Private Internet Access vs PureVPN
We give Private Internet Access and PureVPN the same GPA: 2.2 out of 4.0. Private Internet Access grades higher on ease of use. PureVPN grades higher on value for money. They get the same grade on the free plan, features and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Private Internet Access
Open-source VPN with unlimited devices and servers in all 50 US states
PureVPN
VPN sold in three tiers that add a password manager and data removal
How we grade them
| 2.2GPAPrivate Internet AccessFair | 2.2GPAPureVPNFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C$47.88 a year, the same at renewal, so two years cost $95.76, about $3.99 a month, just above the cheaper quarter of VPNs at $3.33. The 3-year plan is $2.03 a month for the first 39 months, then $79 every 3 years, but that's three years up front. Monthly is $11.95. | BThe 2-year Standard plan bills $58.20 for the first 27 months, so two years cost about $2.43 a month, inside the cheaper quarter of VPNs. It then renews at $47.95 a year, below the middle. Monthly is $12.95. |
| Free plan and trial | FNothing free: no free plan and no trial. There's a 30-day money-back guarantee for new subscribers, but that isn't a trial. | FNothing free: no free plan, and the 7-day trial costs $0.99, then bills $47.95 for a year unless you cancel. The 31-day money-back guarantee isn't a trial either. |
| Features | BUnlimited devices, servers in 104 countries including all 50 US states, RAM-only servers, WireGuard and OpenVPN, ad and malware blocking, split tunneling, multi-hop and port forwarding. It covers the whole job. | B10 devices, WireGuard, OpenVPN and IKEv2, obfuscated servers, a kill switch, split tunneling and a tracker blocker on every plan, plus a password manager on Plus. Port forwarding and dedicated IPs cost extra, but the core job is covered. |
| Ease of use | BNo App Store rating on record, but it's an app you install, sign in to and connect, with nothing to configure first. | C4.36 from about 7,900 App Store ratings, under the 4.5 a B needs, and short of the 10,000 ratings that would let a 4.3 count. |
| Platforms and integrations | BMac, Windows, Linux, iPhone, Android and browser extensions, with open-source apps. There's no integration list or API on record, so it stops at B. | BWindows, Mac, Linux, iPhone, Android, and Chrome and Firefox extensions. There's no integration list or API on record, so it stops at B. |
| Best for | unlimited devices without renewal surprises | a VPN with privacy extras on the same bill |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Private Internet Access and PureVPN. How we grade
Price against what you get
Private Internet Access starts at $3.99 a month when paid by the year and scores 3.0 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. PureVPN starts at $4 a month when paid by the year and scores 2.7.
Private Internet Access scores higher and starts $0.01 a month lower. Of the other VPNs on the chart, none scores higher than Private Internet Access for less, and 3 score higher than PureVPN for less.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Where they differ
- Private Internet Access starts at $47.88 per year (1 Year plan, the same price at renewal). PureVPN starts at $47.95 per year at renewal (Standard), after a first 27 months for $58.20.
- Private Internet Access is open source, according to its own site.
- PureVPN also covers password manager.
At a glance
| Private Internet Access | PureVPN | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Paid | Paid |
| Starts at | $47.88 per year (1 Year plan, the same price at renewal) | $47.95 per year at renewal (Standard), after a first 27 months for $58.20 |
| Free plan | None | None |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Browser extension | ||
| Made by | PIA Private Internet Access, Inc. | GZ Systems Limited |
| Price read from | privateinternetaccess.com | purevpn.com |
| Checked | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 17, 2026 |
Who each one suits
Private Internet Access
- Households with more devices than a capped VPN allows
- People who want a server in a specific US state
- Torrent users who need port forwarding
PureVPN
- Households that need a VPN on up to 10 devices
- Buyers who want a password manager and data removal billed with the VPN
- People who need a dedicated IP or port forwarding as an add-on
Worth knowing
Private Internet Access
- The 3-year plan's $2.03 a month is a first-term rate; it renews at $79 every 3 years, and the page gives no total for the first 39 months.
- There is no free trial; the 30-day money-back guarantee is for new subscribers, and app store purchases follow Apple's or Google's refund terms.
- Antivirus and a dedicated IP cost extra and are added at checkout; their prices are not shown on the plans page.
PureVPN
- Advertised prices cover the first 27 or 16 months only; plans then renew yearly at $47.95 to $89.95, depending on tier and term.
- There is no free trial. A 7-day trial costs $0.99 (Standard) or $1.99 (Max), then bills $47.95 or $89.95 for 12 months unless cancelled.
- Refunds fall under a 31-day money-back guarantee, subject to PureVPN's fair-use terms.
- PureVPN for Teams is sold separately, at $7 per user a month on annual billing, with a central dashboard.
Key features
Private Internet Access
- Unlimited devices
- One subscription can be used on as many devices at the same time as you like.
- Servers in 104 countries
- The network reaches 104 countries, including servers in all 50 US states, and the servers run from RAM only.
- Open-source apps and protocols
- PIA's apps are open source, and it connects over WireGuard or OpenVPN.
- MACE
- Blocks ads, trackers and malware at the DNS level.
- Split tunneling, multi-hop and port forwarding
- Choose which apps skip the VPN, route traffic through more than one server, and open a forwarded port on selected servers for torrenting.
- Email breach monitor
- A built-in alert tells you if your email address shows up in a data breach.
PureVPN
- Up to 10 devices
- One account can be logged in on 10 devices at once. A Multi-login add-on gives 10 more.
- Protocols and obfuscation
- WireGuard, OpenVPN and IKEv2/IPSec, plus obfuscated servers that make VPN traffic look like ordinary HTTPS on networks that block VPNs.
- Kill switch and split tunneling
- The kill switch cuts the internet connection if the VPN drops, and split tunneling picks which apps go through the VPN.
- Tracker and ad blocker
- Included on every plan, to block ads and the trackers that follow you between sites.
- Privacy extras on higher tiers
- Plus adds a password manager. Max adds requests to remove your data from data brokers, dark web alerts, and a 3GB eSIM valid for 30 days, resold from Truely.
- Paid network add-ons
- Dedicated IPs, port forwarding, a dedicated server, DDoS-protected IPs and a US residential network are sold as extras.
Plans
Private Internet Access
1 Month$11.95
per month
Billed monthly and renews at the same $11.95.
1 Year$47.88
per year
$3.99 a month. The first year and each renewal are both billed at $47.88.
3 Years + 3 Months$79
every 3 years at renewal, after a first term of 39 months
Shown at $2.03 a month for the first 39 months, labelled 83% off; the page does not state the first bill. Renews at $79 every 3 years.
PureVPN
Standard, 2 years$47.95
per year at renewal, after a first term of 27 months
VPN and tracker blocker. The first 27 months cost $58.20 ($2.15 a month), then it renews each year at $47.95.
Standard, 1 year$57.95
per year at renewal, after a first term of 16 months
VPN and tracker blocker. The first 16 months cost $40.80 ($2.55 a month), then it renews each year at $57.95.
Standard, 1 month$12.95
per month
VPN and tracker blocker, renewing monthly at the same price.
Plus, 2 years$69.95
per year at renewal, after a first term of 27 months
Adds the password manager. First 27 months $73.80 ($2.73 a month). Also 1 year ($72.80 for the first 16 months, then $69.95) or $17.95 a month.
Max, 2 years$84.95
per year at renewal, after a first term of 27 months
Adds data removal, dark web monitoring and a 3GB eSIM. First 27 months $95.85. Also 1 year ($88.80 for 16 months, then $89.95) or $19.95 a month.
Ways to pay less
Private Internet Access
- Other savings
3 years plus 3 extra months at $2.03 a month
The 3-year plan comes with 3 extra months at $2.03 a month for the first term, which the page calls 83% off the monthly price. It then renews at $79 every 3 years.
- Annual discount
About 67% off with yearly billing
The 1-year plan costs $47.88, against $143.40 for twelve months at the $11.95 monthly price.
PureVPN
- Other savings
First 27 months of a 2-year plan from $58.20
Standard costs $58.20, Plus $73.80 and Max $95.85 for the first 27 months (24 plus 3 extra). They then renew every 12 months at $47.95, $69.95 and $84.95.
- Other savings
First 16 months of a 1-year plan from $40.80
Standard costs $40.80, Plus $72.80 and Max $88.80 for the first 16 months (12 plus 4 extra), before renewing yearly at $57.95, $69.95 and $89.95.
