How to cancel private internet access and get a refund

It can be annoying to find out that a VPN isn’t right for you. The connection speeds may not be what you expected, or the service may not allow you to watch your favorite streaming sites. If you want to cancel your Private Internet Access (PIA) subscription, it’s simple to do regardless of what your reason is.

This guide will show you exactly how to cancel your account and get a refund under its money-back guarantee. We will also look at some of the best options if you want to switch to a different service. Let’s cancel your subscription and get a refund.

Step-by-step guide to cancel private internet access and get a refund

Important: Turning off auto-renewal alone does NOT trigger a refund. To qualify, you must (A) cancel the subscription and (B) request a refund from support within 30 days of purchase. Follow these steps.

If you bought directly on PIA’s website (recommended flow)

1. Log in
   • Go to the PIA website and sign in to your account.
2. Open Client Control Panel
   • Navigate to Client Control Panel → Subscription Overview.
3. Turn off auto-renewal / Cancel
   • Click the option to turn off auto-renewal (or “cancel subscription”).
   • Provide the reason when prompted and confirm it.
   • Note: This stops future charges but does not automatically issue a refund.
4. Collect order details
   • Copy your order number/invoice, and take a screenshot of the Subscription Overview showing cancellation—you’ll need this for support.
5. Request your refund (fastest = live chat)
   • On PIA’s website, open Live Chat and tell the agent:
     • You want to claim the 30-day money-back guarantee.Provide your order number and any purchase info.
     Or: go to Contact Support in the control panel → choose Account Support → submit a message clearly requesting a refund and include the order number and cancellation confirmation.
   Sample live chat/message Hi — I cancelled my subscription (order #123456) and would like to request a refund under PIA’s 30-day money-back guarantee. Please confirm and process this refund. Thank you.
6. Wait for approval
   • After approval, refunds typically appear in your payment account within 5–10 business days (may vary by bank/provider).
7. Save confirmation
   • Keep any confirmation emails or chat transcripts until you see the money back.

If you signed up through iOS (App Store)

1. Cancel subscription on iPhone
   • Open Settings → [your name] → Subscriptions, find the PIA subscription, and Cancel.
2. Request an App Store refund
   • For App Store refunds, visit reportaproblem.apple.com and follow Apple’s refund request flow.
3. Also contact PIA support
   • Log in to PIA’s website (if you can) and contact Live Chat or Contact Support to let them know you cancelled via Apple and request any help PIA must provide. (Policies vary when purchased through Apple.)

If you signed up through Google Play (Android)

1. Cancel in Google Play
   • Open Google Play Store → Menu → Subscriptions, find and cancel the PIA subscription.
2. Request refund via PIA
   • Unlike Apple, you still need to contact PIA support via their website (Live Chat or Contact Support) and request the refund—provide your Google Play order ID and cancellation screenshot.
3. (Optional) Request refund from Google
   • You can also request a refund through Google Play’s “Order history → Report a problem” if needed.

Quick checklist (do this every time)

• Cancel subscription (PIA or App Store / Google Play)
• Save order number + screenshots of cancellation
• Contact PIA via Live Chat (fastest) or Contact Support → Account Support
• Ask for the 30-day money-back guarantee refund and give order number
• Save refund confirmation and wait 5–10 business days for the money to appear

Troubleshooting & tips

• You must do both steps (cancel + request refund). Don’t skip the live chat/contact step.
• Do it within 30 days of your initial purchase to qualify for a full refund.
• If you bought from a reseller or third party, the PIA 30-day policy may not apply—contact the seller and PIA.
• Keep chat transcripts, emails, and screenshots until you receive the refund.
• If the refund is delayed past the stated timeframe, reply to the support confirmation with your saved screenshots and ask for the status.

Top VPN alternatives to consider

If you’re canceling PIA because it didn’t meet your needs, there are several great alternatives that each have their own strengths.

The best option for you depends on what you care about most: super-fast speeds, better streaming, or more advanced security features. The following table compares the top contenders to help you decide.

It’s easy to switch. You can usually sign up for a new VPN service and start using it right away after you choose one. You can try out the services of all the providers listed above without any risk because they all have strong money-back guarantees.

The result means you can find a VPN that really works for the way you use the internet without having to sign up for a long time. Before you cancel your old service, make sure that your new VPN is working and active on all of your devices. This makes sure that you are always safe online.