Google One 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
25%
2 recommend · 6 warn
Data Quality
Medium
Reviews
13
Reviewers
13
Best for:
Casual users who want a simple VPN bundled with Google One/Fi for everyday Wi‑Fi protection
Travelers who prioritize basic connectivity and convenience over strong anonymity guarantees
Reddit mentions of Google One VPN are mixed-to-slightly-negative overall, with some users praising it as a convenient, “it just works” add-on for people already in Google’s ecosystem. The most concret...
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 | Google One VPN | Winner | Private Internet Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Streaming | - | → | 67% (9) |
| Torrenting | - | → | 63% (8) |
| Privacy | 17% (8) | → | 46% (64) |
| Censorship | 100% (1) | ← | 25% (4) |
| Work | - | → | 0% (3) |
| Router | - | → | 100% (2) |
| Mobile | - | - | 100% (1) |
| Price | - | → | 86% (12) |
Google One VPN
Strengths
- Convenient add-on for existing Google One/Fi users with minimal setup
- Reports of solid real-world connectivity (including travel use such as Beijing)
- Mainstream usability on mobile platforms (Android/iOS) with straightforward operation
Weaknesses
- Low trust for privacy due to Google’s data/correlation and “single provider” concerns
- Security/jurisdiction skepticism and worries about leaks or failure-mode protections
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