Private Internet Access scores 3.7/5 overall in our tests, against 3.8/5 for Windscribe. The scores are close, so the right pick comes down to priorities.
| Criteria | Private Internet Access | Windscribe |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 3.7/5 | 3.8/5 ★ |
| Jurisdiction | USA | Canada |
| 14-Eyes / 5-Eyes | Five | Five |
| No-logs policy | Not audited 4/5 ★ | Not audited 2/5 |
| Speed score | 4/5 | 5/5 ★ |
| Protocols score | 5/5 ★ | 4/5 |
| Streaming score | 3.5/5 | 3.5/5 |
| Leak protection | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| RAM-only servers | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Encryption score | 2/5 | 3/5 ★ |
| Security subtotal | 3.8/5 ★ | 3.4/5 |
| Trust subtotal | 2.0/5 | 3.7/5 ★ |
| Price (monthly) | $11.95/mo | $9.00/mo |
| Price (1-year total) | $39.95/yr | $69.00/yr |
| Price (2-year total) | $52.56/yr | N/A |
| Money-back guarantee | Yes, 30 days | Yes, 3 days |
| Pricing score | 4.0/5 | 4.0/5 |
Where Private Internet Access wins
Private Internet Access leads on privacy and security (3.8/5 vs 3.4/5), features (4.3/5 vs 3.7/5).
Where Windscribe wins
Where Windscribe has an edge: speed (5/5 vs 4/5), transparency and trust (3.7/5 vs 2.0/5). If these are your priorities, Windscribe is the better fit.
Who should pick what
The simplest rule: Windscribe is the default recommendation based on overall scores. The only reason to choose Private Internet Access instead is if features is critical for your use case.
Want to compare all VPNs side by side? Check our full VPN comparison table with scores across 18 criteria.
For most users, Windscribe (3.8/5) is the better pick. Its advantage over Private Internet Access (3.7/5) comes from stronger transparency performance. The only reason to go with Private Internet Access is if features matters most to you. Get Windscribe risk-free.
For more context, check our full VPN comparison table or the best cheap VPN guide. Read our full Private Internet Access review for a complete breakdown. See our Windscribe review for more detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Windscribe scores 3.8/5 vs 3.7/5 for Private Internet Access. Windscribe leads on speed. That said, Private Internet Access may be the better fit if features is your main priority.
In our speed tests, Private Internet Access scores 4/5 and Windscribe scores 5/5. Windscribe has the edge in our data, though real-world results vary by server and location.
Private Internet Access costs $11.95/mo month-to-month, or $39.95/yr for a 1-year plan. Windscribe is $9.00/mo monthly, or $69.00/yr per year. Both offer a money-back guarantee.