Private Internet Access
Open-source VPN with unlimited devices and servers in all 50 US states
Private Internet Access report card
Fair · out of 4.0 · graded Oct 17, 2026
Best for unlimited devices without renewal surprises
Private Internet Access covers unlimited devices, has servers in all 50 US states and open-source apps. The 1-year plan is $47.88 and renews at the same price, which is refreshingly plain for a VPN. There's no free trial, though, only a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Who Private Internet Access is for
- Great if you want a VPN price that doesn't jump after the first year
- Handy when you need a server in a particular US state
- Good for torrenting, with port forwarding on selected servers
Who Private Internet Access is not for
- Not for you if you want to try it free first, as there's no trial
- Pricey if you pay monthly, at $11.95 a month
- Skip it if you want antivirus or a dedicated IP priced up front, as both are added at checkout
Why Private Internet Access gets a 2.2
Five grades, each with its reason. The GPA is their average: an A is 4 points, an F is none.
- CValue for money$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.
- FFree plan and trialNothing free: no free plan and no trial. There's a 30-day money-back guarantee for new subscribers, but that isn't a trial.
- BFeaturesUnlimited 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.
- BEase of useNo App Store rating on record, but it's an app you install, sign in to and connect, with nothing to configure first.
- BPlatforms and integrationsMac, 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.
What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Private Internet Access's own pages on 17 October 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. How we review and grade.
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<a href="https://toolgpa.com/tools/private-internet-access#review"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/badge/private-internet-access.svg" alt="Private Internet Access: 2.2 GPA on ToolGPA" width="196" height="56"></a>Where Private Internet Access stands among VPNs
Private Internet Access's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 4 of the 16 other VPNs we grade, and level with 1.
It stands best on ease of use (B, above 6 of 16) and worst on free plan and trial (F, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $3.99 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $5 for the category: 4 of the 15 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 3.0 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 17 VPNs we grade, cut by the letter each got. Private Internet Access’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 1 of 16, level with 9
- FFree plan and trialAbove 0 of 16, level with 5
- BFeaturesAbove 5 of 16, level with 11
- BEase of useAbove 6 of 16, level with 8
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 16, level with 16
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 16 VPNs. Further left costs less, and higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Point at a dot to see which tool it is.
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
Keep Private Internet Access, or make your own?
Keep it
To replace Private Internet Access you would be making servers in dozens of countries, kept fast and private. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 11 of the 16 other VPNs grade higher. It costs $47.88 a year. Private Internet Access is open source, so there is a third way: take its code and run it yourself.
What you could make
- Ad and tracker blocking: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- Servers in dozens of countries, kept fast and private.
- Apps for macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android that stay in step with each other.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. Private Internet Access’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
What is Private Internet Access?
Private Internet Access (PIA) is a subscription VPN whose apps are open source and whose servers run from RAM only. One subscription covers unlimited devices, and its network reaches 104 countries, including every US state. Antivirus and a dedicated IP are sold as add-ons at checkout.
Private Internet Access is a paid product, starting at $47.88 per year (1 Year plan, the same price at renewal). See every plan
Good for
- 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
Worth knowing
- 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.
Key features
- 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.
Private Internet Access pricing
- Starts at
- $47.88 per year (1 Year plan, the same price at renewal)
- Free plan
- None
- Free trial
- None listed
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Month | $11.95per month | Billed monthly and renews at the same $11.95. |
| 1 Year | $47.88per year | $3.99 a month. The first year and each renewal are both billed at $47.88. |
| 3 Years + 3 Months | $79every 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. |
Read from privateinternetaccess.com on Oct 17, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Private Internet Access before you buy.
Ways to pay less
- Other savings3 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.
Stated on privateinternetaccess.com - Annual discountAbout 67% off with yearly billing
The 1-year plan costs $47.88, against $143.40 for twelve months at the $11.95 monthly price.
Stated on privateinternetaccess.com
Private Internet Access alternatives
- Private Internet Access vs NordVPN
Free trial · from $139.08/yr
- Private Internet Access vs Surfshark
Free trial · from $79/yr
- Private Internet Access vs CyberGhost
Free trial · from $56.94/yr
- Private Internet Access vs Proton VPN
Free plan · from $83.88/yr
- Private Internet Access vs Mullvad VPN
From €5/mo
Common questions
Is Private Internet Access free?
No. Private Internet Access is a paid product, starting at $47.88 per year (1 Year plan, the same price at renewal).
How much does Private Internet Access cost?
Private Internet Access lists 3 plans. 1 Month: $11.95 per month. 1 Year: $47.88 per year. 3 Years + 3 Months: $79 every 3 years at renewal, after a first term of 39 months. Prices were read from privateinternetaccess.com on Oct 17, 2026.
What platforms does Private Internet Access work on?
Private Internet Access is available on macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android. It also has a browser extension.
Does Private Internet Access offer any discounts?
Private Internet Access publicly lists the following: 3 years plus 3 extra months at $2.03 a month; About 67% off with yearly billing.
Is Private Internet Access open source?
Yes. Private Internet Access is open source, according to its own site.
Who makes Private Internet Access?
Private Internet Access is made by PIA Private Internet Access, Inc.
What are the alternatives to Private Internet Access?
The closest alternatives to Private Internet Access in our directory are NordVPN, Surfshark, CyberGhost, Proton VPN and Mullvad VPN. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Private Internet Access.
How does Private Internet Access compare with other VPNs?
Private Internet Access's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 4 of the 16 other VPNs we grade, and level with 1. It stands best on ease of use (B, above 6 of 16) and worst on free plan and trial (F, above 0).
Is Private Internet Access good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Private Internet Access C for value for money. Its paid plans start at $3.99 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $5 for the category: 4 of the 15 others that charge start lower. On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 3.0 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Could I make my own version of Private Internet Access?
To replace Private Internet Access you would be making servers in dozens of countries, kept fast and private. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one. That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 11 of the 16 other VPNs grade higher. It costs $47.88 a year. Private Internet Access is open source, so there is a third way: take its code and run it yourself. What you could not make: Servers in dozens of countries, kept fast and private. Apps for macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android that stay in step with each other. The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job. This is a judgement from its listing. We have not built one.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 17, 2026.