Jake Tech Lab

NordVPN vs Private Internet Access

Private Internet Access comes out ahead of NordVPN on 4 of the 6 things that decide this, going by what each company publishes and what independent review sites report. The one that matters for you may be one the leader loses.

NordVPN
NordVPN
6.2
Fair
1 of 6 rounds
vs
Private Internet AccessWinner
Private Internet Access
7.2
Good
4 of 6 rounds

The verdict

Private Internet Access takes it, 4–1 on rounds.

On the published figures and the independent review sites, Private Internet Access takes 4 of 6 rounds. Treat that as a starting point and check the current figures on both pages, because prices and plans move.

Choose NordVPN if…

  • • You want NordVPN's edge on how many countries it covers

Choose Private Internet Access if…

  • • You want Private Internet Access's edge on how many devices at once and what it costs to start

Round by round

  1. Round 1How many devices at oncePrivate Internet Access wins
    NordVPN5/10

    10 devices

    simultaneous connections

    • 10 devices, against Unlimited

    Source: security.org ↗

    Private Internet Access8/10

    Unlimited

    simultaneous connections

    Source: security.org ↗

    Private Internet Access wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.

  2. Round 2What customers say on TrustpilotTie
    NordVPN7/10

    4.2 out of 5

    TrustScore from 50,849 reviews on Trustpilot

    Source: trustpilot.com ↗

    Private Internet Access7/10

    4.3 out of 5

    TrustScore from 11,010 reviews on Trustpilot

    Source: trustpilot.com ↗

    Nothing to separate them here.

  3. Round 3What it costs to startPrivate Internet Access wins
    NordVPN5/10

    $14.69/mo, billed monthly

    Basic, 1-month plan (select "1-month plans")

    • $14.99/mo, billed monthly, against $11.95/mo, billed monthly

    Source: nordvpn.com ↗

    Private Internet Access8/10

    $11.95/mo, billed monthly

    PIA VPN; 1 Month vs 3 Years + 3 Months EXTRA (first term)

    Source: privateinternetaccess.com ↗

    Private Internet Access wins this round on what the published sources say.

  4. Round 4What the long plan costsPrivate Internet Access wins
    NordVPN5/10

    $3.49/mo, first 27 months

    Basic; 1-month plan (open the '2-year plans' menu, pick '1-month plans') vs 2-year plan + 3 extra months (first term)

    • $3.49/mo, first 27 months, against $2.03/mo, 3 yrs + 3 mo (first term)

    Source: nordvpn.com ↗

    Private Internet Access8/10

    $1.89/mo, 3 yrs + 3 mo (not $2.03)

    3 Years plan card (TOP OFFER)

    • PIA VPN; 1 Month vs 3 Years + 3 Months EXTRA (first term)

    Source: privateinternetaccess.com ↗

    Private Internet Access wins this round on what the published sources say.

  5. Round 5How many countries it coversNordVPN wins
    NordVPN8/10

    150 countries

    Basic; 1-month plan (open the '2-year plans' menu, pick '1-month plans') vs 2-year plan + 3 extra months (first term)

    Source: nordvpn.com ↗

    Private Internet Access5/10

    104 countries

    PIA VPN; 1 Month vs 3 Years + 3 Months EXTRA (first term)

    • 104 countries, against 150 countries

    Source: privateinternetaccess.com ↗

    NordVPN wins this round on what the published sources say.

  6. Round 6Ad and malware blocker includedPrivate Internet Access wins
    NordVPN5/10

    Not in Basic (Complete and up)

    Basic; 1-month plan (open the '2-year plans' menu, pick '1-month plans') vs 2-year plan + 3 extra months (first term)

    • Not in Basic (Complete and up), against MACE ad/tracker blocker

    Source: nordvpn.com ↗

    Private Internet Access8/10

    MACE ad/tracker blocker

    PIA VPN; 1 Month vs 3 Years + 3 Months EXTRA (first term)

    Source: privateinternetaccess.com ↗

    Private Internet Access wins this round on what the published sources say.

NordVPNNordVPN
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Private Internet AccessPrivate Internet Access
Check price

Side by side

NordVPNNordVPN
Check price
Private Internet AccessTop ratedPrivate Internet Access
Check price
Overall score
6.2
7.2
Best
Price
See price
See price
What the long plan costs
5.4
8.0
What it costs to start
5.7
6.9
What customers say on Trustpilot
7.0
7.3
How many devices at once
5.5
7.5
How many countries it covers
8.0
6.3
Head-to-head findings
What the long plan costs
$3.49
$1.89/mo, 3 yrs + 3 mo (not $2.03)
What it costs to start
$14.69/mo, billed monthly
$11.95/mo, billed monthly
What customers say on Trustpilot
4.2 out of 5
4.3 out of 5
How many devices at once
10 devices
Unlimited
How many countries it covers
150 countries
104 countries
Trying it before you pay
7-day free trial
—
How long you have to get a refund
30-day money-back
30-day money-back
How many servers it runs
7,100+ servers
—
Record
Head-to-head record
1–7
8–0
Head-to-heads won
13 %
100 %
Rounds won
32 %
54 %
Pros
  • paid only
  • Basic; 1-month plan (open the '2-year plans' menu, pick '1-month plans') vs 2-year plan + 3 extra months (first term)
  • PIA VPN; 1 Month vs 3 Years + 3 Months EXTRA (first term)
  • server locations
Cons
  • $3.49, against $2.99
  • 4.2 out of 5, against 4.4 out of 5
  • Not in Basic (Complete and up), against Blocks ads (Basic)
  • $3.49, against $2.49
  • 104 countries, against 150 countries
  • 91 countries, against 113 countries
  • 91 countries, against 100 countries
  • $11.95/mo, billed monthly, against $9.99/mo, billed monthly
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