Jake Tech Lab

Surfshark vs Private Internet Access

Private Internet Access comes out ahead of Surfshark on 2 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.

Surfshark
Surfshark
6.5
Fair
1 of 6 rounds
vs
Private Internet AccessWinner
Private Internet Access
7.2
Good
2 of 6 rounds

The verdict

Private Internet Access takes it, 2–1 on rounds.

On the published figures and the independent review sites, Private Internet Access takes 2 of 6 rounds. Treat that as a starting point and check the current figures on both pages, because prices and plans move.

Choose Surfshark if…

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

Choose Private Internet Access if…

  • • You want Private Internet Access's edge on what it costs to start and what the long plan costs

Round by round

  1. Round 1How many countries it coversSurfshark wins
    Surfshark8/10

    100 countries

    server locations

    Source: security.org ↗

    Private Internet Access5/10

    104 countries

    countries covered

    • 91 countries, against 100 countries

    Source: security.org ↗

    Surfshark wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.

  2. Round 2How many devices at onceTie
    Surfshark7/10

    Unlimited

    simultaneous connections

    Source: security.org ↗

    Private Internet Access7/10

    Unlimited

    simultaneous connections

    Source: security.org ↗

    Nothing to separate them here.

  3. Round 3What customers say on TrustpilotTie
    Surfshark7/10

    4.3 out of 5

    TrustScore from 31,424 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.

  4. Round 4What it costs to startPrivate Internet Access wins
    Surfshark5/10

    $18.95/mo billed monthly (not $16.45)

    1 month billing tab

    • $16.45/mo, billed monthly, against $11.95/mo, billed monthly

    Source: surfshark.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.

  5. Round 5What the long plan costsPrivate Internet Access wins
    Surfshark5/10

    $2.49/mo, first 27 months

    Surfshark Starter; '1 month' tab vs '24 months' tab (+3 extra months, first term)

    • $2.49/mo, first 27 months, against $2.03/mo, 3 yrs + 3 mo (first term)

    Source: surfshark.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.

  6. Round 6How long you have to get a refundTie
    Surfshark7/10

    30-day money-back

    Surfshark Starter; '1 month' tab vs '24 months' tab (+3 extra months, first term)

    Source: surfshark.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.

SurfsharkSurfshark
Check price
Private Internet AccessPrivate Internet Access
Check price

Side by side

SurfsharkSurfshark
Check price
Private Internet AccessTop ratedPrivate Internet Access
Check price
Overall score
6.5
7.2
Best
Price
See price
See price
What the long plan costs
6.9
8.0
What it costs to start
5.0
6.9
What customers say on Trustpilot
7.3
7.3
How many devices at once
7.5
7.5
How many countries it covers
6.5
6.3
Head-to-head findings
What the long plan costs
$2.49
$1.89/mo, 3 yrs + 3 mo (not $2.03)
What it costs to start
$18.95/mo billed monthly (not $16.45)
$11.95/mo, billed monthly
What customers say on Trustpilot
4.3 out of 5
4.3 out of 5
How many devices at once
Unlimited
Unlimited
How many countries it covers
100 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
4,500+ servers
—
Record
Head-to-head record
0–5–3
8–0
Head-to-heads won
0 %
100 %
Rounds won
36 %
54 %
Pros
  • paid only
  • PIA VPN; 1 Month vs 3 Years + 3 Months EXTRA (first term)
  • server locations
Cons
  • 4.2 out of 5, against 4.3 out of 5
  • $16.45/mo, billed monthly, against $14.99/mo, billed monthly
  • 100 countries, against 150 countries
  • 4,500+ servers, against 7,100+ servers
  • 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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