Private Internet Access vs Proton VPN

PIA and Proton VPN are both open-source VPNs that take privacy seriously, but they come from different backgrounds. PIA is a veteran torrent-focused VPN with court-proven no-logs and the largest server network in the industry. Proton VPN comes from the ProtonMail team, offering Swiss jurisdiction, a free tier, and an integrated privacy ecosystem. Both support port forwarding - a rarity in the VPN market.

Quick Verdict

Proton VPN is the better overall VPN. Faster, better streaming, stronger privacy jurisdiction, and an ecosystem that extends beyond VPN. PIA is the better torrenting specialist. Court-proven no-logs, cheaper pricing, and unlimited connections. Proton VPN wins for most users; PIA wins for dedicated torrenters on a budget.

At a Glance

| Category | PIA | Proton VPN | Winner | |----------|-----|------------|--------| | Overall Score | 8.1 | 8.7 | Proton VPN | | Privacy Score | 8.5 | 9.5 | Proton VPN | | Speed | 76.3 Mbps | 81.6 Mbps | Proton VPN | | Streaming | 7.9 | 8.2 | Proton VPN | | Torrenting | 9.0 | 8.3 | PIA | | 2-Year Price | $2.03/mo | $3.59/mo | PIA | | Connections | Unlimited | 10 | PIA | | Free Tier | No | Yes | Proton VPN |

Speed Comparison

| Location | PIA | Proton VPN | Difference | |----------|-----|------------|------------| | US (New York) | 76.3 Mbps | 81.6 Mbps | -6.5% | | UK (London) | 71.8 Mbps | 77.3 Mbps | -7.1% | | Germany (Frankfurt) | 69.5 Mbps | 79.2 Mbps | -12.2% | | Japan (Tokyo) | 58.9 Mbps | 64.8 Mbps | -9.1% | | Australia (Sydney) | 55.4 Mbps | 61.3 Mbps | -9.6% |

Winner: Proton VPN. 7-12% faster across all locations. The gap is most pronounced in Europe where Proton VPN has strong Swiss-based infrastructure.

Pricing Comparison

| Plan | PIA | Proton VPN | |------|-----|------------| | Free Tier | No | Yes | | Monthly | $11.99/mo | $9.99/mo | | 1-Year | $3.33/mo | $4.49/mo | | 2-Year | $2.03/mo | $3.59/mo | | Renewal (yearly) | $3.33/mo | $4.49/mo | | 3-Year True Cost | $111.48 | $164.28 |

Winner: PIA on paid plans; Proton VPN on free tier. PIA is significantly cheaper - saving $53 over three years. But Proton VPN's free tier (no data caps, servers in 5 countries) provides genuine value for light users and try-before-you-buy evaluation.

Both Offer Port Forwarding

This is noteworthy. PIA and Proton VPN are the only two major VPNs in our database that support port forwarding. This makes both strong choices for torrenting. PIA's court-proven no-logs record gives it the edge for P2P specifically, but Proton VPN's support is a significant advantage over most competitors.

Streaming

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

Winner: Proton VPN. Better international streaming support with Netflix UK and BBC iPlayer working. PIA is limited primarily to US platforms.

Privacy

| Factor | PIA | Proton VPN | |--------|-----|------------| | Jurisdiction | United States | Switzerland | | Parent Company | Kape Technologies | Proton AG | | Last Audit | Aug 2024 (Deloitte) | Mar 2025 (Securitum) | | Open Source | Yes (all apps) | Yes (all apps) | | Court-Tested No-Logs | Yes (twice) | No | | Warrant Canary | Yes | Yes | | Port Forwarding | Yes | Yes | | Tor over VPN | No | Yes | | Transparency Score | 74 | 90 |

Winner: Proton VPN. Swiss jurisdiction is far superior to the US for privacy. Proton's transparency score (90) significantly exceeds PIA's (74). PIA's court-tested no-logs is a genuine advantage, but Proton's overall privacy architecture - Swiss laws, independent ownership, and the broader Proton ecosystem - provides a stronger foundation.

Who Should Choose PIA

• Dedicated torrenters who want port forwarding + court-proven no-logs
• Budget-first buyers who want the cheapest open-source VPN
• Households with many devices (unlimited connections)
• Users who value the largest server network (35,000+)
• Technical users who want maximum customization

Who Should Choose Proton VPN

• Privacy-focused users who prefer Swiss jurisdiction
• Users who want to try before buying (free tier)
• Anyone interested in the Proton ecosystem (Mail, Drive, Calendar)
• International streaming users who need UK content
• Users in censored regions (Stealth protocol)
• Anyone willing to pay more for a more complete privacy experience

Our Recommendation

Proton VPN for most users. Faster speeds, better streaming, stronger jurisdiction, free tier, and a privacy ecosystem. PIA for budget torrenting. If port forwarding with court-proven no-logs at the cheapest possible price is your priority, PIA delivers. Both are solid open-source VPNs - the choice comes down to budget vs breadth.