NordVPN vs Private Internet Access Comparison

On the flip side, Private Internet Access is cheaper, but this doesn’t necessarily mean it’s of lower value. Popularity also isn’t a sure-fire indication of higher value, so that’s why we’ve weighed up both options in detail. By the end of this comparison, you’ll know which VPN solution is best suited to you.

While both VPNs are excellent feature-wise, offering split tunneling, browser extensions, dedicated IPs, and more, some details set them apart. These include overall performance, security capabilities, customization, and the number of simultaneous connections, which is limited to 10 with NordVPN and unlimited with Private Internet Access.

When looking at both VPN’s speed performance, PIA is the winner with an average download speed loss of only 17%, against NordVPN's 34%. PIA also performs better for uploads, with a 28% speed loss compared to NordVPN's 54%. The same applies to latency, with PIA’s outperforming NordVPN with lower ping times. That said, we didn’t get any type of DNS leak with either NordVPN or PIA.

NordVPN's network consists of over 6,000 servers in more than 100 locations worldwide. In addition, it offers dedicated servers for P2P, double VPN, support for Onion over VPN, and obfuscated servers.

Private Internet Access boasts a broader server network with more than 10,000 servers across over 90 countries. We especially liked its range of U.S. servers, with more than 50 locations available, which contrasts with NordVPN's 30. While it supports streaming and torrenting, it doesn’t provided dedicated servers for these activities.

While NordVPN provides more specialty servers, Private Internet Access has more city-level server selection options.

NordVPN proves to be almost unmatched when it comes to streaming, unblocking all major platforms easily. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case with Private Internet Access, which struggles to get close to NordVPN's level of success in this regard.

However, even though only NordVPN has specific P2P servers and Private Internet Access port forwarding, users definitely get a good service with one or the other as both deliver optimal results. On top of that, both services offer SOCKS5 proxy.

NordVPN isn’t part of the 14 Eyes Alliance, offers high-standard encryption protocols, such as NordLynx, OpenVPN, IKEv2, and is regularly audited by independent entities like Deloitte. This ticks all the most important boxes regarding security and privacy.

Since Private Internet Access's headquarters are on U.S. soil, users often question the VPN’s security. However, the company has already proved it doesn’t store any logs more than once in court, and is also regularly independently audited. In addition, it shares the same encryption protocols as NordVPN, apart from NordLynx, which is a NordVPN exclusive.

Both VPN services offer great features but with different approaches. While NordVPN provides an exceptional balance of performance and security, with remarkable streaming support, Private Internet Access excels in control, flexibility, and transparency, with the highlight being its support for unlimited connections.

NordVPN and Private Internet Access are compatible with pretty much all devices and operating systems, including Windows, macOS, smartphones, smart TVs, gaming consoles, and routers.

While Private Internet Access's apps all sport a modern design, its NordVPN that takes the ‘best interface cake’, primarily due to its beginner-friendly design combined with the option to select servers from a map.

Conversely, despite both VPNs offering extensions for the most popular browsers, Private Internet Access is the winner. It includes better privacy controls, such as blocking cameras and microphones.

As it turns out, NordVPN and Private Internet Access are both multi-platform and modern, with the former catering to non-technical users, and the latter to tech-savvy individuals.

NordVPN's cheapest plan is Basic and costs $3.09 per month, billed every two years, including three extra months. This results in savings of no less than 73%. With the same discount range and extra months, users can subscribe to the Plus plan for as cheap as $3.99 and combine advanced threat protection with the VPN. Lastly, adding 1TB of cloud storage to the package results in a higher monthly cost of $4.99. All plans are covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Private Internet Access offers two plans and the cheapest costs only $2.03 per month, also billed biennially and with four months extra instead of three. The alternative is for only six months, with a monthly cost of $7.50. It should be mentioned that unlike NordVPN, all Private Internet Access plans contain the same features and come with a 7-day free trial on top of a 30-day money-back guarantee. Another notable difference is the cost of dedicated IPs add-ons, which is slightly more expensive than NordVPN.

Private Internet Access is clearly the cheapest option, not only with more affordable plans but also with less expensive add-ons. Nonetheless, some users still might prefer NordVPN due to its ease-of-use and powerful streaming performance.

Both VPNs offer similar customer support options, including FAQs, tutorials, and official communities. To get help from support agents, NordVPN and Private Internet Access provide a contact form and a 24/7 live chat. The high quality of these services’ customer support performance is attested by the overwhelmingly positive feedback they get across the internet.

Users highlight quick replies and prompt issue resolution. However, one of the most common criticisms of these VPNs is the lack of phone support.

NordVPN and Private Internet Access are definitely solid, reliable, and secure VPN services – but they shine differently. On one hand, NordVPN offers a more intuitive interface and better streaming support with a well-balanced combination of security and performance. On the other, Private Internet Access is cheaper, offers more customization options, and supports unlimited connections, which is excellent for users with many devices.

We recommend NordVPN for users who value above-average streaming support and ease of use, and Private Internet Access for those needing flexibility and affordability. That said, the best way to make an informed choice between the two services is to read our full reviews and try them before purchasing.