NordVPN vs PIA (2026): Which Is Better?
NordVPN is the better VPN for most people: faster, much stronger for streaming, simpler apps, and a jurisdiction outside the intelligence alliances. Private Internet Access wins two specific arguments — torrenting, where its port forwarding and interface binding are exactly what seeders need, and price, with a very cheap long plan and unlimited devices. Its no-logs record is the best-proven in the industry, which offsets the US base.
Who wins each category
- Privacy & securityNordVPNNordVPN 9.6 · PIA 9.0
- SpeedNordVPNNordVPN 9.8 · PIA 8.0
- StreamingNordVPNNordVPN 9.8 · PIA 7.8
- Apps & easeNordVPNNordVPN 9.5 · PIA 8.4
- ValueNordVPNNordVPN 9.4 · PIA 8.6
Sub-scores from this month's tests; weights are privacy & security 30%, speed 25%, streaming 15%, apps & ease 15%, value 15%. Methodology
Choose NordVPN if…
- Streaming — NordVPN unblocked 14 of 14 services to PIA's 10
- You want the fastest speeds and the simplest apps
- You'd prefer a provider outside the Five Eyes
Choose PIA if…
- You torrent and want port forwarding built in
- You want unlimited devices on a very cheap long plan
- You like configuring ciphers, ports and DNS yourself
NordVPN vs PIA: the numbers
 NordVPN |  PIA | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 9.7 | 8.3 |
| Rank · badge | #1 · Top rated overall | #6 · Torrenting |
| 2-year price / mo | $3.39 | $2.03 |
| 1-year price / mo | $4.99 | $3.33 |
| Monthly price | $12.99 | $11.95 |
| Renewal | renews at the 1-year rate | renews at the 1-year rate |
| Money-back | 30 days | 30 days |
| Simultaneous devices | 10 | Unlimited |
| Avg download speed | 712 Mbps | 480 Mbps |
| Jurisdiction | Panama | United States |
| Owner | Nord Security | Kape Technologies |
| No-logs audit | Deloitte no-logs audit, 2024 | Deloitte no-logs audit, 2024 |
| Servers | 7,400+ in 118 countries | Tens of thousands in 91 countries |
| Protocols | NordLynx (WireGuard), OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec, NordWhisper | WireGuard, OpenVPN |
| Torrenting | P2P allowed on dedicated P2P servers | P2P allowed on all servers |
| Free plan | No | No |
| Support | 24/7 live chat, email, help centre | 24/7 live chat, email, help centre |
| Visit NordVPN | Visit PIA |
Full reviews: NordVPN · Private Internet Access
What each one actually costs
The advertised rate covers the first term only. These are the totals once the renewal is counted.
| NordVPN | PIA | |
|---|---|---|
| Plan priced | 24-month plan | 24-month plan |
| Intro rate / mo | $3.39 | $2.03 |
| Then renews at / mo | $4.99 (+47%) | $3.33 (+64%) |
| First term, up front | $81.36 | $48.72 |
| Total over 3 years | $141.24 | $88.68 |
| True cost / mo over 3 years | $3.92 | $2.46 |
| Money-back | 30 days — we got ours in 4 days | 30 days — refunded in 3 days |
| Check NordVPN price | Check PIA price |
PIA is cheaper both ways — lower to start and $52.56 less across three years once the renewals are counted. Same arithmetic as our price calculator: the first term at the advertised rate, every month after it at the rate the provider publishes for renewals.
Speed by region
Download on a 940 Mbps line, 3 runs per server, median reported. Highlighted cell = fastest.
| NordVPN | PIA | |
|---|---|---|
| US East | 771 Mbps | 560 Mbps |
| UK | 742 Mbps | 520 Mbps |
| Singapore | 668 Mbps | 420 Mbps |
| Australia | 667 Mbps | 418 Mbps |
| Added latency | +4 ms | +10 ms |
Streaming, service by service
| NordVPN | PIA | |
|---|---|---|
| Unblocked | 14 of 14 | 10 of 14 |
| Netflix US | ||
| Netflix UK | ||
| Netflix JP | ||
| Netflix CA | ||
| Netflix AU | ||
| Prime Video | ||
| Disney+ | ||
| Hulu | ||
| Max | ||
| Paramount+ | ||
| Peacock | ||
| BBC iPlayer | ||
| ITVX | ||
| DAZN |
Security features
| NordVPN | PIA | |
|---|---|---|
| Kill switch | ||
| Split tunnelling | ||
| Obfuscation / stealth | ||
| Port forwarding | ||
| Dedicated IP | ||
| Ad & tracker blocking | ||
| Multi-hop (double VPN) | ||
| RAM-only servers | ||
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Android TV, Fire TV, Apple TV, browser extensions, routers | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Android TV, Fire TV, Apple TV, browser extensions, routers |
Has the no-logs promise ever been tested?
Every VPN on this page says it keeps no logs. The claim only means something once someone has demanded the data — a police raid, a court order, a subpoena. Here is what happened to each of these two when that came up, and what it means if it never has.
- NordVPNNever tested
No police raid, court order or subpoena against NordVPN has been made public. That is not a mark against it — most providers have never been asked — but it does mean the policy has never had to hold up under pressure.
Audit: Deloitte no-logs audit, 2024 · Panama
- PIAHeld
Subpoenaed more than once. The claim held — there was nothing useful to hand over. That is the one form of proof no audit can give you, because it happened under real pressure rather than on a scheduled visit.
Audit: Deloitte no-logs audit, 2024 · United States
What each one is our top pick for
One of these scores higher overall, which does not make it the right buy for every job. These are the use cases where each one comes first on its own list.
- NordVPN16 categories
- PIA2 categories
Port forwarding included, P2P on every server, interface binding for qBittorrent, and no-logs claims proven in court. Unlimited devices on a cheap long plan.
Questions
Is PIA better than NordVPN for torrenting?
Yes. PIA includes port forwarding and can bind a torrent client to the VPN interface; NordVPN has P2P servers but no port forwarding. For downloading only, both are fine.
Is PIA safe even though it is in the US?
PIA has been subpoenaed in US courts and had no logs to hand over, and its no-logs policy has since been audited. The US has no data-retention law for VPNs. Many people still prefer NordVPN's Panama base on principle.
Which is cheaper, NordVPN or PIA?
PIA, especially on its 3-year plan, and it has no device limit. NordVPN costs more and covers ten devices.
We may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page. Scores and the winner are decided by the tests before any commercial consideration. Disclosure