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Private Internet Access VPN Review

Top10.com Staff

In a Nutshell

There’s a reason Private Internet Access chose its name. A VPN service for accessing blocked content and hiding your IP address, Private Internet Access is known to be the most anonymous VPN around. With a strong emphasis on privacy, Private Internet Access gives you anonymity, safe online browsing, ID protection, and more. Add to that a tremendous network of servers, and Private Internet Access blows the competition clear out of the water.

pros

  • 20K servers in 70+ countries
  • Strongest privacy protection anywhere
  • Zero-logging policy

cons

  • No freemium plan or free trial
  • No specific servers for Netflix

Private Internet Access Private Internet Access Visit Site

Private Internet Access at a Glance

Best for
Safe surfing, privacy, protection
Price Range
Starts at $2.19 per month
Location
70+ countries, 10K servers
Netflix
Unblocks Netflix UK, US, DE and JA
Torrenting
P2P and torrenting allowed
Logging
No logging policy
Number of Devices
10
Operating Systems
iOS, OS, Android, PC, Linux
Browser Extensions
Chrome, Firefox, Opera

Privacy

Private Internet Access has a lot of fantastic features that we'll look at in a minute. But it's real claim to fame is in its privacy and protection. The extent Private Internet Access goes to protect your identity and data is pretty impressive. Of course, this VPN has the usual military-grade WiFi encryption, but it goes a lot further than that. Private Internet Access uses multiple VPN gateways for further encryption. Private Internet Access will block ads, malware, and pernicious trackers, too. And it's even got a SOCKS5 proxy included with every plan. 

Private Internet Access also supports PPTP, OpenVPN, and L2TP/IPSec, so you can have your pick of the litter when it comes to protocols. This allows you to decide the level of protection you want. But probably our favorite privacy feature to highlight is the leak tests. Private Internet Access has DNS, IPv6, and email leak tests that you can run right on the website. That’s some serious protection.

Oh, and we forgot to mention Private Internet Access’s privacy policy. This VPN service doesn’t collect any of your information. It’s a total no-logs policy, so you never have to worry about your information being passed onto anyone else because there’s no information to pass on. We also like that you can see the Private Internet Access transparency report. This is a snapshot of government demands for user data and how many requests were complied with (spoiler alert: it’s none).

Features

Private Internet Access comes fully loaded with more features than you’ll likely know what to do with. To start with, Private Internet Access offers unlimited bandwidth, so you’ll never get throttled and have to deal with buffering blues. Private Internet Access also has more than 20,000 servers to work with. So, your speed is going to be super fast and downloads smooth.

What’s more, Private Internet Access allows you up to 10 simultaneous connections with a single subscription. That’s unbelievable! There’s also a feature called Mace, something that will block domains that are used by third-party advertisers.

We also like the warning displays Private Internet Access provides. You will see a warning sign whenever you’re about to do something that can compromise your data security (like choose the no data encryption setting). There’s also ephemeral key usage, so you are really super safe.

Some other features we thought were impressive include:

  • Kill switch
  • DNS leak protection
  • IP leak protection
  • Handshake encryption
  • Data authentication
  • Integrated firewalls

Speed

PIA OFF

PIA ON

As you can see, Private Internet Access slows you down a little. But the amount is negligible, so most people won’t even feel the change at all.

Pricing and Deals

Private Internet Access has an expensive monthly plan. But if you choose to sign up for the 2-year plan, you save a whopping 78% and get 2 months free. So, if you're signing up for this site, it makes sense to get the 2-year plan. Here's a look at the Private Internet Access pricing plans available:


Monthly Plan
1-Year Plan
3-Year Plan
Price per month
$11.95
$3.33
$2.19

Private Internet Access also offers a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee. If you’re not happy with the service after a week, you’ll get a full refund. Another nice thing about working with Private Internet Access is that it allows for anonymous payments. You can use gift cards like Starbucks, Walmart, and Best Buy cards to pay for your subscription. If you’re really into your privacy, this is a major perk.

Torrents

Private Internet Access believes in supporting open internet for all. As such, there are no restrictions on what content you can view, download, or share. Private Internet Access supports P2P torrenting, and there are even clear how-to guides on the website to show you how to do it.

Netflix

Private Internet Access allows you to stream Netflix from any of its servers. There are no dedicated Netflix servers, but since they all work relatively the same, it doesn’t make a difference either way. You can also stream Hulu and Disney+.

Client Setup

Private Internet Access has a huge selection of applications you can download, so setup is easy no matter what device you're working with. From Macs to PCs and even Linux operating systems, Private Internet Access is a quick and painless process to get started. There are even browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Opera. So, you can have a 1-step setup. Private Internet Access obviously worked hard to make things as convenient and user-friendly as possible, and we give it full props for that.

Apps

Private Internet Access has a mobile app for Android and iOS devices, and your experience will be compatible across all your devices.

How Does Private Internet Access Compare?


Private Internet Access
Bullguard
PrivateVPN
Price
From $2.19 per month
$2.97-$7.08
$3.82-$7.67
Number of Devices
10
6
6
Number of Servers
20,000
16
150+
Best for
Maximum privacy and protection
Users who want an easy-to-use but thorough security VPN
Unlimited bandwidth and data usage (non-techy people, too)
P2P or Bittorrent
Yes 
Yes 
Yes 

Customer Support

Private Internet Access offers 24/7 customer support, something a lot of other VPNs do not. You can get in touch by submitting a support ticket or by live chat. Private Internet Access has fast response times, too.

Ease of Use

We already mentioned how easy it is to set up Private Internet Access. The interface itself is pretty simple. Click the power button to turn on your VPN, and click it again to turn it off. Plain and simple. You can even set up auto-start that will turn on the VPN whenever you connect to certain WiFi channels.

And in case you get tripped up, there’s a huge client support section to help walk you through the technical aspects of the system.

Private Internet Access Private Internet Access Visit Site

FAQs

Q: What are ephemeral keys?

A: Ephemeral keys are a type of encryption technology. The keys are randomly generated, and they are thrown out after a short time. Ephemeral keys maximize your encryption possibilities, encoding your information with the highest level of security.

Q: What can I use my VPN for?

A: Private Internet Access is used for a number of privacy and convenience features. You can use the VPN to browse online securely, stop marketers and brands from eavesdropping on your browsing, prevent leechers from grabbing your private data while on public WiFi networks, unblock geo-restricted content, hide and protect your identity, and remain anonymous online.

Bottom Line

Private Internet Access is a VPN that's been around for a decade. While it has a lot of great features we enjoyed using like the ad blocker, browser extensions, and multi-device support, Private Internet Access really blew us away with its privacy protection features. With things like AES 128 or 256, data authentication, handshake encryption, and warning displays, you can stay anonymous and browse securely no matter where you go.

Frequently Asked Questions
Is Private Internet Access trustworthy?+-

One of Private Internet Access' greatest strenghts is the privacy it affords its users. In addition to military-grade encryption, it offers multiple VPN gateways, ad-blocking and malware tracking, and a strict no-logs policy that promises that it won't collect user information.

Does Private Internet Access VPN keep logs?+-

No. Private Internet Access has a strict no-logs policy that promises it won't collect any user information.

How much does Private Internet Access cost?+-

The price depends on the length of a subscription. The best deal is the 2-year plan which comes out to $2.69 per month. A 1-year plan costs $3.33 per month, while a single month costs $11.95.

Top10.com's editorial staff is a professional team of editors and writers with dozens of years of experience covering consumer, financial and business products and services.

Private Internet Access customer reviews

Based on 115 reviews

Ease of use

Brand satisfaction

Value for money

Service quality

Top Reviews

Ease of use

Brand satisfaction

Value for money

Service quality

9 months ago

Easy to use and simple to install. I like that I get frequent updates to make the software work better. I like the interface and the ability to create an ip address from almost any country in the world and multiple addresses in the US.

9 months ago

The site is very easy to use and is very safe and private. I like that it protects my web pages and my information on all the sites I browse.

9 months ago

Private Internet Access is a great example of the VPN category because it excels at keeping our online use private.

9 months ago

Private Internet Access is a great example of a VPN because it allows you to directly choose which devices see what you want them to see.

9 months ago

It is great because I can't be tracked by scammers. I don't have to have sites following me while I'm browsing the internet.

9 months ago

This VPN is good to use to protect others from getting personal info, especially since its easy to use.

10 months ago

For a long time I did not use one. I was told by a close friend that I should and they recommended Private Internet Access so now I do.

10 months ago

It is invisible and I hope it works to protect my privacy on the web. I hardly know it is there, but it does alert me if there is a potential problem.

10 months ago

Private internet access is a great example of a VPN because it helps keep people that you don't want using your internet away.

10 months ago

Private Internet Access is easy to use, very convenient, and can help me make some extra income on the side, plus much more.

10 months ago

I use for access to my internet and it keeps my internet from being used by others outside of my home. I feel secure in knowing I have a code that only family members are given access to.

10 months ago

It is super cheap and easy to use. It works on all my devices and PC, as well as my laptop. It is great to use to connect to cryptocurrency exchanges. It's probably one of the best VPNs.

10 months ago

It is easy to click on and off and select a region. It also fits in nicely with existing programs.

10 months ago

VPNs are primarily used for remote access to a private network. For example, employees at a branch office could use a VPN to connect to the main office's internal network. Alternatively, a remote worker, who may be working from home, could need to connect to their company's internet or restricted applications.

a year ago

I tend to forget that it is even working, it is just so easy. It is also very afforadable.

a year ago

I like their service because of their honesty and the simplicity of their software. I like having my privacy and I don't trust just anyone, especially with the copyrighted material I deal with.

a year ago

It's very beneficial to protect my information whenever I'm using any internet I'm not sure about.

a year ago

I felt confident that my data was secure while using their platform on my phone. I would definitely recommend it for anyone else as well.

a year ago

It was not working as I expected because the website kept me from accessing the contents.

a year ago

Working as a government contractor in my previous career, we needed highly secure company networks and used VPNs.

115 customer reviews
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