![]() ![]() We then tried the same tests on a Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 tablet. Performance via the London server was very similar, with an excellent download speed of 198Mbits/sec. But we’re not complaining – there’s vastly more bandwidth here than you’d need for video streaming or browsing websites. That’s a little below the scores of 170Mbits/sec we’ve seen from other VPNs, and a long way short of front-runner NordVPN, which delivered an amazing 196Mbits/sec. When we switched to a server in New York, speeds fell further, to 142Mbits/sec. Before activating the VPN we measured a download speed of 214Mbits/sec using Google’s Speed Test tool when we connected to a London-based server, this fell merely to 200Mbits/sec – which in practical terms means there’s no noticeable slowdown at all. We tested the service on our Windows 11 laptop with a Virgin Media fibre internet connection. READ NEXT: See more of the best VPNs Private Internet Access (PIA) VPN review: How fast is it?Īll VPNs slow down your connection to some extent, but PIA performed pretty well for us overall. Once again you can customise the order and visibility of the different panels, and configure automatic connection to keep you protected without having to open the app. The Android app is laid out in much the same way, with a main screen that scrolls up and down to reveal various controls and information. In fact, you can configure the VPN to connect automatically on launch or system startup and never have to interact with the software at all. It may look complicated, but you can close or reorder the different modules – and in truth you probably won’t need to use them every day. ![]() You can also expand the interface into a full-height strip with quick-connect buttons for your favourite servers, a performance graph, and easy access to options such as desktop notifications, port forwarding and so forth. You can type to search for a location, or sort the list by name or latency – the latter providing a handy clue as to how speedy that particular server is likely to be. Here, a big round button lets you connect and disconnect the VPN, and you’ll also see details of the server you’re connected to.Ĭlicking a fly-out arrow brings up a scrolling list of available servers. Once installed it lurks in your system tray most of the time, popping up a small rectangular window when clicked. We had no problem downloading the PIA client app from the provider's website and setting it up on Windows 11. Private Internet Access (PIA) VPN review: What’s it like to use? It's possible to try PIA for seven days before you buy, which is very unusual for a VPN service – although the trial only covers Android and iOS devices. If you’re still not satisfied for any reason you can exercise a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you have any trouble setting up and using the service the company claims its online support service is available 24/7 when we tried it though the live chat feature was offline and we had to fill in a web form and wait several hours for a response. You can also install the VPN on a compatible router to protect all traffic from any number of connected devices, while a smart DNS service can be used to conceal your location when using a games console, smart TV or set-top box. All the popular desktop and mobile platforms are supported, and PIA gets bonus marks for offering a proper graphical client for Linux systems – most VPNs only provide command-line tools. If you’re serious about protecting your anonymity, you can choose to pay with a gift card or cryptocurrency, so you never have to share your bank details with PIA.Ī subscription lets you use the VPN on up to ten devices simultaneously. There are regular special deals, too: at the time of writing, you can sign up for a full three years plus three months free for £65, which works out at £1.67 per month. As usual, it’s far more cost-effective to sign up for a full year, which in this case costs £32.49, equivalent to £2.71 per month. Private Internet Access (PIA) VPN review: What do you get for the money?Ī single month of service costs £8.09, which is around the same as most rival VPNs. You can also use your virtual presence to share and download files over BitTorrent, even if it’s not legal in your home country – although note that PIA doesn’t explicitly support file sharing. By picking a server in, for example, the USA, you can access video streaming sites and other services that are normally blocked in the UK. These servers are spread out across 74 different countries, which means you can also use the VPN to hide your location. Like all VPNs, it works by encrypting your internet traffic and routing it through one of the company’s secure servers. ![]() PIA is a VPN service that can keep all your online activity private – so that not even your own ISP can monitor which sites you’re visiting and which files you’re downloading. ![]()
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