Ariel Hochstadt
Ex-Google, International tech speaker
VPN Unlimited and Private Internet Access (also known as PIA) are multi-platform VPNs which can be used on Windows, Mac, or Android. Both are quick and easy to install, although PIA brings a far higher number of available servers and server locations to the table. Cloak focuses solely on privacy protection for Apple devices and does so very well, providing automated VPN connections on any untrustworthy networks that you join. Both VPN Unlimited and PIA offer a solid but unremarkable access from 5 simultaneous devices, whilst Cloak allows connections from unlimited Apple products through a single account. All three have excellent mobile apps with impressive user interfaces; however, one common criticism of the VPN Unlimited platform has been their slow response times to customer service queries. A big plus for Apple users is the 30-day free trial available with Cloak, compared with just seven days through VPN Unlimited and PIA.
Features
8.4
Pricing
6.0
Ease of Use
8.9
Reliability & Support
8.5
Features
9.7
Pricing
8.0
Ease of Use
9.6
Reliability & Support
9.8
Features
7.8
Pricing
8.8
Ease of Use
8.6
Reliability & Support
7.0
Rating
Features
8.4
9.7
7.8
Pricing
6.0
8.0
8.8
Ease of Use
8.9
9.6
8.6
Reliability & Support
8.5
9.8
7.0
Reviews
Review by our expert
Alex (Shurf) Frenkel
Ex-Hacker and Technical Researcher
8.0
While we wish it offered as many devices as some of our top providers, Encrypt.me (previously Cloak VPN) succeeds in protecting Apple devices connected to public unprotected networks. It also succeeds in unblocking Netflix, but it's not reliable on every server.
Once installed on the users' devices, the Encrypt.me app automatically creates a VPN connection when the device uses an untrusted Wi-Fi...
Simple for all my iOS/OSX devicesI travel a lot, US and EU, and use airline club, airport and hotel connections - all of which make me nervous, especially because I check my IRAs 2-3 times a day.
Cloak is the third VPN I've tried - I don't remember the names of others because I quickly abandoned them when I found them kludgy and hard to set up. Cloak is SO easy, and shows up as a simple iOS setting choice. I see no speed impact, although I suspect there may be one, and so when I'm connecting to a slow service, I may use it only when transmitting or receiving sensitive data.
Like seatbelts and life jackets, the easier they are to use, the more likely they are to be used. Cloak is easy.
Private Internet Access (PIA) is one of the most popular VPNs on the market. True to its name, this provider is best known for its strict no-logs policy and commitment to user privacy.
Is PIA truly as trustworthy as they claim when it comes to protecting user privacy and anonymity? How does it perform in other categories like streaming, torrenting, and safety?
We tested PIA ourselves to fin...
I have been using PIA for years and have been very happy with the service so far.I've been using PIA VPN for many years and have been very happy with it. Just took advantage of the holiday 3 year special to save even more money off the yearly plan I was on previously. I signed up years ago thinking I would only keep it for a short time but ended up using it ever since. I travel and live abroad so it comes in handy sometimes since my ISP here in Asia throttles lots of things.
Latest negative user review
Emiel Israel
2.0
Ignoring and not existing serviceHave the same not working on my win 7 they simply don't reply like I do not exist! Unfortunately, I paid already, I requested a refund but is the same as talking to deaf ears. Shame on them.
Only 1 star and tell my Facebook friends to stay away from PIA.
Alex (Shurf) Frenkel
Ex-Hacker and Technical Researcher
6.6
VPN Unlimited is headquartered in New York and is the subsidiary of KeepSolid. While the fact that VPN Unlimited is US-based in New York does not thrill us (as opposed to, say, ExpressVPN, which runs out of the British Virgin Islands) VPN Unlimited provides users with a solid VPN service.
With its server locations and data centers in more than 39 countries and 50 regions respectively, VPN Unli...
I'm fully satisfied with the service!100% recommendedGot special discounted deal and really like VPN Unlimited. Now I can watch Netflix and BBC iplayer even when i'm outside the US and UK. The connection speed is high enough, and after latest updates, it fine and stable. I like to use torrent servers. On my TV i'm using SmartDNS that is also the product of the same company. So, in conclusion, i like prices and service overall.
Latest negative user review
Dmitri
2.0
Terrible supportI got some issues in configuring VPN on my router. When I asked the support team they answered "read the instructions we provided or contact a router manufacture". I didn't see even a try to help. It's definitely not a technical support
While we wish it offered as many devices as some of our top providers, Encrypt.me (previously Cloak VPN) succeeds in protecting Apple devices connected to public unprotected networks. It also succeeds in unblocking Netflix, but it's not reliable on every server.
Once installed on the users' devices, the Encrypt.me app automatically creates a VPN connection when the device uses an untrusted Wi-Fi...
Private Internet Access (PIA) is one of the most popular VPNs on the market. True to its name, this provider is best known for its strict no-logs policy and commitment to user privacy.
Is PIA truly as trustworthy as they claim when it comes to protecting user privacy and anonymity? How does it perform in other categories like streaming, torrenting, and safety?
We tested PIA ourselves to fin...
VPN Unlimited is headquartered in New York and is the subsidiary of KeepSolid. While the fact that VPN Unlimited is US-based in New York does not thrill us (as opposed to, say, ExpressVPN, which runs out of the British Virgin Islands) VPN Unlimited provides users with a solid VPN service.
With its server locations and data centers in more than 39 countries and 50 regions respectively, VPN Unli...
Simple for all my iOS/OSX devicesI travel a lot, US and EU, and use airline club, airport and hotel connections - all of which make me nervous, especially because I check my IRAs 2-3 times a day.
Cloak is the third VPN I've tried - I don't remember the names of others because I quickly abandoned them when I found them kludgy and hard to set up. Cloak is SO easy, and shows up as a simple iOS setting choice. I see no speed impact, although I suspect there may be one, and so when I'm connecting to a slow service, I may use it only when transmitting or receiving sensitive data.
Like seatbelts and life jackets, the easier they are to use, the more likely they are to be used. Cloak is easy.
Mark
10.0
I have been using PIA for years and have been very happy with the service so far.I've been using PIA VPN for many years and have been very happy with it. Just took advantage of the holiday 3 year special to save even more money off the yearly plan I was on previously. I signed up years ago thinking I would only keep it for a short time but ended up using it ever since. I travel and live abroad so it comes in handy sometimes since my ISP here in Asia throttles lots of things.
Jeremy Wong
10.0
I'm fully satisfied with the service!100% recommendedGot special discounted deal and really like VPN Unlimited. Now I can watch Netflix and BBC iplayer even when i'm outside the US and UK. The connection speed is high enough, and after latest updates, it fine and stable. I like to use torrent servers. On my TV i'm using SmartDNS that is also the product of the same company. So, in conclusion, i like prices and service overall.
Ignoring and not existing serviceHave the same not working on my win 7 they simply don't reply like I do not exist! Unfortunately, I paid already, I requested a refund but is the same as talking to deaf ears. Shame on them.
Only 1 star and tell my Facebook friends to stay away from PIA.
Dmitri
2.0
Terrible supportI got some issues in configuring VPN on my router. When I asked the support team they answered "read the instructions we provided or contact a router manufacture". I didn't see even a try to help. It's definitely not a technical support
Whilst Cloak is a fantastic VPN resource for Apple device owners, its limited capacity of just supporting iPhones, iPads and Macs is a big drawback. Private Internet Access is a worthy winner of this comparison, outranking VPN Unlimited in server numbers, customer speed reports, server locations, encryption quality and the fact that a kill switch is included as standard. Its annual plan is significantly cheaper than Cloak’s and, whilst being a little more expensive than VPN Unlimited, is well worth the extra few cents per month in our opinion.
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