Private Internet Access Review (PIA) in 2025
Private Internet Access (PIA) keeps things straightforward: audited zero-logs privacy, near-native UK speeds (we observed just a 5% WireGuard dip on a London fibre line) and truly unlimited devices—all for around £38 in year one (VAT included), backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee. Its RAM-only servers, monthly warrant canary and Deloitte audit (January 2024) ensure your data remains secure.
You’ll benefit from AES-256/ChaCha20 encryption, kill switches, split tunnelling, port forwarding and an ad-malware blocker, alongside apps for every major platform and routers. In short, PIA is a no-nonsense, budget-friendly VPN that ticks all the right boxes for UK users.
At-a-glance
On WireGuard (95 Mbps from 100 Mbps).
Major services (Netflix UK/US, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, Prime Video…).
Inc. VAT for 1 yr plan (≈ £ 3.20 /mo).
Deloitte zero-logs audit (Jan 2024), RAM-only servers, monthly warrant canary.
Unlimited simultaneous connections (Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, browsers & routers).
- ✅ Zero-logs, Deloitte-audited in 2024.
- ✅ ≈ 5 % UK speed loss; 400+ Mbps peak rates.
- ✅ One-click HD/4K unblock of Netflix, iPlayer etc.
- ✅ Unlimited devices per subscription.
- ✅ Port forwarding for faster P2P downloads.
- ⛔ US-based (Five Eyes jurisdiction).
- ⛔ Occasional streaming gaps; flaky Smart DNS.
- ⛔ MACE blocks only ≈ 2 % of new phishing URLs.
- ⛔ Live chat can be offline or slow at night.
- ⛔ Deep menus may overwhelm VPN newcomers.
Test Scope & Devices
From 10–14 April 2025, I put PIA through its paces on Windows 11 23H2, macOS 14 “Sonoma”, iOS 17.4 and Android 14—all over a primary 1 Gbps Openreach fibre link in London (with a 100 Mbps FTTC fallback). Each of four regions (UK, NL, US-East, JP) was speed-tested thrice via Ookla to iron out any flukes.
I deliberately yanked the connection to vet the kill-switch, ran IP/DNS/WebRTC leak checks, streamed nine geo-blocked services, downloaded a 1.6 GB Ubuntu ISO via torrent and even navigated the apps keyboard-only with VoiceOver/TalkBack. To be doubly sure, I cross-referenced public benchmarks from TechRadar and Top10VPN.
 | Private Internet Access (PIA) |
| ⭐ Rating: | 4.5 ★★★★★ |
| 🏅 Overall rank: | #3 out of #8 |
| 💵 Price: | From $2.03 / month |
| ✂️ Free version: | No |
| 💻 Platforms: | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, Extensions |
| 🔥 Offer: | PIA VPN 75% OFF + 3 Months Free |
| Get PIA VPN Now | |
Trust, Audits & Reputation
PIA’s privacy pitch isn’t empty PR—it’s built on verifiable proof. In January 2024, Deloitte’s independent no-logs audit confirmed that PIA’s server architecture stores absolutely no identifying data, and US subpoenas have historically returned blank. Every quarter, PIA publishes a transparency report alongside a live warrant canary, so you can see in real time whether any legal demands have slipped through.
Key trust factors:
100% open-source clients – Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android apps are all on GitHub, inviting community scrutiny.
RAM-only servers – no hard drives means every node is wiped clean on reboot.
Unlimited-device licence – introduced in 2024, so you can cover every gadget without extra cost.
Ongoing vulnerability testing – PIA runs a public bug bounty, ensuring security flaws get caught and fixed fast.
Yes, PIA is US-based (a Five Eyes jurisdiction), but with zero logs and ephemeral server memory, there’s nothing of substance to seize even if compelled. Its 2019 acquisition by Kape Technologies initially raised eyebrows, yet since then PIA has doubled down on transparency: open-sourcing its code, commissioning regular audits and hardening its infrastructure. All told, these measures place PIA among the most trustworthy VPNs you’ll find in 2025—no gimmicks, just solid, audit-backed privacy.
Grab Private Internet Access’ 2-year + 2 months free deal for just £1.56 per month (billed £38.17 for the first year, VAT included). Backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Specs and True Cost
PIA keeps things lean and transparent: US-based (no data-retention laws), owned by Kape Technologies PLC but running 3,500+ RAM-only servers across 84 countries, supporting WireGuard, OpenVPN (UDP/TCP) and IKEv2 with AES-256-GCM & ChaCha20 encryption. You get both system-wide and per-app kill-switches, split tunnelling, port forwarding, a built-in MACE ad-and-malware blocker, plus unlimited simultaneous connections—all covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee. Here’s how it breaks down:
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Jurisdiction | United States (no mandatory data-retention laws) |
| Parent company | Kape Technologies PLC |
| Server network | 3,500+ RAM-only servers in 84 countries |
| Protocols | WireGuard, OpenVPN (UDP/TCP), IKEv2 |
| Encryption ciphers | AES-256-GCM & ChaCha20 |
| Kill switch | System-wide & per-app on all platforms |
| Device limit | Unlimited simultaneous connections |
| Port forwarding | Available on select servers |
| Split tunnelling | Yes |
| Ad & malware blocker (MACE) | Built-in |
| Accessibility | Keyboard-only navigation via VoiceOver/TalkBack |
| Refund window | 30 days |
| Payment methods | Cards, PayPal, Crypto, Gift cards |
Pricing (inc. VAT, May 2025)
| Plan | UK Price | Approx. US Price¹ |
|---|---|---|
| 1 month | £10.49 | $13.10 |
| 1 year (intro) | £38 (~£3.20/mo) | $47.50 |
| 1 year (renew) | £58 | $72.50 |
| 2 years (+2 mo) | £73 (~£2.00/mo) | $91.25 |
¹ Converted at £1 = $1.25.
Whether you’re in the UK or the US, PIA offers a robust feature set at wallet-friendly rates—no device limits, no hidden extras.
Privacy & Legal Posture
PIA’s privacy policy is refreshingly concise: it collects only the bare minimum—account credentials and payment data—and nothing that can link your online activity back to you. Under the GDPR, EU users retain rights of access, correction, erasure, portability and objection, and PIA will remove any personal data upon request—even for non-EU residents. Thanks to a January 2024 Deloitte limited-assurance audit, we know for certain that PIA’s infrastructure records zero usage logs; every one of its 3,500+ servers runs in RAM-only mode, so all session data vanishes on reboot.
Transparency isn’t an afterthought: PIA publishes quarterly transparency reports of all legal requests—and, owing to its zero-logs stance, invariably has “nothing to share”. Rather than fly a warrant canary, PIA relies on its privacy-first architecture—no disks, no logs—to guarantee there’s literally no data to seize, regardless of legal compulsion. To stay ahead of emerging threats, PIA runs a public Bugcrowd-hosted vulnerability disclosure and bug-bounty programme—offering rewards up to $1,250 (≈£923 at £1 = 0.7387 GBP) for valid reports—ensuring its apps and network are continuously battle-hardened.
Though headquartered in the United States—a Five Eyes jurisdiction—PIA’s audited no-logs policy and RAM-only server network render any jurisdictional data requests effectively irrelevant. Its parent company, Kape Technologies PLC, is publicly listed in London and Dublin, and must adhere to both UK and EU regulatory frameworks, including the GDPR. Combined, these layers of audit, architecture and legal compliance position PIA as a privacy-first VPN that leaves nothing behind for third parties or governments to seize.
Security Snapshot
Private Internet Access secures your data with top-tier protocols—WireGuard, OpenVPN (UDP/TCP) and IKEv2—wrapped in AES-256-GCM or ChaCha20 encryption to keep every tunnel airtight. Its zero-logs commitment isn’t just marketing: a January 2024 Deloitte limited-assurance audit confirmed no identifying data is ever written to disk. All 3,500+ servers run in RAM-only mode—so every session vanishes on reboot—and PIA publishes quarterly transparency reports alongside a live warrant canary, ensuring that any legal demands yield nothing to hand over. Taken together, these measures mean there’s simply nothing of substance for third parties—or even PIA itself—to seize or exploit.
On the defensive front, PIA enforces built-in protection against IPv4, IPv6 and DNS leaks (with DNS leak protection enabled by default) and blocks WebRTC at the app or extension level, so your real IP stays hidden. Its kill-switch (branded “Network Lock”) instantly halts all internet traffic if your VPN drops, preventing accidental data exposure. Beyond that, PIA runs a public Bugcrowd-hosted vulnerability disclosure and bug bounty programme—rewarding researchers up to $1,250 for high-impact findings—to continuously harden its apps and network. Although based in the US (a Five Eyes jurisdiction), PIA’s architecture and audited no-logs policy render any jurisdictional data requests completely irrelevant.
(Credit: PrivateInternetAccess/NeoSpot)
Speed & Stability
PIA doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it keeps it spinning smoothly. Top10VPN’s May 2025 data shows a mere 5% dip on UK WireGuard, and my own London fibre checks confirmed it—100 Mbps baseline falling to 95 Mbps down and 90 Mbps up, with latency ticking up just 6 ms. You’ll barely notice the difference, even when you’re binge-watching 4K.
Internationally, WireGuard remains sturdy:
UK → NL: 7% download drop, +8 ms ping
UK → US-East: 25% drop, +85 ms ping
UK → Tokyo: 42% drop, +170 ms ping
In fact, TechRadar recorded 436 Mbps peak on a 1 Gbps line, and OpenVPN still managed a respectable 257 Mbps where WireGuard can’t tread. Long-haul uploads take a heftier hit (up to −50% to Tokyo), but they stay perfectly serviceable for cloud backups.
Reliability? Rock solid. Fifty forced server switches, zero mid-stream hiccups. Enable auto-connect and the kill switch (I tested on a Pixel 8 Pro) and you can leave PIA running 24/7 without turning your battery into a candle.
Verdict: PIA won’t chase down the sub-900 Mbps speeds some rivals boast, but its unwavering consistency and minimal local loss make it an ace daily driver. If your UK fibre tops out under 500 Mbps, PIA won’t be the weak link in your chain.
Want to save battery on mobile or reduce data use while staying protected? Head into PIA’s settings and switch to WireGuard — it's faster and more efficient than OpenVPN, especially on 4G/5G. Then use Split Tunnelling to exclude apps like banking or streaming that don’t need the VPN.
Streaming & P2P
PIA’s “Streaming” servers are now about as reliable as they come. In my tests I breezed through Netflix (US/UK/JP), Disney+, Prime Video, Max and Hulu on the first try, and even BBC iPlayer played in seamless 1080p from Spain with zero buffering. If one location stumbles, just switch to another—PIA’s 34,000-strong IP pool refreshes so fast you’ll hardly notice.
| Service | Result | Max Quality |
| Netflix (US, UK, JP) | ✅ | 4K |
| BBC iPlayer | ✅ | 1080p |
| Disney+ & Prime Video | ✅ | 4K |
| Hulu | ✅ | 1080p |
| DAZN Canada | ❌ | – |
Every PIA server happily handles P2P traffic, and enabling port forwarding gives your swarm a significant boost—I clocked an average of 9.6 MiB/s on torrents, edging out some premium rivals. Downloading a 1.6 GB Ubuntu ISO on a 150 Mbps line hit full speed, and the kill switch snapped on instantly when I yanked the Wi-Fi. Remember, torrenting is simply a file-distribution method—perfectly legal for authorised content—and with zero logs, secure DNS and an optional SOCKS5 proxy, PIA remains one of the safest, most dependable options for peer-to-peer sharing.
(Credit: PrivateInternetAccess/NeoSpot)
Apps & Accessibility
PIA’s apps manage to be both welcoming to VPN novices and flexible enough for seasoned tinkerers.
Desktop (Windows, macOS & Linux)
- Simple Mode: one-click connect, perfect if you just want privacy without fuss.
- Advanced Mode: reveals bandwidth stats, custom scripts and per-network auto-connect rules—ideal for power users.
- Feature parity: Linux finally gets the full GUI treatment, WireGuard and kill-switch support.
- Styling: light and dark themes to suit your eye strain.
- Minor gripe: the deeper preferences menu can feel a little labyrinthine if you’re not used to VPN jargon.
Mobile (Android & iOS)
- Consistent UI: mirrors the desktop layout, so you won’t need a second manual.
- Split tunnelling: lives on Android; on iOS you get Siri Shortcuts and a kill-switch powered by NE-VPN.
- Speed: WireGuard connections in 1–2 seconds flat.
- UX note: icon-only buttons are neat, but tooltips are essential until you memorise them.
Browser Extensions (Chrome, Firefox, Opera)
- Proxy-level tunnel: quick IP swap without installing apps.
- Extras: blocks WebRTC leaks and flushes unwanted cookies—handy for ad-averse browsing.
Accessibility
- Keyboard navigation: logical tab order and clear focus rings.
- Screen readers: VoiceOver and TalkBack announce all vital controls.
- Contrast: meets WCAG AA, so text stays legible.
Smart TVs & Routers
- TV apps: native clients for Fire TV and Android TV—no side-loading required.
- Router configs: pre-built OpenVPN and WireGuard files cover most popular firmware.
- Unlimited devices: protect every gadget in the house, from smartphones to smart fridges.
Support & Documentation
- Live chat: usually replies in under three minutes, with occasional late-night diversions to email.
- Knowledge base: detailed setup guides and troubleshooting articles.
- Refunds: processed within 48 hours via support ticket.
Verdict
A user interface that scales from “set and forget” to “fine-tune every packet,” with robust accessibility and device coverage—PIA’s apps tick every box, no matter your skill level.
Final Verdict
Private Internet Access isn’t chasing headline-grabbing speeds or frills—it’s quietly nailing the fundamentals: Deloitte-audited zero-logs privacy, rock-steady performance, truly unlimited devices and prices that won’t require a second mortgage. Whether you’re unblocking BBC iPlayer from a sun lounger in Spain, keeping your torrenting under the radar or simply running a 24/7 shield across every gadget in the house, PIA does the heavy lifting without drama.
Best suited for:
- Privacy-first Brits who demand an audited, no-logs promise.
- Busy households with dozens of devices (unlimited logins, remember?).
- Streamers and globetrotters craving their UK/US favourites abroad.
- Torrent enthusiasts who appreciate port forwarding and a kill-switch you can trust.
If you’re after gigabit-level bursts or a UI so simple your gran could use it blindfolded, look elsewhere. For everyone else, PIA remains one of 2025’s most straightforward, reliable VPN choices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Is Private Internet Access (PIA) legal in the UK?
A. Absolutely. Using a VPN like PIA is entirely lawful in the United Kingdom, provided it isn’t used for illegal activities such as copyright infringement or fraud.
Q. Is Private Internet Access (PIA) safe and private?
A. Yes—PIA combines AES-256 or ChaCha20 encryption, system-wide and per-app kill-switches, RAM-only servers (wiped on reboot) and a Deloitte-verified zero-logs policy. In plain English: there’s nothing for anyone to grab, and your traffic stays protected.
Q. How fast is Private Internet Access (PIA)?
A. Independent tests show only around a 5 % speed drop on UK WireGuard connections (95 Mbps from a 100 Mbps baseline) and peaks up to 436 Mbps on a 1 Gbps line. You’ll rarely notice any slowdown on everyday fibre or cable.
Q. Can PIA unblock Netflix, BBC iPlayer and other streaming services?
A. You bet. PIA’s dedicated “Streaming” servers cleared Netflix (UK/US/JP), BBC iPlayer, Disney+, Prime Video and Hulu in our 2025 tests. With a 34 000+ IP pool that refreshes constantly, if one server slips up you can simply switch to another.
Q. Can I torrent safely using Private Internet Access (PIA)?
A. Definitely. All PIA servers permit P2P, port forwarding boosts swarm speeds and the kill-switch safeguards you if your connection drops. With zero logs and secure DNS, PIA is a rock-solid choice for legal file-sharing.
Q. How many devices can I connect with Private Internet Access (PIA)?
A. Unlimited. Whether it’s your phone, laptop, tablet, smart TV or router, you can protect every gadget in your home without paying extra per device.