In-Depth Review of PIA VPN in 2024: Features, Performance, and Security Analysis
Curious about finding a VPN to get global access to restricted locations? Our Private Internet Access review does just that. We made our findings on the top VPN services around and made a premium pick. Not only will you learn about the features of this service, but you also get crucial details on how it compares to competitors.
In the IP address and location-changing industry, Private Internet Access offers some of the best features money can buy. We examined this VPN service on its merits and shortcomings. This brought about this PIA review to give you some much-needed insight. After reading this article, the PIA VPN will definitely enter your personal honour roll for quality VPN services.
So, are you ready? Let’s go.
Private Internet Access offers a range of subscription plans that are perfect for your budget. If you're not satisfied, get a full refund with their 30-day money-back guarantee.
Last Update Made On: 20 December 2024
Presentation
PIA stands for Private Internet Access, a VPN that is easily one of the biggest and best that people can use when looking for high levels of privacy when browsing the internet. Our Private Internet Access VPN review will look at all of the major aspects of PIA when compared to other VPNs that are available such as how many servers and countries you can connect to worldwide, whether there are any limits, and what the special features are.
The service has come a long way since it was founded back in 2010 with 35000 servers in 84 countries across the globe. Although it is now owned by Kape technologies, the quality performance of the Private Internet Access stays the same. This is shown by the provision of quality features such as the ad blocker, P2P support, etc. This guarantees that Private Internet Access sticks to its mission of providing customers with online privacy and security.
Of course, the price of the PIA VPN and other areas such as its reliability and support will also be examined via this Private Internet Access review so that you can judge against the many other VPN reviews we have performed in the past.
Okay, so enough of the chit-chat, let’s get started with our Private Internet Access review so that you can learn what is good and what is not so good with this VPN network.
Overall Ratings
Before you carry on reading our in-depth Private Internet Access review and go delving into the specific aspects in more detail – take a look at how we score this VPN overall. We have broken the scoring down into four different areas.
As you can see, it scores very well indeed with its price and usability being where it really excels against others. Private Internet Access could make a few improvements to its reliability and support but it still does well in that respect as well.
Shortcomings
This article is all about the PIA VPN review so it’s important to examine its faults. These include the following;
Streaming Services Buffer
Honestly, this was a downer when writing the Private Internet Access VPN service review. Most streaming services partner with VPN providers to get access to more customers. In this regard, PIA has been successful with an ongoing work relationship with Netflix.
Sadly, the network buffers when trying to skip videos. The only way to enjoy any show is by watching it patiently which isn’t always practical.
Windows Installer Warning
This Private Internet Access review can confirm that the service is legit but there are still some doubts. For instance, an error message pops up when trying to install the VPN service. You could bypass this by clicking “allow” but it doesn’t do the Private Internet Access VPN any favours in terms of credibility.
Unclear Business Perspective
This isn’t the regular information included in reviews on Private Internet Access but it’s vital. Alongside the acquisition of PIA, Kape technology bought Webselenese. This company offers customer privacy and security services just like PIA VPN thus creating internal conflict.
Plans and Prices
One of the core reasons for the popularity of Private Internet Access is its price, it is certainly one of the cheapest out there at the moment. You can pay $11.99 per month which on its own is very competitive in terms of price.
If you’re looking for awesome savings with the Private Internet Access VPN, simply pay for a one or two-year subscription. Paying upfront for 6 months works out at $7.50 per month and two years is even better at $2.19 per month.
Payment is also made easy thanks to numerous options including credit/debit cards, e-wallets, and bitcoin. With the decentralized choices in this PIA Private Internet Access review, you’re guaranteed data protection at the highest level. There’s also a 30 days money-back guarantee which lets you get a refund if the service isn’t satisfactory.
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Summary Sheet
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| No logs? | Yes, this provider has a no-log policy |
| Can use it for Torrenting? | Yes, it works fine with torrents |
| What kind of Netflix does it work with? | |
| Simultaneous connections | ∞ |
| What countries does it cover? | 84 |
| What Operating Systems does it support? | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, Android TV, iOS, gaming consoles, smart TVs, and routers |
| Money-back guarantee policy | 30 |
| What protocols does it offer? | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPSec |
| Does it offer unlimited traffic data? | Yes, it does |
| Cipher | Most secure encryption: Military AES 256 bits |
| Number of IP Addresses | |
| Number of Servers? | 35000 |
Using PIA VPN
With all we’ve covered in this Private Internet Access review, it would be incomplete without covering its compatibility. The PIA VPN has a wide array of business interactions we examined how it functions with its biggest clients;
Netflix
As earlier covered in this Private Internet Access VPN service review, the service has a running relationship with the streaming platform. This offers Netflix access to more customers and users a chance to watch their favourite shows from various locations.
Unfortunately, the situation is not without some drawbacks. Buffering happens a lot for viewers trying to skip videos meaning a huge waste of subscription plans.
Torrent
If it’s torrenting you have in mind, look no further than the PIA VPN. The service guarantees you first-rate protection with AES-256 encryption. There’s also a no-logging policy, leak protection, and incredible internet speeds.
China
Due to strict anti-VPN regulations, this private internet access review can confirm that PIA is very unreliable in China. This makes it almost impossible to watch shows from the country anywhere else.
Video Games
Thanks to NextGen server architecture and a network spanning 84 countries, gaming is fully endorsed at all levels on the private internet access VPN.
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PIA VPN Features
With so much in store, we take a look at the premium features of Private Internet Access:
- Hide/Change your IP Address: With this service, you can stay private for unlimited time periods.
- Conceal your Internet Traffic: Your internet traffic stays hidden as long as you want it to.
- Extra Security Online: The service comes loaded with protection from hackers and illegal data sellers with the data.
- Open-Source Transparency: This guarantees there are no hidden protocols to worry about.
- Kill Switch: With this feature, you can cut off your internet connection if things get unstable.
- World-class Protocols: You can rest assured that all digital interactions will always run smoothly.
- Advanced Split Tunneling: Internet communication stays steady and secure always.
- Reliable Automation Rules: You get to experience the automated processes at every stage.
- Highly Customizable Settings: All settings can be anything you want.
- Built-In Ad Blocking: Steer clear of pesky adverts with the VPN service’s awesome blocker.
PIA Windows Client
Private Internet Access offers premium compatibility with Windows devices. A quality interface makes navigation easy which in turn increases the rate of task completion. With the Private Internet Access VPN, you also reduce errors in the system.
This service also comes with automated settings which make it easy to set up and use immediately. However, you can manually change these settings if it doesn’t align with the task at hand.
Fortunately, Private Internet Access is certainly one of the easier to use among its competitors without sacrificing this ease of use through a lack of features.
As well as being available for all desktop operating systems such as Windows, MacOS, and Linux. PIA VPN is also available as an app for Android and iOS and also as a browser extension for Chrome, Firefox, and Opera web browsers.
In order to show you just how easy Private Internet Access is to use, however, we are going to take you through how to download, install and use it on the Windows operating system. Doing the same on any of the other operating systems will be just as straightforward and simple too.
Follow these simple steps to have PIA VPN installed on your Windows computer:
- Find your way to the Private Internet Access website.
- Navigate to the download page and download PIA VPN
- Install the VPN using the executable file from the download.
- Follow the instructions from the installation wizard.
- Click the shortcut on your desktop to run the VPN.
- Enter your login details or create an account if you do not have one.
- Browse through the server locations and select one that you desire.
- Click connect and start enjoying private browsing.
Whenever you are done using the VPN, do not forget to turn it off but only after you have closed any browsers or software that was using the VPN. You can then just turn it on and off whenever you wish to use it.
Other Applications
Beyond the windows system, you can hook it up to applications on other devices for multitasking purposes.
Test Results
To convince you of the quality of the service, we have provided our test data in this article. This will give you insight into the methods we used and what we found:
Speed
The speed of a VPN service is a factor that determines its overall effectiveness. It may vary depending on the server location, ISP, processing power, regional bandwidth restrictions, distance from the device to VPN servers, etc.
To beat this deficit, the PIA VPN has been optimized for speeds reaching 10 Gbps which is an advantage by any standard.
DNS Leaks and Torrenting
We conducted a total review by examining IP address leaks, DNS leaks, and WebRTC leaks using IPleak.net. The results after reviewing the Private Internet Access VPN showed it was leakproof. This makes it perfect for your browsing requirements.
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Customer Service
The PIA VPN offers 24/7 customer support with diverse communication channels, including phone, email, live chat, etc.
Competitor Comparison
PIA vs ExpressVPN
Although ExpressVPN has more features and speed, the PIA offers a better payment plan. You can see a review about ExpressVPN the service to see the level of improvement.
Once you’re satisfied with the information, you can start using ExpressVPN today.
PIA vs NordVPN
The NordVPN service is based in a privacy-friendly location but PIA has more servers. For more information, you can read this NordVPN review to learn more about the service. After that, you can visit the NordVPN to start using the platform.
PIA vs CyberGhost VPN
Despite CyberGhost VPN having more features overall, PIA wins in speed and torrenting. For more details, you can read this CyberGhost VPN review to better understand the service.
You can also start using the CyberGhost VPN now to access your favorite shows from anywhere.
PIA vs Surfshark
Surfshark wins in speed and available features for users to try out. However, this review confirms that PIA outperforms in pricing and subscription plans.
FAQ
How does Private Internet Access work?
Private Internet Access works by downloading and connecting to a server location of your choice. It’s just that simple.
How safe is Private Internet Access?
Private Internet Access is very safe. With its AES-256 data encryption and no logging, you’re as safe as can be.
How many devices you can connect with Private Internet Access at the same time?
You can connect to ∞ devices at the same time.
How much is Private Internet Access?
Plans are available at $11.99 per month, $7.50 per 6 months, and $2.19 for 2 years + 4 months Free.
Is private internet access legit?
PIA is a safe and reliable service. All its apps use OpenVPN and WireGuard encryption protocols, which are considered the most secure.
Is Private Internet Access free?
You can use the PIA service for free for 30 days. The mobile apps for Android and iOS also offer a 7-day free trial.
Can PIA be trusted?
Private Internet Access is trustworthy because it refuses to sell your data to third parties.
Which country owns PIA?
Founded in the United States in 2010, PIA is currently owned by a US-based company, Kape Technologies.
Does PIA collect data?
PIA VPN has a strict no-logs policy. This means it doesn’t collect or store any user information.
Does PIA sell data?
Based on its privacy policy, PIA asserts that it doesn’t sell, share, or trade users’ personal data.
What VPN is better than PIA?
The best VPN is subjective and depends on individual needs and preferences. However, some VPNs that are often considered better than PIA include ExpressVPN, CyberGhost VPN, and NordVPN. These VPNs are known for their fast speeds, strong security features, and large network of servers.
It’s recommended to compare their features and perform a thorough research before deciding on a VPN that suits your needs best.
Below you can see our list of 5 best VPNs that we recently updated:
Does PIA work for Netflix?
You can definitely use the PIA VPN to watch Netflix shows. However, it only unblocks 6 Netflix libraries including US, France, Japan and the United Kingdom.
Does Pia VPN drain the battery?
The service drains the battery at the same as other apps on your phone. At most, you can expect to see a 5-15% drop in battery life on your Android or iOS device.
Does PIA have antivirus?
PIA VPN comes with optional antivirus add-on software. It’s available for systems with Windows 7 and above systems. You can also use it for devices with 500 MB free disk space, 2 gig ram and a stable internet connection.
Is PIA a malware?
The PIA program isn’t malware nor is it affected by anyone. It uses Malwarebytes, which blocks IP addresses previously used for cyber attacks.
Is PIA a good VPN?
The pia VPN is a reliable one you can use to bypass geo-blocks and get access to multiple locations. You can learn about other quality VPN services if this doesn’t appeal to you.
Can I use Private Internet Access on my phone?
Private Internet Access can work on your Android and iOS mobile devices. You can also install it on a router to access it from multiple devices via the safe router.
Can police track PIA VPN?
The police can’t track PIA VPN because the data is encrypted. However, they can request connection or usage logs from the VPN company if they have a court order.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Private Internet Access is a reliable and affordable VPN service with many appealing features. Its strengths include a strong commitment to user privacy, a user-friendly interface, and a large network of servers spread across the globe. However, it may not be the best option for everyone.
If you’re looking for an alternative, ExpressVPN is a valid option to consider with its robust security measures and fast speed. One of the drawbacks of PIA is that it’s based in the US, which is a member of the Five Eyes surveillance alliance and may not be suitable for users seeking maximum privacy.
Additionally, some users have reported inconsistent server speeds, which may impact the quality of your internet connection.
Overall, Private Internet Access is definitely a VPN worth checking out. With its awesome features and pricing plan, you’re bound to have a quality service on hand.
With the information we’ve provided, you’re bound to experience the PIA VPN with no issues. Get started today and enjoy watching geo-restrictions fall away.
