Private Internet Access Review

The result of more than seven years of ongoing testing and assessment is our PIA VPN review. Our specialists have continuously discovered it to be among the fastest, safest, and most reliable VPNs during this period.
After going through several ownership changes, PIA is now owned by Kape Technologies, which also owns the well-known VPN services ExpressVPN and CyberGhost.
To find out if Private Internet Access is the best VPN for you, we’ve evaluated its logging policy, legal background, global speeds, and performance in torrenting and streaming.
You may scroll down to view its key specs or use the table at the bottom of the page to see how it stacks up against its major rivals.

Who Needs Access to a Private Internet?

A no-logs VPN is what you desire. The largest guarantee for a VPN is that PIA has been shown in a US court to not store any personal user connection data.
You desire a quick connection. PIA VPN is truly a “set and forget” option. We hardly noticed any speed drop while connected compared to our typical download speeds.
You download torrents. The greatest VPN for torrenting is PIA. It’s quick, incredibly safe, and equipped with tools like port forwarding and SOCKS5 to maximize the efficiency of your P2P traffic. All of this is achievable even on a tight budget thanks to PIA, the greatest affordable VPN available.

Data Cap	Unlimited
Download Speed	95Mbps
Logging Policy	No Logs
Data Leaks	No
Jurisdiction	US (Five Eyes Member)
Servers	18,651
IP Addresses	18,651+
Countries with Servers	91
US Netflix	Yes
Torrenting	Unlimited
Simultaneous Connections	Unlimited
Works In China	Yes
Support	24/7 Live Chat
Cheapest Price	$2.03/mo over 28 months
Free Trial	7 Days (Payment Info Required)
Money-Back Guarantee	30-day Money-Back Guarantee
Official Website	PiaVPN.com

Policy on Privacy and Logging Reliable No-Log VPN Service

One of the few VPN services with proven no-logs is Private Internet Access. All it records is your basic account information; it does not store any session, connection, or server information. With total assurance that your IP address and activities are not tracked, saved, or connected to you, you can utilize the service.

Data Type	Logged by Private Internet Access
Account Information	Yes
Browsing Activity	No
Date of Last Connection	No
Device Information	No
DNS Queries	No
Individual Bandwidth Usage	No
Individual Connection Timestamps	No
ISP	No
Number of Simultaneous Connections	No
Originating IP Address	No
VPN Server IP	No
VPN Server Location	No

All user activity is explicitly said to be “NOT recorded, logged, or stored at all” under PIA VPN’s privacy policy.
As is customary, Private Internet Access only gathers your email address and payment information when you join up.
This feature alone would rank PIA among the top VPNs for privacy, but what really sets it apart from the competition is what it does not log. This is a synopsis:

Transparency Reports on a Regular Basis

Additionally, PIA regularly publishes transparency reports that list all of the government entities with which it has been in contact and the amount of requests for data that it has complied (zero as of December 2023).

Seizures of the Server

PIA’s no-logs policy has received multiple external verifications.
In a 2016 legal dispute, the FBI subpoenaed PIA, however even after obtaining an official data request, PIA was unable to provide any information.
In 2016, the Russian authorities also took control of PIA servers, although no activity or connection data was discovered.
Following this occurrence, PIA took down all of its Russian VPN servers in protest. We hope that more VPN service providers will take this audacious step.
As recently as August 2022, an audit was conducted regarding the VPN’s assertions regarding its no-logs policy. The auditor, Deloitte, discovered that the VPN’s servers do not include any information that may be used to identify PIA users.

Headquartered in the US, a country that lacks privacy

The United States, which is regarded by many as one of the worst locations for VPN companies to be based, is where PIA is headquartered.
The US is one of the original members of the intelligence alliance known as Five Eyes (FVEY), which has automated systems in place to gather and exchange surveillance data with the UK, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.
Additionally, the Patriot Act grants US authorities broad authority to gather and store data, particularly with the use of National Security Letters.
Normally, we would suggest against using a VPN that is located in one of the Five Eyes nations, such as the US. However, the majority of the problems it causes are mitigated by a certified no-logs policy.

Private Internet Access: Who Owns It?

Private Internet Access was purchased by Kape Technologies from London Trust Media Inc. (LTMI) in November 2019. LTMI has a track record of producing privacy technologies, having created PIA VPN in 2010.
The purchase of PIA caused some criticism at the time.
The majority of the criticism was directed against Kape’s previous involvement in the advertising industry while it was still known as Crossrider. We go into further detail about this in our review of CyberGhost VPN.
Overall, PIA VPN has always gone above and beyond to protect online privacy, so there’s no reason not to believe in this well-known VPN provider.
In addition, Kape is strengthening its ties to internet security and privacy in an effort to get past its Crossrider past.

Quickness Among the Quickest VPNs Available

Among the quickest VPNs we’ve used is PIA, particularly when connecting to a nearby server. In terms of long-distance connections, it can’t quite compete with rivals like Hotspot Shield or ExpressVPN, but it is still quicker than the great majority of VPNs we test when utilizing the WireGuard protocol. PIA is currently the tenth-fastest VPN available as of December 2023.
From our test site in New York, we connected to PIA servers on six different countries. We utilize a 100Mbps internet connection, which is comparable to your typical residential internet speed.

No VPN (New York)	US (New York)	Canada (Toronto)	US (Los Angeles)	UK (London)	Germany (Berlin)	Brazil (São Paulo)	Japan (Tokyo)	South Africa (Johannesburg)	Australia (Sydney)
Download Speed	100Mbps	95Mbps	94Mbps	90Mbps	90Mbps	84Mbps	92Mbps	85Mbps	74Mbps	82Mbps
Upload Speed	100Mbps	92Mbps	93Mbps	93Mbps	90Mbps	93Mbps	86Mbps	88Mbps	83Mbps	89Mbps
Ping	1ms	6ms	15ms	86ms	75ms	97ms	127ms	143ms	408ms	213ms
Distance	0mi	5mi	300mi	2,500mi	3,500mi	4,000mi	4,800mi	6,700mi	8,000mi	9,900mi

Although not as remarkable, its long-distance connection speeds were nevertheless sufficient for web browsing, torrenting, and streaming.
The servers that were farthest from our US testing hub experienced the biggest speed decreases, as was to be expected.
However, PIA remains fast even when spanning the furthest distances. We regularly achieve download speeds of 82Mbps when connecting to an Australian server, so you can trust PIA to minimize any impact on your download speeds if you need to connect to a server on the other side of the globe.
The primary problem we found with PIA during our speed tests is that it isn’t as consistent as some of its fastest competitors. Weekly fluctuations can be significant, which somewhat slows it down.

PIA Offers Enough Ping Times to Enable Smooth Gaming

While evaluating VPN speeds, we also measured ping times, and PIA impressed us. You can leave PIA connected while playing games, and you shouldn’t experience any differences in gameplay whether you’re connecting to a foreign server or one that’s close by.
When PIA connected to a server in our city, the ping time was 6 ms, which was negligible compared to a ping of 4 ms when we had no VPN enabled.
PIA is still a fantastic option if you enjoy playing games like League of Legends or World of Warcraft on servers located in a different region than your own.

Outstanding Streaming for Netflix & Other US Services

We can confirm that PIA currently unblocks ten well-known Netflix libraries from around the globe, including the US and the UK, based on our most recent tests. The primary drawback of this product is that its Smart DNS tool isn’t compatible with streaming, which means you can’t use it to enjoy your favorite apps on Smart TVs and gaming consoles.

Streaming Platform	Works with Private Internet Access
Amazon Prime Video	Yes
BBC iPlayer	Yes
Channel 4	Yes
Disney+	No
Hotstar India	Yes
Hulu	Yes
ITVX	Yes
Max	Yes
Netflix US	Yes
YouTube	Yes

Netflix streams easily using Private Internet Access, despite the fact that many VPNs are unable to function with the service due to its severe geo-restrictions.
Connect to one of its “Streaming Optimized” servers, which are located in several nations like Australia, Italy, and Sweden, for the most dependable performance.
In our most recent testing phase, PIA successfully unblocked the following 10 Netflix regions: Brazil, Australia, India, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, United Kingdom, and United States
That being said, our reviews of Windscribe and ExpressVPN show how both VPNs work better than others at getting around global Netflix geo-blocks.

PIA Streams Video from the UK

Additionally, we checked the “UK London-Streaming” server, and each time, BBC iPlayer was unblocked by Private Internet Access.
For the time being, it is reasonable to claim that PIA now reliably functions with all UK streaming services, such as Channel 4 and ITVX.

PIA Unblocks HBO Max, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video

According to our tests, PIA VPN is among the top VPNs for Hotstar. It is also compatible with a wide range of other streaming services, such as Hulu, HBO Max, and Amazon Prime Video.
Furthermore, PIA’s rapid speeds guarantee that there won’t be any lag when streaming HD or 4K content.
In terms of what PIA excels at, it hasn’t always been the best VPN for streaming. On the other hand, it has been performing incredibly well in our tests lately, and we appreciate that it can now rival some of its finest competitors when it comes to unblocking foreign services and content libraries.

PIA Torrenting Is a Top VPN for Torrenting

For torrenting, Private Internet Access is the finest VPN. It offers quick download times, limitless bandwidth, and a rigorous no-logs policy. It also has port-forwarding, which lets you connect with more torrenting peers than with most other VPNs. We wholeheartedly endorse it as a quick and secure option if you’re a heavy torrent user.
Of the 65 VPN providers we examined, PIA is the best VPN for torrenting. We admire that, in contrast to many of its competitors, which seem to be excluding servers for no apparent reason, it permits P2P and file-sharing activities on all of its servers.

All well-known torrent clients, such as Deluge, uTorrent, and Transmission, are compatible with PIA. We use qBittorrent for testing.
In the process, MACE, PIA’s integrated ad blocker, can assist in blocking any trackers or malware you encounter.
We were able to torrent on every PIA server with success during our P2P tests. There are no bandwidth or other restrictions while torrenting from any server location. Just establish a VPN connection with the closest server and begin downloading.

We downloaded a torrent file at a speed of 9.6 MiB/s using PIA. We’ve measured some of the fastest results yet, outperforming other leading VPNs like NordVPN and ExpressVPN.
Torrents downloaded nearly as quickly as they did when there was no VPN connection at all. There is no throttling and no capacity limitations.

PIA Features a Powerful Port Forwarding Instrument

Incoming connections are redirected via PIA’s port forwarding technology to get over any NAT firewall.
Port forwarding significantly increases P2P upload speeds and expands your communication pool of torrenting partners. You can forward to ports 443, 80, 110, 53, 8080, and 9201 using the PIA settings.

The VPN Kill Switch from PIA Is Dependable & Powerful

Every PIA app has a VPN kill switch built in to safeguard your data in the event that your internet connection abruptly cuts off.
When downloading files using torrents, this is quite crucial. In the case that your VPN connection failed, everyone would be able to see your actual IP address if you didn’t have a functional kill switch. It consistently functioned in our testing.

Cost-effective, Excellent-Value VPN with a 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee

In terms of value for money, PIA is not only among the greatest VPNs overall, but it is also the finest inexpensive VPN. The two-year package (which adds an additional three free months) offers the best value. It saves 83% over the one-month plan with a monthly cost of only $2.03.
You can sign up for Private Internet Access for one month, six months, or two years with three different billing choices.

• Monthly $11.99/mo Billed $11.99 every month
• 6 Month(s) $7.50/mo Billed $45.00 every 6 months Save 37%
• 28 Month(s) $2.03/mo Billed $56.94 the first 28 months and yearly thereafter Save 83%

The longer-term plans are saved for the best monthly rates. Even if they’re a great deal, you should be aware that payment is required in full up ahead.
In addition to being the third-best VPN overall on our website, PIA is also among the most affordable. Considering the range of features and superior performance you get, its value for money is nearly unrivaled, and it only gets better now that an unlimited number of devices are allowed per account.

Options for Payment and Refund

The following are the payment options that PIA takes: Mastercard, PayPal, American Express, Bitcoin, and Bitcoin Cash.

Gift cards are another an option; they can be bought with cash in an anonymous manner. This is a decent selection of payment options, especially if you’re looking for the highest level of secrecy. Gift cards and cryptocurrencies aren’t as popular as they should be for VPNs.

30-Day Return Policy

Although there isn’t a free version of PIA, you can receive a seven-day trial by creating an account on Google Play or the App Store.
Instead, if you use the website, you’ll be qualified for a risk-free, 30-day money-back guarantee.
Just file a support ticket with the PIA staff and get a full refund if you need to discontinue your subscription within the first thirty days.

Server Locations: PIA Maintains a Vast VPN Server Network

Out of all VPNs, Private Internet Access has the biggest server network. 18,651 servers are spread over 153 locations in 91 countries, including each of the 50 US states. This reduces congestion and boosts performance because PIA users’ traffic is dispersed among numerous servers.
Because of PIA’s extensive server network, there is less server load and a higher likelihood that you will connect to a dependable server nearby. Its locations are dispersed over the globe as follows:

Continent	Number of Countries
Europe	45
Asia	22
South America	9
North America	8
Africa	5
Oceania	2

Europe and North America are home to the vast bulk of PIA’s servers. The best VPN to stream NHL games during blackouts is PIA due of its extensive US coverage. But it’s also impressive where the spread is. In actuality, you should be able to connect to a local PIA server from wherever you are.
Because of this, PIA is a great VPN for connecting to particular nations. For instance, because it provides the most US IP addresses, it’s the best VPN for obtaining a US IP address. It’s the finest VPN for obtaining an IP address from Argentina and viewing websites from Canada because it has the most servers in both Argentina and Canada.

IP addresses that are dedicated

Moreover, PIA provides dedicated IP addresses.
You only have this IP address, and it doesn’t change when you connect. The only places it is offered are Australia, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Sweden, the UK, and the US; each additional month is $5.00.
Unfortunately, there are no streaming websites that this works with. Generally speaking, one of the key advantages of using a static IP address is reliable streaming performance.
Rather, websites that need a whitelisted IP address can be accessed via PIA’s dedicated IP function. For instance, to use internet banking.
We advise against using this feature unless you have a specific purpose for doing so because of its extremely narrow use case.

Virtual Server Locations

Although 41% of Private Internet Access’s server locations are virtual, the company solely uses bare-metal (physical) servers.
PIA uses a globe icon to prominently display the locations of its virtual servers. Turning off “Include Geo-Located Regions” in the app’s settings will disable them.

Even if the physical server is situated somewhere else, a virtual server location gives you an IP address in the place of your choice. This makes it possible for VPN providers to provide IP addresses in nations where running a physical server is exceedingly difficult.
If the physical server is closer to your actual location than the IP address you are assigned, they can also increase speeds. Performance may also suffer greatly if the real server is located farther away from your actual location than stated.
If done correctly, using virtual server locations is not problematic. A decent degree of openness is provided by PIA’s explicit identification of these servers and its ability to completely stop them.

Secure VPN servers that are rented

After speaking with a PIA representative, we learned that practically all of Private Internet Access’s VPN servers are rented. “The majority of our servers, if not all of them, are rented from third parties,” the statement to us said.
They also told us that PIA screens these third parties through a “rigorous vetting process.”
The majority of VPN providers lease a portion of their servers from global data centers. You gain access to a worldwide network as a result, but you also have to trust someone else with your information.
In general, if the VPN provider takes the time to inspect all installed hardware and the network environment it is using, rental servers are not a problem.

Technical and Security Elements Open Source Software, Robust Security, and an Outstanding Array of Features

With a tonne of extra features and customization possibilities, PIA is a very secure VPN. It makes advantage of the greatest encryption cyphers and connection protocols out there, such as AES-256 and WireGuard. It has even made its apps open-sourced for utmost transparency. We tested it thoroughly to ensure that it properly concealed your IP address and encrypts your internet traffic.
With the ability to select between UDP and TCP connections, PIA supports OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKEv2, and L2TP/IPSec protocols.
Your connection is secured by AES 128-bit encryption by default; however, we advise you to change protocols to WireGuard or choose the AES-256 cipher in the settings interface.
All platforms have a VPN kill switch, built-in security against IPv4 and IPv6 leaks, and DNS leak protection.

Exclusive Deals DNS servers that are private

Additionally, Private Internet Access (PIA) owns and runs its own private DNS servers, so Private Internet Access handles DNS resolution instead of your ISP. This implies that PIA manages the entire process, so no outside parties can see the websites you visit.
Additionally, the apps are adaptable; you can configure the Windows client to utilize any custom DNS server you like.

Exceptionally Flexible Encryption

You have complete control over the protocols and algorithms that are used to encrypt your data with PIA, unlike with many other VPN services.
While modifying your encryption settings might help you maximize performance and tailor the VPN to your security requirements, it may be too complex for new users.
By default, OpenVPN and AES 128-bit encryption are used to safeguard your connection. In the options menu, you can increase the encryption type to AES-256 (CBC or GCM).
Additionally, the encryption level utilized for the VPN handshake and data authentication is selectable. Through these procedures, the legitimacy of the connection and the data being transferred may be confirmed by both your device and the server it is communicating with.

You can set RSA-4096 and SHA-384 as the maximum encryption strength; the defaults are RSA-2048 and SHA-256.
However, we advise adjusting them to the following configuration as the most secure settings aren’t chosen by default:
VPN Protocol — Auto Connection Timeout — 1 minute MTU — WireGuard Local Port — Vehicle

Special Features for Advanced Security

A number of cutting-edge security features that are exclusive to Private Internet Access are also included, albeit some of them are shared by other VPNs. These features were created by the VPN itself.
A hidden browser (InBrowser), an ad-blocker (PIA MACE), and an encrypted SOCKS5 proxy are some of PIA’s more sophisticated capabilities. What all of it entails is this:

PIA MACE – Custom Ad & Tracker Blocker

PIA MACE is a DNS-based malware and ad blocker that can be discovered in the app’s settings under the “Privacy” tab. Access to URLs that are frequently known to host malware, trackers, and advertisements is blocked by this feature.
It’s not the best ad blocker, MACE. The filter can only be turned On or Off; you cannot change the filter settings or white list certain websites.

Because you can’t whitelist certain URLs, you’re forced to leave the feature enabled, which breaks several websites.
Despite the problems that PIA users have mentioned, our testing likewise revealed that MACE isn’t flawless but is still among the greatest VPN ad blockers we’ve tested.

InBrowser is a private mobile browser

For iOS and Android, InBrowser is a private browser. It provides a persistent private surfing experience, wiping cookies, session data, and history each time the program is used.

Masking: Shadowsocks Method

You can choose the open-source, encrypted proxy Shadowsocks right from the app’s interface.
Shadowsocks, also referred to as SOCKS5, is a favorite among torrenters and anyone wishing to get around internet censorship because of its speed.
To use the SOCKS5 proxy, users will need a unique username and password, which may be created using the Client Control Panel.

Apps with open source

PIA offers desktop, mobile, and browser extensions that are all available as open-source software.
This implies that anybody may see their source code, examine the apps’ writing style, and add to the project by correcting bugs and improving the code. It is unquestionable evidence that the apps do what they claim to do and are free of malicious hidden code.
Some VPN providers, including IVPN and ProtonVPN, have opted to make their software open-source. Although it’s still very uncommon among VPNs, we strongly advise them to implement it.

Leak Test Findings: Your Data Is Not Leaked by PIA

Built-in defenses against IPv4, IPv6, and DNS leaks are included with PIA. On the macOS software, DNS leak prevention is activated automatically; on the Windows version, it needs to be manually enabled.
It is verified that there are no leaks from the desktop and mobile apps. We conducted tests for WebRTC, DNS, and IP leaks, and our actual London IP address remained constantly shielded.

PIA is among the safest and most sophisticated VPNs we’ve tested thanks to all of these features. This VPN satisfies its claims to be as secure and anonymous as it claims to be, and we’re happy with how consistently it has upheld this high level during our tests over the years.

Extra Security Measures That We Would Like to See

• IPv6 compatibility. PIA will successfully conceal an IPv6 address; unlike IPv4, it won’t substitute an IPv6 address with a fake one. To lower the possibility of IPv6 leaks in the future, we would like to see that changed.
• Few VPNs include GPS spoofing capabilities, but PIA’s introduction would significantly increase its capacity to conceal your actual position when using a mobile device.
• ownership of a whole network host. Since PIA leases so many servers, moving to a network that it fully owns would be a huge security relief.

Getting Around Web Censorship In China, PIA Is Effective—But Not Always

For getting around censorship, one of the finest VPNs is Private Internet Access. Still, it’s not flawless. In our testing, it has recently had difficulties, but when utilized in China, it used to be far more dependable. Even so, it’s not a 100% reliable VPN for China, however it’s still a solid option. It functions in other severely restricted areas, such as the UAE, Turkey, and Russia.
We use our test Shanghai server to check PIA VPN’s connectivity to China once a week. To verify whether PIA can actually unblock websites inside of China, we establish a remote connection with it from our test office.

In China, PIA has had a 57% uptime during the last three months. Although it isn’t quite dependable enough to rank among the Best VPNs for China, it isn’t far from the top five either.
Use the OpenVPN protocol and turn on the Shadowsocks proxy in the app’s settings to get around PIA’s Great Firewall.

Shadowsocks from PIA Outperform Censorship

PIA makes use of Shadowsocks, an outside proxy designed especially for use in China.
While it may not be as secure or efficient as paid VPN obfuscation products, Shadowsocks allows access to widely used websites and applications, including Instagram, Facebook, Gmail, and WhatsApp.

OS and Device Compatibility PIA Offers Apps for All Well-Known Devices

Custom apps are available from Private Internet Access for all major operating systems, including Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Fire TV. Although it lacks the ability to ban streaming websites, it does have Smart DNS for IP-spoofing on other platforms. Although it has a few disadvantages and lacks a specific app, it is theoretically installable on some router types. Additionally, PIA has raised its connection limit, allowing you to install and utilize it simultaneously on as many devices as you like.

Applications

The following operating systems can use private internet access: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and router

This is a full array of applications, just as we would anticipate from a premier VPN. A big plus is that you can utilize PIA to cover all of them at once with just one account, all at once.
Additionally, OpenWRT/LEDE, Merlin, Pfsense, and DD-WRT routers can have PIA installed. But unlike ExpressVPN, it lacks a dedicated router app, and while it does, its performance is constrained. We (as well as PIA itself) do not advise utilizing PIA at the router level because to its lengthy setup and lackluster usability.

Video game consoles and streaming gadgets

You may use PIA with Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Chromecast, Nintendo, PlayStation, Roku, and Xbox if you decide to install it on your router.
Your IP address can be changed on these devices using PIA’s Smart DNS feature, but no traffic going to or from them will be encrypted.

Extensions for Browsers

The web stores for Firefox and Chrome offer browser extensions for Private Internet Access. We’ve tested it ourselves and it works on both Edge and Opera browsers. You can install it on these browsers by going to the Chrome Web Store. Opera, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and Chrome.
With the help of these extensions, you may hide your IP address and use Squid HTTPS to secure your communication while connecting to a PIA VPN server straight from the interface of your browser.

User-friendly Interface that’s Easy to Use, but Can Become Overwhelming

All of its platforms include a well-designed VPN in Private Internet Access. Even while it can be easy to use, its vast array of additional capabilities and high degree of customization cannot be overlooked. There are many benefits to utilizing VPNs if you’re already familiar with them, but it could be a little scary if you’re not.

To help you understand what to anticipate from the VPN service, we examine each PIA VPN client in more detail in the section below.
We’ll go into more depth about the key distinctions between each Private Internet Access app in the section that follows. You can use the table here to get an overview of the features offered on each platform:

Platform	Protocol	Always On	PIA MACE	Split Tunneling	Proxy	Port Forwarding
Windows	OpenVPN, WireGuard	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
macOS	OpenVPN, WireGuard	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
iOS	OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKEv2	✗	✓	✗	✗	✗
Android	OpenVPN, WireGuard	✓	✓	✓	✗	✓

Computer & Tablet (Mac & Windows)

The macOS program isn’t far behind the Windows app for Private Internet Access when it comes to features and performance.
It is straightforward to install and opens right away with a basic interface that lets you display your virtual and actual IP address, connect to the server location of your choice, and access the options menu.

More seasoned VPN users can access a larger range of settings by clicking the downward-facing arrow. You can turn on the VPN sleep feature, see the amount of data transferred during your VPN session, and assess the effectiveness of your VPN in this enlarged view.
The ‘Proxy’ tab in the PIA Windows app’s settings lets you reroute your VPN connection through an additional location. There are various areas where you can choose between the Shadowsocks and SOCKS5 proxy choices.

The client is pinned to the lower right corner of your device’s screen because the application launches in the Windows system tray by default. Most users find it difficult to locate the ‘General’ area of the program’s settings, where the option to remove the app from the tray is located. We hope that this may be resolved.
We believe that the Mac program is more difficult to use than the Windows client due to a few little differences.
First off, by default, the PIA Mac app opens in the menu bar. This implies that using the app from Spotlight or docking it is not convenient. The software does not support standard keyboard shortcuts, even when the navigation bar is removed.

Additionally, PIA’s macOS program loads and runs incredibly slowly. The Private Internet Access Mac software loads slowly in windowed mode; three seconds may not seem like much, but it can make using the app feel tedious.

Mobile (iOS & Android)

The greatest mobile software from PIA is its Android version, which offers sophisticated VPN functionality without sacrificing usability. However, the Android and iOS apps have nearly the same appearance.
Compared to some rival desktop clients, the Android app has more settings and a wider variety of customizing options.

A list of other alternatives will appear when you tap the location of your current server. Your most often used servers will always be at the top of the list in this case thanks to a favorites system.

Users of Android devices can request port forwarding, change DNS servers, change encryption settings, and select between TCP and UDP connections.

The software has the option to shut off when using mobile data or to automatically safeguard you when you connect to unidentified wireless networks.

Additionally, a kill switch that is integrated, a split tunneling feature called Per App Settings, and the ability to configure your device to vibrate when connecting to a PIA server are all included.

The Private Internet Access app, which can be downloaded from the Google Play Store, does not include MACE, PIA’s in-house ad blocker, because of limitations imposed by Google. The iOS app is also devoid of it.

You must download the.APK file for PIA MACE straight from the PIA website, where you can also find an easy-to-follow setup tutorial, in order to install it on your Android smartphone.

The iOS app has the most selection of VPN protocols of all PIA apps, allowing you to choose between OpenVPN, WireGuard, IPsec, or IKEv2, but having a few less capabilities overall.

We’re happy to note that PIA offers so many customization options for iOS, as this is typically the platform that falls behind when it comes to VPNs. You have the option to modify your encryption settings, implement a VPN kill switch, select a custom port, and swap DNS servers. Because to its outstanding features, PIA is among the top VPNs for iOS devices.

You may rapidly connect to recently used server locations and adjust network management settings, such as automatically allowing trusted networks, from the home screen.

PIA’s private browser for iOS and Android is called InBrowser, and it is available for both platforms.

Android TV and Fire TV

You may use any Android TV device, such as a Google Chromecast with Google TV, or any Amazon Fire TV device, such as a Firestick, with PIA’s visually appealing and user-friendly VPN client.
Although this version of the software is incredibly helpful for streaming and highly user-friendly, we were only able to stream US Netflix on 25% of PIA’s US servers. When compared to the desktop and mobile clients, this is noticeably less reliable.

PIA’s Unusable Smart DNS Utility

A new feature from Private Internet Access allows you to alter your location on devices that prevent you from installing VPN apps. It’s called Smart DNS.
Your geolocation is altered to the US, UK, Germany, Japan, or Netherlands using PIA’s Smart DNS service. Nevertheless, we found that it doesn’t function with any streaming apps when we tested it on our Apple TV.
Hulu, HBO Max, Prime Video, and Netflix were not unblocked by the Smart DNS utility. HBO Max identified the Smart DNS proxy and prevented us from accessing the streaming service, as seen in the screenshot below.

Extensions for Browsers

The options for PIA’s browser extensions are plentiful, and overall, they function quite effectively.
Additional privacy features include blocking Flash and avoiding specific websites, as well as preventing websites from accessing your location, camera, or microphone.
Third-party cookies, website referrers, and trackers can all be blocked. You can rather just select a location and click Connect if you want to keep things straightforward.
It is highly advised that you enable the PIA Firefox extension’s “Block WebRTC IP Detection.” Otherwise, a privacy flaw in the Firefox browser will allow your IP address to be revealed via WebRTC.

Client Assistance 24/7 Access to Skilled Customer Support

The top VPN services are matched by PIA’s customer care. It offers email support, simple-to-follow online tutorials, and live chat support around-the-clock. Every support representative from PIA that we interacted with was informed, kind, and quick to reply.

Customer Support	Available in Private Internet Access
24/7 Email Support	No
24/7 Live Chat Support	Yes
Chatbot	No
Email	Yes
Email Support via Online Form	No
Online Resources	Yes
Tutorial Videos	No

Although Private Internet Access is straightforward to use and install on all platforms, you may still need help.
Simply visit the PIA website and click on the icon located in the lower-right corner of the screen to initiate a live chat with a PIA help specialist. Before being linked, you are prompted to provide your account information, including your email address and account ID.

Additionally, PIA has a sizable, searchable online knowledge library with articles on account issues, technical difficulties, troubleshooting, and other topics.
All supported systems are covered in setup and tutorial articles found in the guidelines area of the website. Most common problems you could have with the app should be resolved by it.
Using the ticket request system on the website, you can get in touch with a support representative as well. Although consumers generally report favorable experiences and this system functions, you won’t always receive a prompt response. Additionally, it’s only accessible on weekdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. (EST); we hope to see this extended to 24 hours a day in the future.

The Bottom Line

We can suggest Private Internet Access to practically everybody because it is a VPN that is so comprehensive, secure, and quick.
Private Internet Access is an excellent option if you’re looking for an affordable VPN that offers the best possible privacy, performance, and security.
With a confirmed no-logs policy, a VPN kill switch, and P2P-friendly servers, the service is ideal for torrenting.
Additionally, PIA VPN reliably unblocks 10 Netflix libraries, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime Video from all across the world.

A great option if you’re looking for a cheap VPN to stream US Netflix or bolster your security when using public WiFi is Private Internet Access.
But, the abundance of features available in its bustling apps may overwhelm you if you’ve never used a VPN before.
Furthermore, it’s unfortunate that PIA’s Smart DNS feature isn’t able to unblock any streaming services, which renders it incredibly less helpful on consoles and specific streaming devices. Additionally, the router setup is inadequate, and PIA itself discourages using it.