This Months Best Offers for Private Internet Access (PIA) VPN
1 Month
$9.95
Per Month
(Billed Monthly)
5 Simultaneous Connections
Present in 29 Countries
3000+ Servers Worldwide
36 + 3 Months
$2.03
Per Month
5 Simultaneous Connections
Present in 29 Countries
3000+ Servers Worldwide
24/7 Live Customer Support
12 Months
$3.33
Per Month
5 Simultaneous Connections
Present in 29 Countries
3000+ Servers Worldwide
Our Rating for PIA VPN
Privacy
9.5
Speed
9.6
Locations
7.0
Ease
6.6
Support
8.3
Value
9.2
Our Verdict
8.4
CHOOSE FOR
Super fast US servers
Tons of privacy options & tools
Strict zero logs policy
Fantastic privacy options
IDEAL FOR
Privacy
Streaming
Unblocking
Sports
COMPATIBLE DEVICES
iPhone/iPad/Mac
Windows
Android
Linux
PIA VPN Overview
Private Internet Access (PIA) is one of the most immediately recognisable names in the VPN industry. Its longevity can be credited in the main to its excellent deep server network and fast speeds but also a wide selection of privacy features and security settings that can be optimised.
The user interface is rudimentary and more awkward to use than a lot of current apps but thankfully it’s look and appearance belies the apps great performance.
It’s surprising that for such a long-standing VPN provider PIA has such a frustratingly limited server spread with only 28 countries covered. Customer support is also falling behind the competition with the live chat feature having been recently removed.
Despite these drawbacks, PIA delivers dependable and incredibly fast online VPN protection.
WHAT ARE THE PROS
Zero logs policy
Supremely configurable for privacy and speed
Good global server performance
WHAT ARE THE CONS
Based in the privacy-unfriendly US
Very bare bones desktop software
Server network could be bigger
Privacy
PIA really emerges from the crowd with their selection of configurable privacy options. AES-256 encryption is the highest level of encryption available with PIA but others can be chosen depending on the users requirements. DNS and IPv6 leak protection can be manually turned on or off and users will be able to determine which port they want to use for their VPN connection.
PIA provides malware, tracker and ad blocker as standard, an automatic kill-switch but most importantly, a strictly adhered to zero logs policy. Although the company is based in the US, with it’s draconian privacy laws, PIA maintains that it “absolutely does not keep any logs, of any kind, period.” This is reassuring.
| Features | PIA VPN |
|---|---|
| Open VPN (Auto) | |
| Open VPN (UDP/TCP) | |
| PPTP | |
| SSTP | |
| L2TP/IPSec | |
| IKEv2 | |
| Supports TCP Port 443 | |
| Supports Multihop | |
| Permits P2P | |
| Strongest Encryption | AES-256 |
| First Party DNS Servers | |
| DNS Leak Blocking | |
| Killswitch | |
| Accepts Cryptocurrency | |
| Accepts Paypal | |
| Activity Logging | |
| Connection Logging | |
| Tor Over VPN Server |
| Features | PIA VPN |
|---|---|
| Avg Global DL Speed | 75.74 |
| Avg Global UL Speed | 29.54 |
| Ping Time | 2ms |
| Unlimited Bandwidth | |
| Average Time to Connect | 10s |
Speed & Performance
PIA may operate a small global network but the servers they do have pack a significant punch. Download speeds in the US are second to none but server performance maintains reliability across all locations. The system, with over 3000 servers, is certainly robust enough to accommodate large amounts of file sharing and streaming. Low latency also means that gamers can expect a smooth experience using PIA.
Speed Breakdown
We continuously test the performance of all our featured VPN providers to ensure you have all the latest information you need to choose.
For this provider, we use our own proprietary speed test tool to track speeds between servers within each location with traffic directed through the VPN provider.
Our tests are intended to give you an idea of the range of connection speeds. The closer the server and faster your connection, the faster your speeds.
| Server Location | Download Speed (Mbps) | Upload Speed (Mbps) |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | 93.37 | 98.02 |
| Germany | 149.62 | 140.78 |
| UK | 409.66 | 276.46 |
| USA | 280.48 | 181.18 |
| Singapore | 36.62 | 171.56 |
| Netherlands | 244.14 | 102.81 |
| France | 154.29 | 113.65 |
| Canada | 181.83 | 48.10 |
| Japan | 184.35 | 134.59 |
| Features | PIA VPN |
|---|---|
| Server Locations | 43 |
| Servers | 3,172+ |
| IP Addresses | Unconfirmed |
| Dynamic Server Switching |
Locations
With just 43 locations in 28 countries, PIA lacks the range of locations served up by the top VPN providers. Europe is especially poorly represented with servers in only 15 countries, and only a paltry three in the UK.
North American users have some degree of city-level selection but the choice is extremely limited in South and Central America as well as Asia.
Ease of Use
New VPN users might be a little disconcerted by the most austere of VPN user interfaces but the usability and sheer level of configuration available is something that advanced users will love. All of the settings can be accessed through one additional menu screen, and clicking the right mouse button will reveal the server menu.
The same level of configuration with privacy settings is included in the mobile apps but contrastingly the mobile app does offer a much sleeker, modern looking interface.
WHAT ARE THE PROS
Highly configurable and flexible
Very functional
Mobile apps are simple yet powerful
WHAT ARE THE CONS
No modern user interface on desktop
Off-putting to inexperienced users
Changing servers is a bit clunky
| Features | PIA VPN |
|---|---|
| Support Quality | 7.6 |
| 24/7 Support | |
| Live Chat | |
| Knowledge Base | |
| Video Tutorials |
Customer Support
Up until recently, PIA did have a live chat feature on their website but due to security reasons, this has since been removed. Email support is available 24/7 with efficient responses which display a good level of technical support and knowledge.
There is a combination of searchable video and text-based resources on the PIA website. They cover a range of subjects including set-up and installation as well as guides to troubleshooting. It should be noted that some of the articles might be to jargon-heavy for less tech-savvy users.
Value for Money
WHAT ARE THE PROS
Brilliant range of privacy features
Can optimize settings for speed or security
Excellent worldwide server performance
WHAT ARE THE CONS
Desktop app is basic in the extreme
Server network is quite small
Based in the privacy-unfriendly US