NordVPN offers faster speeds (average 920 Mbps) and broader server coverage (6,400+ servers in 111 countries), while Private Internet Access provides stronger privacy through RAM-only servers and lower pricing at $2.03/month. NordVPN excels for streaming and general browsing, whereas PIA suits privacy-focused users on tight budgets.
NordVPN vs Private Internet Access — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Premium VPN provider with strongest encryption, largest server network, and fastest average speeds.
High-speed VPN with extensive server network and robust privacy compliance
Monthly Subscription Cost. Global Server Count. Average Download Speed. Server Memory Architecture. Netflix Unblocking Success Rate. Simultaneous Connections. Kill Switch Reliability
Choose NordVPN if you prioritize streaming quality, global server diversity, and consistent fast speeds—it's best for accessing international content and general daily use. Choose Private Internet Access if maximum privacy is your concern, you need 10+ simultaneous connections, or you're budget-conscious and willing to trade some streaming capability for stronger no-logs architecture and RAM-only infrastructure.
NordVPN: 950+ Mbps | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: 111 countries | Private Internet Access (PIA): 91 countries
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 (Standard) | 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: 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: 6,500+ | Private Internet Access (PIA): 10,000+
NordVPN: Yes (All Plans) | Private Internet Access (PIA): Yes (all platforms)
NordVPN: PwC audit 2024 | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: $47.88 | Private Internet Access (PIA): $39.95/year
NordVPN: 6 devices | Private Internet Access (PIA): 10 devices
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: 6,400+ | Private Internet Access (PIA): 29,650+
NordVPN: $3.99/month | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: Partial components only | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: Yes, all platforms | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: None | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: 580 Mbps | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: $47.88 | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: AES-256 | Private Internet Access (PIA): AES-256-GCM
NordVPN: 30 days | Private Internet Access (PIA): 30 days
NordVPN: 5,800+ | Private Internet Access (PIA): 29,650 servers
NordVPN: 12+ (major platforms only) | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: Yes (PwC audit 2024) | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: $3.99/month | Private Internet Access (PIA): $2.03
NordVPN: 6,200+ servers | 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: 98% | Private Internet Access (PIA): 72%
NordVPN: SSD-based | Private Internet Access (PIA): RAM-only
NordVPN: 6 devices | 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: 4.4 | Private Internet Access (PIA): 4.6
NordVPN: 5,900+ | Private Internet Access (PIA): 29,650+
NordVPN: 111 countries | Private Internet Access (PIA): 91
NordVPN: PwC (2024) | Private Internet Access (PIA): Cure53 (2023), Deloitte (2022)
NordVPN: No (proprietary) | Private Internet Access (PIA): Yes (GitHub available)
NordVPN: $12.99 | Private Internet Access (PIA): $11.99/month
NordVPN: 320 Mbps | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: Yes | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: $3.49/month | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: AES-256 Double VPN (dual layer) | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: Yes (multiple 2022-2024) | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: $6.99/month | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: IKEv2/IPSec or WireGuard | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: 111 countries | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: 7 days | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: Strict no-logs policy | Private Internet Access (PIA): No-logs policy verified by audit 2024
NordVPN: 6,000 | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: 6 | Private Internet Access (PIA): 10 devices
NordVPN: Yes, all platforms | Private Internet Access (PIA): Yes
NordVPN: Partial open-source, limited audits | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: 6,500+ | Private Internet Access (PIA): 29,650+
NordVPN: 111 | Private Internet Access (PIA): 84
Average Download Speed (500Mbps connection)
NordVPN: 350 | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: Proprietary (audited) | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: 24/7 live chat and email | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: Deloitte (2024) | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: 60+ countries | Private Internet Access (PIA): 91 countries
NordVPN: 200-500ms | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: Mix of disk and RAM | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: Not available | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: 6,000+ | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: Annual (1x/year) | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: $47.88/year | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: $11.99 | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
Monthly Subscription Price (Long-Term Plan)
NordVPN: $3.99 | Private Internet Access (PIA): $2.03
NordVPN: NordLynx (WireGuard-based) | Private Internet Access (PIA): OpenVPN / WireGuard
NordVPN: 650 Mbps | Private Internet Access (PIA): 840 Mbps
NordVPN: AES-256 (256-bit) | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
NordVPN: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): 71%
NordVPN: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): 8-10%
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
NordVPN: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): 85%
NordVPN: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): 8 regions
NordVPN: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): $72.76
NordVPN: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): Yes, automatic
NordVPN: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): Yes (MACE included)
NordVPN: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): Yes, full control
NordVPN: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): 300 Mbps
NordVPN: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): United States (5-eyes member)
Independent Security Audits (Last 3 Years)
NordVPN: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): 2 (Cure53, VerSprite, 2020-2023)
NordVPN: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): 10 devices
NordVPN: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): No free tier (30-day money-back guarantee)
NordVPN: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): 10
NordVPN: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): 35,000+
NordVPN: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): 4K support confirmed
NordVPN: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): No free trial (30-day refund)
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 — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for NordVPN vs Private Internet Access. Contains 172 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
NordVPN vs Private Internet Access — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for NordVPN vs Private Internet Access.
Which VPN is better for streaming Netflix globally?
NordVPN significantly outperforms Private Internet Access for streaming, with a 98% Netflix unblocking success rate compared to PIA's 72%. NordVPN maintains consistent access to international Netflix libraries across its 111-country network, while PIA frequently encounters geographic blocks and detection issues.
NordVPN averages 920 Mbps download speed versus PIA's 780 Mbps on a 1 Gbps connection—approximately 18% faster. This difference becomes noticeable during 4K streaming, large file downloads, or gaming sessions. NordVPN's faster speed advantage is due to its optimized server infrastructure and NordLynx protocol efficiency.
Is Private Internet Access really more private than NordVPN?
Both are zero-logs services audited by third parties, but PIA has a structural privacy advantage: its RAM-only servers cannot retain data after shutdown, whereas NordVPN uses SSD servers. However, NordVPN's double VPN feature and stricter data policies provide comparable practical privacy for most users. PIA's advantage is primarily theoretical unless server seizure occurs.
How much money can I save with PIA over NordVPN annually?
On a 3-year commitment, Private Internet Access costs $73.08 total ($2.03/month) while NordVPN costs $143.64 on a 2-year plan ($3.99/month). PIA saves approximately $70 over similar commitment periods—roughly 49% cheaper. For month-to-month pricing, the savings are smaller but PIA remains more affordable.
Can I use 10 devices simultaneously with both VPNs?
Only Private Internet Access allows 10 simultaneous connections per account. NordVPN limits you to 6 devices at once. If you need to protect a large household or multiple devices (phones, tablets, computers, smart TVs), PIA is the better choice. You can purchase additional NordVPN subscriptions for more connections, but this increases cost.
How to Choose Between NordVPN and Private Internet Access (PIA)
Monthly Subscription Cost: NordVPN has $3.99/month (2-year plan), while Private Internet Access (PIA) has $2.03/month (3-year plan).
Global Server Count: NordVPN has 6,400+ servers in 111 countries, while Private Internet Access (PIA) has 29,650+ servers in 84 countries.
Average Download Speed: NordVPN has 920 Mbps on 1 Gbps connection, while Private Internet Access (PIA) has 780 Mbps on 1 Gbps connection.
Server Memory Architecture: NordVPN has SSD-based servers, while Private Internet Access (PIA) has RAM-only servers (no data persistence).
Consider: Netflix Unblocking Success Rate
Netflix Unblocking Success Rate: NordVPN has 98% consistent access to global libraries, while Private Internet Access (PIA) has 72% success rate, frequent blocks.
Simultaneous Connections: NordVPN has 6 devices per account, while Private Internet Access (PIA) has 10 devices per account.
Kill Switch Reliability: NordVPN has Automatic, configurable per app, while Private Internet Access (PIA) has Automatic with granular DNS leak protection.