LimeVPN vs Private Internet Access
Which VPN Wins in 2026?
PIA has court-verified no-logs and open-source apps. LimeVPN offers comparable protection at a lower price from a non-US jurisdiction. We compare every key difference.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | LimeVPN | PIA |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $5.99/mo Core (no contract) | $2.19/mo (2-yr + 2mo) |
| Annual price | $49/yr Core · $84/yr Plus | ~$56/yr (2yr + 2mo) |
| Server count | 30+ locations | 35,000+ servers, 91 countries |
| Simultaneous devices | 5 | Unlimited |
| Protocols | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2 | WireGuard, OpenVPN, WireGuard+ |
| Open-source apps | — | ✅ GitHub open-source |
| Court-proven no-logs | — | ✅ 2 FBI subpoenas produced nothing |
| No-logs policy | ✅ No browsing or activity logs | ✅ Confirmed in court (2016, 2018) |
| Kill switch | ✅ | ✅ (advanced options) |
| DNS leak protection | ✅ | ✅ |
| Dedicated IP | ✅ Available | ✅ Available |
| Split tunneling | ✅ | ✅ |
| MACE ad/malware blocker | — | ✅ DNS-level |
| SOCKS5 proxy | — | ✅ Included |
| Multi-hop (double VPN) | — | ✅ |
| Port forwarding | — | ✅ |
| Streaming (Netflix US) | ✅ | ✅ |
| Torrenting / P2P | ✅ | ✅ |
| Crypto payments | ✅ | ✅ |
| Company ownership | Independent | Kape Technologies |
| Jurisdiction | Privacy-friendly | Delaware, USA (5-Eyes) |
| Money-back guarantee | 7 days | 7 days |
🇺🇸 US Jurisdiction: What It Means for PIA
Private Internet Access is incorporated in Delaware, USA — a 5-Eyes country. The US has broad surveillance authorities under the Patriot Act and FISA that can compel US companies to silently comply with data requests.
PIA's defense: Their no-logs architecture means there's nothing to compel them to produce. The court records from 2016 and 2018 confirm this worked in practice. Additionally, a legal order can only compel future logging — not retroactive data.
The risk: If a US court ordered PIA to start logging a specific user going forward, PIA would be legally required to comply (unlike a company in Panama or Switzerland that could challenge the order). LimeVPN's non-US jurisdiction provides a meaningful structural privacy advantage.
Pros & Cons
LimeVPN
Pros
Cons
PIA
Pros
Cons
Our Verdict
Choose LimeVPN if you:
- • Need a non-US, non-5-Eyes jurisdiction
- • Want independent VPN ownership (not Kape)
- • Value the cheapest price with solid privacy
- • Want dedicated IPs for streaming
- • Prefer simplicity over advanced feature set
Choose PIA if you:
- • Want court-proven no-logs verification
- • Require open-source auditable apps
- • Need port forwarding for seeding torrents
- • Want unlimited simultaneous connections
- • Need a massive server network (35,000+)
Frequently Asked Questions
Has PIA really been proven to keep no logs?
Yes — Private Internet Access (PIA) has been court-tested twice. In a 2016 FBI case and a 2018 case, subpoenas for user data produced nothing because PIA had no logs to give. This is a significant real-world verification that most VPNs can't claim. However, PIA is now owned by Kape Technologies (same as ExpressVPN, CyberGhost) and is based in the US (5-Eyes jurisdiction) — factors worth considering alongside the no-logs track record.
Is PIA based in the US a serious concern?
The US is part of the 5-Eyes intelligence alliance and has strong surveillance laws including the Patriot Act and FISA. US-based VPNs can be compelled to log users going forward (not retroactively, since PIA has no logs). If a government obtained a future court order, PIA would be legally required to comply going forward. LimeVPN is based outside 5-Eyes jurisdictions.
What is PIA's MACE feature?
MACE is PIA's DNS-based ad, tracker, and malware blocker. It's built into PIA's apps and works at the DNS level, blocking requests before they reach your device. LimeVPN does not include a built-in ad blocker, but you can use browser extensions like uBlock Origin for similar functionality.
Is PIA open source?
Yes. PIA's client apps are open-source on GitHub, which allows independent code review. LimeVPN's apps are not currently open-source. Open-source code allows security researchers to audit the app for vulnerabilities or privacy issues, which is a meaningful trust signal.
Can PIA's 35,000 servers really be better than LimeVPN's 30+?
PIA's 35,000+ servers is a massive number, but many are virtual servers in the same physical locations. The count mainly reflects density rather than geographic diversity. LimeVPN's 30+ locations cover the most in-demand regions globally. For most users, server count matters less than server quality and proximity to your location.
Both Offer Dedicated IP — LimeVPN Is Simpler With Monthly Available
LimeVPN Core from $5.99/month (no contract), Plus with dedicated IP from $9.99/month. No browsing logs, privacy-friendly jurisdiction, no Kape ownership. 14-day money-back guarantee.
Get LimeVPN — From $5.99/moAES-256 Encryption · No-Logs Policy · 30+ Locations · Kill Switch