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.
| 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