NordVPN is constantly ranked as among the finest VPNs, however it’s undoubtedly not probably the most budget-friendly selection, which leads many individuals to discover cheaper alternate options corresponding to Non-public Web Entry VPN. On this assessment, I evaluate NordVPN vs. PIA VPN head-to-head that can assist you determine if NordVPN’s higher speeds and additional options are well worth the elevated price or for those who’ll be happy with PIA’s less expensive VPN.
- PIA VPN is finest for budget-conscious customers who’re in search of an affordable VPN and don’t thoughts inconsistent speeds and fewer options.
- NordVPN is finest for customers who desire a sooner VPN and extra superior options and are prepared to pay extra for that further functionality.
PIA VPN vs. NordVPN: Comparability desk
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PIA VPN vs. NordVPN pricing
Non-public Web Entry VPN pricing
PIA gives three easy subscriptions for its standalone VPN product. It’s necessary to notice that PIA doesn’t hike costs after the introductory interval, and as an alternative it is possible for you to to resume your subscription on the identical worth. The pricing for these plans is as follows:
- 3 years + 4 months: $1.98 monthly.
- 1 12 months: $3.33 monthly.
- 1 month: $11.95 monthly.
PIA VPN additionally gives two paid add-ons, antivirus safety for Home windows PC and a devoted IP tackle. Many different VPNs embody these options with greater tier plans, so it’s necessary to crunch the numbers so that you simply’re getting the perfect deal. Right here’s how a lot these add-ons from PIA will price you:
- Antivirus for Home windows PC
- 3 years: $1.00 monthly.
- 1 12 months: $2.00 monthly.
- 1 month: $4.50 monthly.
- Devoted IP tackle
- 3 years: $2.50 monthly.
- 1 12 months: $4.25 monthly.
- 1 month: $5.00 monthly.
A free trial is obtainable for PIA VPN, however solely by way of the App Retailer or Google Play Retailer. After you obtain the app and join a subscription, you might have seven days to check it out at no cost earlier than you’ll be charged. The free trial isn’t obtainable by way of the PIA retailer or for desktop apps. Nevertheless, after I signed up for the trial on my iOS machine, I used to be capable of obtain the Mac app on my laptop computer and log in with my credentials that approach. PIA additionally gives a 30-day money-back assure, so you possibly can ask for a refund for those who change your thoughts in the course of the first month.
For extra info, learn our full PIA VPN assessment.
NordVPN pricing
NordVPN gives three completely different subscription lengths: two years, one 12 months and month-to-month. NordVPN additionally gives three completely different tiers of plans, with the dearer ones providing further options. The Fundamental plan supplies a VPN for as much as 10 gadgets. The Plus plan provides malware safety, a password supervisor, a tracker and advert blocker, and a knowledge breach scanner. The Final plan consists of all the pieces in Plus and 1 TB of encrypted storage. NordVPN does elevate costs after the introductory interval ends, although typically it gives reductions (particularly for those who threaten to cancel your subscription altogether). The costs for these plans are as follows:
- 2-year plan
- Fundamental: $3.09 monthly + 3 further months.
- Plus: $3.99 monthly + 3 further months.
- Final: $5.99 monthly + 3 further months.
- 1-year plan
- Fundamental: $4.59 monthly + 3 further months.
- Plus: $5.59 monthly + 3 further months.
- Final: $7.59 monthly + 3 further months.
- Month-to-month
- Fundamental: $12.99.
- Plus: $13.99.
- Final: $15.99.
A free trial isn’t obtainable for NordVPN. Nevertheless, it does supply a 30-day money-back assure, so for those who determine you don’t wish to maintain utilizing it in the course of the first month, you will get a refund. I had beforehand signed up for a two-year NordVPN plan for my private use, and because of this didn’t want a free trial so as to check it.
For extra info, learn our full NordVPN assessment or take a look at our comparisons for NordVPN vs. Surfshark and NordVPN vs. Categorical VPN.
PIA VPN vs. NordVPN: Function comparability
Pace and efficiency
Considered one of PIA VPN’s main drawbacks is its average-to-slow speeds. As quickly as I logged into the desktop app (Determine A) and related to the closest server in Atlanta, I observed the lag instantly. A fast pace check confirmed this: I acquired obtain speeds of 295.66 mbps and add speeds of 75.23 mbps with PIA VPN operating within the background. That is a lot slower than NordVPN in addition to one other in style finances VPN choose, Surfshark. For reference, I acquired obtain speeds of 503.19 mbps and add speeds of 330.90 mbps when testing out Surfshark final month.
NordVPN (Determine B) is dearer than PIA, however I discovered its speeds to be a lot sooner throughout my two-year subscription. The truth is, pace was a significant motive why I selected NordVPN within the first place. There would typically be a bit little bit of a lag, particularly when connecting to a server distant, however it was noticeably sooner than PIA VPN on common.
Have in mind, nevertheless, that connection pace can range rather a lot relying on a large number of things, from what number of different individuals are connecting to the identical server to what media you’re making an attempt to stream to your geographic location. As an illustration, fellow TechRepublic author Luis Millares skilled fairly good speeds and minimal lag when testing out PIA VPN for his in-depth assessment. That’s why I like to recommend testing out PIA VPN vs. NordVPN for your self to see which one is quicker at your property or enterprise.
Streaming
Streaming content material was straightforward with each PIA VPN and NordVPN. I used to be ready to hook up with a server within the UK to stream Studio Ghibli movies on Netflix after which switched to a server in Canada to stream “The Office.” Though I related to PIA’s “streaming optimized” servers (Determine C), there was a noticeable lag in comparison with NordVPN.
When related to PIA servers, I needed to wait some time for every Netflix web page to load, and as soon as I hit the “play” button it took between 15 and 20 seconds for the content material to begin streaming. After that preliminary pause, the video stream was completely positive. That being stated, I’d be involved about utilizing PIA for bigger duties, corresponding to importing very lengthy, high-quality movies to YouTube or streaming advanced video games that require lots of computing energy.
Ease of use
PIA’s numerous interfaces aren’t probably the most intuitive VPN platform I’ve tried, however additionally they weren’t the worst. The iOS app was quite simple in design, and it solely took me a pair seconds to seek out the area selector device within the left sidebar and connect with the UK. Nevertheless, the design of the desktop app was a bit extra complicated, particularly in comparison with the easy cellular apps.
SEE: How one can Begin a Profession in Cybersecurity (TechRepublic Premium)
On a Mac, the PIA VPN desktop interface gives two views, condensed and expanded, and the size of both can’t be modified. The condensed view (Determine D) solely exhibits the join/disconnect buttons and what server you at the moment have chosen. The expanded view extends the toolbar vertically till the bar covers your entire top of the display screen, which is a quite odd design selection. The expanded view provides you entry to extra settings and metrics however hides the join button — you need to collapse the window once more to make the button present up once more.
In distinction, the NordVPN desktop opens in a separate window that you may resize and transfer round to your coronary heart’s content material. I personally desire this, so I can maintain the VPN open in a window within the background whereas I’m working or streaming. I additionally recognize NordVPN’s map that exhibits me what server I’m related to, although another customers might discover this characteristic pointless or visually distracting. To entry different settings, merely click on by way of the icons on the left menu bar. The NordVPN cellular apps are equally easy to navigate (Determine E), they usually all observe the same design to the desktop, so it seems like one cohesive system.
Safety and privateness
PIA gives many safety and privateness options that at the moment are thought-about commonplace for VPNs, together with AES 256-bit encryption, a kill change and multi-hop routing. Its apps are additionally totally open supply, which supplies further transparency and permits anybody (together with you) to research the supply code. PIA VPN additionally has a no-logs coverage and an especially clear privateness coverage that spells all the pieces out, and it’s been independently audited by Deloitte to again up these claims.
The one safety quirk that may give some customers pause is the truth that PIA has a U.S. jurisdiction, versus a rustic that isn’t a part of an intelligence-sharing alliance. In 2019, it was additionally purchased by Kape Applied sciences, which has been identified to distribute malware and adware prior to now. (PIA has asserted that it operates utterly unbiased of Kape itself.)
For many on a regular basis customers like myself, this U.S. jurisdiction and Kape possession received’t be a dealbreaker. If this is a matter for you, then you definitely’ll be glad to know that NordVPN is predicated in Panama, which doesn’t take part within the 5 Eyes, 9 Eyes or Fourteen Eyes intelligence-sharing alliances.
NordVPN additionally gives loads of different safety and privateness measures which might be much like PIA VPN. It additionally makes use of AES 256-bit encryption, a kill change and multi-hop routing (which the platform calls “Double VPN,” see Determine F). NordVPN additionally has a stable no-logs coverage, which has been independently verified by Deloitte 4 completely different occasions, with the latest one being the tip of final 12 months.
PIA VPN professionals and cons
Non-public Web Entry VPN professionals
- Cheaper than NordVPN.
- No worth hikes after the introductory interval.
- Helps limitless simultaneous connections.
- Many safety features.
- Free trial obtainable by way of App Retailer or Google Play Retailer.
Non-public Web Entry VPN cons
- Antivirus safety and devoted IP addresses are paid add-ons.
- Could end in important pace loss.
- Desktop app design could possibly be improved.
- US jurisdiction might fear privacy-focused customers.
NordVPN professionals and cons
NordVPN professionals
- Sooner speeds than PIA VPN on common.
- Panama jurisdiction is best for knowledge privateness.
- Desktop app may be resized and moved round.
- Superior plans embody further options like malware safety.
NordVPN cons
- Dearer than PIA VPN.
- Value will increase after the introductory interval.
- Restricted to 10 simultaneous machine connections.
- No free trial obtainable.
Ought to your group use PIA VPN or NordVPN?
Whether or not your group ought to select PIA or NordVPN is dependent upon quite a lot of elements. If you’re in search of the most affordable standalone VPN and don’t care in regards to the inconsistent pace or the U.S. jurisdiction, then you’ll probably be happy with PIA VPN. I particularly recognize that it doesn’t hike costs after the preliminary subscription, which is one thing that nearly each different in style VPN does.
If you’re in search of quick and constant speeds, need higher privateness measures and are prepared to pay extra for that, then NordVPN could also be a more sensible choice. Take into account that if what you are promoting additionally wants further options like malware safety and a password supervisor, it could truly be cheaper to bundle it altogether with Nord than to purchase every product individually.
If neither PIA VPN nor NordVPN looks like an awesome match on your wants and finances, then take a look at our different picks for the prime free VPNs.
Assessment methodology
To match PIA and NordVPN, I signed up for a free trial of PIA VPN. I had already subscribed to NordVPN beforehand for my private use. I examined each VPNs on pace, streaming and ease of use. I additionally delved into their safety and privateness measures to make sure that they’re each secure and dependable VPN choices.
