Private Internet Access is a virtual private network (VPN) service that lets users route their internet traffic through encrypted connections to servers in various locations. It offers software for platforms such as Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android, as well as browser extensions. The service is designed to help users manage their online privacy and security when connecting to the internet.
Reviewers consistently praise Private Internet Access for its reliable service and ease of use, highlighting its excellent OS support and the effectiveness of its VPN in providing secure internet access. Many customers appreciate the straightforward setup process and the responsive customer service, with specific mentions of quick resolutions to issues and refund requests.
However, some users express concerns regarding the quality of customer support, noting that it can be complicated to navigate at times. Additionally, there are mentions of wanting better performance for torrenting and occasional connection speed issues. Overall, while there are some criticisms, the majority of feedback reflects a high level of satisfaction with the service.
Summary generated with AI from recent reviews
Each source counts by its number of reviews. Only reviews written by people are scored.
| Source | Rating | Reviews | Weight | 6-mo | Fake risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Trustpilot Imported Trustpilot reviews | 4.3 | 1,000 | 100% | +0.2 | ● Low |
Monthly average rating from reviews written by people · latest review Jul 2025.
| Month | Average | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 24 | 4.0 | 49 |
| Sep 24 | 4.1 | 52 |
| Oct 24 | 4.0 | 44 |
| Nov 24 | 4.6 | 39 |
| Dec 24 | 4.4 | 34 |
| Jan 25 | 4.3 | 43 |
| Feb 25 | 4.4 | 40 |
| Mar 25 | 4.5 | 39 |
| Apr 25 | 3.9 | 32 |
| May 25 | 4.4 | 39 |
| Jun 25 | 4.3 | 36 |
| Jul 25 | 4.7 | 35 |
Share of positive (4–5★) and negative (1–2★) reviews mentioning each topic · based on the 500 most recent reviews.
“PIA has been consistently great, enabling me to select different proxies to get the best connection and very easy to use”
“the customer support doesn't work, I haven't slept since the scam, they make out to be legit”
Same method for every company: overall rating, legitimacy checks, the average rating of reviews mentioning each area and the 6-month trend · Computer & Software.
| Company | Overall | Legit | Service | Value | Website & app | Trend | Reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 4.3 out of 5 (good) | 100 out of 100 | 3.8 out of 5 (good) | 4.4 out of 5 (good) | 3.7 out of 5 (good) | +4% | 1,000 |
| 4.7 out of 5 (good) | 100 out of 100 | 4.6 out of 5 (good) | 4.9 out of 5 (good) | 3.5 out of 5 (good) | — | 1,000 | |
| 4.0 out of 5 (good) | 100 out of 100 | 3.7 out of 5 (good) | — | — | −1% | 1,000 | |
| 3.5 out of 5 (good) | 100 out of 100 | 4.0 out of 5 (good) | 2.9 out of 5 (fair) | 3.0 out of 5 (fair) | — | 1,000 | |
| 4.9 out of 5 (good) | 100 out of 100 | 5.0 out of 5 (good) | 5.0 out of 5 (good) | 4.7 out of 5 (good) | 0% | 192 |
Bottom line: Private Internet Access is #3 of 5 on overall rating in this group. On service, One Stop Cable Shop scores higher (5.0 vs 3.8).
500 reviews of Private Internet Access. Filter by what matters to you.
I've been scammed, paid money, no access..the customer support doesn't work, I haven't slept since the scam, they make out to be legit. Not so, I'm tired of being scammed ..now I have to get the bank involved, please beware of this mob
I bought a subscription and it didn't work in middle east. Try other VPNs if you need to make it work in middle eastern countries.
They promise "digital security" with their VPN. But if the VPN is on, all digital access just stops. I can only use the internet if I turn it off. Some security that is....
the worst VPN is not recommended
Quick answers to the questions people ask most.
Private Internet Access (PIA) is a virtual private network (VPN) service that encrypts your internet connection and routes it through remote servers. This can help protect your online activity on networks such as public Wi-Fi. It is owned by Kape Technologies.
A VPN creates an encrypted tunnel between your device and a server operated by the VPN provider. Your internet traffic passes through this server, so websites see the server's IP address instead of your own. This can help improve privacy but does not make you completely anonymous.
PIA offers apps for common platforms such as Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. Browser extensions and manual setup options for some routers are also available. Check the official website for the current list of supported devices and versions.
PIA states that it follows a no-logs policy. For the exact details of what data is and is not collected, refer to the company's current Privacy Policy on its website. Policies can change, so reviewing the latest version is recommended.
PIA sets a limit on the number of simultaneous device connections per account. The exact number may change over time, so confirm the current limit on the official website or in your account details.
Sign up for an account on the PIA website, then download the app for your device from the official site or your device's app store. Log in with your account credentials and choose a server location to connect. Step-by-step guides are available in the PIA support center.
PIA provides customer support through its official website, including a help center with guides and a way to submit support requests. Live chat or other contact options may also be offered. Visit the support section of the website for current options and availability.
Anyone can write a CrowdTrust review. People who write reviews have ownership to edit or delete them at any time, and they'll be displayed as long as an account is active.
Pia came to renewal i paid it in full then they sent a link a few wèeks later when id already started the subscription saying my renewal was due so tried charging twice so they cancelled the auto renewal but also cancelled my subscription and kept my money buyer beware
Hace unos días que no anda en Youtube, y es muy difícil contactar con ellos. No estoy conforme.
I have been with Private Internet Access for at least 10 years. I realized for the last 4 years I have been paying twice for private internet access because google play was charging me for it as well. I tried to get a refund on just the single duplicate that was done this year and I have been fighting with support for over a week to get them to refund the second transaction.
Unfortunately, only new customers are lured... later you pay twice as much... it didn't work either and it is automatically extended without being informed beforehand. Once it's booked, you don't get it back. The support does not respond. leider werden nur Neukunden gelockt... später zahlt man das Doppelte... es hat auch nicht funktioniert und es wird automatisch verlängert, ohne zuvor informiert zu werden. Wenn es dann gebucht ist, erhält man es nicht zurück. Der Support reagiert nicht.
I attempted to set up PIA and it was nightmare, going round and round in circles, with essential aspects impossible to find even via site map. Everything goes back to sales, surveys or monitoring you, over and over. It was advertised as £10.99 for 1 month with refunds possible. They took £15.99 and then said that PayPal refunds were impossible, which a child can do. Location keeps being asked and in different terms or impossible to line up. There is no phone support.
Signed up on 23.04.25 for VPN service, it worked only for one day then was blocked. Spent 1hr 40 min trying to resolve issue with support. It was escalated to an engineer. Still no response by day 8 today 30.04.25 and I wasted time chasing several times. Now have to wait up to 10 days for a refund .So much hassle.
Support are -I don't know- children of 8 years old I think from Bangladesh? - Unable to read emails properly - Was asked 14 times same info, scrolling down, unable to do - They're unable to open attachments - Clearly they can't link names and email addresses to their own accounts, they have no clue of what's going on in their own company
If I could give negative stars, I would. This is hands down the most infuriating tech product I’ve ever used. Private Internet Access (PIA) is a complete and utter joke of a VPN. Half the time it doesn’t even connect, and when it does, it takes 20 minutes of fiddling, restarting, praying, and sacrificing a goat just to get a single server to maybe respond. Emphasis on maybe — because most of the time it just sits there spinning like a clueless hamster in a broken wheel. I’ve done multiple clean reinstalls, flushed my DNS, cleared caches, reinstalled my OS (yes, I was THAT desperate), and it still fails to do the ONE JOB it claims to do — secure and stable VPN connectivity. Customer support? Absolutely useless. You might as well scream into a void. They send copy-paste answers that clearly show they didn’t even read what I wrote. No escalation. No solutions. Just “try reinstalling” — as if I haven’t already done that 15 times. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY. There are free VPNs out there more reliable than this flaming pile of garbage. I cannot stress this enough: PIA is unreliable, frustrating, and borderline fraudulent. This thing is a tech nightmare masquerading as a privacy tool. I wouldn’t recommend this to my worst enemy. Total waste of time, energy, and money. Avoid like the plague.
Most unreliable vpn I've ever used. I don't use a VPN that often, but when I do, I want it to work. With PIA, you never know if its going to work. The app is unreliable, when you try connect it just constantly says "connecting" or if you try disconnect it says disconnecting and hangs.
Rubbish rubbish! They are very good at telling stories to get your money, then nothing works and the only thing you get to talk to is a chatbot. Save your time and go somewhere else
Ich werde die ganze Zeit von Europäischen Nummern angerufen. Dann kommt die bandansage, dass mein Paypal mit 588€ belastet werden soll. Wenn man dann die 1 drückt, landet man in einem mutmaßlich indischen Callcenter. Hab den Müll mal mitgemacht. Ich sollte whats my ip private suchen und auf den ersten Google Link klicken. Man landet dann auf dieser Seite. Und natürlich wird einem angezeigt, dass die IP nicht sicher ist! Ich lach mich schlapp. Dann wollen sie, dass man hier ‚Protection‘ kauft. Echt der letzte Müll. Einem wird versucht das aufzuschwatzen, angeblich hat man sich im Ausland auf mein Paypal eingeloggt. Doof nur, dass ich die Authentifizierung per sms Code habe und es also nicht geht. Plötzlich hat der Typ aufgelegt, aber er hat sich noch verabschiedet. Ich hatte aber keine Gelegenheit mich zu verabschieden. Schade 😅
For some unknown reason, I’m unable to pay for the subscription. The "Subscribe Now" button is inactive. The support team takes at least an hour to respond to any question and then closes the chat, even though I’ve had the chat window open for two days. When I asked if I could get a discount, the support agent rudely replied, "No. Anything else?" Additionally, when I tried to access the Help page, I received a "License Error" message. I truly don’t understand this poor—if not outright negative—user experience.
Product is highly recommended for use in China. I used it (in China for 20 days) and it never worked for more than 30-60 seconds at a time. I tried all of the different settings, nothing worked consistently. My wife has a PHD in computer science and cyber security, she was unable to get it to work as well. They don't offer refunds past 30 days.....TOTAL waste.
If you long to be left alone and ignored then this is the company for you. When I was enquiring about joining the service, the customer representatives response time was just seconds. When I asked to cancel on day four of a thirty day trial period there has still been no response at all, it would appear that once they have your money you no longer matter.
PIA has a refund policy for eligible purchases within a specified period after purchase. Terms, eligibility, and time limits can vary by plan and payment method. Review the current refund terms on the official website or contact support before purchasing.
PIA accepts several payment methods, which may include credit cards, PayPal, and other options depending on region. Available methods can change, so check the checkout page for what is currently offered.
Many users use VPNs for streaming and peer-to-peer file sharing, but results vary by service and server. Streaming platforms may restrict VPN access, and you should only download content you have the legal right to access. Consult PIA's support resources and acceptable use terms for guidance.
VPNs are legal in most countries, but laws differ by location and some regions restrict or ban their use. Using a VPN does not make illegal activities lawful. Check the regulations in your country before using one.
Using a VPN can affect speeds because traffic is encrypted and routed through another server. The impact depends on factors such as your base connection, server distance, server load, and the protocol used. Connecting to a nearby server may help reduce slowdowns.
Private Internet Access is a virtual private network (VPN) service that lets users route their internet traffic through encrypted connections to servers in various locations. It offers software for platforms such as Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android, as well as browser extensions. The service is designed to help users manage their online privacy and security when connecting to the internet.
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