NordVPN outscores Private Internet Access in our comparison, 4.63/5 against 3.64/5. But that gap hides the real decision, because these two providers are chasing different buyers. NordVPN wants to be the polished all-rounder. PIA wants to be the cheap, configurable workhorse that never logs you. Both succeed at their goal.
The quick verdict
If you want the highest overall quality, streaming that just works, and top speeds, NordVPN is the pick. If you want the lowest price, unlimited devices, and a no-logs record proven in court, PIA is the value champion. Neither is a bad choice. They optimise for different things.
Where NordVPN pulls ahead
NordVPN’s 4.63/5 is the highest in our entire table, and it earns it on breadth. Speed is 5/5, powered by its NordLynx protocol across more than 6,000 servers. Streaming is a perfect 5/5, with reliable access to Netflix, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, Prime Video, HBO Max and Peacock. Jurisdiction is 5/5 thanks to its Panama base, outside the US and every intelligence-sharing alliance.
It also carries extras PIA does not match as smoothly: SmartPlay for streaming, a built-in threat blocker, obfuscated servers, Meshnet and Tor over VPN. Its no-logs policy is audited by both PwC and Deloitte, and it runs RAM-only servers that wipe on every reboot. Our NordVPN review covers the full feature set.
The trade-off is price. NordVPN’s one-year plan sits around $4.99/month, good value but not the cheapest, and renewal prices climb after the introductory term.
Where PIA wins
PIA scores 3.64/5 overall, and its strengths are specific and real. Price is the headline: on its longest plans it is one of the cheapest audited VPNs you can buy, comfortably under NordVPN. It offers unlimited simultaneous devices, so one subscription covers an entire household and every gadget in it, where NordVPN caps you at 10.
Its no-logs credibility is unusually well established. PIA’s policy has been tested in actual US court cases where the company had no user data to produce, which is stronger evidence than any audit alone. It has since added independent audits too. Its apps are open source, which lets outsiders verify the code, and it runs a massive server network with a presence in every US state, useful if you need a specific American location. Our PIA review and our does PIA keep logs piece go deeper.
PIA’s weaknesses are the flip side of NordVPN’s strengths. It is US-based, which scores lower on jurisdiction (3/5 against Nord’s 5/5), it is a touch slower at 4/5, and its streaming at 3.5/5 is less consistent.
Want to compare all VPNs side by side? Check our full VPN comparison table with scores across 18 criteria.
Privacy: closer than the scores suggest
On logging, this is nearly a draw, and PIA deserves real credit. A no-logs policy that survived court demands is arguably the best kind of proof there is, better than a scheduled audit, because it was tested adversarially and in public. Both providers are audited, both run RAM-only servers, and neither has a logging scandal.
Where they diverge is jurisdiction. NordVPN’s Panama base sits outside the US and outside the Fourteen Eyes, while PIA is US-based, inside the alliance. PIA’s answer is architectural: it keeps nothing, so US jurisdiction has nothing to reach. That is a fair defense, and the court record backs it, but on paper NordVPN’s location is the stronger position. Our jurisdiction guide weighs how much this matters.
Speed and streaming: NordVPN
Both are fast, but NordVPN’s 5/5 edges PIA’s 4/5, and the difference shows up under load and over long distances, where NordLynx stays more consistent. For streaming the gap is wider. NordVPN’s 5/5 means Netflix and the major services just work, session after session. PIA’s 3.5/5 is serviceable and unblocks plenty, but you will hit the occasional library that resists. If streaming is a core reason you want a VPN, NordVPN is the safer bet.
Devices and value: PIA
This is PIA’s clearest win. Unlimited simultaneous connections against NordVPN’s 10 is a real difference for families and gadget-heavy homes. Combined with the lowest price tier of the two, PIA is the obvious pick if you are kitting out a whole household on a budget and streaming perfection is not the priority. Our best cheap VPN guide puts PIA in context with other value options.
How to choose
Choose NordVPN if you want the best overall product: top speeds, streaming that never makes you think, a Panama base, and a polished app with every extra. For most people, it is the recommendation.
Choose PIA if price and unlimited devices lead your list, and you value a no-logs record that has been tested in court over marketing polish. It is the value and privacy-proof pick.
NordVPN wins overall at 4.63/5 to 3.64/5, and it is the right call for most people thanks to 5/5 speed, 5/5 streaming and a Panama jurisdiction. PIA is the value champion: cheaper, unlimited devices, and a no-logs policy proven in actual court cases rather than only on paper. Pick NordVPN for polish and streaming, PIA for price and household coverage. Both are good; they just win on different terms.