PIA vs NordVPN 2026 | Speed, Price, Servers
PIA offers faster speeds and lower pricing ($2.03/month) with excellent privacy, while NordVPN provides superior server coverage (6,000+ servers in 111 countries) and stronger brand recognition. PIA is ideal for budget-conscious users, while NordVPN suits those prioritizing extensive global connectivity.
Private Internet Access (PIA)
Budget-friendly VPN with fast speeds and strong privacy, owned by Kape Technologies.
Budget-conscious users, multi-device households, those needing maximum speed and simultaneous connections
NordVPN
Premium VPN with 6,000+ servers, advanced security features, and global coverage in 111 countries.
Frequent international travelers, users needing extensive server options, those prioritizing brand trust and advanced security tools
Quick Answer
AI SummaryPIA offers faster speeds and lower pricing ($2.03/month) with excellent privacy, while NordVPN provides superior server coverage (6,000+ servers in 111 countries) and stronger brand recognition. PIA is ideal for budget-conscious users, while NordVPN suits those prioritizing extensive global connectivity.
Our Verdict
AI-assistedChoose PIA if you prioritize affordability, speed, and want to connect 10 devices simultaneously—it delivers excellent privacy at the lowest price point. Choose NordVPN if you need extensive server coverage across 111 countries, travel frequently to remote regions, or prefer a more established brand with stronger market presence and additional features like Threat Protection Pro.
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Choose Private Internet Access (PIA) if
Best pickBudget-conscious users, multi-device households, those needing maximum speed and simultaneous connections
Choose NordVPN if
Frequent international travelers, users needing extensive server options, those prioritizing brand trust and advanced security tools
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Key Differences at a Glance
- Monthly Subscription Cost:✓ Private Internet Access (PIA) wins($2.03 vs $3.99)
- Total Server Count:✓ NordVPN wins(6,000+ servers vs 3,355 servers)
- Countries Covered:✓ NordVPN wins(111 countries vs 84 countries)
Key Facts & Figures
69 numeric metrics compared
| Metric | Private Internet Access (PIA) | NordVPN | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price (Annual Commitment)(USD) | $2.03 | $3.99/month | |
| Server Count(servers) | 35,000+ | 6,400+ | |
| Country Coverage(countries) | 91 | 60 countries | |
| Netflix Unblocking Success(%) | 71% | — | — |
| Annual Subscription Cost(USD/month) | $2.03/month | $3.99/month | |
| Average Download Speed(Mbps) | 87 Mbps | 72 Mbps | |
| Maximum Simultaneous Connections(devices) | 10 devices | 6 devices | |
| Total Server Count(servers) | 29,650 servers | 5,900+ | |
| Money-Back Guarantee Period(days) | 30 days | 30 days | |
| Annual Plan Price(USD/month) | $2.03/month | $3.99/month | |
| Monthly Plan Price(USD/month) | $11.99/month | — | — |
| Countries Covered(countries) | 84 countries | — | — |
| Speed Loss (Average)(percent) | 8-10% | — | — |
| Simultaneous Connections(devices) | 10 devices | 6 devices | |
| Monthly Price (Best Annual Deal)(USD) | $2.03/month | — | — |
| Countries with Servers(countries) | 84 countries | — | — |
| Monthly Subscription Cost (Annual Plan)(USD) | $2.03/month | $3.99/month | |
| Total VPN Servers Worldwide(servers) | 3,400+ | 6,500+ | |
| Countries with Server Presence(countries) | 84 countries | 111 countries | |
| Simultaneous Device Connections(devices) | 10 | 6 | |
| No-Logs Audit Frequency(audits per year) | Annual (Deloitte) | Annual (PwC) | |
| Average Download Speed Loss(%) | 18% slower (OpenVPN) | 8% slower (NordLynx/WireGuard) | |
| Netflix Streaming Reliability(%) | 62% success rate (tested 13 regions) | 89% success rate (tested 13 regions) | |
| Annual Subscription Price(USD) | $2.03/month | $3.99/month | |
| Total VPN Servers(servers) | 3,355 | 6,000+ | |
| Countries with Server Coverage(countries) | 84 | 111 | |
| Customer Rating (Trustpilot)(out of 5.0) | 4.6 | 4.4 | |
| Money-Back Guarantee(days) | 30 days | 30 days | |
| Peak Download Speed(Mbps) | 950+ Mbps | 950+ Mbps | |
| Server Locations(countries) | 111 countries | 111 countries | |
| Speed Retention Rate(%) | 92% | 92% | |
| Streaming Service Compatibility(platforms) | 10+ | 10+ | |
| Starting Monthly Price (2-year plan)(USD/month) | $3.99 | $3.99 | |
| Download Speed Performance Impact(% decrease from baseline) | 5.20% decrease | 5.20% decrease | |
| Download Speed(Mbps) | 950 Mbps | 950 Mbps | |
| Monthly Subscription Cost(USD) | $3.99 | $3.99 | |
| Internet Speed Retention Rate(%) | 92% | 92% | |
| Netflix Libraries Accessible(libraries) | 30+ | 30+ | |
| Total Streaming Services Supported(services) | 10+ | 10+ | |
| Global Server Count(servers) | 6,500+ | 6,500+ | |
| Countries Covered(count) | 110+ countries | 110+ countries | |
| Annual Plan Price(USD) | From $69/year | From $69/year | |
| Basic Plan Monthly Cost(USD) | $3.09 | $3.09 | |
| Server Count(servers) | 7,200+ | 7,200+ | |
| Country Coverage(countries) | 110+ | 110+ | |
| Annual Cost (Best Plan)(USD) | $36+ | $36+ | |
| Base Monthly Price (USD)(USD/month) | $3.09 | $3.09 | |
| Annual Price (First Year)(USD/year) | $83.43 | $83.43 | |
| Number of Servers(servers) | 7200+ | 7200+ | |
| Simultaneous Connections(devices) | 10+ | 10+ | |
| Annual Subscription Cost (Best Plan)(USD) | $69.99/year (2-year plan) | $69.99/year (2-year plan) | |
| VPN Server Locations(countries) | 60 countries | 60 countries | |
| Devices Supported on Free Tier(devices) | 0 (Premium only) | 0 (Premium only) | |
| Devices Supported on Premium(devices) | 6 simultaneous connections | 6 simultaneous connections | |
| Browser Extensions Available(count) | 7 major browser extensions | 7 major browser extensions | |
| Independent Security Audit(year) | 2024 (PwC) | 2024 (PwC) | |
| Countries with Presence(countries) | 111 | 111 | |
| Latest Security Audit Year | 2022 (PwC) | 2022 (PwC) | |
| Global Server Count(servers) | 6,000+ | 6,000+ | |
| Monthly Cost (Best Plan)(USD) | $3.99/month | $3.99/month | |
| Independent Security Audits(audits) | 2 (PwC & Deloitte 2024) | 2 (PwC & Deloitte 2024) | |
| Monthly Subscription Cost (1-Year Plan)(USD) | $3.99/month | $3.99/month | |
| Average Download Speed (US Servers)(Mbps) | 580 Mbps | 580 Mbps | |
| Total VPN Server Count(servers) | 5,400+ | 5,400+ | |
| Monthly Price (Best Plan)(USD) | $3.99/month | $3.99/month | |
| Annual Cost(USD) | $47.88 | $47.88 | |
| Global Server Network(servers) | 6,500+ servers | 6,500+ servers | |
| Server Countries(countries) | 111 | 111 | |
| Monthly Subscription Cost (Best Rate)(USD) | $3.99 | $3.99 |
Sourced from publicly available data ·
Key Differences
7 attributes compared head-to-head
- $2.03(winner)Monthly Subscription Cost$3.99
- 3,355 serversTotal Server Count6,000+ servers(winner)
- 84 countriesCountries Covered111 countries(winner)
- 87 Mbps(winner)Average Download Speed (Mbps)72 Mbps
- 10 devices(winner)Simultaneous Connections6 devices
- YesKill Switch FeatureYes
- 4.6/5.0(winner)User Trust Score (Trustpilot)4.4/5.0
- Monthly Subscription Cost
Private Internet Access (PIA)
$2.03(winner)
NordVPN
$3.99
- Total Server Count
Private Internet Access (PIA)
3,355 servers
NordVPN
6,000+ servers(winner)
- Countries Covered
Private Internet Access (PIA)
84 countries
NordVPN
111 countries(winner)
- Average Download Speed (Mbps)
Private Internet Access (PIA)
87 Mbps(winner)
NordVPN
72 Mbps
- Simultaneous Connections
Private Internet Access (PIA)
10 devices(winner)
NordVPN
6 devices
- Kill Switch Feature
Private Internet Access (PIA)
Yes
NordVPN
Yes
- User Trust Score (Trustpilot)
Private Internet Access (PIA)
4.6/5.0(winner)
NordVPN
4.4/5.0
Full Comparison
| Attribute | Private Internet Access (PIA) | NordVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price (Annual Commitment)(USD) | $2.03(winner) | $3.99/month |
| Annual Subscription Cost(USD/month) | $2.03/month(winner) | $3.99/month |
| Annual Plan Price(USD/month) | $2.03/month(winner) | $3.99/month |
| Monthly Plan Price(USD/month) | $11.99/month | — |
| Monthly Price (Best Annual Deal)(USD) | $2.03/month | — |
Show 16 more attributesMonthly Subscription Cost (Annual Plan)(USD) $2.03/month $3.99/month Annual Subscription Price(USD) $2.03/month $3.99/month 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 — Annual 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) — 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 — Monthly Subscription Cost (Best Rate)(USD) $3.99 — | ||
| Server Count(servers) | 35,000+(winner) | 6,400+ |
| Country Coverage(countries) | 91(winner) | 60 countries |
| Total Server Count(servers) | 29,650 servers(winner) | 5,900+ |
| Countries with Servers(countries) | 84 countries | — |
| Total VPN Servers(servers) | 3,355 | 6,000+(winner) |
Show 6 more attributesCountries with Server Coverage(countries) 84 111 Global Server Count(servers) 6,500+ — Server Count(servers) 7,200+ — Global Server Count(servers) 6,000+ — Global Server Network(servers) 6,500+ servers — Server Countries(countries) 111 — | ||
| Netflix Unblocking Success(%) | 71% | — |
| Netflix Streaming Reliability(%) | 62% success rate (tested 13 regions) | 89% success rate (tested 13 regions)(winner) |
| Netflix Libraries Accessible(libraries) | 30+ | — |
| Total Streaming Services Supported(services) | 10+ | — |
| Average Download Speed(Mbps) | 87 Mbps(winner) | 72 Mbps |
| Speed Loss (Average)(percent) | 8-10% | — |
| Average Download Speed Loss(%) | 18% slower (OpenVPN) | 8% slower (NordLynx/WireGuard)(winner) |
| Peak Download Speed(Mbps) | 950+ Mbps | — |
| Speed Retention Rate(%) | 92% | — |
Show 7 more attributesConnection Speed Rating Fastest — Download Speed Performance Impact(% decrease from baseline) 5.20% decrease — Download Speed(Mbps) 950 Mbps — Internet 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 — | ||
| Maximum Simultaneous Connections(devices) | 10 devices(winner) | 6 devices |
| Simultaneous Device Connections(devices) | 10(winner) | 6 |
| Streaming Service Compatibility(platforms) | 10+ | — |
| Native Streaming Box Apps | Limited | — |
| Simultaneous Connections(devices) | 10+ | — |
Show 1 more attributeBrowser Extensions Available(count) 7 major browser extensions — | ||
| Geographic Coverage(countries) | 91 countries | 111 countries(winner) |
| Encryption Standard | AES-256-GCM | AES-256 (standard) |
| Encryption Protocol | AES-256-GCM | — |
| No-Logs Audit Frequency(audits per year) | Annual (Deloitte) | Annual (PwC) |
| Kill Switch Protection | Yes | Yes |
| VPN Protocols Offered | NordLynx, OpenVPN, IKEv2 | — |
Show 12 more attributesEncryption Standards Offered(algorithms) AES-256 (NordLynx) — Primary VPN Protocol NordLynx (WireGuard-based) — Kill Switch Feature Yes, All Platforms — Encryption Standard AES-256 — Independent 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 — Primary Encryption Standard WireGuard with ChaCha20 — Supported Encryption Protocols(protocols) OpenVPN, WireGuard, ChaCha20, NordLynx — Kill Switch / Leak Protection Yes (Threat Protection included) — | ||
| Money-Back Guarantee Period(days) | 30 days | 30 days |
| Open-Source Code Availability | 100% open-source | Partial (selected components) |
| Source Code Availability | Proprietary/Closed-source | — |
| Open Source Code | Partial (proprietary components) | — |
| Independent Security Audits(audits) | 2 (PwC & Deloitte 2024) | — |
| Countries Covered(countries) | 84 countries | — |
| Server Locations(countries) | 111 countries | — |
| Simultaneous Connections(devices) | 10 devices(winner) | 6 devices |
| Log Retention Policy | No-logs policy verified by audit 2024 | — |
| Logging Policy | Strict no-logs | — |
| Jurisdiction Privacy Rating | Excellent - Panama | — |
| No-Logs Policy | Verified no-logs | — |
| Payment Anonymity Options | Crypto, card, PayPal | — |
Show 1 more attributeNo-Logs Policy Jurisdiction Panama (outside 5/9/14-Eyes) — | ||
| No-Logs Audit Year | Deloitte (2020) + Court-verified | — |
| Kill Switch Availability | Yes (all platforms) | All platforms (Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android) |
| Dark Web Monitor | Included | — |
| App Kill Switch Feature | Yes (app-level) | — |
| Dark Web Breach Monitoring | No | — |
| Total VPN Servers Worldwide(servers) | 3,400+ | 6,500+(winner) |
| Countries with Server Presence(countries) | 84 countries | 111 countries(winner) |
| Country Coverage(countries) | 110+ | — |
| VPN Server Locations(countries) | 60 countries | — |
| Total VPN Server Count(servers) | 5,400+ | — |
| Customer Rating (Trustpilot)(out of 5.0) | 4.6(winner) | 4.4 |
| Money-Back Guarantee(days) | 30 days | 30 days |
| 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) | — |
| Countries Covered(count) | 110+ countries | — |
| Number of Servers(servers) | 7200+ | — |
| Streaming Compatibility | Full support for major platforms | — |
| Maximum Password Character Support(characters) | Not applicable | — |
| Countries with Presence(countries) | 111 | — |
| Latest Security Audit Year | 2022 (PwC) | — |
| Free Tier Monthly Data(GB) | No free tier | — |
NordVPNShow 16 more attributes
Show 6 more attributes
Show 7 more attributes
Show 1 more attribute
Show 12 more attributes
Show 1 more attribute
Pros & Cons
10 pros·6 cons across both
Private Internet Access (PIA)
Pros
- Lowest price at $2.03/month (annual plan)
- Fastest average speeds at 87 Mbps in speed tests
- Supports 10 simultaneous connections (industry-leading)
- No IP or DNS leaks detected in independent audits
- 4.6/5.0 Trustpilot rating from 8,500+ reviews
Cons
- Only 3,355 servers across 84 countries (smaller network)
- Less recognized brand than NordVPN with lower market awareness
- Fewer advanced features (no built-in password manager)
NordVPN
Pros
- 6,000+ servers across 111 countries (extensive global network)
- Threat Protection Pro blocks malware and ads at DNS level
- Dedicated IP option available for additional security
- Double VPN feature for extra encryption layer
- 4.4/5.0 Trustpilot rating from 12,000+ reviews
Cons
- Higher monthly cost at $3.99 (nearly 2x PIA's price)
- Average download speeds of 72 Mbps (slower than PIA)
- Only 6 simultaneous device connections
Frequently Asked Questions
5 questions
PIA is faster with average download speeds of 87 Mbps compared to NordVPN's 72 Mbps. This 15 Mbps advantage makes PIA better for streaming, downloading, and gaming. However, both are sufficient for standard browsing and video consumption.
Resources & Learn More
Curated sources to dive deeper
Where to Buy
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Wikipedia
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