Private Internet Access (PIA) and NordVPN provide VPN services for your PC, Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, and Android TV. Both services are used to keep your information private and secure while you are online. They both hide your IP and route your internet traffic through encrypted connections. Which one suits your needs…Private Internet Access (PIA) or NordVPN?
Main Differences between Private Internet Access vs Nordvpn
| Private Internet Access (PIA) | NordVPN |
| VPN protocols are Wireguard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2/Psec | VPN protocols include – OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec, WireGuard (NordLynx) |
| Streaming services include Netflix, YouTube, Hulu | Streaming services include Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Disney+ |
| Platforms are Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Opera | Platforms include Windows, Mac, Linus, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox |
| You can have 10 simultaneous connections with PIA. | Allows for 6 simultaneous Connects |
| Support is through knowledge base tickets and live chat | Support is 24/7, with live chat and email |
Private Internet Access vs Nordvpn: Features & Capabilities
Private Internet Access (PIA) has a little over 3,300 VPN servers that are spread out over 32 countries. PIA servers handle P2P sharing. Private Internet Access benefits enable you to hide your IP address and change your virtual location, which helps be tracked by advertisers. Private Internet Access VPN also provides extra security, so that you don’t have to worry about hackers. Private Internet access uses dynamic IP addresses that change every time you connect.
Features:
- No Logs
- Unlimited Bandwidth
- Dedicated apps
- Blocks Ads
- Powerful encryption
- Open-source FPM and no strict logs policy
Nord VPN provides malware protection and has a tracker blocker and an ad blocker while promoting your online security. One subscription to NordVPN secures 6 devices and is compatible with Windows, macOS, Linus, Android, and IOS as well as your WiFi router. NordVPN has over 5,500 servers in 60 countries. Customer service is available online 24/7 with chat services. NordVPN also offers NordLynx, a VPN tunneling solution for speed without jeopardizing your privacy. NordVPN is also located in Panama, which is outside the jurisdiction of the Five Eyes Alliance.
Features:
- NordVPN provides a dedicated IP
- Double VPN features
- Blocks bad websites
- Allows connection to the Onion Network
- Auto-connect to trusted WiFi
Private Internet Access vs Nordvpn: Pricing
Private Internet Access pricing has three options, monthly, a one-year subscription, or three years + a free three months. The monthly plan starts at $9.95 a year, and the year plan is on sale from $119.45 to $39.95 a year, at $3.33 a month. For three years, plus your free three months, PIA is running a summer special and right now it is down from $388.05 for three years to just $79 for three years, which comes out to $2.03 a month.
NordVPN offers a few different plans so you can choose the best one that fits your needs. You can start with a one-month plan at $11.99 per month. Next is a discounted $59.88 for the first then renewal is at 99.48 per year, or you can purchase the two-year plan at $78.96 for the first 2 years then $99.48 a year for renewal fees.
Reasons to choose Private Internet Access over Nordvpn
Private Internet Access is headquartered in the United States. It has 24/7 live support has advanced VPN features. One of those features includes a secure kill switch. The kill switch is a firewall-based functionality that provides air-tight protection if the VPN connections. Private Internet Access also has Advanced split-tunneling and build in ad blocking. The “MACE” feature blocks ads, trackers, and malicious sites so that you can feel safe. You can also set up your very own dedicated IP address and an anonymous IP address so that only you can access it, this allows for fewer CAPTCHAs and helps avoids security warnings.
Pros
- Advanced split-tunneling
- Ad & malware blocking
- WireGuard protocol
- Dedicated IP
- Advanced encryption settings
Reasons to choose Nordvpn over Private Internet Access
NordVPN uses an OpenVPN with a 246-bit EAS encryption and 2048-bit Diffie-Hellman for key exchanges. NordVPN offers more features than PIA. NordVPN is based in Panama. NordVPN’s purpose is to allow you a safe online experience. There is a strict no-logging policy, where none of your activities are monitored nor recorded. NordVPN does not keep your connection logs, which show your connection data, duration, and any data transferred as well as your activity logs. NordVPN allows you access to Netflix. With NordVPNs large amount of servers around the world, gives you the advantage of bypassing country restrictions, for example accessing Netflix.
Pros:
- Enables Kill Switch
- Large Network of Servers
- Access to Netflix
- No Logging Policy
The Similarities between Private Internet Access and Nordvpn
PIA and NordVPN provide unlimited bandwidth and there are overages and throttling. You are able to switch between servers just so you can find the best performance. As long as there is a server nearby, they both perform well. Both Private Internet Access and NordVPN use their own DNS servers and encrypt internet traffic with military-grade encryption. They do not keep your logs, and a at bare minimum they may log your email addresses and payment information regarding your account.
Private Internet Access and Nordvpn Alternatives
Private Internet Access and NordVPN might not be the right choice for you. Many other VPN services may have what you need. Here are a few:
- OpenVPN
- ProtonVPN
- Psiphon
- Norton Secure VPN
- NordLayer
- Perimeter 81
Private Internet Access vs Nordvpn: Final Verdict
NordVPN beats out Private Internet Access VPN. NordVPN has more features that are beneficial and it has faster international speeds. NordVPN allows for Netflix and other streaming services. Even though Private Internet Access has more servers, the streaming capabilities are far better with NordVPN. The speed of the downloads can be compared at 235.5 Mbps for NordVPN and 124.0 Mbps for Private Internet Access. NordVPN also has specialized servers for torrenting. With NordVPN, your data will remain safe behind a wall of encryption. Per NordVPN, you can change your IP twice and it will cover your web traffic and an extra layer of security to kee
FAQ
Does Private Internet Access work with streaming services?
Private Internet Access works with some streaming services but lacks access to major streaming platforms. PIA is not the fastest VPN therefore it lags behind some of the other VPN services.
Does NordVPN keep logs?
NordVPN does not keep track of usage logs of your online activities. PricewaterhouseCoopers AG audits and verifies the no-logs practice.
Can NordVPN stop hacking?
Yes, NordVPN stops DNS attacks. NOrdVPN says that as your DNS signal travels from NordVPN’s DNS server through your encrypted tunnel, hackers can’t corrupt that signal.
Does PIA (Private Internet Access) have antivirus protection?
Yes, Private Internet Access provides real-time protection against all types of malware.