Private Internet Access, or PIA, is a famous VPN brand with over 10 years of expertise in this sector.
This US-based VPN service provider has one of the highest numbers of servers we’ve seen. It lets you pick one of the three pricing plans with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
In addition to the regular VPN service, users can boost their online security by adding an antivirus by PIA and/or a dedicated IP.
Check this in-depth PIA review for additional information about this well-known brand. You can find all our VPN reviews here.
PIA VPN overview
It’s not easy to stand out when the market is flooded with many VPN service providers, but PIA does that Readers can analyze the strongest and weakest features with the help of our detailed PIA review.
We created several sections that will help you familiarize yourself with PIA and ensure that you make the right decision when selecting a VPN provider.
Here we go!
Key features
- An impressive number of servers across the globe
- Top-notch security features
- Additional services
- Excellent speed
- No-logs policy
- Split tunneling
- Multi login support
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Plans and Pricing – is PIA VPN cheap?
Let’s start this section by noting that PIA VPN is not the cheapest solution you have when looking for a Virtual Private Network provider. Still, this is not the most expensive one we have encountered either.
Even though this brand often provides special deals, currently, users can opt only for one of the three standard ones.
It goes without saying that committing to a more extended period will cut the cost of the service.
The simplest (and shortest) plan you can use is the 1-month plan that costs €11.69 per month.
On the other hand, the 1-year (annual) plan requires €37.19 per year or €3.1 per month. So, you get a 30%+ discount compared to the monthly plan.
Of course, the best deal that can save you 85% is the 3-year plan for €70 or €1.79 per month. On top of that, you get three months for free.
Can I pay anonymously for PIA VPN?
VPNs can help you cover your tracks when browsing websites, streaming videos and music, or downloading files.
However, to take advantage of VPN services, you must pay online, which might leave traces too. Fortunately, PIA VPN supports anonymous payment options that hide your identity from the authorities.
The good thing is that you can use two options to pay anonymously for PIA VPN – third-party gift cards and cryptocurrencies. PIA is also one of the best VPNs for crypto trading.
We have compiled a list of some of the best anonymous payment solutions you can use at PIA:
- Bitcoin
- Bitcoin Cash
- Ethereum
- Litecoin
- Bitpay
- Walmart Gift Card
- Starbucks Gift Card
- Best Buy Gift Card
Those who are not that worried about the anonymity of their payments can choose conventional payment methods like PayPal and credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover).
What’s PIA VPN’s server selection like?
The selection of servers is probably one of the most important things that make PIA VPN proud.
Even though it’s not stated precisely on its website, we have found over 30,000 servers from this VPN service provider.
This places them on the top list of options with the most servers.
These high-speed VPN servers are located in 84 countries, leaving room for future improvement.
Another thing worth mentioning is that PIA has at least one server in every US state and many options in countries that are “in demand” among VPN users.
As expected, it provides unlimited data and bandwidth. It promises buffer-free content streaming on various services, including Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, and Disney+.
Does PIA VPN have special servers?
The primary offer of each VPN service provider, PIA included, provides access to shared, dynamic IPs.
This means that the servers are shared with other users, and you get a random IP address every time you connect.
Although they are safe, there’s a chance to trigger security warnings on some websites when you use them.
This is where dedicated, static IPs come into play. PIA VPN offers dedicated IPs as an add-on to any of their existing plans and promises the same IP address anytime you connect.
As you have probably guessed, they are used exclusively by you. As a result, it’s highly unlikely to cause security warnings.
The current cost of a dedicated IP address at PIA is €5 per month (available only if you subscribe to any of its VPN plans).
Security and privacy at PIA VPN
Without proper security and privacy, using a VPN service is pointless.
Thanks to PIA VPN, every user can expect a no-logs policy which ensures that your data is not collected or stored in any database.
Also, there is a list of more than 30,000 fast and secure servers that keep users’ identities private. Every user can use this VPN service on up to 10 devices at once without worrying about their safety.
For extra security, you can use the antivirus software created by PIA which removes malware.
Suppose you have any doubts about PIA’s reliability in terms of security and privacy. In that case, we remind you of their 30-day money-back guarantee.
Encryption and tunneling protocols
To protect its users, PIA VPN encrypts every Internet communication from users’ devices, protecting personal data from uninvited third parties (network admins, Internet service providers, government agents, etc.).
Thanks to the encryption protocols used by PIA, no one can monitor the websites you visit, when you are online, and how long you are on the Internet.
It’s good to know that this VPN service provider uses the strongest encryption on the market (128-bit and 256-bit AES).
Besides that, it relies on WireGuard and OpenVPN, two popular protocols, and IPsec and iOS for a hassle-free online session.
Finally, with the help of the split tunneling option, you can select specific apps to exclude from the PIA VPN connection letting them access the Internet from your actual IP address.
PIA VPN kill switch
The desktop and mobile apps provided by PIA have the kill switch feature that has proven to be a lifesaver in many situations.
Thanks to the kill switch feature, the internet connection is blocked if the VPN drops down for any reason.
Of course, this is a short period after which you will reconnect to another server or the same server in case you use a dedicated IP.
No-logs policy
We already mentioned the no-logs policy at Private Internet Access VPN, but now we will share some details.
So, PIA abides by a strict no-logs policy which has been reviewed by an independent third-party audit. It was also proven two times in court.
When using PIA VPN, the provider will never store your web browsing history, IP address, VPN session timestamps, DNW queries, bandwidth usage, or connection logs.
You can see that PIA VPN cares for your privacy in several ways. For example, cryptocurrency and gift cards are accepted, and you only need an email address to sign up.
Multi-hop connection
As a brand that follows the latest trends, PIA VPN decided to include a multi-hop connection feature in its offer.
So, this feature routes user traffic through two VPN servers to ensure its safety.
Interestingly, PIA takes an additional step by letting users pick the proxy settings and the second location.
What devices does PIA VPN support?
As we said before, PIA VPN provides simultaneous access on 10 devices which is great. Still, the list of all supported devices is even longer.
They update this list continuously, ensuring that every modern device is covered.
The following is a list of all devices and operating systems supported by PIA:
- Windows
- macOS
- Linux
- Android
- Apple iOS
- Chrome
- Firefox
- Opera
- Consoles
- Routers
- Smart TV
Is PIA VPN good for streaming?
It’s not an exaggeration to claim that PIA VPN is a top-notch option for streaming content from various regions/countries.
They promise buffer-free streaming thanks to their 10 Gbps network connections.
Once again, we would like to mention that it has servers in all 50 US states and over 80 countries globally.
It doesn’t matter whether you want to unlock US Netflix, US Disney+, or Amazon Prime Video – this provider has you covered.
However, some users have reported problems with libraries in countries with the most popular streaming services, like Japan and Canada. We are sure that PIA will work on this problem.
Customer Support at PIA VPN
Sometimes, users might need help from the VPN service provider they have chosen.
When you find yourself in a situation like that at PIA VPN, we recommend visiting the support section through the top row of the homepage.
Like the best VPN providers, PIA has a fast and efficient search field that lets you look for questions and answers based on specific keywords or phrases.
The help center lets you access the community, guides, knowledgebase, and news.
This is also where you can find an option to contact a customer support agent. You can do this in two ways – with a support ticket or live chat.
Even though PIA claims that its representatives are available 24/7, you might have to wait a few hours to get an answer during non-working hours.
Conclusion
PIA is a trustworthy, modern VPN service provider with a long history. It has excellent add-ons that provide additional online protection.
The cost is slightly higher than average, but given that this option promises access to over 30,000 servers with excellent speeds, we think it’s worth considering. PIA has all the standard and several unique features for a hassle-free VPN experience.
All in all, we can recommend PIA to all our readers regardless of their preferences.