Updated September 28, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
AdGuard vs PIA
AdGuard vs PIA: the differences
| Compare |  AdGuard |  PIA |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | YesHas it | No |
| Platforms | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, Android TV, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera, Safari, Yandex Browser | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Smart TV, Gaming |
| Protocols | Doh, Dot, Doq, Dnscrypt | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPSec |
| Logging policy | Traffic filtered locally on device; AdGuard does not know which sites you visit | No-logs: never tracks, stores, records or sells browsing data; RAM-only servers, no-logs policy audited by Deloitte |
| Jurisdiction | CY | US |
| Privacy tool type | Ad blocker, Private dns | Ad blocker, Browser |
| Price from | Not confirmed | $11.95 |
| Free plan limits | Free AdGuard DNS Starter plan by default; AdGuard Content Blocker free but with features limited compared to AdGuard for Android | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Open source (Yes).
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Key differences
- AdGuard scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.2.
- Free plan: only AdGuard.
- Platforms: only AdGuard offers Android TV, Edge, Safari.
- Platforms: only PIA offers Smart TV, Gaming.
- Protocols: only AdGuard offers Doh, Dot, Doq.
- Protocols: only PIA offers WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPSec.
- Support channels: only AdGuard offers Community.
- Support channels: only PIA offers Chat.
- Founded is lower at AdGuard: 2009 vs 2010.
- Pricing model: only AdGuard offers Free.
Our verdict on each
AdGuard
AdGuard fits readers who want ad blocking and DNS protection in the same place, with a free plan for the basics and an open source VPN alongside it. A paid AdGuard plan covers 10 devices, and the longest subscription term is 24 with a money back window of 30 days.
PIA
PIA suits readers who want an audited no-logs policy, open source apps and a long plan, with the long-term plan running 39 months at $2.03 a month. The trade-off is entry pricing at $11.95 a month for the single term and a renewal figure of $47.88.
Score breakdown
| Area | AdGuard | PIA |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1 | 9.2HigherCost lands mid-table: PIA's monthly plan is $11.95 against the €7.89 figure, while the long-term plan holds at $2.03. |
| Offer | 9.6Higher | 9.3The plan bundles kill switch and multi hop and 91 server countries in one subscription, plus a 30 day money back window. |
| Privacy | 9.4Higher | 9.1 |
Availability and regulation
| Country | AdGuard | PIA |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Cyprus | United States |
What each covers
| Protocols | AdGuard | PIA |
|---|---|---|
| Doh | Yes | No |
| Dot | Yes | No |
| Doq | Yes | No |
| Dnscrypt | Yes | No |
What we checked
AdGuard
- adguard.com: 8 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- adguard-dns.io: 5 facts, checked September 26, 2026
PIA
- privateinternetaccess.com: 12 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | AdGuard | PIA |
|---|---|---|
| VPNs | 18 of 232 | 29 of 232 |
| Privacy tools | 18 of 280 | 28 of 280 |
| Ad blockers and private DNS | 10 of 63 | 15 of 63 |
| Free VPNs | 14 of 189 | 25 of 189 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | AdGuard | PIA |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free | Budget |
| Legal entity | ADGUARD SOFTWARE LIMITED | PIA Private Internet Access, Inc. |
| Headquarters | Cyprus | United States |
| Founded | 2009Lower | 2010 |
| Support channels | Email, Help centre, Community | Email, Chat, Help centre |
VPN
| Fact | AdGuard | PIA |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | Not confirmed | $11.95 |
| Long-term plan price | Not confirmed | $2.03 |
| Devices | 10 | Not confirmed |
| Server countries | Not confirmed | 91 |
| Features | No logs, StreamingCovers more | No logs |
| Renewal price | Not confirmed | $47.88 |
| Money-back period | 30 days | 30 days |
| Features | Split tunnelling, Obfuscation | Kill switch, Multi hop |
| Longest plan (months) | 24 months | 39 monthsHigher |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | AdGuard | PIA | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | Not confirmed | $11.95above the median | $8 |
Median across 82 listed providers.
Pros and cons
AdGuard
Pros
- Traffic is filtered locally on device, so AdGuard does not know which sites you visit, and the software is open source.
- The free plan is the default and covers DNS blocking, while the free Content Blocker drops features next to the full Android app.
- Apps and extensions cover Windows, macOS and Linux, keeping one set of rules across phones, desktops and browsers.
Cons
- Support runs on email, help centre and community only, so most questions end up in the help centre or the community.
- The free Content Blocker drops features next to the full Android app, so phone users may end up paying for it.
PIA
Pros
- The logging policy is no-logs, with browsing data never tracked, stored, recorded or sold, and Deloitte has audited it.
- The apps are open source, which suits readers who read the client code before trusting it.
- A network of 91 server countries, above the 46.5 figure for VPN brands.
Cons
- There is no free plan, so the 30 day money back window is the only route in before you commit.
- PIA's monthly plan at $11.95 sits above the €7.89 monthly figure across the site.
- Support runs on email, chat and help centre only, with no phone number in that list.
Who each suits
AdGuard
Who it suits
- Readers who want an ad blocker, private DNS and a VPN from a single company.
- People who want filtering to happen on device on open source software.
- Households with several devices to cover, since the VPN plan covers 10.
Who should look elsewhere
- Apple Hide My Email, whose aliases are free with an Apple Account, when the email address is the only thing to hide.
- EasyOptOuts, which has no free plan, when a free tier to try first matters.
PIA
Who it suits
- Readers who want an audited no-logs policy and open source apps in a single subscription.
- Long-term buyers, since the long-term plan runs 39 months at $2.03 with a 30 day money back window.
- People who need one account across Windows, macOS and Linux and a wide spread of exit locations.
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers who want to browse options before paying anything, since PIA has no free plan and Apple Inc. at $0.99 suits lighter privacy budgets.
- Readers who want a different kind of protection: ESET Brasil spans 40 to 70, a different footprint from PIA's 91.
- Readers on a strict budget for one subscription, since Sinew Software Systems lists $1.99 against PIA's monthly plan at $11.95.
Current offers
AdGuard
Current offer
Free trial
AdGuard for Windows 14-day trial period: 14 days
Included with the AdGuard for Windows v8.0 download
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Free trial
Try Premium free for 7 days in AdGuard for iOS: 7 days
In-app offer before purchasing an iOS subscription; no payment taken during the trial
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
AdGuard DNS Personal plan free for AdGuard VPN customers: Free AdGuard DNS Personal subscription
Requires an active AdGuard VPN subscription; activated from the AdGuard account
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
Free AdGuard license for contributors and developers: Free license key
For community contributors (translations, beta testing, filters, knowledge base) and developers requesting a developer license
Source, checked September 26, 2026
PIA
Current offer
Discount code
83% off on 3 Years + 3 Months EXTRA plan: 83% off, $2.03/mo (autorenews at $79 every 3 years)
amounts shown in USD, discount calculated against current monthly service pricing of $11.95/mo
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Free trial
30-day money-back guarantee: 30 days
new subscribers only; subscriptions bought via third-party app stores such as the Apple App Store are subject to those stores' terms
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Questions about each
AdGuard
Is there a free AdGuard plan?+
Yes, and the free plan is the default. It covers DNS blocking, while the free Content Blocker drops features next to the full Android app. The starter apps already run on Windows, macOS and Linux, so you can try blocking on a phone, a desktop or a browser before paying.
What does the paid VPN plan include?+
The paid AdGuard VPN plan covers 10 devices at a time, and the longest subscription term runs 24. Its feature set includes no logs and streaming and split tunnelling and obfuscation, and a money back window of 30 days sits behind the purchase if the fit is wrong.
PIA
How much does PIA cost a month?+
The monthly plan is priced at $11.95. The long-term plan drops to $2.03 a month when bought for 39 months, which is where most of the saving sits. Renewal is quoted separately at $47.88, so budget for a second figure as well as the monthly rate.
What does PIA cost at renewal?+
Renewal is listed at $47.88, set apart from the $2.03 monthly rate that opens the long-term plan. The two figures are not interchangeable, so a buyer who budgets on the headline rate alone is not prepared for the second term. Read the renewal line before committing to a long subscription.
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