VPN Unlimited vs PIA (Private Internet Access) [2022]: Speed, Netflix, Firestick, China, Etc

Private Internet Access is one of the more popular VPN providers, with millions of customers. It offers a wide range of features and access to networks in over 50 countries around the world. However, when it comes to speed and Netflix performance, you may want to look into other options such as PureVPN or ExpressVPN.

Unlimited VPN and Access to the Internet in a Secure Environment, or simply PIA, are two services that have exploded in popularity. They both have excellent offers that only a few rivals can match. Experts, on the other hand, overwhelmingly believe that Unlimited VPN is the superior product.

Unlimited VPN

PIA

Comparison

Here’s a list of all the benefits and features that both have to offer:

	Unlimited VPN	Access to the Internet in a Secure Environment
Policy on Logging	Logging is not permitted.	Logging is not permitted.
Jurisdiction	United States of America (Five-Eyes Member)	The United States of America (Five-Eyes Member)
Encryption	4096-bit RSA Key Exchange with AES-256 SHA-256 Hash Authentication	4096-bit RSA Key Exchange AES-256 AES-128 SHA-256 Hash Authentication
Protocols	UDP OpenVPN (Only on Windows, Linux, and Android) TCP OpenVPN (Only on Windows, Linux, and Android) PPTP IPSec/L2TP PPTP IPSec/L2TP PPTP IPSec (Only on iOS and macOS) IKEv2/IPSec (Only on Windows) WireGuard is a wire protection system (Only on iOS, macOS, Windows, Linux, and Android) WiseWiseWiseWiseWiseWiseW (Only on iOS, Windows, Android, and Linux)	UDP OpenVPN WireGuard OpenVPN TCP IPSec/L2TP
Anti-Adware and Anti-Malware Software	Yes	Yes
Turn Off the Lights	Yes, indeed (Windows, Android, iOS, macOS)	Yes
Tests for Leaks	There were no leaks discovered.	There were no leaks discovered.
Tests of Speed	Fast	Fast
Torrenting & P2P	Yes, indeed (Optimized P2P Servers)	Yes, indeed (On all servers)
Streaming	Netflix Amazon Prime is a subscription service that allows you to iPlayer (BBC) Firestick Roku is a streaming media player (Via Router) Kodi Apple TV is a device that allows you to watch (Via Router) Android Television (Android TV)	Netflix Hulu Firestick Amazon Prime Kodi
Gaming	iOS and Android on Windows Xbox One is a video game console that was released (Via Router) PS4 is a game console that was released in (Via Router) Nintendo Switch is a game console that was released in (Via Router)	iOS and Android on Windows Xbox One is a video game console that was released (Via Router) PS4 is a game console that was released in (Via Router) Nintendo Switch is a game console that was released in (Via Router)
Compatibility	Android iOS Windows Linux macOS Opera (Firefox) Chrome Microsoft Edge Routers that have been chosen	Chrome for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS Firefox Opera Routers chosen by Tor
Simultaneous Connections are when two or more things happen at the same time. are when two or more things happen at the same time.	5	10
Servers	500+	3300+
China	Yes	On occasion (1 Out of 3 Servers Worked)
Tunneling in Two Parts	Yes, indeed (Only on Android)	Yes
Features Not Included	Authentication using two factors Personal VPN Server with a Static IP Address	PIA MACE
Prices	$9.99/Month $4.99 per month (1 Year) $199.99/Lifetime	$9.95/Month $3.33 per month (1 Year) $2.69 per month (2 Years)   Special Promotion: Save 73% on a 2-year membership and get 2 months free.
Our Opinion	4.4	4.2
Website	www.vpnunlimited.com	www.privateinternetaccess.com

It won’t be enough to just glance at their credentials. It’s critical to properly examine each service before deciding on one. Once that’s completed, it’ll be time to make a selection.

Privacy & Security

Access to the Internet in a Secure Environment and Unlimited VPN are both headquartered in the United States. Due to that, neither of them is free from Five Eyes Alliance authority. Restrictive laws hinder their operations and prevent them from going about without facing being shut down.

Comparison of Encryption

AES-256 encryption and SHA-256 hash authentication are used by both VPN systems. Aside from that, they use RSA-4096 key exchange, which is quite safe.

The fact that PIA employs AES-128 as a backup for AES-256 sets it distinct.

Protocols for Virtual Private Networks

Unlimited VPN and Access to the Internet in a Secure Environment both support OpenVPN, WireGuard, and IPSec/L2TP. 

The previous service is distinguished by its support for PPTP, IPSec/IKEv2, and Keepsolid Wise. Its protocol support is also platform dependent.

Protection Against Leaks

Protection Against Leaks is something the two VPN service providers claim to provide. To determine if they’re true to their claims, I tested each one out with IPLeak.net. Below is the result with Access to the Internet in a Secure Environment and its server in Singapore:

PIA VPN Singapore IP Leak Test

And this is how Unlimited VPN’s corresponding server fared:

IP Leak Test – Unlimited VPN Singapore

Both were able to hide my genuine IP address, which was unsurprising. As a result, I suggest both to anybody who wants to stay hidden. Your identity is completely safe with any option.

Server Safety

Only the no-logging policy of the two VPNs protect them from invading your privacy. 

Fortunately, there hasn’t been a data breach involving either service’s customers.

Final Thoughts

Access to the Internet in a Secure Environment and Unlimited VPN are both very safe. But, the winner for this category is PIA. Why? Because it has more extensive protocol support than its competitor. In addition, it has more security features like Tunneling in Two Parts and a Turn Off the Lights on all platforms. So, PIA wins in this Unlimited VPN vs PIA battle.

Test your speed

VPN services always bring down internet speeds. However, the rate they do this varies. To see which of the two is faster, I conducted a few tests. Below is a screenshot of the outcome after I connected to Access to the Internet in a Secure Environment’ Singapore server:

Test your speed – PIA VPN Singapore

Here’s how Unlimited VPN’s same location server did:

Test your speed – Unlimited VPN Singapore

The results left me surprised. I didn’t expect PIA to lag behind Unlimited VPN as much as it did. While connected to it, only my upload speeds didn’t take a severe hit.

Torrenting & P2P

Access to the Internet in a Secure Environment and Unlimited VPN both allow for torrenting on their servers. Be that as it may, only the former VPN service provider has a 100% optimized P2P network. Therefore, on paper, it’s better equipped for the job.

I performed testing to see whether any of the files escaped during torrenting sessions. This is what happened when I torrented using PIA’s Singapore server:

PIA VPN Singapore Torrenting Leak Test

Now, this is how Unlimited VPN’s same location server performed:

Torrenting Leak Test – Unlimited VPN Singapore

As expected, neither VPN solution failed my tests. Nevertheless, this Unlimited VPN vs Access to the Internet in a Secure Environment round goes to PIA because its entire network is P2P-enabled.

Streaming

Streaming is something that PIA isn’t known for. It can’t unblock sites like Hulu and BBC iPlayer with consistency. On the other hand, Unlimited VPN has a great track record. Many say that it reliably bypasses the geoblocks of Amazon Prime, Hulu, Netflix, and BBC iPlayer.

Below is a screenshot showing how Access to the Internet in a Secure Environment after watched Spotlight using its server in New York:

PIA VPN – Netflix US

Here’s how VPN fared after watching the same movie in Los Angeles on its dedicated streaming server:

Netflix US – Unlimited VPN

Both were able to grant me access to Netflix USA without hitches. Also, they didn’t introduce issues with quality and buffering. Still, my winner for this category is Unlimited VPN, as it can work around more geoblocks.

Gaming

I needed to see how each of them would do in Call of Duty Mobile. After all, I’m a very competitive individual that need protection throughout every game session.

PIA, on the other hand, did not do so well. I had problems getting into numerous matches when partnered with their Singapore server. Furthermore, there was a lot of latency and frame dropouts.

In Comparison, Unlimited VPN and its corresponding server did so much better. Not once did I have problems with lagging or frame drops. Entering matches was also very easy. Hence, it’s the clear winner in this PIA vs Unlimited VPN category.

Compatibility

Check out the chart below to learn more about how each service works:

Unlimited VPN	Access to the Internet in a Secure Environment
Android iOS Windows Linux macOS Opera (Firefox) Chrome Microsoft Edge Routers that have been chosen	Chrome for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS Firefox Opera Routers chosen by Tor

Although it doesn’t work alongside Tor, Unlimited VPN has more browser extensions. Therefore, it’s the winner once more in this round of our match.

Simultaneous Connections are when two or more things happen at the same time. are when two or more things happen at the same time.

Access to the Internet in a Secure Environment allows for up to 10 Simultaneous Connections are when two or more things happen at the same time. are when two or more things happen at the same time., whereas its competitor allows for only up to 5. As such, it is the winner of this category by default.

Servers

Unlimited VPN has a small network when compared to other VPN services. It operates a tad bit more than 500 servers around the globe. Meanwhile, PIA has a rather large network that consists of 3000+ servers. As such, it takes the win in this category.

China

Many have found success in China while using Unlimited VPN. The same can’t be said for PIA, which seldom bypasses the country’s Great Firewall.

Interface & Usability

All of Access to the Internet in a Secure Environment’ apps are remarkably minimalistic. When opened, you’ll instantly see a quick-connect button and tabs where servers may be chosen. The three-dot icon on the top right corner is where you head to access the settings.

Interface for PIA VPN

Unlimited VPN’s apps aren’t as nice as PIA’s. Why? They’re clunky, hard to get around, and unresponsive. Furthermore, they also take up a lot of space. Hence, I would not suggest them to those who’ve got older devices.

Interface for PIA VPN

Features Not Included

Unlimited VPN lets you establish a VPN server and personal IP address without charge. It also allows you to utilize 2FA authentication to make logins more secure. This is wonderful for anyone who wishes to double down on security.

In terms of distinct features, PIA is lacking. Why? The VPN prioritizes important features that make a VPN excellent.

Customer Service

Take a look at the table below to discover what each company has to offer in terms of customer service:

	Unlimited VPN	Access to the Internet in a Secure Environment
Live Chat	Yes	Yes
Email Customer Service	Yes	Yes
Support over the phone	No	No
Ticket Assistance	Yes	Yes
Video Instructions	No	No
Knowledge Base on the Internet	Yes	Yes
Average Time to Respond	1 Hour	45-minute time limit

As you can see, the two are very similar. That said, Unlimited VPN has a faster Average Time to Respond. Due to that, it’s the winner of this category.

Prices

The price systems for each service are shown in the table below:

	Unlimited VPN	Access to the Internet in a Secure Environment
Lengths of Subscriptions	Month-to-Month ($9.99/Month)	$9.95/Month
	1 year. ($5.00 p.m.)	$3.33/month for a year
	Lifetime ($199.99) is a one-time purchase.	$2.69/month for 2 years
The Most Expensive Month	$9.99	$9.95
Lowest Monthly Rate	$4.99	$2.69
Price for a year	$59.99	$39.95
Guaranteed Money-Back	30 Days	30 Days
Special Promotion	$199.99 for a lifetime	73 percent off a two-year plan + two months free

Both offer excellent value for money. Still, the winner for this category is Unlimited VPN. While its base prices are more expensive, it offers a lifetime deal. This is great for anyone who’s looking to commit and save big. Thus, it’s the winner in this Access to the Internet in a Secure Environment vs Unlimited VPN round.

Verdict

Is Unlimited VPN better than PIA?

Yes. Despite having shortcomings, Unlimited VPN is superior to its competitor. With it, you’ll be able to unblock nearly any streaming site, browse freely in China, and play games without hitches, as the VPN is really fast. Also, you’ll be getting great value for money.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is CyberGhost better than PIA?

Is PIA still a good VPN?

A: PIA is a good VPN that still deserves your consideration.

What VPN is better than PIA?

A: PIA is the best VPN on PC, but ExpressVPN is better than it for ps4.