Opera 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
54%
31 recommend · 26 warn
Data Quality
High
Reviews
91
Reviewers
82
Best for:
People who want a quick, no-install VPN for casual browsing
Users who just need to open blocked sites on public Wi‑Fi
Anyone who prefers an all-in-one browser with a built-in toggle
Opera VPN is mostly liked because it’s built right into the Opera browser and is very easy to turn on for quick browsing. People often use it to get around basic blocks and say it can work fine for th...
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 | Opera VPN | Winner | Private Internet Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Streaming | 56% (12) | → | 67% (9) |
| Torrenting | - | → | 63% (8) |
| Privacy | 29% (26) | → | 46% (64) |
| Censorship | 100% (5) | ← | 25% (4) |
| Gaming | 100% (1) | - | - |
| Work | - | → | 0% (3) |
| Router | - | → | 100% (2) |
| Mobile | 100% (1) | - | 100% (1) |
| Price | 50% (2) | → | 86% (12) |
Opera VPN
Strengths
- Built into the browser
- Free and easy to use
- Handy for basic censorship bypass
- Works fine for casual browsing and some streaming
Weaknesses
- Hit-or-miss speeds
- CAPTCHAs and site access issues
- Privacy/trust concerns around ownership and telemetry
- Browser-only protection (not full-device)
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