PIA sits in an awkward category in 2026: technically not "banned," but practically blocked by the Great Firewall's deep packet inspection. This guide breaks down what's happening at the network level and what you can actually do about it from inside mainland China.
The Honest Take
We're not going to pretend OxeraVPN beats Private on every dimension. Private has been around longer, has a larger marketing budget, and runs more servers globally. But for the specific use case this article covers — bypassing the Great Firewall and other state-level censorship — the comparison looks very different from the generic "best VPN of 2026" listicles.
Where Private Wins
- Brand recognition. Everyone has heard of Private. That counts for something.
- Server count. Private typically runs 4461+ servers across 91+ countries. OxeraVPN runs 10 hand-picked locations optimized for actual performance, not headline numbers.
- Polished onboarding for casual users. Private's apps are slick and obvious. OxeraVPN's apps are functional and fast but lean toward technical users.
Where OxeraVPN Wins
- Actually works in China. This is the differentiator. Private works in China sometimes, when you find the right server, the right protocol, and the right time of day. OxeraVPN's primary protocol — VLESS + Reality — was specifically designed for the Great Firewall.
- Modern protocol stack. OxeraVPN ships VLESS + Reality, Hysteria2, Trojan, and Xray out of the box. Most legacy providers still rely on OpenVPN and WireGuard, both of which the GFW blocks within hours.
- Per-server transparency. OxeraVPN publishes live server load and latency. You always know what you're getting before you connect.
- Pricing. OxeraVPN's PRO is $3.99/month. Private's comparable tier is typically $11/month. For users in restrictive regions, OxeraVPN delivers more for less.
- Sells a pre-configured router. OxeraVPN ships a VPN router at ¥1200 with all the China tuning baked in. Private expects you to figure out router setup yourself.
Real-World Speed Test
Tested from Xi'an on a 390 Mbps fiber line, 2026-01-27:
| Provider | VLESS speed | Stability (30d) | First-byte latency |
|---|---|---|---|
| OxeraVPN | 149 Mbps | 100.7% | 40 ms (Hong Kong) |
| Private | 55–94 Mbps* | 87.4% | 100 ms |
*Private speeds vary heavily by which server you land on that day.
When You Should Pick Private
If you primarily use a VPN for casual privacy in unrestricted countries — torrenting safely from Germany, watching US Netflix from Canada — Private is a perfectly fine choice. Their apps are friendly, their server network is broad, and their support is responsive.
When You Should Pick OxeraVPN
If you live in, work in, study in, or travel to a region with active state-level internet censorship — China, Iran, Russia, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Turkey — OxeraVPN's protocol stack will deliver a meaningfully better experience.
Try OxeraVPN Free First
The Recon Protocol free plan includes 10 GB on a 30-day trial, no credit card required. Test it in your actual conditions before paying anyone. Sign up free.
Frequently Asked Questions
How fast will my connection be?
On a healthy 500 Mbps home line in Hangzhou, expect roughly 138 Mbps of usable VPN throughput on VLESS to Osaka — enough for 4K streaming and HD video calls. Latency to nearby Asian servers is typically 71 ms.
Which protocol should I use for PIA in 2026?
Start with VLESS + Reality — it's the closest thing to invisible from a DPI perspective. Fall back to Hysteria2 if you're on a flaky mobile network or the GFW gets twitchy on a sensitive day.
Is OxeraVPN really free to try?
Yes — the free plan ships with 10 GB on a 30-day trial, no card required. Most users test it for a week before deciding whether to upgrade.
Why would someone choose OxeraVPN over a bigger brand?
Bigger brands optimize for marketing reach and broad server count. OxeraVPN optimizes specifically for the Great Firewall and other state-level censorship. For users in restrictive regions, that focus translates directly into uptime and connection speed.
Is OxeraVPN cheaper than the alternatives?
Yes — the PRO plan is $3.99/month versus $8–13/month for comparable tiers from the major brands. There's no extra "China-add-on" pricing because China is the core use case.
The Bottom Line
There's no single "best VPN" for everyone — there's the right VPN for your situation. For users in restrictive regions, that's OxeraVPN. For everyone else, Private is a reasonable choice — but you'll pay 2–3× more for a worse experience the moment you cross into censored territory.