Honest Private Internet Access VPN Overview For Users Who Care

It’s your day off. You’re walking around the city, and then you decide to check your inbox. So, you find the closest coffee shop with open Wi-Fi. You log into it but wait for a minute. Can you be sure that your data is reliably protected?

You might have heard that there are a lot of reasons why people install VPN software these days. Privacy is one of them. Using such a tool, you receive the opportunity to access websites and install software from other countries, download and share files safely. The VPN hides your IP address from the Internet Service Provider, websites, hackers, and anyone else who strives to access your data. And whatever your reason to implement VPN technology in your life, you want software that’s reliable and trustworthy. It should be intended to protect your personal information, not to compromise it. And, of course, it shouldn’t slow down your Internet speeds.

In this article, we are going to provide you with a Private Internet Access VPN review. It is a product created by a U.S-based company with Andrew Lee as a founder. Since it was launched in 2009, PIA VPN is pretty popular these days. More than 100,000 people use this software and the company promises a no-logging policy which sounds inspiring.

However, you should understand that there is always a fly in the ointment, and if a commercial company promises something, it is not necessarily true. These claims can be a part of the marketing strategy, and you can be easily hooked with loud slogans. So, there is a detailed review of PIA VPN’s advantages and disadvantages. We hope they will help you to make the right choice.

Short on Time? Here’s What Matters Most

First of all, you should know the basic information about Private Internet Access VPN. It is a subsidiary of London Trust Media with a basement in Denver, Colorado. Not that it is a bad location, but you should be at least a bit surprised about this decision. If you want to choose the software that can protect your data with a guarantee, you should pay attention to the developer’s location, namely places without surveillance alliance. Why does it matter?

When the company is located in the USA, it is subject to international alliances like Five Eyes, Nine Eyes, and 14 Eyes. They were created to make accessing people’s data legal. And you can know for sure that a Private Internet Access VPN could be legally forced to give up your personal information.

So, you have a right to be suspicious when using PIA VPN. Of course, this fact itself doesn’t mean that a Private Internet Access VPN is a bad product you need to avoid. But there is a reason to keep your eyes open.

Server Number and Locations

One of the factors that you should consider when choosing a reliable VPN is the number of servers it provides you with. PIA VPN has over 24000 servers in 773 countries, and it looks not so bad. The more servers the company has, the less crowded they are. It means you can choose the closest server to ensure a fast Internet connection.

Protocols

Different VPN companies can provide their customers with different product flavors, using various protocols to create an encrypted tunnel between your device and the server. Most experts prefer OpenVPN. The primary reason is that it is open-source which means a lot of volunteers tested it to define some possible vulnerabilities.

Speaking about Private Internet Access VPN, you can get access to OpenVPN, and that is good news. However, there is also L2TP/IPSec which are older. We wouldn’t recommend you using these other protocols, but it’s nice that this company provides customers with options. And you should already know about the cutting edge, the WireGuard protocol. PIA VPN offers it as a beta opportunity.

Streaming – Does PIA VPN Work With Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Other Services?

Most users need VPN software because of streaming opportunities. Therefore it is essential to know in advance whether PIA VPN can give you what you want. Actually, it can’t. It has never done well for streaming in our tests. For example, if you try Netflix, you’ll mention that it always works in a hit-or-miss fashion. If you test USA servers with a Private Internet Access VPN to access Netflix shows, you will be just blocked out. Of course, they may have a server that works well, but we were not successful enough. So, if Netflix is your goal, consider installing alternative applications.

However, it is essential to know that Netflix doesn’t like most providers, and you need some time to find the company that works with this platform without hurdles.

Speaking about streaming, we also tested one of the most popular UK services, BBC iPlayer. Unfortunately, Private Internet Access VPN wasn’t able to get through it. The service is just not accessible.

Private Internet Access VPN Speeds

Even though PIA VPN has some advantages you can’t ignore, there are a lot of drawbacks that matter even more. For example, performance. This was bad news, and even a bit surprising because most VPN software that supports WireGuard provides their users with excellent performance.

With Private Internet Access VPN, we ran numerous speed tests on a 500 Mbps Internet connection. We selected the WireGuard VPN protocol to understand the real perspective this company can provide us with. And we also used the up-to-date PIA VPN Windows client. Now, take a look at the results we got.

It was PIA VPN server in US Seattle:

As you can understand, this PIA VPN result is really bad. When your connection is 500 Mbps, you don’t expect to get only 41 Mbps. Maybe the situation will be different from some other locations? Let’s try California.

Well, it is a bit better than the previous one. However, it is still very slow. Much slower than we expected.

And New York gave us an even worse result, so we decided to try some other countries since it is obvious that the USA is not the best choice when you need decent speeds.

We hoped London would be the game-changer. However, things went worse, and we are disappointed with the Private Internet Access VPN speeds. Take into account that we have used the best protocol. What should we expect from other ones? Definitely nothing good.

Is Private Internet Access VPN Good for Torrenting?

When testing PIA VPN to understand whether it can meet your expectations, there are 3 main aspects to consider:

• Good speeds;
• Secure application;
• Amazing leak protection settings.

While PIA VPN provides you with a kill switch (we will come back to this later), the speeds were not impressive. This means that you can forget about torrenting since it will be just very slow.

There is one more drawback to torrenting the Private Internet Access VPN has, and it is in the US jurisdiction. It would be better to use a VPN in an offshore jurisdiction as it will protect you from large media companies who go after users for copyright infringement.

PIA VPN Privacy

When you’re striving to protect your data from ISP or local authorities, you shouldn’t forget the fact that VPN software comes with risks as well. When you route your traffic through it, the VPN provider could receive access to your personal information and online activities.

Of course, the Private Internet Access VPN representative claims that this company has a no-logs policy, and the only source of their revenue is the user subscriptions.

However, it is sad to know that their official Privacy Policy doesn’t contain enough information about what kind of data is gathered and for what purposes. Moreover, this document is pretty lengthy and hard to read. Their Terms of Service don’t contain enough information on this question as well. So, when you install PIA VPN, you have no idea about how this software operates, what information it gathers, and how it is handled.

When you’re looking for a decent VPN service, try to pay more attention to this fact since it is very stupid to trust such companies when you don’t trust ISPs. Good companies gather a little information from their users and remove it as soon as the customer disconnects from the service. Of course, some companies sell customers’ data to various third parties, e.g., for advertisement purposes, and you should definitely avoid them. However, it doesn’t mean that the first company that doesn’t support this is the best option for you.

We have already mentioned this fact, but it is worth repeating that PIA VPN operates under US legal jurisdiction. It means that PIA VPN is required to respond to court orders from the government. If you choose the software that is based in other countries, such as Panama, you’ll find out that they don’t have to provide customers’ data and compromise your online activities.

Apps, Extensions, and Compatibility

You can install the Private Internet Access VPN on all major platforms like:

• Windows
• macOS
• Android
• iOS
• Linux

Features are not pretty much different across applications, but there is an exception. If you’re an iOS user, you should know that your app lacks the ad-blocking feature and doesn’t provide you with the OpenVPN protocol. PIA VPN offers the IPsec instead.

If you prefer to use the VPN browser extension, there are options for Chrome, Firefox, and Opera.

Private Internet Access VPN users have the opportunity to connect up to ten devices at the same time. It is a really good feature until you remember their speed issues.

Private Internet Access VPN Desktop apps

You will not face difficulties when installing this software on your desktop. The chances are you’ll appreciate an opportunity to look through a changelog that informs you which amends have been made for the software over weeks and months. You also have access to OpenVPN configuration files just in case if you need to use your application.

Once you have PIA VPN installed on your desktop, log in and find the big Connect button. Tap it, and you’ll be automatically connected to the closest server. There is an opportunity to change another one as well.

What is interesting (however, it can be redundant for many customers) is the ‘piactl’ command-line client. It means you can administer your software: for example, to make it enable or disable when you want it. There are also more intricate functions available in PIA VPN, but you need the right amount of tinkering to make them work.

Private Internet Access VPN Mobile apps

PIA VPN has mobile applications for devices that run on Android and iOS operating systems.

The Android application looks pretty nice, and it is easy to use. All you need is a big button which you need to switch on or off. You’ll also see your IP address and your current location (or virtual location). Tap on the list of servers to find out what options are available as well as the expected latency.

Speaking about app design for the iPhone, it looks almost identical. Users receive the opportunity to label certain networks so that they can choose which ones are automatically trusted or vise versa. It is pretty helpful when you use Wi-Fi in public places and can automatically enable your Private Internet Access VPN when you’re not home. You can also enable or disable the app with Siri. However, the iOS application doesn’t support the OpenVPN protocol. And you need to install some additional software to protect your smartphone from ads.

Breaking Geoblocks: Can It Work in China?

Unless it is your first day on the Internet, you have definitely heard about the Great Firewall of China. This country is famous because of its level of censorship, and a lot of websites and applications just don’t work here. So, if you want to use Facebook, Instagram, and other sites, you need to install good VPN software that can bypass blocks.

Unfortunately, a Private Internet Access VPN is not the best solution for this purpose. You can try it with an L2TP protocol that is less secure, but it guarantees you nothing. So, traveling to China consider some other options that will not let you down.

What About Customer Support Service?

Each company that provides some services should provide customer support as well, especially when it comes to VPN software, which is used all over the world in different countries and time zones. Of course, the opportunity to chat with the manager is not the thing you buy the software for, but it really matters because it shows how much the company cares.

So, if you explore the Private Internet Access VPN website, you’ll easily mention that they offer “24/7 North American” support. But is it true? The only opportunity to connect with the company you have is a live chat. Moreover, it is available for paying customers only. And it does not work so well.

We tried to reach them at night to understand what their “24/7” actually means. And know what? We received the response the next morning only. It is not as fast as we expected. And, unfortunately, that answer wasn’t full enough to solve our problems.

PIA VPN Online reputation

Open any business website, and you’ll easily find out that each company claims it is the best of the best. Why should they say other things? Nobody will buy their product if they just write, “Our VPN software is not that good.” However, if they focus on the positive things only, it doesn’t let you make a good choice. How can you choose a decent tool if all of them are “best of the best”? Actually, there is one tip you should they should focus on.

We are speaking about online reputation. Word of mouth still matters a lot, and if you want to find out all the truth about the company, you need to ask people who have already tried this software. And, of course, you shouldn’t look for them on the official website, where testimonials can be edited, deleted, and even written by the provider’s representatives.

There are such websites as SiteJabber and TrustPilot where people can leave their reviews. If you check them along with other independent platforms online, you’ll quickly find out how many bad comments are there about PIA VPN. Take a look at some of them:

As you can understand, people are disappointed with the Private Internet Access VPN. Some users even call them thieves, and they want you to beware of PIA VPN.

Of course, there are some good reviews as well, and these people are really lucky ones if they don’t have any issues with this software. However, there are pages and pages of bad reviews, and they don’t let us trust PIA VPN anymore.

Pricing

After everything that we have told you about, you may think that PIA VPN should pay customers to use its services. However, it sounds too optimistic. Moreover, they even don’t have a free plan, even with a limited number of servers. Most companies provide this opportunity but not this one. And they don’t have any free trial as well. So it is unclear why people buy the subscription without understanding what advantages this company can offer.

Right now you can choose one from three basic PIA VPN pricing plans:

Honestly, 1.94 EUR per month looks very nice. Until you mention that you need to pay 70 EUR right now. The monthly plan is not as affordable as the three years or yearly one, but at least you lose 11.69 EUR only.

Of course, the company claims that you have a 30-day refund guarantee, but if you have read the customers’ testimonials, you already know that PIA VPN has a lot of reasons to avoid this promise. So disappointed customers just choose another VPN provider without any hope to get their money back.

As for the payment options, it should be noted that they made sure that the payment is convenient.

PIA VPN offers 10 various payment methods, and you can even use cryptocurrency to purchase your subscription. However, we think that they should focus on reasonable prices and service quality.

The Bottom Line

Speaking honestly, a Private Internet Access VPN is the software that can disappoint you. PIA VPN promises a lot, but it doesn’t look like it goes to do something to keep its word. Looking for a VPN provider, you need to find a trustworthy one, the one that values your privacy and offers you some nice opportunities. Since there are a lot of various VPNs on the market these days, many providers try to grab customers’ attention with some extra features. But it is not about PIA VPN.

PIA VPN could be a good choice for your smartphone when you need a VPN from time to time when connecting to public Wi-Fi. However, they don’t have a free plan, and you definitely can find another, much better option for this money. To be honest, there are even free companies that do their job better.

So, our verdict is negative, and we definitely wouldn’t recommend you to use PIA VPN.

FAQs

What can I receive beyond the Private Internet Access VPN application?

It would be unfair to say that PIA VPN doesn’t provide customers with some additional features at all. In fact, you can use an ad-blocking tool called MACE. However, it would be more correct to say that you could use it. Google has blocked it in Android VPN apps, and the iOS version didn’t even come with it. So, if you require the adblocker, consider its sideload from the website. Remember about the potential risks this action carries.

What type of tunneling does Private Internet Access VPN offer?

This software has many disadvantages, but one of them is that you can’t get split tunneling. What does it mean for you? If you need to be on a public and private network at the same time, it is just impossible. There is only one encrypted tunnel for your data. And, of course, it uses more bandwidth as if you continue with the split tunneling.

What browsers do work with PIA VPN?

If you’re using Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Opera, you can install the PIA VPN browser extension.

How does Private Internet Access VPN ad blocker work?

If you’re the lucky one who has managed to install the PIA VPN MACE ad blocker, you’ll quickly understand that this tool doesn’t work the same way the other similar software does. It means you can’t define which domains are trustworthy or even adjust the settings to get rid of suspicious sites. You have simply On or Off to block domains for ads, malware, and trackers.

We can’t recommend this tool because it doesn’t protect you. When we tested this ad blocker along with other ones, we found that MACE missed some domains and blocked about 30% of advertising ones and 40% of malware ones.

How Many Devices Can I Connect With Private Internet Access VPN?

We must give them their due, Private Internet Access VPN provides you with 10 simultaneous connections, and not so many competitors have the same option. However, you can just imagine how it affects your speeds.

Why PIA VPN jurisdiction matters?

Of course, we can’t say that this aspect is important for all customers at the same time. Some people don’t want to know where their software provider is located, and they have this right. However, if you’re looking for a VPN tool, it is logical that you take care of your privacy. And jurisdiction can affect your privacy. Remember China. There are many other countries with a strict censorship policy. However, even the United States’ jurisdiction can be dangerous.

It is because companies that operate in the USA are obligated to comply with all local laws. If the court needs your personal data, the company will provide it. The question is, where is the border, and whether you can focus and keep calm when you know your online activities can be compromised by a Private Internet Access VPN?

Is there a PIA VPN kill switch provided?

A kill switch is a very useful tool that is also known as “disconnect protection.” It saves you from situations when the VPN connection is suddenly interrupted. Since you’re still on the public network, your data is vulnerable. And the kill switch automatically shuts down your websites. Fortunately, PIA VPN comes with it, and it may be one of their few advantages.

Are there any alternative options?

Of course, there are. PIA VPN is definitely not the only solution. People with different needs and expectations can find a tool that is better than this one. We would recommend you to read our other reviews and check such websites as SiteJabber and TrustPilot to find out the truth.