Private Internet Access VPN Review: Expert Analysis (2025)

We conducted a full review of Private Internet Access (PIA) VPN in 2025 to evaluate the relative cost and benefits of the service.

PIA has been around since 2010, and their experience in their service is clear. Their VPN service is absolutely packed with features, so many in fact that you’ll be hard-pressed to find an alternative that offers this many features. Compare this with the highly competitive price tag and powerful performance, and you get one of the most trusted VPN services in the market.

PIA VPN Review: Quick Expert Summary

Private Internet Access is secure, putting its security above all other things. With so many different precautions on top of its open-source nature, Private Internet Access is easily one of the best in this regard. Pair that with its consistently good speeds and performance, and you’ll find a lot to like with Private Internet Access, regardless of what kind of user you are.

On top of that, Private Internet Access also has many hyper-focused features that appeal to specific niches, giving it a lot of appeals. It’s by and far the best VPN for torrenting services, and many gamer-centric features make it a standout gaming VPN. With all of these different factors coming together, it makes for a shockingly complete package, with customer support being the only section where it could be more robust.

PIA also works in China, Cuba and the Middle East.

Private Internet Access Key Data

Speed	7/10
Average Speed*	117 Mbps
Video Streaming Support	4K, HD video conferencing
Streaming	5/10
Netflix	Yes
Other Streaming Services	BBC iPlayer
Security	10/10
Encryption Type	Up to 256-bit AES
Kill Switch	Yes
Log Policy	No logs
Protocols	OpenVPN, Wireguard, IKEv2
Value for Money	8/10
Lowest Monthly Cost	$2.19
Money Back Guarantee	30 days
Website	https://www.Privateinternetaccess.com

PIA VPN Full Review

Established in 2010, Private Internet Access has been providing VPN services for a long time. They’ve maintained an excellent grasp on the shifting demands of the VPN market and their consumers, keeping them competitive. Private Internet Access remains one of the more commonly recommended VPN services even more than a decade later.

With so many years under their belt, the developers behind Private Internet Access have been able to pack their VPN with tons of features. On top of that, they’ve built up an excellent server network, with over 10,000 servers worldwide. There’s so much information to go through when you talk about Private Internet Access, so without further ado, let’s get right into it.

Private Internet Access Quick Specification Rundown

Server Count	10,000+ Ram-only Servers
Server Countries	84 Countries
Base Location	USA
Max Device Count	10 Connections
Supported Protocols	WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2
Key Features	Open-source, Kill Switch, Advanced Split Tunneling, Automation Rules, Customization, Ad Blocker
Customer Support Options	Knowledgebase, Live Chat, Email Support
Supported Platforms	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Router

PIA VPN Features

Private Internet Access isn’t the most glamorous VPN, but what it does have is a solid set of features that add a lot to the user experience. These features are great, finding a lot of practical use from the services’ users. We’ve made a roundup of Private Internet Access’ best features below.

• Split Tunneling – Split tunnelling, as always, is a great feature to have on a VPN. Being able to route specific traffic through your VPN and let the rest go through your standard IP is invaluable.

• Kill Switch –  VPN kill switches are essential to keeping your online safety up, cutting off your internet connection whenever your VPN cuts off.

• Open Source –  Private Internet Access applications are all open source, allowing users to check their apps for proper security, a rare feature and hard to find among other VPNs.

• Auto-Connect – Auto-connect makes it easier for you to connect to the best server at a glance.

• Static Anonymous IP Address – Static anonymous IP addresses allow users to connect to the same server for encryption, making accessing certain websites consistently a lot easier.

Private Internet Access stands out from the crowd with its sheer number of features, especially compared to its price tag. Most of these features aren’t breaking new ground or experimental, but they add a lot to the user experience.

Privacy & Security

Private Internet Access, with over 12 years of experience under its belt, has built an incredibly secure VPN service. They’ve built their entire brand around their security and privacy, and this extends to practically every facet of their offerings. It’s an impressive showing and a big part of why Private Internet Access remains an excellent VPN option.

Their VPN service transmits and receives completely encrypted web data while connected to your device. It makes things more challenging, almost impossible, for anyone who intercepts your web history to correctly identify it as yours. However, Private Internet Access has AES-128 encryption as its base, which you’ll need to manually bump up to AES-256, the military standard.

Private Internet Access also has a no-logging policy, which is standard for most VPN providers. All their servers are RAM-only, meaning none of your data gets permanently stored anywhere. On top of this, even the OS on the servers is encrypted, so users can be at ease when using Private Internet Access services.

One of the highlights of Private Internet Access is how all their applications are open-source. If you’re good at it, you can personally go through the code and check if everything is up to par. It speaks a lot to Private Internet Access’ confidence in their products that they allow you to do this, and it inspires a lot of trusts. You can be sure that they’re trying their best with it.

Of course, we also have an internet Kill Switch in case your VPN suddenly drops. It’s always an important feature to have for your internet safety, and we’re happy to see it here. Regarding security, it’s difficult to argue against Private Internet Access. They have an incredible set of safety features curated and polished over a long period, and it shows.

Speed & Performance

Private Internet Access is a speedy VPN thanks to it having WireGuard. It’s a naturally speedy protocol that results in some good speeds. With Wireguard, you can easily break 510Mbps, which is above average though not particularly fast. Where Private Internet Access excels, however, is in stability and consistency, not dropping in speed whatsoever thanks to the sheer number of servers available.

Private Internet Access VPN Protocol Speed Comparison

PIA VPN Protocol	Peak Speed
WireGuard	510Mbps
OpenVPN	440Mbps

Perhaps more impressive are Private Internet Access’ OpenVPN speeds, which are excellent and almost match WireGuard at 440Mbps. Most other services struggle to get their OpenVPN speeds even close to WireGuard, so this is phenomenal. If you’re working in a position or place that requires OpenVPN, Private Internet Access should be high on your list of options.

Once again, we also have to mention consistency. Private Internet Access keeps up its performance in most scenarios with OpenVPN, so if that’s on your list of priorities, this should be your choice.

Servers & IP Addresses

With over 10,000+ servers in 84 countries, Private Internet Access shines in its performance consistency. All of these servers are RAM-only, and their OS is encrypted, so it’s pretty secure. The servers also perform well, as mentioned in the review’s speed and performance section. Practically every competitor pales in comparison to Private Internet Access in this aspect.

Split tunnelling is also here, which is always a welcome feature to see. Choosing whether you reroute your traffic to a VPN IP or your real IP is incredibly helpful, especially if you have wireless devices in your household. You can also get a dedicated IP address with Private Internet Access and a static anonymous IP address that’s private to the user.

Streaming Support

Private Internet Access isn’t well known for its streaming capabilities, which is understandable. For its many strengths, streaming doesn’t get brought up often, though that doesn’t mean it’s bad for streaming. In fact, Private Internet Access comes with a lot of support for many streaming sites, including Disney+ Hotstar, Netflix, Hulu, CBC, and 9Now.

Speeds are also consistent, and Private Internet Access boasts that its servers are optimized for streaming. They’ve also committed to continuing their support for streaming, and considering how well-supported Private Internet Access is, we can believe it.

Torrenting Support

There are no two ways around it; Private Internet Access is simply one of the best VPNs for torrenting. Private Internet Access allows torrenting on all their servers, which is insane. P2P traffic is allowed on all of their servers, and with features like split tunnelling, port forwarding, and seeding on literally every server, it’s hard to match the service in this regard.

Gaming Support

Port forwarding is a feature on Private Internet Access, and this is important. Having this as an option is fantastic for gamers since hosting multiplayer games on a home server becomes infinitely easier. Many consider it one of the better gaming VPNs, and it’s easy to see why. Of course, you can spoof your location and IP address for safety, and it also protects you from DDoS attacks.

It’s also good that Private Internet Access has consistent speeds since those are also incredibly important for gamers. Having spikes during your gameplay can get annoying, and highly consistent speeds keep that to a minimum. Plus, Private Internet Access is also available on every major gaming console, so if you’re a gamer, this is good to keep in mind.

Bypassing Censorship

As with any VPN, Private Internet Access is excellent for bypassing censorship. In countries where many sites are blocked or censored, Private Internet Access will get you right past all of it so you can access the information you want to see. Tools like split tunnelling also help with this, making things overall easier on users no matter where they’re from.

Does PIA VPN Keep Logs?

PIA offers a “no-logs” policy which ensures that any activity undertaken while connected to their VPN will not be maintained as a record. This includes your real IP address and browsing history, as well as data utilization amounts.

Ease of Use: Mobile & Desktop Apps

Private Internet Access has impressively comprehensive apps for both desktop and mobile. Installation is super simple on desktop, and it’s available on Windows, Mac and Linux desktops. You can connect up to 10 devices to the same account, which is pretty generous next to its competitors. Once you log in, you’re greeted by a big Connect button that will find the best connection for you automatically.

Configurability is insane with Private Internet Access, giving you a lot of options to choose from. It can be overwhelming if you don’t know what they all do, but for power users, these are a godsend. You choose your protocol, encryption level and port type, though there’s unfortunately no handshake configuration.

The mobile versions of Private Internet Access also come with a lot of features, including the ever-important internet kill switch. The interface on both iOS and Android is equally simple, but it can be made more complex depending on how you’d like it. Private Internet Access puts the power in the hands of users, and for many, that’s its most significant appeal.

Does PIA VPN Have A Free Trial?

Private Internet Access offers a 30-day trial but requires a subscription. Alternatively, ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee and a 3-month free subscription on a 12-month plan.

PIA VPN Plans & Pricing

Private Internet Access is affordable, definitely much more so than its competitors. For the price, the sheer value you get is quite impressive, as there’s a lot to like here. Pricing plans come in the form of monthly payment plans, annual payment plans and 3-year payment plans. The 3-year plan is obviously the best bang for your buck, though that’s a significant investment. Thankfully, the 1-year plan is also well-priced.

Unlike most other VPNs, Private Internet Access doesn’t offer a free trial. There’s a 30-day money-back guarantee, but no trial, which is unfortunate. Still, the pricing is reasonable, so it’s not all bad.

Customer Support

Private Internet Access has its own knowledge base, but it’s not well maintained. While a lot of information is covered, things aren’t too detailed and could be improved. Next to ExpressVPN and NordVPN, Private Internet Access could use a bit more work. You can also send in a support ticket for email support.

There’s also live chat support, though we’ve heard mixed things about it. Some users report that it’s competent and good, while others report longer waiting times and difficulty getting the right solution. We’re sure things will get better in the future, though we’ll see how it goes. As it stands, it’s good, but not to the standard of some competitors.

IS PIA the Best VPN in 2025?

With add-on security features, a proven privacy approach, customizable encryption options, and exceptional torrenting streaming, and gaming, PIA VPN is worth your attention

Power users will get a lot out of the sheer number of configuration options, and the VPN gives you a lot of features for its price tag. Consistency is also excellent here, and the speeds themselves are also good. We find a lot to love with Private Internet Access, just like many others have, hence why they’re so popular.