Private Internet Access vs PureVPN – do these two VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) have anything in common besides the starting letter in their names? To find out, let’s compare both in various categories.
PureVPN is based in the British Virgin Islands and has over 6500 servers in 70+ countries. It uses the WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2 tunneling protocols, offers split tunneling, and can unblock a wide range of streaming services.
Meanwhile, Private Internet Access (PIA) is located in the United States and is equipped with 29300+ servers in 84+ countries. It uses WireGuard to achieve excellent connectivity and offers a wide range of security features while browsing the internet or torrenting.
Of course, that’s just a sneak peek into the topics that we’ll be covering in this comparison. So stick around to find out whether PureVPN or Private Internet Access is more worthy of your attention!
PureVPN vs PIA comparison highlights
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Our rating | 8.6 ⭐ | 8.1 ⭐ |
Current offer | Get PureVPN 88% OFF! | Get PIA 83% OFF! |
Price starts from | $1.33/month | $2.03/month |
Money-back guarantee | 31 day | 30 days |
No-logs policy | Independently-audited | Court-proven |
Servers | 6500+ servers in 70+ countries | 29300+ servers in 84+ countries |
VPN protocols | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, L2TP/IPSec, PPTP, SSTP | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2 |
Streaming | Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, HBO Max, BBC iPlayer, and more | Netflix, Hulu |
Speed
Normally, we would use our in-house VPN speed test to determine the performance of each VPN. However, PIA was not integrated with it at the time of writing this review. Because of this, we will have to contend with manual speed testing.
To showcase the maximum performance of each, we’ll be using WireGuard with Private Internet Access and OpenVPN with PureVPN. As you can imagine, PIA is already ahead because it’s using the more advanced tunneling protocol. PureVPN has already implemented WireGuard for Android and Windows (beta) but it will take time before we can properly test it.
The baseline download speed is 313 Mbps, while the upload speed is 322 Mbps. Keep in mind that manual speed tests aren’t very reliable and should be taken with a grain of salt.
PureVPN | Private Internet Access | |
USA | ||
Download | 156 Mbps | 206 Mbps |
Upload | 7 Mbps | 88 Mbps |
UK | ||
Download | 180 Mbps | 291 Mbps |
Upload | 19 Mbps | 271 Mbps |
Canada | ||
Download | 171 Mbps | 229 Mbps |
Upload | 5 Mbps | 87 Mbps |
Germany | ||
Download | 169 Mbps | 246 Mbps |
Upload | 15 Mbps | 27 Mbps |
As you can see, the manual tests show that WireGuard is superior to OpenVPN in practically every aspect. As such, Private Internet Access wins the connection speed race in this comparison.
Servers
PureVPN | Private Internet Access | |
Servers | 6500+ | 29300+ |
Countries | 70+ | 84+ |
All physical servers | No | No |
Owns all servers | No | No |
RAM-only servers | No | No |
PureVPN is equipped with 6500+ servers in 70+ countries around the world.
Meanwhile, Private Internet Access has the largest server networks in the VPN industry, with over 29300 servers across 84+ countries.
Additionally, PIA allows P2P traffic on all servers, while PureVPN permits P2P traffic only in those countries where torrenting is legal. Other than that, both services don’t have any other exceptional features in terms of server coverage.
Pricing
PureVPN | Private Internet Access | |
Free trial | 7-day trial for $0.99 | No |
One month | $10.95/month | $11.95/month |
One year | $3.24/month | $3.33/month |
Two years | $1.33/month | N/A |
Three years | N/A | $2.03/month |
Money-back guarantee | 31 days | 30 days |
Payment options | Credit card, PayPal, Cryptocurrencies | Credit card, PayPal, Amazon Pay, cryptocurrencies, Beam, Mint, gift cards |
In terms of pricing, PureVPN vs PIA are pretty similar. Both offer somewhat expensive monthly plans, but subscribing for lengthier periods gives you significant discounts. Plus, you get a money-back guarantee when choosing either service.
Overall, the prices are on the same page. However, PureVPN wins in this regard because it offers an (almost) free 7-day trial to try out the service.
PureVPN pricing
At the moment, PureVPN has three different subscription options:
- $10.95/month for a monthly plan
- $3.24/month for a yearly subscription
- $1.33/month for a two-year subscription
Signing up for the most extended subscription grants you a nice 88% discount. On the other hand, you can also use a PureVPN coupon code to get a different deal.
Keep in mind that some PureVPN features don’t come with the standard subscription. Instead, you’ll have to pay extra if you want some additional benefits.
For starters, a dedicated IP costs an additional $2.99/month. It allows you to choose an exclusive IP for yourself from seven different countries (Singapore, Malta, Germany, Canada, UK, Australia, USA).
Furthermore, DDoS protection costs $3.99/month. If that seems excessive, you can look through our list of best VPNs for gaming, which also offer some DDoS protection.
Finally, torrenting enthusiasts will have to pay an extra $0.99/month to unlock port forwarding.
If you’re unsure whether PureVPN is the right service for you, you can grab a 7-day free trial for only $0.99. After that, each subscription is also secured with a 31-day money-back guarantee.
Private Internet Access pricing
Just like its opponent, PIA brings three different subscription options to the table:
- $11.95/month for a monthly subscription
- $3.33/month for an annual plan
- $2.03/month for the three-year plan
If you opt for the most extended subscription plan, you’ll be rewarded with a 83% discount. Alternatively, you can scout for different deals by looking at the available PIA coupon codes.
Unsurprisingly, Private Internet Access offers an optional feature as well in the form of a dedicated IP. It costs an additional $5.00/month, and you can choose your IP address from five different locations – USA, UK, Canada, Germany, and Australia.
Security
PureVPN | Private Internet Access | |
Encryption | Military-grade | Military-grade |
Protocols | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2 | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2 |
Kill switch | Yes | Yes |
DNS and IP leaks | No leaks | No leaks |
Security features | Split tunneling (Windows, Android), dedicated IP, port forwarding, DDoS protection | Split tunneling, PIA MACE, Shadowsocks, SOCKS5, dedicated IP, port forwarding, email breach monitoring |
Like any other high-quality service, PureVPN and PIA follow standard practices and use impenetrable AES-256 encryption to protect your online traffic. Additionally, both have a reliable kill switch to ensure that your actual IP address does not get leaked under any circumstances. Furthermore, both have WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2 tunneling protocols available.
PureVPN security features
PureVPN offers a fair number of security features, although we are left wanting more on the standard subscription plan.
- Split tunneling, available on Android and Windows, lets you choose which apps should go through the VPN tunnel, while all others will ignore it.
- Port forwarding improves connection speeds while using P2P and grants you easier remote access to your network.
- Dedicated IP is a server with a static IP address that is reserved exclusively for you. It negates the typical issues you would come across when using a standard VPN IP.
- DDoS protection ensures that your network is secure from unexpected traffic spikes that could shut down your internet connection.
Private Internet Access security features
Private Internet Access gives you more bang for your buck at an affordable price in terms of security.
- PIA offers split tunneling on most devices and allows greater customization on desktop machines. Particularly, you can choose which apps should go through the VPN or which should ignore it.
- PIA MACE defends you against malicious and ad-filled web domains.
- A Shadowsocks proxy is necessary to bypass various means of online censorship, such as DPI (Deep Packet Inspection).
- A SOCKS5 proxy is used to secure your torrent client without the overhead of encryption.
- With PIA, you can grab a single dedicated IP from five different locations per account.
- You can enable port forwarding on desktop and mobile devices, but some locations do not support the feature.
- Email breach monitoring allows you to check whether an email address was compromised in a data breach.
Privacy
PureVPN | Private Internet Access | |
Jurisdiction | British Virgin Islands | United States |
Logging | Independently-audited no-logs policy | Court-proven no-logs policy |
Anonymous payment | Cryptocurrencies | Cryptocurrencies, gift cards |
There’s one clear distinction that makes PureVPN the superior choice in the realm of privacy.
For starters, it’s based in the British Virgin Islands, a country that’s free from any international surveillance agreements or data retention laws. Furthermore, it had its no-logs policy audited by a third party to ensure that no security flaws are present. On the other hand, PureVPN cooperated with the FBI in a cyberstalking case, giving away its user’s data.
Meanwhile, Private Internet Access is located in the United States, a founding member of the Five Eyes Alliance. If that wasn’t enough, Kape Technologies acquired PIA in 2019.
Kape Technologies, formerly known as Crossrider, is a software development company notorious for spreading adware. The company has currently rebranded to “Private Internet” and has CyberGhost and Zenmate under its belt.
Device compatibility
PureVPN | Private Internet Access | |
Major dedicated apps | Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android | Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android |
Other dedicated apps | Amazon Fire TV Stick, Android TV, Kodi add-on, DD-WRT applet | Chromebook OS, Android TV (same Android apps) |
Browser extensions | Chrome, Firefox, Edge | Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera |
Manual setup | Routers, QNAP, Synology, OpenELEC, Raspberry Pi, Chromebook | Routers |
Simultaneous devices | 10 | 10 |
Device compatibility is essential for a VPN if you own many devices that you’d like to secure. Of course, this is an issue that can be remedied by configuring a router with a VPN. But for the less tech-savvy users, dedicated apps for specific devices are the way to go.
In this regard, PureVPN is in the lead once again. It has more dedicated apps for different streaming devices, while the two services are practically the same in other areas.
PureVPN device compatibility
Unsurprisingly, PureVPN has dedicated apps for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and Linux. Furthermore, browser extensions are available for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge.
Streaming enthusiasts will be glad to hear that PureVPN is compatible with Android TV and has a dedicated app for Amazon Fire TV Stick. Plus, there’s also a Kodi add-on.
Meanwhile, people who wish to secure their home network effortlessly can rejoice at the existence of a DD-WRT applet. With it, you can easily configure PureVPN on your DD-WRT router and potentially secure an unlimited number of devices. Otherwise, one subscription allows you to connect ten different devices simultaneously.
Private Internet Access device compatibility
Like its predecessor, PIA has applications for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS. However, it has slightly more browser extensions available with the addition of Opera.
Otherwise, it lacks the streaming device support that we have grown to expect from most VPNs. As a workaround, you can configure your router manually with Private Internet Access. Finally, a single subscription allows you to connect ten different devices simultaneously.
Streaming
PureVPN | Private Internet Access | |
Netflix US | Yes | Yes |
Other Netflix libraries | Yes | Yes |
Other platforms | Yes | No |
Smart DNS | No | No |
At first glance, PureVPN vs Private Internet Access appear to be on the same page in the streaming category. However, there are a few subtle differences that make PureVPN one of the best VPNs for streaming.
For starters, both services are capable of unlocking the Netflix US library. However, PureVPN will give you access to many more international libraries on Netflix, while PIA has struggled to unblock more.
Other streaming platforms, such as BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and Disney+, are accessible only with PureVPN, while PIA could not unlock them.
Torrenting and P2P
PureVPN | Private Internet Access | |
Allowed on | All servers | All servers |
Free SOCKS5 proxy | No | Yes |
Split tunneling | Yes (Android, Windows) | Yes |
Port forwarding | Yes | Yes |
When it comes to torrenting, Private Internet Access gains the edge.
First off, it allows P2P traffic on all servers, giving you better overall speed when downloading from anywhere. Secondly, it comes packaged with a SOCKS5 proxy, allowing you to protect your torrent client with an added layer of security. Finally, split tunneling is available on a broader range of devices, although this feature isn’t just for torrenting.
Meanwhile, PureVPN only permits P2P activities in specific locations, doesn’t offer a SOCKS5 proxy, and has split tunneling only on Windows and Android devices. Luckily, both have the port forwarding feature available.
If you’re looking for the ideal service to engage in P2P activities, have a glance at our list of best VPNs for torrenting.
China
PureVPN | Private Internet Access | |
Works in China | Yes | Yes |
Stealth VPN | No | No |
Tor over VPN | No | No |
Unfortunately, neither VPN in this comparison has earned the nomination as a potential best VPN for China. However, each VPN has some capabilities to deal with the Great Firewall of China.
PIA holds a slight edge, thanks to its Shadowsocks proxy, but it’s not ideal as it provides only seven locations in Asia, none of which are in China.
Customer support
PureVPN | Private Internet Access | |
24/7 | Yes | Yes |
Live chat | Yes | Yes |
Phone Line | No | No |
Yes (Ticketing system) | Yes | |
Knowledgebase | Yes | Yes |
Any worthwhile VPN needs to have proper customer support to assist users in any situation. Luckily, these two VPNs tick all the necessary boxes.
Both offer 24/7 live chat support, written guides on various technical issues, and communication through email or a ticketing system.
Best VPN by category
PureVPN | Private Internet Access | |
Speed and servers | Loses❌ | Wins✔️ |
Pricing | Wins✔️ | Loses❌ |
Security | Loses❌ | Wins✔️ |
Privacy | Wins✔️ | Loses❌ |
Compatibility | Wins✔️ | Loses❌ |
Streaming | Wins✔️ | Loses❌ |
Torrenting | Loses❌ | Wins✔️ |
China | Tie | Tie |
Customer support | Tie | Tie |
Total wins | 4 out of 9 | 3 out of 9 |
Private Internet Access vs PureVPN – which is better?
Our Private Internet Access vs PureVPN comparison has reached the finish line, and the winner can be announced. PureVPN has earned the gold medal for being affordable, private, versatile, and effective.
Of course, silver-medalist Private Internet Access is also an excellent service if you’re prioritizing speed and security while torrenting. After all, both providers are considered some of the best overall VPNs.
Which VPN would you consider the winner? Share your comments below!
You may also like to read:
PureVPN vs NordVPN
PureVPN vs VyprVPN
Private Internet Access vs VyprVPN
Private Internet Access vs Mullvad
FAQ
Is PureVPN free?
No, PureVPN is not free. However, it does offer a 7-day trial for only $0.99. After that, you can also use its 31-day money-back guarantee.
Does Netflix work with Private Internet Access?
Yes, you can use Private Internet Access for Netflix in 2023. However, the number of Netflix libraries that PIA unblocks is rather unimpressive.
Is it safe to use a VPN?
Yes, most VPNs are safe to use. However, some free VPNs aren’t reliable and should be avoided. Make sure to get yourself a premium VPN that’s been audited by a third party to ensure top-notch security.
As far as the pricing is concerned, PIA and PureVPN are almost neck to neck. It is their functionality that makes one better than the other. I have been using PIA for quite a while now and have never been disappointed with it!
If I was watching boxing, this would be an undercard match before the main event between NordVPN and ExpressVPN. You know who the champs are but there’s always someone waiting to climb to the top. The question is whether it’s PureVPN or PIA? I don’t know. Even reading the review, I can’t help but think that PIA has a way to go and that PureVPN is the “Glass Joe” of VPN’s.
It’s a tough choice here. If you consider the strengths and weaknesses of the two, It’s difficult to choose a definitive winner. Each is better than the other in specific areas, for instance, Private Internet Access has a proven track record of protecting its users’ privacy, whereas PureVPN has a more extensive server network and can unblock more streaming platforms.
PureVPN doesn’t have the reputation of being a good VPN, the basics of a VPN is the privacy and the security and PureVPN simply fails in these categories. I’d rather pay more to have a powerful and trustworthy VPN. Thanks for the comparison though.
PureVPN doesn’t have the reputation of being a good VPN, the basics of a VPN is the privacy and security and PureVPN simply fails on those categories. It’s clearly not a great VPN and I’d rather pay more to have a powerful and trustworthy VPN. Thanks for the comparison though.
Hi there – that’s definitely up to you, but we very rarely recommend PureVPN because security and privacy are paramount to us. Nonetheless, hope you enjoy it!
Thanks for the info. I have been searching on what VPN offers multiple-logins with good connectivity speed.
Anyway, I’m going to give the pure VPN a try.