Surfshark vs Private Internet Access

Surfshark and PIA are the two best budget VPNs with unlimited device connections. Both cost around $2/mo on long-term plans. Surfshark is the better all-rounder with stronger streaming and features. PIA is the better choice for torrenting and open-source transparency. Here is how they compare across every category.

Quick Verdict

Surfshark is the better everyday VPN. Faster speeds, better streaming, and a more polished app experience. PIA is the better torrenting VPN. Port forwarding, court-proven no-logs, and open-source apps make it the P2P specialist. Both offer unlimited connections and budget pricing - the choice comes down to your primary use case.

At a Glance

| Category | Surfshark | PIA | Winner | |----------|-----------|-----|--------| | Overall Score | 8.8 | 8.1 | Surfshark | | Speed | 85.1 Mbps | 76.3 Mbps | Surfshark | | 2-Year Price | $1.99/mo | $2.03/mo | Surfshark | | Streaming | 8.9 | 7.9 | Surfshark | | Torrenting | 8.4 | 9.0 | PIA | | Connections | Unlimited | Unlimited | Tie | | Open Source | No | Yes | PIA |

Speed Comparison

| Location | Surfshark | PIA | Difference | |----------|-----------|-----|------------| | US (New York) | 85.1 Mbps | 76.3 Mbps | +11.5% | | UK (London) | 80.3 Mbps | 71.8 Mbps | +11.8% | | Germany (Frankfurt) | 78.6 Mbps | 69.5 Mbps | +13.1% | | Japan (Tokyo) | 67.4 Mbps | 58.9 Mbps | +14.4% | | Australia (Sydney) | 64.8 Mbps | 55.4 Mbps | +17.0% |

Winner: Surfshark. An 11-17% speed advantage across all locations. PIA's larger server count (35,000+) does not translate to faster speeds. Surfshark's WireGuard implementation is better optimized.

Pricing Comparison

| Plan | Surfshark | PIA | |------|-----------|-----| | Monthly | $10.99/mo | $11.99/mo | | 1-Year | $2.99/mo | $3.33/mo | | 2-Year | $1.99/mo | $2.03/mo | | Renewal (yearly) | $3.99/mo | $3.33/mo | | 3-Year True Cost | $95.64 | $111.48 |

Winner: Surfshark on introductory pricing; PIA on renewal. Surfshark is cheaper upfront on every plan, saving $16 over three years. PIA has slightly better renewal pricing at $3.33/mo vs $3.99/mo. Both are among the cheapest premium VPNs available.

Streaming

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

Winner: Surfshark. Significantly better streaming support, especially for UK content. PIA is limited to US streaming platforms. If you want Netflix UK or BBC iPlayer, Surfshark is the only option here.

Torrenting

| Factor | Surfshark | PIA | |--------|-----------|-----| | P2P Support | Yes | Yes (all servers) | | Port Forwarding | No | Yes | | Kill Switch | Yes | Yes | | Open Source | No | Yes (all apps) | | Court-Tested No-Logs | No | Yes (twice) |

Winner: PIA. Port forwarding dramatically improves torrent speeds and seeding ratios. Open-source apps let you verify that the code does what it claims. And PIA's no-logs policy has been tested by the FBI - twice - with no data produced. For torrenting, PIA is the clear choice.

Privacy

| Factor | Surfshark | PIA | |--------|-----------|-----| | Jurisdiction | Netherlands | United States | | Parent Company | Nord Security | Kape Technologies | | Last Audit | Jun 2024 (Deloitte) | Aug 2024 (Deloitte) | | Warrant Canary | Yes | Yes | | Open Source | No | Yes | | RAM-Only | Yes | No |

Winner: Mixed. Surfshark has RAM-only servers and a slightly less problematic jurisdiction (Netherlands vs US). PIA has open-source apps and court-proven no-logs. Neither jurisdiction is ideal for privacy purists. The best privacy choice between these two depends on whether you value verifiable code (PIA) or infrastructure security (Surfshark).

Features

| Feature | Surfshark | PIA | |---------|-----------|-----| | Servers | 3,200+ | 35,000+ | | Countries | 100 | 91 | | Ad Blocker | Yes (CleanWeb) | Yes (MACE) | | Double VPN | Yes (MultiHop) | Yes | | Dedicated IP | Yes (add-on) | Yes | | GPS Spoofing | Yes (Android) | No | | Rotating IP | Yes | No | | Port Forwarding | No | Yes |

Winner: Tie. Surfshark offers GPS spoofing and rotating IP. PIA offers port forwarding and more servers. Different feature sets for different priorities.

Who Should Choose Surfshark

• Users who want the best budget streaming VPN
• Anyone who needs Netflix UK, BBC iPlayer, or international content
• Users who want a polished, modern app experience
• Families looking for the cheapest unlimited-device VPN
• Users who need GPS spoofing on Android

Who Should Choose PIA

• Torrenters who need port forwarding
• Open-source advocates who require fully verifiable apps
• Users who value court-proven no-logs records
• Anyone who wants the largest server network available
• Technical users who prefer customizable apps

Our Recommendation

Surfshark for general use and streaming. Better speed, better streaming, cheaper intro pricing. PIA for torrenting. Port forwarding and court-proven privacy make it the P2P specialist. Both offer unlimited connections at budget prices - excellent value either way.