AdGuard VPN vs Private Internet Access
Side-by-side comparison based on Reddit & Twitter discussions
Community Pick
Private Internet Access
Based on community sentiment and discussions
Approval Rate
53%
16 recommend · 14 warn
Data Quality
High
Reviews
78
Reviewers
71
Best for:
People already using AdGuard who want everything in one ecosystem
Anyone who wants simple ad blocking plus VPN in one switch
Users who like DNS-based filtering and router-level blocking
People who occasionally need help on restrictive networks
AdGuard VPN gets talked about a lot in the same breath as AdGuard’s ad blocker, and that’s really where it shines: it’s easy to turn on and forget, and people like how it pairs with ad blocking and DN...
Private Internet Access
Winner
Approval Rate
58%
63 recommend · 46 warn
Data Quality
High
Reviews
159
Reviewers
128
Best for:
People who want a cheaper VPN that still feels full-featured
Torrenters who want port forwarding
Folks who use multiple devices (Windows, Android, macOS, Linux) and want one VPN for all of them
Users who prefer a VPN with a long history and lots of community familiarity
Private Internet Access (PIA) has a long-time fan base and a reputation for being a solid “everyday VPN” that’s usually easy to live with. People like that it’s affordable, works across Windows, Andro...
Performance by Use Case
| Use Case | AdGuard VPN | Winner | Private Internet Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Streaming | 0% (1) | → | 67% (9) |
| Torrenting | -- (1) | → | 63% (8) |
| Privacy | 75% (32) | ← | 46% (64) |
| Censorship | 67% (5) | ← | 25% (4) |
| Gaming | -- (1) | - | - |
| Work | -- (1) | ← | 0% (3) |
| Router | 0% (4) | → | 100% (2) |
| Mobile | -- (1) | - | 100% (1) |
| Price | 100% (2) | → | 86% (12) |
AdGuard VPN
Strengths
- Easy to use day-to-day
- Pairs well with AdGuard ad blocking
- Strong DNS filtering options
- Useful for censorship-heavy networks
- Works nicely with AdGuard Home/router setups
Weaknesses
- Slow speeds for some people
- Battery drain complaints on iOS
- Crashes and connectivity issues (especially Android)
- Doesn’t play nicely with other VPN apps
- Trust and auditing questions
Private Internet Access
Strengths
- Good value for the price
- Generally easy to use on Windows and Android
- No-logs track record people point to
- Linux support (especially with the GUI app)
- Port forwarding and torrent-friendly features
Weaknesses
- Ownership and trust concerns (Kape)
- US jurisdiction makes some people uneasy
- Some reports of slower speeds or worse reliability over time
- macOS app/daemon can be glitchy
- Linux command-line experience can be frustrating