NordVPN vs PIA: Speed vs Price 2026
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
Premium VPN service with strong encryption, fast speeds, and advanced security features across 5,900+ servers.
Users prioritizing speed, advanced features, and willing to pay premium prices for polished UX
Private Internet Access (PIA)
Budget-friendly VPN with extensive server network, transparent privacy, and multiple independent security audits.
Budget-conscious users, heavy torrenters needing many simultaneous connections, and privacy advocates seeking transparent audits
Quick Answer
AI SummaryNordVPN 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).
Our Verdict
AI-assistedChoose 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.
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Choose NordVPN if
Users prioritizing speed, advanced features, and willing to pay premium prices for polished UX
Choose Private Internet Access (PIA) if
Best pickBudget-conscious users, heavy torrenters needing many simultaneous connections, and privacy advocates seeking transparent audits
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Key Differences at a Glance
- Monthly Subscription Cost (Annual Plan):✓ Private Internet Access (PIA) wins($2.03/month vs $3.99/month)
- Global Server Network:✓ Private Internet Access (PIA) wins(29,650+ servers in 84 countries vs 5,900+ servers in 60 countries)
- Average Download Speed (tested):✓ NordVPN wins(840 Mbps vs 720 Mbps)
Key Facts & Figures
71 numeric metrics compared
| Metric | NordVPN | Private Internet Access (PIA) | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peak Download Speed(Mbps) | 950+ Mbps | — | — |
| Server Locations(countries) | 111 countries | — | — |
| Speed Retention Rate(%) | 92% | — | — |
| Streaming Service Compatibility(platforms) | 10+ | — | — |
| Starting Monthly Price (2-year plan)(USD/month) | $3.99 | — | — |
| Download Speed Performance Impact(% decrease from baseline) | 5.20% decrease | — | — |
| Download Speed(Mbps) | 950 Mbps | — | — |
| Monthly Subscription Cost(USD) | $3.99 | — | — |
| Internet Speed Retention Rate(%) | 92% | — | — |
| Netflix Libraries Accessible(libraries) | 30+ | — | — |
| Total Streaming Services Supported(services) | 10+ | — | — |
| Global Server Count(servers) | 6,500+ | — | — |
| Countries Covered(count) | 110+ countries | — | — |
| Annual Plan Price(USD) | From $69/year | — | — |
| Basic Plan Monthly Cost(USD) | $3.09 | — | — |
| Server Count(servers) | 7,200+ | — | — |
| Country Coverage(countries) | 110+ | — | — |
| Annual Cost (Best Plan)(USD) | $36+ | — | — |
| Base Monthly Price (USD)(USD/month) | $3.09 | — | — |
| Annual Price (First Year)(USD/year) | $83.43 | — | — |
| Number of Servers(servers) | 7200+ | — | — |
| Simultaneous Connections(devices) | 10+ | — | — |
| Annual Subscription Cost (Best Plan)(USD) | $69.99/year (2-year plan) | — | — |
| VPN Server Locations(countries) | 60 countries | — | — |
| Devices Supported on Free Tier(devices) | 0 (Premium only) | — | — |
| Devices Supported on Premium(devices) | 6 simultaneous connections | — | — |
| Browser Extensions Available(count) | 7 major browser extensions | — | — |
| Annual Subscription Price(USD) | $3.99/month | $2.03/month | |
| Total VPN Servers(servers) | 6,000+ | 3,355 | |
| Independent Security Audit(year) | 2024 (PwC) | — | — |
| Annual Subscription Cost(USD/month) | $3.99/month | $2.03/month | |
| Maximum Simultaneous Connections(devices) | 6 devices | 10 devices | |
| Money-Back Guarantee Period(days) | 30 days | 30 days | |
| Countries with Presence(countries) | 111 | — | — |
| Latest Security Audit Year | 2022 (PwC) | — | — |
| Global Server Count(servers) | 6,000+ | — | — |
| Monthly Cost (Best Plan)(USD) | $3.99/month | — | — |
| Simultaneous Connections(devices) | 6 devices | 10 devices | |
| Independent Security Audits(audits) | 2 (PwC & Deloitte 2024) | — | — |
| Monthly Subscription Cost (1-Year Plan)(USD) | $3.99/month | — | — |
| Average Download Speed (US Servers)(Mbps) | 580 Mbps | — | — |
| Total VPN Server Count(servers) | 5,400+ | — | — |
| Monthly Price (Best Plan)(USD) | $3.99/month | — | — |
| Annual Cost(USD) | $47.88 | — | — |
| Total Server Count(servers) | 5,900+ | 29,650 servers | |
| Country Coverage(countries) | 60 countries | 91 | |
| Money-Back Guarantee(days) | 30 days | 30 days | |
| Annual Plan Price(USD/month) | $3.99/month | $2.03/month | |
| Global Server Network(servers) | 6,500+ servers | — | — |
| Monthly Price (Annual Commitment)(USD) | $3.99/month | $2.03 | |
| Server Count(servers) | 6,400+ | 35,000+ | |
| Server Countries(countries) | 111 | — | — |
| Monthly Subscription Cost (Annual Plan)(USD) | $3.99/month | $2.03/month | |
| Total VPN Servers Worldwide(servers) | 6,500+ | 3,400+ | |
| Countries with Server Presence(countries) | 111 countries | 84 countries | |
| No-Logs Audit Frequency(audits per year) | Annual (PwC) | Annual (Deloitte) | |
| Average Download Speed Loss(%) | 8% slower (NordLynx/WireGuard) | 18% slower (OpenVPN) | |
| Netflix Streaming Reliability(%) | 89% success rate (tested 13 regions) | 62% success rate (tested 13 regions) | |
| Monthly Subscription Cost (Best Rate)(USD) | $3.99 | — | — |
| Simultaneous Device Connections(devices) | 6 | 10 | |
| Countries with Server Coverage(countries) | 111 | 84 | |
| Customer Rating (Trustpilot)(out of 5.0) | 4.4 | 4.6 | |
| Annual Plan Cost (Per Month)(USD) | $3.99/month | $2.03/month | |
| Number of Servers(servers) | 5,900+ | 29,650+ | |
| Countries Covered(countries) | 60 countries | 84 countries | |
| Average Download Speed(Mbps) | 840 Mbps | 720 Mbps | |
| Netflix Unblocking Success(%) | 71% | 71% | |
| Monthly Plan Price(USD/month) | $11.99/month | $11.99/month | |
| Speed Loss (Average)(percent) | 8-10% | 8-10% | |
| Monthly Price (Best Annual Deal)(USD) | $2.03/month | $2.03/month | |
| Countries with Servers(countries) | 84 countries | 84 countries |
Sourced from publicly available data ·
Key Differences
7 attributes compared head-to-head
- $3.99/monthMonthly Subscription Cost (Annual Plan)$2.03/month(winner)
- 5,900+ servers in 60 countriesGlobal Server Network29,650+ servers in 84 countries(winner)
- 840 Mbps(winner)Average Download Speed (tested)720 Mbps
- PwC audit (2024)Independent Security AuditAudited by Deloitte (2022) and Cure53 (2023)(winner)
- Yes (Cybersec feature)Kill Switch ProtectionYes (Automatic)
- 6 devicesSimultaneous Connections10 devices(winner)
- 30 daysMoney-Back Guarantee30 days
- Monthly Subscription Cost (Annual Plan)
NordVPN
$3.99/month
Private Internet Access (PIA)
$2.03/month(winner)
- Global Server Network
NordVPN
5,900+ servers in 60 countries
Private Internet Access (PIA)
29,650+ servers in 84 countries(winner)
- Average Download Speed (tested)
NordVPN
840 Mbps(winner)
Private Internet Access (PIA)
720 Mbps
- Independent Security Audit
NordVPN
PwC audit (2024)
Private Internet Access (PIA)
Audited by Deloitte (2022) and Cure53 (2023)(winner)
- Kill Switch Protection
NordVPN
Yes (Cybersec feature)
Private Internet Access (PIA)
Yes (Automatic)
- Simultaneous Connections
NordVPN
6 devices
Private Internet Access (PIA)
10 devices(winner)
- Money-Back Guarantee
NordVPN
30 days
Private Internet Access (PIA)
30 days
Full Comparison
| Attribute | NordVPN | Private Internet Access (PIA) |
|---|---|---|
| Peak Download Speed(Mbps) | 950+ Mbps | — |
| Speed Retention Rate(%) | 92% | — |
| Connection Speed Rating | Fastest | — |
| Download Speed Performance Impact(% decrease from baseline) | 5.20% decrease | — |
| Download Speed(Mbps) | 950 Mbps | — |
Show 7 more attributesInternet Speed Retention Rate(%) 92% — Connection Speed Performance Faster globally — Average Download Speed(Mbps) Fast (20-50 Mbps typical) — Average Download Speed (US Servers)(Mbps) 580 Mbps — Average Download Speed Loss(%) 8% slower (NordLynx/WireGuard) 18% slower (OpenVPN) Average Download Speed(Mbps) 840 Mbps 720 Mbps Speed Loss (Average)(percent) 8-10% — | ||
| Server Locations(countries) | 111 countries | — |
| Streaming Service Compatibility(platforms) | 10+ | — |
| Native Streaming Box Apps | Limited | — |
| Simultaneous Connections(devices) | 10+ | — |
| Browser Extensions Available(count) | 7 major browser extensions | — |
| Maximum Simultaneous Connections(devices) | 6 devices | 10 devices(winner) |
Show 2 more attributesSimultaneous Connections(devices) 6 devices 10 devices Simultaneous Device Connections(devices) 6 10 | ||
| VPN Protocols Offered | NordLynx, OpenVPN, IKEv2 | — |
| Encryption Standards Offered(algorithms) | AES-256 (NordLynx) | — |
| Primary VPN Protocol | NordLynx (WireGuard-based) | — |
| Kill Switch Feature | Yes, All Platforms | — |
| Encryption Standard | AES-256 | — |
Show 13 more attributesIndependent Security Audits Yes, regular audits — Kill Switch Feature Yes, on all platforms — Advanced Threat Protection Yes - Threat Protection Pro — Independent Security Audit(year) 2024 (PwC) — Kill Switch Implementation Yes, all platforms — Encryption Standard AES-256 (standard) AES-256-GCM Primary Encryption Standard WireGuard with ChaCha20 — No-Logs Audit Frequency(audits per year) Annual (PwC) Annual (Deloitte) Supported Encryption Protocols(protocols) OpenVPN, WireGuard, ChaCha20, NordLynx — Kill Switch / Leak Protection Yes (Threat Protection included) — Kill Switch Protection Yes Yes Recent Independent Security Audit PwC (2024) Cure53 (2023), Deloitte (2022) Encryption Protocol AES-256-GCM — | ||
| Starting Monthly Price (2-year plan)(USD/month) | $3.99 | — |
| Monthly Subscription Cost(USD) | $3.99 | — |
| Free Plan Data Limit(GB/month) | None available | — |
| Annual Plan Price(USD) | From $69/year | — |
| Basic Plan Monthly Cost(USD) | $3.09 | — |
Show 17 more attributesAnnual Cost (Best Plan)(USD) $36+ — Base Monthly Price (USD)(USD/month) $3.09 — Annual Price (First Year)(USD/year) $83.43 — Annual Subscription Cost (Best Plan)(USD) $69.99/year (2-year plan) — Annual Subscription Price(USD) $3.99/month $2.03/month Annual Subscription Cost(USD/month) $3.99/month $2.03/month Monthly Cost (Best Plan)(USD) $3.99/month — Monthly Subscription Cost (1-Year Plan)(USD) $3.99/month — Monthly Price (Best Plan)(USD) $3.99/month — Annual Cost(USD) $47.88 — Annual Plan Price(USD/month) $3.99/month $2.03/month Monthly Price (Annual Commitment)(USD) $3.99/month $2.03 Monthly Subscription Cost (Annual Plan)(USD) $3.99/month $2.03/month Monthly Subscription Cost (Best Rate)(USD) $3.99 — Annual Plan Cost (Per Month)(USD) $3.99/month $2.03/month Monthly Plan Price(USD/month) $11.99/month — Monthly Price (Best Annual Deal)(USD) $2.03/month — | ||
| Logging Policy | Strict no-logs | — |
| Jurisdiction Privacy Rating | Excellent - Panama | — |
| No-Logs Policy | Verified no-logs | — |
| Payment Anonymity Options | Crypto, card, PayPal | — |
| No-Logs Policy Jurisdiction | Panama (outside 5/9/14-Eyes) | — |
Show 1 more attributeLog Retention Policy No-logs policy verified by audit 2024 — | ||
| Dark Web Monitor | Included | — |
| App Kill Switch Feature | Yes (app-level) | — |
| Dark Web Breach Monitoring | No | — |
| Kill Switch Availability | All platforms (Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android) | Yes (all platforms) |
| US Streaming Platforms Supported(platforms) | 4+ (Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, HBO Max verified) | — |
| Free Trial or Free Plan(monthly data) | None - 30-day money back only | — |
| Devices Supported on Free Tier(devices) | 0 (Premium only) | — |
| Devices Supported on Premium(devices) | 6 simultaneous connections | — |
| Supported Platforms(platforms) | 12+ (major platforms only) | — |
| Privacy Jurisdiction | Panama (5/9/14 Eyes) | — |
| Netflix Libraries Accessible(libraries) | 30+ | — |
| Total Streaming Services Supported(services) | 10+ | — |
| Netflix Streaming Reliability(%) | 89% success rate (tested 13 regions)(winner) | 62% success rate (tested 13 regions) |
| Netflix Unblocking Success(%) | 71% | — |
| Global Server Count(servers) | 6,500+ | — |
| Server Count(servers) | 7,200+ | — |
| Total VPN Servers(servers) | 6,000+(winner) | 3,355 |
| Global Server Count(servers) | 6,000+ | — |
| Total Server Count(servers) | 5,900+ | 29,650 servers(winner) |
Show 8 more attributesCountry Coverage(countries) 60 countries 91 Global Server Network(servers) 6,500+ servers — Server Count(servers) 6,400+ 35,000+ Server Countries(countries) 111 — Countries with Server Coverage(countries) 111 84 Number of Servers(servers) 5,900+ 29,650+ Countries Covered(countries) 60 countries 84 countries Countries with Servers(countries) 84 countries — | ||
| Countries Covered(count) | 110+ countries | — |
| Country Coverage(countries) | 110+ | — |
| VPN Server Locations(countries) | 60 countries | — |
| Total VPN Server Count(servers) | 5,400+ | — |
| Total VPN Servers Worldwide(servers) | 6,500+(winner) | 3,400+ |
| Countries with Server Presence(countries) | 111 countries(winner) | 84 countries |
| Number of Servers(servers) | 7200+ | — |
| Streaming Compatibility | Full support for major platforms | — |
| Maximum Password Character Support(characters) | Not applicable | — |
| Geographic Coverage(countries) | 111 countries(winner) | 91 countries |
| Money-Back Guarantee Period(days) | 30 days | 30 days |
| Open-Source Code Availability | Partial (selected components) | 100% open-source |
| Source Code Availability | Proprietary/Closed-source | — |
| Open Source Code | Partial (proprietary components) | — |
| Independent Security Audits(audits) | 2 (PwC & Deloitte 2024) | — |
| Open-Source Client | No (proprietary) | Yes (GitHub available) |
| Countries with Presence(countries) | 111 | — |
| Latest Security Audit Year | 2022 (PwC) | — |
| Free Tier Monthly Data(GB) | No free tier | — |
| Money-Back Guarantee(days) | 30 days | 30 days |
| Customer Rating (Trustpilot)(out of 5.0) | 4.4 | 4.6(winner) |
| No-Logs Audit Year | Deloitte (2020) + Court-verified | — |
NordVPNShow 7 more attributes
Show 2 more attributes
Show 13 more attributes
Show 17 more attributes
Show 1 more attribute
Show 8 more attributes
Pros & Cons
10 pros·4 cons across both
NordVPN
Pros
- Fastest download speeds averaging 840 Mbps across global tests
- NordLynx protocol provides strong encryption with fast performance
- Dedicated IP addresses available for $5.99/month additional
- Advanced features: Double VPN, Onion routing, and Threat Protection (malware blocking)
- Strong mobile apps with intuitive interface across iOS and Android
Cons
- Higher pricing at $3.99/month on annual plan compared to alternatives
- Smaller server network (5,900) limits geo-unblocking options versus competitors
Private Internet Access (PIA)
Pros
- Lowest pricing at $2.03/month on annual plan (40% cheaper than NordVPN)
- Largest server network with 29,650+ servers in 84 countries maximizing unblocking capability
- Allows 10 simultaneous connections (vs 6 for NordVPN)
- Audited by both Deloitte and Cure53 with published security reports demonstrating transparency
- Open-source VPN client allows independent code review and community verification
Cons
- Slower average speeds at 720 Mbps due to server load and network congestion
- Less intuitive user interface compared to competitors with steeper learning curve
Frequently Asked Questions
5 questions
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.
Resources & Learn More
Curated sources to dive deeper
Where to Buy
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Wikipedia
- W
NordVPN on Wikipedia (opens in new tab)
Premium VPN service with strong encryption, fast speeds, and advanced security features across 5,900+ servers.
- W
Private Internet Access (PIA) on Wikipedia (opens in new tab)
Budget-friendly VPN with extensive server network, transparent privacy, and multiple independent security audits.
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