NordVPN vs Private Internet Access

NordVPN is the polished mainstream leader. Private Internet Access (PIA) is the open-source underdog with a court-proven no-logs record. NordVPN wins on speed and streaming; PIA wins on transparency and torrenting features. The right choice depends on what you value most.

Quick Verdict

NordVPN is the better all-round VPN. It is faster, more reliable for streaming, and has a stronger privacy jurisdiction. PIA is the better choice for torrenting and open-source advocates. Its port forwarding, unlimited connections, and fully open-source apps address needs that NordVPN does not. NordVPN wins for most users; PIA wins for specific technical use cases.

At a Glance

| Category | NordVPN | PIA | Winner | |----------|---------|-----|--------| | Overall Score | 9.2 | 8.1 | NordVPN | | Speed | 89.2 Mbps | 76.3 Mbps | NordVPN | | 2-Year Price | $2.69/mo | $2.03/mo | PIA | | Streaming Score | 9.3 | 7.9 | NordVPN | | Privacy Score | 9.4 | 8.5 | NordVPN | | Torrenting | 8.7 | 9.0 | PIA | | Connections | 10 | Unlimited | PIA |

Speed Comparison

| Location | NordVPN | PIA | Difference | |----------|---------|-----|------------| | US (New York) | 89.2 Mbps | 76.3 Mbps | +16.9% | | UK (London) | 84.7 Mbps | 71.8 Mbps | +18.0% | | Germany (Frankfurt) | 82.1 Mbps | 69.5 Mbps | +18.1% | | Japan (Tokyo) | 71.3 Mbps | 58.9 Mbps | +21.1% | | Australia (Sydney) | 68.9 Mbps | 55.4 Mbps | +24.4% |

Winner: NordVPN. NordLynx is 17-24% faster than PIA's WireGuard across all locations. This is one of the larger speed gaps in our comparison tests. Both VPNs handle HD streaming comfortably, but NordVPN has more margin for 4K and simultaneous household use.

Pricing Comparison

| Plan | NordVPN | PIA | |------|---------|-----| | Monthly | $12.99/mo | $11.99/mo | | 1-Year | $4.29/mo | $3.33/mo | | 2-Year | $2.69/mo | $2.03/mo | | Renewal (yearly) | $7.99/mo | $3.33/mo | | 3-Year True Cost | $160.44 | $111.48 |

Winner: PIA. PIA is significantly cheaper, especially at renewal. PIA's $3.33/mo renewal is less than half of NordVPN's $7.99/mo. Over three years, you save nearly $49 with PIA.

Streaming

| Platform | NordVPN | PIA | |----------|---------|-----| | Netflix US | Working | Working | | Netflix UK | Working | Not Working | | Netflix Japan | Working | Not Working | | Disney+ | Working | Working | | BBC iPlayer | Working | Not Working | | Amazon Prime | Working | Working | | Hulu | Working | Working | | Max (HBO) | Working | Working |

Winner: NordVPN, clearly. NordVPN unblocks nearly every streaming service reliably. PIA is limited primarily to US streaming platforms. If you need Netflix UK, Netflix Japan, or BBC iPlayer, PIA will not work.

Privacy

| Factor | NordVPN | PIA | |--------|---------|-----| | Jurisdiction | Panama | United States | | Parent Company | Nord Security | Kape Technologies | | Last Audit | Dec 2024 (Deloitte) | Aug 2024 (Deloitte) | | Warrant Canary | Yes | Yes | | Open Source | No | Yes (all apps) | | RAM-Only | Yes | No | | Court-Tested No-Logs | No | Yes (twice) |

Winner: Mixed. NordVPN has the better jurisdiction (Panama vs US) and RAM-only servers. PIA has fully open-source apps and, crucially, a no-logs policy that has been verified in court - the FBI subpoenaed PIA twice and received no data. For privacy purists who value verifiable proof over jurisdiction advantages, PIA's court record is compelling. For everyone else, NordVPN's overall privacy package is stronger.

Torrenting

| Factor | NordVPN | PIA | |--------|---------|-----| | P2P Support | Yes (most servers) | Yes (all servers) | | Port Forwarding | No | Yes | | Kill Switch | Yes | Yes | | Unlimited Connections | No (10) | Yes | | Open-Source Apps | No | Yes |

Winner: PIA. Port forwarding is the key differentiator. It allows incoming connections on a specific port, which dramatically improves torrent download speeds and seeding ratios. NordVPN does not offer this. Combined with unlimited connections, court-proven no-logs, and open-source apps, PIA is purpose-built for torrenting.

Features

| Feature | NordVPN | PIA | |---------|---------|-----| | Servers | 6,400+ | 35,000+ | | Countries | 111 | 91 | | Ad Blocker | Yes (Threat Protection) | Yes (MACE) | | Double VPN | Yes | Yes | | Dedicated IP | Yes | Yes | | Tor over VPN | Yes | No | | Obfuscation | Yes | Yes |

Winner: NordVPN, slightly. NordVPN covers more countries and includes Tor over VPN. PIA counters with the largest server count in the industry (35,000+) and port forwarding. Feature sets are broadly similar.

Who Should Choose NordVPN

• Users who want the fastest speeds and most reliable streaming
• Privacy-focused users who prefer a non-US jurisdiction
• Anyone who needs Netflix UK, Japan, or BBC iPlayer
• Users who want a polished, modern app experience
• Households with up to 10 devices

Who Should Choose PIA

• Torrenters who need port forwarding
• Open-source advocates who want verifiable app code
• Users who value a court-proven no-logs record
• Budget-conscious users, especially those concerned about renewal pricing
• Households with more than 10 devices (unlimited connections)

Our Recommendation

NordVPN for general use. It is faster, better at streaming, and provides a more complete experience. PIA for torrenting. Port forwarding, unlimited connections, and open-source apps make it the superior P2P choice.