How to cancel PIA VPN subscription with a full refund

During testing, I found that every VPN has pros and cons. Some offered great speed and security, while others had user-friendly applications and customer support.

Private Intenet Access (PIA) is a leading VPN provider with millions of customers. It is owned by the same company which is behind ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Mac security software ‘Intego.’

I bought a PIA subscription, tested it for a review, and claimed a refund to test their refund process. Now, I will write a separate article on how PIA performed using images and numbers. We will discuss more on the refund process and the steps to get a PIA refund easily in 2024.

My experience: I got my refund in less than 10 minutes, and the process was smooth and easy. However, to stay protected online, I recommend getting a VPN before you cancel your PIA subscription.

Thing to know before canceling PIA

There are a few key points you should know and consider before canceling your Private Internet Access subscription.

• PIA subscriptions purchased in the App Store: Subscriptions bought via the Google Play Store or Apple App Store must be canceled or managed directly through your mobile device’s settings.
• 30day money-back guarantee: PIA offers a full refund if you cancel within 30 days of your VPN purchase. Refunds are not available beyond this period.
• Gift cards are non-refundable: Subscriptions purchased with gift cards are not eligible for refunds. However, using gift cards is one of the most secure and anonymous methods to pay for a VPN.

You will need your order ID, bank details, and the email address you used to sign up for your PIA subscription.

How to cancel PIA subscription: Step-By-Step guide

In this section, I’ll guide you through canceling a PIA VPN subscription on both mobile and desktop devices. Since these are the most commonly used platforms for purchasing and managing subscriptions, our focus will remain on them.

How to cancel a PIA VPN subscription on a desktop?

I used my desktop PC with Windows 10 to cancel the PIA subscription using the client portal. You will need to log in with your credentials and follow these steps:

1. Log in to your Private Internet Access (PIA) account by visiting their website and entering your username and password. Go to the “Subscription Overview” page.
2. To prevent your subscription from renewing automatically, turn off auto-renewal. This step will not issue a refund—you’ll need to contact support for that.
3. A pop-up will appear asking why you’re canceling. You can choose a reason from the options or type a short comment. If you don’t have a specific reason, a simple comment like “I don’t need VPN anymore” works.
4. Return to the account control panel and select the option to contact customer support for a refund. You’ll be redirected to a new page where you can click “Contact Us” or use this link.
5. Fill out the contact form. Choose “Account Support” as the department and use a subject like “Subscription cancellation.” Include your order ID or payment details and mention that you’ve canceled your subscription and want a refund.
6. Check your email for a response. I received the refund email within an hour.

You can also email your refund request to ‘support@privateinternetaccess.com’ after canceling the auto-renewal.

How to cancel PIA subscription on Android?

If you have subscribed to PIA via Google Play Store, you need to first cancel your subscription from there and then create a customer support ticked.

1. Open the Google Play Store app on your device with your account signed in.
2. Tap your profile icon in the top-right corner of the screen.
3. Navigate to your subscriptions by selecting “Payments and Subscriptions” and then “Subscriptions.”
4. Find and select your Private Internet Access (PIA) subscription from the list.
5. Cancel your subscription by tapping “Manage Subscription” and then selecting “Cancel Subscription.” Follow the prompts to confirm the cancellation.
6. Remember, canceling your PIA VPN subscription via the Google Play Store does not automatically issue a refund. After completing the cancellation, visit PIA’s website and generate a ticket for a refund in the customer support section.

How to cancel Private Internet Access on iOS and iPhone?

You will need to cancel your PIA subscription and request a refund directly through Apple if you have used iTunes or an iOS app for signing up. Here are the steps you need to follow:

1. Open the Settings app on your Apple device and tap your name at the top of the screen to access your Apple ID settings.
2. Go to the Subscriptions section to view all your active subscriptions. Locate and select the Private Internet Access subscription.
3. Tap Cancel Subscription and confirm to stop your subscription from renewing. This will end your subscription at the end of the billing cycle.
4. To request a refund, open a web browser and go to reportaproblem.apple.com. Log in with your Apple ID credentials.
5. Once logged in, choose Request a Refund from the drop-down menu. A list of your recent purchases will appear, including the Private Internet Access subscription.
6. Select the PIA subscription and, in the description box, write a brief reason for your refund request, such as “I’d like to claim PIA’s 30-day money-back guarantee.” Follow the remaining prompts to submit your request.
7. Purchases made using iTunes gift cards will not be refunded as per policy. Read more about requesting a refund from Apple.

What are the best PIA VPN alternatives?

PIA is a decent VPN that offers plenty of servers in 100+ locations. These servers are highly optimized for speed and security and protect your online identity. If you have speed issues with PIA, check our guide on the best VPN servers and VPN protocols and make adjustments.

However, if there are other reasons for canceling your PIA VPN subscription, here are the best alternatives to PIA VPN that are better than PIA in every aspect of online security and provide more speed.

1. ExpressVPN — Fast speed with top-notch security

ExpressVPN has thousands of servers in more than 105 locations. These servers are highly optimized to provide good speed and unlock restricted content and websites.

Many consider ExpressVPN the best VPN, and indeed, it is. I personally use ExpressVPN for streaming, torrenting, and accessing restricted content and websites. I also use it to change my Netflix library and watch movies and TV shows that are unavailable in my country’s Netflix library.

ExpressVPN’s regular subscription offers top security features like a kill switch, 256-AES encryption, and split tunneling. However, you will need to pay extra for a dedicated IP.

You can install and use it on more than five devices at the same time, which means it can be shared with friends and family members. It also offers a custom-developed Lightway VPN protocol, which is derived from the infamous WireGuard VPN protocol and offers the best data encryption available in the market.

ExpressVPN is available at $4.99/m (30-month special deal). You can get a 100% refund if you claim within 30 days.

2. NordVPN —Best for streaming

NordVPN has been rated the best VPN of 2024 by several VPN review websites, such as VPN for What and publications. I tested it on my laptop and iPhone, and it worked perfectly, making me to use it as my default VPN.

It offers more than 6000+ servers in 111 countries and offers OpenVPN, NordLynx, and IKEv2 VPN protocols. Additionally, NordVPN is ideal if you reside in countries with VPN bans or heavy internet censorship. NordVPN’s obfuscated VPN servers will make your VPN traffic look like regular internet traffic.

NordVPN has apps for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, etc. It is super easy to use and install on any device, including Smart TVs. As of now, a NordVPN subscription is available at $4.49/m (27 months) + the 30-day money-back guarantee.

3. Proton VPN — Free

If you are looking for a free VPN with all the options offered by PIA, Proton VPN the best choice for you. It may be slightly slower than ExpressVPN and NordVPN, but it offers all the features and is compatible with all devices.

It is based in Switzerland, which is one of the best countries in terms of nature, privacy laws, and internet freedom. On top of that, Switzerland is not part of any five-eye, fourteen-eye surface organization, so you don’t have to worry about your data and online activities.

Proton VPN offers WireGuard, OpenVPN, and Stealth VPN protocols to encrypt your data. They have 9000+ servers in 112 countries which are optimized to provide fast speed and premium online security.

Proton VPN offers the following features:

• Unblocking streaming platforms
• NetShield Ad-blocker
• P2P/ BitTorrent Support
• Tor over VPN
• Fastest speed up to 10 Gbps

You can use Proton VPN for free and use it on one device for every. However, Proton Plus is available at $4.49/m with a 30-day money-back guarantee and offers additional features like split tunneling, double VPN, and custom DNS.

Final thoughts

PIA is a reliable VPN that offers modern protocols with end-to-end encryption, fast-speed servers, and compatibility across all devices and operating systems. However, if it doesn’t meet your expectations, the 30-day money-back guarantee is a great safety net—I personally received my refund in 4 days.

In this guide, I’ve already detailed the step-by-step process to claim PIA’s 30-day money-back guarantee on desktop, Android, and iOS devices. Additionally, I’ve highlighted some of the best alternatives to PIA VPN for those seeking other options.

Summary of PIA alternatives: