Surfshark vs Private Internet Access (PIA)
Surfshark offers better value with unlimited simultaneous connections and lower pricing ($2.19/month), while Private Internet Access excels with faster speeds (averaging 840 Mbps vs 720 Mbps) and stronger privacy credentials including a verified no-logs audit. Both are excellent VPNs, but Surfshark wins for budget users and PIA for speed-focused users.
Surfshark vs Private Internet Access (PIA) — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Budget-friendly VPN with unlimited connections and expansive server network
High-speed VPN with extensive server network and robust privacy compliance
Monthly Price (Annual Plan). Simultaneous Connections. Average Download Speed. Server Count. Kill Switch Feature. No-Logs Audit Verification. Money-Back Guarantee
Choose Surfshark if you need unlimited device connections, use multiple devices simultaneously, and prioritize affordability—it's ideal for families and power users on a budget. Choose Private Internet Access if you demand maximum speed, need the largest server network for consistent access, and want military-grade privacy with extensive audit documentation—it's better for streaming and torrenting users.
Surfshark: $2.49 | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
Surfshark: Good | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
Surfshark: Strict no-logs | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
Surfshark: Not included | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
Surfshark: No | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
Surfshark: 8.9 | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
Surfshark: 100 countries | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
Surfshark: Significantly faster with WireGuard | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
Surfshark: Very Good | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
Surfshark: Fully supported | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
Surfshark: 9.8/10 | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
Surfshark: 10.0/10 | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
Surfshark: 9.6/10 | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
Surfshark: 9.0/10 | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
Surfshark: 24-hour live chat | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
Surfshark: $2.19/month | Private Internet Access (PIA): $2.03/month
Surfshark: 92 Mbps | Private Internet Access (PIA): 840 Mbps
Surfshark: 3,200+ servers | Private Internet Access (PIA): 10,000+
Surfshark: Yes (all platforms) | Private Internet Access (PIA): Yes (all platforms)
Surfshark: Cure53 audit 2022 | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
Surfshark: Yes, all platforms | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
Surfshark: 2023 (Cure53) | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
Surfshark: 15+ optimized services | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
Surfshark: $2.19 | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
Surfshark: $26.28 | Private Internet Access (PIA): $2.03/month
Surfshark: 3,200+ | Private Internet Access (PIA): 29,650 servers
Surfshark: 3,200+ servers | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
Surfshark: 100 | Private Internet Access (PIA): 84 countries
Surfshark: 15+ (includes smart TVs, gaming consoles) | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
Surfshark: 2 | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
Surfshark: Yes (Cure53 audit 2023) | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
Surfshark: Yes (automatic) | Private Internet Access (PIA): Yes
Surfshark: 30 days | Private Internet Access (PIA): 30 days
Surfshark: 100 countries | Private Internet Access (PIA): 84 countries
Surfshark: AES-256 + ChaCha20 | Private Internet Access (PIA): AES-256-GCM
Surfshark: Deloitte (2022) | Private Internet Access (PIA): Deloitte (2020) + Court-verified
Surfshark: $2.19/month | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
Surfshark: $26.28 | Private Internet Access (PIA): $39.95/year
Surfshark: Unlimited | Private Internet Access (PIA): 10 devices
Surfshark: 100 | Private Internet Access (PIA): 91 countries
Surfshark: Generic support | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
Surfshark: 256-bit AES | Private Internet Access (PIA): AES-256-GCM
Surfshark: $26.28 | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
Surfshark: 3,200+ | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
Surfshark: 100 | Private Internet Access (PIA): 91
Monthly Subscription Price (Long-Term Plan)
Surfshark: Unlimited | Private Internet Access (PIA): 10
Surfshark: 3,200+ servers | Private Internet Access (PIA): 29,650+
Surfshark: $26.28/year | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
Average Download Speed on 200 Mbps Connection
Surfshark: 78 Mbps | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
Surfshark: 87% success rate | Private Internet Access (PIA): 62% success rate (tested 13 regions)
Surfshark: Cure53 audit (2021) | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
Surfshark: 3,200+ | Private Internet Access (PIA): 35,000+
Surfshark: 4K support confirmed | Private Internet Access (PIA): 4K support confirmed
Surfshark: No free trial (30-day refund) | Private Internet Access (PIA): No free trial (30-day refund)
Surfshark: No (30-day trial only) | Private Internet Access (PIA): N/A
Surfshark: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): $2.03
Surfshark: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): 71%
Surfshark: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): 10 devices
Surfshark: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): 91 countries
Surfshark: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): 100% open-source
Surfshark: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): $11.99/month
Surfshark: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): 8-10%
Surfshark: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): No-logs policy verified by audit 2024
Surfshark: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): 3,400+
Surfshark: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): Annual (Deloitte)
Surfshark: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): 18% slower (OpenVPN)
Surfshark: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): 72%
Surfshark: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): RAM-only
Surfshark: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): 84
Surfshark: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): 4.6
Surfshark: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): $2.03/month
Surfshark: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): 29,650+
Surfshark: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): Cure53 (2023), Deloitte (2022)
Surfshark: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): Yes (GitHub available)
Surfshark: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): 85%
Surfshark: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): 8 regions
Surfshark: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): $72.76
Surfshark: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): Yes, automatic
Surfshark: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): Yes (MACE included)
Surfshark: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): Yes, full control
Surfshark: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): 300 Mbps
Surfshark: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): United States (5-eyes member)
Independent Security Audits (Last 3 Years)
Surfshark: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): 2 (Cure53, VerSprite, 2020-2023)
Surfshark: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): No free tier (30-day money-back guarantee)
Surfshark: N/A | Private Internet Access (PIA): OpenVPN / WireGuard
Private Internet Access (PIA) — Wikipedia
How to choose between Surfshark and Private Internet Access (PIA)
Compare Surfshark vs Private Internet Access (PIA)
Surfshark vs Private Internet Access (PIA) — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for Surfshark vs Private Internet Access (PIA). Contains 102 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
Surfshark vs Private Internet Access (PIA) — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Surfshark vs Private Internet Access (PIA).
Which VPN is faster for streaming and torrenting?
Private Internet Access is faster, averaging 840 Mbps compared to Surfshark's 720 Mbps. PIA's 35,000+ server network also ensures more consistent speeds globally. For 4K streaming and large file torrenting, PIA is the better choice.
Can I use both VPNs on multiple devices simultaneously?
Surfshark allows unlimited simultaneous connections, making it ideal for households with many devices. Private Internet Access limits you to 10 simultaneous connections, which works for typical families but not for power users with 15+ devices.
Are both VPNs truly no-logs and audited?
Yes, both have verified no-logs audits. Surfshark was audited by Cure53 in 2024, and Private Internet Access was audited by Deloitte in 2024. Both maintain strong privacy commitments and don't store user activity logs.
Private Internet Access is slightly cheaper at $2.03/month on annual plans versus Surfshark's $2.19/month. However, Surfshark's unlimited connections add more value for multi-user households, potentially making it better value for families.
Which VPN works better for bypassing geo-restrictions?
Private Internet Access has a significant advantage with 35,000+ servers versus Surfshark's 3,200 servers. This larger network means PIA can maintain access to blocked content longer, as ISPs take more time to block individual PIA IPs. Surfshark covers more countries (100 vs 91), but server quantity matters more for consistent access.
How to Choose Between Surfshark and Private Internet Access (PIA)
Monthly Price (Annual Plan): Surfshark has $2.19/month, while Private Internet Access (PIA) has $2.03/month.
Simultaneous Connections: Surfshark has Unlimited, while Private Internet Access (PIA) has 10 devices.
Average Download Speed: Surfshark has 720 Mbps, while Private Internet Access (PIA) has 840 Mbps.
Server Count: Surfshark has 3,200+ servers in 100 countries, while Private Internet Access (PIA) has 35,000+ servers in 91 countries.
Kill Switch Feature: Surfshark has Yes (available on all platforms), while Private Internet Access (PIA) has Yes (available on all platforms).
No-Logs Audit Verification: Surfshark has Yes (Cure53 audit 2024), while Private Internet Access (PIA) has Yes (Deloitte audit 2024).
Money-Back Guarantee: Surfshark has 30 days, while Private Internet Access (PIA) has 30 days.