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Head-to-head · Virtual Private Network Software

Private Internet Access vs Citrix Gateway

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 3 checks side by side
Higher score Private Internet Access #3 in Virtual Private Network Software 9.1/10 From $3.99/mo (annual) · 7-day trial ✓ 0 of 3 features Visit site
Citrix Gateway #7 in Virtual Private Network Software 8.5/10 Free plan · pricing on request Free plan✓ 2 of 3 features Visit Citrix

Private Internet Access leads on 0 checks, Citrix Gateway on 3, and 0 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 3 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scorePrivate Internet Access · 9.1/10
  • Free planonly Citrix Gateway
  • Most featuresCitrix Gateway · 2 of 3

Private Internet Access scores higher on our rubric for virtual private network software: 9.1 against 8.5 out of 10; our editors rank them #3 and #7.

Citrix Gateway offers free plan; Private Internet Access doesn't. Citrix Gateway offers remote access vpn; Private Internet Access doesn't publish it. Citrix Gateway offers sso support; Private Internet Access doesn't publish it.

Private Internet Access is the better fit for budget-minded users with many devices or P2P needs. Citrix Gateway is the better fit for enterprise SSL VPN and application access.

  • Private Internet Access fits best

    Budget-minded users with many devices or P2P needs

  • Citrix Gateway fits best

    Enterprise SSL VPN and application access

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. We may earn a commission when you click some links. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Private Internet Access 9.1/10 Visit ↗ Citrix Gateway 8.5/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.1 8.5
Ranking #3 in Virtual Private Network Software #7 in Virtual Private Network Software
Best for Budget-minded users with many devices or P2P needs Enterprise SSL VPN and application access
Pricing model Paid Free plan + paid
Starting price Not published Not published
Free plan — ✓ (best)
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud, Desktop, Mobile, Browser extension Cloud, Self-hosted
Platforms Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Chrome extension Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android
Support Email, Live chat, Docs · 24/7 Community, Docs
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Private Internet Access 0/3 · Citrix Gateway 2/3
Remote access VPN Not published ✓ (best)
Site-to-site VPN Not published Not published
SSO support Not published ✓ (best)
Specs
Supported VPN protocols Not published SSL VPN, TLS, DTLS, EDT, ICAProxy, clientless VPN (cVPN)
Client platforms Not published Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, HTML5/web
Concurrent sessions Not published Not published
Deployment model Not published Hybrid
Our review
Pros
  • Unlimited simultaneous connections across supported devices
  • WireGuard, OpenVPN, split tunneling and a kill switch
  • P2P support, streaming servers and MACE blocking
  • Offers full SSL VPN tunnels alongside clientless browser and ICA proxy access
  • Combines SSO with broad authentication and federation integrations
  • Supports endpoint policy controls and active-passive high availability
Cons
  • The 7-day trial is limited to first-time mobile subscribers
  • The 1-month plan costs more per month than annual billing
  • Three-year sale pricing is temporary
  • Sales-led purchasing makes price comparisons less straightforward
  • Features are geared to corporate access, not consumer VPN use
  • Customer-managed appliance deployments require gateway administration
Our verdict

Private Internet Access is a paid VPN subscription for individuals and teams who want to encrypt internet traffic and mask IP addresses across many devices. Its network spans 91 countries, and apps are available for Windows, macOS, Linux,…

Read the review →

Citrix Gateway provides remote access to virtual, SaaS, web and on-premises applications and networks. Its full SSL VPN tunnels, clientless browser access and ICA proxying address different corporate access needs, while single sign-on…

Read the review →
  1. Private Internet AccessVirtual Private Network Software 9.1From $3.99/mo (annual) · 7-day trial
  2. Citrix GatewayVirtual Private Network Software 8.5Free plan · pricing on request

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Private Internet Access — where it wins

    • Unlimited simultaneous connections across supported devices
    • WireGuard, OpenVPN, split tunneling and a kill switch
    • P2P support, streaming servers and MACE blocking

    Where it doesn't

    • The 7-day trial is limited to first-time mobile subscribers
    • The 1-month plan costs more per month than annual billing
    • Three-year sale pricing is temporary
  • Citrix Gateway — where it wins

    • Offers full SSL VPN tunnels alongside clientless browser and ICA proxy access
    • Combines SSO with broad authentication and federation integrations
    • Supports endpoint policy controls and active-passive high availability

    Where it doesn't

    • Sales-led purchasing makes price comparisons less straightforward
    • Features are geared to corporate access, not consumer VPN use
    • Customer-managed appliance deployments require gateway administration
  • Private Internet Access9.1/10 · From $3.99/mo (annual) · 7-day trial

    A feature-rich VPN with unlimited connections, P2P support and a low annual entry price.

    Visit siteFull verdict →
  • Citrix Gateway8.5/10 · Free plan · pricing on request

    A customer-managed gateway for secure access to enterprise apps and networks.

    Visit CitrixFull verdict →

More comparisons

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update