Private Internet Access Review
Community-sourced VPN review based on real Reddit & Twitter discussions
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...
What the Community Says
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, Android, macOS, and Linux, and has a track record of backing up its no-logs claims in real-world situations. It also gets a lot of love from folks who torrent and want features like port forwarding.
The biggest hesitation is trust: it’s a US-based service and it’s owned by Kape, which makes some people uncomfortable and sparks a lot of debate online. On the practical side, some say speeds and reliability aren’t as strong as they used to be, and there are occasional app quirks—especially on macOS (background service issues) and for Linux if you’re using the command line. A few people also mention setup headaches with certain networking gear and the occasional “it used to be great, but I moved on” vibe.
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
Summary generated 1 week ago from 159 community mentions
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Reviews about "Privacy"
48 reviews"[https://www.security.org/vpn/private-internet-access/review/](https://www.security.org/vpn/private-internet-access/review/) I agree with the assessment. Good download speeds. I have not noticed an issue with the upload, but I have asymm..."
"I've been *paying* for and using PIA (private Internet access) for a long time and can recommend it. Never ever use a free VPN. If you don't pay for something, then *YOU* are the product."
"Private Internet Access has a no log policy which has been proven in court. "
"i mean Andrew did prove multiple times with pia he dont keep logs plus i just found the service cool since its something they claim you dont need to trust you can verify they cant even monitor let alone spy"
"Recommended by the earlier video: TunnelBear, Mullvad (Mozilla VPN), IVPN, VyprVPN, Proton VPN I use PIAVPN as my trusted VPN, the only internet service I currently pay for. Very simple install on Linux with additional useful features, de..."
"This sounds like some conspiracy theorist shit. I've use PIA for over 12 years and never had anything questionable happen regarding my VPN use or personal data."
"Something funny? Pia has no logs. They do not collect browsing history, ip, or personal data. They have continuously gone to court and successfully fought turning over data multiple times."
"Don't really know much about rtings.com but they're incorrect about at least one of the "cons" they list, as PIA absolutely does have anonymous registration options. I've used PIA for years and have been happy with the service."
"Private Internet Access review for 2026: Any idea? I tested out Private Internet Access earlier this year and wanted to share how it has been for me. I was looking for a VPN that was affordable but still focused on privacy, and PIA kept co..."
"...orthy. It's a signal, not a guarantee. Companies that actually had warrant canaries: ExpressVPN, Private Internet Access. ExpressVPN stopped updating theirs in 2019. Coincidence? Maybe. Maybe not. \*\*The Real Test: Actual Court Cases..."
"Hello i came across a vpn thats made by the orginal owners that owned PIA vpn the actual people who went to court and proved no logs. They made a new vpn that claims they cant even log you if they wanted to. The vpn is called VP.NET"
"I'm not a VPN connoisseur nor do I have anything other than everyday needs for one. Having said that, I have been with PIA for years and it has been just fine. Ample POPs and decent speeds (again at least for what I ever need). Clients f..."
"> And you enable and disable it just fine? Yes. I can disable and reenable it at will. If I disable it the kill switch engages as expected (I have that on). I have never had to uninstall and reinstall the client. Also, private relay se..."
"Its an American company I believe and that's why people are skeptical of PIA no logs policy. PIA no logs policy has been proven twice in court, so that should be enough to ease your fears."
"I used PIA for maybe 6 or 7 years now, and honestly the only complaints I had was due to split tunneling causing issues. It would cause massive slowdown on stuff that was bypassing the vpn. Idk if this is still an issue as I've simply pushe..."
"It has worked flawlessly on my pc but my android app has been broken for a few months. It has been the cheapest VPN I have ever seen but I had to sign up for three years to get it for such a low cost. Auto renew is enabled by default,..."
"It's fine. It has a loyal userbase because it's a fair/low priced, unlimited use, no logs VPN. I know that when I hit the button to connect, i'm going to connect and not have issues with PIA itself, as long as i'm using it in a way it wan..."
"PIA vs NordVPN Review: Any idea? Choosing between PIA and NordVPN gets tricky because both promise strong security, solid speeds, and a huge server list. On paper they look almost identical, so the real question is how they perform when yo..."
"...ces and solid day-to-day performance. **Private Internet Access** (https://privateinternetaccess.com/vpnreddit): BLACK FRIDAY: Get 71% off + 2 months extra Reliable option with lots of customization for advanced users. **ExpressVPN** (https..."
"Is Private Internet Access worth getting, and how does it compare to the usual commercial VPNs? I’ve been looking into VPNs again and Private Internet Access keeps coming up. I’ve mostly used or tested the more mainstream options people us..."
"I run connections to vnets in Azure, and don't use commercial VPN providers aimed at private consumers (nordvpn, pia, express etc?). I run a wireguard setup which includes a couple of VPS hosts I rent, as well as private servers I own - VPN..."
"I mean most companies straight mine on your computer by various modules. Either be a database update, and you think "Yeah, am safe" or OS on, by masking options, so on. Norton Crypto was the most honest when they said "We mine, nobody wins"..."
"Quick ques if i may, does PIA still doesn't keep any logs? If memory serves me right, PIA was sued (lomg time ago) but since they never store logs, they had nothing to hand over. Is that still the case?"
"Is there any reason I should be worried about PIA? Does the guy who laughed know something I dont?"
"Hey! That’s really interesting! I might be missing something on my end. When I try to sign up for a new PIA account, the email field is required for every payment option I see. Even PayPal/Amazon still end up tied to an email address in ..."
"PIA is funded by an Israeli billionaire if that matters"
"...VPN, Surfshark, Proton VPN, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost, IPVanish, and more — each suited for different use cases like streaming, gaming, torrenting, or maximum privacy. If you’re trying to decide which VPN is genuinely trustworthy..."
"...N, ProtonVPN, and Private Internet Access. * ExpressVPN is often recommended for speed and streaming. * ProtonVPN looks strong on privacy, audits, and has P2P‑optimized servers. * NordVPN gets praised for speed and features, but I’ve see..."
"...eling you based on a subpoena: * Nord * Private Internet Access * Windscribe * IP Vanish * Tunnelbear * Hide.me Basically if Kape owns them (and they own a TON of them), Ziff Davis, Cyberspace, Aura, Gen Digital own it... don't use it. Also..."
"...2017) ($10M) \-PIA (Private Internet Access) (2019 $127M) RAM only servers Also Owns Webselenese which runs vpnMentor www. Wizcase .com and Safety Directives a VPN ranking site – Surprise!!! rank their products at top IPVanish US based and..."
"Express VPN, CyberGhost, PIA, Zenmate, all ultimately owned by Kape Technologies, majority shareholder Israeli billionaire Teddy Sagi. that's just off of the top of my head. There are more."
"Proven no logs Sub-par openvpn speed 850-950Mb/s wiregaurd No native gluetun support Mac app is a disaster, need to restart my Mac to restore Internet after disconnecting from vpn, often doesn’t launch until I delete the app and re ..."
"I switched to Windscribe when I found out PIA was Israeli owned, it's been good so far"
"yeah man, i also trust bamboovpn more than PIA"
"Nearly all VPN providers sell your data including most paid ones. There's a reason why PIA, Nord VPN and others can sponsor half the internet's creators. This video does a great job at unpacking this and brings evidence the claims made: [..."
"...higher if it had feature parity with the Windows client. **Ones I would personally avoid** * PIA (Private Internet Access): Ties to Government (Israel) * NordVPN: Had a security breach that could cause major issues and didn't notify user..."
"Don't use anything owned by Kape Technology. This includes PIA and a handful of other consumer VPN solutions."
"And you enable and disable it just fine? I don't have whatever issue he is talking about, but it's a known issue that the daemon in Mac doesn't shut down and start up again properly, requiring a full uninstall, reinstall, and sign in to be ..."
"The main business model of most VPN providers, yes including most paid ones, is selling your data. There is a reason why the PIA's and NordVPN's of the world can afford to sponsor all those creators."
"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQmLMGcCO3I](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQmLMGcCO3I) Check 7:53. Their parent company used to make browser malware. I've been using PIA for several years but I'll jump ship once my subscription expire..."
"Kape (PIA’s parent company) used to be Crossrider, which was infamous for its association with adware/PUP software, and some of its leadership has past ties to IDF intelligence units. “Don’t worry, that’s all totally behind us now..."
"All the homies that know don’t use PIA or any of the vpns funded by anyone connected to pia and their mgmt"
"Based on privacy policies/practices and speed I would say Mullvad. Never anything owned by Malware company Kape technologies . They own a bunch of vpn companies like PIA and ExpressVPN as well as a vpn review website."
"PIA is no longer a reputable VPN service. They were bought out by an Israeli company and will 1000% sniff your traffic and will share their subscriber info to any paying entity. Nord, Mullvad, and Proton are near the top for best service. ..."
"These 4 are the only VPNs worth spending your time and money on when it comes to privacy. Everything else - looking at you Nord, PIA and SurfShark - is a complete and utter waste of time."