Jake Tech Lab

Proton VPN vs Private Internet Access

Private Internet Access comes out ahead of Proton VPN on 3 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.

Proton VPN
Proton VPN
6.8
Fair
2 of 6 rounds
vs
Private Internet AccessWinner
Private Internet Access
7.2
Good
3 of 6 rounds

The verdict

Private Internet Access takes it, 3–2 on rounds.

On the published figures and the independent review sites, Private Internet Access takes 3 of 6 rounds. Treat that as a starting point and check the current figures on both pages, because prices and plans move.

Choose Proton VPN if…

  • • You want Proton VPN's edge on what it costs to start and 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 customers say on trustpilot

Round by round

  1. Round 1How many devices at oncePrivate Internet Access wins
    Proton VPN5/10

    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 TrustpilotPrivate Internet Access wins
    Proton VPN5/10

    2.1 out of 5

    TrustScore from 1,006 reviews on Trustpilot

    • 2.1 out of 5, against 4.3 out of 5

    Source: trustpilot.com ↗

    Private Internet Access8/10

    4.3 out of 5

    TrustScore from 11,010 reviews on Trustpilot

    Source: trustpilot.com ↗

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

  3. Round 3What it costs to startProton VPN wins
    Proton VPN8/10

    $9.99/mo, billed monthly

    VPN Plus; '1 month' tab vs '2 years' tab (first term); Proton Free also offered

    Source: protonvpn.com ↗

    Private Internet Access5/10

    $11.95/mo, billed monthly

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

    • $11.95/mo, billed monthly, against $9.99/mo, billed monthly

    Source: privateinternetaccess.com ↗

    Proton VPN wins this round on what the published sources say.

  4. Round 4What the long plan costsPrivate Internet Access wins
    Proton VPN5/10

    $3.49/mo, first 24 months

    VPN Plus; '1 month' tab vs '2 years' tab (first term); Proton Free also offered

    • $3.49/mo, first 24 months, against $2.03/mo, 3 yrs + 3 mo (first term)

    Source: protonvpn.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 coversProton VPN wins
    Proton VPN8/10

    140+ countries

    VPN Plus; '1 month' tab vs '2 years' tab (first term); Proton Free also offered

    Source: protonvpn.com ↗

    Private Internet Access5/10

    104 countries

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

    • 104 countries, against 140+ countries

    Source: privateinternetaccess.com ↗

    Proton VPN wins this round on what the published sources say.

  6. Round 6How long you have to get a refundTie
    Proton VPN7/10

    30-day money-back

    VPN Plus; '1 month' tab vs '2 years' tab (first term); Proton Free also offered

    Source: protonvpn.com ↗

    Private Internet Access7/10

    30-day money-back

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

    Source: privateinternetaccess.com ↗

    Nothing to separate them here.

Proton VPNProton VPN
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Private Internet AccessPrivate Internet Access
Check price

Side by side

Proton VPNProton VPN
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Private Internet AccessTop ratedPrivate Internet Access
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Overall score
6.8
7.2
Best
Price
See price
See price
What the long plan costs
6.0
8.0
What it costs to start
7.6
6.9
What customers say on Trustpilot
5.4
7.3
How many devices at once
5.5
7.5
How many countries it covers
7.6
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
$9.99/mo, billed monthly
$11.95/mo, billed monthly
What customers say on Trustpilot
2.1 out of 5
4.3 out of 5
How many devices at once
10 devices
Unlimited
How many countries it covers
140+ countries
104 countries
Trying it before you pay
Free plan
—
How long you have to get a refund
30-day money-back
30-day money-back
How many servers it runs
20,000+ servers
—
Record
Head-to-head record
5–1–2
8–0
Head-to-heads won
83 %
100 %
Rounds won
53 %
54 %
Pros
  • long plan, per month
  • PIA VPN; 1 Month vs 3 Years + 3 Months EXTRA (first term)
  • server locations
Cons
  • 2.1 out of 5, against 4.2 out of 5
  • 140+ countries, against 150 countries
  • 2.1 out of 5, against 4.4 out of 5
  • $2.99, 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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