Private Internet Access (PIA VPN) Review Australia
Reviewed by Laurence Deer, founder and reviewer in Melbourne, testing VPNs since 2019
On this page
- What stood out
- PIA tested from Melbourne: late 2021 results
- Private Internet Access deal in Australia (checked 22 Oct 2026)
- PIA price in Australia
- Is PIA safe? Privacy and ownership
- PIA apps and Australian servers
- Using PIA in Australia
- Alternatives to PIA
- PIA FAQ
- How we keep this review current
- Sources
- Private Internet Access reviews on other sites
Private Internet Access
Not in our calculated order yet (it is recalculated every morning)BestVPN score: not scored, because our last test of Private Internet Access was late 2021. How we score
Our verdict
Good for torrenting and tinkering
PIA suits Australians who mainly torrent or like apps with plenty of settings, which is where newer independent reviews rate it. In our late 2021 tests it kept the least of our line on an Australian server, yet torrents held up well. The catch is ownership: Kape Technologies also owns ExpressVPN and CyberGhost.
From A$2.79 a month
VPN plan, paying for 39 months, A$109.00 upfront. Renews at A$109.00 every 3 years. Lowest plan of each VPN we track: A$1.58 to A$17.84.
Price and plan details read from www.privateinternetaccess.com.
Choose it if
- You mainly torrent (Top10VPN rates it highly for this)
- You like apps with lots of settings to adjust (Top10VPN)
Skip it if
- You want a provider outside Kape Technologies
- You want the most speed from an Australian server (it kept the smallest share in our 2021-22 tests)
- You want our own recent test results
Private Internet Access: key facts
- Money-back
- 30 daysVPNs we track: 7 to 45 days
- Free trial
- 7 daysiPhone and Android apps. Compare VPN free trials
- Devices at once
- UnlimitedVPNs we track: 2 to unlimited
- Server countries
- 113VPNs we track: 30 to 150
- Australian cities
- Not checked
Private Internet Access test results
- Speed, Australian server
- 44% keptOf our download speed with the VPN off. Tested late 2021
- Streaming
- Both playedNetflix US and BBC iPlayer. Tested late 2021
Speed kept by the VPNs we have tested (2021 to 2026 rounds): 44% to 100% or more.
Private Internet Access: what has changed
- Review text last edited
No price or plan changes seen between 13 Oct 2026 and 22 Oct 2026.
We check Private Internet Access's prices by hand every week (last checked 22 Oct 2026) and record every change we see.
Our three picks
NordVPNOne of our picksBestVPN score 8.3/10From A$4.79 a monthBlack Friday deal ends soonVisit NordVPNNordVPN review
SurfsharkMost popular with our readersMost clicks from readers in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore in the last 30 daysBestVPN score 7.2/10From A$3.49 a monthVisit SurfsharkSurfshark review
Proton VPNFastest on Australian servers in our testsKept 99% of our download speed on a Melbourne server, 21 Oct 2026BestVPN score 8.7/10From US$3.49 (about A$4.98) a monthPartner offerVisit Proton VPNProton VPN review
Each pick is chosen for one strength, shown on its card with our evidence. For the full order by our tests, see each VPN's score and how we score.
What stood out
If you download big files, PIA’s speed test overstates the problem. Its torrent rate ranked eighth of ten in our 2021–22 rounds, but sat far nearer the leaders than its download speed did.
Overseas TV was the other bright spot. US Netflix and BBC iPlayer both played from Melbourne in late 2021.
For results measured from Melbourne in October 2026, read our NordVPN review.
Pros
- US Netflix played from Melbourne
- BBC iPlayer played from Melbourne
- Torrents ran faster than speed tests suggested
- Unlimited devices at once, by PIA’s account
Cons
- Slowest of ten VPNs on a local server
- India was barely usable
- Uploads fell even further than downloads
- Owned by Kape, like ExpressVPN and CyberGhost
From our tests in Melbourne, late 2021. We have not retested PIA since.
PIA tested from Melbourne: late 2021 results
These results come from a Melbourne home connection in late 2021. PIA’s apps and servers have changed since, so read them as a dated record.
Speed kept
 Sydney server | 44% |
|---|---|
 Brazil | 62% |
 United Kingdom | 54% |
 United States | 33% |
 South Africa | 23% |
 India | 2% |
Download, upload and ping in Mbps, and how we measured
From our test bench Melbourne, late 2021
| Connection | Download | Upload |
|---|---|---|
| No VPN | 108.6 Mbps | 18.5 Mbps |
| Private Internet Access, Sydney server | 47.4 Mbps −56.3% | 7.31 Mbps −60.5% |
| Server in | Download | Upload |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 35.7 Mbps −67.1% | 8.90 Mbps −51.9% |
| United Kingdom | 58.2 Mbps −46.4% | 6.13 Mbps −66.8% |
| India | 1.71 Mbps −98.4% | 1.53 Mbps −91.7% |
| Brazil | 67.4 Mbps −38.0% | 10.7 Mbps −42.0% |
| South Africa | 24.6 Mbps −77.3% | 14.8 Mbps −20.0% |
10.4 MiB/s average torrent download rate on an Australian server (late 2021)
Our own measurements on a Melbourne home connection of about 109 Mbps at the time, late 2021. Changes are against the speed of the same line with the VPN off, measured the same day.
Share of our download speed kept with Private Internet Access on, against the same line with the VPN off, measured the same day.
Speed: the slowest we tested on a local server
A Sydney server left us 44% of our download speed, and uploads fell further. None of the ten VPNs we tested in 2021 and 2022 kept less on an Australian server. That still covers HD streaming, but you would notice it on a large download.
Overseas was a lottery. Brazil and the UK gave our best overseas results, and the US was slower than either. India was barely usable, below the speed Netflix recommends even for standard definition.
Each is a single run per country, so treat the overseas table as a snapshot, not a ranking.
Streaming: US Netflix and BBC iPlayer played
We watched Downton Abbey on American Netflix from Melbourne, and BBC iPlayer played too. Streaming services block VPN addresses all the time, so two results from one round say little about today.
Torrenting: better than the speed tests suggested
The Sydney torrent rate, shown under the table above, ranked eighth of ten. It still sat much closer to the leaders than PIA’s speed result. If you mainly download large files, judge PIA on this number.
Still to test
Our 2026 retest will cover speed from Melbourne, DNS leaks, the kill switch, and Australian and overseas streaming. Each result will appear here, dated.
Private Internet Access deal in Australia (checked 22 Oct 2026)
Private Internet Access is not running a named offer at our latest check. Its lowest price is A$2.79 a month on the VPN plan, paid upfront as A$109.00 for 39 months, then A$109.00 every 3 years. That is the price Private Internet Access shows any Australian visitor; you do not need a coupon code for it.
Compare it with every VPN's current deal on VPN deals in Australia.
PIA price in Australia
| Plan | Term | Per month | Paid upfront | Renews at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VPN | 39 months 3 years + 3 extra months (Halloween offer, 'TOP OFFER: 86% OFF'); autorenews at AU$109 every 3 years | A$2.79 | A$109.00 | A$109.00 / 3 years |
| VPN | 1 year billed AU$71.88 first year, then annually at AU$71.88 | A$5.99 | A$71.88 | A$71.88 / year |
| VPN | 1 month autorenews at AU$19.79 monthly | A$19.79 | A$19.79 | A$19.79 / month |
GST may apply.
Checked 22 Oct 2026 Price and plan details read from www.privateinternetaccess.com.
Check the renewal price at checkout before you pay. To compare, see the best VPN for Australia table and the cheapest VPNs list.
Is PIA safe? Privacy and ownership
Ownership is the fact to weigh. Kape Technologies lists PIA, ExpressVPN and CyberGhost among its brands on its own site (read 18 October 2026). Choosing between those three means choosing between brands of one company.
We have not checked PIA’s logging policy or audits, so this page makes no claim about them. The independent reviewers further down this page give their view of its privacy policy.
PIA apps and Australian servers
PIA’s order page says one account covers unlimited devices at once. It lists servers in 113 countries (checked by hand, 22 October 2026).
We do not track PIA’s Australian cities, so check its site for a server near you before you buy. Our screenshots show the desktop app as it looked in early 2022.
Using PIA in Australia
- Australian servers: see Private Internet Access's server list for current Australian locations.
- Billing: priced in Australian dollars.
- Refund period: 30 days.
Australian law requires internet providers to keep customers' metadata for two years. A VPN encrypts the connection between your device and the VPN server, so your internet provider can see that you are using a VPN but not which sites you visit. It does not make you anonymous to the VPN provider itself, which is why the provider's logging policy and audits matter.
Alternatives to PIA
These are our three picks. Each card shows the fact from our tests or data behind its label, and its BestVPN score. Prices come from each provider’s own site, daily or by hand where a site blocks our checker. For a ranked list, see the best VPN for Australia table.
- NordVPNOne of our picksBestVPN score 8.3/10From A$4.79 a monthBlack Friday deal ends soonVisit NordVPNNordVPN review
- SurfsharkMost popular with our readersMost clicks from readers in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore in the last 30 daysBestVPN score 7.2/10From A$3.49 a monthVisit SurfsharkSurfshark review
- Proton VPNFastest on Australian servers in our testsKept 99% of our download speed on a Melbourne server, 21 Oct 2026BestVPN score 8.7/10From US$3.49 (about A$4.98) a monthPartner offerVisit Proton VPNProton VPN review
Guides for Private Internet Access users
PIA FAQ
How much does Private Internet Access cost in Australia?
Private Internet Access's lowest advertised price is A$2.79 a month on the VPN plan, paid as A$109.00 upfront for 39 months, then A$109.00 every 3 years. Prices were last checked on 22 Oct 2026.
Does Private Internet Access have a free trial?
Private Internet Access says first-time subscribers who sign up in its iPhone or Android app through the App Store or Google Play get 7 days free; cancel in the store before the seven days are up. On its website, the 'risk-free trial' is its money-back guarantee. Checked 18 Oct 2026. Compare every VPN free trial.
Can I get a refund from Private Internet Access?
Private Internet Access advertises a 30-day money-back guarantee. Purchases made through an app store are usually refunded by Apple or Google under their own rules, so check the provider's refund terms before you buy.
How many devices can I use with Private Internet Access?
Private Internet Access does not limit the number of devices on one account.
Is it legal to use Private Internet Access in Australia?
Yes. Using a VPN is legal in Australia. What you do while connected is still subject to Australian law and to the terms of the services you use.
How we keep this review current
Every test result carries the date we measured it; PIA’s latest round is late 2021. We check its prices by hand each week, because its site asks automated tools not to read it. We re-read the independent reviews below from time to time and show the date beside each.
Sources
- Our own results: late 2021, on a Melbourne home connection, with the original screenshots.
- Kape ownership: Kape’s own site, read on 18 October 2026.
- Independent reviews: Security.org (December 2025) and Top10VPN (updated October 2026).
Private Internet Access reviews on other sites
Here is what other independent reviewers found in their most recent tests, summarised in our own words. These sites test from the United States or United Kingdom, so their speed figures will not match an Australian connection, and they may earn commissions from VPN providers.
- Security.org (review updated 5 Dec 2025): Rates it among the best no-logs VPNs, saying the privacy policy is clear that browsing history is not logged. Could stream only through PIA's dedicated streaming servers, which it says cover 11 countries including Australia. Read the Security.org review
- Top10VPN: Calls it the best VPN it has tested for torrenting and very good value, but says it does not work with many overseas streaming services. Read the Top10VPN review
Reviews read 13 Oct 2026.
Compare Private Internet Access with other VPNs
Compare Private Internet Access with any VPN we track, side by side