Private Internet Access (PIA) has some of the best prices of any VPN and often doesn’t seem like a cheap service. I say “often” because, unfortunately, sometimes it seems like you get what you pay for with PIA. While I work to see what settings fix the problems, the fact is that PIA doesn’t always leave you with the internet speeds you need for everyday use.
If you find PIA untrustworthy, you may want to know how to end your subscription, get a refund, and switch to a more stable VPN service. Here, I’ll explain how to stop your subscription from renewing, get your money back, and delete your account (if you want to go that far).
How to turn off PIA auto-renewal
As with most VPNs, the standard way to cancel PIA is to stop renewing your subscription at the end of the current payment period. Whether you signed up for one month, one year, or three years, you’ll be able to continue using the VPN until that time expires. Here is the process to follow.
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On a desktop or mobile web browser, go to privateinternetaccess.com. Click Access at the top of the screen.
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Enter your account username and password. You will be taken to your client’s control panel. It should automatically load in the Subscription Overview tab, but check the left column to make sure.
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Under the username of the subscription you want to cancel, look for the “upcoming billing” heading, and then click Turn off auto-renewal link.
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You will receive a message trying to convince you not to cancel. Click Turn off auto-renewal again, this time at the bottom left of the window.
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Please indicate the reason for cancellation. Feel free to click “I have another reason”, then enter a letter and click Continue with the cancellation.
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Finally, the site will offer to connect you to technical support instead of canceling. Hold the line and click Turn off auto-renewal one more time.
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After you get through all of that, you should receive confirmation that your account will not renew when the billing period expires. Now you have the rest of the period to look for a new VPN.
Please note that if you are downloading PIA for the first time from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, you may have purchased your subscription directly through the app. In this case, your subscription will be managed by the app store where you purchased it and you will have to go there to cancel it. Simply open your profile, click on the subscriptions header, and scroll down to find PIA.
How to delete your PIA account
If you are sure that you are done with PIA, you may want to go the extra mile and delete your account completely. You can do this by submitting a support ticket. Go to helpdesk.privateinternetaccess.com, scroll to the bottom of the page, and click Contact us under the Resources heading (near the center of the page).
Sam Chapman for Engadget
Write a clear and direct message. Feel free to use the screenshot above as an example. To get help faster, you can also use live chat; just go to the main PIA website and then click on the button at the bottom right that says Need help? Chat with us! This will draw attention to your case immediately, but first you’ll have to defeat an AI assistant.
How to get a refund from PIA
PIA only offers refunds within the first 30 days after purchase. If you’re within that window and want your money back, start by canceling auto-renewal, then submit a support ticket or contact live chat as described in the section above. Let’s say you request a full refund under the money back guarantee. Stay firm, as they will probably try to talk you out of going.
Alternatives to PIA
If you still need a VPN after canceling PIA, and you almost certainly will if you ever go online, Engadget has a list of the best VPNs to help you compare prices. As a quick summary, Proton VPN is the best service in all aspects. ExpressVPN is expensive, but offers great speeds and great app design. If you need fast, consistent speeds at all times, choose Surfshark.
