Updated September 28, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
PIA vs Surfshark Alert
What sets them apart
| Compare |  PIA |  Surfshark Alert |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Smart TV, Gaming | Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, Fire TV, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Routers, Chromebook, Smart TVs, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, PlayStation |
| Protocols | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPSec | Doh |
| Logging policy | No-logs: never tracks, stores, records or sells browsing data; RAM-only servers, no-logs policy audited by Deloitte | No-logs policy, independently verified by Deloitte in 2023 and 2025; RAM-only server network |
| Jurisdiction | US | NL |
| Privacy tool type | Ad blocker, Browser | Private dns, Ad blocker, Search |
| Price from | $11.95 | Not confirmed |
| Free plan limits | Not confirmed | 7-day free trial, 3 devices |
| Open source | Yes | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Free plan (No).
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Key differences
- PIA scores higher overall: 9.2 vs 9.0.
- Platforms: only PIA offers Opera, Smart TV, Gaming.
- Platforms: only Surfshark Alert offers Android TV, Apple TV, Fire TV.
- Protocols: only PIA offers WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPSec.
- Protocols: only Surfshark Alert offers Doh.
- Founded is lower at PIA: 2010 vs 2018.
- Privacy tool type: only PIA offers Browser.
- Privacy tool type: only Surfshark Alert offers Private dns, Search.
Our verdict on each
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.
Surfshark Alert
Surfshark Alert ranks 2 of 54 brands on monthly price, with entry costs of €2.49 a month. It suits readers who want identity alerts, private DNS and ad blocking inside a single budget account rather than a large insurance payout after fraud.
Score breakdown
| Area | PIA | Surfshark Alert |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 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. | 9.2Monthly price of €2.49, ranked 2 of 54 brands, with a 7-day trial standing in for a free plan. |
| Offer | 9.3HigherThe plan bundles kill switch and multi hop and 91 server countries in one subscription, plus a 30 day money back window. | 9.2Insurance of $1,000,000 sits 10 of 45 brands, held up by private dns, ad blocker and search extras and chat, email and help centre support. |
| Privacy | 9.1Higher | 8.2 |
Licences and countries
| Country | PIA | Surfshark Alert |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States | Netherlands |
How they place
| Ranking | PIA | Surfshark Alert |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy tools | 28 of 280 | 8 of 280 |
| Ad blockers and private DNS | 15 of 63 | 7 of 63 |
| Private browsers and search engines | 10 of 55 | 4 of 55 |
What we checked
PIA
- privateinternetaccess.com: 12 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Surfshark Alert
- surfshark.com: 12 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | PIA | Surfshark Alert |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Budget | Budget |
| Legal entity | PIA Private Internet Access, Inc. | Surfshark B.V. |
| Headquarters | United States | Netherlands |
| Founded | 2010Lower | 2018 |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Help centre | Chat, Email, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | PIA | Surfshark Alert | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | $11.95above the median | Not confirmed | $8 |
Median across 82 listed providers.
Pros and cons
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.
Surfshark Alert
Pros
- Monthly price of €2.49 places Surfshark Alert 2 of 54 brands in our data, near the floor of the monthly prices we compare
- Deloitte has independently audited the no-logs policy, and the server network runs in RAM rather than writing anything to disk, which is the main privacy claim to weigh
- The same Surfshark subscription covers private dns, ad blocker and search alongside identity alerts, and it runs on Windows, macOS and Linux from phones to routers and consoles, so a single vendor covers monitoring and browsing
Cons
- Phone support is not among its support channels (chat, email and help centre), which matters most when a fraud alert needs an answer the same day
- Insurance of $1,000,000 ranks 10 of 45 brands, so a bigger payout means a bigger bill, as at Norton or LifeLock
Who each suits
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.
Surfshark Alert
Who it suits
- Readers who mainly want alerts on their personal details rather than a large insurance payout, and who weigh the entry price before anything else on the plan
- People already paying for Surfshark who want alerts, private DNS, ad blocking and private search in a single account instead of separate tools
- Households that treat an audited no-logs policy and a RAM server network as part of identity protection, and who are comfortable starting on a short trial
Who should look elsewhere
- LifeLock and Norton readers who rank the insurance payout first, since LifeLock runs $10.42 to $34.99 a month and Norton $34.99 a month
- Allstate Identity Protection readers who want identity monitoring sold on its own at $3 a month rather than bundled with DNS and search
- Readers who want a standing free tier, since the free plan is no and the trial is limited to 7-day free trial, 3 devices, so testing is short
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
Surfshark Alert
Current offer
Bonus
3 extra months on 24-month plans: 27 months for the price of 24 (Starter €67.23, One €75.33, One+ €121.23)
24-month Starter, One or One+ subscription; sale price applies to the first 27 months; VAT may apply
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Free trial
7-day free trial: 7 days free, then automatic paid renewal
New users only, 12- and 24-month plans, payment details required (credit card, PayPal or Apple Pay), 3 devices during trial; plus 30-day money-back guarantee
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Questions about each
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.
Surfshark Alert
How much does Surfshark Alert cost each month?+
Surfshark Alert runs at €2.49 a month and ranks 2 of 54 brands on monthly price. A budget entry price draws most readers here, and the renewal figure is worth reading before you commit to a term.
Is there a free plan or a free trial?+
There is no free plan. The free trial lasts 7 days, and 7-day free trial, 3 devices sets the terms of that look. It is a short taste of the alerts rather than a free tier you can keep.