Private Internet Access Review 2026

Overview

Private Internet Access (PIA) is the privacy purist's VPN. It is the only provider in our test with fully open-source apps — anyone can audit the code on GitHub. PIA's no-logs policy has been proven in court multiple times when authorities requested user data and PIA had nothing to hand over. With 35,000+ servers across 91 countries, it has by far the largest server network of any VPN.

PIA offers granular customization: choose between AES-128 and AES-256 encryption, OpenVPN and WireGuard protocols, and configure DNS, kill switch, and split tunneling per-app. The MACE feature blocks ads, trackers, and malware. At $2.03/mo on the 3-year plan, it is the cheapest VPN we tested.

Speed Test Results

PIA delivered the slowest speeds in our test, though 410 Mbps is still more than adequate for most use cases including 4K streaming. The WireGuard protocol provided the best performance, with OpenVPN significantly slower.

Privacy & Security

PIA is headquartered in the United States, which is a Five Eyes country. However, PIA's no-logs policy has been tested and proven in court on multiple occasions — when subpoenaed by the FBI and DOJ, PIA had zero user data to provide. All apps are fully open-source and auditable on GitHub.

• AES-128 or AES-256 encryption (user choice)
• WireGuard and OpenVPN protocols
• Fully open-source apps (GitHub)
• Kill switch on all platforms
• DNS leak protection — passed all tests
• Split tunneling per-app
• MACE: blocks ads, trackers, malware
• Port forwarding for torrents
• Court-proven no-logs (FBI, DOJ cases)

Streaming Performance

We tested Private Internet Access against 8 major streaming platforms from multiple server locations.

Server Network

PIA operates 35,000+ servers across 91 countries — by far the largest network of any VPN we tested. All servers support WireGuard and OpenVPN protocols. PIA also offers dedicated IP addresses and port forwarding for torrenting.

Pricing

Strengths & Weaknesses

Verdict

PIA is the best VPN for privacy purists and power users. The fully open-source apps, court-proven no-logs policy, and 35,000+ server network are unmatched. At $2.03/mo it is the cheapest VPN we tested. If you prioritize transparency and privacy over streaming access, PIA is the clear choice.