Proton VPN vs Private Internet Access: choose the useful differences

There are three relevant choices, not just two brand names

Proton Free, Proton VPN Plus and a PIA subscription solve different needs. Free offers a continuing no-payment route with its own limitations; Plus changes the connection allowance and feature set. PIA provides a paid comparison with a different device allowance and billing structure.

For someone using one laptop, Proton Free may be enough. For a person needing paid-server choice, a specific premium feature or several concurrent devices, the relevant comparison becomes Plus versus the appropriate PIA term. An upgrade should remove a concrete limit rather than merely capture a discount.

The Free versus paid guide helps decide whether a paid comparison is needed at all.

Different first terms can hide the renewal difference

Proton Plus’s captured €83.76 first payment covers 24 months and its next recorded €83.88 payment covers 12. PIA’s checked €70 first payment covers 39 months; its later €70 term covers 36. A three-year horizon therefore reaches Proton’s annual renewal while remaining inside PIA’s initial period.

These are EUR storefront observations, not currency-converted US offers. The calculator keeps the store context visible. It also distinguishes an exact total from the amount produced by multiplying a rounded headline monthly price.

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.

Read the Mac and Linux details before paying for routing

Proton’s current guide documents split tunneling on its Linux GUI and macOS apps, but with important limitations. On macOS the feature is described as experimental and does not support excluding WebKit-based applications such as Safari. On Linux, affected applications may need restarting after a connection change.

PIA’s desktop guide documents app or IP exclusions on Windows, macOS and Linux. macOS requires approval of the relevant system/network extension. That documentation is a basis for evaluating a required workflow, not our test that it works with every application.

If the intended use is to keep one work tool outside the tunnel, identify the exact OS, app and type of rule required. An app-based exclusion and an IP-address rule can solve different problems. Browser-extension exclusions should not be treated as full-device app routing.

The compatibility matrix links the underlying material and preserves unverified entries rather than guessing support. It also distinguishes the availability of a native app from manual router configuration.

Separate policy evidence from a guarantee about the connection

Proton publishes open-source app and audit material; the full PIA review also links its public policy and transparency evidence. Those sources can inform a trust decision, but a brand’s broad privacy statement does not eliminate the need to examine scope and date.

Ask what was audited, which system or process the report covered and whether the underlying findings are available to inspect. A provider’s announcement is not the same as our independent security assessment. We have not audited either service or measured traffic leaks on paid accounts.

Proton’s own kill-switch guide documents caveats on Apple systems and restrictions on combining some features. A protection setting should therefore be checked in the installed client and current OS, not interpreted as an unconditional guarantee of anonymity.

A VPN also does not remove identifiers supplied through logged-in accounts, replace endpoint security or make phishing harmless. Our protection guide explains why the threat being addressed should be defined before choosing the subscription.

A practical choice for one person or a larger household

One-device general use: start by assessing Proton Free. If its selection model and supported client fit the task, paying does not automatically improve the decision. If a premium feature is essential, evaluate Plus on that requirement.

Several devices up to the documented Plus allowance: compare both paid services by platform support, required features and the period you want to prepay. Include the renewal in the budget and verify the applicable refund and cancellation terms.

More than ten concurrent devices: PIA’s published unlimited simultaneous allowance makes it a relevant candidate, provided its apps and account conditions fit the household. Do not assume that more allowed connections ensures sufficient speed on every network.

Before committing to either service, record the exact purchase and evaluate the required configuration on your own devices. For another paid comparison, see NordVPN versus PIA. The multi-device guide helps convert a household inventory into a shortlist.

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.

Proton VPN

Proton VPN review

Visit Proton VPN (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.