VPN by Private Internet Access

Name: VPN by Private Internet Access
Rating: 4.68837 (83381 reviews)

Productivity

View in App Store

VPN by Private Internet Access

Productivity

4.7

83.4K ratings

Age Rating

17+

Seller

Private Internet Access, Inc.

In-App Purchases

$6.99 – $74.99

View in App Store

Price Intelligence:

Average for the Productivity category The most popular in-app price for the app

Grow your in-app revenue

while we take care of your subscription management.
Mobile SDK by Qonversion.

Learn more

Price Intelligence based on:

213,534

apps aggregated

8,172,290

in-app prices defined

main categories

In-App Purchase Price (Subscription or Non-Recurring)

vs. average for the Productivity category, $, by region

Build, analyze, and grow in-app subscriptions

with the most powerful mobile SDK for subscriptions

Explore

User Reviews for VPN by Private Internet Access

Connection Issues

I don’t know what you guys did on this new update, but now it’s a huge struggle to connect on iPad and iPhone. It’s try...try...try again, over and over and over hoping it will connect. Switching regions is till a 50% chance it will catch. On my Mac Pro it’s produces slow buffering video streaming even at 100mps speed, slow website loading on both Safari and Firefox and major connection issues on iPad and iPhone. Huge disappointment to a customer of 3 years. Sending “slow speed complaint” for the last 3 years weekly has not improved the service at all and is getting very annoying now. This new update put me over the edge to look for a better service. My one year is up in a month and will be looking for a better provider.**UPDATE** Since the new Mac update recently, everything is running beautifully...connection is flawless on Mac. Connection speed is faster, disconnection speed is also faster. The new design is great and have had no problems with this new Mac update. So CHEERS to the nice job. What ever you did to the Mac update needs to be done with iPhone and iPad update. Connection problems still arise when connecting to Canada and Mexico on iPad and iPhone even after iPhone PIA update. I use them because of the lower MS numbers. Thank you for fixing the Mac issues. Here’s hoping fixes will come to iPad and iPhone issues.

Dissapointed Customer01, Jun 01, 2018

Suddenly stopped working

I have been using PIA for well over a year on both iOS and Windows and have not had any problems. Up until now I would’ve gave it 5 stars. However, all of a sudden v3.6.1 stopped working for me on my iPhone running 13.5.1. At first it wouldn’t connect, it would just spin and now will not allow me to login citing an “SSL error, secure connection to server cannot be made.” Deleting and re-downloading, switching SSID’s etc has not fixed this.Outside of the app not working, my big issue is with the nonexistent costumer support. Initial triage of the issue from PIA was basic. I was told to escalate my ticket since all options were exhausted. So the Development crew replied hours later but showed how they clearly did not read my issue at all from the trouble ticket. If you explicitly state that you do not currently have service and are operating strictly from WiFi as well as you are not able to login, the first two “troubleshooting techniques” should not be “switch to data, or switch from openVPN to WireGuard.”The PIA app still functions on my Windows 10 notebook, but when you pay for services, you expect it to function as stated. I will not be renewing with PIA and will move to ExpressVPN and pay the extra money unless this can actually be rectified.

holdenhdj, Jul 16, 2020

Excellent

Never had a problem. Has been my go to VPN for the past 2 years. Awesome service ever since 👌Update: to all the negative reviews out there - there’s a ton of options to tweak to make the connection more stable. In fact, this is the only VPN service I know of that offers 3 different options (IPSec, IKEv2, AND OpenVPN). EXPERIMENT!! Not all Wi-Fi is the same. Try changing the connection options. IKEv2 is usually the most stable with OpenVPN coming in second. With the latter you can even change the port number. Maybe stop complaining and actually try to do some research. I’ve had this app for over 2 years and it’s never failed. And for those very strict environments there’s always the official OpenVPN app with preconfigured PIA profiles for literally any situation. And before you ask - I was NOT paid to write this or am getting a discount. I’m just sick of reading reviews from people who seem like they’d rather complain than explore the myriad of connection options this offered by this service /rant

Major_Ursa, Mar 22, 2019

Update 3: Great app!

Update 3: I am impressed. Everything about the app has been improved, and it works extremely well. No battery problems anymore. This app works in the background very effectively and at low cost in terms of battery. I can now definitely recommend this service and this app as being top notch. Upgrading to 5 stars easily. Well done software developers!Update 2: Connections are working pretty well now so the problems associated with my Update 1 are no longer issues. I like the addition of OpenVPN as an alternative to IPSec. So, connections are good, speed is generally good, but the app now eats up 50+ percent of my battery in a given day. Not totally sure what that is about but I can have my phone in my pocket all day (and not really use it much) and by the end of the day, I’m completely out of battery. Update 1: Problems are back! Loss of vpn connection is way too common. It gets locked in this cycle of trying to reconnect forever, and you have to exit the app and start over. Sometimes you have to restart your phone to get it working again. Automatic connection leads to countries on the other side of the world with massive latency problems. Really wish they did not update the app. First review: While I have had problems in the past, I think this latest update is a significant improvement. I think the company is moving in the right direction and is one of the best VPN clients available.

Mikeblue13, Feb 10, 2020

So far so good, after uninstalling and installing again

Has worked flawlessly for several years. During that time, I used several iPhones while always maintaining latest iOS and PIA app versions. Then, suddenly several weeks ago, regardless of Wi-Fi/Mobile Network connection, it began disconnecting the PIA VPN, yet allowing Internet traffic, even with KILL SWITCH activated. Ugh! So, I took a chance today, and uninstalled app, then installed again. Left PIA install defaults, which were same as my original settings. So far, it seems fine. However, not enough time has passed to be certain. So, I’ll update the review, if deemed appropriate.Love PIA. Only flaw is occasionally it will not connect with my dedicated IP but will with all other regions provided by PIA. Still have the occasional issue with KILL SWITCH on but app not connected and my public IP revealed. Ugh!!! Frustrating. Windows app works flawlessly. Just the iOS app with latest versions of everything kept updated still has the random disconnect issue even with KILL SWITCH. So, that is the reason for four and not five stars. Support is amazing whenever issues arise. Quick to respond and assist. Hope they can figure out the KILL SWITCH issue soon. Thanks!

MLJ1967, Dec 24, 2021

So far so good, after uninstalling and installing again

Has worked flawlessly for several years. During that time, I used several iPhones while always maintaining latest iOS and PIA app versions. Then, suddenly several weeks ago, regardless of Wi-Fi/Mobile Network connection, it began disconnecting the PIA VPN, yet allowing Internet traffic, even with KILL SWITCH activated. Ugh! So, I took a chance today, and uninstalled app, then installed again. Left PIA install defaults, which were same as my original settings. So far, it seems fine. However, not enough time has passed to be certain. So, I’ll update the review, if deemed appropriate. Love PIA. Only flaw is occasionally it will not connect with my dedicated IP but will with all other regions provided by PIA. Still have the occasional issue with KILL SWITCH on but app not connected and my public IP revealed. Ugh!!! Frustrating. Windows app works flawlessly. Just the iOS app with latest versions of everything kept updated still has the random disconnect issue even with KILL SWITCH. So, that is the reason for four and not five stars. Support is amazing whenever issues arise. Quick to respond and assist. Hope they can figure out the KILL SWITCH issue soon. Thanks!

MLJ1967, Jul 12, 2022

Connection issues.

For the most part this app seems to work great. Unfortunately, it’s not 100%. My biggest issue I seem to have is using Wi-Fi. It doesn’t matter if it’s my home Wi-Fi connection, or my Wi-Fi at work, or any public Wi-Fi. Once I connect to my Wi-Fi at home, the VPN will be connected and work fine; but when I leave and I shut the VPN off, or even when I leave it on when using mobile data, it tends to not want to reconnect to Wi-Fi, any Wi-Fi. If I have the VPN on at home on my Wi-Fi, and then go to work, my phone will not connect to the Wi-Fi at work. The VPN will be on, but it won’t connect to the Wi-Fi. If I turn the VPN off suddenly it connects to the Wi-Fi. Turn the VPN back on and you’re back on LTE. I’ve tried multiple things to try and connect to the Wi-Fi and the VPN, and the only thing that works is shutting the phone off and turning it back on. Then when I leave work, whether I turn the VPN off or leave it on, when I get home it won’t connect to my home Wi-Fi. I will have the VPN on over the LTE, and it won’t connect to my Wi-Fi once again. The only way to connect to the Wi-Fi is to shut the VPN off, or once again power off the phone and back on again.

MusicM237, Mar 27, 2019

Once a champ, now a dud!

I've used PIA across multiple hardware for years. Once loved now I'm shopping for the something new and stable. Lately the past 3-4+ versions have been terrible! I don't know what you've done? But, you broke it! My laptops both Win10 and IOS, PIA constantly crashes then eventually locks up when claiming to be disconnecting. Sometimes so bad it requires a reboot. My cell forget about it. It is constantly trying to connect or get a public IP. Forget crossing networks, I'll experience up to a ten minute delay in getting the vpn connected. It's become so bad if I don't turn it off for a few seconds multiple times in a day, my texts and notifications are delayed up to a day or two. I work in health IT and protecting PHI and sensitive info is mandatory. I stopped using my cell for work related items. I contacted their support and they had the audacity to proceed in that it was something on my end! Same behaviors, multiple devices, multiple networks, once it worked, now it's broke. I didn't change a thing. I used to recommend and would even debate in the past PIA it was the best, now I don't even mention that I have it.

No More PIA, Jan 25, 2019

App prevents search results.

I have this app for a few years. Does it work? I guess so. How would I really know? I know for sure when it’s on I can’t access my search results. They just don’t come up anymore unless I deactivate this app. Mmm that doesn’t seem to me like it really works. Is it supposed to cause me to not get results from a search? Don’t I pay them to make me anonymous? If I wanted an vpn that prevented me from accessing info from a Google search I can have that for free by just going back to paper searches in a library building. There must be a way to prevent information providers from denying access to information bc you don’t want them to know who you are or track you. But I don’t know what it is and neither does this vpn. Even tik tok makes me do the puzzle match bf i can watch a video when this app is turned on to hide my IP address. I tried express vpn. But these two vpn services are owned by the same company. Mmmm? My advice is if you don’t mind being thwarted from obtaining results from a Google search or de activating the app everytime you search, then purchase this app and you will be satisfied. But why buy it when your searches are useless with it?

Rain user, Jan 15, 2022

Good, reasonably priced VPN option

For about $5/mo PIA provides reasonably fast service with a great variety of global servers.Connecting from a rural area where broadband seldom exceeds 8mbs, PIA thankfully decreases speed only by 1–2mbs, allowing enough headroom to comfortably stream, voip, etc.Another bonus is that PIA can be enabled across an entire network by purchasing a suitable Flashrouter. While the standard license covers 3 devices, purchasing a dedicated PIA Flashrouter will encrypt all household data: voice, video, and IoT.Only downside is that the company either moves servers around to different regions or relies on virtual servers. The effect, seen on occasion, is that the geolocation tags can become mislabeled thereby blocking certain regionally restricted content. A while back a PIA server listed as Los Angeles was tagged as originating in Romania. Blocked content was easily restored by choosing another region, but it appears a little quirky the first time encountered.

Securityis#1, Feb 25, 2021

Description

Get instant secure data protection and keep your identity private with PIA VPN. With PIA, get Secure Access, Internet Freedom, Secure Connection, Online Privacy and more! With our encrypted network traffic, PIA keeps your private data secure, even on public WiFi.

Hide your IP address & connect anonymously to the internet for as low as $2.69/month! Enjoy online privacy with Private Internet Access®; the world’s leading secure VPN service. Download the Private Internet Access® VPN app and enjoy exceptional connection security: - Open Source Transparency: Get maximum online privacy with VPN protocols like OpenVPN and WireGuard - designed for anybody to inspect or modify for complete transparency. - IP Protection: Hide your IP address and change location with Private Internet Access® VPN. Trust us to keep your online search anonymous with no logs ever. - Safe Connection: Keep your personal data safe as our VPN router directs your traffic through a secure WiFi connection. - Powerful Encryption Standards. Stick with our defaults, or optimize your VPN experience to your own personal needs and get instant access to the sites you want! - Multi-device Support: One PIA subscription keeps up to 10 devices protected simultaneously. - Split Tunneling: Choose which applications or IP addresses can bypass the secure VPN tunnel. - Per-Network Settings: Automatically enable the secure VPN connection when rejoining to an unsecure WiFi network. - Kill Switch: Unexpected VPN network connection failure? Our kill switch feature will automatically block your internet connection preventing any data leaks. - Biggest Network. Extensive network servers and locations in over 77 countries and more being added daily. - FREE Email Breach Monitor. Check to see if your email address has been affected by any security breaches. Join the 15 million satisfied customers worldwide "Private Internet Access is one of Lifehacker readers' favorite VPN service providers, making it easy to surf the web anonymously, privately and securely from anywhere." – Lifehacker "There have been several Editors' Choice VPN services recently, as one product tops the next, but Private Internet Access out-performs and out-features the competition. With 4.5 stars, Private Internet Access sets the bar high and is truly the Editors' Choice, trumping all our previous favorites." -- PC Mag “When shopping for a VPN service, it is recommended to find a service that keeps no logs of its customers’ traffic and prevents an anonymity-unmasking issue known as IPv6 leakage. Private Internet Access carries the highest level of security.” – Wired Still unsure? Try PIA with a 7 Day Free VPN Trial and 30-Day Money Back Guarantee Sign up and choose the Private Internet Access® VPN plan that’s best for you. PIA’s best and lowest value VPN plan is a two-year subscription for $69.95, which is only $2.69/month! Low cost for a high speed VPN service. We’re always here to help! PIA provides a dedicated resource library, email support, and 24/7 live chat. GDPR Compatibility This application only sends usernames and encrypted passwords to our servers as part of using the app. During signups, we also collect user emails. We do not collect or store any other user information.