PrivateVPN vs Private Internet Access At a Glance
PrivateVPN
PrivateVPN offers reliable online protection. However, it comes up short in a few important service categories.
While the provider delivers fast, well-protected connections, it comes up lacking in the global server coverage and app support areas.
Private Internet Access
Private Internet Access (PIA) provides comprehensive VPN protection for most popular devices. The provider’s above-average-sized global server network provides reliable access to geo-controlled content in most areas of the globe.
The provider delivers excellent online security and protects your privacy.
How to Choose a VPN
Always carefully research and consider how well a VPN provider performs in each important category before making a buying decision.
In this edition of “versus,” I’ll be taking a close look at two VPN providers, PrivateVPN and Private Internet Access. I’ll investigate how well both VPNs perform in each VPN category, and then declare a winner for that category. At the end of the article, I’ll total the individual scores and declare an overall winner.
By the end of this article, you should have more than enough information to make an informed VPN buying decision.
PrivateVPN vs Private Internet Access Features
In this section, I’ll take a look at all of the features you should always investigate before buying a VPN subscription.
Connection Speeds
No matter what you do online, a fast connection is your best friend. This is especially true if you stream videos, play games online, or download and share large files.
I perform VPN connection speed tests on a regular basis. Here’s how I do it:
- All speed tests are performed on a North America-located Windows server that uses a gigabit Ethernet connection.
- I connect to VPN servers in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Hong Kong, at three different times of the day.
- I use the Windows version of the providers’ apps for testing, and the app is configured to connect using the Wireguard protocol when available.
- I run the Speedtest app after connecting to each VPN server location, exiting the Speedtest app following each speed test.
Both providers delivered adequate speeds. However, one provider delivered nearly double the connection speeds of its competitor.
Private Internet Access delivers an average download speed of 73.3 Mbps.
Meanwhile, PrivateVPN’s download speeds were also reasonably fast, coming in at 40 Mbps.
While neither provider delivered exactly blazing download speeds, they should both be able to easily handle streaming, online gaming, and any other popular online activity.
Please note that your connection speeds will differ, as it depends on the speed of your usual ISP connection, where you’re located, and the location of the VPN server you connect to.
Average Connection Speed Winner: Private Internet Access
| Provider | Avg. Connection Speed | Link |
| PrivateVPN | 40 Mbps | Visit Site |
| Private Internet Access | 73.3 Mbps | Visit Site |
Pricing
We’re paying more for everything these days. This means that many of us are looking to save money whenever we can. However, you should never base your VPN buying decision solely on a low price.
VPNs offering their services for a low price may come up short on features, throttle your connection speeds or otherwise limit your usage, or not offer support for popular devices. This makes it important to consider a provider’s true value.
A month of PrivateVPN will run you a bit less than the price of a medium soft drink at your favorite fast food joint if you go with the three-year plan.
A month of Private Internet Access will cost three pennies more per month than PrivateVPN when you opt for the provider’s subscription plan.
Both providers offer a 30-day money-back guarantee.
You’ll notice I never post exact VPN pricing in my articles. Most VPNs change their pricing on a regular basis, so pricing info can quickly become outdated. Be sure to visit the VPN providers’ websites for their most current pricing.
Pricing Winner: PrivateVPN (By three cents.)
| Provider | Money-Back Guarantee Period | Link |
| Private Internet Access | 30 Days | Visit Site |
| PrivateVPN | 30 Days | Visit Site |
Privacy
If you’re online, you’ve definitely left behind evidence of your activities. And believe me, there are plenty of folks that are interested in what you’ve been doing online. This makes a VPN’s privacy features an important consideration.
You should always consider the following when researching a VPN’s privacy protections:
- Is the provider located in an online privacy-friendly country?
- Does the provider save user activity logs on its servers?
- Does the provider accept cryptocurrency?
Swedish VPN provider PrivateVPN doesn’t log user traffic data or browsing activity. The provider accepts cryptocurrency as a private subscription payment option.
While Private Internet Access is located in the United States, which belongs to the Five Eyes Alliance, PIA does not save user logs. The provider also accepts cryptocurrency, to protect your payment privacy.
Privacy Winner: Tied
| Provider | Privacy Ranking | Site |
| PrivateVPN | 5.0 | Visit Site |
| Private Internet Access | 5.0 | Visit Site |
Security
A VPN provider’s connection protection is an important consideration. This is because there are plenty of folks that would like to track your online activity as it happens, in order to steal information or somehow influence your online travels.
Private Internet Access uses banking-grade encryption, a kill switch, and DNS/IP leak prevention. Protocols the provider uses include Wireguard, PPTP, OpenVPN, and L2TP/IPSec.
Meanwhile, PrivateVPN also uses military-grade encryption. OpenVPN over UDP/TCP, L2TP/IPSec, L3TP, IPSec, PPTP, and IKEv2 connection protocols are all present and accounted for. The provider also offers kill switch protection, along with a “Stealth VPN” feature to disguise your VPN activity as normal browsing traffic.
Security Winner: It’s a tie.
| Provider | Overall Security Score | Link |
| PrivateVPN | 5.0 | Visit Site |
| Private Internet Access | 5.0 | Visit Site |
Simultaneous Connections
I’d say that many of us use more than one connected device on a daily basis and it’s likely that you use multiple devices at once. This makes a VPN provider’s simultaneous connections allowance an important consideration.
PrivateVPN users can connect up to 10 devices at once to the provider’s servers.
PIA also allows a user to simultaneously connect up to 10 devices to its servers.
Simultaneous Connections Winner: Tied
| Provider | Simultaneous Connections Allowed | Link |
| Private Internet Access | 10 | Visit Site |
| PrivateVPN | 10 | Visit Site |
Streaming Support
If you’re like me, you subscribe to way too many streaming services. While this provides a wide variety of content, many streaming services restrict their content to certain countries. This means that you’re not getting all that you could be out of your streaming subscriptions. This is where a VPN proves quite useful.
A VPN temporarily assigns a fresh IP address to your connected device, making it appear as if you and your device are connecting to the internet from a different part of the world, providing access to content that might normally be limited to viewing in that region.
Private Internet Access provides reliable access to Netflix in the US and the UK, while also providing access to BBC iPlayer in the UK. Access to other streaming services was less than reliable.
PrivateVPN also delivers access to a good number of streaming services, including Netflix US, Netflix UK, Hulu, Disney+, and more.
Streaming Support Winner: PrivateVPN
| Provider | # of U.S. Streaming Services VPN Unblocks | # of International Services VPN Unblocks | Link |
| PrivateVPN | 9+ | 5+ | Visit Site |
| Private Internet Access | 2+ | 2+ | Visit Site |
BitTorrent Support
BitTorrent is an excellent way to share files and documents with other internet users. File sharing is legal in most countries. However, it’s illegal to share copyrighted materials, such as movies, music, and games.
The entertainment industry pressures ISPs to prevent the sharing of copyrighted files. This means many ISPs will throttle or block your internet connection if they detect that you’re sharing files, whether they’re copyrighted or not.
Happily, a VPN encrypts your internet connection, while also temporarily assigning a new IP address to your connected device. This prevents anyone from seeing what you’re doing online or your actual IP address.
PrivateVPN allows BitTorrenting activity on its network. However, it recommends P2P users connect to its Sweden servers.
Private Internet Access allows file sharing on its entire server network.
BitTorrenting Winner: Tied
| Provider | # of Countries Where VPN Allows BitTorrents | Link |
| PrivateVPN | All of them | Visit Site |
| Private Internet Access | All of them | Visit Site |
Global Server Coverage
There is plenty of online content around the globe. However, much of it is only accessible from specific areas. This means that the larger a VPN’s global server network, the better access you’ll have to geo-fenced content located in other regions. So, you should look for a provider that has servers stationed in countries around the globe.
Also, look for VPN providers with multiple servers located in each country, as that helps prevent a single server from being overloaded by users.
PrivateVPN has 200+ servers located in 63+ countries.
Private Internet Access has 3,300+ servers, located in 80+ countries around the globe.
Global Server Coverage Winner: Private Internet Access
| Provider | Server Count | Countries | Link |
| PrivateVPN | 200+ | 63+ | Visit Site |
| Private Internet Access | 3,300+ | 80+ | Visit Site |
Multi-Platform Support
There are all kinds of connected devices available out there. That makes a VPN provider’s native app support an important factor to consider.
PrivateVPN’s device support can best be termed as lacking. The provider offers native app support for the iOS, macOS, Android, and Windows device platforms. That’s it. It also lacks any browser support. The provider can also be manually set up on Linux devices and select routers.
PIA’s native app support includes options for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Android TV, Linux, and Amazon Fire TV devices. Chrome, Firefox, and Opera browser extensions are also available. Support is available for select routers and pre-configured routers are also available from Flashrouters.com.
Multi-Platform Support Winner: Private Internet Access
| Provider | Platforms Supported | Browser Extensions? | Router Support? |
Link |
| PrivateVPN | 4 | No | Yes – Manual setup. | Visit Site |
| Private Internet Access | 7 | Yes (Chrome, Opera, Firefox) | Yes – Manual setup. Also includes Flashrouter options. | Visit Site |
Customer Support
You’ll find that both VPN services are easy to use and reliable. However, you may still have an occasional question, even if it’s just about billing.
PrivateVPN offers a live messaging option (not 24/7), email support, and a non-searchable FAQ support section.
PIA’s 24/7 customer support is made up of daytime live chat, email support, and a searchable support library.
Customer Support Winner: Private Internet Access
| Provider | Customer Support Rating | Link |
| PrivateVPN | 4.0 | Visit Site |
| Private Internet Access | 4.5 | Visit Site |
And The Winner Is…
While both PrivateVPN and Private Internet Access provide excellent VPN services, we’re here to name an overall winner.
Private Internet Access is the winner in this playoff, thanks to the provider’s performance in the Connection Speeds, Global Server Coverage, Multi-Platform Support, and Customer Support departments.
Meanwhile, PrivateVPN was victorious in the Pricing and Streaming Support arenas.
It was a tie when it came to Privacy, Security, Simultaneous Connections, and BitTorrent.
For more information or to purchase a subscription, visit Private Internet Access.
