NordVPN vs PIA 2026: Speed vs Privacy Purity.
NordVPN's performance and features vs PIA's open-source transparency and rock-bottom pricing.
Private Internet Access
8.4
Best for privacy purists — open-source and court-proven no-logs
Visit Private Internet AccessSide-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | NordVPN | Private Internet Access |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 9.4 | 8.4 |
| Best Price | $3.09/mo | $2.03/mo |
| Servers | 6,400 | 35,000 |
| Countries | 111 | 91 |
| Devices | 10 | Unlimited |
| Speed Rating | 9.5 | 8.2 |
| Privacy Rating | 9.6 | 9.5 |
| Streaming Rating | 9.4 | 8 |
| Encryption | AES-256-GCM | AES-256-GCM |
| Kill Switch | Yes | Yes |
| No-Logs Audit | Deloitte (2022, 2023), PricewaterhouseCoopers (2018, 2020) | Deloitte (2022), court-proven (2016, 2018) |
| Ad Blocker | Yes | Yes |
| Money-Back | 30 days | 30 days |
| Free Tier | No | No |
| Jurisdiction | Panama | United States |
Verdict
NordVPN is faster, has more features (Threat Protection, Meshnet, Double VPN), and better streaming support. PIA is open-source, court-proven for privacy, has 35,000 servers, and costs $1/mo less. NordVPN for the best experience, PIA for privacy purists on a budget.
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NordVPN
$3.09/mo
Visit site →Private Internet Access
$2.03/mo
Visit site →FAQ
- Is NordVPN safe to use? +
- Yes. NordVPN uses AES-256 encryption, has a verified no-logs policy audited by Deloitte, and is based in Panama which has no data retention laws. It is considered one of the safest VPN providers available.
- Does NordVPN work with Netflix? +
- Yes. NordVPN reliably unblocks Netflix in the US, UK, Japan, and many other regions. It also works with Disney+, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and most major streaming platforms.
- Is PIA safe even though it's based in the US? +
- Yes. PIA's no-logs policy has been proven in court — when subpoenaed by the FBI, PIA could not provide user data because none existed. The open-source code allows anyone to verify the privacy claims.
- How many devices can PIA protect? +
- PIA allows unlimited simultaneous connections on a single account, covering every device you own.