- Key differences between PIA and NordVPN
- PIA vs NordVPN price comparison
- Which has more global servers: PIA vs NordVPN?
- Which is more secure: NordVPN or PIA?
- Which VPN has stronger privacy policies: PIA or NordVPN
- Which is better for streaming: PIA or NordVPN
- Should I choose NordVPN or PIA for torrenting?
- Should I choose NordVPN or PIA for gaming?
- Which VPN is easier to use: PIA or NordVPN?
- PIA vs NordVPN Reddit comparison
- Final verdict: is PIA better than NordVPN in 2025?
- FAQ
Both PIA and NordVPN are leading VPN providers that offer robust security features and fast VPN connections. But NordVPN’s stellar reputation and longstanding track record means it can overshadow some respectable competing VPNs, and PIA is a powerful service with the largest VPN server fleet in the industry. So, which VPN comes out stronger in this PIA vs NordVPN comparison? I worked directly with the VPNOverview research team to investigate both VPNs and test their features, including speed, security, usability, and more. After a thorough deep dive, NordVPN secured the win over PIA. Read on to see a breakdown of my test results and justifications.
| VPN provider: | NordVPN | PIA |
|---|---|---|
| Website: | Visit NordVPN | Visit PIA |
| Rating: | 9.3⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 8.6⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Servers: | 9300 servers in 137+ countries | 35000+ servers in 91+ countries |
| Speed performance: | Very fast | Average to fast |
| Simultaneous connections: | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Encryption: | AES-256 | AES-256 |
| Streaming support: | ✅Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, HBO Max, Peacock, Paramount+, Apple TV+ | ✅Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max, Peacock, Paramount+ |
| Torrenting support: | ✅Yes, on dedicated P2P servers + SOCKS5 proxy | ✅Yes, on all servers |
| Starting price: | From $ 3.49/month | From $ 1.33/month |
| Money-back guarantee: | ✅30-day money-back guarantee | ✅30-day money-back guarantee |
Key differences between PIA and NordVPN
NordVPN and Private Internet Access are both leading VPN services, but they differ in areas such as price, unblocking capabilities, and security. Based on my extensive tests, NordVPN is better than PIA at protecting your system from malware, unblocking streaming services, and has a longstanding reputation for keeping no data logs. However, PIA is still a solid service for users that want a vast server network with an inexpensive price tag.
| PIA pros and cons | NordVPN pros and cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ PIA’s low-cost subscriptions make it cheaper than many competing premium VPNs | ✅ NordVPN’s Threat Protection suite can scan files for malware before you download them |
| ✅ With over 35,000 servers, PIA offers the largest VPN server fleet in the industry | ✅ Fastest VPN speeds of over 450 Mbps during my tests thanks to the proprietary NordLynx protocol |
| ✅ Torrenting supported on all servers, including toggleable port forwarding for speedier downloads | ✅ Enhanced security features, including Double VPN, Onion over VPN, and dedicated IP addresses |
| ❌ Inconsistent streaming performance, with PIA occasionally struggling to unblock some sites like Prime Video and BBC iPlayer | ✅ Robust unblocking potential, giving me access to every streaming site I tested, including Netflix, Prime Video, and Peacock |
| ❌ Based in the US, making it more exposed to privacy risks resulting from international data sharing alliances | ❌ NordVPN’s free trial only works on Android devices and lasts just 3 days, which is shorter than most providers |
Here are the main differences between PIA and NordVPN:
- PIA VPN is cheaper than NordVPN. NordVPN’s plans start at around $ 3.49/month, while PIA VPN starts from around $ 1.33/month for the best-value plans.
- NordVPN has better anti-malware capabilities. NordVPN’s Threat Protection feature can scan files for malware before you download them, offering greater protection than PIA.
- NordVPN excels at unblocking streaming services. During my tests, NordVPN unblocked every streaming service, while PIA struggled at times with some platforms.
- PIA has a larger server network. PIA’s fleet includes over 35000 servers in 91+ countries compared to NordVPN’s 9300 servers. But NordVPN covers a greater number of 137+ countries.
- PIA has a better free trial option. PIA’s free trial lasts 30 days and can be used on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. NordVPN’s free trial lasts 3 days and is only available on Android.
- NordVPN is faster. During tests, PIA’s speeds were inconsistent and ranged broadly from average to fast speeds depending on the server I chose. NordVPN’s speeds consistently averaged over 400-450 Mbps during my tests on a 500 Mbps baseline.
PIA vs NordVPN price comparison
As of August 2025, PIA is more affordable than NordVPN. PIA starts from $ 1.33/month compared to NordVPN’s starting price of $ 3.49/month. However, NordVPN offers much more variability in its plans. NordVPN is available for 1 month, 1 year, or 2 years, with four different tiers available for each plan length depending on the feature set you need. PIA on the other hand currently only offers a 2-year and 6-month subscription.
| Subscription plans | Private Internet Access | NordVPN |
|---|---|---|
| 6-month plan: | $7.50/month ($90/year) | – |
| 1-month plan: | – | From $12.99/month ($155.88) |
| 1-year plan: | – | From $4.99/month ($59.88/year) |
| 2-year plan: | $2.19/month ($28.47/year) | From $3.09/month ($41.72/year) |
| Free trial: | ✅ Yes, 30 days (Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android) | ✅ Yes, 3 days (Android) |
| Money-back guarantee: | ✅ Yes, 30 days | ✅ Yes, 30 days |
| Current deal: | Get PIA, now 89% off | Get NordVPN, now 75% off |
The best prices come from signing up for longer subscriptions, as month-to-month use is the most expensive and doesn’t usually attract discounts. That said, PIA doesn’t even rank among the cheapest monthly VPNs due to a lack of support for short-term subscriptions.
Both PIA and NordVPN offer a free trial, but PIA is much more generous here. You can use the Private Internet Access free trial on any supported device for up to 30 days. With NordVPN, only Android devices are eligible, and the NordVPN free trial only lasts for 3 days. Fortunately, both VPNs have a 30-day money-back guarantee, which helps NordVPN to compete in offering a free-use period for risk-free testing.
Which has more global servers: PIA vs NordVPN?
Private Internet Access has more global servers than NordVPN, with 35000+ servers compared to NordVPN’s 9300 server fleet. However, while PIA covers 91+ countries, NordVPN has locations in a greater number of 137+ countries.
| Feature | NordVPN | PIA |
|---|---|---|
| Total servers: | 9300 | 35000+ servers |
| Countries covered: | 137+ countries | 91+ countries |
| Server types: | RAM-only, obfuscated, P2P | RAM-only |
| Specialized servers: | ✅ Yes (Double VPN, onion over VPN, P2P, dedicated IP) | ✅ Yes (Onion over VPN, multi-hop, dedicated IP) |
| Server ownership: | Mostly owned + colocated (aiming fully owned) | Mix of owned + rented |
A vast server network helps to avoid server congestion, so PIA’s server fleet is adept at helping balance load during busy periods. That said, NordVPN’s 7,900-strong server network is also large enough to avoid congestion issues, and I never noticed any during my extensive tests with the VPN. What’s more, NordVPN covers more countries than PIA, which aids in geo-unblocking streaming services and other websites.
Both VPNs offer specialized servers. PIA’s multi-hop, dedicated IP, and P2P servers focus on privacy-first anonymity. Meanwhile, NordVPN also offers multi-hop, P2P, and dedicated IP servers, as well as double VPN and onion over VPN options that further enhance privacy and provide strong unblocking and streaming access worldwide.
Which is more secure: NordVPN or PIA?
Both NordVPN and Private Internet Access provide the security essentials, including a functional kill switch, leak protection, and a strict no-logs policy. But NordVPN takes the edge due to offering proprietary VPN protocols, a strong track record of independent audits, and advanced Threat Protection functionality to safeguard your device against malware.
| Security aspect | PIA | NordVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Jurisdiction: | United States (potential risk) | Panama (privacy-friendly) |
| Encryption: | AES-256 | AES-256 |
| Protocols supported: | OpenVPN, WireGuard, and IKEv2/IPsec protocols | OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec, and proprietary NordLynx protocol (based on WireGuard) |
| No-logs policy: | Strict, independently audited no-logs policy | Strict, independently audited no-logs policy |
| Kill switch: | ✅ Yes, systemwide | ✅ Yes, systemwide |
| Leak protection: | DNS and IPv6 leak protection | DNS and IPv6 leak protection |
During my research of both VPNs, I found that NordVPN stood out due to its privacy-friendly headquarters in Panama, its highly secure and proprietary NordLynx protocol, and specialized servers for more efficient streaming and security. PIA could benefit from having a more privacy-friendly jurisdiction, as its location in the United States puts it within the Five Eyes Alliance, though NordVPN could also improve by continuing to expand its server network as it has been doing recently. Overall, NordVPN edges past PIA in being more secure due to these reasons, an increased number of specialized servers, and bonus features like a SOCKS5 proxy.
Kill Switch
Both PIA and NordVPN include a built-in kill switch to prevent IP leaks that could expose your location if your VPN connection drops. PIA and NordVPN both have an app-wide and system-wide kill switch, while I found NordVPN’s to be more accessible due to automatic activation on most devices. During my tests, I simulated a dropped connection to ensure that the kill switch worked as intended, and both NordVPN and PIA successfully protected my location.
Split Tunneling
With split tunneling, you can specify which apps or websites should be protected as VPN traffic, helping to manage VPN load. PIA allows split tunneling at the app level on Windows, macOS, and Linux, but NordVPN offers app-based and website-based split tunneling on Windows and Android. So, while I found PIA’s device support to be better, NordVPN provided more enhanced functionality, making it a pretty even tie.
Obfuscation
Obfuscated servers disguise VPN traffic as regular traffic, which can help you bypass particularly stringent censorship and VPN blocks. PIA offers obfuscation through its WireGuard and OpenVPN protocols, but NordVPN has dedicated, specialized obfuscated servers. NordVPN’s approach makes the experience simpler in my opinion, as you only have to choose an obfuscated server. On the other hand, PIA’s approach needs to be manually enabled within the settings menu.
Specialty servers
NordVPN and PIA both offer onion over VPN, dedicated IP address, and multi-hop servers. While NordVPN also offers dedicated P2P servers, PIA supports torrenting on every server instead. However, NordVPN also offers double VPN, a server option that PIA is lacking. Overall, PIA leans toward providing more customization and privacy-first infrastructure, while NordVPN offers more set-it-and-forget-it server options for the average user.
Ad & Malware Blocker
The most secure VPNs include ad and malware blocking, and NordVPN has Threat Protection, while PIA has MACE. MACE blocks trackers, ads, and malware on every device, and NordVPN’s threat suite achieves the same. However, NordVPN takes the edge due to always-on protection and the ability to scan files for malware before you’ve even downloaded them onto your device. This is a powerful feature that’s missing from most VPN services.
Which VPN has stronger privacy policies: PIA or NordVPN
NordVPN takes an immediate edge on privacy due to being located in privacy-friendly Panama, while PIA is located in the United States. The US has strict data retention laws as part of the 14 Eyes Alliance, an international data-sharing coalition, which puts PIA at a disadvantage comparatively. However, both VPNs have a solid privacy policy.
Alongside vetting privacy policies, I also routinely test VPNs for their leak protection. An IP, DNS, or WebRTC leak can expose your actual location, rendering a VPNs geo-unblocking power useless. Thankfully, NordVPN and PIA passed all my leak tests, ensuring that neither VPN service will leak your true location.
No-Logs Policy
The best no-log VPNs have strict policies against any kind of data logging or sharing. NordVPN and PIA both claim a zero-logs policy, which means that they do not store sensitive user information. NordVPN’s policy has been audited yearly on four occasions, while PIA has undergone two independent audits. Both VPNs are also audited by Deloitte, a big-four accounting and audit firm, which lends a lot of credibility to the no-logs promise.
Independent Audits & Transparency Reports
NordVPN and PIA both engage with independent third-party companies like Deloitte to secure annual audits. These in-depth reports look at the no-logs claims made and ensure that server architecture is delivering on the privacy promises made. NordVPN’s independent audits span four years as of 2025, and each has passed, confirming that NordVPN doesn’t capture any sensitive data. What’s more, NordVPN now publishes routine updates on any government enquiries or DMCA requests to ensure full transparency.
Private Internet Access is also keen on transparency and publishes quarterly transparency reports in addition to the annual audits conducted by Deloitte for two years thus far. These quarterly reports discuss any legal requests received. Overall, while PIA is a little behind NordVPN in terms of its track record, both VPNs offer a solid record of independent auditing and full transparency.
Which is better for streaming: PIA or NordVPN
NordVPN offers the fastest VPN speeds I’ve seen, averaging 770+ Mbps during my in-house tests. On a 940 Mbps baseline, nearby servers peaked at 900 Mbps, while even distant servers like Singapore managed 647 Mbps. Conversely, while PIA achieved highs of around 400 Mbps, speeds were much more variable during testing, and distant servers dropped to around 200 Mbps. This makes NordVPN much faster than PIA.
During streaming tests, I attempted to unblock a range of streaming services with both PIA and NordVPN. PIA could unblock most platforms, but it had intermittent issues with websites like BBC iPlayer in the UK and Amazon Prime Video. Comparatively, NordVPN could unblock every streaming service I tried, including Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Prime Video, and Hulu in the US.
| Streaming service | PIA | NordVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Netflix | ✅ Yes (in most cases) | ✅ Yes |
| BBC iPlayer | ❌ No (often has issues) | ✅ Yes |
| ITVX | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Disney Plus | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Amazon Prime Video | ❌ No (often has issues) | ✅ Yes |
| Hulu | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| HBO Max | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Netflix employs strong anti-VPN technology as it tries to stop people from breaking licensing agreements by viewing foreign content libraries. However, with NordVPN’s obfuscation technology, I could still access Netflix US, Netflix UK, and Netflix Japan, besides others. This is why my team and I routinely name NordVPN as the best Netflix VPN. PIA could also unblock Netflix US, but I wasn’t able to access Netflix Japan. This suggests PIA isn’t as consistent at unblocking streaming services across the board.
Should I choose NordVPN or PIA for torrenting?
Using a VPN for torrenting is crucial, as it protects you from a range of threats and inconveniences. Firstly, your VPN will prevent your ISP from throttling your connection speed and crippling your downloads, something ISPs may do during periods of overuse. This is because a VPN hides your true IP address so your online activity can’t be associated with you.
However, it also hides your true location from everybody in your torrent swarm that would ordinarily be able to see your IP address, preventing tracking and potential DDoS attacks. While VPNOverview doesn’t condone using torrents to breach copyright law, this is why many people use a VPN when torrenting movies or other illegal torrents.
After testing PIA and NordVPN, NordVPN is the best VPN for torrenting. Its faster connection speeds meant that downloads completed more quickly during my tests. I was also able to use Threat Protection to scan files for malware before risking any infection on my device.
Should I choose NordVPN or PIA for gaming?
NordVPN and PIA offer high-speed connections that minimize the risk of lag and rubberbanding during online gaming sessions. However, in my tests, I noticed that NordVPN maintained a lower average ping than PIA across 10 international VPN servers, with my lowest ping recorded at 11ms on a Swedish VPN server. During speed tests, PIA delivered 164 Mbps, while NordVPN achieved over 600 Mbps in this instance.
PIA and NordVPN compare closely in other areas of importance for gaming. Neither VPN throttles your speed or data consumption, and both have DDoS protection to ensure nobody can hamstring your connection by targeting your IP address. Both VPNs can also be installed on a router in case you want to protect your games console’s connection while lacking a native VPN app.
However, owing to the more consistent and faster connection speeds offered by NordVPN, I determined that NordVPN is the best VPN for gaming if you want access to international games lobbies with a low ping and fast speeds.
Which VPN is easier to use: PIA or NordVPN?
Based on my experience testing PIA and NordVPN, NordVPN offers a more hassle-free installation process for beginners, though PIA feels like it was built for advanced users. It was quick to install both VPNs, though NordVPN required almost no manual input and its installation wizard felt much more polished. For example, NordVPN launches with defaults like auto-connect and the built-in kill switch enabled, allowing beginners full protection from the offset without assuming any VPN knowledge. On the other hand, PIA required me to manually set up most features.
Both PIA and NordVPN support Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. Both also offer browser extensions and support for router installation. But NordVPN also offers support for Android TVs and other such devices via a Smart DNS feature.
NordVPN also has an edge in usability by including a world server map that lets you connect quickly by clicking on a country. PIA on the other hand uses a list view of servers. I find NordVPN to be the more visually appealing option.
PIA vs NordVPN Reddit comparison
As part of any VPN comparison, I check feedback on Reddit to see what experiences real people have had with the service and compare them against my own. I came across one recent example that mirrors a lot of experiences I had when testing PIA vs NordVPN.
This user supported a lot of my comments, including how while PIA is cheaper, it doesn’t come with as many features as NordVPN. They also experienced the inconsistent speeds with PIA, had concerns about its US jurisdiction, and unblocked fewer streaming services.
In another thread, one Reddit user was considering switching from NordVPN to PIA. While some comments supported the decision, others argued certain inconsistencies in PIA’s service, such as downtime on dedicated IP servers, worse customer support, and general downtime across services.
Overall, this makes me confident that my experience wasn’t unique, and that NordVPN provides a better and more reliable service in most cases, making it the best VPN to choose between these two providers.
Final verdict: is PIA better than NordVPN in 2025?
NordVPN and PIA are both reliable, premium VPN services that will suit users looking for good speeds, secure connections, and the reassurance of privacy. But after extensive testing and comparisons, I concluded that NordVPN edges out PIA in almost all areas. This doesn’t make PIA a poor choice of VPN; it’s more about deciding what’s most important to you.
| When to choose PIA | When to choose NordVPN |
|---|---|
| ✅ When you want to pay less for your VPN subscription | ✅ When you want the best speeds and unblocking for streaming |
| ✅ When you want to access the industry’s largest server network | ✅ When you want to use your VPN on devices like smart TVs |
| ❌ When you want the best malware protection possible | ✅ When you live in a restrictive region that benefits from strong obfuscation |
| ❌ When you want guaranteed, reliable uptime | ❌ When you want a long free trial (3 days only for Android devices) |
- Pricing: While PIA is cheaper than NordVPN for the most-affordable plan, NordVPN offers much greater plan variability. NordVPN also offers more choice in plan duration, from 1-month to 2-year plans, while PIA offers 6 months or 2 years.
- Servers: While NordVPN has some additional speciality servers, PIA offers a huge 35000 servers compared to NordVPN’s 9300 server fleet.
- Security: Both PIA and NordVPN provide all the security essentials, but PIA is located in the United States, posing a greater risk of data sharing.
- Privacy: NordVPN has a slight edge over PIA due to a longer track record of independent audits, though both VPNs show signs of strong transparency.
- Streaming: NordVPN wins this category hands-down, unblocking any streaming service and providing the best streaming speeds. PIA falters a little on certain platforms and can’t always unblock them.
- Usability: NordVPN’s world map view and Smart DNS support give it an edge over PIA, which uses a simple list view. Pre-set configurations in NordVPN’s app also make it more beginner friendly.
In short, NordVPN wins out over PIA in most areas, making it the better choice of VPN in 2025 for most purposes. While cheaper, PIA doesn’t offer the same number of features, nor allow you to tailor your plan and pricing by deciding which ones you want the most.
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FAQ
NordVPN offers faster speeds, more reliable unblocking power, and advanced security tools like Double VPN and Onion over VPN. Its location in Panama also makes it a more secure choice compared to PIA’s location in the US. Meanwhile, PIA is cheaper and has the largest server fleet of any premium VPN, but NordVPN is the better overall choice if you want value for money.
Based on my tests, NordVPN is better than PIA in many areas. NordVPN has more plan variability, advanced security features like pre-download malware scanning, and has much faster speeds for streaming and torrenting. While PIA is a little cheaper on 2-year plans, NordVPN represents much better value for money based on my assessment.
NordVPN is faster than Private Internet Access (PIA). During my in-house tests, NordVPN consistently delivered over 470 Mbps in streaming tests, while PIA’s speeds were much more variable across its network, ranging from average to fast.
NordVPN is more reliable than PIA for bypassing sports blackouts. Its large server network, dedicated obfuscated servers, and reliable unblocking of major streaming platforms make it a better choice than PIA, which can struggle with unblocking streaming services. NordVPN’s fast connection speeds make it suited to lag-free HD and 4K streaming.
