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Private Internet Access vs PureVPN 2022

After comparing these VPNs, we have a winner!

Rated: 9.2/10
%s User Reviews
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Rated: 8/10
%s User Reviews
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Which VPN is better?

Author Image Daniel Krohn
Daniel Krohn

Cybersecurity Researcher

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 9.2/10
Pricing 8/10
Ease of Use 9.6/10
Reliability & Support 9.8/10
Features 8/10
Pricing 9.2/10
Ease of Use 8/10
Reliability & Support 8/10

Reviews

Review by our expert
Author Image Matthew Amos
Matthew Amos

Cybersecurity Researcher

9.8/10

Private Internet Access has one of the cheapest VPN subscriptions available — you can sign up for as little as $2.03/month. With such a low price, I wondered whether PIA could really stand out against its higher-priced competitors. It’s been around for 10+ years, so it could be one of the best-value VPNs out there. I decided to find out just how good it is by looking into the company’s lo...

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Latest positive user review
E
Ez
10.0/10
Best VPN Out on The Market

I like PIA VPN the best for the following reasons: ● It's a reliable and trustworthy policy; they don... 't record anything harmful to you; strict no logs. ● I've been using it for one month and there are specific times when it speeds up my internet speed (varies by internet) ● It's a distinctive feature of DIP (dedicated IP) - I think not many popular VPNs have this feature, I also purchased this feature to avoid getting the captcha verification and it never showed up ever since. It's only been a month using this VPN but as I gain more experience with this client, I'm pretty sure I will find more good features and utilize them. Thanks for having read my review:)More

Latest negative user review
S
Steve Taylor
4.0/10
What support ?

Contacted online help service for not being able to install or having an issue trying to install/log i... n with android box - was told that they "still have been unable to find a fix for android box issue (i.e. it does not work ! ) - but - Hey our tech people are working hard at it" Read somewhere that this "issue" existed over 5 years ago. Think they need to work hard at finding competent technicians.More

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Review by our expert
Author Image MJ Marsden
MJ Marsden

Cybersecurity Researcher

7.4/10

PureVPN assisted the FBI by providing them with a potential cybercriminal’s data back in 2017, making its customers doubt its privacy procedures. Since then, the company has spent a great deal of time making improvements to its service. I wanted to test whether the improvements have made as much of a difference as I hoped. Overall, I was seriously impressed with PureVPN’s test results. I h...

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Latest positive user review
R
Rich
10.0/10
An excellent value, all things considered

While they will absolutely throttle p2p in most servers, it's easy to find and log into the p2p server... s. They responded promptly when I had questions (although once it was basically to say "sorry, tough luck"). Overall though, I think I paid something like $20 for a year's subscription - I really can't complain. I'm sold on the service, although I think the fact that it's based out of HK is a bit spooky. 9/10More

Latest negative user review
C
Chris Jazrawy
4.0/10
Below par, look elsewhere

Pricewise, it is reasonable. For the past three years, I have had many problems with connecting to int... ernational TV channels. Mainly the UK's, BBC, ITV, and Channel 4. They were unaccessible 50% of the time, their message stating that only UK customers are allowed! Very frustrating. Also, the download speed when connected to PureVPN was extremely slow, with endless rotating circles and waits. Totally unacceptable. On requesting help from PureVPN, the assistance was inadequate. I was given a link and asked to find my way. At other times I was instructed to change protocol and other ridiculous commands that the majority of subscribers would not remotely understand! Unhelpful for the subscribers who are not IT pros!! My subscription has few months till expiry, but I have switched to another VPN supplier which has proven to be simpler to operate, faster, and so far, has been able to access my chosen channels effortlessly. I was frequently unable to watch my programs, angered and frustrated with this service and their responses to my requests for help. I do not recommend PureVPN and would suggest that for a few dollars more, potential subscribers should look elsewhere.More

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Pricing

Starting price $2.03/month
Money Back Guarantee (Days) 30 Days
Number of devices per license 10 devices
See Plans
Starting price $1.99/month
Money Back Guarantee (Days) 31 Days
Number of devices per license 10 devices
See Plans

Best VPNs by category

Best VPNs Overall

Both Private Internet Access and PureVPN are considered top-tier VPN providers with a close balance of features and security standards. Even though both providers operate a large network of servers, PIA's network is more dispersed. Both providers offer important features such as a kill switch and DNS leak protection.

Best VPNs for Torrents

Both PIA and PureVPN support torrenting, but only on a limited number of servers (for legal reasons). PureVPN has dedicated servers just for torrenting and with all its privacy features, it can make torrenting a smooth experience. PIA also has servers specially designed for this purpose, and automatically redirects all your traffic through these servers while you are torrenting.

Best VPNs for Windows

PIA and PureVPN both offer easy-to-install and easy-to-use Windows apps, packed with features and supporting all security protocols used by the providers. The only feature PIA lacks that you’ll find in PureVPN is split tunneling.

Best VPNs for Android

The Android apps provided by both PIA and PureVPN are not that different when it comes to the features included, as both offer public wi-fi protection and a kill switch. The PIA Android app supports a higher level of encryption than the PureVPN app - however, both support advanced security protocols. In addition, the PureVPN Android app offers split tunneling.

Best VPNs for Mac

It’s not very common to find VPN Mac apps that support as many features as PIA and PureVPN. Both apps support multiple protocols and are very easy to use. Both include advanced features such as a kill switch and auto-connect. PureVPN also supports Stealth protocol on its Mac app, as well as split tunneling. PIA allows you to customize your connection settings very easily or gives you the option to allow the app to automatically configure itself to suit your online needs.

Best VPNs for iOS

PIA offers a very comprehensive app for its iOS users, by efficiently fitting in it as many of its features as possible. Supporting security protocols directly within an app can be a challenge - especially OpenVPN. However, both PureVPN and PIA support the highly secure and reliable protocol within their iOS app, as well as many more useful features.

Best VPNs for USA

PIA is a US-based provider and operates 1000+ servers in 15 locations within the US, facilitating the access of services geoblocked to the US. On the other hand, PureVPN operates 450+ servers in 13 locations within the US. Even though its network within the US is a little smaller than PIA's, it’s more than enough to meet all the requirements you might need from servers in this region.

The Bottom Line

Author Image Daniel Krohn
Daniel Krohn

Cybersecurity Researcher

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.

Time to decide which one is best for you

Go with Private Internet Access
Go with PureVPN
Or click here to check best VPNs, rated by {{review_count}} users

FAQ

Is Private Internet Access better than PureVPN?

Yes, Private Internet Access is better overall than PureVPN. It has 29650 servers in 70 countries, fast speeds, and impressive security features.

Best of all, you can take advantage of its latest discount and get it for only $2.03 a month.

What should I keep in mind when choosing between Private Internet Access and PureVPN?

When choosing a VPN, you want to pay close attention to its number of servers, overall speed score, pricing, and the number of simultaneous device connections it offers. While some VPNs provide a flawless online experience, others will really slow you down.

If you’re ready to commit, then Private Internet Access may be perfect for you due to its performance during the tests .

Is Private Internet Access faster than PureVPN?

Yes, Private Internet Access is faster than PureVPN. Since your VPN is your computer’s main connection to the internet, you need to use a service that won’t slow you down by more than 20%.

If speeds are important to you, then I recommend you take a look at ExpressVPN. It’s the fastest service out there, provides unlimited bandwidth, and you won’t experience any slowdowns even when you connect to the other side of the planet. You can try it out risk-free before making a long-term commitment. It’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can get a full refund if you don’t like it.

Do Private Internet Access or PureVPN offer any deals?

Both Private Internet Access and PureVPN offer deals on occasion. You can check out the current coupons and discounts here. However, ExpressVPN has the best deals. Right now, you can get a 49% discount and up to 3 months for free with a new subscription.