NordVPN vs Private Internet Access A virtual private network (VPN) can offer enhanced online privacy for individuals, secure work documents for small companies, and protection for travelers using public Wi-Fi. NordVPN and Private Internet Access are both highly popular VPN options, offering users high-speed encrypted internet access and online security. This comparison will assess the two companies based on price, servers, device compatibility, and customer service.
In the ever-evolving world of online security and privacy, choosing the right VPN (Virtual Private Network) is crucial. With cyber threats on the rise and governments imposing stricter regulations, it’s more important than ever to protect your online activities. NordVPN and Private Internet Access (PIA) are two popular VPN providers that offer a range of features and benefits. But which one is better in 2024? In this blog post, we’ll compare NordVPN vs PIA to help you make an informed decision. We’ll discuss their pricing plans, server locations, encryption protocols, speed performance, and more. So if you’re looking for the best VPN to keep your online activities secure and private in 2024, keep reading!
NordVPN vs Private Internet Access 2024
NordVPN and Private Internet Access (PIA) are both robust VPNs with advanced security features, large server networks, various tunneling protocols, and compatibility with numerous streaming sites. Our testing indicates that NordVPN has a slight advantage over PIA, despite PIA offering more affordable subscription plans. NordVPN stands out for its strong security package, high-speed performance, and overall better value for money. This comparison of PIA and NordVPN will delve into their security, speed, streaming, torrenting, and other features to assist you in selecting the most suitable option for your needs.
NordVPN vs Private Internet Access 2024 Informations
| NordVPN | Private Internet Access VPN | |
| ⭐ Rating: | ||
| 🥇 Overall rank: | #1 out of #42 | #15 out of #42 |
| 🖥️ Servers: | 6,000 + servers in 61 countries | 30,000 + servers in 91 countries |
| 📖 No logs policy: | No logs | No logs |
| 💵 Price: | From $3.39/month | From $2.03/month |
| 🔥 Coupons: | NordVPN coupon 67% OFF | PIA coupon 83% OFF |
| 🔒 VPN protocols: | OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec, WireGuard (NordLynx) | Wireguard, OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec |
| 🖥️ Streaming services: | Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, and more | Netflix, YouTube, Hulu, BBC iPlayer |
| 🖥️ Platforms: | Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS | Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Opera |
| 📥 Simultaneous connections: | 6 | Unlimited |
| 💁🏻 Support: | Knowledge base, FAQs, email, 24/7 live chat | Knowledge base, tickets, live chat |
About NordVPN vs Private Internet Access
Both providers offer similar apps and user-friendliness. While the prices are comparable, PIA starts at $2.03/month, making it cheaper than NordVPN, which starts at $3.39/month. This price difference may sway those looking for a budget-friendly premium VPN option. On the other hand, NordVPN provides better value with high-speed connections, a range of security features, and impressive capabilities for accessing restricted content and streaming platforms. With its extensive feature list, NordVPN emerges as the superior choice.
In 2024, NordVPN and Private Internet Access continue to be two of the top VPN providers on the market. Both offer a range of features and benefits that can enhance your online privacy and security. However, when it comes to determining which VPN is better, it ultimately depends on your specific needs and preferences. NordVPN is known for its user-friendly interface, strong encryption, and extensive server network. On the other hand, Private Internet Access prides itself on its affordability and commitment to user privacy. To make an informed decision, consider factors such as pricing, server locations, speed, and additional features like ad-blocking or split tunneling.
NordVPN vs. Private Internet Access: In a Quick look
Both NordVPN and Private Internet Access (PIA) are rated one of our top 10 VPNs. While they’re both well-established names, they vary slightly in terms of cost and features, with PIA offering a lower annual price. Both companies allow you to pay by month and by year, while PIA offers a steep discount for a three-year plan and NordVPN does the same for a two-year plan.
NordVPN
Why We Picked It
NordVPN is a reliable VPN on the market for individuals and businesses. NordVPN is a great choice for individuals seeking a higher level of internet privacy, small businesses and even large teams through a separate service, NordLayer. NordVPN also offers the option of a dedicated IP, a feature not all VPNs provide.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- A high number of servers (5000+)
- Dedicated IP (DIP) add-on available
- 24/7 support
Cons
- More expensive than other VPNs
- Fewer server connections than competitors
- Cost for dedicated IP is higher than some competitors
How NordVPN & Private Internet Access Stack Up
Private Internet Access is significantly more affordable than NordVPN. Both companies provide 24/7 customer service, use the same level of encryption (AES with 256-bit keys), and are compatible with Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, and Linux. In addition, NordVPN is compatible with Android TV. While Private Internet Access allows connection to a maximum of ten devices, NordVPN has a limit of six. Private Internet Access also boasts a significantly higher number of servers, surpassing all other VPNs we have tested. Although NordVPN still offers a substantial number of servers at 5,500, Private Internet Access clearly leads in this aspect.
Server locations
Private Internet Access offers servers in 78 countries, while NordVPN has 60 server locations. Instead of focusing solely on the numbers, it’s important to consider which countries the servers are located in and whether they align with your VPN needs. You can verify NordVPN’s server locations on the company’s website to see if they match your requirements. Both VPNs provide the option of a dedicated IP for an extra cost, allowing you to access IP-restricted networks while maintaining your anonymity. PIA has a more competitive pricing for this feature, at INR 416.21 ($5) per month or INR 4994.52 ($60) per year, compared to NordVPN’s INR 485.30 ($5.83) per month or INR 5826.94 ($70) per year.
Features Overview
PIA provides users with access to Boxcryptor, a secured software that safeguards sensitive files on cloud storage platforms, as part of the three-year plan, ensuring the privacy of stored cloud files. NordVPN also provides a comparable service known as NordLocker Premium, enabling encryption of up to 500 GB of cloud files for an extra cost of INR 665.10 ($7.99) per month, or INR 332.14 ($3.99) per month for the annual plan subscription.
| NordVPN | Private Internet Access | |
| Split tunneling | Yes | Yes |
| Smart DNS | Yes | Yes |
| RAM-only servers | Yes | Yes |
| Meshnet | Yes | No |
| Traffic obfuscation | Yes | Yes |
| Specialty servers | Yes | No |
| Web filters | Yes | Yes |
Netflix and streaming performance
| Platform | NordVPN | Private Internet Access |
| Netflix | Yes | Yes |
| Amazon Prime Video | Yes | No |
| YouTube | Yes | Yes |
| Hulu | Yes | Yes |
| Max | Yes | No |
| Disney+ | Yes | No |
| BBC iPlayer | Yes | No |
Plans & pricing
| Plan | NordVPN | Private Internet Access |
| Monthly | $12.99/month | $11.99/month |
| Six months | – | $7.50/month |
| One year | $4.99/month | – |
| Two years | $3.39/month | – |
| Three years | – | $2.03/month |
The monthly plans offered by both providers are not cost-effective. Opting for a long-term plan when you need a VPN for a month allows you to take advantage of the 30-day money-back guarantee before the first month is over. Yearly subscriptions offer better pricing. NordVPN’s longest subscription is for 2 years at $3.39 per month, while PIA offers a 3-year plan at $2.03 per month. Both providers accept credit cards, PayPal, Amazon Pay, and various cryptocurrency options. NordVPN also accepts Sofort, prepaid cards, Apple Pay, and Google Play, but PIA remains the more affordable choice.
Speed & Performance
The speed of a VPN depends on the speed of your original Internet connection. If your initial Internet connection is slow, don’t expect the VPN to perform very quickly. When data is encrypted and travels from your device to a VPN server and then to its destination, and the response takes the same route back to your device, it can cause a slight slowdown, but it shouldn’t be too noticeable. Both NordVPN and PIA utilize WireGuard, known as one of the fastest tunneling protocols. However, Nord Security’s product uses a modified version called NordLynx, which delivers even better performance. In order to obtain specific speed measurements, we compared the speeds of PIA and NordVPN and calculated the average results from various locations.
| NordVPN (NordLynx) | Private Internet Access (WireGuard) | |
| Arg. Download speed | 315 Mbps | 293.5 Mbps |
| Arg. Upload speed | 278.6 Mbps | 266 Mbps |
Platforms, interface, and ease of use
| NordVPN | Private Internet Access | |
| Supported OS | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS |
| Other software and devices | Kodi, Android TVs, Fire devices | Android TVs, Fire devices |
| Browser extensions | Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Brave, Opera | Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Brave, Opera |
| Simultaneous connections | 6 | Unlimited |
| Usability level | Easy to use | Easy to use |
Customer support
| NordVPN | Private Internet Access | |
| 24/7 live chat | Yes | Yes |
| Yes | Yes | |
| Phone line | No | No |
| Guides or articles | Yes | Yes |
| FAQs | Yes | Yes |
NordVPN and Private Internet Access both provide excellent customer support options, including human assistance through email or 24/7 live chat. Additionally, both services offer tutorials and FAQs for those who prefer self-help. However, our experience with NordVPN’s customer support was more positive, as they efficiently assisted with unblocking the geo-restricted Netflix UK library after installation. In contrast, PIA’s customer support suggested a solution for fixing the non-functional WireGuard connection, which ultimately caused network card issues without resolving the problem.
Bottom Line
Overall, Private Internet Access is a great choice if you’re looking for an everyday fast-speed VPN. It ranked number one on our list of the 10 best virtual private networks of 2024. On the other hand, NordVPN’s service NordLayer makes it a great choice for securing the privacy of large teams. Finally, given that PIA does not undergo third-party reviews, if privacy is your main concern—as it often is when it comes to VPNs—consider NordVPN over PIA.
NordVPN vs Private Internet Access 2024 Faqs
How secure are VPNs?
Both NordVPN and Private Internet Access provide military-grade AES 256-bit encryption. This is the same security that governments and armed forces around the world use to protect sensitive information. Both VPNs include a kill switch, which automatically disconnects your internet connection when your device isn’t connected to the VPN. Private Internet Access has a built-in ad-blocker, PIA MACE, which adds an extra layer of protection by blocking harmful ads, scripts and trackers before they even have a chance to load. And NordVPN offers NordLayer, which provides internet privacy for companies and businesses.
Are there any VPNs that are less expensive than NordVPN and Private Internet Access?
There are some free VPNs available, such as Hotspot Shield, though we recommend choosing a paid solution because free VPNs are less secure and come with many advertisements. If budget is an issue, you can find many cheap VPNs to choose from.
How do I connect to a VPN?
The process for connecting to a VPN varies, depending on your device and operating system. Generally, you need to download the VPN’s app or software, enter your username and password and select a server. For more detailed instructions, check out the VPN’s website or contact customer service.
Is Private Internet Access better than NordVPN?
No. Even though Private Internet Access is a good VPN, NordVPN is better in terms of speed, features, security, streaming capabilities, and customer support options.
Is NordVPN faster than PIA?
Yes, NordVPN offers better download speeds when using NordLynx and OpenVPN UDP. The speeds with NordLynx are especially good, leaving you with approximately 80% of your original speed on average.
Is PIA still a good VPN?
Yes, PIA is still a good VPN service. It offers good protection, supports torrenting, is really easy to use, and isn’t expensive. However, it’s still a few steps behind the market leader NordVPN.
