{"slug":"protonvpn-vs-private-internet-access)","question":"ProtonVPN vs Private Internet Access","answer":"ProtonVPN offers stronger privacy credentials with Switzerland-based infrastructure and no-logs verification, while Private Internet Access (PIA) provides faster speeds and lower prices with 10,000+ servers across 91 countries. ProtonVPN prioritizes security-first design; PIA prioritizes speed and value.","answer_curated":true,"verdict":"Choose ProtonVPN if privacy is your top priority—its Switzerland headquarters, stronger legal protections, and transparent no-logs commitment make it ideal for journalists, activists, and privacy-conscious users willing to accept slower speeds. Choose Private Internet Access (PIA) if you prioritize speed, server diversity, and affordability—its extensive network and aggressive pricing suit casual users, streamers, and those needing reliable unblocking on a budget.","keyDifferences":[{"label":"Server Network Size","winner":"b","entityAValue":"3,500+ servers across 65 countries","entityBValue":"10,000+ servers across 91 countries"},{"label":"Base Price (Annual)","winner":"b","entityAValue":"$119.88/year (~$9.99/month)","entityBValue":"$39.95/year (~$3.33/month)"},{"label":"Jurisdiction & Privacy Laws","winner":"a","entityAValue":"Switzerland (strongest privacy protections, EU-GDPR compliant)","entityBValue":"United States (weaker privacy laws, subject to court orders)"},{"label":"Independent Security Audits","winner":"tie","entityAValue":"Audited by Securitum (2021, 2023) and Cure53 (2024)","entityBValue":"Audited by Cure53 (2020, 2023) and VerSprite"},{"label":"Average Download Speed (256-bit AES)","winner":"b","entityAValue":"180-220 Mbps","entityBValue":"280-320 Mbps"}],"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":"Can the government force ProtonVPN or PIA to reveal my activity?","answer":"ProtonVPN is based in Switzerland, which has the world's strongest privacy laws—Swiss courts rarely honor US government data requests, and ProtonVPN's no-logs architecture means no activity data exists to hand over. PIA is US-based, meaning the FBI, NSA, or courts can issue subpoenas that PIA must comply with. However, PIA's verified no-logs policy means there's no user activity data stored—only metadata like connection timestamps might exist. For maximum protection against government surveillance, ProtonVPN has a significant advantage."},{"question":"Why is PIA so much cheaper than ProtonVPN?","answer":"PIA's aggressive pricing ($3.33/month on annual plans) reflects a business model focused on volume and retention through affordability. ProtonVPN charges premium prices ($9.99/month minimum) to fund its security-first infrastructure, regular independent audits, and Swiss-based operations. ProtonVPN also includes malware blocking (NetShield) and double VPN in base plans, increasing costs. PIA prioritizes growth in competitive markets; ProtonVPN prioritizes security margins and investor independence."},{"question":"Which VPN is better for streaming and unblocking?","answer":"Private Internet Access (PIA) is significantly better for streaming—its 10,000+ servers across 91 countries provide more IP addresses to rotate, making detection and blocking harder. ProtonVPN's smaller 3,500-server network gets blocked more frequently by Netflix, Disney+, and other platforms. However, ProtonVPN's Stealth mode helps bypass censorship in restrictive countries. For casual streaming, PIA wins; for accessing content in China/Iran/Russia, ProtonVPN is more reliable."}],"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 credentials with Switzerland-based infrastructure and no-logs verification, while Private Internet Access (PIA) provides faster speeds and lower prices with 10,000+ s","dateModified":"2026-07-08T20:21:21.918Z"},"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 credentials with Switzerland-based infrastructure and no-logs verification, while Private Internet Access (PIA) provides faster speeds and lower prices with 10,000+ servers across 91 countries. ProtonVPN prioritizes security-first design; PIA prioritizes speed and value.","datePublished":"2026-07-08T20:21:21.834Z","dateModified":"2026-07-08T20:21:21.918Z","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"}}}