NordVPN vs Private Internet Access

NordVPN and Private Internet Access are two reliable VPN service providers. To help you decide which one is best for you, here’s an in-depth comparison of their cost, features, servers, customer support options, user reviews, and more. Find out when and why one may be better than another for your business needs.

NordVPN vs. Private Internet access: cost

NordVPN offers Standard, Plus, and Complete plan options with one-month, one-year, and two-year terms. The longer the term you choose, the lower the price of your plan. For example, its monthly price is $11.95 but its annual plan is $3.33 per month (billed annually). Plus, if you choose a one or two year plan, you get an extra three months of service.

Private Internet Access offers three plan options that differ only in terms of their length. You can choose between a monthly plan, a yearly plan, and a three-year plan (plus three months free). Again, the longer the term, the lower the price. The three-year plan (plus three months free) reduces the price of the annual plan from $3.33 to $2.03 per month (billed in advance for three years at $79).

When it comes to the lowest price, Private Internet Access is just over a dollar cheaper than NordVPN’s cheapest monthly and annual plans, and about $4 less than NordVPN’s highest-tier plans. Both offer 30-day money-back guarantees and free trials if you sign up for the service through their mobile apps.

Both NordVPN and Private Internet Access offer products for businesses that need to protect multiple devices at wholesale prices. The Private Internet Accesss Corporate VPN add-on, which ranges from $3.33 to $9.95 per month depending on the duration, allows businesses to secure more than 10 devices. On the other hand, NordVPN offers NordLayer. At $7 to $9 per month depending on duration and features, it lets you cover multiple devices with five or more licenses.

NordVPN vs. Private Internet Access: features

NordVPN and Private Internet Access both offer a full range of features. They include unlimited bandwidth, WireGuard encryption, multi-hop capabilities, anonymous browsing, kill switch, split tunneling, malware protection, ad blocker, tracking blocker, and dedicated IP add-ons.

Additionally, the NordVPN Plus plan includes a cross-platform password manager and data breach scanner. The company’s full plan also adds 1TB of cloud storage and file encryption. Along with a dedicated IP address ($3.89-$8.99, depending on your plan), you can add the Incognito Data Remover for $3.79-$3.69 per month at checkout. Incognito browsing is a third-party tool that contacts data brokers to request that your personal data be removed from their databases.

Private Internet Access offers only one type of plan with various term options. However, at checkout, you can add Dedicated IP ($2.50-$5.00 per month, depending on plan length) along with PIA’s antivirus ($1.00-$4.50 per month). month depending on the duration of the plan). The antivirus service scans, detects and removes viruses and malware from PCs without logging or tracking user data.

NordVPN vs. Private Internet Access: Server

Private Internet Access has the edge on the server front. It has around 35,000 servers spanning 50 states, 84 countries and six continents. The company also upgraded its VPN network to become Next Generation in 2020, which improves privacy, speed and security. NordVPN doesn’t mention anything about Next Gen upgrades to its servers, but it does offer a decently sized network of 5,670 servers spanning 60 countries and six continents.

James Irwin, director of Straight Search, says: A larger, well-distributed server network can provide better speed and reliability, and access to more regional content. He adds: There is no hard and fast rule on a minimum number of servers or countries, but the wider the distribution, the better the chances of finding a server nearby, which generally leads to better performance.

NordVPN vs. Private Internet Access: Speed

NordVPN wins the speed tests with an average download speed of 235 and an average upload speed of 186. In comparison, Private Internet Access had an average download speed of 124 and an average upload speed of 154.

Either way, you’ll be able to perform multiple online tasks at the same time. For example, Netflix recommends download speeds of just 15 Mbps or faster for watching Ultra High Definition (UHD) video.

However, to get the best speeds from both providers, you can take advantage of their split tunneling feature. This feature lets you decide which device or app data goes through your VPN by selecting only the apps and devices you want to protect while letting others manage their traffic through your regular internet connection. As you reduce your traffic sources, you reduce the risk of slowing down your computer due to the flow of data through your VPN.

NordVPN vs. Private Internet Access: Customer Support

The two companies offer similar levels of customer support and have similar TrustPilot ratings. Both offer 24/7 customer support via live chat and a knowledge base where you can find most of the information you might need yourself. Unfortunately, neither offer phone support. If you’d rather speak to a customer support representative over the phone when issues arise with your VPN service, check out IPVanish.

Private Internet Access has a 4.5-star rating after over 9,200 reviews on TrustPilot, while NordVPN has a 4.4-star rating after over 25,500 reviews. Private Internet Access users say they like the responsive service and lack of downtime. However, some claim that its shared IP addresses are blocked by some popular sites. NordVPN users report that the service is fast, secure, and stable. On the other hand, some say the renewal tactics are underhanded and refunds can be difficult to process.

Which VPN is right for your business?

The right VPN company for your business will depend on your needs and priorities. If you’re looking for the cheapest option or the provider with the largest server network, Private Internet Access wins. On the other hand, NordVPN has the edge on the speed front and has a much larger volume of generally positive reviews.

Your decision may also depend on what features are offered beyond the main VPN service. If you’re interested in protecting your passwords across platforms, real-time data breach alerts, a 1TB storage solution with encryption, and/or removing your data from third-party databases, NordVPN is your best bet. If you are interested in a corporate VPN or cybersecurity add-on for your PCs, Private Internet Access is better.

Want to compare how these two compare to other VPN service providers? Check out our top picks of 2023.