Atlas 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
50%
4 recommend · 4 warn
Data Quality
Medium
Reviews
14
Reviewers
14
Best for:
People who mainly want a simple VPN for browsing on school/campus Wi‑Fi
Phone users who want something that feels smooth on iOS
Anyone who already has an Atlas subscription and wants to understand the Nord migration situation
Atlas VPN gets talked about as a simple, no-fuss VPN that can feel surprisingly quick when it’s behaving. People like it for everyday browsing, and it’s sometimes handy on school or campus Wi‑Fi when...
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 | Atlas VPN | Winner | Private Internet Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Streaming | 67% (4) | → | 67% (9) |
| Torrenting | - | → | 63% (8) |
| Privacy | - | → | 46% (64) |
| Censorship | 100% (2) | ← | 25% (4) |
| Work | -- (2) | ← | 0% (3) |
| Router | - | → | 100% (2) |
| Mobile | - | - | 100% (1) |
| Price | 0% (1) | → | 86% (12) |
Atlas VPN
Strengths
- Good speeds (when it connects well)
- Can work on school or university Wi‑Fi
- Paid plan can work with Discovery+
- Easy, lightweight feel on phones (iOS)
Weaknesses
- Service shutdown and migration confusion
- Connection drops
- Slowdowns during peak hours
- Free tier has limited server choices
- Billing and refund headaches
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