We review vendors based on rigorous testing and research but also take into account your feedback and our affiliate commission with providers. Some providers are owned by our parent company. Advertising Disclosure

Wizcase was established in 2018 as an independent site reviewing VPN services and covering privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on Wizcase are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize the independent, professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.

Advertising Disclosure

Wizcase was established in 2018 as an independent site reviewing VPN services and covering privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on Wizcase are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize the independent, professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.

NordVPN vs Private Internet Access 2024

We put these VPNs to the test to find out which is the best!

NordVPN and Private Internet Access (PIA) are two of the most popular VPN providers. We set out to determine which one is the best for your needs.
One big advantage that NordVPN has over PIA is when it comes to anonymity. While both VPNs have a strict no-logging policy, NordVPN is located in Panama and doesn’t come under US jurisdiction like the US based PIA. Similarly, when it comes to speed and security you’re better off going with NordVPN.
Both NordVPN and PIA work in China but if you’re looking to bypass Netflix’s VPN ban than you’re better off going with NordVPN. More Info

How do these VPNs Compare?

Speed

While PIA can consistently maintain high speeds, it doesn’t come close to NordVPN which is one of the fastest VPNs that we’ve tested. This is due to the number of servers that NordVPN has around the world. The speed is not only great for browsing, but is perfect for streaming US Netflix (which you can’t do through PIA).

VPN vendor NordVPN Private Internet Access
Download speed reduction 10% (UK) 35% (UK)
Upload speed reduction 14% (FRA) 39% (FRA)
Ping time to google.com 2ms 35ms
Average time to connect (sec.) 9ms 10ms
Unblock successful for Netflix-logo Hulu-logo Kodi-logo Espn-logo Youtube-logo Bbc-logo Netflix-logo Youtube-logo Hulu-logo Kodi-logo
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Why Most Speed Tests are Pointless & How We Correctly Test VPN Speeds

Speed determines how fast content uploads, so if you're torrenting or streaming, you want the speed to be somewhat identical to your regular internet speed. Since a VPN encrypts your data, it usually takes a bit longer to send your data back and forth, which can slow down your connection. However, if your ISP deliberately slows down your connection (also known as throttling) a VPN might increase your internet speed. Testing a VPN is somewhat pointless because new servers pop up and affect speed. Your speed can also differ according to your location, so your speed test might not match ours. Having said that, we tested the speed in numerous locations to provide you with the average.

Servers

Both NordVPN and PIA have an impressive number of servers worldwide. PIA currently has 3,302 servers in 25 countries while NordVPN maintains over 4,400 servers in 60 countries. Neither VPN will allow you to choose a specific server or city to connect to, rather you will be be connected to the server that is best optimized for you. A big advantage that NordVPN has over PIA is that they offer dedicated servers for downloading torrents and P2P files.

VPN vendor NordVPN Private Internet Access
Server Locations 60 30
Server Countries 60 30
IP Addresses 5,201+ 3,236+
Dynamic Server Switching
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The Big Mistake When Comparing Number of Servers and What to Really Look For

The ratio of servers to countries is an important factor to look at when choosing a VPN. Only paying attention to location or number of servers can get you in trouble. More servers generally means faster speeds, but if VPN X has a few more servers than VPN Y but twice as many users, VPN X will typically have slower speeds. Ideally, you want a VPN that has a lot of servers in every location. This way you won’t have to worry that server/country that you want will be overburdened and running slow

Support

When it comes to customer support NordVPN is the clear winner. With a 24-hour live chat option you can get instant answers to your questions day or night. PIA has an e-mail ticket systems, but the response time is, on average, a less than impressive 36 hours.

VPN vendor NordVPN Private Internet Access
Email Response Time 3 24
24/7 Support
Live Chat
Knowledge Base
Video Tutorials
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How We Test Customer Support and Why Should You Care

We personally test the customer support team of every VPN we review. This means asking technical question through the live chat feature (where applicable) and measuring the response time for email questions. Whether you need to connect to a specific server, change your security protocol, or configure a VPN on your router, finding a VPN with quality customer support should be important to you.

Ease of Use

NordVPN

It shouldn’t take more than a few minutes from when you buy NordVPN to when you can securely browse the internet. Once the download is complete you can log in with your username and password and you’re all set. It comes with OpenVPN preconfigured and the system will recommend specific servers should the need arise (i.e. torrenting). The mobile app is also very easy to use and won’t take up too much space on your phone.

Private Internet Access

PIA is a lightweight VPN software, this means that it will download quickly and not take up too much space on your computer. Whether you’re using it on a PC, Mac, Linux, or for a mobile device, the process is quick and easy. They do offer some helpful guides that will explain some of the more technical aspects, such as choosing the best protocols, but you shouldn’t need them for basic use.

Pricing

THE WINNER IS

Visit NordVPN Website!

Which VPN Will You Choose?

Unless choosing a specific city (rather than a state) is a deal breaker for you then we recommend you choose NordVPN. You’ll get a better price, faster speeds and specialty servers all for less than you’d pay with PIA More Info
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We rank vendors based on rigorous testing and research, but also take into account your feedback and our commercial agreements with providers. This page contains affiliate links.