Updated September 28, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
Proton AG vs PIA
Proton AG vs PIA: the differences
| Compare |  Proton AG |  PIA |
|---|---|---|
| Server countries | from 140 | 91 |
| Jurisdiction | CH | US |
| Protocols | WireGuard, OpenVPN | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPSecCovers more |
| Features | Kill switch, Split tunnelling | Kill switch, Multi hop |
| Platforms | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Chromebook, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Android TV, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Smart TV, Gaming |
| Longest plan (months) | 24 months | 39 monthsHigher |
| Monthly price | Not confirmed | $11.95 |
| Long-term plan price | Not confirmed | $2.03 |
| Devices | 10 | Not confirmed |
| No-logs audit | Securitum, 2026 | Not confirmed |
| Renewal price | Not confirmed | $47.88 |
| Streaming services | Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video | Not confirmed |
| Owner | Proton AG | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Money-back period (30 days).
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Key differences
- Proton AG scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 9.2.
- Protocols: only PIA offers IKEv2/IPSec.
- Features: only Proton AG offers Split tunnelling.
- Features: only PIA offers Multi hop.
- Platforms: only Proton AG offers Chromebook, Android TV, Apple TV.
- Platforms: only PIA offers Opera, Smart TV, Gaming.
- Longest plan (months) is higher at PIA: 39 months vs 24 months.
- Support channels: only Proton AG offers Community.
- Founded is lower at PIA: 2010 vs 2014.
- Features: only Proton AG offers Streaming.
Our verdict on each
Proton AG
Proton AG suits readers who want a published no-logs audit, a free tier and a bundled privacy suite rather than a bare tunnel, with the company based in Switzerland. Paid plans reach servers in from 140 countries and cover 10 devices, alongside free storage of 5 GB.
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 | Proton AG | PIA |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3Higher | 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 | 9.4HigherTerm choice runs to 24 months with a 30-day refund window, and a free plan anchors entry pricing. | 9.3The plan bundles kill switch and multi hop and 91 server countries in one subscription, plus a 30 day money back window. |
| Privacy | 8.9 | 9.1Higher |
The numbers side by side
| Fact | Proton AG | PIA |
|---|---|---|
| Server countries | from 140 | 91 |
| Money-back period | 30 days | 30 days |
| Longest plan (months) | 24 months | 39 months |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Proton AG | PIA |
|---|---|---|
| VPNs | 26 of 232 | 29 of 232 |
| Privacy tools | 24 of 280 | 28 of 280 |
| Ad blockers and private DNS | 12 of 63 | 15 of 63 |
| Free VPNs | 22 of 189 | 25 of 189 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Proton AG | PIA |
|---|---|---|
| Features | No logs, StreamingCovers more | No logs |
| Audience | Business | Not confirmed |
| Pricing model | Free | Budget |
| Legal entity | Proton AG | PIA Private Internet Access, Inc. |
| Headquarters | Switzerland | United States |
| Founded | 2014 | 2010Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Help centre, CommunityCovers more | Email, Chat, Help centre |
Privacy tools
| Fact | Proton AG | PIA |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Not confirmed | $11.95 |
| Free plan | YesHas it | No |
| Free plan limits | No data or speed limits, no ads, no time limit, 1 device, servers in 10 countries randomly selected, medium speed. | Not confirmed |
| Logging policy | No activity logs | No-logs: never tracks, stores, records or sells browsing data; RAM-only servers, no-logs policy audited by Deloitte |
| Open source | Yes | Yes |
| Privacy tool type | Ad blocker | Ad blocker, BrowserCovers more |
Password managers
| Fact | Proton AG | PIA |
|---|---|---|
| Family plan | Pass Family: up to 6 users, 6 Pass Plus accounts, admin panel | Not confirmed |
| Passkeys | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Security audit | Independently audited by third-party experts; audit reports public | Not confirmed |
| Encryption | Zero-knowledge end-to-end encryption, 256-bit AES-GCM vaults, OpenPGP with ECC Curve25519 for vault keys | Not confirmed |
| Zero-knowledge encryption | Yes | Not confirmed |
Secure email
| Fact | Proton AG | PIA |
|---|---|---|
| End-to-end encryption | The VPN connection from the user's device to Proton's servers; Proton also markets Proton for Business with end-to-end encryption. | Not confirmed |
Encrypted storage
| Fact | Proton AG | PIA |
|---|---|---|
| Free storage | 5 | Not confirmed |
| Compliance certifications | GDPR, HIPAA, ISO 27001 | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Proton AG | PIA | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | Not confirmed | $11.95above the median | $9 |
| Long-term plan price | Not confirmed | $2.03lowest quarter | $4.50 |
| Devices | 10at the median | Not confirmed | 10 |
| Server countries | from 140highest quarter | 91above the median | 62 |
| Renewal price | Not confirmed | $47.88above the median | $12 |
| Money-back period | 30 daysat the median | 30 daysat the median | 30 days |
Median across 132 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Proton AG
Pros
- No-logs claims are audited rather than asserted: Securitum's audit (Securitum, 2026) sits behind a No activity logs policy.
- Free limits come with no caps on data or speed, no ads and no time limit.
- 10 simultaneous devices, above the ranked VPN median of 8.
Cons
- Support runs on email, chat and help centre, and there is no phone line among them.
- The free plan limits put you on a single device at medium speed with randomly selected countries, so constant use points at a paid plan.
- End-to-end encryption is marketed for Proton for Business, while the consumer plan encrypts only the connection from your device to Proton's servers.
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
Proton AG
Who it suits
- Readers who want a VPN, a passkey vault and encrypted storage under a single account instead of separate subscriptions.
- Families sharing storage, since Pass Family covers several users and Pass Plus seats through a single admin panel.
- Teams buying under a business audience (business) who need GDPR, HIPAA and ISO 27001 certifications on file.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone needing more devices on a single account: Proton covers 10, while ESET Brasil plans run 3 to 25 devices.
- Readers choosing purely on server spread: AVG lists from 100 countries, a base close to Proton's from 140.
- Readers who want a different audit trail to compare: Session Technology Foundation lists Quarkslab 2021 against Proton's Securitum, 2026.
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
Proton AG
What does Proton VPN cost, and how long are the commitments?+
The longest plan runs 24 months, the service is listed on a free model, and paid plans carry a 30-day money-back window. Across the ranked VPN field, monthly pricing has a median of €7.02 and long-term pricing a median of €3.97, which frames any quote you see.
Is there a free plan, and what are its limits?+
Yes. The free plan has no caps on data or speed, no ads and no time limit. It runs on a single device, reaches servers in a randomly selected group of countries and delivers medium speed, so the paid tier, which covers 10 devices, is the practical step for constant use.
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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