Updated September 28, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
Disroot vs PIA
Disroot
Higher score in this comparison
PIA
Disroot vs PIA: the differences
| Compare | DisrootReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | PIAReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | YesHas it | No |
| Platforms | Web, Android | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Smart TV, Gaming |
| Logging policy | Activity logs kept no longer than 48 hours; several services store no log data at all | No-logs: never tracks, stores, records or sells browsing data; RAM-only servers, no-logs policy audited by Deloitte |
| Jurisdiction | NL | US |
| Privacy tool type | Search | Ad blocker, Browser |
| Price from | Not confirmed | $11.95 |
| Free plan limits | 1GB mailbox, 2GB cloud, 500MB Cryptpad, 64MB attachment limit; free of charge, non-commercial use only | Not confirmed |
| Protocols | Not confirmed | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPSec |
Same on both: Open source (Yes).
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Key differences
- Free plan: only Disroot.
- Platforms: only Disroot offers Web.
- Platforms: only PIA offers Windows, MacOS, Linux.
- Support channels: only Disroot offers Community.
- Founded is lower at PIA: 2010 vs 2015.
- Pricing model: only Disroot offers Free.
- Pricing model: only PIA offers Budget.
- Privacy tool type: only Disroot offers Search.
- Privacy tool type: only PIA offers Ad blocker, Browser.
Our verdict on each
Disroot
Disroot suits people who want a free mailbox on their own domain with 2 of cloud alongside it. The trade-off is that email is encrypted in transit only, while Zero-knowledge end-to-end encryption covers the vault, and the free tier is for non-commercial use.
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 | Disroot | PIA |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Not confirmed | 9.2Cost 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 | 9.4Higher | 9.3The plan bundles kill switch and multi hop and 91 server countries in one subscription, plus a 30 day money back window. |
| Privacy | 8.8 | 9.1Higher |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Disroot | PIA |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Netherlands | United States |
Sources behind this comparison
Disroot
- disroot.org: 12 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 | Disroot | PIA |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy tools | 66 of 281 | 73 of 281 |
| Private browsers and search engines | 12 of 55 | 14 of 55 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Disroot | PIA |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free | Budget |
| Legal entity | Stichting Disroot.org | PIA Private Internet Access, Inc. |
| Headquarters | Netherlands | United States |
| Founded | 2015 | 2010Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Help centre, CommunityCovers more | Email, Chat, Help centre |
Password managers
| Fact | Disroot | PIA |
|---|---|---|
| Encryption | Zero-knowledge end-to-end encryption | Not confirmed |
| Features | TOTP | Kill switch, Multi hop |
| Zero-knowledge encryption | No | Not confirmed |
Encrypted storage
| Fact | Disroot | PIA |
|---|---|---|
| Free storage | 2 | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Disroot | PIA | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | Not confirmed | $11.95above the median | $8 |
Median across 83 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Disroot
Pros
- A free plan that puts a mailbox, cloud storage and Cryptpad into a single account
- Activity logs are cleared after a short window, and several services record nothing at all
- Open source and run by Stichting Disroot.org under NL law
Cons
- Mail is encrypted in transit only, so end-to-end protection is a manual step through the Mailvelope browser extension in webmail
- The free tier tops out at 2 of cloud storage, with set allowances for the mailbox, Cryptpad and attachments, and covers personal, non-commercial use
- Platforms listed are web and android, so iOS and desktop clients sit outside what is supported
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
Disroot
Who it suits
- People who want a free personal mailbox on a custom domain
- Readers who like open source software and short log retention
- Anyone who wants the vault's totp codes and encrypted storage beside their mail
Who should look elsewhere
- Business users, since the free plan limits are for non-commercial use
- Apple Hide My Email readers, whose free plan limits exclude the service because it arrives only with a paid storage tier
- addy.io users who just need forwarding, since unlimited standard aliases fit that narrower job
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
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
Disroot
What does the Disroot free plan include?+
There is a free plan, and it covers more than mail: a mailbox, cloud storage and Cryptpad space in a single account. The cloud portion alone is 2, alongside set allowances for the mailbox, for Cryptpad and for message attachments. Paid tiers sit above this for heavier use.
Is Disroot email encrypted end to end?+
Not by default. Email is secured in transit, and message-level encryption is something you turn on yourself with the Mailvelope browser extension in webmail. The vault is the part that carries Zero-knowledge end-to-end encryption, so files stored there are protected without extra setup.
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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