SO i have a few questions. Ill state what i know and then ask my questions. and you can correct me or answer the questions
So with tor it goes me(encrypted) -> tor relay(all encrypted) -> end node (decrypted) -> internet(unencrypted)-> destination with this people dont know who i am (unless i use my name or make accounts and stuff) and they cant see any of my traffic unless they control the end node or intercept it between the end node and the destination
with a vpn, im kinda confused. i think it goes like this, this is where i need correction me(encrypted)->vpn( in this case private internet access)(encrypted)->internet(decrypted)->destination(decrypted) doesnt the vpn kinda work like a tor relay, only private intenet access works as both the tor relay and the end node at the same time? and people can not see my traffic unless they intercept it between PIA and the destination? and i am anonymous because i have a different ip unless i use accounts and such?
Private Internet Access knows who you are and what you're looking at whereas with Tor none of the nodes your traffic go through know everything about you. They both have similar effects to the website (or whatever other service) you're accessing, but the difference is within the service.
On the web, if you're using HTTPS then it would be. Encryption from PIA -> the outside Internet depends on whether the connection to the outside can be encrypted.
Nothing is encrypted in this example (besides https)
You
Internet (Secure - "Tunnel" through your ISP)
VPN Provider
Internet (Not Secure)
Server you are connected to
The point of this is by encrypting your traffic from You to the VPN Provider is that now your ISP can't see anything you do, or limit your bandwidth depending on what traffic type you are using (youtube, netflix, p2p)
And, likewise from the server you are connected to, you just look like an IP from the VPN provider.
To add however, yes. You will be anonymous with a VPN since hundreds of people can share the same IP. This is both a bad and good thing. Good in the sense of more anonymity, bad in the sense of some people get banned from, say, twitch. Then if you happen to be using the same IP, you won't be able to use twitch till you switch to another server hosted by your VPN provider with another IP.
So if you are looking into a long term solution and want it for encryption from your ISP, use a VPN with a dedicated IP option.
If you want anonymity but reliability with the cost of some mishaps with IPs, get a VPN with a random IP (pretty much all VPN's default)
I know very little about the reliability of TOR, but it would be ideal for anonymity, however some ISPs throw fits when they detect tor.