How Good is PIA VPN?

Personal Web Entry has been a long-time participant within the VPN house. It has an enormous server fleet that spans throughout 91 international locations and provides quick speeds by its customizable utility. Supported platforms embody Home windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Sensible TVs and routers.

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Whereas its operation within the surveillance-heavy United States could sway some customers, PIA’s steadiness of safety, pace and value make it a robust VPN answer this yr.

Personal Web Entry VPN pricing

All three subscriptions for PIA include the identical set of options, so that you received’t have to fret about lacking any key options should you select one plan over the opposite.

PIA VPN’s one-year subscription is essentially the most cheap at $3.33 monthly. It slots in on the center tier by way of VPN pricing for a yearly plan.

The three-year plan can be very inexpensive at $1.98 monthly, however the $2-dollar spend might not be value it should you don’t need the three-year-long time funding. Lastly, PIA VPN’s one-month plan is costlier than many rivals, so it’s finest to go along with both of the 2 former subscriptions as a substitute.

Like most trendy VPNs, PIA provides a 30-day money-back assure for the three plans. Whereas I do want that PIA had a full-fledged free model (which might be nice for first-time VPN customers), it does present a seven-day trial by its cell utility (iOS and Android).

In my testing, I discovered that I might use the identical account I acquired by the seven-day cell free trial after which log right into a desktop model of PIA utilizing the identical credentials. Having a devoted desktop free trial is most popular, however the workaround for the free trial was painless and straightforward to arrange.

My suggestion could be to totally make the most of the seven-day cell free trial and apply it to your desktop or system of alternative. This fashion, you get some hands-on time with the service with out spending on an preliminary cost.

Is Personal Web Entry VPN protected?

PIA VPN comes with two of an important safety protocols at present: OpenVPN and WireGuard. This provides customers steadiness of safety (with OpenVPN) and pace (with WireGuard). It additionally makes use of 256-bit AES encryption, has a dependable kill swap and protects towards DNS leaks.

With PIA VPN’s firm background, there are drawbacks. First, PIA operates in the US, which could be a pink flag for customers which might be cautious of the nation’s surveillance practices. Subsequent is PIA VPN’s possession. Like CyberGhost VPN, it’s at the moment owned by Kape Applied sciences — which acquired PIA again in 2019.

Kape (previously Crossrider) had been related to distributing malware and adware earlier than it rebranded and began transferring into the cybersecurity {industry}. PIA itself addressed the acquisition and emphasised that the VPN service operates as a separate entity unbiased of Kape.

When it comes to addressing safety issues, PIA VPN does have a no-logs coverage, which states that it doesn’t maintain data of person IP addresses, shopping historical past, session timestamps and the like.

This no-logs coverage has been independently confirmed and verified by Deloitte in 2022. The VPN service additionally makes use of RAM-only servers, which implies any potential traces of person knowledge are routinely erased upon reboot.

Lastly, the corporate has a public Transparency Report that outlines court docket orders and requests for logs. It reiterates that as a result of the service doesn’t log any data, it doesn’t hand over any knowledge to legislation enforcement.

In my view, whereas PIA’s possession and US operations are legitimate issues, the service has executed sufficient to indicate that it’s a protected and viable VPN service in 2024.

Key options of Personal Web Entry VPN

PIA VPN comes with each industry-standard and distinctive VPN options for potential VPN consumers. Let’s check out a few of PIA’s spotlight options.

Spectacular server fleet

Determine A

PIA VPN provides servers unfold out throughout 91 international locations, giving customers a broad vary of places to select from. As well as, whereas PIA doesn’t promote the precise server depend it has, it reportedly has round 10,000 to virtually 35,000 servers.

These are very spectacular numbers, particularly since high VPN rivals solely have round 3,000-5,000 servers. The excessive server depend will profit customers who plan on unblocking geo-restricted content material or desire a high quality server close to their location for quicker speeds.

PIA additionally lately introduced that it now has 50 servers in all 50 U.S. states.

Determine B

Should you’re a US citizen, it is a helpful value-add that can will let you watch blocked sports activities or information packages or entry geo-restricted accounts and companies solely out there in particular states.

Customizable VPN expertise

PIA permits customers to customise their VPN expertise in a couple of methods. A technique is thru its automation function, which allows you to set automated actions for the VPN at any time when it connects to a given community.

Determine C

For instance, you possibly can set PIA to activate the VPN in case your machine connects to an Open or unsecure community or have it turned off should you join through an ethernet cable.

PIA VPN additionally allows customers to bookmark or pin sure elements of the appliance to look on high.

Determine D

This can be a easy and handy usability function that permits for higher customization, particularly if customers wish to maintain observe of sure options or stats over others.

Limitless system connections

PIA now permits a limiteless variety of simultaneous system connections with one subscription. The service previously had a 10-device restrict, and whereas that was within the higher vary of allowed system connections, the improve to having limitless connections is welcome nonetheless.

That is an underrated function, particularly for VPN customers who’ve a number of units for work or private use.

Efficiency: Is Personal Web Entry VPN quick?

All through my testing of PIA, I acquired fairly quick speeds. I used the VPN to look at 4K and 1080p YouTube movies, attend on-line video conferences and do work on Google Workspace apps (Drive, Docs and Hold) — with no noticeable lag or real-world slowdown. PIA VPN additionally carried out properly by way of obtain and add speeds. Particularly, the add pace I acquired whereas utilizing PIA was one of many lowest drops in pace I’ve recorded to date.

It additionally didn’t fail by way of DNS leak safety. I ran PIA VPN by a public DNS leak device a number of occasions and didn’t document any leaks after a spherical of exams with totally different servers.

For in-app efficiency, I discovered that PIA was one of many quickest VPNs I’ve used to date. Particularly, it was one of many quickest by way of switching servers and establishing new connections. Altering servers felt fast and snappy, at the same time as I linked to places that have been farther away.

Sadly, I did expertise one bug that retains PIA’s efficiency from being good. The primary time I converted to the WireGuard protocol, PIA couldn’t hook up with a server. This occurred even when I switched to servers that have been nearer my location — a stark distinction to the app’s efficiency whereas on OpenVPN. Nevertheless, after restarting the appliance twice, the bug appeared to resolve itself and I used to be capable of join.

Per my analysis, there are a couple of customers who’ve skilled the same challenge, but it surely does appear to be a bug that’s been mounted and is now simply resolvable.

Personal Web Entry VPN servers and places

Whereas PIA VPN at the moment doesn’t present a precise variety of its server sorts, it has previously declared round 10,000 to 35,000 servers. These servers are unfold out throughout 91 international locations. This quantity makes it one of many largest server suites out there at present.

Location-wise, PIA has servers within the Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Center East, Africa and Central Asia. Of be aware, PIA has at the very least one server in all 50 U.S. states — a plus should you’re a U.S. citizen trying to make the most of servers in several U.S. states.

Sadly, PIA VPN doesn’t provide specialised servers for streaming or torrenting. It does have what it calls PIA NextGen servers. These are colocated servers wholly owned and managed by PIA that run on higher, quicker and safer {hardware}.

Total, it’s laborious to argue towards a server suite that reaches the tens and 1000’s, and the 50 servers for 50 U.S. states are additionally helpful. However I do want that PIA had extra specialised server sorts for safety, streaming or torrenting to refine its server community much more.

PIA VPN execs

• Spectacular 10,000-35,000 server suite.
• Very customizable VPN expertise.
• Servers for all 50 U.S. states.
• Dependable kill swap.
• Quick add and obtain speeds.
• 7-day trial through cell variations.

PIA VPN cons

• US-based, owned by controversial Kape Applied sciences.
• No free model.
• No specialised servers.
• WireGuard protocol could also be buggy.

How good is PIA VPN?

Personal Web Entry VPN is a strong VPN alternative in 2024. It has an enormous server fleet, a customizable VPN app and the power for limitless system connections. Its 50 servers for 50 U.S. states additionally make it a first-rate alternative for People on the lookout for servers particular to the US.

Whereas its U.S. operations and guardian firm could trigger some concern, PIA VPN will get sufficient issues proper to make it a really viable VPN possibility at present.

Personal Web Entry VPN options

Whereas PIA VPN is a top quality VPN service, it might not have the suitable set of options on your wants. We’ve listed related options beneath that will go well with what you’re on the lookout for higher.

Mullvad VPN

For privateness fanatics, Mullvad VPN is a best choice. It implements an nameless account numbering system that lets clients buy subscriptions with zero private data handed over. It additionally has an independently audited no-logs coverage, making certain that no person knowledge is liable to being leaked to malicious actors.

NordVPN

NordVPN is likely one of the most well-regarded VPNs within the house. It provides constant and quick speeds, a strong server fleet and quite a few third-party audits. It additionally options specialised safety features comparable to built-in malware safety and an encrypted file-sharing system that make it an all-around safety platform.

Surfshark

Surfshark is one other common VPN possibility in 2024. It has an easy-to-use interface suited to learners, sturdy encryption and 24/7 buyer assist. It additionally has status for unblocking streaming content material.

How we evaluated Personal Web Entry VPN

My evaluate of PIA VPN concerned an in depth evaluation of its spotlight options, value and real-world efficiency. I additionally had hands-on time with PIA by their Home windows utility.

For add and obtain speeds, I examined PIA VPN utilizing Ookla’s public Speedtest. In the meantime, I ran PIA VPN by DNSLeakTest a number of occasions to check for DNS leaks.

Lastly, I scored PIA VPN on all the things from its protocols to its value primarily based on an inside algorithm to get a ranking of 4.2 out of 5 stars. This ranking checked out PIA VPN each by itself and in relation to different VPN companies out there at present.