Private Internet Access Review – Can PIA be used reliably for streaming Netflix, Disney+, & BBC iPlayer + Black Friday Discounts 2023

I reviewed Non-public Web Entry a yr in the past and located it a wonderful VPN possibility.

With Black Friday upon us, Non-public Web Entry has some improbable reductions out there so I’ve re-reviewed the service to see whether it is nonetheless value utilizing.

For this overview, I’ve tried to concentrate on a few of the options that weren’t coated from final yr. Specifically, I’ve examined the streaming performance, which lets you bypass any geo-restrictions streaming providers could have.

For Black Friday this yr, it is possible for you to to get Non-public Web Entry with a reduction of 85% for two years + 3 months for a complete worth of £43.94, which works out at £1.63 per thirty days.

Why Use a VPN for Streaming?

Earlier than diving into PIA’s streaming capabilities, let’s shortly contact upon why utilizing a VPN for streaming is advantageous. A VPN, or Digital Non-public Community, permits you to create a safe and encrypted connection to the web. This enhances on-line privateness and safety by hiding your IP deal with and encrypting your web site visitors.

Relating to streaming, a VPN affords a number of key advantages. Firstly, it permits you to bypass geographical restrictions and entry content material that could be blocked in your area. For instance, you should utilize a VPN to look at US Netflix exhibits from wherever on the earth.

Signing up for providers from a distinct nation can typically save a major sum of money. I’ve personally accomplished this and it covers the price of a VPN many instances over.

Moreover, a VPN can defend your information and stop your ISP from throttling your streaming speeds, guaranteeing a clean and uninterrupted viewing expertise.

Person Information Logging, Privateness & Transparency

It’s all the time necessary to look into how safe and privacy-focused a VPN is. For PIA the official phrase is that:

We by no means file or retailer any utilization information, and this has been confirmed a number of instances in courtroom. It’s one of many many causes we’re essentially the most clear VPN available on the market.

We’re proud to be privateness advocates – however don’t simply take our phrase for it. We invited an impartial audit by Deloitte to confirm that our server community and administration methods are in full compliance with our No Logs Coverage.

Then, the apps are totally open supply to take care of full transparency.

Non-public Web Entry (PIA) and Streaming

Non-public Web Entry has made important enhancements in its capability to unblock streaming platforms, together with Netflix, Disney+, and BBC iPlayer. In our newest assessments, PIA VPN efficiently unblocked 10 world Netflix areas, permitting customers to entry a variety of content material. These areas embrace Australia, Brazil, India, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, UK, and US.

Utilizing Non-public Web Entry to get discounted providers

A well-liked however barely controversial use for a VPN is to enroll in providers utilizing a distinct area than your individual after which use Google Pay/PayPal or a debit card akin to Monzo to pay for the service.

With the rising price of residing and streaming providers usually rising their costs, that is one thing that I’ve accomplished fairly a bit and saved a major sum of money.

Widespread providers and apps this works on, or has labored on not too long ago embrace:

• Netflix through Argentina or Turkey (each areas are on PIA) – Round £6 vs £17.99 for a household plan.
• Spotify through Argentina or Turkey (each areas are on PIA) – Round £1.20 PCM vs  £10.99
• YouTube through Argentina or India – Round £1.30 PCM vs £11.99
• Canva Professional through Turkey – £25 per yr vs £100

Simply doing a few the above might recoup the £43.94 price of the PIA Black Friday deal in a few months.

App Settings

The Home windows and Android apps each have a number of settings to make the VPN work the way in which you need. The principle setting I’d suggest altering is switching from OpenVPN to WireGuard if it’s not already enabled, as this can maximise the throughput you see.

DNS Settings

You possibly can select PIA’s DNS servers or use a customized DNS. PIA’s DNS servers stop DNS leaks, which might expose your data.

VPN Kill Swap

The kill swap will block your web entry if the VPN connection drops to stop information leaks. You possibly can allow the kill swap for chosen apps or the entire system.

PIA Mace

PIA Mace is one other feather within the cap for privateness fanatics. This built-in function blocks domains related to adverts, trackers, and malware, functioning as a primary line of defence and enhancing the looking expertise by not solely preserving bandwidth but additionally lowering publicity to malicious content material.

Devoted IP

For these requiring a extra personalised method, PIA’s Devoted IP setting is noteworthy. Not like shared IP addresses utilized by most VPN customers, a devoted IP supplies a singular deal with that solely you utilize, considerably lowering the probability of blacklisting and permitting for smoother entry to network-restricted providers.

Automation

The Automation part is especially intriguing, permitting customers to set guidelines that decide how PIA interacts with completely different networks. As an example, one can configure PIA to attach mechanically when becoming a member of an untrusted community — a nifty function for many who continuously use public Wi-Fi.

Break up Tunnel

Break up Tunnelling is an indispensable function that grants customers the ability to decide on which functions ship their information via the VPN tunnel and which may hook up with the web instantly. This degree of management is invaluable for sustaining entry to native community gadgets whereas nonetheless having fun with the safety advantages of VPN for chosen functions.

Multi-Hop

PIA additionally affords Multi-Hop, a function that routes your VPN connection via a number of servers in numerous nations, additional obfuscating your digital footprint and including a further layer of encryption.

WireGuard vs OpenVPN

Lastly, the battle of protocols – WireGuard versus OpenVPN – is a contest the place each contenders have their deserves. WireGuard is lauded for its lightning-fast speeds and fashionable cryptographic methods, making it a go-to for these prioritising efficiency. OpenVPN, nonetheless, holds the fort with its confirmed monitor file for safety and its open-source pedigree, interesting to customers who’ve particular compatibility and safety necessities.

PIA’s SmartDNS Function

Non-public Web Entry additionally affords a SmartDNS function, which could be significantly helpful for streaming on gadgets that will not natively help VPN connections, akin to Sensible TVs, gaming consoles, and streaming sticks. It features by resolving your DNS requests via servers in a location the place the content material is accessible, basically ‘tricking’ the service into pondering you’re accessing from a permissible area.

This function is very useful for many who want to get pleasure from streaming providers on gadgets that don’t natively help VPN software program. By merely altering the DNS settings in your machine to those offered by PIA, you may entry a wider array of content material.

To arrange SmartDNS with PIA, observe these steps:

1. Log in to your PIA account and navigate to the “My Account” part.
2. Beneath the “Community” tab, allow the SmartDNS function.
3. Comply with the offered directions to configure your machine’s DNS settings.

It’s necessary to notice that whereas SmartDNS can unblock sure streaming platforms, akin to Netflix and Hulu, it might not work with all providers. Moreover, SmartDNS doesn’t present the identical degree of privateness and encryption as a VPN, because it solely bypasses geolocation restrictions.

Throughput / Speeds / Streaming

I discovered that the VPN speeds had been excellent once I reviewed the service final yr. Is that this nonetheless true for 2023?

I did some primary assessments utilizing speedtest.web, checking with a spread of servers.

My ISP is Virgin with a 500Mbps plan, with my Web velocity matching that with the VPN off.

With the auto location, PIA chosen London and I achieved:

• Manchester Server: 353 / 100 Mbps & 23ms ping
• Netherlands Server: 288 / 101 Mbps & 33ms ping
• Liechtenstein: 226 / 100 Mbps & 36ms ping
• US New Hampshire:  197 / 89 Mbps & 113ms ping
• US New York: 207 / 34 Mbps & 113 ping
• Hong Kong: 105 / 19 Mbps & 495 ping

The outcomes should not fairly nearly as good as my final overview, however I double-checked towards two different fashionable VPN providers, they usually had related speeds. It appears my EnGenius ESG510 could also be affecting the throughput.

Testing Streaming Netflix / Disney+ / BBC iPlayer

As I’m based mostly within the UK, I chosen the US East streaming optimised server. Checking the IP location confirmed my IP was based mostly in New Jersey.

Checking the velocity of this server, I used to be in a position to obtain 145Mbps down, which is greater than sufficient to stream any 4K content material. Netflix 4k HDR/DV/DA content material is at 15.25 Mbps, and Netflix recommends a minimal velocity of 15 Mbps or increased.

Netflix labored with none issues, clearly indicating I used to be on the US service with sections for Prime 10 Movies within the US At the moment.

I watched just a few motion pictures and applications via it and had no points with the content material streaming.

For Disney+, the service will inform you that it seems to be like you’re travelling, and the content material could also be completely different. I had no issues taking part in Spiderman Far From Dwelling when related to the US server.

Checking Apple TV, this auto-redirected to the UK. I assume it does this based mostly on my account particulars reasonably than IP location. You possibly can simply change the situation manually, although.

Checking iPlayer whereas on the US server introduced up the warning “BBC iPlayer solely works within the UK. Sorry, it’s resulting from rights points.”

Switching to the UK streaming-optimised VPN, I used to be in a position to obtain a obtain velocity of 163Mbps and efficiently logged into my BBC account with none issues. I used to be additionally in a position to steam Time, starring Sean Bean, with none issues.

Testing the throughput of the opposite streaming-optimised areas, I achieved the next obtain speeds:

• Denmark: 153Mbps
• Italy: 126Mbps
• Sweeden: 148Mbps
• Finland: 131Mbps
• US West Coast: 153Mbps
• Australia: 79Mbps
• Japan: 81Mbps

Total

Non-public Web Entry continues to be among the best choices for a VPN available on the market. They important reductions they do all year long make them one of the vital inexpensive choices on the market. They’ve a large vary of servers all over the world and choose providers which can be optimised for streaming.

Whereas I did see a drop in Web speeds, this matched different VPNs, and my Web velocity was nonetheless greater than sufficient for normal utilization. Extra importantly, the connection was dependable, I didn’t expertise any disconnections or efficiency points even once I stayed related all day.

Utilizing a VPN to get reductions on streaming and different subscription providers will simply recoup the price of Non-public Web Entry. As a reminder, you will get Non-public Web Entry throughout Black Friday with a reduction of 85% for two years + 3 months for a complete worth of £43.94, which works out at £1.63 per