PIA offers better value at $2.03/month with stronger privacy credentials and open-source audits, while NordVPN provides superior server coverage (6,000+ vs 29,650 servers) and faster speeds across more locations, making it better for streaming and global access.
PIA vs NordVPN — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Budget-friendly VPN with exceptional privacy focus and unlimited simultaneous connections.
Premium VPN service with 6,400+ servers optimized for speed and streaming.
Monthly Subscription Cost. Total VPN Servers. Countries Covered. Open-Source Code Audits. Average Download Speed. Kill Switch Functionality. Simultaneous Connections
Choose PIA if you prioritize privacy, value, and unlimited simultaneous connections—it's the privacy-focused option with transparent audits and aggressive pricing. Choose NordVPN if you need the fastest speeds, maximum country coverage (111 countries), and optimized streaming servers—it's better for users who need global flexibility and performance.
PIA (Private Internet Access): $2.03 | NordVPN: $3.99
PIA (Private Internet Access): 29,650 | NordVPN: 6,000
PIA (Private Internet Access): 84 | NordVPN: 111
PIA (Private Internet Access): 580 Mbps | NordVPN: 920 Mbps
PIA (Private Internet Access): Unlimited | NordVPN: 6 devices
PIA (Private Internet Access): Yes, all platforms | NordVPN: Yes, all platforms
PIA (Private Internet Access): Fully open-source, multiple 2024 audits | NordVPN: Partial open-source, limited audits
PIA (Private Internet Access): $24.36 | NordVPN: $47.88
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: 950+ Mbps
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: 111 countries
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: 92%
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: 10+
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: Limited
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: NordLynx, OpenVPN, IKEv2
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: $3.99
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: Fastest
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: Strict no-logs
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: Included
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: Yes (app-level)
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: 5.20% decrease
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: 4+ (Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, HBO Max verified)
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: None - 30-day money back only
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: Panama (5/9/14 Eyes)
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: AES-256 (NordLynx)
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: 950 Mbps
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: 30+
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: NordLynx (WireGuard-based)
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: Yes (Standard)
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: 6,500+
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: 110+ countries
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: None available
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: AES-256
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: From $69/year
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: Yes, regular audits
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: Yes, on all platforms
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: $3.09
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: 7,200+
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: 110+
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: Faster globally
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: Yes - Threat Protection Pro
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: $36+
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: Excellent - Panama
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: $83.43
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: 7200+
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: Full support for major platforms
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: Fast (20-50 Mbps typical)
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: Verified no-logs
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: Crypto, card, PayPal
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: $69.99/year (2-year plan)
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: Not applicable
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: 0 (Premium only)
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: 6 simultaneous connections
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: No
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: 7 major browser extensions
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: $3.99/month
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: Yes (All Plans)
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: PwC audit 2024
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: $47.88/year
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: 6 devices
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: Partial (selected components)
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: 111
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: Proprietary/Closed-source
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: 2022 (PwC)
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: 6,400+
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: Partial components only
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: Yes, all platforms
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: None
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: 580 Mbps
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: $47.88
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: 30 days
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: 5,800+
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: 6,500+ servers
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: 12+ (major platforms only)
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: Yes (PwC audit 2024)
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: 6,200+ servers
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: WireGuard with ChaCha20
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: Annual (PwC)
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: 8% slower (NordLynx/WireGuard)
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: 89% success rate (tested 13 regions)
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: 98%
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: SSD-based
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: OpenVPN, WireGuard, ChaCha20, NordLynx
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: Yes (Threat Protection included)
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: Panama (outside 5/9/14-Eyes)
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: 4.4
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: 5,900+
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: PwC (2024)
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: No (proprietary)
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: $12.99
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: 320 Mbps
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: Yes
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: $3.49/month
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: AES-256 Double VPN (dual layer)
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: Yes (multiple 2022-2024)
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: $6.99/month
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: IKEv2/IPSec or WireGuard
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: 7 days
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: Strict no-logs policy
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: $11.99
Average Download Speed (500Mbps connection)
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: 350
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: Proprietary (audited)
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: 24/7 live chat and email
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: Deloitte (2024)
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: 60+ countries
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: 200-500ms
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: Mix of disk and RAM
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: Not available
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: 6,000+
PIA (Private Internet Access): N/A | NordVPN: Annual (1x/year)
Monthly Subscription Price (Long-Term Plan)
PIA (Private Internet Access) — Wikipedia
How to choose between PIA (Private Internet Access) and NordVPN
Compare PIA (Private Internet Access) vs NordVPN
PIA vs NordVPN — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for PIA vs NordVPN. Contains 147 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
PIA vs NordVPN — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for PIA vs NordVPN.
Which VPN is faster for streaming Netflix and Disney+?
NordVPN is faster with 620 Mbps average speeds and optimized streaming servers, making it more reliable for HD/4K streaming on platform-restricted content. PIA averages 580 Mbps but works well for standard streaming; the 40 Mbps difference is negligible unless you're streaming 4K on unstable connections.
Can I use one subscription across multiple devices?
PIA allows unlimited simultaneous connections on one subscription, so one account covers your entire family/household. NordVPN limits you to 6 connections per subscription, requiring additional paid subscriptions for larger households. This gives PIA a massive advantage for families.
Which VPN has better privacy and security?
PIA has stronger privacy credentials with 100% open-source code independently audited by Deloitte (2024) and multiple third-party security firms. NordVPN uses proprietary code with limited transparency, though it includes advanced threat protection and double VPN encryption. For maximum privacy transparency, PIA wins.
Is PIA or NordVPN better for traveling internationally?
NordVPN is better for international travel because it covers 111 countries vs PIA's 84, giving you more reliable local access in remote regions. Both have kill switches and no-logs policies, but NordVPN's wider network ensures you'll find a server almost anywhere globally.
How much can I save by choosing PIA over NordVPN annually?
PIA costs $24.36/year on a 3-year plan while NordVPN costs $47.88/year on a 2-year plan—saving $23.52 annually (96% cheaper). Over 3 years, PIA's investment is $73.08 versus NordVPN's ~$143, a savings of ~$70 while getting 4.9x more servers.
How to Choose Between PIA (Private Internet Access) and NordVPN
Monthly Subscription Cost: PIA (Private Internet Access) has $2.03/month (3-year plan), while NordVPN has $3.99/month (2-year plan).
Total VPN Servers: PIA (Private Internet Access) has 29,650 servers, while NordVPN has 6,000+ servers.
Countries Covered: PIA (Private Internet Access) has 84 countries, while NordVPN has 111 countries.
Open-Source Code Audits: PIA (Private Internet Access) has Yes, multiple independent audits completed, while NordVPN has Partial, limited open-source components.
Average Download Speed: PIA (Private Internet Access) has 580 Mbps (measured at 1000 Mbps baseline), while NordVPN has 620 Mbps (measured at 1000 Mbps baseline).
Kill Switch Functionality: PIA (Private Internet Access) has Yes, included on all platforms, while NordVPN has Yes, included on all platforms.
Simultaneous Connections: PIA (Private Internet Access) has Unlimited, while NordVPN has 6 connections.