Private Internet Access (PIA) vs NordVPN in 2025: Speed, Cost & More 

By Arthur Sabayi

Last update: February 6, 2025

Quick Summary: PIA vs NordVPN

Quick Summary: PIA vs NordVPN

The main difference between NordVPN and Private Internet Access is that NordVPN offers better privacy and has faster download speeds for streaming, though PIA is slightly cheaper and has better customer support. 

Overall Rating 9.3 / 10

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NordVPN comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee you can use to try it out risk-free.

NordVPN and Private Internet Access (PIA) both feature on our list of the best VPNs, making this PIA vs NordVPN review a clash between two very reliable VPNs.

In this comparison, I’ll start by highlighting their shared features, including kill switches for protection against DNS leaks and standard encryption for security. Both services also offer split tunneling, obfuscation, ad blockers, double VPN and dedicated IP addresses.

In addition, each provider has exclusive features that differentiate them. In this PIA vs NordVPN comparison, I’ll highlight all these similarities and differences to determine which service you should go with. Though NordVPN ultimately comes out on top, the Private Internet Access VPN may suit you better for specific needs.

1. 

   Overall Rating 9.3 / 10

   Visit NordVPN
   Money-Back Guarantee

   30 Days

   Worldwide Server Amount

   Over 5,400+ servers in 59 countries
2. 

   Overall Rating 8.7 / 10

   Visit Private Internet Access
   Money-Back Guarantee

   30 Days

   Worldwide Server Amount

   84 countries

PIA vs NordVPN: Comparison at a Glance

Before I dive into the main comparison, here’s a glance at how the two VPNs performed in the nine key categories.

My Expert Opinion: Is PIA or NordVPN Better?

From my testing, NordVPN is better than Private Internet Access. Out of the nine categories in which I tested these VPNs, PIA won two, NordVPN won six and they tied in one.

I would recommend NordVPN for privacy, because it has been audited four times without any issues. NordVPN is ideal for gaming and streaming, as it’s faster and has minimal lag and buffering. It also scores highly in usability due to being equipped with extra features like post-quantum encryption.

On the other hand, PIA would be a good fit for users on a budget, as it’s cheaper than NordVPN. Support for unlimited simultaneous device connections makes PIA ideal for large groups of users who need to secure multiple devices at no added cost.

Both VPNs are sufficiently secure, with each being equipped with ChaCha20 and AES-256, two of the most secure ciphers in use today. Though NordVPN has the upper hand, PIA is no pushover, as you will see in this comparison review.

I Recommend PIA For:

• Users in need of customer support: PIA has more extensive options for getting help, including an active user forum.
• Large groups: Private Internet Access supports unlimited simultaneous devices. Multiple people can use the same account to secure all their devices at no added cost.
• Users on a budget: PIA has cheap long-term plans that make it ideal as an affordable alternative. Find out more in our full Private Internet Access review.

1. $2.19/month
   

   Overall Rating 8.7 / 10

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I Recommend NordVPN For:

• Privacy: NordVPN has passed four independent audits — proof that it takes user privacy very seriously.
• Gaming: NordVPN is among the fastest VPNs and can handle gaming with minimal lag.
• Advanced VPN features: NordVPN is equipped with extra features like a dark web monitor, which makes it more versatile. Learn more in our complete NordVPN review.

1. $3.39/month
   

   Overall Rating 9.3 / 10

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Security: PIA and NordVPN Meet Standards

VPNs provide security by encrypting the connection between your home device and a VPN server, which lets you use the internet without revealing your identity. PIA and NordVPN are both secure VPNs. Here’s a quick breakdown of what they offer.

Private Internet Access provides security through two VPN protocols: WireGuard and OpenVPN. Both protocols are open-source, fast and work with secure ciphers (ChaCha20 and AES-256, respectively). PIA for iOS has an extra IKEv2/IPsec protocol, which is a data-friendly option best suited for mobile devices.

PIA is one of the few VPNs that allows you to manually switch between AES-256 and AES-128. Both are practically uncrackable ciphers, but AES-128 usually provides faster speeds than the more secure AES-256.

I switched to the WireGuard protocol and ran the encrypted traffic through Wireshark. The displayed result consisted only of symbols, numbers and text that didn’t make sense — proof that this particular traffic was fully encrypted. 

NordVPN has two VPN protocols. There’s the OpenVPN protocol, which is traditionally known for stability and security. The other option is NordLynx, a proprietary WireGuard-based protocol with fast speeds. NordVPN also uses AES-256 and ChaCha20 to encrypt internet traffic.

The NordVPN encryption test was a success. Like PIA, the test didn’t display anything that could give away my real location. This protection is consistent across all NordVPN protocols.

Winner: This is a tie. PIA and NordVPN are secure VPN services that use the best ciphers available. They both passed the encryption test.

Privacy: NordVPN’s Commitment Stands Out

Reliable VPN privacy is built on the back of a strict no-logs policy, which means the VPN provider never collects or stores your data. Both PIA and NordVPN claim to uphold strict user privacy policies, so I took a deep dive to check this claim.

Private Internet Access is owned by KAPE Technologies, the company behind ExpressVPN and CyberGhost. It’s based in Denver, Colorado, and follows a strict no-logs policy. PIA doesn’t collect or store the IP addresses you use, or your browsing history, VPN sessions, timestamps or bandwidth usage.

Deloitte independently audited PIA’s no-logs policy in 2022; you can read the report here. The audit confirmed that PIA doesn’t collect or store user data in any format. Plus, PIA uses RAM-only servers that periodically wipe VPN session data, so there’s nothing to find.

NordVPN is owned by Nord Security, the same company that owns Surfshark. It adheres to a zero-logs policy that has been independently audited four times, most recently by Deloitte.

All four audits proved that NordVPN doesn’t store any customer data. You can read the 2018 public statement and 2022 audit report for more details. Like PIA, all of NordVPN’s servers are RAM-only, so no evidence is left behind. NordVPN is based in Panama, which is governed by strict data privacy laws that make extradition a costly burden.

Winner: PIA and NordVPN take user privacy seriously by using RAM-only servers and subjecting themselves to third-party audits. However, NordVPN wins this round for having passed four privacy audits.

1. Privacy Winner
   

   Overall Rating 9.3 / 10

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Features: NordVPN Has Better Unique Options

Both VPNs share some common features to bolster the benefits of VPN protection, but you’ll also find some unique ones exclusive to each. The first shared feature is the kill switch. It disables your internet if the VPN connection fails, preventing your real IP address from being exposed. 

Kill Switch

PIA has a kill switch on Windows, macOS, Android and iOS, and an advanced kill switch on Windows and macOS that prevents leaks even when the VPN is turned off. 

NordVPN similarly provides a regular kill switch on Windows, macOS, Android and iOS, along with an advanced kill switch on Windows that works without a VPN connection. 

Advanced Features: Split Tunneling, Double VPN & Ad Blockers

Both VPNs also offer split tunneling, which allows you to choose what to encrypt and what to leave outside the VPN tunnel. PIA has split tunneling on Windows, macOS and Android (where it’s called “per app setting”), while NordVPN has it on Android, Windows (10 and 11) and Android TV.

PIA and NordVPN also have double VPN (which encrypts traffic twice with two servers) and obfuscation (which bypasses VPN blocks). On PIA, obfuscation and double VPN are tied together and can be activated with a single button. NordVPN has obfuscated and double VPN servers, but you can connect to only one at a time.

Both NordVPN and PIA come with ad blockers to suppress pop-up ads, trackers and malware online. PIA’s blocker is called PIA MACE and is available on Windows, macOS, Linux and Android. NordVPN’s blocker is called Threat Protection and is available for Windows, macOS, Android, iOS and web browsers (Firefox, Chrome and Edge).

Dedicated IP Addresses & Port Forwarding

Both VPNs provide dedicated IP addresses. With an exclusive IP address, you can avoid CAPTCHAs and access IP-restricted resources without the risk of shadowbans. However, dedicated IP addresses cost extra on both services. PIA allows you to activate it from within the app. With NordVPN, you must activate it in your NordVPN account portal via the web.

As for exclusive features, PIA offers port forwarding, which improves speeds by allowing certain connections past your firewall. Port forwarding can be activated on Windows, macOS and Android by toggling the “request port forwarding” button in the app settings. It’s a common feature of the best VPNs for torrenting.

NordVPN’s Unique Advanced Features

NordVPN has a larger array of unique features than PIA. First on the list is the dark web monitor, which keeps an eye on the dark web for leaks containing your passwords and emails. It immediately alerts you if it finds a breach.

Next up is NordVPN Meshnet, a handy feature that lets you use one of your own devices as a VPN server to securely use another IP address and share files. You can connect up to 10 of your own devices and up to 50 belonging to friends. You can also use Meshnet to set up a remote LAN network for secure gaming with family and friends.

Another unique NordVPN feature is post-quantum encryption, a novel addition to the VPN industry designed to counter quantum computer attacks. Post-quantum encryption is currently available on NordVPN for Windows, Linux and Android. You must switch to the NordLynx protocol to use it.

Winner: NordVPN is the clear winner. Both VPNs share crucial features like kill switches, but NordVPN is equipped with extras like the dark web monitor and post-quantum encryption, which make it safer.

1. Features Winner
   

   Overall Rating 9.3 / 10

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Speed: NordVPN Is Much Faster

A fast VPN is good for streaming, gaming, video chatting, general browsing and fast downloads — basically everything you can do online. I tested both services with different servers across the globe. The table below shows how Private Internet Access performed.

The fastest speed I got with PIA was 88 Mbps with a U.S. server. However, the speed drops were significant in some locations, with Singapore being the slowest, at 42 Mbps. PIA averaged 56.63 Mbps across seven locations — a 43.57% speed drop. 

I still managed to stream HD content without buffering, but I experienced slight lag when playing ‘Fortnite’ on my Windows PC. NordVPN was faster than PIA across every server I tested, as detailed in the table below.

Brazil was the fastest server, at 96 Mbps, while South Africa was the slowest, at 88 Mbps. On average, NordVPN scored 93.71 Mbps across seven locations — a 6.2% speed drop. This was sufficient for streaming 4K content without buffering.

Winner: NordVPN wins this category for being faster than Private Internet Access.

1. Speed Winner
   

   Overall Rating 9.3 / 10

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Streaming: Both VPNs Unblock All Platforms

The table below summarizes the streaming platforms I unblocked with NordVPN and Private Internet Access.

Private Internet Access and NordVPN unblocked all the major streaming services I tested. This includes Netflix, Hulu, Peacock TV, BBC iPlayer, Max and Amazon Prime Video. I didn’t experience any connection issues, and I was able to unblock all the streaming services on the first attempt. However, I did notice better streaming performance with NordVPN.

Winner: Since both VPNs are capable of unblocking major streaming services, the deciding factor came down to the streaming experience. NordVPN wins this round for being faster, which means you’re more likely to be able to stream without buffering.

1. Streaming Winner
   

   Overall Rating 9.3 / 10

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Server Network: NordVPN Reaches More Countries

A VPN with a bigger server network is better at unblocking geo-restricted content. Both NordVPN and PIA are sufficiently equipped but differ slightly in distribution. Though PIA has more total locations, NordVPN reaches more countries.

Private Internet Access Server Network

PIA has thousands of servers in 166 locations across 91 countries. Of these, 54 are virtual servers. Overall, PIA’s server distribution isn’t very balanced. Most are concentrated in North America and Europe, which have a combined 126 locations, while the Middle East, Africa and Oceania have the fewest, with a combined 16 locations.

NordVPN Server Network

NordVPN has more than 7,000 servers in 141 locations across 118 countries, including 58 virtual locations. Most of NordVPN’s servers are located in North America, Europe and Asia. However, NordVPN has a better server distribution in Africa than PIA, with 11 locations.

Winner: Both VPNs have impressive global server networks. However, NordVPN wins this round for providing locations in more countries, making it able to unblock more streaming libraries.

1. Server Network Winner
   

   Overall Rating 9.3 / 10

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OS Support: NordVPN Is More Widely Compatible

A VPN that’s compatible with multiple devices lets you switch between all your devices while maintaining security. Both of the contestants in this comparison made our list of best mobile VPNs. 

Private Internet Access is compatible with the following operating systems:

• Windows (10 and 11)
• macOS (High Sierra, Mojave, Catalina, Big Sur, Monterey, Ventura, Sonoma and Sequoia)
• Linux (Ubuntu 20.04+ (LTS), Mint, Debian, Fedora and Arch)
• Android (7.0 and later)
• iOS and iPadOS (version 12.1 and later)
• Android TV
• Apple TV
• Web browsers (Firefox and Google Chrome)
• Consoles like Steam Deck and Meta Quest (via direct app installation), plus PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch (via smart DNS or a VPN router)
• Routers that run on AsusWRT, DD-WRT or Merlin firmware

Private Internet Access also comes with smart DNS, which can change the virtual location on VPN-incompatible smart TVs like Samsung and LG TV. You can connect an unlimited number of devices simultaneously on any platform. 

NordVPN is compatible with the following devices.

• Windows (7, 8.1, 10 and 11)
• macOS (macOS 11 Big Sur and later)
• Linux (Debian, Ubuntu and Elementary OS)
• Android (9.0 and later)
• iOS and iPadOS (15.0 and later)
• Apple TV (tvOS 17.0 and later)
• Apple Vision Pro
• Android TV
• Fire Stick TV
• Kindle Fire (via a VPN router or the app from the Amazon app store)
• Game consoles like Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo Switch (connection via a physical VPN router, virtual VPN router or smart DNS) 
• Raspberry Pi
• Chromebook
• Chromecast (via Google TV, a physical VPN router or a virtual VPN router)
• Oculus (via Sidequest or a VPN router)
• Web browsers (Google Chrome, Firefox and Edge)
• Routers (Privacy Hero II Wi-Fi 6 NordLynx Router, Asus Wi-Fi 6 OpenVPN Router and more)

NordVPN also offers smart DNS for LG, Samsung TV and game consoles like Xbox and PlayStation, which aren’t compatible with VPNs. You can also connect up to 10 simultaneous devices.

Winner: NordVPN and PIA are compatible with a lot of devices, including smart TVs and routers. This is a tight category, but NordVPN wins because it’s compatible with a few devices with which PIA is not, such as Chromebooks and Raspberry Pi.

1. OS Support Winner
   

   Overall Rating 9.3 / 10

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Plans and Pricing: PIA Saves You More Money

Private Internet Access and NordVPN are fairly priced VPNs with budget-friendly plans and trustworthy money-back guarantees. See our list of the best cheap VPNs for more examples.

Private Internet Access has two pricing options. You can subscribe to a 26-month plan that costs $2.19 per month or a six-month plan going for $7.50 per month. Both PIA plans are covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee.

NordVPN is a little costlier and comes with three pricing options. There’s a 24-month plan that costs $3.39 per month, followed by a 12-month plan going for $4.99 per month and a monthly option that costs $12.99. NordVPN also comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Winner: PIA wins this round for being cheaper than NordVPN.

1. Pricing Winner
   

   Overall Rating 8.7 / 10

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Customer Support: PIA Has More Ways to Get Help

The fastest PIA customer support option is live chat, and it’s available 24/7. You can also send a direct email to customer support by filling out a request form, though the response won’t be as fast. Private Internet Access also has a knowledgebase, tutorials and guides, a news blog and a community of users.

NordVPN also comes with a 24/7 live chat option with prompt responses. Alternatively, you can contact customer support through email, though the response could take a while. There’s also an FAQ section that addresses commonly asked questions, as well as detailed NordVPN setup tutorials for all operating systems. 

Lastly, NordVPN has an info section that covers the basics of using the VPN app across different devices.

Winner: Both VPNs provide multiple avenues, such as live chat and direct email, for users to contact customer support. PIA wins this category based on its extra resources, including a news blog, a community and guides.

1. Support Winner
   

   Overall Rating 8.7 / 10

   Visit Private Internet Access

Community Feedback: Private Internet Access/NordVPN on Reddit and Other Platforms

I checked online platforms like Reddit to see what people are saying about NordVPN vs Private Internet Access. The results were a mixed bag of positive and negative feedback.

PIA’s privacy had good reviews. One user claimed to have used it for more than 10 years without experiencing problems. NordVPN was praised in a separate Reddit post for being feature-rich, reliably fast and easy to use.

On the negative side, one user on Reddit claimed they had to ditch PIA because they were unable to get more than 400 Mbps on their 950 Mbps line. NordVPN wasn’t safe from criticism, either — another Reddit user complained about being overcharged with no warning.

Conclusion: Why I Think NordVPN Wins Overall

NordVPN is the ultimate winner of this showdown. It clinches the crown for having faster speeds, a better streaming experience, more diverse device compatibility, more features and reliable privacy. Private Internet Access held its ground on affordability and customer support while tying with NordVPN on security. It’s a capable option.

If neither of these VPNs meets your needs, you can always turn to alternatives like Surfshark, ExpressVPN or CyberGhost. I provide more details on these providers at the end of the article.

Having read this comparison review, are you still struggling to make a choice? Do you need more information? Drop a comment below and we’ll be happy to engage with you. Keep reading our blog for more informative posts.

1. Winner
   

   Overall Rating 9.3 / 10

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Methodology: How I Compared PIA and NordVPN

I based this Private Internet Access—NordVPN VPN comparison on the following criteria.

• Security: I tested PIA and NordVPN on Wireshark to see if their encryption worked. Both passed the test without exposing any sensitive traffic details.
• Privacy: I investigated each VPN’s no-logs policy pages to determine the type of data they store. Furthermore, I checked whether they’ve been independently audited and whether the audit reports are public.
• Features: I looked at extra features available on each VPN that make them easy to use. I focused on shared features like split tunneling and the kill switch, then investigated features unique to each service.
• Speed: I tested both VPNs using servers from different parts of the world and recorded their speed drops to see which one came out on top.
• Server Size: For this category, I counted the server locations and countries for each VPN to see which one has more. I also considered how balanced the server distribution is, with a special focus on Africa and the Middle East, as VPNs rarely provide enough servers in these regions.
• OS Support: I checked the number of operating systems each VPN is compatible with, and then looked at the maximum number of devices that can be simultaneously connected to each VPN.
• Pricing: I looked at the cost of each VPN, comparing long-term and monthly plans. Additionally, I checked whether each VPN offers money-back guarantees and for how long.
• Customer Support: I checked to see all the available communication channels each VPN provides customers. I paid close attention to the availability of live chat and the response speeds.

Other VPN Alternatives I Like

If NordVPN and PIA don’t fit your needs, consider trying out these alternatives:

Overall Rating 9.2 / 10

Visit Surfshark

 If you’re looking for an affordable PIA alternative that also supports unlimited simultaneous device connections, try Surfshark. It’s fast and secure, with obfuscation and double VPN, all of which are discussed in detail in this Surfshark review.

Pros

• Very good price-performance ratio
• High security level
• Netflix-compatible
• Unlimited simultaneous connections
• Great support with live chat

Cons

• No information on individual servers
• Can have issues establishing a connection

Overall Rating 9.1 / 10

Get 49% Off ExpressVPN

Though more expensive than PIA or NordVPN, ExpressVPN comes with automatic obfuscation, great unblocking capability and speeds fast enough to handle gaming. You can find more details in our ExpressVPN review.

Pros

• Extremely fast & easy to use
• Servers in 105 countries
• Kill switch, split tunneling & no logs
• Unblocks all major streaming services
• Excellent security record

Cons

• Expensive
• Uses some virtual servers

Overall Rating 7.5 / 10

Visit CyberGhost

CyberGhost can unblock geo-restricted content in most places and has one of the largest server networks in the VPN industry. It also offers fast speeds and is user-friendly, as discussed in our CyberGhost review.

Pros

• Easy to use
• Thousands of servers including streaming servers
• Strong encryption
• Doesn’t keep logs
• 45-day money-back guarantee

Cons

• Cheap only with long-term subscriptions

FAQ: PIA VPN vs NordVPN

• Is PIA VPN Better Than NordVPN?

  PIA VPN generally isn’t better than NordVPN, though it’s quite good in its own right. Some areas where NordVPN is superior to PIA include speeds, streaming, privacy, the availability of extra features and the server network.

• Is PIA the Strongest VPN?

  No, PIA is not the strongest VPN. Other services are better than PIA in different aspects. For example, NordVPN is faster and offers better privacy than Private Internet Access. 

• Is PIA a Good VPN?

  Yes, PIA is a good VPN. It’s secure, has been audited, is fast enough for HD streaming and has a large server network for bypassing geo-restrictions.

• Is There Something Better Than NordVPN?

  Yes, some VPNs are better than NordVPN in specific areas. For example, Surfshark is frequently even faster than NordVPN in our tests. Other VPNs, including PrivadoVPN, offer a fully free plan, which NordVPN does not.