We rank vendors based on rigorous testing and research, but also take into account your feedback and our commercial agreements with providers. This page contains affiliate links.

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Wizcase was established in 2018 as an independent site reviewing VPN services and covering privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, Intego and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on Wizcase are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize the independent, professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.

Private Internet Access vs PureVPN 2024

We put these VPNs to the test to find out which is the best!

Private Internet Access is one of the more well-known VPNs, but not necessarily one of the best anymore. In comparison, PureVPN is inferior in a few areas, but does offer some advantages.

These two VPNs are strong with their security features in regards to basic web browsing and downloading, thanks to 256-bit encryption, several different protocols such as OpenVPN, PPTP, and L2TP/IPSec, a SOCKS5 proxy, and the option for port forwarding. If you’re looking for a bit more versatility and functionality however, PureVPN may be for you. More Info

How do these VPNs Compare?

Speed

Speed is not the main priority for either of these VPNs, but they aren’t overly lacking in this area either. PureVPN has okay speeds that avoid buffering when streaming, but Private Internet Access seems to have the edge with faster download speeds, according to our testing.

VPN vendor Private Internet Access PureVPN
Download speed reduction 35% (UK) 40% (UK)
Upload speed reduction 39% (FRA) 37% (FRA)
Ping time to google.com 35ms 41ms
Average time to connect (sec.) 10ms 11ms
Unblock successful for Netflix-logo Youtube-logo Hulu-logo Kodi-logo Netflix-logo Hulu-logo
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Why Most Speed Tests are Pointless & How We Correctly Test VPN Speeds

Speed determines how fast content uploads, so if you're torrenting or streaming, you want the speed to be somewhat identical to your regular internet speed. Since a VPN encrypts your data, it usually takes a bit longer to send your data back and forth, which can slow down your connection. However, if your ISP deliberately slows down your connection (also known as throttling) a VPN might increase your internet speed. Testing a VPN is somewhat pointless because new servers pop up and affect speed. Your speed can also differ according to your location, so your speed test might not match ours. Having said that, we tested the speed in numerous locations to provide you with the average.

Servers

For many, the main allure of PureVPN is its long list of available server countries, which currently stands at around 141. Private Internet Access has far less country choices, but does offer a lot more server cities and locations overall

VPN vendor Private Internet Access PureVPN
Server Locations 30 180
Server Countries 30 141
IP Addresses 3,236+ 750
Dynamic Server Switching
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The Big Mistake When Comparing Number of Servers and What to Really Look For

The ratio of servers to countries is an important factor to look at when choosing a VPN. Only paying attention to location or number of servers can get you in trouble. More servers generally means faster speeds, but if VPN X has a few more servers than VPN Y but twice as many users, VPN X will typically have slower speeds. Ideally, you want a VPN that has a lot of servers in every location. This way you won’t have to worry that server/country that you want will be overburdened and running slow.

Support

A common complaint with Private Internet Access seems to be their customer support, mainly due to the lack of a 24/7 chat. They do have a helpful knowledge base, however. PureVPN places a strong emphasis on fast customer support and response times, evidenced by their 24/7 live chat.

VPN vendor Private Internet Access PureVPN
Email Response Time 24 7
24/7 Support
Live Chat
Knowledge Base
Video Tutorials
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How We Test Customer Support and Why Should You Care

We personally test the customer support team of every VPN we review. This means asking technical question through the live chat feature (where applicable) and measuring the response time for email questions. Whether you need to connect to a specific server, change your security protocol, or configure a VPN on your router, finding a VPN with quality customer support should be important to you.

Ease of Use

Private Internet Access

Downloading, installing, and configuring PIA is easy enough — it won’t take more than 5 minutes of your time.

The desktop clients are minimalistic, as they aren’t overloaded with information. We enjoyed this type of interface, but we can also see how it would be frustrating for users that like more options available to them.

Using PIA’s iOS app limits you to the IPSec protocol when it comes to mobile GUIs. To utilize OpenVPN, you’ll need to employ the corresponding app along with your PIA credentials. It’s worth noting that IKEv2 is not supported in this context.

PIA works on all major platforms and operating systems, but currently has mixed success in China. It also rarely unblocks Netflix, but is effective for Hulu and the BBC Player.

PureVPN

PureVPN app is easy enough to be used by novice VPN users and offers enough settings to appeal to a seasoned player. The basic interface is simple and you just have to select a server and click on Connect. The default protocol is automatic but you can pick another option from the list. There are some tabs that let users change the settings and customize the app according to their needs.

PureVPN has apps for all major platforms, and has browser extensions as well. There is a large selection of servers and special servers for online streaming, sports streaming, anonymous file sharing, and data retention security. Or you can just connect to the fastest server of a particular country.

PureVPN works on mobile devices, and is generally successful accessing Netflix and Hulu, and definitely works in China.

Pricing

THE WINNER IS

Visit Private Internet Access Website!

Which VPN Will You Choose?

PureVPN is a very adequate VPN choice for most people, and works better for streaming. With that said, Private Internet Access offers reliable, stable VPN service, along with better speeds, and has more configuration options. This was is about as close as it gets, but PIA comes out on top — for now. More Info
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We rank vendors based on rigorous testing and research, but also take into account your feedback and our commercial agreements with providers. This page contains affiliate links.