Private Internet Access vs PureVPN 2024

Doris Muthuri

Former Senior Writer

Private Internet Access (PIA) and PureVPN are two popular services with some similarities. Both offer fast speeds and have solid security and privacy features, so picking one over the other can be tricky. That said, the VPNs’ differences affect how each one performs with various online activities.

To pick the winner, I tested each VPN based on its performance in security, streaming, affordability, speed, location options, and user-friendliness. I also considered customer support as the final factor in my evaluation. In comparing them side-by-side, I determined which of the two VPNs is superior and provides the most value for your money.

After extensive testing, I found PIA to be the winner. It offers a larger server network, more advanced security features, and highly responsive customer support. If you want to test it for yourself, you can use PIA’s 30-day money-back guarantee risk-free and get a full refund if it's not for you.

Short on Time? Here Are My Key Findings

Best alternative to Private Internet Access

Our Score: 9.9

As much as I like PIA, ExpressVPN is my top VPN choice. While it doesn’t offer the same customizability, it’s considerably easier to use and offers far more reliable speeds. It’s also backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it risk-free.

Our Score: 9.9

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Streaming — PIA Wins by a Narrow Margin

Both VPNs put up a strong performance, but PIA is a lot more consistent and reliable for streaming.

While it worked with most popular platforms, PureVPN didn’t work so well for me when I tested it from the States with Hulu. Plus, it caused major slowdowns when I used servers in farther away states. Unlike PureVPN, PIA provides fast and stable streaming across the board.

PIA is a dependable streaming VPN for 40+ popular streaming platforms, and our international team confirmed it works with over 17 Netflix libraries. It also gives you fast and smooth connections for streaming your region’s content, such as Max, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and more.

Plus, it offers streaming-optimized servers, which PureVPN lacks. These are location-based in 8 countries, including the US, the UK, and Australia — they’re designed to give users in these locations stable connections while streaming their local platforms.

Every video I tested on Max from Florida loaded instantly

PureVPN works fine for most popular Netflix libraries, but my colleagues in Japan and France experienced some buffering when testing it in their respective locations. They didn’t experience these problems with PIA.

However, PureVPN didn’t give me trouble while testing Amazon Prime Video from the US. I was impressed that it took only 3 seconds for videos to load and start playing.

My connection remained stable while I watched Amazon Prime Video with PureVPN in the States

Winner

Both VPNs are great for streaming, but PIA is the better choice. It offers reliable connections for most top platforms and excellent speeds for streaming without buffering.

Server Network — PIA Wins With Its Massive Server Network

PIA has the largest server network of all the VPNs I have tested. It has over 29,650 servers distributed in 91 countries worldwide. A large server network means there is less risk of server overcrowding, which could affect your overall speeds. I also like that PIA has servers in every US state.

PIA also offers streaming-optimized servers for a few countries, including the US, the UK, and Japan. For better privacy, PIA uses only RAM-based servers, which PureVPN doesn’t have. These servers are safer than traditional HDD servers because they automatically delete your private data every time they restart.

The specialized servers give you fast speeds to stream without interruptions

They also each have a mix of physical and virtual servers. Physical servers are exactly where you choose to connect to. With virtual servers, you get an IP from your chosen country, but your data goes through a server in a different country. This provides extra privacy when connecting to locations like China and India, where there is stricter surveillance.

Winner

PIA has a larger server network distributed more broadly across different countries. It also offers RAM-only servers, which adds to its privacy features.

Speed — PureVPN Is Slightly Faster Than Private Internet Access

Our UK-based speed tester recorded the speeds of both VPNs. They tested dozens of servers worldwide, including in the UK, the US, and Japan. The baseline download speed was 117.49Mbps, with an upload speed of 17.3Mbps.

Overall, PureVPN’s speeds are a tad more consistent, especially on long-distance servers. Both performed best with the WireGuard protocol.

On local UK servers, PureVPN had a speed drop of a mere 3%, while PIA’s drop was 6%. The speeds for both VPNs were slower over long distances, but PIA was a bit slower. However, this slight difference in the results wasn't very noticeable.

My colleague in the UK streamed BBC iPlayer in HD without issues

Even though PIA had slightly slower speeds on long-distance servers, I never had trouble streaming in UHD. Even when I connected to Seattle (I’m in Florida), it was plenty fast for buffer-free streaming. However, I did experience slight buffering with PureVPN when I connected to faraway US states.

Winner

PureVPN gave me consistently fast speeds, even over long distances.

Gaming — Both Have Low Latency Over Short Distances

Both VPNs showed very similar ping rates on most of the short and long-distance servers that were tested, but PIA showed better results on US servers. When it comes to gaming, a low ping rate is key for a smooth experience. You should aim for a ping rate of under 100ms for lag-free gaming.

Below are the ping results on different servers and how this translated during gameplay.

Both VPNs had a high ping rate over longer distances, but they still worked for playing simple games without significant issues. While PIA showed better results on US servers, the difference in the Japan server ping results between both VPNs wasn't very noticeable. I had no issues with lag when playing Minecraft connected to a US server with any of these VPNs.

My games loaded in approximately 20 seconds

PureVPN’s Japan server took over one minute to load, but once the game started, there was no lag. The same applies to PIA. However, most of the long-distance servers with both VPNs had too high of a ping rate to play more complex multiplayer games comfortably. This is often the case with faraway servers — your data has to travel further, therefore slowing your connection.

Winner - draw

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Both VPNs showed similar results when it comes to latency and gaming, so this category is a draw.

Torrenting — PIA Is the Best for Torrenting

PIA permits P2P file sharing on all its servers, which I found very convenient since there's no need to search for dedicated P2P servers when downloading torrent files.

On the other hand, PureVPN officially allows torrenting in just 37 locations. Its website mentions that it blocks P2P in the UK, the US, and Canada.

Both VPNs are well-equipped with the essential security features to protect your data while torrenting. However, PIA offers more security features, such as MACE, which blocks malicious files from downloading.

PIA’s speeds are generally faster for P2P sharing. With PIA, I downloaded a 1.23 GB copyright-free file on uTorrent in less than 15 minutes. This is similar to the speeds I get without a VPN connection. PureVPN didn’t lag too far behind — I downloaded the same file in 17 minutes.

Winner

PIA allows torrenting on all its servers and comes with fast speeds and more security features, such as its malware blocker, MACE.

Security — PIA Has More Security Features

Both VPNs offer robust security features to protect your information online. Your data is kept secure with strong military-grade encryption, and you have the option to select from various security protocols for both VPNs.

They both work with reliable protocols such as OpenVPN, WireGuard, and IKEv2. WireGuard, which is relatively new, offers a good mix of speed and security and is one of the fastest VPN protocols available.

Both VPNs offer robust DNS/IP leak protection. I tested a dozen servers from each VPN and never experienced any leaks. PIA and PureVPN also have a kill switch feature to safeguard your data if your connection drops unexpectedly. In addition to a regular kill switch, PIA offers an advanced one that doesn't let you use the internet before you connect to the VPN.

However, PIA is much better equipped as it comes with additional features such as an ad and malware blocker (MACE), which blocks ads and popups from the sites you visit. It also offers a Multi-Hop and Obfuscation feature, which doubles up on privacy protection. It routes your internet traffic through a proxy connection and a VPN server before it reaches its final destination.

If you’re a techie like me, you’ll enjoy navigating through all of PIA’s customization options

PureVPN also offers obfuscation. Obfuscation scrambles your metadata to keep it safe from prying eyes or interception.

Winner

Both VPNs will protect your data and privacy online, but PIA comes on top with its customizable security features.

Privacy — RAM-Only Servers Give PIA an Advantage Over PureVPN

Both PIA and PureVPN have a transparent no-logs policy that has been audited and verified by a third party. This is reassuring because it’s proof that the services uphold the claims they make in their privacy policies.

PIA has even proven in real-life court situations that it protects your privacy — when user data has been demanded, there was none to hand over. Conversely, PureVPN has a somewhat controversial past due to its involvement in the 2017 arrest of an alleged cybercriminal. The company provided the FBI with the individual's logs. However, it’s now working tirelessly to regain customer trust.

PIA is located in the US, which is in the heart of the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliance. This might be concerning if you’re sensitive about your online privacy. However, it uses RAM-only servers that delete every trace of data with every reboot, ensuring that no information is ever available to share.

On the other hand, PureVPN is headquartered in Hong Kong, which is much more privacy-friendly, but it doesn’t offer RAM-only servers.

Winner

PIA has a court-proven, audited no-logs policy and uses RAM-only servers, while PureVPN has a controversial privacy history.

Works in China — Both Might Work In China

I contacted customer support to find out the status of each VPN’s capabilities in China. Both PIA’s and PureVPN’s reps claim that they can both work, but this isn’t guaranteed. China has continued to strengthen its VPN-blocking technology over the years, so you might need to take a few troubleshooting steps to get either of them to work in the country.

Also, both VPN sites are blocked in China, so the apps can’t be installed once you enter the country.

Be aware that most VPNs are illegal in China. There have been no publicly reported cases of tourists being penalized for using a VPN in China, but the team and I still don’t condone using a VPN in a way that would break the law in the country.

Winner - draw

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Both PIA and PureVPN claim to work in China, but it’s not guaranteed.

Installation & Ease of Use — PureVPN Is a Beginner-Friendly Choice

PIA and PureVPN both offer intuitive apps, but PureVPN’s apps are more beginner-friendly. Both support popular devices, including Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, and Linux. From downloading the app to connecting to your server, you’ll have no issues with either option.

Simply click the round button to connect to a server closest to you

The thing is, PIA has many more customization options, which is nice if you’re a techie but can be overwhelming if you just want simple connections. Fortunately, like PureVPN, it has a quick connect feature that simply connects you to the fastest available server.

Both VPNs also support almost all types of routers, which is a big plus for people who want to simultaneously protect all their household devices. They also both offer browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Opera.

Winner

Both VPNs are quick to set up, but PureVPN takes the win because it’s more accessible for beginners.

Reliability & Support — PIA Gives Instant Support

Both VPNs have 24/7 chat support, but PureVPN starts you with a bot and only transfers you to an agent if your query is super specific. On the other hand, PIA connects you to a real human agent within seconds.

PIA and PureVPN also have a comprehensive help center with plenty of guides and FAQs. These guides are both thorough and user-friendly, catering to both beginners and experts. They cover most of the information you might require. I wish they would offer video tutorials, though.

Winner

PIA 24/7 chat support connects you to a real agent in seconds, while PureVPN makes you chat with a bot first.

Tips on Choosing Between Private Internet Access and PureVPN

Here are the criteria you should consider when choosing between PIA and PureVPN:

• Smooth streaming. Check if the VPN works with the streaming platforms licensed for your country. In theory, VPNs can connect you to a different location, allowing you to stream content from abroad. You should bear in mind that this goes against most platforms’ T&Cs and can even constitute copyright infringement, which the team and I don't condone.
• Fast speeds. Look for a VPN that provides fast and stable connection speeds to ensure smooth online activities. Both VPNs gave me stable speeds, but PureVPN was slightly faster over long distances.
• Server networks. Having lots of servers in different places means you can connect to the internet from more locations. It also ensures you’ll have no problem finding a fast and reliable connection for streaming in your location.
• Robust security features. Look for a VPN with strong security features such as AES 256-bit encryption, a kill switch, and options for secure protocols like OpenVPN. These features help protect your data and maintain your online privacy.
• Privacy-friendly. Ensure the VPN has a strict no-logs policy that doesn't store or track your online activities. RAM-only servers are a plus as they ensure your data is wiped on every reboot.
• Easy to use. Choose a VPN that offers a user-friendly interface. A simple and intuitive client or app makes connecting and configuring the VPN easier, even if you're not tech-savvy.
• Trustworthy money-back guarantee. Look for a VPN with a reliable money-back guarantee. This gives you the opportunity to test the service risk-free and request a refund if it doesn't meet your expectations. Both VPNs offer this.

Private Internet Access vs PureVPN — Reddit Opinions

PIA users on Reddit tend to be pretty satisfied, acknowledging its wealth of customization options, reliability, and affordable price. I also noticed that anytime someone complained about an issue, there were 5+ satisfied customers who came to defend PIA and/or offer troubleshooting tips.

PureVPN got mixed reviews. Several Redditors agree that it can be “hit or miss.” The main complaints involve laggy speeds and unreliable streaming connections. There’s also concern about a case when PureVPN handed over user data. It turns out it only provided anonymous timestamps, which the FBI lined up with other services the cybercriminal used simultaneously.