Private Internet Access
A US-based VPN with open-source apps, unlimited devices and audited no-logs servers in 113 countries.
Best for households and tinkerers who want one cheap VPN plan on every device, with settings they can adjust
Facts checked November 4, 2026 · First written by Mutuo Mbilla
The short answer
Private Internet Access (PIA) lets you connect as many devices as you own on one plan, publishes the code for all its apps, and has had its no-logs claims checked by Deloitte three times since 2022. Its apps include split tunneling by app or website, a choice of WireGuard or OpenVPN with adjustable encryption, port forwarding and rules that connect you on unfamiliar Wi-Fi. The long plans are cheap ($47.88 a year, or $81.20 for 3 years and 4 months on the current offer), while the monthly plan costs $11.95. It is based in the US, which some privacy buyers avoid, and the dedicated IP and antivirus add-ons cost extra.
Choose it if
- You want to cover phones, laptops, a smart TV and a router on one subscription, since PIA sets no device limit
- You want to read the source code of the app you install: PIA's apps for every platform are on GitHub
- You torrent or host game servers and need port forwarding, which PIA supports on most of its server locations
- You want split tunneling rules for both apps and websites on Windows, macOS, Linux or Android
- You need an IP address in a particular US city: PIA has servers in all 50 states, and dedicated IPs in 13 US regions
Skip it if
- You want a provider based outside the US; PIA's company, PIA Private Internet Access, Inc., is in Denver and its terms follow Colorado law
- You want to sign up without an email address; Mullvad VPN gives you an account number instead and accepts cash
- You want a free plan to try first; PIA has none, while Windscribe VPN has a free tier
- You plan to pay month to month: $11.95 a month adds up to $143.40 a year, about three times the 1-year price
- You bought through the App Store or Google Play and expect PIA's own refund: its 30-day guarantee only covers direct purchases
Main features
Unlimited devices
One subscription covers every personal device you connect at the same time. PIA's terms let it step in if it sees resale or other non-personal use, so this is for a household rather than a whole office.
Servers in 113 countries
PIA lists 180 locations in 113 countries, including all 50 US states, on what it calls a 10-Gbps network. Some locations are virtual: India, for example, gives you an Indian IP from hardware in Singapore, and PIA's server list shows where each one is hosted.
Open-source apps
PIA made its apps open source in 2018 and keeps the code for every platform on GitHub, so you or a researcher can check what the app does with your traffic.
Audited no-logs policy
PIA says it never records your IP, the servers you use, the sites you visit or when you connect. Deloitte Audit Romania reviewed its servers in 2022, 2024 and 2025, and PIA says subpoenas in 2016 and 2017 produced no user logs because it had none to give.
WireGuard and OpenVPN
Pick WireGuard for speed or OpenVPN when you want to change the encryption level, port or MTU yourself.
Split tunneling
Send chosen apps or websites outside the VPN, such as a banking app or a local streaming site, while everything else stays protected. It works on Windows, macOS, Linux and Android.
MACE blocker
MACE blocks requests to known ad, tracker and malware domains at the DNS level in the supported apps, at no extra cost.
Kill switch and automation
The advanced kill switch blocks all internet traffic whenever the VPN is off, even when you disconnect it yourself. Automation rules can connect the VPN for you on an unfamiliar or public Wi-Fi network.
Port forwarding, multi-hop and obfuscation
Port forwarding works on most locations, which helps torrent clients and game servers, and P2P is allowed on every server. Multi-hop routes your traffic through an extra proxy server, and obfuscation wraps it in SSL so it looks like ordinary web traffic.
Dedicated IP add-on
Rent an IP address only you use, in 25 locations across 10 countries, so banks and work systems see the same address each time. PIA activates it with a token, so the address is not tied to your account, and you cannot change its location after you redeem it.
Pricing
Prices checked November 4, 2026, in US dollars, from PIA's pricing page, which states that all amounts are in USD. The 3-year price and its 4 extra months are part of an early Black Friday offer and may change. All VPN plans have the same features. The Dedicated IP and Antivirus add-ons are chosen at checkout; their US prices were not shown to us, so they are not listed.
1 Month
$11.95 / month
Every VPN feature on unlimited devices; renews at $11.95 a month
1 Year
$47.88 / year
The same features, working out at $3.99 a month; renews at $47.88 a year
3 Years + 4 Months
$81.20 / 3 years and 4 months
The same features plus a free Mac Cleaner license, working out at $2.03 a month; renews at $81.20 every 3 years
Reviews
Write a reviewNo reviews yet. If you use Private Internet Access, yours would be the first.
Alternatives to Private Internet Access
| Product | Choose it instead if | Starts at |
|---|---|---|
| Surfshark VPN | You also want unlimited devices but would rather buy the VPN in a bundle with antivirus and breach alerts (its One plans) | $2.49 a month on the 2-y... |
| NordVPN | You want the best for people who want one VPN app on up to 10 devices that also scans downloads and warns about scam sites | |
| IPVanish | You want the best for households that want every phone, laptop and streaming stick on one VPN account, with apps for Fire TV, Apple TV and most other TV boxes | $2.19 a month on the 2-y... |
| ExpressVPN | You want a dedicated IP included in the plan: its Advanced and Pro plans list one, with 12 or 14 devices at once | $2.99 a month on the 2-y... |
| Unlocator | You want the best for watching region-locked streaming services on TVs and consoles that cannot run a VPN app | $2.88 a month on the two... |
| Windscribe VPN | You want a free plan to start with, or to pay $1 a month per location instead of a full subscription | Free |
Questions people ask
Does Private Internet Access have a free trial or a free plan?
PIA has no free plan, and its pricing page offers no free trial. What it has is a 30-day money-back guarantee for new customers who buy on its website and have not asked for a refund in the past 3 months. Subscriptions bought through the Apple App Store or Google Play follow those stores' refund rules instead.
How much does PIA VPN cost?
As of November 4, 2026, PIA costs $11.95 a month, $47.88 a year ($3.99 a month), or $81.20 for 3 years plus 4 extra months ($2.03 a month) on its current early Black Friday offer. Each plan renews at the same price it shows. The Dedicated IP and Antivirus add-ons cost extra.
How many devices can I use with PIA?
As many as you like at the same time on one subscription. PIA's terms say it may contact you, and then limit your account, if the device allowance looks like resale or other non-personal use.
Where is Private Internet Access based?
PIA Private Internet Access, Inc. is at 2590 Welton St., Denver, Colorado, and its terms are governed by Colorado law. Older reviews that place it in the United Kingdom are out of date. Its privacy policy also mentions Kape Technologies.
Does PIA keep logs?
PIA says it stores only your email address, payment details and, in the US, your ZIP code for tax, plus anonymized usage data you can turn off in the app. It runs RAM-only servers, has had three Deloitte assurance reviews (2022, 2024 and 2025), and publishes a quarterly transparency report of the legal requests it receives.
Does PIA work for streaming and torrenting?
PIA allows P2P traffic on every server and supports port forwarding on most locations. It also lists streaming-optimized servers in more than 30 locations. We did not test which streaming services work through it for this update, and that changes often.
Is PIA's Dedicated IP worth it?
It helps if a bank, a work system or a site that blocks shared VPN addresses needs to see the same IP every time. You can choose from 25 locations in 10 countries, most of them in the US. Pick carefully, because the location is fixed once you redeem the token.
Can I pay for PIA anonymously?
PIA's privacy policy says it works with Stripe, Amazon Payments, BitPay and PayPal, and that it does not ask for or store location data when you pay with cryptocurrency. It also accepts prepaid cards and some third-party gift cards. The crypto option was not offered at checkout for the European location we checked from.
Read the full Private Internet Access review
Private Internet Access (PIA) is a good pick if you want to put one VPN on every device in your home without paying per device, and if you like adjusting settings. Its apps are open source, its no-logs claims have been t...
Read the full reviewSources we checked 22
- privateinternetaccess.com/buy-vpn-online for plan prices in USD, renewal prices, 30-day money-back guarantee, add-ons named, unlimited devices, 113 countries, support languages, no free trial checked November 4, 2026
- privateinternetaccess.com/money-back-guarantee for refund conditions, app store exclusion, support languages checked November 4, 2026
- privateinternetaccess.com/vpn-features for feature list, platforms, protocols, kill switch, automation, multi-hop, obfuscation, port forwarding, P2P checked November 4, 2026
- privateinternetaccess.com/vpn-features/no-logs-vpn for what PIA does and does not store, RAM-only servers, Deloitte audit checked November 4, 2026
- privateinternetaccess.com/vpn-features/dedicated-ip-vpn for dedicated IP locations, token system, fixed location after redemption checked November 4, 2026
- privateinternetaccess.com/api/purchase_info for dedicated IP regions and payment options at checkout (add-on prices returned only in euros, so not used) checked November 4, 2026
- privateinternetaccess.com/antivirus for antivirus add-on features and Windows requirement checked November 4, 2026
- privateinternetaccess.com/vpn-features/split-tunneling for split tunneling platforms checked November 4, 2026
- privateinternetaccess.com/vpn-features/open-source-vpn for open-source apps on GitHub checked November 4, 2026
- privateinternetaccess.com/vpn-server for 180 locations, virtual locations, streaming-optimized servers, P2P and port forwarding coverage checked November 4, 2026
- privateinternetaccess.com/why-pia for MACE, customizable encryption, anonymous payment methods, support channels checked November 4, 2026
- privateinternetaccess.com/download for apps and platforms, Linux command line, Mac Cleaner, browser extensions checked November 4, 2026
- privateinternetaccess.com/smart-tvs for smart TV platforms checked November 4, 2026
- privateinternetaccess.com/about-us for company name, Denver address, US base checked November 4, 2026
- privateinternetaccess.com/terms-of-service for company name, Colorado law, unlimited-device fair use, free trial clause checked November 4, 2026
- privateinternetaccess.com/privacy-policy for data collected, payment processors, crypto payments, Kape Technologies mention checked November 4, 2026
- privateinternetaccess.com/transparency-report for open source since 2018, 2016 and 2017 subpoenas, quarterly report checked November 4, 2026
- privateinternetaccess.com/blog/security-audit-2025 for third Deloitte audit, earlier audits in 2022 and 2024 checked November 4, 2026
- surfshark.com/pricing for Surfshark unlimited devices, One bundles, 30-day money-back guarantee checked November 4, 2026
- expressvpn.com/pricing for ExpressVPN device counts per plan, dedicated IP on Advanced and Pro, 30-day guarantee checked November 4, 2026
- windscribe.com/upgrade for Windscribe free tier and $1 per location plan checked November 4, 2026
- mullvad.net/en/pricing for Mullvad flat monthly rate, account number sign-up, cash payment, 5 devices checked November 4, 2026