You may see sites offering a lifetime deal for Private Internet Access but trust me, you should steer clear of sites that make these types of claims. Simply put, PIA doesn’t offer a lifetime subscription and according to its site, it has no plans to in the future. Don’t be disheartened, it’s actually a great thing that PIA doesn’t have a lifetime VPN deal. I’ll explain why, as well as how you can get a safe, long-term subscription to PIA risk-free with its 30-day money-back guarantee. Get A Safe Long-Term Private Internet Access Subscription Today!
What Is A Lifetime Subscription, Why Do VPNs Offer Them?
VPNs that offer a lifetime subscription take one lump sum payment, usually hundreds of dollars, in exchange for you getting to use the VPN for life. While getting a lot of money right away seems like a great business plan, it usually leads to bankruptcy and the loss of your VPN provider. Why? Well, VPNs are expensive to maintain if you do it right and require a steady stream of revenue to be sustainable. If too many people choose the lifetime subscription option the VPN destroys any chance at any real long-term stream of revenue. That means it will eventually need to pay out of pocket for maintenance to servers, upgrades to the service, and security patches; none of which come cheap. Instead of footing the bill for upgrades/updates, most lifetime VPNs simply go out of business or let the service fall into disrepair. That means you could end up without a VPN, out a large amount of money, put your privacy and device security at risk, or all three. Get Started With Private Internet Access Now!
What Are The Problems With A Lifetime VPN?
The good news is most legitimate premium VPNs don’t offer a lifetime subscription, including Private Internet Access. It knows that maintenance and new innovative security and privacy features aren’t cheap and it would never put its users at risk. While you may be tempted by a lifetime VPN, some major issues come with signing up for one.
Defining A Lifetime
A big issue with lifetime VPNs is that the definition of ’lifetime’ can change between services, as there is no set standard. Some lifetime VPNs give users a set amount of years, while others mean the lifetime of the company or user. Without an industry-standard definition of ’lifetime,’ you could find out in the small print that your lifetime VPN is only good for 3-7 years. Plus, with most lifetime VPNs going out of service rather quickly, it’s unlikely you’ll get what you paid for.
Account Cancellation
Another problem with lifetime VPN services is the increased chance of account cancellation if the service suddenly decides to stop honoring the lifetime subscription and change over to a more sustainable business model. There isn’t a guarantee that you’ll get refunded any portion of the fees you paid for your subscription or be offered a designated amount of free time on the new plan. That means you’re out of a VPN and the cost of the initial subscription.
Outdated Service
I touched on this a bit above but the cost to maintain services is a big reason lifetime VPNs aren’t sustainable. Paying monthly, yearly, or 2-year fees may seem like a pain but ultimately it’s for your benefit. Even general maintenance like upgrading VPN apps is expensive, imagine what it costs to repair, add, and update servers or onboard new and innovative security and privacy features. Without the regular revenue from monthly/yearly subscriptions coming in, the VPN can become outdated quickly and your device could fall subject to malware, hackers, and viruses.
Compromised Privacy
Malware and phishing attacks are very real, and without regular security, privacy, and overall server updates, holes develop quickly. It’s hard enough to keep DoD attacks and hacking from happening on updated servers, those without regular maintenance are going to be easy to compromise. That means your passwords, browsing data, and real IP address are going to be easier .
What Length Private Internet Access Subscription Should I Get?
The 1 and 2-year subscriptions to Private Internet Access offer the best value, plus each plan comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. The unique thing about PIA is that it encourages you to use the money-back guarantee to try the service, as well as ask for a refund if you aren’t satisfied. PIA also offers a monthly subscription plan if you only need a VPN for a short time.
Okay, No Lifetime Plan - What Does PIA Offer?
Private Internet Access offers three plan tiers: monthly, yearly, and 2-year. The best value is its 2-year plan but all of the subscription rates are pretty affordable, considering how massive its server network is. I chose the monthly plan while working in DC and wasn’t disappointed. Regardless of which plan you choose, you get unlimited data, speed, bandwidth, and server switching.
Is Private Internet Access Worth the Subscription Price?
Private Internet Access has the largest server numbers of any VPN I’ve tested at just over 29,650 servers worldwide. Its network spans an impressive 84 countries too, so you’re covered practically everywhere you travel. MACE is its hybrid ad, malware, and tracker blocker, that blocks domains known for being malicious. By default, PIA uses 128-bit AES encryption but it also has the option for 256-bit AES in settings. It offers multiple protocols as well, including industry-standard OpenVPN and WireGuard for faster streaming. PIA gives you Unlimited simultaneous device connections per license, plus it has the power to bypass tough geoblocks to help you access your Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Sling TV accounts. You can also torrent safely due to its strong security features and solid no-logs policy. It has 24/7 live chat support if you have any questions about installing or using the service, even though the setup and interface are extremely intuitive. Private Internet Access also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can purchase a subscription risk-free. Get PIA Risk-Free Today!
The Bottom Line
There’s too much room for network meltdown, security breaches, and privacy risks with a ‘lifetime’ VPN. Keeping a VPN running smoothly and safely requires a sustainable stream of revenue that lifetime VPNs don’t have. It’s much safer to choose a premium VPN like PIA that regularly updates security and privacy features and backs its service with a 30-day money-back guarantee. That way you’ll be getting the speed, security, and added privacy that you paid for. Get A Safe, Long-Term Subscription to PIA Now!
Which premium VPN offers the best value?
Private Internet Access offers great value for a small subscription fee on all of its plans. That said, my favorite in terms of value per subscription is ExpressVPN. Its server network spans over 94 countries and it has strong security and privacy features, as well as innovative options like its new Lightway protocol. You can even purchase a subscription risk-free, as it has a 30-day money-back guarantee.
What happens if I request a refund outside the guarantee window?
You can always contact customer support and see if PIA will consider giving you a refund outside the guarantee period but I wouldn’t get your hopes up. All refunds outside the guarantee are considered on a case-by-case basis and won’t be considered for anything short of a complete app malfunction.
Why not just use a free VPN and avoid subscription fees?
Ironically, it’s a bad idea for almost the exact reason that lifetime VPN subscriptions don’t work. Quality VPN services cost money to maintain properly. From software and hardware upgrades to adding new servers, sustainable revenue is a must. While there are a few safe free VPNs, they’re far from unlimited and ultimately exist to get you to purchase the full version of the VPN. It’s safer to cut out the middleman and just choose a secure VPN like PIA that has a money-back guarantee. That way, you get added online security and if it isn’t a good fit you can ask for a refund before the guarantee expires. The information above can be used to track you, target you for ads, and monitor what you do online.
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