NordVPN vs Private Internet Access: which is better in June 2026

• NordVPN is the better overall choice, thanks to having the fastest connection speeds, robust security features, and a longstanding track record of independent audits. It's the best streaming, gaming, and torrenting VPN, and it can unblock websites worldwide without detection.
• PIA is best suited to privacy-focused and budget-conscious users. Combining one of the lowest subscription prices with a completely open-source app, PIA offers unlimited device connections and advanced customization options like port forwarding and split tunneling.

Both NordVPN and PIA are premium VPN services that offer fast VPN connections and a broad server network for unblocking geo-restricted websites worldwide. While NordVPN has a firmly established reputation, PIA offers the industry’s largest server network by a significant margin and is known for its strong security features.

So, I set out to discover who comes out on top in the question of NordVPN vs Private Internet Access. Collaborating with the VPNpro research team, I analyzed both of these VPNs in the areas of speed, security, privacy, unblocking, and usability. Ultimately, NordVPN emerged as the winner over PIA, and I’ve shared my reasoning below.

NordVPN vs PIA compared

Key differences between NordVPN and PIA

• PIA VPN costs less than NordVPN. NordVPN starts from $3.09/month, but PIA VPN is more affordable from $2.03/month.
• NordVPN can detect malware sooner. Built-in Threat Protection scans files before you’ve downloaded them, detecting malware sooner than PIA’s MACE feature.
• NordVPN unblocks more streaming services. NordVPN has powerful unblocking and can access every geo-restricted streaming service, but PIA struggled with some.
• PIA has the larger server fleet. PIA’s 35,000+ servers in 90+ countries dwarf NordVPN’s 9,300+ servers, though NordVPN has a presence in a larger 137+ countries.
• PIA has a longer free trial. PIA’s free trial lasts for 30 days on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. Unfortunately, NordVPN’s free trial is only on Android and only lasts for 3 days.
• NordVPN’s speeds are the fastest. During tests, NordVPN had the faster speeds of the two VPNs, not to mention the fastest and most consistent speeds in the industry. PIA’s speeds were more inconsistent and clocked average to fast speeds depending on the server I used.

While PIA boasts strong security and a vast server fleet, NordVPN’s high-quality service edges PIA out in most areas. NordVPN’s server fleet is smaller, but it’s more adept at unblocking streaming services, maintaining consistently fast speeds, and protecting you against malware, making it the clear winner in the question of PIA vs NordVPN.

PIA vs NordVPN price comparison

At the time of writing in June 2026, PIA is cheaper than NordVPN. NordVPN starts from $3.09/month, but PIA charges a more affordable $2.03/month. That said, I noted that NordVPN offers a range of 4 plans, with varied functionality, for 1 month, 1 year, or 2 years. PIA only offers a 6-month or 2-year plan by comparison.

VPNs become more affordable when you opt for long-term plans, with even the cheapest monthly VPNs offering poorer value for money on short-term plans. This is why I recommend opting for a two-year plan with a money-back guarantee.

PIA and NordVPN both offer a money-back guarantee and free trial, but PIA’s free trial is better than NordVPN’s trial. While NordVPN gives Android users 3 days free via the Google Play Store, PIA has a 30-day free trial on Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android.

Servers and locations: PIA vs NordVPN

Private Internet Access offers a larger global server fleet than NordVPN. PIA offers 35,000+ servers in 90+ countries, while NordVPN has 9,300+ servers in a larger count of 137+ countries. At present, PIA offers the largest VPN server network of any VPN provider in the industry.

It’s important that your VPN has a large server network. This helps you avoid blacklisting by websites that block VPNs, and it helps you avoid congestion during busy periods that can slow speeds. While NordVPN’s 9,300+ servers is more than sufficient for these purposes, PIA’s 35,000+ server fleet is the largest in the VPN industry.

NordVPN and PIA also both offer specialized servers, including dedicated IP addresses and Onion over VPN. NordVPN offers obfuscated servers, while PIA offers an obfuscation feature. Similarly, NordVPN has torrenting servers, but PIA allows P2P file sharing on its entire fleet. So overall, PIA wins this category with its significantly larger server network, though both VPNs are solid choices.

PIA vs NordVPN security overview

NordVPN and PIA both cover all the security essentials, which includes a working kill switch, DNS and IP leak protection, AES-256 encryption, and a strict no-logs policy. However, NordVPN offers numerous advantages that give it an edge, including advanced malware scanning functionality, a longer record of independent security audits, and its own proprietary VPN protocol.

NordVPN and PIA both offer strong security, covering all the basics and offering added security protections like RAM-only servers and malware scanning. But NordVPN stood out and took the win due to some notable improvements over PIA. This includes pre-download anti-malware file scanning, the proprietary NordLynx and NordWhisper protocols, and the VPN’s location in Panama. PIA on the other hand is located in the United States, which poses a risk under the Five Eyes Alliance. In short, NordVPN wins the security category for having an edge.

Encryption and VPN protocols

NordVPN and PIA both utilize industry-standard AES-256 encryption to protect your data from snooping and tracking. NordVPN builds this into its proprietary NordLynx protocol, which improves on WireGuard for faster speeds through more efficient routing. PIA supports the same AES-256 encryption and allows you to select between WireGuard, IKEv2/IPsec, and OpenVPN protocols.

WireGuard is known for being the fastest of the standard VPN protocols. However, proprietary protocols like NordVPN’s NordLynx and NordWhisper can mean faster and more secure connections. Unfortunately, PIA doesn’t currently offer any custom protocols, meaning NordVPN has an edge in this area.

Kill switch and leak protection

NordVPN and PIA both have a kill switch, which cuts your connection if your VPN drops, preventing your true location from being revealed. On both VPNs, this can be set at an app level or systemwide level. Following my tests with both VPNs, NordVPN and PIA’s kill switch functionality works as intended, which isn’t always the case with low-quality VPNs.

I also tested each VPN with Browserleaks.net to determine whether NordVPN or PIA suffered from IP, DNS, or WebRTC leaks. Similarly, leaks can give away your true location and are common in poorer-quality VPNs. Fortunately, both VPNs fully protect your connection from leaks and keep your IP address locked down.

Advanced VPN security features

NordVPN and PIA offer advanced security features that help protect your data and identity. NordVPN focuses on features like Double VPN for more secure routing, Onion over VPN that adds the enhanced security of Tor, and obfuscated servers for bypassing strict network blocks. PIA offers a multi-hop (double VPN) feature and Onion over VPN, but it lacks the obfuscated servers that NordVPN has. Instead, an obfuscation feature can be enabled in your dashboard settings. Overall, I found NordVPN’s implementation to be more approachable, particularly for beginners, while PIA’s features offer more customization for your connection.

Extra protection - malware, ads, and trackers

PIA and NordVPN both offer protection against malware, ads, and trackers. NordVPN bundles this functionality into a security suite called Threat Protection, while PIA offers MACE. Threat Protection can block ads, trackers, and malicious domains, but it can also scan files before you download them to detect malware. PIA similarly has ad, tracker, and malware blocking, but it can’t pre-scan files and it only works when you have an internet connection. With always-on functionality and enhanced malware protection, Threat Protection comes out on top based on my tests with both VPNs.

Is NordVPN better than PIA in terms of privacy?

NordVPN has an immediate edge over PIA for being headquartered in Panama, a privacy-friendly country without any data retention laws. Meanwhile, PIA is located in the United States, which is a member of the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliance. This coalition comes with data retention expectations and international data sharing partnerships. While PIA has a no-logs policy, it does leave the VPN more exposed to risk.

That said, both NordVPN and PIA have solid no-logs policies. As of 2026, both VPN providers have been independently audited to prove these claims. NordVPN has been audited for four years running by Deloitte, while PIA has been audited twice. Given NordVPN’s longer history of audits and more secure jurisdiction, it takes the edge over Private Internet Access.

PIA vs NordVPN privacy and logs

Both VPNs guarantee not to log your online activity and data, but each approaches privacy differently. NordVPN collects only minimal technical data for maintenance and even allows you to pay anonymously using cryptocurrency. On the other hand, PIA has proven its no-logs stance in real-world court cases where it could not supply user data to authorities because none existed. While NordVPN benefits from its Panama jurisdiction, PIA excels at transparency by making its apps open source. In short, both VPNs excel in privacy and transparency.

Overview of Independent Audits

Independent audits are important for adding credibility to VPN providers’ no-logs claims. NordVPN has repeatedly been audited for its RAM-only infrastructure and no-logs guarantee, showing commitment to privacy over a number of years since 2018. PIA has been audited on fewer occasions, but it’s a good sign that it has begun the ongoing process. Both VPNs have also chosen auditing giants like PwC and Deloitte for their audits, lending further credibility to their claims.

NordVPN or PIA for streaming

When I tested streaming platforms, NordVPN outperformed PIA in unblocking websites. While PIA can unblock a select handful of websites, NordVPN unblocked every streaming site that I tried. NordVPN’s obfuscation and anti-detection measures are more robust, and rotating IP addresses help to avoid server blacklisting. As a result, NordVPN is the better choice for streaming. Here’s a breakdown of my test results:

NordVPN is also the fastest VPN for streaming and gave me over 700 Mbps when I tested it with a full range of streaming platforms. Using Ookla Speedtest, I baselined my connection at 940 Mbps and averaged 10 international VPN servers to achieve this result. Similarly, I tested PIA, which averaged around 400 Mbps, and speeds could vary widely depending on your server choice.

Which VPN can unblock Netflix? Testing result

NordVPN and PIA can both unblock Netflix, but their performance is different. NordVPN reliably unblocked all international libraries during my tests, including the UK, US, Japan, Canada, and Hong Kong. With its fast connection speeds, streaming in HD and 4K in any locality was simple.

PIA also works with Netflix, but I found that results can be more inconsistent. I was able to unblock the US and UK libraries, but PIA struggled to unblock Netflix Japan and Netflix Hong Kong. What’s more, speeds over such distances were worse with PIA, and some libraries like Netflix Slovakia couldn’t be unblocked at all.

For reliable unblocking and streaming, NordVPN is the better VPN. With lightning-fast connections over distance and better unblocking success, I recommend choosing NordVPN to avoid blockades when you want to stream from international platforms.

NordVPN or PIA for torrenting

A VPN for torrenting is essential to protect you from the threats and risks inherent to torrenting. By cloaking your IP, it prevents your internet service provider (ISP) from throttling your connection due to data overuse, which can slow down your downloads. Since your IP address is also visible to your torrent swarm, it protects you from third parties who might try to track you based on your IP address.

NordVPN also securely protects you from DNS leaks, which can expose you during torrenting. When I tested PIA for DNS leaks with my torrent client, I was pleased to see that neither VPN suffers from DNS leaks that could reveal your true IP address.

But following my tests with NordVPN and PIA, NordVPN is the best VPN for torrenting. Its faster and more consistent connection speeds make for quicker downloads. Pre-download file scanning also helps protect you from malware that could be lurking in torrent files.

NordVPN vs PIA for gaming

Using a VPN for gaming can help to stabilize your speeds and your ping, and both NordVPN and PIA offer fast enough connections for online gaming. Both VPNs also have a vast server network, allowing you to join matchmaking sessions in other countries and play with friends. However, NordVPN maintained a lower average ping than PIA during my in-house tests with Valorant and Call of Duty 6, and NordVPN also offered faster speeds.

NordVPN also supports router installations and provides detailed setup guides for this process, allowing you to use the VPN on games consoles. With built-in DDoS protection and unlimited data usage, NordVPN and PIA are both suited to online gaming. However, NordVPN delivers a more reliable experience and is the best VPN for gaming out of these two contenders.

VPN connection limits: NordVPN vs PIA

NordVPN offers 10 simultaneous connections, while PIA allows unlimited connections. This refers to the number of devices you can connect to the VPN under one account. Both VPNs offer broad compatibility with Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS, and you can get a NordVPN and PIA browser extension. I found PIA a little easier to set up on Linux, but NordVPN’s desktop apps are more polished and beginner-friendly.

NordVPN’s map-based dashboard made it really easy to find connections in my tests. You can simply click on a location to connect to it, while PIA uses a much simpler list-based view. NordVPN’s presets are also much more beginner-friendly, enabling the kill switch and other useful features by default that have to be manually configured with PIA. That said, PIA offers VPN profiles that can be set up and used for different purposes like streaming or torrenting. Overall, PIA wins this category by providing unlimited connections compared to NordVPN’s 10-device cap.

Note: There’s a trick to getting unlimited connections from any VPN, regardless of its connection limits. By installing your VPN on your router, you protect every device connected to the network with a single installation. NordVPN offers extensive router support and installation guides on its website to make this process simple.

NordVPN vs PIA Reddit reviews and opinions 2026

When comparing VPNs, I look for real user feedback on Reddit to see whether people have had the same experiences as me. During my research, I found a user report that mirrored a lot of my own experiences with NordVPN vs PIA.

Based on their review of NordVPN vs PIA, this user also found that PIA is cheaper and comes with fewer features than NordVPN in some areas. They also noted my concern about PIA’s US-based jurisdiction, the slower speeds compared to NordVPN, and poorer unblocking performance with streaming platforms.

I found another Reddit report from a user who was thinking about changing from NordVPN to PIA. Some replies to the thread agreed with the choice, though others said that PIA can be worse at customer support and often has downtime resulting in a lack of service availability.

Overall, this left me content that my experience was largely familiar with that of other users. NordVPN excels in many areas compared to PIA, and people generally prefer the service offered by NordVPN for speed, security, and streaming in particular.

NordVPN vs PIA: which wins?

Both NordVPN and PIA are premium VPN services with robust security and privacy features, and powerful connection speeds. However, NordVPN is better at unblocking sites than PIA and maintains a faster and more predictable average connection speed, even over long distances. Though NordVPN has greater variability in its plans, PIA is a more affordable VPN and also offers greater customization around its features. But with a more secure jurisdiction in Panama and advanced malware scanning, NordVPN is better than PIA overall, though both VPNs are a solid choice.

---

---

FAQ

Is NordVPN better than PIA?

Yes, NordVPN excels in most areas compared to PIA, with faster connection speeds, better overall privacy, advanced malware scanning, and more successful website unblocking power. PIA does have an edge in offering a larger server network, and it is an overall powerful and reliable VPN, but NordVPN is better.

How reliable is NordVPN compared to PIA for unblocking content?

NordVPN is much more reliable than PIA for unblocking content and could unblock any streaming site during my 2026 test circuit. PIA struggled to unblock some websites, like Prime Video, and NordVPN’s obfuscated servers give an extra edge if you need to unblock websites that have powerful anti-VPN software.

Is NordVPN easier to use than PIA?

Yes, based on my tests, NordVPN is easier to use than PIA because it offers beginner-friendly, pre-set configurations. Unlike PIA, the kill switch is enabled by default and specialized servers fulfil specific purposes. In my opinion, PIA is best-suited to users who have some VPN knowledge and want a greater level of control around their connection as opposed to choosing particular servers, like obfuscated or streaming servers, for a particular job.

Which VPN is more affordable, NordVPN or PIA?

PIA is the more affordable VPN, starting from $2.19/month for a 2-year plan compared to NordVPN’s $3.09/month. However, NordVPN offers more variability in its plans. While PIA allows 6-month and 2-year subscriptions, NordVPN lets you subscribe for 1 month, 1 year, or 2 years, with different features to suit each package.

How good is the customer support of NordVPN vs PIA?

NordVPN and PIA both offer 24/7 live chat and support via email, but NordVPN typically responds faster based on my tests. NordVPN also has a more extensive knowledge base, including router installation guides. PIA’s support is reliable, but replies can take longer and I found the documentation to be less user-friendly.