I appreciate that, unlike most other VPNs, PIA’s pricing structure is pretty clear-cut. PIA significantly undercuts even its budget-oriented rivals without skimping on privacy, making it one of the best cheap VPNs available. The value-packed Surfshark charges $48 annually, then $60 for each subsequent year, so PIA saves you anywhere from $12 to $8 on a one-year plan. Most VPN providers, including ExpressVPN, charge around $100 for a year-long subscription, more than twice the price of PIA’s annual tier and $20 more than the annual rate of PIA’s three-year plan. You’ll pay just $12 monthly, $40 annually or $79 for three years (the three-year tier gives you an extra three months of service for a total of 15 months). PIA remains one of the most wallet-friendly VPNs. Apps available for Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android/Android TV, iOS/iPadOS, Fire TV and browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Opera).Payment options: Credit card, PayPal, Amazon Pay, cryptocurrencies (BitPay, Bitcoin, Etherum, Litecoin).$12 per month, $40 annually, or $79 for three years.Value: One of the cheapest VPNs on the market Its low subscription costs make it a great deal nonetheless. Key takeaway: PIA provides middling speeds with an average 49% internet download speed loss - more than twice what we expect from the fastest VPNs. Typically, you’ll experience faster speeds when connected to physical VPN servers geographically located near you (virtual servers may deliver faster speeds than their physical counterparts). Considering its uneven performance, PIA isn’t ideal for more demanding applications like uploading large videos to YouTube or hardcore gaming, but it works for casual use like streaming videos and web browsing - assuming you’ve got a fast internet connection.Īs expected, the fastest speeds I clocked were from the US (New York) servers with a modest 20.39% speed loss. Unfortunately, in our January 2024 tests, PIA averaged a 49.35% speed loss, which was more than double the 23% average loss we saw in 2023 testing. In our 2023 testing, PIA clocked a decent 23% average download speed loss. The fastest VPNs average 20% internet speed loss or less. Average speed loss: 49% in January 2024 testsĪll VPNs throttle your internet download and upload speeds somewhat because you’re routing your traffic through extra servers rather than directly from your internet service provider ( ISP) to apps and websites.Read more: How We Test VPNs Speed: Middling speeds, but a generous server network Like a buffet, PIA piles the benefits high while remaining easy on the pocketbook, so its shortcomings are forgivable. Although PIA’s US jurisdiction and more notable internet speed loss will deter some privacy-focused consumers or power users, its relative affordability and many benefits make it a wallet-friendly VPN option. Furthermore, I pored over its privacy policy and terms of service. I also checked for DNS leaks, tried its apps on a bevy of devices and watched videos on streaming services like Netflix. In my hands-on assessment of PIA, I ran 252 internet speed tests.

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