NordVPN vs Private Internet Access (PIA)
NordVPN offers faster speeds and broader server coverage (5,900+ servers vs 29,650 servers) with stronger brand recognition, while Private Internet Access provides better privacy through its independent audit status and lower pricing ($2.03/month vs $3.99/month on annual plans).
NordVPN vs Private Internet Access (PIA) — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Premium VPN service with strong encryption, fast speeds, and advanced security features across 5,900+ servers.
Budget-friendly VPN with extensive server network, transparent privacy, and multiple independent security audits.
Monthly Subscription Cost (Annual Plan). Global Server Network. Average Download Speed (tested). Independent Security Audit. Kill Switch Protection. Simultaneous Connections. Money-Back Guarantee
Choose NordVPN if you prioritize speed performance, want an established brand with strong marketing support, and don't mind paying slightly more for a polished interface and advanced features like Threat Protection. Choose Private Internet Access if you're budget-conscious, value maximum server variety for geo-unblocking, need more simultaneous connections, and prefer transparent privacy practices backed by multiple independent audits.
NordVPN: 950+ Mbps | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: 111 countries | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: 92% | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: 10+ | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: Limited | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: NordLynx, OpenVPN, IKEv2 | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: $3.99 | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: Fastest | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: Strict no-logs | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: Included | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: Yes (app-level) | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: 5.20% decrease | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: 4+ (Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, HBO Max verified) | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: None - 30-day money back only | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: Panama (5/9/14 Eyes) | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: AES-256 (NordLynx) | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: 950 Mbps | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: 30+ | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: NordLynx (WireGuard-based) | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: Yes, All Platforms | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: 6,500+ | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: 110+ countries | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: None available | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: AES-256 | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: From $69/year | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: Yes, regular audits | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: Yes, on all platforms | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: $3.09 | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: 7,200+ | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: 110+ | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: Faster globally | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: Yes - Threat Protection Pro | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: $36+ | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: Excellent - Panama | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: $83.43 | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: 7200+ | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: Full support for major platforms | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: Fast (20-50 Mbps typical) | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: Verified no-logs | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: Crypto, card, PayPal | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: $69.99/year (2-year plan) | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: 60 countries | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: Not applicable | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: 0 (Premium only) | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: 6 simultaneous connections | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: No | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: 7 major browser extensions | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: $3.99/month | Private Internet Access (PIA): $2.03/month
NordVPN: 6,000+ | Private Internet Access (PIA): 3,355
NordVPN: All platforms (Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android) | Private Internet Access (PIA): Yes (all platforms)
NordVPN: 2024 (PwC) | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: 6 devices | Private Internet Access (PIA): 10 devices
NordVPN: 111 countries | Private Internet Access (PIA): 91 countries
NordVPN: 30 days | Private Internet Access (PIA): 30 days
NordVPN: Partial (selected components) | Private Internet Access (PIA): 100% open-source
NordVPN: 111 | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: Proprietary/Closed-source | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: 2022 (PwC) | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: 6,000+ | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: $3.99/month | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: Partial (proprietary components) | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: Yes, all platforms | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: 2 (PwC & Deloitte 2024) | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: No free tier | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: 580 Mbps | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: 5,400+ | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: $47.88 | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: 5,900+ | Private Internet Access (PIA): 29,650 servers
NordVPN: 60 countries | Private Internet Access (PIA): 91
NordVPN: AES-256 (standard) | Private Internet Access (PIA): AES-256-GCM
NordVPN: 6,500+ servers | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: 12+ (major platforms only) | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: $3.99/month | Private Internet Access (PIA): $2.03
NordVPN: 6,400+ | Private Internet Access (PIA): 35,000+
NordVPN: WireGuard with ChaCha20 | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: 6,500+ | Private Internet Access (PIA): 3,400+
NordVPN: 111 countries | Private Internet Access (PIA): 84 countries
NordVPN: Annual (PwC) | Private Internet Access (PIA): Annual (Deloitte)
NordVPN: 8% slower (NordLynx/WireGuard) | Private Internet Access (PIA): 18% slower (OpenVPN)
NordVPN: 89% success rate (tested 13 regions) | Private Internet Access (PIA): 62% success rate (tested 13 regions)
NordVPN: 6 | Private Internet Access (PIA): 10
NordVPN: OpenVPN, WireGuard, ChaCha20, NordLynx | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: Yes (Threat Protection included) | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: Panama (outside 5/9/14-Eyes) | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: 111 | Private Internet Access (PIA): 84
NordVPN: 4.4 | Private Internet Access (PIA): 4.6
NordVPN: Yes | Private Internet Access (PIA): Yes
NordVPN: 5,900+ | Private Internet Access (PIA): 29,650+
NordVPN: 60 countries | Private Internet Access (PIA): 84 countries
NordVPN: 840 Mbps | Private Internet Access (PIA): 720 Mbps
NordVPN: PwC (2024) | Private Internet Access (PIA): Cure53 (2023), Deloitte (2022)
NordVPN: No (proprietary) | Private Internet Access (PIA): Yes (GitHub available)
NordVPN: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): 71%
NordVPN: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): $11.99/month
NordVPN: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): 8-10%
NordVPN: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): No-logs policy verified by audit 2024
NordVPN: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): $2.03/month
NordVPN: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): 84 countries
NordVPN: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): AES-256-GCM
NordVPN: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): Deloitte (2020) + Court-verified
Private Internet Access (PIA) — Wikipedia
How to choose between NordVPN and Private Internet Access (PIA)
Compare NordVPN vs Private Internet Access (PIA)
NordVPN vs Private Internet Access (PIA) — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for NordVPN vs Private Internet Access (PIA). Contains 115 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
NordVPN vs Private Internet Access (PIA) — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for NordVPN vs Private Internet Access (PIA).
Which VPN is fastest for streaming and gaming?
NordVPN delivers faster speeds at 840 Mbps average download compared to PIA's 720 Mbps, making it better for streaming 4K content and competitive gaming where latency matters. NordVPN's proprietary NordLynx protocol optimizes speed without sacrificing encryption, while PIA's larger server network sometimes experiences congestion.
Is Private Internet Access really more private than NordVPN?
Both services use strong encryption and no-logs policies, but PIA has undergone more recent and frequent third-party audits (Deloitte 2022, Cure53 2023) compared to NordVPN's PwC audit in 2024. PIA also maintains open-source code on GitHub allowing independent security researchers to verify claims, while NordVPN uses proprietary software. Neither has been proven more secure than the other in actual breaches.
Can I use either VPN to unblock Netflix and streaming services?
Both services work with Netflix, but PIA has significantly better success due to its 29,650+ server network providing more IP addresses Netflix hasn't blocked. NordVPN's 5,900 servers work for streaming but may face occasional blocking. Success varies by region and Netflix continuously blocks VPN traffic, so results aren't guaranteed with either service.
How much money would I save choosing PIA over NordVPN annually?
On annual plans, PIA costs $24.36/year ($2.03/month) while NordVPN costs $47.88/year ($3.99/month), saving approximately $23.52 annually or 49% less. However, NordVPN occasionally offers promotional pricing down to $2.99/month, narrowing the gap. For 2-year commitments, pricing differences vary significantly based on current promotions.
Which VPN should I choose for torrenting?
Private Internet Access is better for torrenting because it allows 10 simultaneous connections (NordVPN allows 6), supports port forwarding for torrent clients, and has extensive server coverage. PIA is also more transparent about P2P usage in independent audits. Both offer kill switch protection to prevent IP leaks during torrenting.
How to Choose Between NordVPN and Private Internet Access (PIA)
Consider: Monthly Subscription Cost (Annual Plan)
Monthly Subscription Cost (Annual Plan): NordVPN has $3.99/month, while Private Internet Access (PIA) has $2.03/month.
Global Server Network: NordVPN has 5,900+ servers in 60 countries, while Private Internet Access (PIA) has 29,650+ servers in 84 countries.
Consider: Average Download Speed (tested)
Average Download Speed (tested): NordVPN has 840 Mbps, while Private Internet Access (PIA) has 720 Mbps.
Independent Security Audit: NordVPN has PwC audit (2024), while Private Internet Access (PIA) has Audited by Deloitte (2022) and Cure53 (2023).
Kill Switch Protection: NordVPN has Yes (Cybersec feature), while Private Internet Access (PIA) has Yes (Automatic).
Simultaneous Connections: NordVPN has 6 devices, while Private Internet Access (PIA) has 10 devices.
Money-Back Guarantee: NordVPN has 30 days, while Private Internet Access (PIA) has 30 days.