Updated September 29, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
NordVPN vs PIA
NordVPN vs PIA: the differences
| Compare |  NordVPN |  PIA |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | €14.99 | $11.95 |
| Long-term plan price | €3.49 | $2.03 |
| Server countries | 150Higher | 91 |
| Renewal price | €139.08 | $47.88 |
| Protocols | OpenVPN, NordLynx, NordWhisper | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPSec |
| Features | Kill switch, Split tunnelling, Multi hop, ObfuscationCovers more | Kill switch, Multi hop |
| Platforms | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Android TV, TvOS | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Smart TV, Gaming |
| Longest plan (months) | 27 months | 39 monthsHigher |
| Devices | 10 | Not confirmed |
| No-logs audit | Independent no-logs verification, first in 2018 and verified four more times since; auditor not named on the page | Not confirmed |
| Jurisdiction | Not confirmed | US |
| Owner | Nord Security | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Money-back period (30 days).
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 9.1.
- Server countries is higher at NordVPN: 150 vs 91.
- Protocols: only NordVPN offers NordLynx, NordWhisper.
- Protocols: only PIA offers WireGuard, IKEv2/IPSec.
- Features: only NordVPN offers Split tunnelling, Obfuscation.
- Platforms: only NordVPN offers Edge, Android TV, TvOS.
- Platforms: only PIA offers Opera, Smart TV, Gaming.
- Longest plan (months) is higher at PIA: 39 months vs 27 months.
- Founded is lower at PIA: 2010 vs 2012.
- Features: only NordVPN offers Streaming, Travel.
Our verdict on each
NordVPN
NordVPN suits people who want broad server reach and a no-logs policy under independent audit, and who can commit to a long plan. The catch is entry price: €14.99 a month on the monthly plan, with €139.08 due at renewal.
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 | NordVPN | PIA |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.7Monthly plan runs at €14.99 and the longest plan at €3.49 a month, with €139.08 billed on renewal. | 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 | 9.6HigherCovers 150 server countries, 10 devices and features including kill switch, split tunnelling and multi hop. | 9.3The plan bundles kill switch and multi hop and 91 server countries in one subscription, plus a 30 day money back window. |
| Privacy | 9.0 | 9.1Higher |
How the counts compare
| Fact | NordVPN | PIA |
|---|---|---|
| Server countries | 150 | 91 |
| Money-back period | 30 days | 30 days |
| Longest plan (months) | 27 months | 39 months |
Pick NordVPN if, pick PIA if
Pick NordVPN if offer, server countries, and features matter most.
Pick PIA if cost and longest plan (months) matter most.
How they place
| Ranking | NordVPN | PIA |
|---|---|---|
| VPNs | 1 of 232 | 29 of 232 |
| Privacy tools | 1 of 280 | 28 of 280 |
| Ad blockers and private DNS | 1 of 63 | 15 of 63 |
| Free VPNs | 1 of 189 | 25 of 189 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | NordVPN | PIA |
|---|---|---|
| Features | No logs, Streaming, TravelCovers more | No logs |
| Pricing model | Free | Budget |
| Legal entity | Nord Security | PIA Private Internet Access, Inc. |
| Headquarters | Lithuania | United States |
| Founded | 2012 | 2010Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Help centre | Email, Chat, Help centre |
Privacy tools
| Fact | NordVPN | PIA |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | €14.99 | $11.95 |
| Free plan | No | No |
| Logging policy | No logs: VPN servers keep no logs, with independent no-log audits | No-logs: never tracks, stores, records or sells browsing data; RAM-only servers, no-logs policy audited by Deloitte |
| Open source | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Privacy tool type | Ad blocker | Ad blocker, BrowserCovers more |
Password managers
| Fact | NordVPN | PIA |
|---|---|---|
| Security audit | Regular independent third-party security audits; ISO/IEC 27001 and SOC 2 | Not confirmed |
| Zero-knowledge encryption | Yes | Not confirmed |
Encrypted storage
| Fact | NordVPN | PIA |
|---|---|---|
| Free storage | 3 | Not confirmed |
| Price per TB per year | €77.88 | Not confirmed |
Identity protection
| Fact | NordVPN | PIA |
|---|---|---|
| Credit bureaus monitored | 1 | Not confirmed |
| Insurance amount | $2,000,000 | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | NordVPN | PIA | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Devices | 10at the median | Not confirmed | 10 |
| Server countries | 150highest quarter | 91above the median | 62 |
| Money-back period | 30 daysat the median | 30 daysat the median | 30 days |
| Longest plan (months) | 27 monthshighest quarter | 39 monthshighest quarter | 12 months |
Median across 139 listed providers.
Pros and cons
NordVPN
Pros
- Covers 150 server countries, the highest count in the ranking, with 10 devices per account
- Features include kill switch, split tunnelling and multi hop alongside the stated no logs, streaming and travel use cases
- Protocol choice covers OpenVPN, NordLynx and NordWhisper
Cons
- Entry price is high: €14.99 a month on the monthly plan puts it near the bottom of the monthly price ranking
- There is no free plan, so the free version comparison starts with nothing to test
- Renewal is charged at €139.08, a jump from the €3.49 monthly rate on the introductory long plan
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
NordVPN
Who it suits
- People who need coverage across 150 server countries rather than a handful of nearby ones
- Households or small teams that need 10 connected devices on one subscription
- Subscribers comfortable committing to a long plan, since €3.49 is only reached on the longest term
Who should look elsewhere
- People wanting a free tier, since there is no free plan to start on
- Anyone who needs to pay month to month on a small budget, as €14.99 a month is the priciest end of the monthly ranking
- Readers who need phone support, since the listed channels are email, chat and help centre
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
NordVPN
Current offer
Discount code
75% off + 3 months extra: 75% off
Intro offer on the 2-year plan (first 27 months), VAT may apply, savings versus renewal price
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
+ 3 EXTRA months on 2-year plans: 3 extra months
Offer terms apply, additional terms apply to Ultra plan, VAT may apply
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Free trial
Free trial for new users on Android: 3 days free
New users, Android app via Google Play; not available in India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and South Korea
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 | NordVPN | 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
NordVPN
How much does NordVPN cost to start with?+
The monthly plan is priced at €14.99. Committing to the longest term, 27 months, brings the monthly figure down to €3.49. That lower rate is introductory, and the 30 money back window still applies if the subscription is not a fit.
What do I pay when the plan renews?+
Renewal is charged at €139.08 for the long term, against the €3.49 monthly rate that applies at the start. Budget for the renewal figure rather than the headline monthly number, since the per month rate is the part that is promotional. The two prices together tell the full cost of staying.
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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