Private Internet Access
Budget-friendly, privacy-focused VPN with unmatched server scale and open-source transparency
Private Internet Access is an affordable VPN service operating 35,000+ servers across 91 countries with a verified no-logs policy and open-source apps. It supports unlimited simultaneous connections, advanced customisation, and comprehensive torrenting on all servers, positioning itself as a value-oriented alternative to pricier VPN providers.
How we scored it
A weighted average of the 4 dimensions below, each judged 0–10 from published pricing, vendor documentation and independent user feedback. We do not run hands-on tests, and no vendor has any say in a score.
2 further dimensions are not scored for this product yet, so they are left out of the average rather than counted as zero. How the score works.
What it actually costs
Intro pricing shown — see the renewal note for what you'll pay after the introductory term. We don't hide the second-act price.
What to check before you rent Private Internet Access
Infrastructure is cheap to start and expensive to leave. These four questions decide what it costs you over three years rather than three months.
The renewal, not the intro price
Introductory pricing is normal in this category and the renewal is the price that matters. Check the renewal rate on Private Internet Access’s own pricing page before the first term ends, not after.
What the commitment buys
Longer terms carry the lowest headline rate and the least room to change your mind. Price the shortest term you would actually be comfortable with, then decide whether the discount is worth the lock-in.
The cost of leaving
Moving a site or a workload is the hidden switching cost: migration time, DNS and TLS changes, and whatever egress the provider charges to hand your own data back. A provider is only cheap if leaving is.
What is actually metered
Bandwidth, storage, backups and support tiers are usually the lines that grow, not the base plan. Find the ceiling on each before you commit, because that is where the bill moves.
These are the checks we apply across vpn, in the same order, so two pages can be compared line for line.
How much does Private Internet Access really cost?
Our calculation from the vendor's published prices — not a figure the vendor advertises.
Price steps up at thresholds. Crossing one moves you to the next tier's price for everything, not just the excess. VPN subscription with tiered pricing based on commitment length; longer-term commitments offer significantly lower monthly rates
| Team size | Per month | Per year | Over 3 years | How it is charged |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $2.19 | $26.28 | $78.84 | Flat rate — seats are not charged separately on this plan |
| 5 people | $2.19 | $26.28 | $78.84 | Flat rate — seats are not charged separately on this plan |
| 10 people | $2.19 | $26.28 | $78.84 | Flat rate — seats are not charged separately on this plan |
| 50 people | $2.19 | $26.28 | $78.84 | Flat rate — seats are not charged separately on this plan |
Based on the Monthly plan at $11.99 a month. Three years at the current monthly price. The vendor does not publish a renewal rate, so no increase is assumed.
- The vendor does not publish a renewal price, so three-year totals assume today's price holds.
- No annual price recorded, so annual figures are twelve times the monthly price.
- Pricing has not been verified against the vendor's page since this data was collected.
Work out your own cost
- Flat rate — the price does not change with team size.
- No renewal increase is published, so today's price is held flat.
Private Internet Access against the field
The highest-scoring alternatives in the same category, compared on the figures we hold for all of them.
| Private Internet AccessThis page | ExpressVPN | NordVPN | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReviewCost score | 8.3/10 | 8.5/10 | 8.4/10 |
| Cheapest plan | 2-Year (Best Value) | — | — |
| From | $2.19/mo | $3.49/mo | $3.09/mo |
| Renews at | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Biggest strength | Exceptionally affordable pricing at $2.19/month on 2-year plan, significantly lower than industry average | Proprietary Lightway protocol delivers consistently fast speeds, particularly with Lightway Turbo on Windows | Fastest VPN in independent 2026 tests—82% speed retention with NordLynx protocol, minimal latency on local and mid-distance servers |
| Biggest drawback | Inconsistent speed performance across server locations with notable variability between connection sessions | Device limits (10/12/14) lag behind competitors like Surfshark and PIA that offer unlimited simultaneous connections | Renewal pricing jumps significantly—2-year Basic plan renews at $219.48/year ($18.29/mo), a 529% increase over introductory $3.09/mo rate |
Prices are the published figures at the time of writing and change often. Renewal pricing is shown where the vendor publishes it. See how we review.
What people ask about Private Internet Access
Straight answers to what buyers actually ask, drawn from the documentation and published user reports.
Is Private Internet Access safe to use?
Can I use PIA for streaming and unblocking geoblocked content?
Is the $2.19/month price sustainable or will it increase?
How many devices can I connect simultaneously?
Page history
- Published
- 13 September 2026
- Last updated
- 1 October 2026
Pricing on this page has not yet been checked against the vendor’s own page.