Personal Web Entry has been a long-time participant within the VPN area. It has a large server fleet that spans throughout 91 nations and provides quick speeds via its customizable utility. Supported platforms embody Home windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Good TVs, and routers.

Whereas its operation within the surveillance-heavy United States could sway some customers, PIA’s steadiness of safety, velocity, and value make it a robust VPN resolution this 12 months.

Personal Web Entry VPN pricing

All three subscriptions for PIA include the identical set of options, so that you received’t have to fret about lacking any key options should you select one plan over the opposite.

PIA VPN’s one-year subscription is the perfect worth at $3.33 per 30 days and could be very reasonably priced in comparison with different one-year plans supplied by competing VPNs. For instance, ExpressVPN’s annual subscription prices $6.25 per 30 days, whereas NordVPN’s Starter one-year plan prices $4.59. In fact, these VPNs deliver their very own standout options to justify the value, however at face worth, PIA VPN’s one-year plan is a discount.

The three-year plan can also be very reasonably priced at $1.98 per 30 days, however the $2-dollar spend will not be value it should you don’t need the three-year-long time funding. Lastly, PIA VPN’s one-month plan falls alongside the identical worth vary as different VPNs and doesn’t present the identical cost-savings as two former subscriptions.

Like most trendy VPNs, PIA provides a 30-day money-back assure for the three plans. Whereas I want that PIA had a full-fledged free model (which might be nice for first-time VPN customers), it offers a seven-day trial via its cellular utility (iOS and Android).

In my testing, I discovered that I might use the identical account I bought via the seven-day cellular free trial after which log right into a desktop model of PIA utilizing the identical credentials. Having a devoted desktop free trial is most popular, however the workaround for the free trial was painless and straightforward to arrange.

My suggestion can be to completely make the most of the seven-day cellular free trial and apply it to your desktop or gadget of selection. This fashion, you get some hands-on time with the service with out spending on an preliminary cost.

Is Personal Web Entry VPN protected?

PIA VPN has two of a very powerful safety protocols in the present day: OpenVPN and WireGuard. This offers customers an excellent steadiness of safety (with OpenVPN) and velocity (with WireGuard). It additionally makes use of 256-bit AES encryption, has a dependable kill change, and protects towards DNS leaks.

With PIA VPN’s firm background, there are drawbacks. First, PIA operates in america, which could be a crimson flag for customers who’re cautious of the nation’s surveillance practices. Subsequent is PIA VPN’s possession. Like CyberGhost VPN, it’s owned by Kape Applied sciences, which acquired PIA in 2019.

Kape (previously Crossrider) had been related to distributing malware and adware earlier than it rebranded and began transferring into the cybersecurity {industry}. PIA itself addressed the acquisition and emphasised that the VPN service operates as a separate entity unbiased of Kape.

When it comes to addressing safety considerations, PIA VPN does have a no-logs coverage, which states that it doesn’t hold data of consumer IP addresses, looking historical past, session timestamps and the like.

In 2022, this no-logs coverage was independently confirmed and verified by Deloitte. Thankfully, PIA VPN has continued its dedication to unbiased testing because it not too long ago accomplished a second audit again in April 2024. This audit was additionally performed by Deloitte and regarded into PIA VPN’s safety infrastructure, which incorporates its server community and community and incident administration programs.

In my opinion, third-party audits are important when selecting a VPN. Whereas suppliers can promise to maintain your knowledge safe, the one actual approach to affirm safety claims is thru issues like third-party audits. On this respect, I commend PIA VPN for not shying away from unbiased assessments and persevering with to have their service audited. unskippable

As well as, PIA VPN makes use of RAM-only servers, which implies any potential traces of consumer knowledge are mechanically erased upon reboot. PIA VPN can also be an open-source service, offering public entry to its supply code and permitting privateness fanatics to identify vulnerabilities within the code themselves.

Lastly, the corporate has a public Transparency Report that outlines court docket orders and requests for logs. It reiterates that as a result of the service doesn’t log any info, it doesn’t hand over any knowledge to legislation enforcement.

In my view, whereas PIA’s possession and US operations are legitimate considerations, the service has executed sufficient to point out that it’s a protected and viable VPN service in 2024.

Key options of Personal Web Entry VPN

PIA VPN comes with each industry-standard and distinctive VPN options for potential VPN patrons. Let’s check out a few of PIA’s spotlight options.

Spectacular server fleet

PIA VPN provides servers unfold out throughout 91 nations, giving customers a broad vary of places to select from. As well as, whereas PIA doesn’t promote the precise server rely it has, it reportedly has round 10,000 to virtually 35,000 servers.

These are very spectacular numbers, particularly since high VPN rivals solely have round 3,000-5,000 servers. The excessive server rely will profit customers who plan on unblocking geo-restricted content material or need a high quality server close to their location for quicker speeds.

PIA additionally not too long ago introduced that it now has 50 servers in all 50 U.S. states.

In the event you’re a US citizen, this can be a helpful value-add permitting you to observe blocked sports activities or information applications or entry geo-restricted accounts and providers solely obtainable in particular states.

Customizable VPN expertise

PIA permits customers to customise their VPN expertise in a number of methods. A technique is thru its automation characteristic, which lets you set automated actions for the VPN every time it connects to a given community.

For instance, you possibly can set PIA to activate the VPN in case your machine connects to an Open or unsecured community or have it turned off should you join through an ethernet cable.

PIA VPN additionally allows customers to bookmark or pin sure elements of the appliance to look on high.

This can be a easy and handy usability characteristic that enables for higher customization, particularly if customers need to hold observe of sure options or stats over others.

Limitless gadget connections

PIA now permits a vast variety of simultaneous gadget connections with one subscription. The service previously had a 10-device restrict, and whereas that was within the higher vary of allowed gadget connections, the improve to having limitless connections is welcome nonetheless.

That is an underrated characteristic, particularly for VPN customers who’ve a number of units for work or private use.

SEE: SMB Safety Pack (TechRepublic Premium)

Efficiency: Is Personal Web Entry VPN quick?

All through my PIA testing, I obtained moderately quick speeds. I used the VPN to observe 4K and 1080p YouTube movies, attend on-line video conferences and do work on Google Workspace apps (Drive, Docs and Hold) — with no noticeable lag or real-world slowdown.

It additionally didn’t fail by way of DNS leak safety. I ran PIA VPN via a public DNS leak instrument a number of instances and didn’t report any leaks after a spherical of checks with totally different servers.

When it got here to hurry checks, PIA VPN gave stable outcomes. For downloads, PIA VPN recorded 39.31% slower speeds than my web service supplier. For uploads, it had a 26.9% lower in velocity towards my ISP. Whereas not the quickest I’ve examined, I think about any lower of velocity throughout the 20-40% vary to be good — particularly since slower speeds are anticipated when utilizing a VPN.

On this case, I give props to PIA VPN for offering respectable speeds for each uploads and downloads, as some VPNs normally present a lot slower efficiency for uploads.

When it comes to server switching, PIA was fast. It had no bother establishing new connections or switching to new VPN places shortly. This was true at the same time as I linked to places that have been farther away.

Sadly, I did expertise one bug that retains PIA’s efficiency from being good. The primary time I converted to the WireGuard protocol, PIA couldn’t hook up with a server. This occurred even when I switched to servers that have been nearer my location — a stark distinction to the app’s efficiency whereas on OpenVPN. Nevertheless, after restarting the appliance twice, the bug appeared to resolve itself and I used to be capable of join.

Per my analysis, there are a number of customers who’ve skilled an identical challenge, however it does appear to be a bug that’s been fastened and is now simply resolvable.

Personal Web Entry VPN servers and places

Whereas PIA VPN at the moment doesn’t present a precise variety of its server sorts, it has previously declared round 10,000 to 35,000 servers. These servers are unfold out throughout 91 nations. This quantity makes it one of many largest server suites obtainable in the present day.

Location-wise, PIA has servers within the Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Center East, Africa and Central Asia. Of be aware, PIA has no less than one server in all 50 U.S. states — a plus should you’re a U.S. citizen seeking to make the most of servers in several U.S. states.

Sadly, PIA VPN doesn’t provide specialised servers for streaming or torrenting. It does have what it calls PIA NextGen servers. These are colocated servers which might be wholly owned and managed by PIA and run on higher, quicker, and safer {hardware}.

General, it’s onerous to argue towards a server suite that reaches the tens and hundreds, and the 50 servers for 50 U.S. states are additionally helpful. However I do want that PIA had extra specialised server sorts for safety, streaming, or torrenting to refine its server community much more.

Personal Web Entry VPN ease of use

In terms of its desktop interface, there are professionals and cons to PIA VPN. On the optimistic aspect, I actually respect how PIA VPN provides the consumer management over what they need to seem on their predominant dashboard.

Its bookmarking characteristic permits customers to put their most popular options, settings, or VPN stats on the high of the appliance. Other than bookmarking, PIA VPN additionally helps you to rearrange these sections to your most popular order.

On the flip aspect, I did discover PIA VPN’s app to be a bit clunky by way of consumer expertise. Specifically, I observed some lag and choppiness every time I navigated via its menus, browsed the server listing,  or switched to a brand new VPN server.

To be clear, it’s nonetheless very usable, and all the pieces works as marketed. Nevertheless, I do assume it makes the entire app expertise really feel much less polished in comparison with different high VPNs like NordVPN or ExpressVPN — whose purposes are barely a step above relating to UX, in my private opinion.

PIA VPN professionals

• Spectacular 10,000-35,000 server suite.
• Very customizable VPN expertise.
• Servers for all 50 U.S. states.
• Dependable kill change.
• Quick add and obtain speeds.
• 7-day trial through cellular variations.
• Open-source.

PIA VPN cons

• US-based, owned by controversial Kape Applied sciences.
• No free model.
• No specialised servers.
• WireGuard protocol could also be buggy.
• Desktop app feels a bit clunky.

How good is PIA VPN?

Personal Web Entry VPN is a stable VPN selection in 2024. It has a large server fleet, a customizable VPN app, and the flexibility to make limitless gadget connections. Its 50 servers for 50 U.S. states additionally make it a first-rate selection for Individuals in search of servers particular to america.

Whereas its U.S. operations and guardian firm could trigger some concern, PIA VPN will get sufficient issues proper to make it a really viable VPN possibility in the present day.

Personal Web Entry VPN options

Whereas PIA VPN is a high quality VPN service, it might not have the proper set of options to your wants. I’ve listed comparable options under that will go well with what you’re in search of higher.

Mullvad VPN

For privateness fanatics, Mullvad VPN is a best choice. It implements an nameless account numbering system that lets prospects buy subscriptions with zero private info handed over. It additionally has an independently audited no-logs coverage, guaranteeing that no consumer knowledge is vulnerable to being leaked to malicious actors.

To study extra, learn our full Mullvad VPN assessment.

NordVPN

NordVPN is likely one of the most well-regarded VPNs within the area. It provides constant and quick speeds, a strong server fleet, and quite a few third-party audits. It additionally options specialised security measures akin to built-in malware safety and an encrypted file-sharing system, making it an all-around safety platform.

To study extra, take a look at our full NordVPN assessment.

Surfshark

Surfshark is one other well-liked VPN possibility in 2024. It has an easy-to-use interface fitted to learners, robust encryption, and 24/7 buyer assist. It additionally has an excellent fame for unblocking streaming content material.

To study extra, try our full Surfshark VPN assessment.

How we evaluated Personal Web Entry VPN

My assessment of PIA VPN concerned an in depth evaluation of its spotlight options, value, and real-world efficiency. I additionally had hands-on time with PIA via their Home windows utility.

For add and obtain speeds, I examined PIA VPN utilizing Ookla’s public Speedtest. In the meantime, I ran PIA VPN via DNSLeakTest a number of instances to check for DNS leaks.

Lastly, I scored PIA VPN on all the pieces from its protocols to its worth primarily based on an inside algorithm to get a ranking of 4.5 out of 5 stars. This ranking checked out PIA VPN each by itself and with different VPN providers obtainable in the present day.