIA has a high server count, it's not always able to deliver speeds that are as good as the ones of NordVPN or Surfshark. To get the optimal experience with PIA, I had to pick the servers closest to me. This again is unfortunate if I want to access, for example, streaming libraries from farther countries.
Despite the fact PIA VPN shows slower speeds, the WireGuard protocol (which is currently regarded as the fastest protocol on the market) showed decent performance. The average drop in download speed over the four locations was 57%. I have tried streaming several Netflix libraries on 4K quality and didn’t experience any stuttering – something most users would look for in a VPN.
This is how PIA's average download speed looks when compared to other top VPN providers:
| Provider | Average download speed retention |
| PIA | 63% |
| NordVPN | 90% 🏆 |
| Surfshark | 86% |
PIA app performance with other protocols
While WireGuard may be the most popular PIA protocol, let’s not forget that there are others as well. Let’s take a look at the average download and upload speeds of each protocol, I have tested across 10 different locations:
- WireGuard: 124Mbps/154Mbps
- OpenVPN (default settings) TCP: 32Mbps/37Mbps
- OpenVPN (default settings) UDP: 126Mbps/131Mbps
- OpenVPN (secure settings) TCP: 11Mbps/41Mbps
- OpenVPN (secure settings) UDP: 139Mbps/137Mbps
The difference between OpenVPN default and secure settings is that PIA’s default encryption is AES-128 paired with RSA-2048 key, which is a little bit less secure than AES-256 paired with RSA-4096. I tested OpenVPN protocols with both the AES-128 (default) and AES-256 (secure) encryption settings.
Intuitively, you may think that lesser encryption will result in higher speeds, but as we can see, that is not the case. In fact, OpenVPN UDP protocol under the secure settings presents the best download speed of all protocols, with a drop being 54%. And even with default settings, the UDP protocol is significantly faster than the TCP.
| Protocol | Speed | Security | Connection stability |
| WireGuard | Highest 🏆 | High | Medium |
| OpenVPN (TCP) | Low | High | High |
| OpenVPN (UDP) | High | High | Medium |
PIA VPN servers and locations
Private Internet Access VPN has a large selection of servers: right now, it offers an undisclosed number of VPN and proxy servers across 91 countries and over 140 locations. What impressed me the most is that it offers servers in all US states.
| Regions | Number of countries |
| Europe | 43 countries |
| Americas | 17 countries |
| Asia Pacific | 19 countries |
| Middle East, Africa, and Central Asia | 12 countries |
The servers are located in Europe, South America, North America, Africa, Asia, as well as Australia and Oceania. However, a small part of the servers is virtual (PIA refers to them as geo-located), as it’s not possible to have physical servers in some countries due to certain regulatory reasons. Nevertheless, because of its extensive server network, PIA VPN is a great option for secure traveling.
Virtual servers still behave as if you're located in the selected country, but they may be prone to more giveaway signs that you're using a VPN server.
Selecting a server to connect to is also pretty straightforward. Upon opening the app, I had to select the VPN server section and then connect to any of them.
Is PIA safe?
PIA is a secure VPN provider, however, it wouldn’t be at the top of my most secure VPNs list. This VPN has customizable encryption levels and works on RAM-only servers, but is based in a privacy-unfriendly jurisdiction – the US, which belongs to the Five Eyes alliance.
Overall, PIA offers basic protection for your data protection and anonymity. However, compared to other providers, it lacks safety features.
| Jurisdiction | USA |
| Encryption | AES-128 (GCM), AES-256 (GCM) |
| Tunneling protocols | WireGuard, OpenVPN (UDP/TCP), IKEv2/IPSec |
| Kill switch | ✅ Yes |
| RAM servers | ✅ Yes |
| Privacy policy | Independently audited no-logs policy |
| Security audits | Audited by Deloitte in 2022 |
Encryption and tunneling protocols
When using PIA VPN with the OpenVPN protocol, it’s up to you to set the level of encryption. So, here are your choices once you open the Connections tab:
- AES-128 (GCM)
- AES-256 (GCM)
Both options are really secure, but there are a few differences between them. For example, even though AES-128 and AES-256 are both impenetrable to brute force attacks, AES-256 is more secure and is considered the golden standard. For authentication, PIA uses the SHA2 hashing algorithm and the RSA-4096 handshake.
PIA VPN offers a standard selection of tunneling protocols:
| WireGuard | Strong security aside, it offers much faster speeds than other VPN protocols. |
| OpenVPN (UDP/TCP) | PIA VPN lets you choose between two versions, UDP (faster) and TCP (a bit slower but more stable). |
| IKEv2/IPSec | It’s great for mobile devices, as it offers great speed and stability. However, it's only available for the iOS PIA app. |
No-logs policy
Private Internet Access VPN is based in Colorado, US. This is not the most privacy-friendly country you could think of, as it belongs to the Five Eyes alliance. Therefore, it’s important to get acquainted with PIA’s privacy policy. Keep in mind that the countries belonging to the Five, Nine, or Fourteen Eyes alliance have obligations to hand over the information on users’ online activities if requested by authorities.
In the PIA privacy policy, the provider claims to not collect any activity logs. The only data it collects is your email address and payment information, which is needed for the signing-up process. PIA VPN also logs cookie identifiers, the territory of origin, and your ZIP code. In addition, PIA’s privacy policy states:
“While we may disclose collected Personal Data to necessary members in our group of companies (across our ultimate holding company and all its subsidiaries) insofar as is reasonably necessary to continue our Service in line with this Policy, we regard our commitment to user privacy as paramount.”
Another important thing in terms of logging is the PIA’s NextGen network. Its servers are RAM-only, which means that their data is wiped out with every server reboot. This reduces the risk of third-party breaches and doesn’t allow such data as your browsing activity to be collected.
Additionally, PIA has successfully gone through a third-party audit in August 2022. The VPN was audited by Deloitte Audit Romania. The audit firm tested PIA’s infrastructure and confirmed that the server configurations are in alignment with PIA’s internal privacy policies. So, you can rest assured that PIA doesn't collect your activity data.
Kill Switch
PIA VPN has two options of a reliable kill switch: a regular VPN kill switch and an advanced one. A regular kill switch will disconnect you from the internet if your VPN connection gets interrupted. The advanced kill switch prevents leaks by blocking any traffic from your device, even if your VPN is turned off. This ensures excellent IP and DNS leak protection.
You have to reconnect to the VPN or turn on your Wi-Fi manually in order to restore the connection. In this way, your real IP address won’t accidentally leak.
But bear in mind that the two types of kill switches are only available on the Windows app – other apps have only the regular kill switch.
Split tunneling
Under the Split Tunneling tab of Private Internet Access VPN there are lots of options for setting up split tunneling. It’s quite a useful feature that lets you select the applications that use (or don’t use) the VPN connection.
It can be helpful when you want to use online banking on one browser while privately browsing with another. However, split tunneling is not limited to browsers – you can also include/exclude games and other apps that use the internet connection.
When I tested this feature, I found that the Bypass VPN option didn't work for some apps but worked for others. Oracle VM VirtualBox didn’t work with the split tunneling feature at all (it functioned as if it wasn't on the split tunneling list). However, Google Chrome functioned as it should.
Port forwarding
PIA VPN supports port forwarding, an advanced feature that helps you connect to a remote device (among other things).
However, I found port forwarding a bit frustrating to use since a forwarded port gets assigned to you randomly. As a result, you need to configure your network to forward that port as well. It's also important to note that PIA’s US servers don’t support port forwarding at all.
What I did like about this feature is that you can further customize it with a command line interface and write your own scripts.
Multi-hop
PIA VPN allows you to use a proxy if you want to redirect the VPN connection through an additional location for an extra layer of anonymity and obfuscation when torrenting. You can also use this feature on your torrenting client or browser to save bandwidth.
Simply go to the Multi-hop tab and select the option you want your connection to go through. You can choose between the SOCKS5 Proxy and Shadowsocks. The latter might even bypass the Great Firewall of China. It offers six proxy countries in total: the UK, Switzerland, Canada, the US, the Netherlands, and Japan.
Ad blocking
If you don’t want to see annoying ads anymore, then PIA’s got your back. All of its apps include an ad-blocking feature called MACE that blocks online ads at the DNS level. This means that you won’t encounter any pop-ups or banners anymore.
What’s even better is that PIA will also block YouTube ads, which will save you a lot of time and nerves. You also won’t accidentally open malicious websites. In addition, the tool blocks trackers that can compromise your online security.
To activate the feature, simply open the VPN application and enable the MACE setting.
Dedicated IP
Unlike the IP addresses on regular VPN servers, dedicated IP addresses are only used by you. This helps prevent regular Captcha interruptions and ensures a smoother browsing experience. Plus, a dedicated IP address lets you access IP-restricted networks.
Currently, PIA offers dedicated IPs in 25 locations in 10 countries: Belgium, Sweden, the US, Australia, Canada, Switzerland, Germany, the UK, Japan, and Singapore. A dedicated IP costs extra, and is not included with your regular PIA subscription.
InBrowser – Private Browsing
PIA VPN also offers a private (incognito) browser called InBrowser. Each time you exit the browser, everything, including cookies and history, gets wiped out. But if you want InBrowser to remember active tabs, you can customize the privacy settings.
I really liked the fact you can lock your favorite sites using biometrics, such as TouchID or FaceID.
The browser is only available on mobile devices, including Android and iOS. And the best part – it’s completely free.
Identity Guard
PIA’s Identity Guard monitors whether your email address has been a part of a data breach. In other words, it checks where your sensitive data has been obtained without your knowledge.
You won’t find this feature in any of PIA VPN’s apps. It’s only available on your web account in the left menu.
Once you click on the feature, you’ll be taken to the breach monitor where you’ll have to enter your email address. Then, you’ll need to confirm it for security reasons, and you’ll be able to view any past breaches in one place.
Other security features
Besides all of the above-mentioned security features, PIA VPN offers other additional features:
- DNS Leak Protection – you can connect to default DNS servers or customize your own settings to prevent DNS leaks.
- Obfuscation – this allows you to hide your VPN usage and make your traffic appear as a regular one.
- Automation – you can set your VPN to automatically connect to certain networks, depending on your own preferences.
- P2P servers – all PIA VPN servers support P2P connection for safer file sharing.
Hands-on experience with Private Internet Access
Besides PIA’s speed and content unblocking capabilities, I wanted to test it even further. So I teamed up with our research team to see how well it does with streaming, torrenting, and gaming.
PIA VPN has streaming-optimized servers and is capable of unblocking US libraries of some of the most popular streaming platforms. As for libraries in other countries, or streaming services other than Netflix, I suspected that PIA VPN might not be as good when compared to NordVPN, as noted in our PIA vs NordVPN comparison. Nevertheless, I took a closer look at how well the PIA VPN works for streaming.
PIA VPN unblocked geo-blocked videos on BBC iPlayer and YouTube without breaking a sweat. It also seems that all of their US servers unblock Hulu. So, if you're looking into ways to unblock US streaming libraries, PIA can be helpful.
As our latest test results show, PIA is good for torrenting, as all of its servers support P2P and torrenting. The VPN also offers an integrated SOCKS5 proxy and the Shadowsocks option to reroute your internet traffic for even more protection (or to protect only your torrent client, for example). According to my tests, you can expect PIA to work with the following torrenting clients:
- uTorrent
- BitTorrent
- qBittorrent
For this PIA VPN review, I tried torrenting on a macOS device. I was pleasantly surprised by PIA’s performance. That’s because torrenting not only worked – it was really fast and almost on par with all the other torrenting VPNs that I tried. I tried downloading a 5.7GB Ubuntu 24 client and it did it in less than 2 mins, while PIA’s download speed reached 62 MBps at its peak. I have to say, it did very well. There was no need to connect to specific servers for P2P support. Even the largest files didn’t take too long to download.
Lastly, I wanted to see how well PIA handled gaming. For that, I tested it playing Counter Strike while connected to UK servers. I didn’t notice any connectivity issues playing with constant VPN connection. However, I experienced minimal connection stutters when changing servers.
How to use PIA VPN?
Using PIA VPN is very simple, just like with any other VPN. All you have to do is follow these steps:
- Go to the official website of PIA and choose a plan
- Download the VPN and follow the installation instructions
- Log in and connect to the VPN
- Enjoy a secure and encrypted connection
PIA interface and compatibility
On the PIA website, you download applications to your Windows, Linux, Mac, Android, and iOS devices. In addition, there are browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Opera that help when you want to block ads.
| Platform | Experience |
| Windows | Generally good, although a little bit buggy app |
| macOS | The smoothest PIA experience |
| Linux | Incredibly easy to install and use |
| Mobile | Easy to use and navigate |
| Browser | Chrome extension offers some exclusive features |
All PIA’s apps are intuitive and user-friendly. I found the design easy on the eyes, and it allowed me to choose either a dark or light theme. You also won’t have any problems with the installation process, as it’s quick, smooth, and doesn't require any prior knowledge.
However, it still seems like the VPN is geared towards more advanced users, as the abundance of different stats may confuse people who have never used a VPN before.
It’s also worth noting that all the Private Internet Access apps offer OpenVPN and WireGuard protocols, while the iOS app also supports IKEv2/IPsec.
The PIA Windows app installs quickly and without fuss. Once launched, it opens up a simple and easy-to-navigate interface. The main window lets you manage the VPN connection, while the Settings window allows you to customize the VPN to your needs. You can also customize whether the app will be in light or dark modes.
I like the fact that the main window displays a lot of information about your connection like the protocol, encryption, port, and authentication cipher. It also includes a connection speed graph with a counter that tracks the amount of data you sent and received during the VPN session.
It’s also nice that you can snooze the VPN for a specified amount of time. However, I find it a bit inconvenient that there’s no map to choose a server from, as trying to select a server from a list is not as intuitive. You'll get a big button which, when pressed, will connect to a nearby location automatically.
I also experienced a weird bug that happened when connecting to a server. It caused my whole device to freeze up for a few minutes. Then, the app crashed, and the PC started working normally again.
There’s one more thing you should know. Under the General tab, there’s the option to choose how the app is displayed on your screen (Attached to Tray/Window). Even though the default setting is Attached to Tray, we suggest you switch to Window as soon as possible – the former option makes the app automatically close as soon as you click outside it. Also, the Settings window is displayed behind the main tab, obscuring the view.
The PIA app for Mac is just as easy to install as the one for Windows, and the app opens up an interface that looks almost identical. Most of the features are there, including port forwarding, and the kill switch. Split tunneling is available for the pre-Moneterey Mac version, so it’s not available on devices released after 2021. During my tests, the app was working smoothly and didn't crash once, which was a nice change after the Windows experience.
Installing and using the Private Internet Access VPN app on Linux was surprisingly easy. All I had to do was download an installation script and run it. It has the same user interface as the macOS and Windows apps.
The application offers the same features as its Windows and macOS counterparts. However, the split tunneling feature is more complicated, because you need to be acquainted with the basics of the Linux filesystem to be able to use it. On the other hand, it has an additional option for virtual machines.
The design of both of PIA’s mobile apps (Android and iOS) is almost identical to the desktop versions.
The functionality is also very similar. For example, you can view the full connection info, and snooze the VPN for a selected amount of time.
On the mobile operating system, the Settings menu is a bit different. Most features are renamed and simplified in comparison to the desktop apps of PIA VPN. For instance, the Android app allows you to use split tunneling only for specific apps but not for specific websites.
Private Internet Access has extensions for three browsers: Chrome, Opera, and Firefox. For further testing, I chose Chrome and Firefox.
Overall, PIA's Chrome extension is worth installing on your browser even if you already have the app on your device. It offers some neat features that browser extensions of other VPNs don’t have.
For example, it can block access to your camera, microphone, and location from websites that don’t ask for permission. On top of that, it also disables the credit card and address autofill function, meaning you won’t accidentally buy something you didn’t mean to or your credentials won’t get stolen.
The PIA VPN Firefox extension does pretty much the same as the Chrome extension. Besides, it blocks network predictions to pre-select web pages based on your browsing history and protects your fingerprint from websites tracking your device configuration.
I have also tested PIA VPN on a router to see how it works. Unfortunately, PIA VPN doesn’t offer a router applet, so I had to set it up manually. But this was not a big issue, as the provider gives clear VPN setup guides for routers.
Setting up the VPN on a router didn’t take too long and wasn’t complicated. However, it might be challenging for beginners.
Unfortunately, during my testing, the speeds dropped dramatically, and I couldn’t properly stream Netflix without buffering. Also, once you set up the VPN on a router, all of your devices that are connected to it will go through the VPN network, so you won't be able to choose different servers on different devices.
I’d suggest going the traditional way instead and installing PIA VPN apps on all devices separately. Remember, PIA offers unlimited simultaneous connections on a single account, making it one of the best VPNs for big households.
Customer support
PIA VPN has quite a few customer support options in its arsenal. If you need some quick human assistance, you can contact the agents through the 24/7 live chat.
| Private Internet Access | |
| 24/7 live chat | ✅ Yes |
| ✅ Yes | |
| Phone line | ❌ No |
| Guides and articles | ✅ Yes |
| Community forum | ✅ Yes |
If you’re more of a DIY person, you’ll benefit from the knowledge base on PIA VPN’s website. Just note that there’s no phone support, which is not surprising as that’s not something VPN providers often offer.
You can also fill in a support ticket or reach an agent through live chat. However, PIA’s customer support didn’t solve my problem with the WireGuard connection. The agent insisted that the problem was related to my device instead of the VPN.
Despite this, I still managed to get PIA to work. All things considered, I’d say that its customer service agents are qualified and polite. This really makes solving all problems that you might have easier.
PIA review: final verdict
PIA VPN is a good VPN that offers basic security for a low price, but it could do some polishing here and there. It’s a service with servers covering 91 countries, good speeds for torrenting, and a strong emphasis on security options. However, its best qualities can’t make one turn a blind eye to its flaws, such as the average speed retention rates.
Plus, the VPN is based in the US (a Five Eyes alliance country), and the customizable security levels with OpenVPN protocols may be nice for experienced users but confusing for those who haven’t used a VPN before.
All in all, Private Internet Access is a VPN for essential security measures, but my tests showed that there are other VPNs that offer much better value for your money. NordVPN, for example, offers an exceptional average speed retention rate of 88% and effortlessly unblocks streaming platforms.
How we tested PIA VPN
I teamed up with our research team to run a series of tests on Private Internet Access VPN to evaluate its security, performance, and compatibility. We followed our standard VPN testing process and considered the following criteria:
- Privacy (30%). To ensure that PIA delivers privacy-focused service, I assessed its no-logs policy, additional privacy oriented features, and the use of RAM-only. These aspects ensure that user data is kept protected and anonymous.
- Features (25%). Good VPNs are known for being feature-rich services. I tested PIA’s additional privacy features and advanced functions, like split tunneling, port forwarding, ad blocking, and Identity Guard to see if they offer the level of security PIA promises.
- Compatibility (20%). With the help of our research team, I tested Private Internet Access’ compatibility with various systems and browsers. This allowed me to make an evidence-based evaluation of PIA’s capabilities to cater to different systems.
- Customer support (15%). Whether you have any issues or simply need assistance using the service, having reliable customer support to resort to is essential. For this reason, I checked how responsive and informative PIA's customer support team is.
- Pricing (10%). I reviewed PIA’s plans, what they offer and pricing. Then I assessed the provider’s value-for-money ratio and compared it to the competitors.
Pricing (10%). I reviewed PIA’s plans, what they offer and pricing. Then I assessed the provider’s value-for-money ratio and compared it to the competitors.
Recent PIA VPN updates
Like many other VPNs, PIA is constantly rolling out new updates. Here’s what’s changed over time:
- 2024 May: introduced redesigned Android TV app
- 2024 April: released new Android app
- 2024 March: rereleased split tunneling for macOS
- 2024 February: launched Apple TV VPN app
- 2023 November: introduced a new DNS functionality for Android
- 2023 March: switched from 10 to unlimited simultaneous connections
FAQ
Can Private Internet Access be trusted?
Yes, PIA VPN offers good security options. It allows you to select the super-safe AES-256 encryption, offers some of the most secure tunneling protocols (OpenVPN and WireGuard), and has some neat security features like proxies and split tunneling.
Is PIA good for torrenting?
Yes, all the servers of Private Internet Access VPN support torrenting at a really high speed. You can use your preferred torrenting client for P2P connections. There are also the SOCKS5 and Shadowsocks proxies for an even smoother experience.
Does PIA work in China?
Yes, Private Internet Access VPN might work in China thanks to the Shadowsocks proxy. However, there are no consistent reports about this. Additionally, you can check our guide on the best VPNs for China.
Does PIA work with Hulu?
Yes, right now, most users are able to unblock Hulu using PIA's US servers. You can also check our list of other VPNs that work great with Hulu. In addition, you can use PIA to unblock other streaming services like Netflix thanks to its wide variety of countries and servers.
Does Private Internet Access work on Firestick?
Yes, you can use PIA’s Smart DNS feature for Amazon Firestick. You will find the instructions on the official page of Private Internet Access VPN. Also, feel free to check our top VPNs for Amazon Fire Stick & Fire TV.
Can you get PIA VPN for free?
No, PIA VPN doesn’t offer a free version or a free trial. You can only take advantage of its 30-day money-back guarantee if you’re not happy with the service.
Is Private Internet Access based in the US?
Yes, PIA VPN is based in the US, a member of the Five Eyes alliance. If you’re looking for a more privacy-friendly VPN, take a look at the best VPNs outside the Fourteen Eyes alliance.
How many devices can I use with PIA?
PIA VPN allows unlimited simultaneous connections. You can use the same PIA VPN account for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Linux devices.
What is the difference between PIA SOCKS5 and Shadowsocks?
SOCKS5 proxy will get you faster speeds, but the connection will not be as secure. On the other hand, Shadowsocks uses encryption, therefore making it a more secure connection. I recommend using Shadowsocks if you want to access geo-restricted content or avoid censorship.
Who owns PIA VPN?
PIA VPN is owned by Kape Technologies, a UK-based computer software company. Kape Technologies also owns other well-known brands, like CyberGhost VPN, ExpressVPN, and Intego antivirus.
