Updated September 28, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
PIA vs Surfshark One (Antivirus)
What sets them apart
| Compare |  PIA |  Surfshark One (Antivirus) |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Smart TV, GamingCovers more | Windows, MacOS, Android |
| 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 8.5.
- Platforms: only PIA offers Linux, iOS, Chrome.
- Protocols: only PIA offers WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPSec.
- Protocols: only Surfshark One (Antivirus) offers Doh.
- Founded is lower at PIA: 2010 vs 2018.
- Privacy tool type: only PIA offers Browser.
- Privacy tool type: only Surfshark One (Antivirus) 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 One (Antivirus)
Surfshark One puts antivirus and a VPN in the same subscription, which separates it from the plans next to it. It suits households that want one bill across a few devices, with a first-year price of €75.33 and a monthly option at €2.49.
Score breakdown
| Area | PIA | Surfshark One (Antivirus) |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 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. | 8.4 |
| Offer | 9.3HigherThe plan bundles kill switch and multi hop and 91 server countries in one subscription, plus a 30 day money back window. | 8.9Extras list a VPN, cover runs to 5 devices on Windows, macOS and Android, and a trial of 7 days is offered. |
| Privacy | 9.1Higher | 8.1 |
Sources behind this comparison
PIA
- privateinternetaccess.com: 12 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Surfshark One (Antivirus)
- surfshark.com: 12 facts, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | PIA | Surfshark One (Antivirus) |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy tools | 28 of 280 | 9 of 280 |
| Ad blockers and private DNS | 15 of 63 | 8 of 63 |
| Private browsers and search engines | 10 of 55 | 5 of 55 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | PIA | Surfshark One (Antivirus) |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Email, Chat, Help centre |
Identity protection
| Fact | PIA | Surfshark One (Antivirus) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $11.95 | €2.49 |
| Insurance amount | Not confirmed | $1,000,000 |
| Free trial length | Not confirmed | 7 days |
| Money-back period | 30 days | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | PIA | Surfshark One (Antivirus) | 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 One (Antivirus)
Pros
- Extras include a VPN, so protection and privacy arrive on one subscription (vpn)
- Covers 5 devices on Windows, macOS and Android
- A trial of 7 days lets you test the paid tier first
Cons
- No free version, so a subscription is the only way to run the protection
- Support runs on email, chat and help centre, with no phone line among them
- 5 devices sits under the group median of 7
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 One (Antivirus)
Who it suits
- Readers who already pay for a VPN and want malware protection on the same bill
- Households that fit within 5 covered devices
- People who want one subscription across security tools rather than several separate buys
Who should look elsewhere
- Apple Inc. users, who get security features across iOS, iPadOS and macOS from the operating system itself
- Comodo (Xcitium) users who need room for 50 devices on a single plan
- ESET Brasil readers after a different first-year quote, since its first-year price is BRL 64.22
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 One (Antivirus)
Current offer
First period offer
Surfshark One 24-month plan with 3 extra months: EUR 75.33 for the first 27 months (Save 85%)
Surfshark One plan on the 24-month term; Starter EUR 67.23 and One+ EUR 121.23 also discounted; VAT may apply
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Free trial
Free trial: 7 days free
Free trial limited to 3 devices; 30-day money-back guarantee if you subscribe after the trial
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 One (Antivirus)
What does Surfshark One cost at the start and after renewal?+
The first-year price is €75.33, and the monthly option is listed at €2.49. Set the opening figure against the group median of €49.95. What a renewal costs depends on the checkout terms, so the total shown at the point of payment is the figure to check.
Does the plan include a VPN or is that bought separately?+
A VPN is bundled into the same plan and listed among the extras, so antivirus and privacy cover arrive on one subscription rather than two. That bundling is what separates this offer from antivirus sold on its own. Around 97.1% of the products in this group also bundle a VPN.
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