Payment Methods: Bitcoin And Much More
The VPN currently accepts payments via Credit Cards, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, PayPal, Amazon, Ripple, Amazon Pay, and Mint. While most VPN providers take the high road when it comes to accepting cryptocurrencies, this VPN goes all in.
Moreover, you can use the PIA gift card option for anonymous payment. This shows that providers are serious about their commitment to the privacy of the users.
Pia VPN Security And Protocols
A VPNs data protection depends mainly on their protocols. Protocols are different routes data takes to be transmitted over a network. Since speed and safety vary across protocols, PIA uses a combination to ensure performance while keeping your connection secure.
The default protocol PIAs apps use is OpenVPN, which is excellent at bypassing firewalls. You can choose between TCP and UDP connections. PIAs iOS version uses IPSec, which is slightly less advanced than OpenVPN but highly secure nonetheless.
The Private Internet Access security features allow the user to choose between the default AES 128-bit encryption or the more secure 256-bit AES encryption. Customers can find the best protection setting for their devices at the PIA support portal.
PIAs desktop and mobile apps are also available as open-source, allowing anyone to go through the source code to check if the VPN is fulfilling its security-related promises.
Pia For Netflix Outside The Us
Canada, Montreal, 9 Mbps
Moving north resulted in speeds going south we were left on the outskirts of Montreal with 10 Mbps, which luckily was enough for HD streaming. The shows loading and skipping times took longer than in the US but not long enough to irritate us.
Australia, Sydney, 13 Mbps
Swimming to Australia meant drowning our hopes to access Netflix. If it ever becomes available via Private Internet Access servers, be aware that the speeds can vary significantly between the locations. In our case, Melbourne gave only 7 Mbps almost twice slower than Sydney and dangerously close to the minimum 5 Mbps needed for HD.
Japan, Tokyo, 15 Mbps
Trying to leave our grave memories behind, we moved to Japan. At first, it frightened us with the speed test numbers fluctuating around 3 Mbps, but our emotions shifted from fear to joy when they slowly crept up to 15 Mbps. Sadly, we ended this emotional rollercoaster on a sour note with our access to the biggest Netflix library denied.
The UK, Southampton, 13 Mbps
After our failures in Asia and Oceania, we moved back to Europe, hoping to compensate. We started in the UK with a horrible speed test result of 3.4 Mbps. Even though it changed to 13 Mbps later, its still inexcusably low. Luckily, PIA unblocked Netflix in the UK. We streamed our show smoothly, with loading times not exceeding a couple of seconds.
The Netherlands, 90 Mbps
Germany, Berlin, 86 Mbps
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How Does Netflix Know I Am Using A VPN
Netflix has a security system that detects when multiple users log on from the same IP address, which indicates that the associated traffic is coming from a VPN server. If your Netflix VPN suddenly stops working, it means Netflix has blocklisted the IP address of the VPN server youre connecting to.
Why Should I Use Pia To Watch Netflix
PIA gives you access to 29,650+ servers in 70+ countries, which means you have plenty of ways to access Netflix from anywhere. This includes 18070+ servers in the US, which has the most extensive Netflix library. During my tests, I connected to 3 US servers and 2 UK servers and accessed Netflix every time in under 1 minute.
You can also watch Netflix on 10 devices simultaneously under a single PIA account. It has native apps for Windows, Android, macOS, iOS, and Linux, which can be installed in under a minute. But you can also install PIA on your home router, which lets you connect an unlimited number of devices, including smart TVs and gaming consoles.
Its fast speeds will provide you with a lag-free streaming experience. When I watched Netflix on its US servers, my download speeds averaged 42.8 Mbps. This is much faster than the 5 Mbps needed for HD streaming.
PIA also keeps you secure with its automatic kill switch, which has 3 modes . Automatic blocks your traffic when youre disconnected from the VPN, while Always only lets you browse the internet while using PIA. Its convenient when watching Netflix on public networks it instantly disconnects you if your VPN connection drops unexpectedly, ensuring no one else on the shared network can see your personal info.
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Expressvpn A Secure Connection To Watch Netflix In 2022
- Expressvpn for Netflix is one of the best options because of its features, and functionalities.
- It has servers range equal to 3000 servers in 94 countries, with the AES-256 encryption technique to strengthen the encryption criteria.
- Whereas Zero-log policy, ensures that users online activities will stay hidden with WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, and L2TP, which keeps the encryption criteria strong, with 5 devices support at a time.
- Also, ExpressVPN offers no I.P. Leaks, DNS servers to keep the identity of the users hidden and mask their I.P. address and keep the physical address hidden for secure access.
- Moreover, it supports Windows, iOS, Mac, Chrome, and Firefox with other operating systems without any lack.
- It has a Kill switch as well to disconnect the connection and unblocks geo-restricted websites, and platforms that are geo-restricted.
Pia Still Isnt Working Heres How To Fix It
If you connect to a PIA server that cant access Netflix, there are several simple ways to solve the problem. These solutions dont require any technical knowledge and they can also help you if youre struggling with another streaming platform. If none of these solutions work for you, then your best bet is to try a VPN that’s been proven to work reliably with Netflix, like ExpressVPN.
For Windows:
Open the command prompt and select run. Then, type Click Command Prompt before typing ipconfig/flushdns.
For macOS:
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Can Private Internet Access Be Used To Access Netflix Worldwide
After Netflix decided to deny access and block any attempt from users that use VPN to access its platform in 2016, a VPN company called Private Internet Access legitimately reached a decision to also drop support for accessing geo restricted contents.
This decision affects PIA users who use the VPN service to access Netflix and as a result you will have problems watching movies on Netflix. Regardless of Netflixs new policy, for some reason you are still capable of watching Netflix videos just fine using PIA servers. However, there is still a question to answer. Whats up with PIA Netflix access now? Can we still use PIA to watch Netflix movies from any place in the world?
If your sole purpose of using private internet access VPN is only to be able to stream movies from Netflix then I am afraid to tell you that it is not possible to do it anymore. This PIA Netflix problem is not unexpected since PIA made a decision that they are no longer offering solutions to bypass geo restricted content.
For your information, the PIA VPN Service from the beginning mainly focuses on security and privacy. If you want to be safe online then PIA VPN is what you are looking for, but it never said that their service can be used to stream geo restricted content worldwide.
Should You Get Private Internet Access VPN
| Pros |
| Fast speeds |
| 10 simultaneous connections |
PIA is a trustworthy tool both in terms of security and entertainment. If youre European or North American and your goals are to torrent, stream Netflix US, and protect yourself from cybercriminals whilst sipping a Starbucks latte PIA is for you. Its really cheap and gives you ten simultaneous connections thats a rare combination among premium VPNs.
While this provider is based in the US, which is not known for putting privacy above everything else, its no-logs policy has been proven in court. Theres no such independent audit institution that could better prove how serious PIA is about protecting its clients.
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Is Private Internet Access A Slow VPN Provider For Streaming
Not at all! We have carried out speed tests on dozens of VPNs and found that Private Internet Access is one of the fastest VPNs on the market. It averaged 68 Mbps which is more than fast enough for streaming in high definition and even 4K. Furthermore, this VPN doesnt engage in bandwidth throttling so theres no limit as to how much streaming you can do. Overall, PIA is a solid choice for streaming.
Nordvpn Best VPN For Streaming Netflix Usa
6/6 tested servers unblocking Netflix
In our test, we found the following NordVPN servers unblocking Netflix:
- United States
- United Kingdom
- Netherlands
- Canada
Panama-based NordVPN was launched in 2008 and quickly became one of the most highly rated, often-featured VPNs in rating sites. Located in an independent country with nearly 5,200+ servers spread across 60 countries, NordVPN has a lot to offer including Netflix.
The companys website features an article that keeps a running tab on which of their servers are working for Netflix. Currently, the countries with working Netflix servers are the United States, Canada, Japan, France, the UK, and the Netherlands.
All of the servers worked in our testing, providing good connections. NordVPN is one of the more reliable VPN providers for unblocking Netflix, and therefore has a lot of users.
Read our full NordVPN review
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Why Should You Trust Me
This is what I do. I test VPNs and rank them from the best to worst. And guess what? No other VPN has been as consistent as ExpressVPN in unblocking Netflix.
In those rare moments when the VPN has been discovered and blocked, they are so quick to add new addresses or configure a new server that the ban barely inconveniences you.
And thats not all. Here are some of the other reasons why I think ExpressVPN is the best alternative to Private Internet Access when it comes to unblocking Netflix.
- Excellent connections speeds
Unlike some of the other solutions, ExpressVPN does not significantly slow down your Internet connection. It is expected that your speeds will always take a dip when you connect to a VPN but it should not have to hinder your streaming and browsing experience.
In our tests, we were able to watch an episode of Family Guy in full HD and without buffering.
The connection speed was also good enough to handle online gaming if thats your thing.
- Wide server coverage
ExpressVPN boasts of over 3000 servers that are distributed in 94 countries. Multiple servers ensure that users do not congest on one server which would lead to competition for bandwidth and widespread server location helps you find a server that is closest to you.
- Excellent customer support
ExpressVPN agents are available 24/7 via live chat and will take less than a minute to respond to your queries.
- Multiple device compatibility
- Security and Privacy
- Pricing
- Works with other streaming services
How To Watch Netflix With A VPN When Traveling Abroad
Many people who work or travel abroad are looking to Unblock Netflix with a VPN. As long as you are using a good VPN and have enough bandwidth for streaming, you can watch Netflix with your VPN by following these simple steps:
Step 1: Choose a good Netflix VPN service
First you need a good VPN that works with Netflix:
Any of these VPNs will work well with Netflix streaming.
Step 2: Install the VPN software on your streaming device
You will be able to find the VPN software for your specific device directly on the VPNs website. If you go with NordVPN, youll have access to a large selection of VPN apps for all types of devices and operating systems, including TV boxes, Smart TVs, and Amazon FireTV/Fire Stick, as well as computers, routers, tablets, phones, and more.
Step 3: Connect to a VPN server
Simply open the VPN app on your device and connect to a server in the location where Netflix is available, such as in the US or UK. To improve Netflix VPN performance, connect to the closest VPN server possible.
Note: You may need to check with your VPN provider to learn which servers to use.
Step 4: Enjoy streaming with Netflix from abroad
Now just log in to your existing Netflix account and enjoy streaming Netflix as normal. From Netflixs perspective, you are just another user connecting from the country where your VPN server is located.
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Why Does Pia Not Work With Netflix
PIA is a privacy-centric VPN and is not ideal for streaming Netflix as it does not offer dedicated servers for streaming like ExpressVPN to unblock Netflix. Since PIA does not have streaming dedicated servers, it cannot cope with Netflixs IP blocking system.
Netflix is quite serious about its content distribution, which is why it has implemented a smart VPN blocker. This IP blocking system blocks all the VPN and proxy users from accessing content titles that are not available in other regions.
Private Internet Access was initially able to bypass Netflixs geo-restrictions, but its VPN blocker started detecting the IPs and blocked its Silicon valley servers. Since then, Private Internet Access servers have not been able to provide access to Netflix.
Streamers use a VPN to access different Netflix libraries, such as American Netflix, outside the USA, but they cannot rely on PIA as the VPN blocker will detect them, and their IPs will be banned.
Pia Not Working With Netflix Heres How To Fix That
PIA not working with Netflix? The first thing you should do is visit privateinternetaccess.com and get in touch with a member of the support team. Explain the problem to them and ask if they have a server you can connect to thats working with Netflix.
If this doesnt work, then the only option youre left with is switching VPNs. But heres the good news. There are still several VPNs that have found ways to beat the Netflix VPN ban. Below is a list of my top three VPNs that still work with Netflix in 2020.
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Expressvpn Best VPN For Accessing Netflix
6/6 tested servers unblocking Netflix
In our test, we found the following ExpressVPN servers unblocking Netflix:
- United States
- United Kingdom
- Netherlands
ExpressVPN has a Netflix page on their site detailing why using a VPN is the best choice for accessing Netflix .
Its clear that ExpressVPN still counts themselves among the VPN providers able to circumvent Netflixs 2016 ban. Theyre not wrong.
If you want to have a good chance of unblocking Netflix or get access to the US movie libraries, Express is your choice.
Read our full ExpressVPN review
Bottom Line: Pia Works With Netflix
Private Internet Access is a good VPN for streaming the US Netflix library from around the world.
The VPN service also unblocks other popular streaming services like BBC iPlayer, Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max, and Amazon Prime Video.
Its private logging policy also makes it a great choice for those primarily concerned with online security and privacy.
However, since PIA only unblocks two Netflix libraries, and it isnt particularly fast on long-distance connections, its not the best choice if streaming is your main goal.
Additional research by Luke Williams
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The Reason As Why Pia Wont Fix Netflix Issue
As stated in the paragraph above, Private Internet Access has decided to not participate in Bypassing Netflix geo restriction access. The reason for this decision is because it requires plenty of resources to make PIA capable of unblocking Netflix.
Netflix always blocks VPN IP servers to deny access from VPN users and replacing blocked IPs with new ones is not cheap and once the IPs are replaced it will get blacklisted by Netflix again in the future. Not to mention having to always monitor all blocked IPs which can waste resources, energy and time.
Moreover Netflix is reportedly blacklisting IP address ranges from VPN servers too. For VPN companies these problems are very costly to fix. Thats why private internet access simply does not want to participate in competing with other VPN companies to unblock Netflix.
Why Netflix And Other Streaming Services Use Geoblocks
When a network produces a show or a studio makes a movie, it makes deals that determine which distributors can show the content and where and thats not always necessarily the same company. For example, Showtime produced the hit show Homeland and, as such, its available in the U.S. on Showtimes streaming site, and cant be accessed from anywhere else.
However, Showtime has also made a deal with Netflix to make Homeland available for international users in countries other than the U.S. In Germany, you can watch it just fine on Netflix, while in the United States, Netflix users need to hook up to Showtime.
To keep its business model sailing along without breaching contractual agreements, Netflix deploys geoblocks to regulate the shows users can access based on their physical location. The system uses residential IP addresses to determine your location before serving up content specific to your country of residence.
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