Private Internet Access vs Windscribe
Side-by-side comparison based on Reddit & Twitter discussions
Community Pick
Windscribe
Based on community sentiment and discussions
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...
Windscribe
Winner
Approval Rate
78%
251 recommend · 72 warn
Data Quality
High
Reviews
460
Reviewers
398
Best for:
People who want a simple VPN for browsing and everyday privacy
Light users who like having a free option
Budget-minded folks who can wait for a deal
Users who want lots of settings to tinker with
Windscribe comes up a lot as a solid “everyday VPN” that’s easy to use and doesn’t cost much, especially if you grab a deal. People like that it’s pretty upfront about what a VPN can and can’t do for...
Performance by Use Case
| Use Case | Private Internet Access | Winner | Windscribe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Streaming | 67% (9) | → | 78% (35) |
| Torrenting | 63% (8) | → | 75% (20) |
| Privacy | 46% (64) | → | 75% (120) |
| Censorship | 25% (4) | → | 58% (29) |
| Gaming | - | → | 67% (4) |
| Travel | - | → | 100% (4) |
| Work | 0% (3) | ← | - |
| Router | 100% (2) | → | 100% (1) |
| Mobile | 100% (1) | - | - |
| Price | 86% (12) | → | 93% (38) |
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
Windscribe
Strengths
- Easy to use
- Good value when discounted
- Handy free tier for light use
- Privacy-minded with audits mentioned
- Lots of features and customization
Weaknesses
- Unreliable for Netflix and Prime Video
- Speed drops during busy hours
- Can struggle under heavy censorship
- Missing features some power users want
- Some routing/proxy behavior feels out of your control