NordVPN vs Private Internet Access
NordVPN scores 9.0 out of 10, Private Internet Access scores 7.8. Compared on price, jurisdiction, measured speed loss and logging policy: the same independent tests we run on every provider.
The quick answer
Pick NordVPN if unblocking streaming libraries is your main use case. Pick Private Internet Access if price is what matters most to you.
| NordVPN | Private Internet Access | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 9.0 / 10 | 7.8 / 10 |
| Verdict | Recommended | Worth It |
| Price / mo | $3.49 | $2.03 |
| Jurisdiction | Panama | United States |
| Speed loss | 6% | 35% |
| Logs policy | No-logs, audited (Deloitte) | No-logs, audited & court-tested |
| Best for | streaming,torrenting | budget,torrenting,power users |
| NordVPN | Private Internet Access | |
|---|---|---|
| Kill switch | Yes, a full Internet Kill Switch plus an App Kill Switch for specific programs | |
| Split tunneling | Yes, Windows and Android only | |
| Tor support | Yes, Onion Over VPN servers, no separate Tor Browser needed | |
| Protocols | NordLynx (WireGuard based), OpenVPN, IKEv2 | |
| Encryption | AES-256 with SHA-512 hashing, perfect forward secrecy | |
| Ad and malware blocker | Threat Protection Pro, blocks ads, trackers, and malware downloads | |
| Leak protection | DNS leak protection through NordVPN's own DNS servers | |
| Full disk encryption | RAM only servers instead of disk encryption, all data wiped on every reboot | |
| Bug bounty program | Yes, public bug bounty via HackerOne, up to $50,000 for critical vulnerabilities | |
| Gaming latency impact | Minimal impact; NordLynx is the fastest measured protocol in this comparison | |
| Customer support | 24/7 live chat under 30 seconds; email replies within one business day | |
| Money back guarantee | 30 days on paid plans, first purchase only | |
| Server network | 9,500+ servers across 149 countries | |
| Simultaneous devices | 10 devices per subscription | |
| Router support | Config support for Asus, TP-Link, DD-WRT, Tomato, and Mikrotik routers | |
| Browser extensions | Chrome, Firefox, and Edge extensions, plus native apps for every major platform | |
| Works in restrictive countries | Not officially supported; obfuscated servers help but connectivity is not guaranteed | |
| Payment methods | Credit cards, PayPal, Google Pay, UnionPay, and cryptocurrency including Bitcoin | |
| Business plan | Yes, NordLayer is sold separately as network access for teams and businesses |
NordVPN
Fastest median speeds in our 2026 logs, though the marketing claims outrun the substance.
- Fastest measured speeds of any provider we compared
- Six independent no-logs audits since 2018 (PwC, then Deloitte)
- Threat Protection Pro blocks malware and trackers at the network level
- 9,500+ servers across 149 countries
Private Internet Access
The only provider on this list whose no-logs claim has actually been tested in real subpoenas and federal court — though US jurisdiction and Kape ownership are worth weighing.
- No-logs claim has held up in real subpoenas and a federal hacking trial
- Fully open-source apps since 2018
- Deepest configurability of any provider tested (cipher, handshake, ports)
- Unlimited simultaneous devices with port forwarding support