The company’s mission statement is to work towards returning the internet to its original state, as a place to explore freely, without the fear of censorship or surveillance.
The VPN service itself is marketed as having a number of different uses, including providing increasing online security and privacy and serving as a method to bypass censorship. It is also designed to protect users from a number of malicious online threats, including data collection, hacking, tracking and snooping.
PrivateInternetAccess or PIA is a VPN service provider established in 2010 by one of its co-founder, Andrew Lee. Its parent company London Trust Media, created the company in order to fulfil their mission of bringing back the internet to its original free state, where people can create, learn and explore with freedom and privacy.
The company has over 34894 servers locations in 78countries worldwide. Unfortunately, there is no information on the number of IP addresses that they offer to customers in their official website.
Private Internet Access is one of the leading VPN service providers that offer reliable and secured VPN tunnel services to users in order to protect their internet connection and conceal their IP address online. The company is based in the United States and their head office is located in Grandville, Michigan.
How PrivateInternetAccess ( PIA ) works
Private Internet Access delivers state of the art security and protection for your VPN connection. It uses a multi-layered encryption with an innovative privacy protection method of sending and receiving data through VPN tunnelling system.The Client:
The VPN service uses their IP cloak to disguise the users IP address and replace it with one of their anonymous IP addresses. This system effectively prevents websites and online applications from tracking the users browsing activities and determining their geographic location.
After installing the client software, Private Internet Access offers multi-layered security and privacy. One of these layers is IP masking, which is achieved by tunnelling a user’s internet data through a server. This allows the user to take on the IP address of that server, protecting their identity and preventing tracking and monitoring.
Due to the fact that the user’s true location is obscured, the VPN can also be used to work around censorship and geographical restrictions on online content. For example, by connecting to a server in the United States, a UK resident can gain access to content which is usually restricted to US citizens only.
In addition, all traffic is encrypted, in order to make sure it is secure. This is beneficial because it prevents the interception of data, or snooping. Without encryption, a user’s connection, accounts and personal files could potentially be vulnerable to hackers and other people seeking unauthorised access.
Features of PrivateInternetAccess
No logging of online records
Private Internet Access does not keep any records of your online activity whatsoever.
The company is located in the US, which is a country that does not implement a data retention policy.
Multiple device connection
Private Internet Access VPN service allows users to simultaneously connect up to 10 devices to their VPN connection at any time.
Unlike other VPN service provider, this feature allows you to utilize all your devices using just one PIA account.
Supports multiple protocols
Private Internet Access uses a high grade 128-bit secured CBS Blowfish encryption algorithm for maximum online protection.
It also supports PPTP, IPSEC/L2TP and OpenVPN protocols.
SOCKS5 proxy
Private Internet Access provides SOCKS5 proxy access to all users who requires this type of feature.
DNS Leak protection
The Private Internet Access DNS leak protection ensures all DNS requests are transmitted and routed to the VPN to ensure connection privacy and security.
IPv6 Leak protection
The Private Internet Access IPV6 leak protection prevents all IPV6 traffic when you are connected to the VPN.
It safeguards against IPV6 leaks to ensure connection privacy.
Allows filesharing
Private Internet Access allows “legal” filesharing activities on their VPN service.
Unlimited bandwidth usage and reconnects
Private Internet Access offers users with unlimited bandwidth usage on their VPN service.
They also allow users to reconnect as many times as they want between PIA’s 3386+ servers around the world.
PIA Accepts Bitcoin payment
Private Internet Access includes Bitcoin on their list of accepted payment modes in their website.
Bitcoin allows users to pay anonymously for products and service online.
Device Compatibility
Private Internet Access is compatible with all devices that run on Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS and other platforms.
It supports iPad, iPod, iPhone and all mobile devices that runs on Android.
30 days money back guarantee
Private Internet Access allows users to refund their payment within 30 days upon registration of their account.
New customers can refund their payment if they are unsatisfied with the VPN service within 30 days, no questions asked.
Comprehensive customer support
Private Internet Access provides support to customers via email, live chat, phone and comprehensive FAQ’s page on their website. However, telephone support is only available between 9am to 5pm EST Mon-Fri.
Benefits of Private Internet Access
Private Internet Access protects your privacy and identity
Private Internet Access provide you the freedom to browse the internet anonymously with a concealed IP address to hide your identity and protect your online privacy. It uses an anonymous VPN tunnel to send and receive data online, protecting your privacy from government institutions and other malicious organizations.
PIA Unblocks Online Censorship
With Private Internet Access, you can enjoy unobstructed access to any website anywhere in the world. Watch your favorite videos from YouTube and Hulu and access your social network applications, like Facebook, Twitter and Google+ through PIA’s VPN tunnel service.
Connect to your VPN in seconds
Private Internet Access lets you connect to your VPN service instantly with its fast one-click installers. You can run up to 5 simultaneous devices with just one PIA account.
Our Private Internet Access Speedtest Results (median values)
- Upload Speed: 4.61 Mbps
- Download Speed: 10.15 Mbps
- Ping time: 106 ms
Security
The service makes use of encryption which is based on the Blowfish CBC algorithm and the OpenVPN protocol is employed as standard. However, a number of other encryption protocols are supported, including IPSec/L2TP, SOCKS5 and PPTP. Protocols can be adjusted within the settings and each have their individual pros and cons.
Moreover, Private Internet Access service operates a no logging policy. This means that user activity, such as website visits, downloads, emails and other communications are not monitored or stored and the encryption protects them from surveillance even at ISP level.
Servers
PrivateInternetAccess operates servers in different countries in the world. These are: USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Switzerland, Sweden, France, Germany, Russia, Romania, Turkey, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, Israel, Mexico, Brazil and the Netherlands.
Pricing and Payment Methods
As with other similar services, customers are able to subscribe to the VPN via a number of different packages. The standard monthly subscription costs $6.95, which is fairly reasonable. Yet, discounts are offered for long-term subscribers. A 12 month subscription costs $39.95, while a two year subscription comes to just $69.96 ($3.33 per month).
The range of payment options is also excellent, with users able to select between Visa, MasterCard, American Express, PayPal, Amazon Payments, Google Checkout and many more. It is also an example of a VPN service which accepts the Bitcoin currency, allowing for even greater security and privacy.
Compatibility
A major plus point of the Private Internet Access service is its range of compatibility, as the service can be used on a number of different devices, running various different operating systems. Setup tutorials for some of the most popular of these can be found below:
- Windows: https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/pages/client-support/#windows_openvpn
- Mac OSX: https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/pages/client-support/#macosx_openvpn
- Ubuntu: https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/pages/client-support/#ubuntu_openvpn
- Android: https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/pages/client-support/#android_pptp
- iOS: https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/pages/client-support/#iphone_pptp
The complete range of setup guides can be found by visiting this site: https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/pages/client-support/
Customer Support
When it comes to customer support, PrivateInternetAccess.com contains an extensive client support page, which includes setup guides and a support centre. The support centre is essentially a knowledge base, which covers the vast majority of the product’s key issues, from basic questions to technical support.
However, for customers who require further assistance, personalised help is available via live chat or by opening up a customer support ticket in the client support section of the website. Response times are generally swift and both help systems are operated by knowledgeable staff.
PrivateInternetAccess ( PIA) Plans and Pricing Overview
1 Month
- $6.95 per month
- Billed every month
- P2P Support
- Multiple protocols
- Up to 5 concurrent connected devices
- Multiple VPN Gateways
- SOCKS5 Proxy access
- No logging of records
- Fast setup
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Unlimited server reconnects
- 30 day money back guarantee
12 Months
- $3.33 per month
- $ 39.95 billed every 12 months
- P2P Support
- Multiple protocols
- Up to 5 concurrent connected devices
- Multiple VPN Gateways
- SOCKS5 Proxy access
- No logging of records
- Fast setup
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Unlimited server reconnects
- 30 day money back guarantee
24 Months
- $2.69 per month
- $ 69.95 billed every 12 months
- P2P Support
- Multiple protocols
- Up to 5 concurrent connected devices
- Multiple VPN Gateways
- SOCKS5 Proxy access
- No logging of records
- Fast setup
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Unlimited server reconnects
- 30 day money back guarantee
- Free two month
Private Internet Access Mode of Payments
- Visa
- MasterCard
- American Express
- Discover
- PayPal
- Bitcoin
- Google Wallet
- Amazon
- Ripple
- Stellar
- CashU
- OK PAY
Private Internet Access: Pros and Cons
Pros:
- 34894+ servers in 78 countries
- Allows Bitcoin payment
- No logging of records
- Allows filesharing
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Unlimited server reconnects
- Multiple protocols
- Device compatibility
- SOCKS5 proxy access
- DNS and IPV6 leak protection
- Allows multiple device connection
- Cheap Price
Cons:
- No free trial
- US based company (NSA, Gag orders – no one knows if they dont cooperate with the NSA)
- Short duration of refund policy (30 days only)
PIA Review Conclusion
Based on our review, PrivateInternetAccess is one of the best VPN service in the market today for anonymous surfing. With videostreaming we experienced some lags sometimes when the connection speed was not fast enough. With its low affordable price and multiple features, it can surely provide you with the most outstanding VPN experience that you can ask for.
The only negative thing that we have observed from the VPN service is its short duration of their refund policy, sometimes low server speed, the US base of the company and lack of free service trial. Other than that, everything is great. It is packed with features that will ensure protection and privacy during your online activities
