NordVPN vs Private Internet Access: US cost and device fit

Choose by the requirement that would rule one out

What we actually tested: our September 7 NordVPN Windows session includes three NordLynx exits, an additional OpenVPN UDP observation, DNS/WebRTC checks and a controlled manual-disconnect trial. It is one dated Czech wired-network session. We have no matched PIA test, so those measurements cannot establish that NordVPN is faster or safer than PIA.

For a larger household, use our five-, eight- and twelve-device cost worksheet. It retains each price observation date and includes a downloadable calculation table.

Count active devices, then check their functions

NordVPN’s documented allowance is ten simultaneous connections; PIA publishes an unlimited simultaneous allowance under its account conditions. This difference matters to a busy household, but only after counting which devices really need the VPN at the same time.

A household with a few laptops and phones may fit both. A household regularly exceeding ten has a more specific reason to examine PIA. An unlimited allowance does not establish unlimited bandwidth, identical app functionality or permission to ignore the service’s account terms.

Use the compatibility matrix to read the caveats for each platform. The existence of a browser extension does not establish a feature in the full-device application.

US prices: compare full bills over the same 36 months

We allocate the first payment across all months it covers, including any bonus months. Cash includes whole billing periods needed to reach the chosen horizon. Renewal rates are held constant for this illustration; they are not guaranteed future quotes. Unknown bills remain unverified. Domains, optional services and taxes are excluded unless explicitly added. Read the calculation method.

In these dated US observations, NordVPN Basic covers 27 months initially and PIA covers 39. Reaching month 36 therefore triggers a NordVPN renewal but remains inside PIA’s first term. The comparison retains those different commitments; it is not a claim that their features are interchangeable.

Treat routing controls as a configuration responsibility

Split tunneling can solve a practical problem, such as keeping a particular application outside the VPN. It also creates a deliberate exception to the tunnel. Decide what must be excluded and why, and keep the configuration as small as possible.

PIA’s desktop documentation covers Windows, macOS and Linux, including app or IP-address selection and required permissions. The macOS setup requires approval of a system/network extension. NordVPN’s cited Linux guide instead describes an allowlist; it should not be treated as the same per-application interface.

If the requirement is a work application that must connect directly, verify the exact mechanism on the chosen OS. Test the default connection first, then one exception at a time. The existence of a setting is not our confirmation that it behaves correctly with every app or network.

A router setup changes the control point again. A desktop kill switch should not be assumed to protect traffic through a separately configured router; firmware routing and firewall rules need their own checks.

Read privacy evidence for scope and date

The full reviews link the providers’ public privacy material and relevant audit announcements. Those documents can help explain policies and controls, but this comparison is not an independent audit of either network.

Ask which entity was examined, what period and systems the report covered, and whether the underlying report can be inspected. A provider announcement and an independent report are different levels of access to evidence. Neither is a guarantee about every future connection.

Also define the observer you are concerned about. A VPN can change the visibility available to a local network or internet provider, while introducing trust in the VPN provider and leaving account logins and device security relevant. Read what a VPN protects before using a broad privacy slogan as a purchase criterion.

We do not assign a speed, streaming or security victory from subscription price, server count or an untested claim. Choose the required features and inspect the supporting evidence.

Which differences should decide the shortlist?

Begin with NordVPN if ten connections cover the household and its documented app features match the routine. Compare Basic with larger bundles only when the additional services have a defined use. The NordVPN pricing guide separates their renewal differences.

Begin with PIA if the larger simultaneous allowance or the documented desktop routing control addresses a clear constraint. Its long initial offer is a commitment, even when the payment is lower than another provider’s. Evaluate the required clients and record the applicable refund and cancellation conditions.

If neither service’s platform details are clear enough, use the source links to resolve the gap before purchasing. A service with a lower headline cost can still be the wrong option for an unsupported workflow. Compare Proton VPN with PIA when a free starting point or a different feature set is also relevant.

Take the right shortlist to checkout

Read both full reviews before deciding. Keep a copy of the exact tariff, initial payment, service period, renewal, exclusions and cancellation terms in your actual storefront. An affiliate link does not guarantee a particular promotion.

NordVPN

NordVPN review

Visit NordVPN (affiliate link, opens in a new tab)

Private Internet Access

Private Internet Access review

Visit Private Internet Access (affiliate link, opens in a new tab)

Our coverage is limited to the disclosed partners. A recommendation here is a reasoned starting point within that coverage, not a claim that we compared every service on the market.