Private Internet Access Review

Community-sourced VPN review based on real Reddit & Twitter discussions

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Community Verdict
Mixed Reviews

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...

58%
positive
159
reviews
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
58% Positive Reviews
63 recommend, 46 warn
High Data Quality
159 reviews from 128 people
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
Approval Rate
58% positive
63 recommend · 46 warn
Reviews
159
104 Reddit · 27 Twitter
Unique Reviewers
128
Data Quality
High

What the Community Says

Community Rating 7.5/10

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
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
Not ideal for: Anyone who can’t get past the Kape ownership debate People who want the simplest, most foolproof experience on macOS or Linux CLI Speed-obsessed users who want the most consistent performance Privacy purists who prefer a provider outside the US

Summary generated 1 week ago from 159 community mentions

Reviews about "Jurisdiction"

17 reviews

"@SaarNil72 My personal preference for vpn is "private internet access" for only one reason. They are the only provider that I'm aware of that has had its "no log" policy tested in court when they were subpoenaed in the US. Been with them for years now, decent speeds, loads of devices."

@MrSacs 3 weeks ago View on Twitter →

"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."

r/vpnreviewhub 1 month ago View on Reddit →

"...e sure it's one that doesn't keep logs. I would stay away from free ones. Europe based used to have more privacy but that will change. Can recommend Private Internet Access, US based. Plenty of other good ones though, shop around."

@Olthwaite2001 3 weeks ago View on Twitter →

"@stringer_kade @phct001 @rekdt huh? they keep using the excuse "they had no choice but to cooporate with the government" due to "lawful orders" Stop making excuses for these WEF fools. I dont see PIA or Mullvad comply with this to Rat out their users ?!"

@PeylsX 1 week ago View on Twitter →

"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..."

r/privateinternetaccess 1 month ago View on Reddit →

"PIA is funded by an Israeli billionaire if that matters"

r/privateinternetaccess 1 month ago View on Reddit →

"@turveyandrew1 @Lewis_Brackpool Or you could tell the truth. NordVPN - Panama ExpressVPN - Delaware Surfshark - Netherlands ProtonVPN - Switzerland Mullvad - Sweden PIA - USA CyberGhost - Romania"

@nobdy_imp 1 week ago View on Twitter →

"I switched to Windscribe when I found out PIA was Israeli owned, it's been good so far"

r/privateinternetaccess 1 month ago View on Reddit →

"...tHQ Israeli firm now controls 8 vpn services A big concern that an Israeli firm now controls 30% to 40% of the VPN market. ExpressVPN , CyberGhost, Private Internet Access (PIA) , ZenMate , Hotspot Shield , Betternet , Touch VPN...."

@CrunchieNews 1 week ago View on Twitter →

"@thecoastguy Kape Technologies (Israel): A significant player, owning ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, Private Internet Access (PIA), and ZenMate, previously operated under the name Crossrider with a controversial adware past. Aura/Pango Group (Israel/US): Owns Hotspot Shield, Betternet, Touch VPN,"

@nugent_eddie 1 week ago View on Twitter →

"@ForeverScept @RedsReporter @grok is private internet access owned by the Israel intelligence service?"

@andykc1973 3 weeks ago View on Twitter →

"@iamwilsxn My research: PIA VPN is owned by Kape Technologies, a company fully controlled by Israeli billionaire Teddy Sagi since 2023. Kape acquired PIA in late 2019, integrating it into a portfolio that includes other VPNs like ExpressVPN and CyberGhost Fuck Zionism.✊ @NordVPN ftw"

@PolynomialXYZ 3 weeks ago View on Twitter →

"...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..."

r/linuxquestions 1 month ago View on Reddit →

"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..."

r/vpnreviewhub 1 month ago View on Reddit →

"Exactly. Anyone looking for a proper VPN btw, that won't get hit by the ban, and won't bend to the UK government, take a look at Mullvad. Years ago when they were raided, they just let the police in because they had literally NO logs of anything, at all. All the VPNs you get advertised on YouTube say they don't keep logs, but they do and police reports prove it. ExpressVPN / PIA / Surfshark etc - ..."

@Bobby_P_90 1 week ago View on Twitter →

"@AidanSimardone Just use VPN not backed and controlled by Israel or Mossad Just Google “VPNs Israel” and you should get some articles on this and which the Israeli ran VPNs, such as ExpressVPN and PIA"

@pedropithan 3 weeks ago View on Twitter →

"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. ..."

r/canadianforces 3 weeks ago View on Reddit →