AirVPN 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
85%
28 recommend · 5 warn
Data Quality
High
Reviews
38
Reviewers
28
Best for:
Torrenters who specifically need port forwarding
Privacy-focused people who want minimal tracking and anonymous payment options
Linux users and home-lab folks using Docker, Gluetun, Sonarr, or similar tools
People who like tweaking settings and having more control
AirVPN has a strong reputation online as a privacy-first VPN that gives you a lot of control. People especially like it for torrenting because it still offers port forwarding, which can help you conne...
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 | AirVPN | Winner | Private Internet Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Streaming | 0% (2) | → | 67% (9) |
| Torrenting | 90% (12) | ← | 63% (8) |
| Privacy | 100% (12) | ← | 46% (64) |
| Censorship | - | → | 25% (4) |
| Work | - | → | 0% (3) |
| Router | - | → | 100% (2) |
| Mobile | - | - | 100% (1) |
| Price | - | → | 86% (12) |
AirVPN
Strengths
- Port forwarding for torrenting
- Privacy-focused and no trackers
- Anonymous payment options
- Lots of control and advanced settings
- Linux-friendly for tinkerers
Weaknesses
- Can be complicated to set up
- Speeds can feel inconsistent
- Not a simple app experience
- Split tunneling (like excluding Plex) can be a headache
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