Private Internet Access vs PureVPN vs 2017

After comparing these VPNs, we have a winner!

 
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73 User Reviews
  • 4.5
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197 User Reviews
  • 4.4
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Which VPN is better?

Technical writer, ex-robot manual creator gone privacy enthusiast/VPN expert
PureVPN, out of Hong Kong, and the US-based PIA are two superb VPN services with differing strengths and weaknesses. PureVPN has a lead when it comes to speed; however, its server locations, including Central America, Oceania and Africa, while impressive, don't match PIA’s abundance of servers, which are spread out in an equally impressive amount of countries. Security wise, they both have comparable 256-bit data encryption to protect users, and kill switches to protect users from unencrypted data leaks. As far as logs go, PureVPN keeps no activity logs, only session logs while PIA keeps no logs. On the other hand, both PureVPN and PIA cannot access Netflix so they are on equal footing there, but both offer a seven-day refund policy should you be unhappy with the service.
 
Rating
Features
  • 4.5
  • 4.5
Pricing
  • 4.9
  • 4.4
Ease of Use
  • 4.3
  • 4.6
Reliability & Support
  • 4.4
  • 4.8
 

Reviews

Expert Review
Ariel Hochstadt
Ex-Google, International tech speaker
  • 4.5

Private Internet Access (PIA) is one of the most affordable VPN service providers on the market. The online privacy provider boasts over 3,000 servers, spread across 37 locations, in 25 countries. PIA is a service provider based in the USA with ties to London-based Trust Media Inc. While this isn't bad, it is important to note that both the USA and UK are part of the "Five Eyes" countries. It offe

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Latest positive user review
Wayne Harvey
  • 5.0
Secure and fast Have been with PIA for a couple years now and am extremely happy with the service. I get speeds of around 95-97% of my connection speed total which is excellent. Have maybe 1 or 2 dropouts per year so stability is really good.
Latest negative user review
Anna
  • 1.0
Zero Customer Service - do not buy! This VPN is not performing as advertised. I have opened three trouble tickets & sent two emails, all in an effort to cancel the service within the 7 day trial period for a full refund. It has been three days and I have not received any response (other than the auto reply that they are busy and will answer in their own sweet time). Their inability to reply to a simple request in three days is unacceptable.
Expert Review
Alex (Shurf) Frenkel
Ex-Hacker, left the dark side and teaches young padawans to use the force
  • 4.4

The best proxy services are easy-to-use, reliable and secure. PureVPN is one of those few proxy services that delivers on all of these, as well as provides additional luxuries that makes your browsing experience simpler and safer. With over 750 servers located in 141 countries around the world, and thousands of available IP addresses, the connectivity options are diverse, providing you with a s

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Latest positive user review
Huang Kingsley
  • 5.0
Real helpful online help desk Every time I have issues, I just go to their website and open the help desk window, ask my question, and problem solved. They are really professional and patient. So if you have any issues, do not hesitate, contact them for help.
Latest negative user review
Antonio
  • 1.0
PureVPN SCAM PureVPN is scam! They offer money back guarantee but when you ask it they say your payment method does not included in refund! I paid via Bitcoin through CoinPayment. On their website Bitcoin is refundable but when ask for refund they say bitcoin through Coinpayment is not refundable (it's a joke)! So how is possible to get refund via bitcoin?
Latest positive user review
Wayne Harvey
  • 5.0
Secure and fast Have been with PIA for a couple years now and am extremely happy with the service. I get speeds of around 95-97% of my connection speed total which is excellent. Have maybe 1 or 2 dropouts per year so stability is really good.
Huang Kingsley
  • 5.0
Real helpful online help desk Every time I have issues, I just go to their website and open the help desk window, ask my question, and problem solved. They are really professional and patient. So if you have any issues, do not hesitate, contact them for help.
Latest negative user review
Anna
  • 1.0
Zero Customer Service - do not buy! This VPN is not performing as advertised. I have opened three trouble tickets & sent two emails, all in an effort to cancel the service within the 7 day trial period for a full refund. It has been three days and I have not received any response (other than the auto reply that they are busy and will answer in their own sweet time). Their inability to reply to a simple request in three days is unacceptable.
Antonio
  • 1.0
PureVPN SCAM PureVPN is scam! They offer money back guarantee but when you ask it they say your payment method does not included in refund! I paid via Bitcoin through CoinPayment. On their website Bitcoin is refundable but when ask for refund they say bitcoin through Coinpayment is not refundable (it's a joke)! So how is possible to get refund via bitcoin?
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Pricing
Starting price $3.33/ month $3.25/ month
Money Back Guarantee (Days) 7 7
Devices per license 5 5
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Best VPNs by category

Best VPNs Overall width="111" width="111" PureVPN's low price, fast speeds, and ability to get the Great Chinese Firewall take it to the top
Best VPNs for Torrents width="170" width="170" Read the full review
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Best VPNs for Android width="170" width="170" Read the full review
Best VPNs for MAC width="170" width="170" Read the full review
Best VPNs for iOS width="111" width="111" Read the full review
Best VPNs for USA width="111" width="111" Read the full review
 

 The Bottom Line

Daniel Krohn
Technical writer, ex-robot manual creator gone privacy enthusiast/VPN expert

PureVPN wins by offering 3 price plans, with the lowest really a bargain, while PIA offers 8 price plans, which is more flexible, but most of the time more expensive. PIA also has an economical option of a yearly plan, which comes out cheap in the long run. Both of these global VPN providers are tough contenders that support major devices. PIA takes the lead with their good, old-fashioned customer service over PureVPN’s poor support record. In the end, PureVPN is the only contender that works within China, taking it to the top.

Interestingly, if you compare Private Internet Access with NordVPN, which is our top ranked vpn, you'll see that Private Internet Access can learn a lot from NordVPN. Compare Private Internet Access with NordVPN

Winner
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www.purevpn.com
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Time to decide which one is best for you

Go with Private Internet Access
Go with PureVPN
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