Private Internet Access now lets you ditch Google as it brings its VPN app to F-Droid

Date:
Tue, 04 Aug 2026 15:04:18 +0000

Description:
PIA has launched its Android app on the open-source app store, giving Big
Tech skeptics an alternative way to install its service.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Private Internet Access has rolled out its VPN for Android on F-Droid It provides de-Googlers with an alternative to sideloading It reinforces PIA's commitment to maintaining its open-source status Open-source Private Internet Access (PIA) VPN has rolled out its Android app on the digital store F-Droid, a privacy-focused alternative to the Google Play Store.

The move comes to the delight of VPN users who dont trust Big Tech and its notorious track record of privacy violations, but are also fed up with more old-school, DIY de-Googling alternatives. From now on, PIA users will be able to safely download the Android VPN app directly from the community-run store dedicated to open-source Android apps. This ensures that the version is free of Google dependencies without users having to manually source and upgrade
new versions themselves.

The best VPNs often benefit from independent third parties to prove their reliability, including through commissioning security reports or independent audits .

With PIA now available via F-Droid, PIA users can now rely on a community of privacy-conscious individuals instead of having to blindly trust a binary
file provided by the VPN directly. "We pride ourselves on being a VPN where anyone can read the code we actually ship landing on F-Droid is a natural extension of that commitment," said the company. You may like Android users have just gained access to a new VPN app as Obscura VPN lands on Google Play and Obtainum 'Update your app' Private Internet Access finally breaks its silence with a wave of network upgrades Private Internet Access (PIA) VPN review - a standout choice for niche audiences

Private Internet Access (PIA) best Linux VPN One of the best VPNs for
Linux, and a popular VPN for torrenting, PIA is an industry veteran that has proven its no-logs policy in court (twice). Some connection issues and underwhelming speeds saw it fall out of our top ranks, but it's still offer reliable open-source apps across all major platforms at among the best cheap VPN pricing you can get. What is F-Droid? To install a VPN, Google Play Store is usually the common way. However, some users steer clear of the tech giant, which has faced countless legal cases relating to privacy and is known for collecting vast amounts of user data , including for targeted advertising.

A breath of fresh air, F-Droid's catalog of free and open-source Android apps is run by a group of volunteers that builds every app from the public source code rather than from a file provided by the developer, and makes it
available on its Google-alternative store.

Because all apps on F-Droid are open-source and compiled independently, users can be sure that the binaries are tamper-free builds of the listed source code.

Whats more, F-Droid volunteers carry out these checks on users' behalf by auditing the open-source code, inspecting the code to check that it contains no spying or any sort of malicious behaviour so you dont have to do it yourself. Why a native PIA's F-Droid app matters (Image credit: Private Internet Access) The digital store offers a far more reliable alternative to the more traditional method of sideloading your VPNs. This involves changing the device's security settings to allow the installation of apps from sources outside the Google Play ecosystem, including the VPN's website or alternative sites. What to read next Google I/O completely forgot Pixel VPN here's the Android alternative I'd recommend to secure your personal data Proton VPN on Android: features, requirements, how to install Thousands of iOS and Android VPNs are hiding behind fake websites and useless privacy policies here's how to spot them

However, compiled binary code is opaque and has to come from somewhere, often the developer themselves. And by relying on the developer you are implicitly trusting their word something that is easily abused.

Furthermore, with sideloading, you wont receive the automatic notifications and pop-up messages from the official app stores that you would get via
Google Play, which means youll need to monitor and install the APK manually
to keep the app up to date something that F-Droid takes care of.

To download the F-Droid app, you can visit f-droid.org in your browser and download and install the F-Droid APK; then install PIA once you've found it
in the list of downloaded apps.

Ultimately, you are always relying on a third party unless you install the software yourself. But between a profit-driven company and a group of volunteers with a privacy policy that guarantees no shared accounts, no installation tracking and no adverts, we are sure the choice for many will remain a no-brainer. Today's best VPN deals Private Internet Access 24 Month 1.29 /mth View at Private Internet Access Private Internet Access 6 Month
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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/vpn/vpn-services/private-internet-access-now-lets-yo u-ditch-google-as-it-brings-its-vpn-app-to-f-droid


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