Best for privacy purists and port forwardingHow Private Internet Access scores
Scores are our editorial judgement from the provider's published features, independent audits and third-party reports. We don't publish our own speed numbers. Our method.
Private Internet Access pros and cons
What we like
- No-logs policy proven in US court cases
- Three Deloitte no-logs audits
- Port forwarding included
- Unlimited devices
- Open-source apps
What to know
- Based in the US, a Five Eyes country
- No port forwarding on US servers
- Busy apps for beginners
- Less reliable for streaming than the leaders
Private Internet Access at a glance
- Headquarters
- United States (Colorado)
- Owner
- Kape Technologies (since 2019)
- No-logs evidence
- US court cases; Deloitte audits 2022, 2024, 2025
- Server countries
- 91, plus every US state
- Devices at once
- Unlimited
- Protocols
- WireGuard, OpenVPN
- Torrenting
- P2P on all servers, port forwarding
- Money-back guarantee
- 30 days
Privacy: why PIA's no-logs claim is unusually strong
Few VPNs have had their no-logs policy tested in court. PIA has. In US cases in 2016 and 2018, authorities asked PIA for data that could identify users, and court records showed it had nothing to hand over.
Deloitte Audit Romania has also reviewed PIA's no-logs setup three times: in 2022, in 2024 and in a report completed on 19 December 2025 under the ISAE 3000 standard. Since 2024, PIA has published quarterly transparency reports; in the last quarter of 2025 it received 30 legal requests and says it produced no logs for any of them. Its servers run from RAM.
Worth knowing: PIA is based in the US, a Five Eyes intelligence-sharing country, and owned by Kape Technologies, which also owns ExpressVPN and CyberGhost. Its court and audit record is the strongest answer to both concerns.
Port forwarding and torrenting
PIA is one of the few big VPNs that still offers port forwarding, which lets other peers or players connect to you directly. That can speed up seeding and downloads of less popular torrents, and it lets you host game servers from behind the VPN.
It isn't available on US servers, so pick a nearby non-US location when you need it. P2P is allowed on every server, and a SOCKS5 proxy is included for torrent clients that support it. Compare it with other options in our best VPN for torrenting guide.
Open-source apps and fine-grained control
PIA publishes the source code of its apps, so security researchers can check what they do. It also runs a bug bounty program.
The apps give you more control than most: you can choose WireGuard or OpenVPN, change encryption strength, set up per-network rules for trusted Wi-Fi, and use a Shadowsocks proxy for networks that block VPNs. MACE blocks ads, trackers and malicious domains. Power users love this; beginners may prefer a simpler app.
Unlimited devices and server coverage
PIA allows unlimited simultaneous connections, like Surfshark, so one subscription covers a whole household. It has servers in 91 countries and in every US state, which helps if you need a specific US location.
A dedicated IP add-on is available for banking and work logins, and PIA's design means the dedicated IP isn't linked to your account in its systems.
Speed and streaming
With WireGuard, PIA is fast enough for HD streaming, video calls and downloads on nearby servers. Independent testers generally place it behind NordVPN, ExpressVPN and Surfshark for raw speed and consistency. We don't publish our own numbers, because they depend on your connection.
Streaming results are more mixed than with the leaders: reviewers report it works with some major services but less consistently. If streaming abroad is your main goal, NordVPN or ExpressVPN is a safer bet. Use the 30-day refund window to test the services you care about.
Should you choose Private Internet Access?
A good fit if you
- care most about provable privacy
- torrent and seed a lot, or host game servers
- like adjusting encryption, protocols and ports
- need to cover many devices cheaply
Look elsewhere if you
- want the simplest app (choose ExpressVPN)
- mainly stream from abroad (choose NordVPN)
- need a VPN for China (choose ExpressVPN)
Private Internet Access alternatives
NordVPN
Faster, simpler and better for streaming, with six no-logs audits. No port forwarding.
Surfshark
Also unlimited devices, with simpler apps and Netherlands jurisdiction.
PureVPN
Another way to get port forwarding (as a paid add-on), with a 31-day refund.
Private Internet Access FAQ
Is Private Internet Access safe?
Yes. PIA uses strong encryption, a kill switch and RAM-only servers, its apps are open source, and its no-logs policy has been proven in US court cases and audited by Deloitte three times, most recently in December 2025.
Does PIA keep logs?
No. Court records from US cases in 2016 and 2018 showed PIA had no identifying data to hand over, and Deloitte audits have checked its no-logs setup. Its quarterly transparency reports show zero logs produced.
Is PIA safe even though it is based in the US?
PIA is subject to US law, but it can only hand over data it has. Its no-logs policy has held up in US court cases and independent audits, which is stronger evidence than a privacy-friendly location alone.
Does PIA support port forwarding?
Yes, on all servers except those in the US. Enable it in the app and enter the port number in your torrent client or game server settings.
How many devices can I use with PIA?
Unlimited. One PIA subscription covers as many devices as you want at the same time.
Is PIA good for streaming?
It works with some major services, but reviewers report less consistent results than NordVPN or ExpressVPN. If streaming is your priority, test it during the 30-day money-back period.
Who owns Private Internet Access?
PIA has been owned by Kape Technologies since 2019. Kape also owns ExpressVPN and CyberGhost.
Is PIA better than NordVPN?
PIA is better for provable privacy, port forwarding and unlimited devices. NordVPN is faster, simpler and better for streaming and travel. Most people will prefer NordVPN; privacy purists and heavy torrenters often prefer PIA.
How we review VPNs
We score each VPN on privacy evidence, security features, speed technology, apps and devices, and value. We base scores on the provider's own documentation, published independent audits, court and transparency records, and reports from established testing sites. We don't run our own lab speed tests, so we don't publish speed numbers, and we update reviews when providers change their plans or features.
Sources we checked for this review
- PIA: second Deloitte security audit (2024)
- TechRadar: PIA's third Deloitte audit and Q4 2025 transparency report
- PIA: transparency report (Q2 2024)
- Tom's Guide: VPN server-country comparison
Last checked . Features and prices change; confirm details on the provider's site before you buy.