Private Internet Access (PIA) is one of the oldest and largest VPNs on the market. With over 28,000 servers and court-proven no-logs claims, it has real credentials. It also has the largest server network of any major VPN by a considerable margin. But Kape Technologies owns it, which puts it in the same corporate family as ExpressVPN and CyberGhost. Here is what that means in practice.
Server Network: The Biggest Available
PIA operates 28,936 servers across 77 countries, the largest fleet of any major VPN. For comparison: NordVPN has 6,274 servers, ExpressVPN has 3,000+. More servers generally means less congestion and more IP diversity, which matters for tasks like web scraping, bypassing geo-restrictions, or maintaining a consistent digital footprint.
Owned servers score 4/5 in our database.
Speed: Good Locally, Mixed on Distance
PIA scores 4/5 for speed. Local server performance is strong. Speed on distant servers (cross-continental connections) varies more than with NordVPN, ExpressVPN, or Surfshark. WireGuard speeds have been noted as inconsistent in some 2026 reviews, which is unusual given how performant WireGuard typically is. If you are primarily connecting to nearby servers, PIA is fine. For regular cross-continental use, the competition is faster.
Encryption: A Genuine Concern
PIA’s default encryption is AES-128, not AES-256. This is deliberately configurable, and you can switch to AES-256 in the settings. But the default choice is weaker than every other major VPN in this review, and many users will never change it. The encryption score is 2/5 in our database for this reason.
AES-128 is not “broken” or easily compromised in practice, but it is a lower security standard than the industry default. The fact that you can adjust it is a feature, but setting a weaker default is a design decision worth questioning.
No-Logs Policy: Court-Proven
PIA’s no-logs claim has been tested in US federal courts twice. In both cases, authorities requested user data and PIA produced nothing because there was nothing to produce. This is a stronger proof point than many audits.
A formal audit by Deloitte was conducted in 2022, 2024, and most recently in 2025, all returning clean results. The no-logs score is 4/5 (not 5/5 because PIA does not carry an independent audit for the full infrastructure, and the court cases preceded some of the current ownership structure).
RAM-only servers are fully deployed, scoring 5/5.
Jurisdiction: United States (Five Eyes)
PIA is based in the United States and scores 3/5 on jurisdiction. The US Five Eyes membership and broad surveillance laws are a concern, mitigated somewhat by the court-proven no-logs record. The federal courts tested this and found no data. That said, US legal frameworks allow for national security letters and gag orders that could create pressures that are never made public.
Ownership: Kape Technologies
PIA was acquired by Kape Technologies in 2019. Kape also owns ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Zenmate. Ownership transparency scores 1/5 in our database. The concern is not that Kape is actively malicious but that consolidating VPN brands under a single corporate parent creates conflicts of interest and reduces the independence that makes VPN trust meaningful.
Kape’s history includes a period when its predecessor company (Crossrider) distributed adware. Kape says the company has changed. Users have to decide how much weight to give that history.
Features
- Protocols: WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2 (no L2TP/IPSec)
- PIA MACE (ad, tracker, and malware blocker): yes, scores 5/5
- Split tunneling: yes
- Multi-Hop: yes
- Shadowsocks proxy: yes
- Obfuscated servers: yes
- Dedicated IP: yes
- Port forwarding: yes (useful for torrenting, one of few major VPNs that still offers it)
- Unlimited simultaneous devices: yes, scores 5/5
Port forwarding is a meaningful differentiator for torrent users, as it can boost download speeds significantly and PIA is one of the only mainstream VPNs still offering it.
Pricing
| Plan | Monthly | Per month (annual) | Annual total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | $11.95 | $3.33 | $39.95 |
At $39.95 per year, PIA is close in price to IPVanish and significantly cheaper than NordVPN or ExpressVPN. The 30-day money-back guarantee applies. No free trial.
Streaming Performance
PIA scores 3.5/5 for streaming. Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and HBO Max work reliably. Disney+ is good. BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and Peacock are variable. It is a step below NordVPN and ExpressVPN for streaming but above Mullvad and IPVanish.
How PIA Compares
| Criteria | PIA | NordVPN | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed | 4/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Default encryption | AES-128 | AES-256 | AES-256 |
| No-logs | 4/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Jurisdiction | USA (3/5) | Panama (5/5) | Netherlands (4/5) |
| Devices | Unlimited | 10 | Unlimited |
| Price (annual) | $39.95 | $59.88 | $38.28 |
| Server count | 28,936 | 6,274 | 3,200+ |
PIA’s server count is its clearest advantage. It wins on device connections (tied with Surfshark) and is competitive on price. It loses on jurisdiction, default encryption, and streaming.
Who Should Use PIA
PIA is a strong choice for power users who want to configure their VPN setup in detail, torrent users who need port forwarding, and users who want the widest possible server network. It is not the best pick for streaming-focused users or anyone for whom corporate ownership is a meaningful concern.
Get PIA VPN with a 30-day money-back guarantee
Want to compare all VPNs side by side? Check our full VPN comparison table with scores across 18 criteria.
Our verdict: PIA has the largest server network available, unlimited devices, port forwarding, and a court-proven no-logs record. The AES-128 default encryption, US jurisdiction, and Kape Technologies ownership are real drawbacks. For users who need raw server coverage and configuration flexibility, PIA delivers. For privacy-first users, ProtonVPN or NordVPN are safer choices. PIA scores 3.3/5 overall.
FAQ
Has PIA ever given user data to authorities? Twice, US federal courts requested user data. Both times, PIA produced nothing because no logs existed. This is documented public record.
Does PIA use AES-256 encryption? By default, PIA uses AES-128. You can switch to AES-256 in the app settings. Most users should change this manually after installing.
Does PIA work in China? PIA has Shadowsocks and obfuscation, which can work in China. Reliability is inconsistent and PIA is not marketed specifically for China use.
Is PIA good for torrenting? Yes, it is one of the best VPNs for torrenting in 2026 because it allows P2P on all servers and offers port forwarding, which is increasingly rare among major VPNs.
The configuration that makes PIA shine
PIA rewards its tinkerer reputation: MACE on, WireGuard selected, kill switch in always-on mode, and the unlimited devices spread across the household turn the budget price into infrastructure economics. The court-tested no-logs story does the trust work, the Variable streaming column sets the expectations, and the result is the best privacy-per-dollar deal in our table for buyers whose nights don’t revolve around Peacock. Configure it deliberately once and the product outperforms its price band for years.
Keep reading: Best Cheap VPN in 2026: Under $3/Month and Actually Good and Best VPN for Torrenting in 2026: Fast, Private, and P2P-Friendly.