Updated September 29, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
Mysterium VPN vs PIA
Mysterium VPN vs PIA: the differences
| Compare |  Mysterium VPN |  PIA |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $10.49 to $18.49Lower | $11.95 |
| Long-term plan price | $2.59 to $4.79 | $2.03Lower |
| Server countries | from 100 | 91 |
| Money-back period | 7 to 30 days | 30 days |
| Jurisdiction | PA | US |
| Protocols | WireGuard | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPSecCovers more |
| Features | Kill switch | Kill switch, Multi hopCovers more |
| Platforms | Android, iOS, MacOS, Windows, Chrome | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Smart TV, GamingCovers more |
| Longest plan (months) | 24 months | 39 monthsHigher |
| Devices | 15 | Not confirmed |
| Renewal price | Not confirmed | $47.88 |
| Streaming services | Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max, Crunchyroll, Crave TV, Stremio, ESPN+ | Not confirmed |
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- PIA scores higher overall: 9.2 vs 9.0.
- Monthly price is lower at Mysterium VPN: $10.49 to $18.49 vs $11.95.
- Long-term plan price is lower at PIA: $2.03 vs $2.59 to $4.79.
- Protocols: only PIA offers OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPSec.
- Features: only PIA offers Multi hop.
- Platforms: only PIA offers Linux, Firefox, Opera.
- Longest plan (months) is higher at PIA: 39 months vs 24 months.
- Founded is lower at PIA: 2010 vs 2019.
- Features: only Mysterium VPN offers Streaming.
Our verdict on each
Mysterium VPN
Mysterium VPN combines a no logs pledge with 15 device slots, servers across from 100 countries and a browser extension, so it suits households and small teams that want one subscription across many devices. The trade off is cost: plans start at $10.49, and long term terms run $2.59 to $4.79.
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 | Mysterium VPN | PIA |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.2Monthly plans of $10.49 to $18.49 and long terms of $2.59 to $4.79 rank 86 of 133 on monthly price. | 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 | 9.115 devices and servers in from 100 countries on one open source plan. | 9.3HigherThe plan bundles kill switch and multi hop and 91 server countries in one subscription, plus a 30 day money back window. |
| Privacy | 8.2 | 9.1Higher |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Mysterium VPN | PIA |
|---|---|---|
| VPNs | 15 of 232 | 29 of 232 |
| Privacy tools | 14 of 280 | 28 of 280 |
| Private browsers and search engines | 6 of 55 | 10 of 55 |
| Free VPNs | 11 of 189 | 25 of 189 |
The bill, worked out
Two years
Mysterium VPN
$62.16 to $114.96
24 × $2.59 to $4.79
PIA
$48.72
24 × $2.03
PIA costs $13.44 less.
Worked out from the stated prices and rates; your own total depends on how you use it. Facts checked September 26, 2026.
If neither fits
PureVPN has longest plan (months) at 60 months, against 24 months for Mysterium VPN and 39 months for PIA.
PureVPN reviewWhere these facts come from
Mysterium VPN
- mysteriumvpn.com: 15 facts, checked September 26, 2026
PIA
- privateinternetaccess.com: 15 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Mysterium VPN | PIA |
|---|---|---|
| Features | No logs, StreamingCovers more | No logs |
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | Budget |
| Legal entity | UAB MN Intelligence | PIA Private Internet Access, Inc. |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | United States |
| Founded | 2019 | 2010Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Help centre | Email, Chat, Help centre |
Privacy tools
| Fact | Mysterium VPN | PIA |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $10.49Lower | $11.95 |
| Free plan | Not confirmed | No |
| Logging policy | No-logs pledge: no records of websites visited, IP addresses, browsing history or session data are kept; basic connection data is deleted within minutes of a session ending | 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 | Browser | Ad blocker, BrowserCovers more |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Mysterium VPN | PIA | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $10.49 to $18.49above the median | $11.95above the median | $9 |
| Long-term plan price | $2.59 to $4.79lowest quarter | $2.03lowest quarter | $4.50 |
| Devices | 15highest quarter | Not confirmed | 10 |
| Server countries | from 100highest quarter | 91above the median | 62 |
| Renewal price | Not confirmed | $47.88above the median | $12 |
| Money-back period | 7 to 30 daysat the median | 30 daysat the median | 30 |
Median across 132 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Mysterium VPN
Pros
- 15 devices on one account is the widest device limit among the 80 brands scored on it, well past the 7 category median.
- Servers in from 100 countries sit above the 48.5 median for the category.
- The client is open source, a choice 56.6% of the brands in the ranking make.
Cons
- Monthly pricing of $10.49 to $18.49 places it at 86 of 133 on cost, above the €7.89 category median.
- The long term plan at $2.59 to $4.79 ranks 23 of 112, so the discount is thinner than most rivals manage.
- Support runs on email, chat and help centre only.
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
Mysterium VPN
Who it suits
- Households and small teams that want 15 device slots on one account, well above the 7 median.
- Readers who want a browser extension and desktop and mobile apps on the same plan, since Android, iOS and macOS covers all of them.
- People who put a written no logs pledge and open source code above a low monthly price.
Who should look elsewhere
- Apple Inc., whose own privacy subscription is $0.99 a month, if a light browsing tool is enough.
- Sinew Software Systems at $1.99 a month, when stored passwords are the real problem.
- ESET Brasil, which covers 3 to 25 on its antivirus plans, when you want endpoint protection instead of a tunnel.
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
Mysterium VPN
Current offer
Discount code
2-Year Basic plan discount: Save 78%: $2.59/mo, $62.16 billed every 2 years
Applied directly in the pricing table, no code stated; VAT may apply. Struck-through list price $251.76 for 2 years.
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Discount code
2-Year Plus plan discount: Save 74%: $2.99/mo, $71.76 billed every 2 years
Applied directly in the pricing table, no code stated; VAT may apply. Struck-through list price $323.76 for 2 years.
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Discount code
2-Year Pro plan discount: Save 75%: $4.79/mo, $114.96 billed every 2 years
Applied directly in the pricing table, no code stated; VAT may apply. Struck-through list price $443.76 for 2 years.
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
Country by country
| Country | Mysterium VPN | PIA |
|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | Yes | No |
| Aland Islands | Yes | No |
| Albania | Yes | No |
| Algeria | Yes | No |
| American Samoa | Yes | No |
| Andorra | Yes | No |
| Angola | Yes | No |
| Anguilla | Yes | No |
8 of 250 countries where either is available.
Questions about each
Mysterium VPN
What does Mysterium VPN cost month to month and on a long term plan?+
The monthly plan costs $10.49 to $18.49. Longer commitments are cheaper per month, with the long term plan at $2.59 to $4.79 and the longest term running 24 months. Both figures sit above the €7.89 monthly median for the category, so the saving comes from committing rather than from a lower opening rate.
How many devices can one Mysterium VPN account cover?+
One account covers 15 devices, and the plan places 1 of 80 brands on that measure. For context, the median device allowance in the category is 7, so a household with a phone, a laptop, a desktop and a browser extension stays inside the limit.
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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