And youll get unlimited simultaneous connections, which most pricier premium VPNs don’t provide.
Its extremely customizable apps should satiate power users, but I didnt find them the most user-friendly.
Ultimately, PIA is a goodcheap VPN, although its not the fastest or the most modern and polished.
Likewise, speed tests often varied wildly from one set of benchmarks to the next.
Ive contacted PIA representatives for insight into the significant speed loss I measured, and theyre investigating.
In real-world tests, I noticed some websites loading slower than I was used to.
While streaming videos never stopped playing to buffer, I experienced some initial low-resolution playback on Windows and MacOS.
Your VPN should seamlessly slot into your daily usage, not dictate it.
Nevertheless, I didnt notice nearly the same amount of CAPTCHAs with alternatives, including NordVPN and Proton VPN.
A dedicated IP costs $5 per month, $51 annually or $90 total for three years.
But at that point, you may as well consider a slightly more expensive VPN.
Its wallet-friendly pricing even includes unlimited simultaneous connections, a benefit most pricier VPNs eschew.
But a little more money for a rival VPN gets you far faster speeds and a smoother overall experience.
Usually, youll save money with an annual or multi-year plan.
Granted, we dont recommend shelling out for more than a years worth of service up-front.
If youre considering PIA, the question is whether the cheaper price is worth the trade-offs.
For most people, it might not be.
By contrast, PIA doesnt make you babysit your subscription as much with its meaningfully cheaper auto-renewal.
Finding most major configs was pretty straightforward, and there are some unique privacy features.
I was pleased to findsplit tunnelingon MacOS and Linux, not just Windows and Android.
Only a handful of VPN providers, including Surfshark, support split tunneling on Apple computers.
Split tunneling lets you route some apps through a VPN but not others.
But the configs menu felt a bit overwhelming, especially for newcomers.
But on certain platforms, I found app navigation cumbersome.
On Android, diving into the VPN server country list shows everything from lowest ping to greatest.
I tried to re-order everything alphabetically and nest cities under countries for easier navigation, but to no avail.
This setup is designed to enhance your experience by prioritizing servers that offer the most reliable performance.
I get the philosophy – many folks will want to use a fast VPN server.
But that assumes a lot about specific user behavior.
Australian servers are mostly named AU [city], for instance, AU Sydney.
But the streaming-optimized server is Australia Streaming Optimized.
Id like the app experience polished more without losing the power user amenities.
But a quick server change to a non-streaming-optimized server allowed access.
My advice: Try a streaming-optimized server first if available, but if not, select a different server.
Hulu functioned on Windows and MacOS, but it detected VPN usage on Android TV.
Amazon Prime Video UK, on the other hand, played just fine on Windows and MacOS.
Private Internet Access boasts a robust support section with aknowledge base, support guides and community forums.
In the guides section, youll find tutorials for installing or uninstalling PIAs VPN apps on different platforms.
Live chat is available both for customers and non-customers alike.
I initiated a chat and asked how to run a VPN on my smart TV.
I followed up by asking, how do I install a VPN on my router?
I was pleased with the response time and the detailed answer about re-arranging apps on the PIA Android app.
Streaming performance was mostly decent despite its high speed loss because of good unblocking capabilities.
However, I had to server hop a bit on occasion when various streaming services detected a VPN.
Youll find both the OpenVPN and WireGuard VPN protocols with modern encryption alongside customization options.
For instance, you’ve got the option to select AES-128-bit or AES-256-bit encryption with OpenVPN.
Oddly, AES-128-bit encryption comes pre-selected by default.
Youll also find a slew of privacy basics, including a kill switch.
I appreciate this move, which fosters trust and transparency with users.
Only a handful of other VPN companies, including Proton VPN and Mullvad, offer open-source apps.
Many VPN providers utilize RAM-only servers, which dont save any VPN session data to a hard disk.
Youll also get obfuscated servers that attempt to mask the fact that youre using a VPN.
Its only available forWindows, not MacOS.
By comparison, Surfsharks antivirus software works on Windows,Macand Android.
When I asked the server if that assertion was true, he replied, Its Bourbon Street.
Would anyone lie to you?
PIA underwent ano-logs auditunder the scrutiny of Deloitte and published the results in April 2024.
A PIA representative confirmed via video call and email that the company has an audit queued up for 2025.
I like the annual audit cadence – while auditsdont paint a complete privacy picture, theyre crucial trust signals.
And annual audits maintain that trust with reasonable frequency.
Depending on the jurisdiction, a VPN company may be required to share information.
Many privacy policies – even outside of VPNs – can read like Dickensian word salads.
However,PIAs privacy policyis as clear-cut as it can be when it comes to legalese.
I like how straightforward PIAs privacy policy is and how clearly its laid out.
Private Internet Access is upfront about its commitment to user privacy.
In 2019, Kape Technologies – a company then-infamous for distributing malware – acquired PIA.
Kape owns several other VPNs, including ExpressVPN andCyberGhost.
Id like to see PIA address its Kape ownership and data-sharing or lack thereof even more forcefully.
Additional privacy mitigations, like RAM-only server infrastructure, further safeguard your VPN session data.
But in my 2025 testing, PIA is lagging behind the top of the pack.
Even its renewal price of $50 is still cheaper than most rivals.
PIAs uneven speed loss makes it a tough sell for folks with slow or unreliable internet connections.
