Private Internet Access Review 2022

Last updated: January 19, 2023
Average:(average: 2 out of 5. Total: 1)
William Sams

William Sams

Private Internet Access continues to be counted as one of the best VPN options thanks to its secure encryptions and support for torrenting. But has this fame finally started counting against it with its loss of ability to unblock Netflix and China?

Jurisdiction United States
Price $2.19/m. (On 1-Year Plan)
Servers 3300+ servers in 30 countries
Logs No logs
Encryption AES-256-Bit
Unblocks Netflix Yes
Torrenting Yes
Works in China No
Recommended  Yes
Website https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/
Compatibility Windows, Android, Apple, Desktop, Chrome, Firefox

By Introducing the blog “Private Internet Access Review 2022“, we exposed the investigated PIA’s logging policy and security features and perform performance tests to see how wonderful it is. I also did extensive testing to see how well it unblocked streaming sites, how well it handled torrents, and how it compared to other competitors.

The United States is home to Private Internet Access. Originally established in 2010, Kape Technologies has now acquired the business. More than 35,00+ servers in 78 countries are available through the Private Internet Access VPN service, which also supports standard VPN protocols.

Starting at just $2.19 per month on a one-year plan, the Private Internet Access VPN service is among the most affordable options out there. I was skeptical that PIA could compete successfully with more expensive services given its affordable plans. It has been operating for over a decade, thus it may be one of the most cost-effective virtual private networks.

Apps are available for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and Linux, browser extensions are available for Chrome, Firefox, and Opera, and comprehensive guides to setting up a VPN on a wide variety of devices are provided.

A SOCKS5 proxy is available for increased performance, ports may be forwarded, and you can choose your preferred encryption, authentication, and handshake techniques, among other features.

Private Internet Access is a reliable service that won’t break the bank. Incredibly, a membership can be had for so little money given the robust torrenting performance and flexible security choices. This VPN stands behind its product, as seen by the 30-day money-back guarantee.

Private Internet Access Review – Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Speed – Speeds on adjacent servers are acceptable. On nearby servers, I had no issues gaming or streaming in HD, however over great distances, the rates decreased significantly.
  • Security – Excellent security with several configuration options. In addition to having changeable encryption settings, split tunneling, and a kill button, PIA passed all of the leak tests.
  • Strong no-logs Policy – The no-logs policy has been audited and verified. Your privacy is safeguarded since PIA does not keep any personally identifying information.
  • Unblocking – Effective at unblocking streaming websites. I had access to distinct Netflix libraries, HuluAmazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, HBO Max, and more.
  • Network – There are several servers to select from. It features one of the biggest server networks of any VPN, albeit several servers are located in virtual places.
  • User-Friendly Apps – Excellent applications for every major operating system. On any operating system, you will have access to a fully-functional app.
  • Torrenting – A strong option for torrenting. I was able to download files quickly from all servers.
  • Cash-Back Assurance – 30-day money-back guarantee. Bought a $2.19/month membership and, per their refund policy, received a full refund within one day.

Cons

  • Customer Services – Customer service is inconsistent. When I was able to use the 24/7 live chat, it functioned admirably. However, there were several occasions when it was unavailable or I received no answer.

Private Internet Access Review -Rating Criteria

  1. JurisdictionWhere Is Private Internet Access Located?
  2. Security Is Private Internet Access A Safe Option?
  3. Servers  – How Many Servers Does Private Internet Access Have?
  4. Streaming Can Private Internet Access Unblock Netflix?
  5. Torrenting –  Is private Internet access good for Torrenting?
  6. Speed How Fast Are Private Internet Access Servers?
  7. Compatibility  What Devices Can I Use Private Internet Access On?
  8. Pricing Is Private Internet Access Pricing An Affordable Option?
  9. Trustworthiness What Do Other Users Say About Private Internet Access?

Jurisdiction – Where Is Private Internet Access Located?

Kape Technologies owns Private Internet Access. Cape formerly Crossrider, developed mobile advertisements and browser extensions. In 2018, hackers bundled adware with some of its files. Since rebranding, the firm no longer does marketing and concentrates on VPNs. Kape runs CyberGhost and ExpressVPN.

Private Internet Access is based in the US, which isn’t privacy-friendly. The US founded the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliance. This is a contract between countries to share questionable information. Private Internet Access offers a verified no-logs policy, functioning for over years without keeping or disclosing user details.

In 2022, Deloitte audited PIA’s no-logs policy. It discovered that PIA’s server settings follow its privacy regulations, don’t retain logs, and can’t identify or monitor users. PIA has no record of your internet activities.

The network is designed to avoid data retention. RAM-only servers perform its service. These servers employ RAM modules instead of hard drives and reboot often. When the servers reboot, all user data is destroyed, therefore your info can’t be shared as it’s never saved.

Private Internet Access is a reliable VPN regardless of ownership. It supports internet-freedom organizations. Private Internet Access’ privacy policy is court-proven, thus I respect it with personal information.

Security – Is Private Internet Access A Safe Option?

VPN service Private Internet Access is reliable and secure. WireGuard and OpenVPN, two of the best VPN encryption protocols, are used across all of its apps. AES-128 is the default encryption for OpenVPN, however, the more secure AES-256 is also an option. The RSA-2048 and RSA-2096 handshake ciphers offer extra layers of protection.

The least secure encryption methods and handshake ciphers were used by default, however. You need to be technically savvy and manually tweak the settings to achieve the same level of protection as with other VPNs.

Encryption

It is your responsibility to specify the amount of encryption while utilizing Private Internet Access with the OpenVPN protocol; otherwise, the default AES-128 will be used. So, after you enter the Connections page, here are your options including AES-128 and AES-256 with CBC or AES-128 and AES-256 with GCM

PIA-encryption

There are a few distinctions between these extremely safe choices. Even though both AES-128 and AES-256 are impervious to brute-force assaults, AES-256 is more secure and is thus regarded as the industry standard.

Now, the primary distinctions between GCM and CBC are performance and safety. GCM is more recent, more reliable, and quicker than CBC.

Encryption can be completely disabled. Your credentials will continue to be encrypted and your IP will remain secret; however, not encrypting the actual data may allow for faster speeds, which is ideal for streaming and gaming, where speed is more essential than security.

Authentication can also be performed using either the SHA1 or SHA2 hashing methods. A comprehensive number of handshake techniques, including RSA-4096 and ECC-521, are also available.

Tunneling Protocols

Having many tunneling protocols available is beneficial, since certain protocols may be better suited for certain tasks than others. One could be quicker, while the other might be safer. If you care more about keeping your data encrypted than about how quickly it can be transferred, a protocol that is slower but more secure is the way to go.

pia-tunneling-protocols

Despite Private Internet Access’s limited VPN tunneling protocol options, everyone may find a suitable fit.

  • IKEv2/IPsec – Only the Private Internet Access VPN iOS app provides access to this tunneling protocol. Speed and reliability are both excellent, making it a good choice for mobile devices.
  • Open VPN –  OpenVPN is widely used because it is a trustworthy tunneling protocol. The PIA VPN offers both UDP  and TCP.
  • Wireguard – There are no use cases for which this open-source tunneling protocol is not a good fit. Even more impressive than its high level of security is the fact that it is also significantly quicker than competing VPN protocols.

Logging

To start, you should be aware that a Private Internet Access VPN does not record user activities. However, it does track your login info, IP address, and how much bandwidth you use. When you quit the program, however, this data is no longer accessible.

The NextGen network from Private Internet Access is also a major factor in terms of logging. Since its servers solely use random access memory (RAM), all data stored on them is lost once the servers are rebooted. This prevents data like your browsing history from being gathered by any other parties, lowering the probability of a compromise.

Your email address is recorded for account administration purposes, along with certain payment information, cookie identifiers, the country of origin, and the ZIP code. Also, according to PIA’s privacy guidelines:

To the extent that it is required for the purposes set forth in this Policy, we may share your Personal Data with any member of our group of businesses, which includes our subsidiaries, our ultimate holding company, and all of its subsidiaries.

When it comes to privacy, a product like PIA’s VPN should not be as nebulous as its policy is. The lack of a regular audit and independent proof of the effectiveness of PIA’s no-logs policy is another problem with the VPN’s emphasis on user privacy.

Kill Switch

A VPN needs to have a kill switch that operates consistently, and users of PIA VPN may rejoice in the fact that it does. If your connection to the VPN becomes disrupted, Private Internet Access will cut off your access to the internet. This means that your true IP address will no longer be concealed.

pia-killswitch

To re-establish the connection, you will need to either manually activate your wifi or reconnect to the VPN. Your true IP address will not be exposed inadvertently if you do it this way.

Leak Test Results

No DNS, WebRTC, or IP breaches were discovered. Tested across 4 VM environments and Six bare metal servers, PIA consistently protected my sensitive data. The checks I ran reveal what IP addresses remain accessible by the websites that you visit and might be used by hackers to acquire your information.

Split tunneling

Split tunneling may be easily configured in Private Internet Access VPN using the several settings available under the Network tab. It’s a handy feature that gives you control over which programs access the VPN and which don’t.

pia-splittunneling

It’s useful if you need to access your online bank account in one browser while conducting private web research in another. It’s not just browsers that can benefit from split tunneling, you have complete control over which programs access the internet and which don’t.

I discovered that the bypass VPN option was ineffective for certain applications but functional for others. Despite being on the supported list for split tunneling, Oracle VM VirtualBox behaved as if it were not. Chrome, however, worked as expected.

Ad blocking

PIA has your back if you’d rather not be subjected to intrusive commercials. They have implemented a DNS-level ad blocker called MACE across all of their applications. This means that you will no longer be subjected to intrusive banner ads or pop-up windows.

pia-ads block

You may save even more time and patience by using PIA, as it blocks YouTube advertising. Moreover, you won’t be vulnerable to cyberattacks due to inadvertently visiting harmful sites. It also prevents tracking services from accessing your computer, which is a major safety improvement.

All it takes to use this function is to launch the VPN client and switch on the MACE option.

InBrowser

In addition to Tor, Private Internet Access has its private browser they call InBrowser. Only mobile devices running Google’s Android or Apple’s iOS may use it. It is compatible with the TOR network and clears all of your browsing data when you sign out.

The device’s browsing speeds increased from 22.9 Mbps when using Chrome to 47.57 Mbps when using InBrowser. It happened so quickly that it shocked me. The incognito mode of a browser typically improves loading times since it disables unnecessary add-ons.

Nevertheless, InBrowser was 104 % quicker than Chrome’s incognito on average for us. The VPN is required in conjunction with InBrowser, which is a good bonus. Your entire device, unlike with a VPN, will not be encrypted, only your browser.

Servers – How Many Servers Does Private Internet Access Have?

Because it has such a large server list and such good worldwide coverage, you will have access to stuff from all over the world when you use it. Private Internet Access asserts that it has the most extensive server network of any virtual private network (VPN). It has an incredible number of servers located in 84 various countries.

Although the server is quite large, there are only 84 physical places where it may be accessed. This is a crucial fact to keep in mind. Therefore, there are Virtual Private Networks available that have fewer servers but a significantly greater number of server locations.

There are Virtual Private Networks available that provide stronger worldwide coverage than others. For instance, CyberGhost has 8,911 servers in 91 countries, while ExpressVPN has 3,000 servers in 94 countries.

The data centers may be found in many parts of the world, including Europe, South America, North America, Africa, Asia, Oceania, and Australia. However, a tiny percentage of the servers are virtual; PIA refers to these servers as “geo-located.”

pia-server-locations

This is because it is impossible to have physical servers in some countries owing to the various regulations that are in place there. For instance, the server for Russian users is physically situated in Estonia; the same is true for Hong Kong and several other countries as well.

Its network is RAM-only, like that of ExpressVPN and CyberGhost, which is fantastic for privacy since unlike hard drives, which keep information and must be manually deleted, RAM servers automatically remove all data anytime they are restarted.

Does Private Internet Access Work in China?

Unfortunately, no. Despite having such a tremendous number of servers, the service is as of yet unavailable in China.

Given how China’s continuously been amplifying censorship online, VPNs have quickly become one of the only ways to continue to retain access to free internet. Hence, a VPN that can unblock content from inside China stands to gain a lot of users.

Similarly, users from outside the country that want access to geo-restricted Chinese content also rely on these services. The lack of a Chinese server may well be costing PIA a high number of potential users and millions in revenue.

Streaming – Can Private Internet Access Unblock Netflix and Other VODs?

To access geo-restricted content, Private Internet Access is a great option. I had no trouble using PIA VPN Netflix servers for accessing US Netflix or the libraries of eight other regions.

pia-services-unblocked

Even though HBO Max and Hulu were more difficult to access, I was able to bypass the ban by using some basic troubleshooting techniques.  and ESPN+ and ITV  were the only services I tried that did not function. After scanning over twenty-five different servers, I was able to successfully unblock the following services:

PIA Unblocking – Netflix

To my delight, I was able to circumvent Netflix’s region lock and view American content without interruption. The server in Seattle was the site of my initial test. After waiting only three seconds for the episode of my favorite show. you’ve been waiting for it to load, it began playing without any problems.

Using the server in Denver was similarly effective. Nevertheless, I experienced a far slower loading speed from the Texas server. Not only was I able to access the whole US Netflix collection, but also those of the following countries:

pia-unblocked-netflix libraries

I could have accessed all of Netflix’s content without resorting to the optimized streaming servers. Servers in the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, Italy Sweden, and Denmark, are all tuned for streaming.

The purpose of these servers is to make streaming more efficient, however, I couldn’t tell a difference when using them. While the JP Stream Optimizing server loaded Netflix in ten seconds, the non-optimized Tokyo server required 18 seconds.

In general, I was able to access otherwise restricted content from foreign libraries despite my current location in the United States. While initially using Chrome Browser, I encountered a problem loading Netflix France. However, after switching to Microsoft Edge, I no longer experienced difficulties.

PIA Unblocking – Disney+

Disney+ streaming worked, however, I had to wait a while for the video to buffer a few times. The service started up quickly. Excellent visuals were accompanied by a frustratingly frequent need to pause for buffering.

PIA Unblocking – Hulu

Hulu was accessible, but I had to use a server that was built for streaming to see videos. No matter which browser I used, I was unable to access the Seattle server.

Once I was able to get into it, the video worked perfectly. I was able to watch Logan in high definition without interruption or choppy frames.

PIA Unblocking – Amazon Prime Video

Unblocking Amazon Prime Video was a breeze. My connection to the Seattle server was instantaneous, and after clicking on my favorite movie, the page loaded without any problems.

The fact that Private Internet Access was functional with 5 additional US servers is fantastic, given the US library is home to a large portion of the world’s most-read books and TV shows.

PIA Unblocking – HBO Max

Unblocking HBO Max required some effort, but I eventually succeeded. The regular server and the US Eastern Streaming Optimizing server both failed to connect.

Nonetheless, I succeeded in making it function with the alternative US Stream Optimizing server. After the first episode, there was no lagging and I was able to watch two more.

PIA Unblocking – BBC iPlayer

Through the London Streaming Server, I was capable of accessing BBC iPlayer. The unoptimized London server failed the initial testing.

As soon as I was granted entry, I was able to watch the films with reasonable success. While most only took around 5 seconds to load, some lagging occurred in a few.

PIA Unblocking – Peacock, Crunchyroll, Kodi, and more

Kodi and Popcorn Time may also be streamed using Private Internet Access. Kodi is a no-cost media player application that works across several platforms. It can, however, be used to get access to sites hosting illicit content.

Please only view anything that does not infringe on any copyrights on these channels, since my staff and I do not support unlawful behavior.

The Popcorn Time add-on for Kodi facilitates peer-to-peer file sharing. I put the classic zombie film Night of the Living Dead into public domain use. Since there weren’t many seeders, it took a while to load, but once it did, it played without a hitch.

I also removed the blocks from Crunchyroll, Paramount+, Peacock, and a few more. Even with Twitch, it performs admirably.

ITV and ESPN+ Blocked PIA

I tried numerous different approaches, but I was ultimately unable to bypass the region restrictions on either ESPN+ or ITV. I was able to get into ITV by connecting to the UK Manchester and UK London Streaming servers.

However, every time I tried to watch a show,” I was met with the message that it was no longer accessible. Because it works with other VPNs, I know this is not the case. I used the live chat feature on Private Internet Access to ask for assistance with this issue.

The help desk suggested that I try logging out and back on to obtain a fresh IP address. Nothing worked, I’m afraid. A representative also informed me that ESPN+ is not one of the supported streaming providers on PIA.

Though I was amazed by the number of outlets it could unblock, I found that ExpressVPN was more dependable and never caused any latency in my streaming.

Is PIA good for streaming?

Private Internet Access VPN can unblock US streaming sites. As highlighted in our blog, PIA VPN may not be as suitable for foreign libraries or streaming sites apart from Netflix.

I evaluated PIA VPN with Netflix on Windows and Android apps. I got Netflix US. Customized for UK servers. PIA can’t unblock Netflix UK content. Private Internet Access is a decent VPN for Netflix’s US library. We recommend ExpressVPN if you wish to stream global content.

There was an issue with using the VPN to access the BBC iPlayer or DAZN. However, PIA VPN makes it easy to watch films that are restricted in your country.

They appear to have no US-based servers that do not de-censor Hulu. Therefore, PIA is useful if you want to access US-only streaming libraries that are otherwise inaccessible to you.

Is private Internet access good for Torrenting?

All of PIA’s servers allow P2P and torrenting, therefore Private Internet Access for torrenting is a great choice. For further security, you may redirect your web traffic using Shadowsocks or the built-in SOCKS5 proxy on the VPN. In our testing, PIA was compatible with the following torrent clients: qBittorrent, BitTorrent and uTorrent

As part of my testing for this evaluation of Private Internet Access, I used a macOS device to download several torrents. PIA’s efficiency surpassed my expectations. That’s because it was the fastest torrent VPN I tried, and it also supported torrenting.

I often had download rates of 12 – 16 MB/s (90-120 Mbps). For P2P functionality, no further server connections were required. It won’t take long at all to download even the largest files.

Speed – How Fast are Private Internet Access Servers?

Having the numbers is impressive in its own right. However, do those numbers mean anything in terms of speed? To put these 3300+ servers, I conducted a speed test and connected to 5 random servers in the UK, US, NZ, Australia, and Japan using a 100Mbps connection. Here are the results:

Server Download Upload Ping
United States 111Mbps 168Mbps 366ms
United Kingdom 140Mbps 222Mbps 356ms
NewZealand 294Mbps 254Mbps 341ms
Australia 67Mbps 88Mbps 387ms
Japan 77Mbps 57Mbps 376ms
Average 137.8Mbps 157.8Mbps 438ms

Why is Private Internet Access so slow?

It’s not the VPN service it’s the bandwidth your ISP claims customers can get which is predicated on perfectly normal connectivity to the ISP’s infrastructure. However, the encryption algorithm adds latency to VPN connections, so increasing security would slow things down.

Compatibility – What Devices Can I Use Private Internet Access On?

Private Internet Access provides VPN apps for several platforms, including Windows, Android, Mac, Linux, and iOS. Ad blocking may also be accomplished with the use of add-ons for Chrome, Firefox, and Opera web browsers.

Intuitive and simple to use, PIA’s applications are available across all of their platforms. The layout is simple to look at, and you can select between a dark and light color scheme. The setup procedure is straightforward and doesn’t call for any special skills or experience, so you won’t have any issues there, either.

Also, Private Internet Access’s WireGuard and OpenVPN protocols are available in all of their apps, and IKEv2/IPsec is supported on iOS.

Windows

This application contains all of the Private Internet Access functionality. It may be downloaded in 32-bit or 64-bit versions for Windows 10 or above.

pia for windows

Due to Google’s regulations against apps interfering with other apps, Android customers who purchase the MACE ad blocker from the Play Store will not receive it. Downloading the app’s APK file straight from Private Internet Access provides a version with MACE.

Additionally, the Android app may access InBrowser. In addition, it allows you to automatically connect to your preferred apps. The Android app is compatible with version 5.1 and above.

macOS

pia for mac

The application is essentially identical to the Windows version, except split tunneling requires additional procedures. The application uses 64-bits and is compatible with High Sierra 10.13 and later.

Linux

Pia-for-linux

This VPN is one of the few that offers a complete GUI for Linux. It functions identically to the Windows version and has all of the same features. The only thing lacking is an integrated DNS resolver. It is compatible with Ubuntu 18.04 and greater (LTS), Arch, Debian, Mint, and Fedora.

Mobile Apps

pia mobile app

The iOS software includes InBrowser and Safari Content Blocker, however, there is no MACE. This ad blocker can filter certain advertisements, but not all. Also supported is the IPsec (IKEv2) protocol. Additionally, Siri may be taught to connect and detach. Network Management Tools allow you to automatically connect to particular Wi-Fi or cellular services.

Browser Extensions

Windows and Mac users may download Chrome, Firefox, and Opera browser extensions. Each extension has the same capabilities. The server list is restricted, but they include several security measures not available in the VPN application.

You can prevent WebRTC from detecting your IP address and disable access to your microphone, camera, and location. These are a good addition, however, they do not provide complete encryption, thus I suggest using them in conjunction with a VPN.

Routers

pia-for-routers

This software can be installed on AsusWRT, TP-Link,  Tomato, DD-WRT,  LEDE, and Pfsense, routers to interconnect to access points. Additionally, pre-configured routers may be ordered from the website. With the VPN on your router, you may effortlessly connect Roku and Apple TV devices that lack native software.

Other Devices

SmartDNS is the simplest method for changing location on every WiFi-enabled equipment. This feature allows you to select from five places to view geo-restricted material on your  Xbox One, smartTV, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, or  Apple TV.

Keep in mind that this does not encrypt your connection, thus it is not as secure as a VPN. There is a native app for Fire TV Stick.

How many devices can I have on PIA VPN??

With a single subscription to Private Internet Access VPN, you can connect up to ten devices at once, which is double the number of simultaneous connections that we’ve seen offered by other VPN providers on the market.

Private Internet Access Setup & Installation

It was never difficult or time-consuming to install the application on a mobile or desktop computer. You can join up in less than five minutes, and the installation itself never took me more than ten seconds to finish at any given time.

The apps are all really simple to use, and with a single click, you may connect to a server automatically. If you click the map, you’ll be taken to a list of servers where you may mark your favorites for quick access. The servers may be arranged in several ways: alphabetically, by latencies, or according to your personal preferences.

Moving the three green lines in the upper left corner of a desktop will reorder the tabs. Encryption options, subscription plans, data use, and other fast settings may fall under this umbrella. It’s a great bonus, but it’s not something you often see with VPNs. You may keep the most crucial information at your fingertips without increasing the app’s footprint.

To temporarily disable the VPN, a sleep button is included in each program. If you need to access your bank without a VPN, you may set it up to rejoin automatically after a short period.

Japanese, Spanish, English, and French, are just some of the 19 available options. Additionally, there are bright and dim settings to choose from. The Android and iOS applications will pick a mode for you automatically depending on your device.

The best part is that it includes a full graphical user interface (GUI) for Linux, so you can use it just like you would a program designed for Mac or Windows.

How do I install Private Internet Access?

Here is how you can install Private Internet Access:

  • Register for private Internet access.
  • Download the software that contrasts your device.
  • Installing the Program on your device.
  • Rum the application and sign in by providing credentials.
  • Begin Secure Browsing with Private Internet Access.

How do I set up my router for Private Internet Access?

Here are the steps which will explain how to configure Private Internet Access on the router.

  • Select a VPN server in the first step.
  • Download PIA’s OpenVPN configuration files.
  • Modify DD-Basic WRT’s DNS Settings.
  • Disable IPv6.
  • Enable Local DNS.
  • Configure the OpenVPN Client parameters.
  • Configure OpenVPN Additional Config Settings.
  • Configure the OpenVPN CA Cert.

How do I set up private internet on Windows?

Here’s how to configure a PIA VPN on Windows.

  • Navigate to the Settings menu and choose Network & Internet.
  • Download PIA setup files.
  • Select “Add VPN Connection.”
  • Enter the VPN credentials.
  • Enjoy browsing.

Pricing – Is Private Internet Access An Affordable Option?

Private Internet Access offers monthly, annual, and three-year subscriptions. The 2-year subscription is available for $2.19 per month and includes PIA Boxcryptor and Anti-Virus. Boxcryptor enables you to secure cloud data on platforms such as Dropbox, iCloud, and Google Drive.

The 1-month plan costs more than three times as much as the 2-year plan, and it does not include Boxcryptor or anti-virus software. Therefore, it is not a particularly good deal, especially if you are interested in a long-term membership.

Every subscription plan also includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.

PIA-pricing-plan

Is there a free version of private Internet access?

Yes. Private Internet Access (PIA) VPN is available for evaluation through a 7-day free trial offer. If you’re not pleased with the PIA VPN service for any reason within the first 30 days, we’ll refund your payment.

Private Internet Access Payment Methods

Users will be able to pay via the standard VISA/Mastercard credit cards, as well as through PayPal. I found the fact that PIA supports Bitcoin as well as other major cryptocurrencies such as Ripple, and Mint in addition to Amazon Pay to be one of its standout features because of the financial anonymity these options offer.

Private Internet Access Refund Policy

The Private Internet Access Refund Policy is quite effective and efficient at the same time. PIA offers users a 7-day money-back guarantee. If you are not satisfied with the service you can cancel it anytime and apply for a refund through their official website. The cash is refunded to your account within 3-5 working days.

Trustworthiness – What Do Other Users Say About Private Internet Access?

I was curious as to whether or not the other people who used this product had experiences that were comparable to mine or not. As a result, I went to the websites Trustpilot and Reddit to research how people in the internet community feel about PIA. Listed below are the findings:

Private Internet Access Trustpilot Review

PIA’s Trustpilot rating is one of the highest ones for a VPN service on the review site. It holds a highly reputable 4.6/5 stars based on 8,556 reviews.

trustpilot-pia

The vast majority of the reviews (82%) were either very positive or very positive, lending credence to the idea that the business truly does deliver on what it advertises. After perusing the review sites, I’m confident that the vast majority of the reviewers are legit customers and that no unscrupulous business methods are at play.

Private Internet Access Reddit Review

The level of candor on Reddit exceeded my wildest expectations. The forum is notorious for its lack of filter when discussing services that fail to deliver on their claims. When researching PIA, I came across some useful information on the topic.

PIA-Reddit1

What appears to have been the beginning of PIA’s demise was its acquisition by a competitor whose business includes another VPN provider. Due to the new company’s history of questionable tactics, this made people feel even more uneasy.

PIA-Reddit2

Equally concerning were reports of service unreliability on iOS, with customers reporting fundamental difficulties like service outages and filtering that shouldn’t present for a VPN of this level.

Private Internet Access Customer Support

PIA’s customer service is comparable to that of other leading VPN providers. It offers live chat help around-the-clock, online instructions, and email support. We found all PIA customer service representatives to be educated, friendly, and quick to answer.

If you encounter technical issues or simply have a query regarding Private Internet Access VPN, you may visit the VPN’s support center, which contains the following:

  • A knowledge repository
  • A discussion forum

PIA - Customer Service LiveChat

Private Internet Access is simple to install and simple to use on all systems, although help may still be required. The official website’s underside corner is used to commence live chat. You are then prompted to provide your account information, such as your email address and account ID, before being connected to a support person.

By eliminating the need for a long verification process with the support person, you receive the quickest possible response to your inquiry.

How do I update my PIA?

Access the Private Internet Access VPN app in the Google Play Store on your Android smartphone, and then select the green “UPDATE” icon. All you have to do to update PIA on Windows, macOS, or Linux is right-click the PIA symbol in your system tray and select “Update.”

Private Internet Access Alternatives

Here are the recommended VPNs instead of using HMA:

Do I Recommend Private Internet Access VPN?

Private Internet Access Review” explains that with Private Internet Access, you can feel safe surfing the web knowing you can tailor your experience to your needs. Its extensive server network is ideal for P2P downloads through torrents, as all of its nodes support the protocol.

Because of its port forwarding feature, I was able to increase my download speed by a factor of two. Additionally, it offers fully-functional versions for all of the most popular operating systems, including one of the best Linux programs available.

When it comes to value for money, privacy, and speed, Private Internet Access is hard to beat. Also, you can reliably access US Netflix, Amazon Prime, and BBC iPlayer using PIA VPN.

A few problems exist. The quality of customer service varies. In addition, it’s not constant in terms of performance while connecting to nearby servers and is painfully sluggish when connecting to far-flung ones. If you want to torrent securely across several devices at an affordable fee, I advise Private Internet Access.

FAQs About Private Internet Access

Does Private Internet Access work with Amazon Prime?

Amazon Prime will prevent your VPN from connecting if the IP address Private Internet Access assigns you are located outside the appropriate broadcasting region. If you’re having trouble connecting to Amazon Prime while using Private Internet Access, removing your Cookie is a smart starting point.

Does private Internet access work with Netflix?

If you want to access the US Netflix catalog from outside the country, Private Internet Access is a reliable VPN to use. Other well-known streaming services may also be accessed using the VPN service, including Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and HBO Max.

Does a Premium Account cost money?

Yes. Try Private Internet Access risk-free with a 7-day trial but right after that period you must be subscribing to a paid plan otherwise the service will be stopped.

Does Private Internet Access sell your data?

Unless otherwise specified in this Privacy Statement, Company will not and does not currently reveal, sell, rent, or transfer any user’s Personal Data to any third party.

How do I get private Internet access on my TV?

Start by logging into your PIA control panel and go to the “Smart DNS Tab” and “Add New Device”

  • Choose your gadget from the menu.
  • Choose server location from the options provided.
  • Get the IP address of your Smart DNS server. Start Utilizing Smart DNS

How do I use bittorrent with PIA?

Follow these steps to configure PIA with Bittorent:

  • To access these settings, launch the VPN client and navigate to the “Settings” menu, where you may then pick the “Advanced” option.
  • There ought to be a menu item labeled “Port Forwarding” over on the right. Then, after making your selection, click “Enable” and “Save Preferences.”

How many servers does PIA have in the US?

The goal of PIA’s 50 Servers in 50 States initiative is to improve the quality of life and protect the privacy of Internet users across the United States.

We plan to provide some sort of connection—virtual or physical—in each of the 50 states in the United States. With the addition of our server in the nation’s capital, we now have 51.

May I install PIA on more than one device at a time?

One Private Internet Access VPN account may support up to ten simultaneous connections, which is twice as many as the industry norm.

Is Pia VPN good for gaming?

Yes! Using our NextGen server design, Private Internet Access is one of the fastest VPNs available, and our network of 84 countries means you can access a wide variety of otherwise inaccessible media, including games.

Is PIA VPN good for Facebook?

As far as virtual private networks (VPNs) go, ExpressVPN is your best bet if you want to use Facebook. However, those on a tighter budget may find that PIA is the best option.

Does PIA run on RAM?

All of PIA’s servers solely operate off of RAM, so any data stored on them is deleted once the server is restarted, in addition to PIA’s other usual security features like full DNS leak, a kill switch, and 256-bit AES encryption prevention.

Does PIA have double VPN?

Private Internet Access (PIA) lacks double VPN and Tor over VPN servers. Double VPN services have benefits like increased privacy and security.

What is automation on PIA VPN?

With PIA’s new Network Automation feature, customers may set up PIA to automatically establish a VPN connection or disconnect if a predefined event does not occur. The configuration options for automating your network may be found in the program menu.

Compatible with device: Windows, Android, Apple, Desktop, Chrome, Firefox

One Response to Private Internet Access Review 2022

  1. Mateo says:
    (2/5)

    I see that it pia vpn is headquartered in United States. Does it really make a difference? Yes, it does. Because I have been using it since 3 months and whenever I browse the internet I am targeted with my original country’s ads. P.S: I never disconnect my vpn connection.

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