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Private Internet Access vs
PureVPN vs
2021

Item: PureVPN
Rating: 4.0
Author: Daniel Krohn

After comparing these VPNs, we have a winner!

200 User Reviews

9.2

More Info

462 User Reviews

8.0

More Info

Which VPN is better?

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.


Features
9.7
Pricing
8.0
Ease of Use
9.6
Reliability & Support
9.8

Features
7.4
Pricing
9.1
Ease of Use
8.0
Reliability & Support
8.0

Rating
Features	9.7	7.4
Pricing	8.0	9.1
Ease of Use	9.6	8.0
Reliability & Support	9.8	8.0

Reviews

Review by our expert

Katie Kasunic Technology Researcher

9.2

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...

Read all

Latest positive user review

10.0

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:)

Latest negative user review

Mark Chambers

2.0

Stopping working on my MacBook Air, terrible tech support I used PIA on my MacBook Air, for about a year without a problem then, after an upgrade, a year ago, it blocked all traffic. The only way I could use it at all was with the "use existing DNS option" under network settings (which they directed me to use back in July). I didn't pay attention to the consequences until I installed PIA on a different MacBook Air and I had exactly the same problem - all traffic blocked unless I chose "use existing DNS. This time, I did a DNS leak test and it did leak. Tech support kept giving me the same advice over and over as if my problem could be solved by a couple of clicks. They didn't listen. When I got fed up and asked to cancel, they denied me any refund even though I was only 3 months into a 2-yr plan. I rated it highly when it worked, but they were totally unable/unwilling to solve my problem.

Pricing

Starting price

$2.08/ month

Money Back Guarantee (Days)

Number of devices per license

See Plans

Starting price

$2.88/ month

Money Back Guarantee (Days)

Number of devices per license

See Plans


Starting price	$2.08/ month	$2.88/ month	121332/
Money Back Guarantee (Days)	30	31	0
Number of devices per license	10	10	Unlimited
See Plans & Pricing	See Plans	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 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 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 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 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 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 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.
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

Daniel Krohn

Cybersecurity Researcher

Winner

Visit website »

www.purevpn.com

See Plans & Pricing

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 PureVPN with ExpressVPN, which is our top ranked vpn, you'll see that PureVPN can learn a lot from ExpressVPN. Compare PureVPN with ExpressVPN

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 16565 users

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Private Internet Access vs PureVPN vs 2021