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
Filter by Topic
Clear ×Performance by Use Case
Compare Private Internet Access With...
Reviews about "Anonymous Payment"
5 reviews"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..."
"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..."
"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 ..."
"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: [..."