Deciding between NordVPN and PIA is like choosing between a collector’s edition 4K Blu-ray with bonus features or a bargain bin Blu-ray. Both are highly rated by CNET, but cater to different needs. NordVPN offers fast speeds and advanced privacy features, but comes at a higher price. On the other hand, PIA is budget-friendly, private, and transparent, but lacks some of the advanced settings and speed of premium VPNs like Nord. After extensive testing, NordVPN is recommended for cutting-edge privacy and internet speeds, while PIA is better for basic privacy on a budget.
In terms of cost, NordVPN is priced at $13 a month, $69 for the first year, or $100 for the first two years. PIA, on the other hand, costs $12 a month, $40 per year, or $79 for three years. NordVPN has a slight edge in speed, with an average speed loss of 11% compared to PIA’s 49%. NordVPN also has a larger server network spanning 111 countries, while PIA has servers in 91 countries.
Both NordVPN and PIA are user-friendly and suitable for beginners. NordVPN offers a sleek interface with advanced privacy settings, while PIA is easy to use even on Linux systems. In terms of streaming and gaming performance, NordVPN’s faster speeds make it a better choice for 4K streaming and gaming.
When it comes to privacy and transparency, both NordVPN and PIA have strict no-logging policies and offer basic privacy features like kill switches and modern encryption. NordVPN offers more advanced privacy features such as Tor Over VPN servers and double VPN servers, while PIA supports multi-hop connections for added security.
Overall, NordVPN provides premium privacy features and fast speeds at a higher cost, while PIA offers budget-friendly options with basic privacy features. Depending on your needs and budget, either NordVPN or PIA could be the right choice for you.