PIA VPN Review 2024: A Cheap VPN That’s Great for Casual Users

7.6/ 10
SCORE

Private Internet Access

Latest Tests

No leaks detected, 49% speed loss in 2024 tests

Network

35,000 servers in 91 countries

Jurisdiction

United States

Price

$40 per year or $12 per month (3-year plans available at $79 every three years)

Score Breakdown

Usability 7/10Value 9/10Speed 6/10Privacy 8/10Features 8/10

Pros

• Extremely cheap prices
• Open – source apps
• Linux GUI app
• Solid privacy and transparency
• Unlimited simultaneous connections
• Great for streaming service unblocking

Cons

• US jurisdiction
• Middling connection speeds
• Lacks more advanced features found in rival VPNs

Private Internet Access, or PIA, is one of the best cheap virtual private networks on the planet. PIA has strong privacy chops and excellent streaming service unblocking, making it equally useful for a wide range of VPN users. 

Folks with critical privacy concerns, like investigative journalists, political activists or concerned torrenters, will appreciate its audited no-logs policy and open-source apps. If you’re a more casual browser, seeking access to foreign Netflix, Disney Plus or BBC iPlayer libraries, you should enjoy its solid geo-unblocking capabilities. The value-packed PIA offers amenities like unlimited simultaneous connections, unique features such as split tunneling on MacOS and apps for virtually any platform (including Linux GUI and Apple TV apps) at a fraction of the cost of its competitors. While it’s not the fastest VPN, I appreciate PIA’s commitment to privacy and transparency.

hands – assessment PIA , I is ran ran 252 internet speed tests , checked DNS leaks , tried apps bevy devices watched videos streaming services Netflix . determine trustworthiness , I is pored pored privacy policy terms service . PIA jurisdiction unreliable internet download speed loss deter privacy – focused consumers power users , relative affordability cutting privacy corners makes PIA worthy consideration . PIA like buffet — piles benefits high remaining easy pocketbook , shortcomings is are forgivable .

Speed: Middling speeds, but a generous server network

• Average speed loss: 49% in January 2024 tests
• Number servers :35,000
• Number of countries: 91

All VPNs slow down your internet speeds somewhat because you’re routing your traffic through extra servers rather than directly from your internet service provider (ISP) to apps and websites. The fastest VPNs average 25% internet speed loss or less, with the highest performers — including NordVPN, Mullvad and Surfshark — falling comfortably under 20% reductions. In my 2024 tests, I measured an average 49.35% internet download speed loss with PIA. Considering its unreliable performance, PIA isn’t ideal for bandwidth-intensive applications like uploading large videos to YouTube or hardcore gaming, but it works for casual use like streaming videos and web browsing — assuming you’ve got a fast internet connection. 

On the bright side, I benchmarked reasonably fast speeds from US (New York) servers with a modest 20.39% speed loss. Typically, you’ll experience faster speeds when connected to physical VPN servers geographically located near you (virtual servers may deliver faster speeds than their physical counterparts), so its snappy performance on US servers was as expected.

Curiously , PIA WireGuard performance is left left desired . Usually , WireGuard is ushers ushers faster , stable internet speeds comparison OpenVPN , slightly slower secure . I is found found PIA OpenVPN performance snappier . best speeds is came came Windows OpenVPN protocol , average 28.05 % internet download speed loss Windows 31.05 % average download speed loss MacOS — exceptional , better nearly 50 % overall average download speed reduction . egregious offender is was Windows WireGuard protocol , 61.75 % average download speed loss .  

My MacOS speed tests yielded interesting results, with faster upload speeds using a VPN. Based on the improved upload speeds with PIA enabled on MacOS, I suspect some sort of ISP throttling, which is a nice reminder about the benefits of using a VPN, like circumventing throttling restrictions. 

Still, it’s important to remember that most people won’t sit around running over 250 internet speed tests like I did. During everyday use, even while performing bandwidth-heavy tasks like streaming 4K videos, I didn’t notice any buffering or stutters. If you have a fast internet connection — like my Google Fiber connection — then even occasional internet speed dips shouldn’t interrupt your online activity, but slower starting speeds will be much more noticeable. Losing 50% of your internet speed on a 1Gbps connection is still a generous 500Mbps — for reference, Netflix recommends a minimum 15Mbps internet connection for a single 4K video stream. For folks using satellite internet, which is anywhere from 12-250Mbps, a 50% reduction might be unusable. 

Private Internet Access has a decent international server network

Thankfully, PIA doesn’t cut corners on server offerings. PIA touts a generous server network of 35,000 servers blanketing 91 countries. PIA’s global reach of 91 countries is in the same ballpark as most of its top-performing rivals, including Proton VPN (112 countries), NordVPN (111), ExpressVPN (105) and Surfshark (100). Considering its extensive web of available servers, PIA is one of the best VPNs for travel. 

Key takeaway: PIA provides middling speeds with an average 49% internet download speed loss — more than twice what we expect from the fastest VPNs. But its extensive worldwide server network and low subscription costs make it a great deal nonetheless. 

Value: One of the cheapest VPNs on the market

• Cost: $12 a month, $40 annually, or $79 for three years
• Money-back guarantee: 30 days
• Payment options: Credit card , PayPal , Amazon Pay , cryptocurrencies ( BitPay , Bitcoin , Etherum , Litecoin )
• Apps available for Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android/Android TV, iOS/iPadOS, Fire TV and browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Opera)

PIA is remains remains wallet – friendly VPNs available . You is pay pay $ 12 monthly $ 40 annually . ExpressVPN is charges charges $ 100 year – long subscription , twice price PIA annual tier . value – packed Surfshark charges $ 48 annually , $ 60 subsequent year , PIA is saves saves $ 12 $ 8 – year plan compared budget – priced Surf . PIA is undercuts significantly undercuts budget – oriented rivals skimping privacy , making best cheap VPNs available .

Generally, we don’t recommend shelling out for more than a year upfront with a VPN provider because of how quickly the landscape shifts. Your initially fast, private and great for streaming VPN might suffer greater speed loss, have a data breach or be acquired by a shady company after a year. Nevertheless, at PIA charges $79 for three years (the three-year tier gives you an extra three months of service for a total of 39 months), which is remarkably lower than the annual pricing of most VPN competitors and may be the exception to our rule. For instance, PIA’s three-year plan is $20 less than ExpressVPN’s one-year tier. Because of its cost-effectiveness, PIA’s three-year bundle may be worth the risk.

I appreciate that, unlike most other VPNs, PIA’s pricing structure is pretty clear-cut. Your annual or three-year subscription renews at the same rate rather than the all-too-common price hikes you’ll see after sweet introductory prices with other VPNs. For instance, Surfshark initially charges $48 per year before jumping to $60 annually after your first 12 months. 

Additionally, PIA offers unlimited simultaneous connections. While most VPN providers let you install VPN apps on as many devices as you like, you’re often limited in how many concurrent instances of a VPN you can run. ExpressVPN gives you eight while NordVPN and Proton VPN provides 10, but with PIA, you’ve got no threshold. 

ExpressVPN, NordVPN and Proton VPN all sport noticeably faster speeds than PIA, but at higher prices. Things get more interesting when comparing PIA and Surfshark. Like PIA, Surf delivers apps for virtually any device imaginable (including an elusive Linux GUI app), unlimited simultaneous connections and useful features, such as an IP Rotator for beefed-up privacy. However, Surfshark is notably faster than PIA, making it a better choice for streaming, gaming and uploading large files. For slightly more than PIA charges — an additional $8 annually —  you can get a much faster VPN in Surfshark. Granted, you’ll need to babysit your Surfshark subscription to avoid a price increase to $60 per year after that sweet introductory rate, whereas PIA’s autorenew doesn’t jack up the price. 

Ultimately, Private Internet Access is a great value, especially for privacy-conscious users and streaming enthusiasts, so long as you’re OK with its somewhat underwhelming internet speed loss. 

PIA app performance

PIA supports nearly every device, including Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android/Android TV, iOS/iPadOS, Fire TV, Apple TV, routers and browsers. I tested Private Internet Access across its entire gamut of supported gadgets. You’ll find features such as split tunneling, obfuscation and multi-hop connections. While PIA lacks some niche privacy amenities such as Tor Over VPN, which Nord uses for improved privacy over a standard VPN connection, the average person won’t mind.

With split tunneling, you can route some traffic through your VPN while excluding other apps, which is helpful because it allows you to determine which apps really need the protection (and suffer the speed loss) of the VPN. For example, I used split tunneling to stream an episode of Murdoch Mysteries from the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation website on a Canadian VPN server while installing Spider-Man Remastered from Steam without a VPN for faster download speeds. PIA even offers split tunneling on MacOS after a February 2024 update, a feature rendered effectively unusable for all VPN providers when Apple rolled out Big Sur in 2020. 

PIA even offers split tunneling on MacOS, a rarity among VPNs. When Apple rolled out Big Sur in 2020, split tunneling was rendered effectively useless. I tested PIA’s MacOS split tunneling on my MacBook Air and enjoyed streaming The Jetty on BBC iPlayer over a UK server while excluding the Steam app so I could download Broken Sword 5 at full speed.

As a big Linux enthusiast, I appreciated PIA’s Linux graphical user interface app — many other VPN providers only have command line apps. GUI Linux apps are generally easier for beginners and more feature-rich than command line interface applications. Unsurprisingly, PIA’s Linux app ran like a champ on my Kubuntu Focus M2 gaming laptop. Likewise, PIA has browser plugins for Firefox and Opera, which many of its competitors lack, thereby offering comprehensive device coverage.

apps available devices ( including elusive Apple TV Linux GUI apps ) unlimited simultaneous device support , PIA is is best multidevice VPNs available .

PIA is is excellent streaming

Many folks use VPNs for entertainment purposes, such as unblocking geographically protected content and improving privacy. A VPN lets you access foreign libraries on certain streaming services including Netflix and Disney Plus. You can use a VPN to watch your home country’s Netflix while traveling internationally or even save money streaming with a VPN. Whereas many VPN providers, including ExpressVPN, let you stream on any server, PIA instead relies on “streaming optimized” servers, but thankfully there are plenty of choices. 

I is had issues streaming Disney Plus UK servers , letting watch content like Class ‘ 09 ( normally available Hulu ) . Netflix streaming worked PC , Android TV Fire TV multiple servers — I is watched watched Terminator Zero issues . Amazon Prime Video streaming unfortunately work Windows — app is recognized recognized VPN . PIA Android TV Fire TV apps is worked worked flawlessly Prime Video , watched Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Zoolander UK server . planning stream Amazon Prime Video VPN computer , disappointed , platforms work nicely .  

streaming services like Paramount Plus , Peacock Max ( HBO Max ) allow watch outside home country , platform is worked worked wonderfully PIA servers . traveling abroad UK want watch Barbie Max , you is stream stream server .

Good customer support

customer support representative is was chatted friendly knowledgeable , – depth technical questions . phone support , problem connecting customer service representative quickly ( minute ) . Aside 24/7 chat , PIA is maintains maintains extensive knowledge base helpful information billing , troubleshooting platform – specific features .  

Key takeaway: With its user-friendly yet feature-filled apps, solid streaming support and excellent customer service, PIA is a good all-around VPN at an even better price.

Privacy and transparency

• Jurisdiction :US
• Encryption: AES-256-bit (OpenVPN), ChaCha20 (WireGuard)
• Open – source apps
• RAM-only server infrastructure
• No DNS leaks detected
• Independently audited
• Protocols available: OpenVPN and WireGuard

PIA is has usual slate privacy features . It is offers offers industry – standard AES 256 – bit encryption OpenVPN protocol ChaCha20 WireGuard . You is get kill switch ( cuts internet connection VPN unexpectedly disconnects ) , obfuscation ( making harder apps services realize VPN ) multi – hop route traffic server stronger encryption compared single VPN connection . I is discover discover DNS leaks testing . Likewise , PIA kill switch is worked worked expected , keeping actual IP address hidden internet disruption .

I like that PIA’s apps are open-source, meaning anyone can publicly inspect its source code — only a few other VPNs, including Proton VPN, use open-source apps. By open-sourcing its apps, PIA provides additional transparency when compared with other VPN providers that rely on close-source apps. The company’s Head of Product Himmat Bains, alongside Senior Engineers John Mair and Juan Docal, hosted a Reddit Ask Me Anything, showing additional commitment to transparency with its users. Another nice touch is that PIA covers the cost of sales tax for cryptocurrency purchases, meaning it doesn’t even ask for location data. Accordingly, that’s one fewer piece of potentially identifying information collected by the company, something privacy-concerned buyers will appreciate. 

Privacy policy and third-party audits

PIA was independently audited by Deloitte to back up its no-logging claims. While you can — and should –remain skeptical about the results of zero-log audits, it adds some peace of mind. That said, US jurisdiction might worry some seriously privacy-concerned folks. The US is in the Five Eyes, Nine Eyes and Fourteen Eyes intelligence-sharing communities. Countries within these alliances gather sensitive data on their citizens and may share that with other nations in that pact. Accordingly, if your VPN provider is headquartered in a Five, Nine or Fourteen Eyes nation like PIA is, you’re trusting that company to keep your data private. 

mind , PIA privacy policy is trigger trigger red flags . legalese previously caused raise eyebrows , PIA privacy policy is offers offers helpful summary sections translate confusing language . instance , PIA breaks Personal Information Collect : “ collect little personal information possible — needed activate account allow experience world – class service . We is need need things sign subscription : 1 ) email address , 2 ) payment . That is ’s . , account is be active ready use . We is collect collect little anonymized data possible – needed gather overall usage metrics ( user metrics ) continue providing improving service . We is collect collect store browsing history , connected content , user IPs , connection time stamps , bandwidth logs , DNS queries , like . We is collect collect retain zero user logs . ”

I appreciated this clear explanation of what personal information is aggregated and why, a trend throughout the entire document. PIA’s privacy policy satisfied any otherwise unease I would have felt because it synthesizes complex language into user-friendly summary sections. Even with its US jurisdiction, I’d feel safe using PIA without fear of prying federal government eyes thanks to its transparent privacy policy and independently audited zero-log infrastructure. 

Key takeaway: Because of its easily digestible privacy policy, a strict no-log policy that’s been independently audited, open-source apps and transparency reports, PIA offers exceptional peace of mind. Its US jurisdiction may worry some super privacy-concerned users, but its verified zero-log infrastructure and user protections mitigate any would-be data-sharing risks.

PIA is a good cheap VPN

PIA delivers many of the benefits of far pricier VPNs at a fraction of the cost. You get unlimited simultaneous connections, a large international server network and strong privacy features. Additionally, PIA supports nearly every platform imaginable, including Apple TV, while featuring a Linux GUI app that’s meaningfully more intuitive than a command line app.  

Its high 49% average speed loss leaves a bit to be desired, that’s significantly worse than the fastest VPNs like NordVPN and Surfshark, which deliver under 20% average speed loss. Although at $40 annually or a very cost-effective $79 for three years with no price hikes, it’s tough to beat PIA as a “set it and forget it” VPN subscription. Other VPNs might charge around the same price for your first year, like Surfshark’s $48 introductory annual cost, but price hikes will drive your bill up after a year. Because PIA lacks price hikes, you’ll renew at the same price year after year with the same low $40 (or $79 every three years if you opt for a multiyear subscription, which we generally don’t recommend). 

PIA isn’t ideal if you’re seeking the fastest possible internet speeds — so it’s not great for hardcore gamers or people with slower internet connections. (Anything above 100Mbps should be fine, even with greater internet speed reductions.) Despite its open-source apps and a verified no-logs policy, privacy-critical users may be wary of PIA’s US jurisdiction. While PIA offers decent features, advanced users looking for cutting-edge amenities like Tor Over VPN or personal VPN servers will be disappointed.  

Despite its inconsistent speed loss, PIA’s pros outweigh the cons. It’s more affordable than the competition, easy to use (there’s even a rare Linux GUI app) and provides an enormous server network. You’ll even enjoy unlimited simultaneous connections for multidevice use. If you don’t need blazing-fast speeds, PIA is a worthwhile VPN choice that won’t leave you searching for a cheaper VPN subscription when your renewal comes along.