Service overview
Windscribe
windscribe.com
Canadian VPN with open-source apps, a free tier and crypto payment
Open source
Privacy 6.8/10
Safety 8.1/10
Read the evidence
Private Internet Access review
US VPN with open-source apps; crypto is no longer listed, gift cards still are
Privacy score
6.2/ 10
FairHow much you reveal
See the score breakdown Safety score
6.3/ 10
FairHow well you’re protected
See the score breakdown Identity policy
1/ 4 KYC level
No ID mentioned Read the policy Evidence
Documentation reviewed Grades based on published terms and documentation.
0 published tests Two grades. Different questions.Understand the methodology
The overview
The essentials, at a glance.
Private Internet Access is a VPN. Its terms put it at KYC level 1 of 4: no ID mentioned. NoKYC Score grades it 6.2/10 for privacy (fair) and 6.3/10 for safety (fair). In its favour: open source, no-logs policy and company named. To watch: it requires an email address. No incidents are on record.
What stands out
- Open source
The code that matters is public and can be inspected.
- No-logs policy
States that connection or activity logs are not kept.
- Company named
The operating company and its jurisdiction are published.
Before you use it
- Email required
An email address is required to use the service.
No test transactions published yet.
About Private Internet Access
Private Internet Access (PIA) is a VPN run by PIA Private Internet Access, Inc., with its terms governed by Colorado law. Its client apps for desktop, Android and iOS are published in the pia-foss organisation on GitHub. The current help-centre payment page lists cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal and Amazon Pay for recurring plans, and gift cards, prepaid Visa or Mastercard and some digital wallets for one-time purchases. Cryptocurrency is not on that list, although older marketing pages still mention it. Accounts are linked to an email address, which the terms use for refund verification and renewal links. The site footer claims a strict no-logs policy; the terms themselves do not address logging.
Cite this review or read as plain text
NoKYC Score, "Private Internet Access review", reviewed 23 Oct 2026, https://nokycscore.com/service/private-internet-access
Open plain-text review ↗The feature review
Privacy, without the guesswork.
3 / 14 features confirmed1 warning in the recorded terms
Identity
0 / 4 confirmed
- ID never requiredNot stated
The terms rule identity checks out, or the design makes them impossible.
- No account neededNo
Usable without creating an account, or the account is only a random number.
- No email neededNo
An email address is not required to sign up or use it.
- No phone numberNot stated
A phone number is never required.
Payment
0 / 3 confirmed
- Accepts MoneroNot stated
Monero hides sender, receiver and amount, so the payment cannot be traced to you.
- Accepts LightningNot stated
Bitcoin Lightning payments: fast, cheap and more private than on-chain.
- Accepts cashNot stated
Cash by post or in person: no bank and no blockchain record.
Access
0 / 2 confirmed
- Tor onion addressNot stated
An official .onion address, reachable only through Tor.
- Works without JavaScriptNot stated
Core functions work with scripts disabled, as in Tor Browser on its safest setting.
Trust
3 / 5 confirmed
- Open sourceYes
The code that matters is public and can be inspected.
- No-logs policyYes
States that connection or activity logs are not kept.
- Independent auditNot stated
A third party audited the code or the no-logs claim, and the report is public.
- Company namedYes
The operating company and its jurisdiction are published.
- 5+ years operatingNot stated
Has operated continuously for five years or more.
Warnings
1 flagged
- May ask for IDNot in terms
The terms reserve the right to demand identity documents, often after a risk flag.
- Email requiredYes
An email address is required to use the service.
- Phone number requiredNot in terms
A phone number is required to use the service.
- Closed sourceNot in terms
The code is not public, so its behaviour cannot be checked.
- Nobody accountableNot in terms
No company or person is publicly responsible for the service.
“Not stated” means the service’s own pages do not say. Expand a group to see every check.
Identity requirements
Does Private Internet Access require KYC?
Level 1 of 4
No ID mentioned
- 0 Never
- 1 Not mentioned
- 2 Rare
- 3 On risk flag
- 4 Mandatory
No ID requirement appears anywhere in Private Internet Access's terms or documentation. Checked against its own terms.
- Account required
- Email may be asked
- Phone may be asked
- No ID documents
KYC level 1: No ID mentioned. No identity requirement appears anywhere in the terms or documentation.
No identity-document requirement appears in the terms; refunds may require "verification information related to your account" sent to the account email.
Transparent by design
Every point, explained.
Both grades start at 50 points and move by fixed, published amounts. Nothing is adjusted by hand. The total is divided by ten.
Privacy
6.2/ 10
- Starting points 50
- KYC level 1: No ID mentioned +12
- Requires email -4
- Open source +2
- No-logs policy +2
- Total, clamped to 0–100 62
Safety
6.3/ 10
- Starting points 50
- Open source +8
- Legal entity disclosed +5
- Total, clamped to 0–100 63
Evidence, not promises
Test ledger 0
Published test transactions, with the route, amount and outcome available to inspect.
No test transactions published yet
The grades above rest on Private Internet Access’s terms and documentation. Tests will appear here with the date, route, amount band and result as they are run.
The track record
Incidents 0
No incidents on record
We have no documented cases for Private Internet Access. An empty record does not guarantee a service is risk-free.
Community experience
What users are saying 0
Reviews never change a grade. Reviews with a transaction reference are marked.
Have you used Private Internet Access?
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Alternatives to Private Internet Access
All alternatives → Service overview
Mullvad VPN
mullvad.net
Swedish VPN using numbered accounts; accepts cash by post and Monero
Open sourceAccepts Monero
Privacy 9.7/10
Safety 7.6/10
Read the evidence
Service overview
AzireVPN
azirevpn.com
Swedish-founded VPN with no-email sign-up; now card and PayPal payment only
No email needed
Privacy 7.2/10
Safety 7.4/10
Read the evidence
Service overview
Proton VPN
protonvpn.com
Swiss VPN with a free tier; paid plans payable in Bitcoin or cash
Open sourceAccepts cash
Privacy 6.4/10
Safety 7.3/10
Read the evidence
Private Internet Access vs WindscribePrivate Internet Access vs Mullvad VPNPrivate Internet Access vs AzireVPNPrivate Internet Access vs Proton VPN
Private Internet Access: common questions
Does Private Internet Access require KYC?
Private Internet Access is rated KYC level 1 of 4 on this site: no ID mentioned. No identity-document requirement appears in the terms; refunds may require "verification information related to your account" sent to the account email.
Is Private Internet Access safe to use?
Private Internet Access has a Safety grade of 6.3 out of 10 and a Privacy grade of 6.2 out of 10. No incidents are on record. Evidence level: documentation reviewed.
Is Private Internet Access legit?
Private Internet Access is a working VPN. It publishes the company that runs it, in United States. Being real is not the same as being safe: its Safety grade here is 6.3 out of 10, built from custody, liquidity, track record and incidents.
Is Private Internet Access a scam?
NoKYC Score does not label services as scams; it records documented incidents with their sources and outcomes. No incidents are on record for Private Internet Access.
Do I need an account or email to use Private Internet Access?
Email required.
What fees does Private Internet Access charge?
Subscription plans; 30-day refund window per the terms. Fees were recorded from Private Internet Access's own pages and can change; check before you send.
Does Private Internet Access have a Tor onion address?
No official onion address was found on Private Internet Access's own pages.
Can I use Private Internet Access over Tor?
Private Internet Access does not publish an official onion address.
Listing history
- Listing added. Facts and KYC level set from the service's own terms and documentation.