Private Internet Access VPN
Review

Private Internet Access boasts over 35,000 servers spread over 80 countries. This large server network puts it in a position to go toe-to-toe with the best VPNs, such as NordVPN, ExpressVPN, PureVPN, and CyberGhost. As a result, you should not have a problem finding a nearby server, plus reduced server congestion means better speeds.

Geo-spoofing is also straightforward with Private Internet Access‘ enormous overseas server network. This means as long as a country has a server, you should be able to access content restricted to that country.

The servers are spread well in all continents: North America, South America, Europe, Australia, Africa, and Asia. Even regions such as Turkey and Vietnam that censor VPNs heavily are covered. However, the company has no server whatsoever in Russia. Plus, it used to have servers in Hong Kong but was forced to relocate them to a nearby country after the Chinese crackdown on VPN services.

However, some of these servers are virtual, meaning they may not be located in the country in which they assign you an IP. The good news is that the company provides a list distinguishing which of their servers are virtual vs. bare metal.

Private VPN offers varying speeds across different servers, tunneling protocols, and devices. Regardless of server location, connection times with PIA averaged roughly 2.5 seconds with OpenVPN and 2 seconds with WireGuard.

Tests on 1 gigabit per second lines in the US and the UK found OpenVPN speeds of 200-300Mbps and 210-240Mbps, respectively. When changing to WireGuard, speeds dropped to 100-120Mbps in the United States but increased to 430Mbps in the UK.

These numbers are about as average as they get. Most VPN services, including ExpressVPN (210-2500Mbps) and Hide.Me (300-350Mbps) are in this range. However, ProtonVPN (470-520Mbps), NordVPN (750-900Mbps), and IPVanish (770-910Mbps) are the class leaders.

Private Internet Access VPN service provides several security features, such as:

• split-tunneling, which allows you to select which apps use VPN;
• kill switch to terminate internet access in case VPN connection becomes unstable;
• DNS and WebRTC leak protection;
• built-in ad filtering.

Additionally, you can obtain a dedicated IP Address and antivirus protection as add-ons a la carte.

Private Internet Access also offers WireGuard and OpenVPN on all Operating Systems. Open VPN is an open-source tunneling protocol that is constantly scanned for flaws. WireGuard is the newest alternative to OpenVPN. It provides faster speeds and increased security, but it may not function with dedicated IP and split tunneling features. Additionally, iOS users have the option of using the IKEv2 protocol.

Another security feature of Private Internet Access VPN is Identity Guard. This tool alerts users in case of breaches in their emails, thus preventing identity theft. Therefore, email breach monitoring allows you to reset your password before hackers can cause more harm.

On some networks, Private Internet Access also allows port forwarding. This is a more complex configuration that, while not required for a VPN, will undoubtedly be cherished by network hobbyists. It enables faster download by allowing data to bypass NAT firewalls. Port Forwarding is possible because of the VPN multihop add-on.

While Private Internet Access offers a robust privacy policy that encompasses no monitoring of users‘ browser history, it is based in Colorado, the United States, which is a partner of the Five Eyes alliance. Therefore shares surveillance data with Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.

The company’s representatives have said that no data is collected. Still, if you work with very sensitive data, you might prefer a service that operates outside the jurisdictions of such surveillance alliances, including the 14 eyes alliance.

Private Internet Access unblocks several geo-locked contents allowing users to stream Netflix US, Canada, Netherlands, and the UK from anywhere as long as they are subscribed to this streaming service.

The company recently added a special London server to meet user demand for BBC iPlayer access. Other streaming services you unblock with PIA include:

• Amazon Prime
• Disney
• Hulu

Private Internet Access VPN allows P2P file torrenting on all its servers and even provides port forwarding features so individuals can circumvent NAT firewalls and achieve superior download speeds. Some of the compatible torrenting clients include Utorrent, BitTorrent, Transmission, and Deluge.

Private Internet Access is compatible with Android, Windows, iOS, Mac OS X, and Linux. The VPN can also be installed on gaming consoles, smart TV, and even routers to protect all the devices connected to a network but don’t have their VPN apps. Alternatively, you could buy already configured routers from the company.

While using a VPN to configure your router helps hide your entire network but might reduce the speed and performance of devices that don’t require protection. That’s why PIA provides apps for various devices and supports up to 10 devices simultaneously.

When you purchase a PIA plan, you will receive login details for PIA VPN applications and web browser extensions (Chrome, Opera, and Firefox). You will then need to install the VPN program or browser extension, log in to your account, and start using this VPN service.

Private Internet Access charges $9.95 per month for its VPN, while a one-year subscription at $3.33 per month without discounts. Private Internet Access takes Paypal, Credit Cards, cryptocurrencies, and Amazon payments. Gift cards from numerous shops are also accepted. You can buy these gift cards with cash and make your subscriptions anonymous.

Private Internet Access is among the most trustworthy VPNs for circumventing censorship. It works in China and other fiercely censored countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Russia, and Turkey. It uses the OpenVPN protocol and the Shadowsocks proxy to get around even the toughest firewalls.

A dedicated IP address costs $4.25 / month for customers on a yearly subscription, while antivirus protection costs $1.27 per month. A dedicated IP address means you get to use the same public internet address every time. In principle, this should appear less dubious than a continually changing or recognized VPN Internet address and hence may not be denied by banks, streaming services, and other sites that restrict VPN users. You can get a dedicated IP address from Australia, the UK, Germany, the US, or Canada, and you can choose how long to keep it.

Setting up PIA on computers is simple. PIA VPN apps download page has a full changelog that reveals which modifications have been made to the software, and if a new version of an app isn’t functioning correctly, you can always download the older versions. OpenVPN also provides configuration files should you wish to use your own software.

A huge Connect button will link you to the nearest server after downloading, installing, and signing in to your PIA account. There’s also a searchable list of server countries and cities and their ping times to select the one that suits your needs. There’s even a favorite function.

PIA allows you to select tunneling protocols and AES encryption. Supported protocols include WireGuard, OpenVPN UDP, OpenVPN TCP, and iKEV2. At the same time, encryption options are AES-128 and AES-256. Just go to settings and choose what you want.

If the VPN disengages, for whatever reason, the desktop client features a kill switch that blocks internet access, thus preventing DNS and WebRTC leaks.

An excellent command-line client named ‚piactl‘ allows tech-savvy users to use a script to manage the VPN. It makes it easy to customize the VPN, like when it should switch on and off, etc. Unfortunately, the documentation for this functionality is sparse, but it’s simple enough to figure out what it does.

So, despite their simple appearance, PIA’s desktops are jam-packed with extra capabilities that make VPN use fun.

PIA offers live chat assistance, an online knowledge base, and email support. The online knowledge base is extensive and user-friendly, with articles addressing account issues, troubleshooting, technical issues, and updates.

Meanwhile, the LiveChat service is available 24/7. The customer service representatives are knowledgeable, friendly, and quick to help. To start a live chat, go to the official website and enter your email address and account ID. PIA makes it easy for users to contact service reps for support by lightening the authentication process.

Apart from live chat, email, and knowledgebase, PIA also has a ticketing system, allowing users to get in touch with staff by requesting tickets. However, responses take longer, sometimes up to 3 business days.

Pros

• Dedicated IP address and antivirus add-ons,
• Large server network,
• Cheap subscription plans,
• Extensive security features,
• Unblocks various streaming services,
• Allows p2p file sharing,
• Allows up to 10 devices,
• A free email intrusion monitoring program is available.

Cons

• Based in the US,
• Average speeds,
• Doesn’t offer access to Tor.

Except for the fact that Private Internet Access VPN is based in a country that’s part of the 5 eyes intelligence alliance, there isn’t much to complain about its setup and services. It’s as comprehensive as VPN users demand, including dedicated IPs, antivirus, ad-blocks, and other security features while supporting excellent tunneling protocols such as WireGuard and OpenVPN. Unfortunately, its server speeds could use some improvement, too, because they are just average.

That said, it’s one of the most affordable VPN services, with subscriptions starting at only $3.33/month, with a one-week free trial and 30 days money-back guarantee. That means you have enough time to give it a look-see and make up your mind.