If you are looking for a VPN that ensures private internet access, why not consider using a service that promises that right in its name, Private Internet Access (PIA)?
PIA is a well-known VPN service provider with a strong reputation for delivering a secure internet connection and dependable online privacy to users since it was first established in 2010.
In today’s market, consumers expect a lot from their VPN including, including an ample number of servers, robust privacy and security protocols, a user-friendly interface, broad device compatibility, and affordability, among other essential qualities.
To assess whether PIA fulfills these modern criteria, we conducted a comprehensive Private Internet Access review. Our investigation aimed to determine how well PIA performs in various activities, such as torrenting, streaming, gaming, and private internet browsing.
In summary, PIA is a viable option for streaming, successfully unblocking platforms like Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, and various Netflix libraries. It’s also a secure and reliable VPN for torrenting. PIA offers a vast server network, first-rate privacy and security features, and solid customer service all at low cost.
Additionally, PIA has implemented quality improvement measures, such as a Bug Bounty Program and unlimited simultaneous devices on each account, to stay on top of what consumers want in their VPN in 2024.
Read on for an in-depth exploration of the benefits of using PIA, along with some drawbacks we identified during our evaluation of this service.
Get PIA with 83% OFF
+ 4 months FREE!Rating | 8.2 out of 10 |
Rank: | 6th out of 50 VPNs |
Best for: | Best for advanced users |
Security: | AES 256-bit encryption |
Privacy: | No logs, independently audited by Deloitte |
Price: | As low as $2.03/month |
Servers: | 30,000+ servers in 91 countries |
Streaming: | Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, (HBO) Max, Hulu, Vudu, and more |
Devices: | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS |
Connections: | Unlimited connections |
Coupons: | Get 83% OFF the Private Internet Access 2-Year Plan + 4 Months FREE! |
PIA is a good choice for anyone looking for a user-friendly and affordable VPN with top security features. Its unlimited simultaneous devices make it an attractive choice for large households.
Private Internet Access: Pros and cons
Overall, we found PIA to be a secure and reliable VPN service, making it clear why it has stayed on the list of best VPNs for years. In a brief overview of our extensive Private Internet Access VPN review, here is our list of the things we liked best about PIA VPN and the things we felt could use some improvement.
Pros
- Good security features
- Independently audited no-logs policy
- Unblocks Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime, and more
- Good for torrenting
- Vast network of servers
- Split tunneling
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
- 24/7 live chat support
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- Based in the USA
- Slower than competing VPN providers
- Infrequent app updates
PIA VPN: What’s new?
In the ever-changing field of cybersecurity and VPN service provisions, Private Internet Access has proven its commitment to staying on top of the latest technology in the field. Here are the updates they’ve made over the past few years to improve their quality and service.
- April 2020. Included the WireGuard protocol on all major operating systems.
- June 2020. Added 24/7 live chat support.
- December 2020. Introduced dedicated IP addresses.
- August 2022. Completed and passed its first independent privacy policy audit.
- October 2022. Launched the Bug Bounty Program.
- March 2023. Allowed unlimited simultaneous connections.
Private Internet Access overview
Private Internet Access (PIA) remains one of the oldest and most widely recognized VPN service providers, holding favor among both experts and subscribers since its beginning in 2010. Owned by Kape Technologies, the same entity behind other top VPNs, including ExpressVPN and CyberGhost, PIA distinguishes itself as a privacy-focused service, notably offering anonymous payment methods.
In this Private Internet Access VPN review, we assessed its performance in various areas, such as torrenting, streaming, speed, security, customer service, and more. The overall assessment found that PIA VPN is a cost-effective solution that provides privacy, security, and a vast network of servers to its subscribers.
In addition to its affordable pricing and expansive server network, PIA has recently transitioned to providing unlimited simultaneous connections, allowing users to protect their entire household, no matter how large, for one low cost.
When you compare Private Internet Access to other premium VPNs when it comes to speed, PIA lags behind, even when using the lightweight WireGuard protocol, though speeds are generally adequate for most online activities, especially when sticking with local servers. If you are looking for a blazing-fast VPN for seamless gaming and streaming, you should consider faster VPN alternatives with advanced security features, such as ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and Surfshark.
Users should also be aware that PIA is not able to bypass the Great Firewall of China, so if that’s a priority, you are better off with a plan that includes obfuscated servers such as ExpressVPN, NordVPN, or Surfshark.
Overall, despite its limited drawbacks, for users seeking an inexpensive, trustworthy, and easy-to-use service provider, PIA is a great choice!
PIA pricing & plans: How much does it cost?
The price for Private Internet Access varies depending on the subscription length. As with most VPN services, the longer the contract, the lower the monthly cost. Luckily, PIA provides a 30-day trial period so you can take advantage of the lower pricing risk-free. Private Internet Access pricing is as follows:
Version | Price |
---|---|
1 Month Plan | $11.99/month |
6 Month Plan | $7.50/month or $45.00 total |
2 Year Plan | $2.03/month or $56.94 in total |
In comparison to other highly rated VPNs, Private Internet Access is less expensive than ExpressVPN ($6.67/month for the 1-Year Plan), NordVPN ($3.99/month for the 2-Year Plan) and Surfshark ($2.29/month for the 2-Year Plan). However, Its monthly rate is a bit more than Surfshark’s, which is available for 11.95/month compared to Surfshark’s 10.99/month.
Keep an eye out for Private Internet Access deals throughout the year, especially around the holidays, like Black Friday and Cyber Monday, where you can often find coupon codes for reduced prices or additional free months added to your subscription plan.
While Private Internet Access does not offer a free trial, as other VPN providers, including ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and Surfshark do, it does provide a 30-day money-back guarantee, which you can use as a free trial. All you need to do is cancel within 30 days, and you will receive a full refund.
You can pay for your PIA VPN subscription by credit card, PayPal, gift cards, or cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin and Litecoin.
Can you get PIA for free?
You can’t exactly get Private Internet Access for free, but you can give it a one-month trial for free by taking advantage of their 30-day money-back guarantee. All you need to do is subscribe to any PIA VPN plan and then reach out to Private Internet Access support to cancel before your 30 days are up. Once you’ve canceled, they will give you a full refund, allowing you to try out PIA for free.
Is PIA VPN safe?
Yes. PIA is a safe VPN with top-of-the-line security and privacy features. Private Internet Access offers military-grade encryption, a verified no-logs policy, RAM-only servers, and a variety of security features to keep you safe online. The one area of concern is it’s headquartered in the United States, which is part of the 5/9/14 eyes alliance; however, real-life challenges in the courts and an independent third-party audit confirm that PIA maintains no logs to hand over to the authorities should they request it.
Encryption
Private Internet Access provides four different levels of encryption with the OpenVPN protocol to choose from. The default setting is AES-128 (CBC), or you can change the setting to AES-128 (GCM), AES-256 (CBC), or AES-256 (GCM).
All of the options are highly secure, with AES-256 being the gold standard in the VPN industry. GMC is a more recent version of encryption, providing improved speed and security.
Authentication is verified using a SHA2 hash algorithm as well as the RSA-4095 handshake.
Tunneling protocols
Private Internet Access offers three different tunneling protocols to choose from in order to tailor your VPN connections to your specific needs. Tunneling options are as follows:
- WireGuard. The most recent tunneling protocol on the market, WireGuard, is known for its strong security and improved speed in comparison to the older protocol options.
- OpenVPN (UDP/TCP). A commonly used open-source VPN protocol. OpenVPN UDP offers faster connections, while OpenVPN TCP provides more stable connections at the expense of its speed.
- IKEv2/IPSec. An ideal choice for mobile devices due to its high level of stability and speed. This protocol is only available on the iOS app.
Kill switch
A kill switch protects you by automatically disconnecting you from the internet should your VPN connection drop unexpectedly, leaving you exposed without your knowledge.
In the event that your VPN disconnects, the PIA switch will automatically kick in, preventing automatic reconnection without the protective shield of the PIA VPN service and, therefore, avoiding IP and data leaks. In order to resume your internet access, you need to restart your Wi-Fi connection.
PIA also offers an advanced option that needs to be manually configured in the settings menu. When the advanced feature is activated, it ensures that you are not connected to the internet before the VPN app launches, further enhancing your security and privacy.
To enable the Kill Switch option, go to Settings, then Privacy, and select VPN Kill Switch and/or Advanced Kill Switch.
We tested both the standard and advanced features and found they performed well, providing full security even in the event of a disruption of your PIA connection.
Private DNS servers
When DNS queries are handled by your regular Internet Service Provider (ISP), that information can be stored and shared by the ISP, which opens up a possibility for your true IP address to be revealed and a way to track your online activities.
PIA protects you from this potential exposure by offering private DNS servers and handling your DNS queries on their own. It’s possible to manually set up Windows to any custom DNS server you want, but if you want to protect yourself from trackers and IP address leaks, stick with the Private Internet Access DNS servers.
Logging policy
The only information PIA VPN retains is your e-mail address, payment information, cookie identifiers, territory of origin, and zip code. It does not maintain any activity logs.
To ensure your privacy further, Private Internet Access uses RAM-only servers, so your data is wiped clean every time you restart your VPN server. That way, your browsing activity can’t be collected, and the chance of a breach is reduced.
PIA’s privacy policy was audited in August of 2022 by Deloitte Audit Romania, and they confirmed that PIA VPN upholds its privacy policies.
Independent security audits
When it comes to privacy, there’s no need to take PIA at its word. In order to provide full transparency and trust, PIA invited the Big 4 auditing firm Deloitte Audit Romania to assess its servers and management systems to evaluate its no-log claim.
The audit met all requirements of the International Standard on Assurance Engagements 3000, revised and established by the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board.
Results confirmed that Private Internet Access complies with its privacy policies and is not designed to track the identity of users or monitor their online activities. In other words, PIA is structured to make sure there is no record of your online activities, so even if the US government demands your private information, they will have nothing to share.
PIA VPN has also proven its no-log policy in practice. On multiple occasions, PIA received a subpoena for its logs, and they had no data to hand over to the courts.
Jurisdiction
Private Internet Access VPN services are based in the United States, which is part of the 5/9/14 eyes alliance. It’s an alliance of nations that allows for the surveillance and sharing of Internet user’s data if it is considered in the interest of national security.
While a jurisdiction in the USA isn’t ideal, Private Internet Access doesn’t maintain any activity logs, so they don’t have any information to hand over to government agencies should they request it.
Our PIA leak tests
Does Private Internet Access live up to its claim of complete WebRTC, IP, and DNS leak protection? We put it to the test on a number of servers located around the world and detected no leaks, including in response to DNS requests.
After this testing, you can rest assured that there will be no exposure of your real IP address, browsing history, or DNS requests. Leak protection is automatically turned on when you use a PIA server, so there’s no need to head to the settings menu to activate it.
Private Internet Access speeds: Is this a fast VPN?
We conducted speed testing on download and upload speeds on a variety of protocols and devices on VPN server locations around the world as part of our Private Internet Access review. As expected, we found the best speed using the lightweight WireGuard protocol. Here is a summary of the results:
- US server. Maintained 90% of the download speed and 85% of the upload speed.
- UK server. Maintained 88% of the download speed and 87% of the upload speed.
- Australian server. Maintained 85% of the download speed and 55% of the upload speed.
Download retention | Upload retention | |
---|---|---|
US (NY) | 90% | 85% |
UK server | 88% | 87% |
Australian server | 85% | 55% |
According to our findings, the speed on Private Internet Access does not match up to some of the other top-tier VPN services, including ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and Surfshark. For the best speed on PIA, stick with local servers and the WireGuard protocol.
PIA features
Private Internet Access offers a large number of features designed to maximize your online security and allow you to customize your VPN service. Keep on reading for a detailed description of PIA’s offered features.
Port forwarding
Port forwarding lets you connect to a remote server from your home device. The feature also allows you to write scripts and customize using a command line interface.
When you use PIA’s port forwarding feature, the forwarded port is randomly assigned, requiring you to do some configuring on your network to forward that port too. This feature is not available on PIA’s US servers.
Dedicated IP
For an additional fee, Private Internet Access offers dedicated IP addresses across 25 locations spanning 10 countries, including Belgium, Sweden, the US, Australia, Canada, Switzerland, Germany, the UK, Japan, and Singapore.
A dedicated IP address, in contrast to the shared IP addresses used on typical VPN servers, is exclusive to you. This distinction minimizes the occurrence of Captcha incidents and allows for a more seamless browsing experience. Furthermore, having a dedicated IP allows you to access restricted networks based on your IP.
Identity Guard
Identity Guard provides data breach monitoring to ensure your email address, which could jeopardize your private information, hasn’t been obtained by someone else without your knowing about it.
To activate Identity Guard, you need to go to directly to your web account, it’s not available on any of the apps. Once you open the web account, go to the menu on the left-hand side and click on the Identity Guard feature. Then, enter your email address in the breach monitor and confirm.
Multihop
The Mulithop mode offers an extra layer of privacy protection by redirecting your traffic through two VPN servers instead of one. When used with a torrenting client, it not only improves security but also saves on bandwidth!
To set it up, go to the Muli-hop tab in the settings section and select either SOCKS5 Proxy or Shadowsocks. Then, choose from one of the six proxy countries: Canada, Japan, The Netherlands, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, or the United States.
Ad-blocker
Ads are not only annoying, but they may also have viruses or malware embedded in them that can infect your device. PIA offers the MACE feature to block unwanted ads at the DNS level to protect you from pop-ups, trackers, and malicious websites that can put your online security at risk.
In order to activate the MACE feature, all you have to do is open the VPN app and enable MACE in the settings sections. Then enjoy ad-free, worry-free internet access.
In-Browser
Private Internet Access offers a customizable incognito browser called InBrowser. When it’s active, your entire browser history and cookies get wiped clean every time you exit the browser. If you prefer, you can manually set up InBrowser in the settings section to remember active tabs.
You can also use InBrowser to shield specific sites with TouchID or Face ID. Go to the privacy settings to set up InBrowser exactly how you want it.
InBrowser is available on Android and iOS devices at no extra cost.
PIA server network & locations
Private Internet Access VPN has a vast network of servers, including more than 30,000 servers in 91 countries around the world. The servers are well distributed across the globe, including the following regions:
- Americas: 17 counties
- Europe: 43 countries
- Asia Pacific: 19 countries
- Middle East, Africa & Central Asia: 12 countries
As part of its ongoing quality improvement, PIA has been adding NextGen servers, which are physical servers completely owned by PIA, meaning PIA is in total control over the server’s privacy and security. The vast majority of Private Internet Access servers are physically located in the county they are listed in.
A small number of the servers are geo-located, using virtual servers. This is done primarily when it is impossible to have physical servers in a given location due to the specific country’s regulations. For example, if you connect to a server in Hong Kong, it is actually located in Singapore. Virtual servers are more easily detectable as VPNs but otherwise function the same as the other servers.
How to use PIA VPN
Setting up and using a Private Internet Access VPN is pretty straightforward. Just follow the steps below!
- Go to the Private Internet Access (PIA) website.
- Click the Get PIA VPN Today button.
- Select a plan and purchase a subscription.
- Download the app onto your device.
- Select a country from the list or use the quick connect feature to connect the VPN.
- Enjoy secure and private internet access.
Is PIA good and safe for streaming?
During testing, we found that Private Internet Access was able to unblock most major streaming platforms, including Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and more. PIA VPN has streaming-optimized servers included in its server network.
While Private Internet Access was able to unblock many of the sites we tested, including US and UK Netflix, as well as many other streaming libraries, we did find that ExpressVPN and NordVPN were more reliable at bypassing geo-blocks on a broad range of sites from across the globe.
Private Internet Access also offers Smart DNS, which allows you to stream content on devices that may not support PIA apps, such as gaming consoles and smart TVs. Smart DNS allows users to easily create a virtual location right on their device. Keep in mind, however, that Smart DNS does not offer any encryption or other security features.
How to unblock Netflix with PIA
Netflix libraries differ from country to country based on local licensing agreements. If Netflix doesn’t have streaming rights to the content you want to watch in your region, it will use geo-blocks to prevent you from accessing that content in order to be in compliance with copyright regulations. That can be pretty frustrating to travelers who want to keep watching their favorite programs while abroad.
Private Internet Access lets you bypass Netflix’s geographical restrictions by tricking Netflix into thinking you are in a licensed country no matter where you are in the world. It does this by hiding your true location and VPN usage while giving you a new IP address in the country of your choice. All you’ve got to do is follow these simple steps.
- Purchase a subscription to Private Internet Access.
- Download the PIA app onto your device.
- Use the VPN app to connect to a server in the country you want.
- Open Netflix and search for the title you want to watch.
- Enjoy your show!
How to unblock other streaming services with PIA
Netflix isn’t the only streaming service with geographical restrictions. Other streaming services, such as Disney Plus and Amazon Prime Video, have different content libraries in different countries.
In addition, some streaming services, such as BBC iPlayer and Hulu, don’t have county-specific libraries, but they are only available in select countries. For example, Hulu is only available in the United States and Japan, while BBC iPlayer can only be accessed from the UK.
Follow these steps to access streaming services like BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and more with PIA from anywhere in the world.
- Select a PIA plan and subscribe.
- Install the PIA app on your device.
- Use the PIA app to connect to a server in the location you want to access.
- Log onto the streaming service of your choice.
- Enjoy watching!
Is Private Internet Access good for torrenting?
Yes. Private Internet Access is a good VPN for torrenting. All of the PIA servers are P2P optimized and support torrenting. It also offers an integrated SOCKS5 proxy and Shadowsocks, providing an extra layer of security by re-routing your internet connection. PIA is compatible with BitTorrent, uTorrent, and qBittorrent.
Apps and devices: What does PIA support?
PIA’s apps are compatible with most common devices and operating systems, including Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, and iOS. It also comes with browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Opera.
The apps PIA uses are designed to be user-friendly. They are quick and easy to install, even for a beginner, and you can choose if you want a light or dark appearance. In addition, the download pages for each VPN client include a detailed list of changes over time, and you have the ability to select an older version if an update isn’t working well for you.
Windows & macOS apps
Windows
The Windows app is easy to install and navigate. You can manage your VPN connection from the main window. You can also customize your VPN preferences in the Settings window, including a light or dark mode.
Users can easily select their server location from a list; however, there is no interactive map to help you find a server location as some other VPN providers offer. There is also an auto-connect button, which will connect you to the closest server, offering the best speed automatically.
From the main window, users can see details about your VPN connection, including the authentication cipher protocol, encryption, port, and speed. It also keeps track of the amount of data sent and received during each session. There is even a snooze feature that allows you to pause the VPN connection for a specified time frame.
When using Private Internet Access with a Windows device, it’s a good idea to change the default setting from Attached to Tray to Windows as soon as you get started, otherwise the the app will automatically close as soon as you click outside of it.
When using Windows, there were occasional bugs that caused the device to freeze and the app to crash, but the device was up and running again soon after.
macOS
Mac users get the high-quality apps that Windows users do, with only a few differences between the Private Internet Access Windows app and the macOS app. It’s equally easy to install, and the user-friendly interface is almost the same.
All of the features available on Windows are also offered on the macOS app, including the kill switch and port forwarding.
A bonus of the macOS app is that it is unlike the Windows app, we didn’t encounter any glitches using the macOS app. The only downside is split tunneling is not available on the newer iOS devices released since 2021.
iOS & Android apps
PIA’s mobile apps for both Android and iOS are well-designed and easy to use. The display on the mobile iOS app and the Android app are just about the same intuitive design that you’ll find on the Windows and macOS apps.
The Android and iOS apps work the same way, allowing you to adjust the connection and view all the details about your connection from the home screen. You can also snooze the VPN for a specified time on both Android and iOS devices.
The biggest difference with the PIA’s apps for mobile devices is in the Settings section, which offers simplified versions of the PIA features and variants in the names of some of the features.
The other significant difference between PIA’s app for mobiles is that, unlike iOS, the Android app allows for split tunneling, where you can hand-pick which apps you want to go through the VPN tunnel, and which should remain on your standard ISP. The Android app split tunneling feature, however, is only allowed for specific apps, not websites. In addition, MACE, which protects users from ads, malware, and trackers, is not available on the Android app.
Linux
When using Private Internet Access with Linux, you get the same easy-to-use interface that you get with all of the PIA apps. It’s also easy to install; all you have to do is download and run the installation script.
The Linux apps offer all the same features that you get with Windows and macOS. It is, however, more difficult to set up the split tunneling feature on Linux, as it requires familiarity with the Linux filesystem. If you run into any obstacles, the 24/7 live chat support is available to help out.
Chrome extension
PIA’s Chrome extension is a valuable addition to your browser, even if you already have the app installed on your device. It introduces unique features not commonly found in other VPN browser extensions, including preventing unauthorized access to your camera, microphone, and location by websites that don’t request permission. Additionally, it deactivates the autofill function for credit card details and addresses, reducing the risk of accidental purchases or theft.
Private Internet Access also offers browser extensions for Firefox and Opera.
Router compatibility
Private Internet Access VPN makes it easy to set up your VPN on your router with its dedicated router app, or if you prefer, you can set up PIA on your router manually. Once you’ve set up the VPN on your router, you can cover your entire household simultaneously, even devices that aren’t VPN compatible, like some gaming consoles and smart TVs.
Detailed instructions on how to set up PIA on your router can be found on the PIA website, and if you need any help, the 24/7 live chat support is available to advise you.
It is possible to use PIA with the most common routers, including AsusWRT, DD-WRT, LEDE, Merlin, Pfsense, OpenWRT, Tomato, TP-link, and all OpenVPN-compatible routers.
Private Internet Access: Customer support
Private Internet Access VPN offers a variety of customer support services for its users, including:
- 24/7 live chat support
- Email support
- Community forum
- Articles and guides
Customer service representatives are standing by 24/7 via live chat support to answer all of your questions. We found the response time to be quick and the representatives to be professional.
If you’re not in a hurry, you can complete a support ticket via e-mail and get your answer within a day or two.
Guides and articles are also available on the website for individuals who prefer to figure out how to do things on their own.
The only thing missing from Private Internet Access customer support is phone support, which is consistent with the industry standard.
PIA: Good alternatives
While PIA is an excellent VPN choice, for individuals looking to explore the market more, we recommend checking out ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and Surfshark as strong alternatives to PIA.
- ExpressVPN. Whether you’re using a virtual private network for streaming your favorite shows, online gaming, or torrenting, you can count on ExpressVPN. While it’s a bit more expensive than the competing plans, its excellence in customer service, security, privacy, speed, and reliability make it worth every penny!
- NordVPN. NordVPN offers fast speeds, reliable service, and many high-end features to protect your privacy and security. Users get the benefit of NordLynx, NordVPN’s proprietary VPN protocol, which offers a high level of security and top speeds. NordVPN is both user-friendly and competitively priced! It’s no wonder it’s one of the most popular VPNs on the market.
- Surfshark. If you are looking for great value, Surfshark offers secure, private, and dependable service for a low cost, and subscribers can connect an unlimited number of devices under one account! Plus, it’s fast enough for smooth gaming, streaming, and torrenting.
FAQ
Is PIA legit?
Yes. PIA has been and remains a trusted VPN service provider since 2010 and has been owned by the reputable Kape Technologies since 2019, which also owns ExpressVPN and CyberGhostVPN. It has proven its reliability over time to provide secure and private connections. Its privacy policy has been independently audited by Deloitte Audit Romania.
Is PIA trustworthy?
Yes. Private Internet Access is a trustworthy VPN service. PIA offers AES-256 bit encryption, which is considered the gold standard in the VPN industry, as well as the top-of-the-line SHA2 hash algorithm and the RSA-4095 handshake for authentication.
With PIA, you can use OpenVPN protocols, WireGuard protocol, and IKEv2/IPSec, the best of the VPN protocols. Additional features include Smart DNS, DNS & IPv6 leak protection, a kill switch, split tunneling, and other features to secure your internet traffic.
You don’t have to just take our word for it! PIA’s privacy policy has been independently audited and was found to be reliable.
Is Private Internet Access a good VPN?
Yes. PIA is a good VPN that is available for a low cost. When you use PIA, you can count on a secure and private internet connection. It works well for torrenting and can unblock many streaming platforms, including US Netflix.
PIA, however, does have some limitations. The connection speed, especially when connected to a long-distance server, can’t keep up with other premium providers, like NordVPN and ExpressVPN. Plus, if you are looking for a VPN that works in China, ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and Surfshark are better choices.
Does PIA work in China?
No. Private Internet Access VPN does not work in China. The VPN service does not offer the security software, including obfuscated servers necessary to bypass China’s Great Firewall.
If accessing China is a priority, you are better off with ExpressVPN, NordVPN, or Surfshark as your VPN provider. Each of these offers the necessary technology, including obfuscated servers, which are impervious to deep pocket inspection and can bypass the Great Firewall of China.
Can I get PIA for free?
No. You can’t get PIA for free, but you can use the 30-day money-back guarantee as a one-month free trial. When you subscribe to any of the PIA plans, you have a full 30 days to try it out, and as long as you cancel within the trial period, you’ll get your money back. That gives you 30 days of service absolutely free.
Where is PIA based?
Private Internet Access is based in Denver, CO, in the United States. The United States is part of the 5/9/14 Eyes alliance, which means it is obliged to share data with the government if it is considered in the interest of national security; however, PIA’s independently verified no-logs policy and use of RAM-only servers mean they won’t have any data to hand over should the government or anyone else request it.
Conclusion
All in all, PIA VPN performed well in all areas of testing in our review, and we would recommend Private Internet Access to anyone looking for a solid, low-cost VPN without hesitation.
Private Internet Access is not onlyeasy for anyone to use, no matter how tech-savvy, but it is sophisticated enough for advanced users looking to customize their VPN service. Plus, PIA comes with 24/7 customer service to help its customers set up and use their VPN with ease.
In comparison with many other top VPN providers, PIA has a huge number of servers, including over 30,000 servers located in 91 countries around the world, and can unblock many popular streaming services, including Netflix US, Hulu, Disney Plus, and more.
PIA also offers a host of features to enhance your service, including top security features, unlimited simultaneous device connections, split tunneling, port forwarding, ad blocker, and more!
Having said that, Private Internet Access does have some limitations. For starters, PIA isn’t for you if you are looking for a VPN to unblock the internet from within China, as it can’t bypass the Great Firewall of China. Second, if you are looking for the fastest speeds available and the most reliable ability to bypass geo-blocks on all major streaming platforms, ExpressVPN and NordVPN are faster and more dependable options.
Overall, if you want to use one of the best, most affordable VPNs on the market, Private Internet Access is a great choice. For the best deal, subscribe to the 2-year plan!