Private Internet Access Review (2026): The right choice?

Private Internet Access Review

Private Internet Access has the most strict no-logs policy. One top of that it’s fast, features a large server network, and works with most streaming services. It’s an excellent choice.

• Privacy: 100%. Private Internet Access has a crystal-clear no-logs policy; it doesn’t store any user data.
• Streaming: 80%. It granted reliable access to most streaming services, but struggled with Disney+ and DAZN.
• Speed: 100%. Private Internet Access delivers excellent download speeds, making it ideal for streaming and gaming.
• Security: 100%. With top-tier encryption, robust protocols, a kill switch, split tunneling, and more, security is airtight.

PIA is great, but NordVPN is the most advanced VPN.

Privacy

When it comes to privacy, Private Internet Access (PIA) stands out as one of the most transparent and proven VPNs we’ve tested. Its commitment to a strict no-logs policy has been verified repeatedly — not just through independent audits but also in court.

Verified and Court-Proven No-Logs Policy

PIA does not record or store any data that could identify its users. During our testing and review of its privacy practices, we confirmed that it does not log IP addresses, browsing history, connection timestamps, VPN server details, device identifiers, or bandwidth usage. The company only collects minimal data required for account management: your email address, payment details, and basic location information (state and ZIP code) for tax purposes.

All online activity remains entirely anonymous. Account data is stored separately from network data, ensuring there’s no link between your identity and your VPN usage. For added anonymity, PIA supports cryptocurrency and Bitcoin payments, allowing users to subscribe without revealing personal financial details.

Proven Privacy Track Record

PIA’s no-logs claims have been tested and proven multiple times in real-world scenarios.

• In 2016, the FBI requested user information — PIA had nothing to provide.
• That same year, Russian authorities seized PIA servers, finding no identifiable data. PIA subsequently removed its Russian servers from operation.
• In 2018, the U.S. government made another data request, and again, PIA had no logs to hand over.

This consistent pattern across jurisdictions demonstrates that PIA’s no-logs policy is not merely a marketing statement — it’s a technically enforced reality.

Independent Audits and Transparency

PIA has undergone multiple independent Deloitte audits — most recently in June 2022 and April 2024. Both confirmed that PIA stores no user-identifiable information, maintains full compliance with its privacy policy, and operates genuine RAM-only (diskless) servers that prevent any data persistence after reboots.

In addition, PIA publishes regular transparency reports, and to date, it has disclosed zero user data to authorities. This ongoing openness reinforces its reputation as one of the most accountable VPNs in the industry.

Jurisdiction and Ownership

PIA is based in the United States, a member of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance. Normally, this jurisdiction might raise concerns for privacy-conscious users. However, PIA’s lack of logs means that even if authorities issue legal requests, there is simply no data to share — a fact proven multiple times through legal proceedings and audits.

The VPN is owned by Kape Technologies, which also owns CyberGhost and ExpressVPN. Kape — previously known as Crossrider — faced adware controversies in the past but exited that business in 2016 and has since focused entirely on developing privacy and cybersecurity tools.

Transparency and Advocacy

Beyond its technical practices, PIA actively supports privacy advocacy organizations such as the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and Creative Commons, aligning its corporate values with its product mission.

Conclusion

Over more than a decade of operation, Private Internet Access has maintained an unblemished privacy record — verified through audits, court cases, and technical transparency. In our tests, it consistently demonstrated that it stores no identifiable data, retains no connection logs, and operates a fully privacy-first infrastructure. For users seeking a VPN with a proven and verifiable commitment to anonymity, PIA remains one of the most trustworthy options available.

Streaming

Private Internet Access (PIA) has made notable improvements in its streaming capabilities, now successfully unblocking multiple platforms and regions. While it still has some limitations, its overall performance makes it a competitive choice for streaming enthusiasts.

PIA unblocks major platforms such as Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, HBO Max, and Amazon Prime Video. However, it struggles with certain services like DAZN, Disney+, and Sky Go. Its compatibility extends to multiple Netflix libraries and all major UK-based streaming platforms.

Speed

Private Internet Access (PIA) is one of the fastest VPNs we’ve tested, offering excellent speeds on nearby connections and solid performance over long distances. It leverages the WireGuard protocol for optimal efficiency, making it a top-tier choice for activities like streaming, gaming, and torrenting.

\WireGuard Protocol:

• WireGuard boosts speeds while maintaining robust security, allowing PIA to outperform many competitors.
• Nearby server speeds are consistently high, with minimal speed losses (as low as 6%).

Long-Distance Connections:

• While not the fastest for global performance, PIA’s long-distance speeds are reliable. Even when connecting from New York to Japan, it maintained speeds of 80 Mbps, enough for streaming, gaming, and large downloads.
• For context, other top-performing VPNs like NordVPN and Surfshark tend to perform similar over extreme distances.

Speed Consistency:

• PIA suffers from occasional week-to-week fluctuations in speed, which can impact overall performance compared to more consistent VPNs.

For most users, whether streaming, torrenting, or browsing, PIA delivers more than enough speed for smooth, lag-free experiences.

Security

When it comes to security, Private Internet Access (PIA) stands among the most advanced and transparent VPNs we’ve tested. It combines modern encryption standards, customizable settings, and open-source transparency to deliver trustworthy protection.

Protocols

PIA supports industry-standard VPN protocols, including OpenVPN (TCP/UDP), WireGuard, and IPSec (IKEv2) on iOS. OpenVPN defaults to AES-128 encryption but can be manually configured to AES-256 for stronger protection, while WireGuard uses the highly efficient ChaCha20 cipher. These are paired with GCM ciphers and RSA-4096 certificates, ensuring data integrity and secure authentication.

In recent updates, PIA removed outdated protocols such as IKEv2 and L2TP/IPSec, along with older handshake customization options. This streamlining enhances both stability and security. Advanced users can still fine-tune encryption behavior with options for local port selection, MTU size, and connection timeout — flexibility that few VPNs offer.

Leak Protection

We verified PIA’s leak protection using independent testing tools. It includes built-in safeguards against IPv4, IPv6, DNS, and WebRTC leaks (DNS protection must be manually enabled on Windows). During our tests, no IP, DNS, or WebRTC leaks were detected. The kill switch worked flawlessly across all platforms — Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS — immediately blocking internet traffic when the VPN connection dropped.

Split Tunneling

For additional privacy, PIA supports split tunneling and multihop (double VPN) connections, allowing users to route traffic through two servers for layered encryption. All DNS requests are handled by PIA’s private servers, ensuring that no queries pass through third-party or ISP infrastructure.

Transparency

Transparency is another of PIA’s strengths. All its apps and browser extensions are open-source, letting anyone inspect the code for vulnerabilities. The company has also undergone an independent audit that confirmed its security and privacy claims. Since 2022, PIA has maintained a public bug bounty program, rewarding researchers who report vulnerabilities — a commendable step toward continuous improvement.

Ad Blocker

PIA’s MACE feature adds another layer of protection by blocking malicious ads, trackers, and malware domains, though it doesn’t block all paid ads. For users seeking even more protection, the optional Identity Guard service scans for breached email addresses and sends real-time alerts, while an add-on antivirus (for an extra $5) offers malware removal without tracking or logging user activity.

Encryption Tests

In our encryption verification tests using Wireshark, all traffic was fully encrypted and obfuscated, confirming that PIA provides genuine end-to-end protection. The VPN also supports a wide range of ports — four TCP (8443, 853, 443, 80) and four UDP (8080, 853, 123, 53) — with manual entry available for custom configurations.

Conclusion

The only notable omissions are post-quantum encryption support and a fully colocated server network, which PIA currently operates in only nine countries. Nonetheless, it remains one of the most secure and transparent VPNs available — a highly customizable service that excels in encryption, leak protection, and open-source accountability.

Servers

When we tested Private Internet Access, we found it operates physical servers in 45 countries. Its total network, including virtual server locations, covers 91 countries. That’s just below the top 10 VPN brands’ average of 93 countries in total network reach.

However, it’s worth noting that only five of the top 10 VPN brands publicly disclose their physical server counts. PIA stands out for its transparency in this regard, giving users a clear picture of where its hardware infrastructure is actually located.

Physical servers are actual, hardware-based machines located in the country they represent. Virtual servers, on the other hand, are software-defined and may physically reside elsewhere while appearing to users as if they’re in a specific country. While virtual servers allow greater coverage and easier maintenance, physical servers generally provide more accurate location representation and potentially better privacy guarantees.

PIA offers a well-rounded mix of server types. It includes Dedicated Streaming Servers for platforms like Netflix and BBC iPlayer, ensuring consistent access to high-quality content. For users who want a fixed online identity, PIA also provides an optional Dedicated IP address. Moreover, the network is entirely RAM-only, meaning all data is wiped with every reboot, and it fully supports P2P file sharing across all servers — an excellent combination of privacy and flexibility.

Prices

In our pricing comparison across the top 10 VPN brands, Private Internet Access stands out as one of the most affordable options. Its first-year price is $39.95, rising to $49.99 on renewal. That’s significantly below the average of $53.47 for the first year and $102.85 upon renewal among the top providers.

For budget-conscious users, PIA belongs alongside Norton, CyberGhost, Bitdefender, TotalVPN, and Avast as one of the best-value VPNs on the market. On the other hand, Surfshark, NordVPN, and ExpressVPN sit at the premium end of the pricing spectrum, offering extra features but at a much higher cost.

Overall, PIA offers strong performance and privacy at a very competitive price, making it one of the most wallet-friendly choices for long-term VPN users.

User reviews

Private Internet Access enjoys a strong reputation among users. On Trustpilot, it holds an impressive 4.3 out of 5 rating from over 11,000 reviews. That’s above the average score of 4.1 among the top 10 VPN brands, which collectively have around 22,000 reviews on average.

The feedback frequently praises PIA’s reliability, customer support, and value for money. While no VPN is perfect, the high volume of positive user experiences reflects consistent satisfaction and reinforces our own findings from hands-on testing.

Ownership

Private Internet Access is owned by Kape Technologies, a London-based security software provider with ties to Israel. Kape also owns CyberGhost VPN, Private Internet Access, ZenMate, and Intego Antivirus, with over 7 million paying subscribers across its products.

Kape Technologies

Kape Technologies acquired Private Internet Access in December 2019.

Kape’s history is notable:

• 2012: Teddy Sagi, an Israeli entrepreneur, acquired Crossrider, a browser extension development company later associated with adware.
• 2014: Crossrider went public on the London Stock Exchange.
• 2016: New management pivoted to privacy and security.
• 2017-2021: Kape acquired CyberGhost VPN, Intego, ZenMate, Private Internet Access, and ExpressVPN.
• 2023: Kape delisted from the London Stock Exchange and became private.

Some worry that Kape is largely a financial holding company, focusing on subscriber growth, while limiting the R&D spend in its companies.