# Private Internet Access review: KYC policy, privacy and safety grades

> 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.

Source: NoKYC Score, "Private Internet Access review", reviewed 23 Oct 2026, https://nokycscore.com/service/private-internet-access

## Key facts
- **Category:** VPNs
- **KYC level:** 1 of 4: No ID mentioned
- **Grades:** Privacy 6.2/10, Safety 6.3/10
- **Sign-up:** Email required
- **Fees:** Subscription plans; 30-day refund window per the terms
- **Jurisdiction:** United States
- **Incidents on record:** 0
- **Last reviewed:** 23 Oct 2026
- **Official website:** https://www.privateinternetaccess.com

## What it is
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.

## What the terms say about ID
No identity-document requirement appears in the terms; refunds may require "verification information related to your account" sent to the account email.

## Features and warnings
- **Identity:** ID never required: not stated; No account needed: no; No email needed: no; No phone number: not stated
- **Payment:** Accepts Monero: not stated; Accepts Lightning: not stated; Accepts cash: not stated
- **Access:** Tor onion address: not stated; Works without JavaScript: not stated
- **Trust:** Open source: yes; No-logs policy: yes; Independent audit: not stated; Company named: yes; 5+ years operating: not stated
- **Warnings:** May ask for ID: not in terms; Email required: yes; Phone number required: not in terms; Closed source: not in terms; Nobody accountable: not in terms

## 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.

## Sources
- https://www.privateinternetaccess.com
- https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/pages/terms-of-service
- https://helpdesk.privateinternetaccess.com/hc/en-us/articles/46701550179995-What-Payment-Methods-Do-You-Accept
- https://github.com/pia-foss

How grades are calculated: https://nokycscore.com/methodology