Private Internet AccessVPN

150Mbps
Unlimited

£97Typical price

Test score

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Private Internet Access (PIA) is one of the best-known VPN services around. We’ve run it through our full suite of lab tests to ensure speeds, security and privacy are all up to scratch. Read the full review to find out whether it gets our recommendation.

pros

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cons

What's included?

What is it?
How fast is it?
How about security and privacy?
Is there anything I should watch out for?
Should I subscribe?

Full Access first month £5, then £10.99 per month, cancel at any time

Mar 2024Last checked by Which?
Feb 2021First reviewed by Which?

The overall Which? test score is made up of the following star ratings, all determined by our rigorous lab tests.

How we test VPNs

31 Jan 2024

Connection speed

How we test connection speed

We test VPNs on a high-speed internet connection to see how likely they are to slow down your browsing experience.

Features and streaming

How we test features and streaming

Whether the VPN has all the features you could need, plus whether it was able to connect successfully to streaming services.

Ease of use

How we test ease of use

How easy it is to install and configure the software.

Impact on computer performance

How we test impact on computer performance

VPNs can be quite performance-hungry as they have to encrypt and decrypt all the data that leaves and returns to your device. We see whether it's likely to slow your computer down. A higher score means a lower impact.

Security

How we test security

We check for common software bugs that could open up security holes, and we also ensure that data is not leaked between your computer and the VPN company's servers.

Privacy

How we test privacy

We check whether VPN software connects to third-party services and which data is transmitted. 5 stars means data may be transmitted but is not uniquely associated with your device. 3 stars means data may be transmitted that can be traced back to your device, but not your individual VPN account. We also ensure there are no inappropriate permissions that allow VPNs to access more parts of your device than they really need.

Subscription clarity

How we test subscription clarity

How easy it is to disable automatic renewal and how clear the wording is when you attempt to cancel your subscription.

General
Windows 10 app	Yes
Windows 11 app	Yes
MacOS app	Yes
iOS app	Yes
Android app	Yes
Linux app	Yes
Router app	Yes
Apple TV app	No
Android TV app	No
Playstation app	No
Xbox app	No
Other apps	Amazon Fire Stick
Chrome browser extension	Yes
Firefox browser extension	Yes
Safari browser extension	No
Edge browser extension	No
Opera browser extension	Yes
VPN data limit	Unlimited
VPN average download speed

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How to buy the best VPN
If you’ve heard about VPNs but aren’t sure if you need one, or if you’ve decided you want to subscribe to a VPN but aren’t sure what to look for, this is the guide for you.
How we test VPNs
Which?'s VPN tests get to the bottom of whether they really keep you private and connected with fast download speeds.

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