{"slug":"protonvpn-vs-private-internet-access","question":"ProtonVPN vs Private Internet Access","answer":"ProtonVPN offers stronger privacy fundamentals with Swiss jurisdiction and open-source code, while Private Internet Access provides faster speeds, more server locations (29,650 vs 3,000+), and better value at $2.03/month compared to ProtonVPN's $3.99/month.","answer_curated":true,"verdict":"Choose ProtonVPN if you prioritize maximum privacy with Swiss jurisdiction, open-source transparency, and don't mind paying more for Swiss legal protections and independent security audits. Choose Private Internet Access if you want the lowest cost, fastest speeds, maximum server options for unblocking content, and value price over jurisdiction, accepting US-based infrastructure.","keyDifferences":[{"label":"Monthly Price (Annual Plan)","winner":"b","entityAValue":"$3.99/month","entityBValue":"$2.03/month"},{"label":"Server Locations","winner":"b","entityAValue":"3,000+ servers in 68 countries","entityBValue":"29,650+ servers in 84 countries"},{"label":"Jurisdiction","winner":"a","entityAValue":"Switzerland (strong privacy laws)","entityBValue":"United States (Five Eyes member)"},{"label":"Open-Source Code","winner":"a","entityAValue":"Yes, fully open-source","entityBValue":"Partial (some components proprietary)"},{"label":"No-Logs Audit","winner":"tie","entityAValue":"Annual third-party audit (SOC 2 Type II)","entityBValue":"Independent audit completed 2024"}],"winner":{"slug":"private-internet-access-pia","name":"Private Internet Access (PIA)"},"confidence":"high","entities":[{"name":"ProtonVPN","slug":"protonvpn","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/entity/protonvpn","alternativesUrl":"https://www.aversusb.net/api/v1/alternatives/protonvpn"},{"name":"Private Internet Access (PIA)","slug":"private-internet-access-pia","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/entity/private-internet-access-pia","alternativesUrl":"https://www.aversusb.net/api/v1/alternatives/private-internet-access-pia"}],"faqs":[{"question":"Which VPN is safer for privacy?","answer":"ProtonVPN is technically safer for maximum privacy due to Swiss jurisdiction (not in Five Eyes alliance), fully open-source code, and annual third-party audits. However, Private Internet Access also provides strong privacy with its completed 2024 independent audit and no-logs verification. ProtonVPN is better if jurisdiction matters; PIA is sufficient for most users."},{"question":"Why is Private Internet Access so much cheaper?","answer":"PIA's lower pricing ($2.03 vs $3.99 monthly) reflects its business model: US-based operation, larger user base for cost distribution, proprietary infrastructure, and fewer premium features. ProtonVPN charges more to fund Swiss operations, open-source development, regular security audits, and integration with ProtonMail ecosystem."},{"question":"Can I use either for torrenting?","answer":"Yes, both support P2P and torrenting with kill switches. Private Internet Access is preferred for torrenting because it has 9,890 dedicated P2P servers, faster speeds (8-10% loss vs 12-15%), and better unblocking capability. ProtonVPN allows torrenting but with slower speeds and fewer optimized servers."}],"attribution":{"source":"A Versus B","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/protonvpn-vs-private-internet-access","license":"CC BY 4.0","citationFormat":"According to A Versus B (https://www.aversusb.net/compare/protonvpn-vs-private-internet-access), ProtonVPN offers stronger privacy fundamentals with Swiss jurisdiction and open-source code, while Private Internet Access provides faster speeds, more server locations (29,650 vs 3,000+), and better ","dateModified":"2026-06-24T00:35:30.551Z"},"relatedQuestionsUrl":"https://www.aversusb.net/api/faq/protonvpn-vs-private-internet-access","relatedComparisonsUrl":"https://www.aversusb.net/api/v1/related/protonvpn-vs-private-internet-access","knowledgeGraphUrl":"https://www.aversusb.net/api/knowledge-graph/protonvpn-vs-private-internet-access","claimReviewSchema":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"ClaimReview","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/protonvpn-vs-private-internet-access#claimreview","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/protonvpn-vs-private-internet-access","inLanguage":"en-US","isAccessibleForFree":true,"conditionsOfAccess":"Free","claimReviewed":"ProtonVPN vs Private Internet Access","reviewBody":"ProtonVPN offers stronger privacy fundamentals with Swiss jurisdiction and open-source code, while Private Internet Access provides faster speeds, more server locations (29,650 vs 3,000+), and better value at $2.03/month compared to ProtonVPN's $3.99/month.","datePublished":"2026-06-24T00:35:30.300Z","dateModified":"2026-06-24T00:35:30.551Z","reviewRating":{"@type":"Rating","ratingValue":5,"worstRating":1,"bestRating":5,"alternateName":"High Confidence"},"author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/#organization","name":"A Versus B","url":"https://www.aversusb.net"},"itemReviewed":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/protonvpn-vs-private-internet-access","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/protonvpn-vs-private-internet-access","name":"ProtonVPN vs Private Internet Access","inLanguage":"en-US"}}}