Private Internet Access vs PureVPN
Side-by-side comparison based on Reddit & Twitter discussions
Community Pick
Private Internet Access
Based on community sentiment and discussions
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...
Approval Rate
45%
13 recommend · 16 warn
Data Quality
High
Reviews
40
Reviewers
33
Best for:
People who want a low-cost VPN for basic streaming and browsing
Anyone who mainly needs a US IP for apps and websites
Windows users who want straightforward setup help
PureVPN has a mixed reputation, but a lot of people stick with it because it’s cheap, has lots of server locations, and can be pretty quick when you land on a good server. It seems to work well for ba...
Performance by Use Case
| Use Case | Private Internet Access | Winner | PureVPN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Streaming | 67% (9) | ← | 70% (11) |
| Torrenting | 63% (8) | ← | -- (1) |
| Privacy | 46% (64) | ← | 20% (14) |
| Censorship | 25% (4) | ← | - |
| Gaming | - | - | 0% (1) |
| Travel | - | → | 100% (2) |
| Work | 0% (3) | ← | - |
| Router | 100% (2) | ← | 0% (1) |
| Mobile | 100% (1) | - | - |
| Price | 86% (12) | ← | 0% (2) |
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
PureVPN
Strengths
- Cheap long-term deals
- Good speeds on the right servers
- Lots of server locations
- Works for getting a US IP
- Helpful setup guides for Windows
Weaknesses
- Past no-logs trust concerns
- Streaming can be inconsistent (buffering/bans)
- Connection issues for some people
- Features vary by device (kill switch limitations)
- Jurisdiction worries