Private Internet Access (PIA) has been around since 2010, and it’s now one of the top providers on the market. The service is very fast and provides its users a whole array of settings that allow you to optimize speed or security depending on what you need. On the other hand, its desktop app is old-fashioned and far from modern, user-centric, mainstream VPN apps.
PIA is a great choice for a tech-savvy audience that doesn’t want a brilliant app but a flexible VPN with great functionality in every aspect. Don’t expect top-notch user support, or a modern-looking website, or servers in every country. But all these cons are a fairly small price to pay for one of the best VPN services. Follow this Private Internet Access review to learn more.
Privacy
When it comes to privacy, PIA is the most flexible VPN service. You can configure different levels of encryption and switch functions for blocking DNS and IPv6 leaks. There’s also a Killswitch function to cut off your traffic during an accidental disconnection. You can use port forwarding, or you can choose which ports will be open for you and which will not. You also get access to the SOCKS5 Proxy.
Another plus is a built-in malware, ad, and tracker blocker. PIA has one of the most extensive arsenals of security tools on the VPN market. Surprisingly, the company is located in the United States, the most confidential jurisdiction on the planet.
Speed and performance
If you run a speed test, the results will impress you. The download speed is one of the highest in the industry. The connection is reliable across the entire network, and its performance is good enough for multiple HD broadcasts. You can watch anything in HD quality, download heavy files and still experience no lags. The low latency is also a plus, which makes PIA an enjoyable choice for gamers.
Location
This is where PIA starts lagging behind, covering only 28 countries. In the US, Canada, and Australia, there’s a choice between regional and metropolitan servers, while South and Central America are represented only by Brazil and Mexico.
For such a large VPN brand, it’s surprising to see only 3 servers in the UK and 15 in Europe. The same goes for the choice of servers in the Asian part. It’s quite limited in comparison to its competitors. Check their website for a list of available locations first.
Convenience
PIA’s desktop client has almost the most old-fashioned interface on the market with its tray icon that, when right-clicked, shows a huge menu of available servers. It would be nice to separate them from the settings window. The good news for PIA is that the service is very functional and works without errors. But the interface is far from the modern user level, which is quickly becoming the industry standard. This interface scares inexperienced users.