Private Internet Access Review
Veteran VPN with open-source commitment and court-proven no-logs policy
Private Internet Access scores 73 out of 93.5 points, earning a strong B-tier ranking. As one of the oldest VPN providers still operating, PIA has built a reputation on transparency, open-source development, and a court-proven no-logs policy that sets the standard for privacy protection.
Pros
- •Great pricing
- •Open-source clients
- •Excellent for torrenting
- •Dedicated IPs available
- •Proven no-logs in court
- •Port forwarding support
Cons
- •Average Netflix performance
- •Based in USA (5 Eyes)
- •No privacy audits
- •Interface feels dated
Detailed Scoring Analysis
Category Analysis
Pricing & Value (10.5/10) - Exceptional
PIA offers outstanding value with premium features:
- ✓ Annual plans: $40 (industry-leading)
- ✓ Monthly: $11.95 (competitive)
- ✓ 10 simultaneous connections
- ✓ Cryptocurrency accepted
- ✓ 30-day money-back guarantee
- ✓ Bonus score for exceptional value
Streaming & Torrenting (12/14)
Built for P2P with streaming limitations:
- ✓ Excellent torrenting performance
- ✓ Port forwarding available
- ✓ Dedicated IP options
- ⚠ Netflix success varies
- ⚠ Some streaming services blocked
Open-Source Commitment
Leading transparency in the VPN industry:
- ✓ All clients fully open-source
- ✓ Code regularly updated on GitHub
- ✓ Community contributions accepted
- ✓ Security researchers can audit
Privacy & Security (10/16)
Strong technical security, jurisdictional concerns:
- ✓ No-logs proven in court (twice!)
- ✓ Open-source transparency
- ✓ Strong encryption standards
- ✗ Based in USA (5 Eyes)
- ✗ No privacy audits
Court-Proven No-Logs Policy
PIA's no-logs policy has been tested in real legal cases:
- • 2016 FBI case: No data to provide
- • 2018 criminal investigation: Confirmed no logs
- • Only VPN with multiple court verifications
- • Stronger than any audit certification
Real-World Testing Results
PIA delivers consistent performance with a focus on privacy and P2P activities. While not the flashiest VPN, it excels at core functionality with proven reliability over many years.
Torrenting Excellence
PIA shines for torrenting users. Port forwarding works reliably, speeds remain consistent under heavy load with optimized P2P servers. The open-source clients allow power users to verify P2P traffic handling.
Streaming Limitations
Netflix access is inconsistent—some servers work, others don't. This unpredictability extends to other streaming platforms. PIA clearly prioritizes privacy over entertainment unblocking, which may disappoint streaming-focused users.
The USA Jurisdiction Issue
Being based in the United States (5 Eyes member) is PIA's biggest privacy concern. However, their court-proven no-logs policy provides real-world evidence that jurisdiction matters less when technical measures are properly implemented.
Final Verdict
PIA's 73/93.5 score and B-tier ranking reflect its position as a privacy-focused, torrenting-optimized VPN with exceptional value but streaming limitations.
Best For:
- • Torrenting enthusiasts
- • Privacy-conscious users
- • Open-source advocates
- • Budget-minded users
Not Ideal For:
- • Netflix/streaming priority
- • Users avoiding US jurisdiction
- • Those wanting modern UI
- • Audit verification seekers
Score Summary
Court-Verified
No-logs policy proven in multiple legal cases