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Private Internet Access vs ProtonVPN 2021

After comparing these VPNs, we have a winner!

Rated: 9.2/10
%s User Reviews
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Rated: 6.6/10
%s User Reviews
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Which VPN is better?

Author Image Kristina Perunicic
Kristina Perunicic

Cybersecurity Researcher

Both ProtonVPN and PIA have made great strides to stay ahead of the pack. Located in Switzerland, which is outside the 5-Eye and 14-Eyes, Proton offers protection from government surveillance. PIA is equally serious about security with its wide array of protocols including OpenVPN and standard AES-256 encryption. Proton’s best feature is arguably the Secure Core, which hides users’ IP and location. Proton will not keep logs, either. With a no-log policy, Bitcoin, and robust encryption, PIA has a firm grip on online security. Boasting servers in over 20 countries, PIA will bypass firewalls in China. Both PIA and Proton make a good impression with their average speeds but PIA takes the lead with its support for five simultaneous devices. Proton offers five simultaneous connections too, but only if you upgrade to its Plus plan (basic accounts get three). Whether you are a Mac, iOS, Android or Linux user, both VPNs will offer great compatibility.

Rating

Features 9.2/10
Pricing 8/10
Ease of Use 9.6/10
Reliability & Support 9.8/10
Features 6.6/10
Pricing 4/10
Ease of Use 9/10
Reliability & Support 7/10

Reviews

Review by our expert
Author Image Katie Kasunic
Katie Kasunic

Technology Researcher

9.8/10

Private Internet Access (PIA) is one of the most popular VPNs on the market. True to its name, this provider is best known for its strict no-logs policy and commitment to user privacy. Is PIA truly as trustworthy as they claim when it comes to protecting user privacy and anonymity? How does it perform in other categories like streaming, torrenting, and safety? We tested PIA ourselves to fin...

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Latest positive user review
E
Ez
10.0/10
Best VPN Out on The Market

I like PIA VPN the best for the following reasons: ● It's a reliable and trustworthy policy; they don... 't record anything harmful to you; strict no logs. ● I've been using it for one month and there are specific times when it speeds up my internet speed (varies by internet) ● It's a distinctive feature of DIP (dedicated IP) - I think not many popular VPNs have this feature, I also purchased this feature to avoid getting the captcha verification and it never showed up ever since. It's only been a month using this VPN but as I gain more experience with this client, I'm pretty sure I will find more good features and utilize them. Thanks for having read my review:)More

Latest negative user review
S
Steve Taylor
4.0/10
What support ?

Contacted online help service for not being able to install or having an issue trying to install/log i... n with android box - was told that they "still have been unable to find a fix for android box issue (i.e. it does not work ! ) - but - Hey our tech people are working hard at it" Read somewhere that this "issue" existed over 5 years ago. Think they need to work hard at finding competent technicians.More

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Review by our expert
Author Image Matthew Amos
Matthew Amos

Cybersecurity Researcher

7/10

As a long-time customer of ProtonMail, I was curious to see whether its world-renowned privacy and security standards would carry over into its sister product, ProtonVPN. The CERN scientists behind the world-class encrypted email technology have a lot of competition amongst premium VPNs. I wondered if these privacy pros could offer any new, innovative features that aren’t already available with...

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Latest positive user review
A
Anonymously
10.0/10
Great service

I noticed the article noted no Wireguard. This is incorrect, as Wireguard is available and now availab... le under Smart Protocol. I’ve found the service to be great and their accelerator technology improved speeds.More

Latest negative user review
F
Fernando
4.0/10
Stay away

Stay away since is very difficult to download and when you do, it puts other junk in your computer. B... y calling it FREE it attracts many downloads. and your computer will be compromised. There are many really free to choose from. Choose one of those.More

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Pricing

Starting price $2.03/month
Money Back Guarantee (Days) 30 Days
Number of devices per license 10 devices
See Plans
Starting price $4.99/month
Money Back Guarantee (Days) 30 Days
Number of devices per license 10 devices
See Plans

The Bottom Line

Author Image Kristina Perunicic
Kristina Perunicic

Cybersecurity Researcher

While PIA may not be the cheapest client on the market, the features are well worth it. This VPN has put together a solid no-log policy, strong encryption based on OpenVPN, the strongest on the market, and reliable speeds to offer formidable online security and privacy. Admittedly, the lack of a live chat option can be quite frustrating but other features such as payment anonymity with Bitcoin, a seven-day money-back guarantee and diverse server coverage make up for the shortfall, making PIA a clear winner.

Time to decide which one is best for you

Go with Private Internet Access
Go with ProtonVPN
Or click here to check best VPNs, rated by {{review_count}} users

FAQ

Is Private Internet Access better than ProtonVPN?

Yes, Private Internet Access is better overall than ProtonVPN. It has 29650 servers in 70 countries, fast speeds, and impressive security features.

Best of all, you can take advantage of its latest discount and get it for only $2.03 a month.

Which are the most important factors in this comparison?

When choosing a VPN, you want to pay close attention to its number of servers, overall speed score, pricing, and the number of simultaneous device connections it offers. While some VPNs provide a flawless online experience, others will really slow you down.

If you’re ready to commit, then Private Internet Access may be perfect for you due to its performance during the tests .

Is Private Internet Access faster than ProtonVPN?

Yes, Private Internet Access is faster than ProtonVPN. Since your VPN is your computer’s main connection to the internet, you need to use a service that won’t slow you down by more than 20%.

If speeds are important to you, then I recommend you take a look at ExpressVPN. It’s the fastest service out there, provides unlimited bandwidth, and you won’t experience any slowdowns even when you connect to the other side of the planet. You can try it out risk-free before making a long-term commitment. It’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can get a full refund if you don’t like it.

Which VPNs offer the best deals?

ExpressVPN has the best deals. Right now, you can get it with a 49% discount and up to 3 months for free with its long-term subscriptions. If you’d like to stay up to date with the latest VPN deals, you can bookmark our coupons page and be the first to know when your favorite VPN is on sale.