Updated September 29, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
PIA vs Surfshark
What sets them apart
| Compare |  PIA |  Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $11.95 | €2.49 |
| Long-term plan price | $2.03 | €2.49 |
| Server countries | 91 | 100Higher |
| Jurisdiction | US | NL |
| Protocols | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPSec | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, Dausos |
| Features | Kill switch, Multi hop | Kill switch, Split tunnelling, Multi hopCovers more |
| Platforms | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Smart TV, Gaming | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Android TV, Apple TV, Fire TV, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Routers |
| Longest plan (months) | 39 monthsHigher | 27 months |
| No-logs audit | Not confirmed | Deloitte 2025 |
| Renewal price | $47.88 | Not confirmed |
| Owner | Not confirmed | Nord Security |
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
- Surfshark scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.2.
- Server countries is higher at Surfshark: 100 vs 91.
- Protocols: only PIA offers IKEv2/IPSec.
- Protocols: only Surfshark offers IKEv2, Dausos.
- Features: only Surfshark offers Split tunnelling.
- Platforms: only PIA offers Opera, Smart TV, Gaming.
- Platforms: only Surfshark offers Android TV, Apple TV, Fire TV.
- Longest plan (months) is higher at PIA: 39 months vs 27 months.
- Founded is lower at PIA: 2010 vs 2018.
- Features: only Surfshark offers Streaming.
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
Surfshark suits households and small teams that want a wide network at a modest rate, and it reaches further than most rivals at this price. Its long-term plan price is €2.49, under the site median for long-term plans, €3.97, and every purchase carries a 30 money-back window.
Score breakdown
| Area | PIA | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | 9.6HigherSurfshark's long-term plan price of €2.49 undercuts the site median €3.97, while the monthly plan at €2.49 keeps entry low. |
| Offer | 9.3The plan bundles kill switch and multi hop and 91 server countries in one subscription, plus a 30 day money back window. | 9.5HigherThe plan bundles private dns, ad blocker and search with a 7 trial and a 30 money-back window. |
| Privacy | 9.1Higher | 8.7 |
How the counts compare
| Fact | PIA | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Server countries | 91 | 100 |
| Money-back period | 30 days | 30 days |
| Longest plan (months) | 39 months | 27 months |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | PIA | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| VPNs | 29 of 232 | 12 of 232 |
| Privacy tools | 28 of 280 | 7 of 280 |
| Ad blockers and private DNS | 15 of 63 | 6 of 63 |
| Private browsers and search engines | 10 of 55 | 3 of 55 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | PIA | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Features | No logs | No logs, StreamingCovers more |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Business |
| 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 |
Privacy tools
| Fact | PIA | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $11.95 | Not confirmed |
| Free plan | No | No |
| Free plan limits | Not confirmed | 7-day free trial, 3 devices |
| 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 |
| Open source | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Privacy tool type | Ad blocker, Browser | Private dns, Ad blocker, Search |
Identity protection
| Fact | PIA | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Insurance amount | Not confirmed | $1,000,000 |
| Free trial length | Not confirmed | 7 days |
Data removal
| Fact | PIA | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Yearly price | Not confirmed | €121.23 |
| Countries covered | Not confirmed | United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Switzerland |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | PIA | Surfshark | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Server countries | 91above the median | 100highest quarter | 62 |
| Renewal price | $47.88above the median | Not confirmed | $12 |
| Money-back period | 30 daysat the median | 30 daysat the median | 30 days |
| Longest plan (months) | 39 monthshighest quarter | 27 monthshighest quarter | 12 months |
Median across 139 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
Pros
- Servers in 100 countries, ranking 7 on coverage among 62 brands compared.
- The no-logs policy is independently verified by Deloitte, with the current audit listed as Deloitte 2025.
- A single subscription covers Windows, macOS and Linux.
Cons
- There is no free plan, so the 7-day free trial, 3 devices is the only way to try Surfshark before paying.
- Support runs on email, chat and help centre only, with no phone line for urgent problems.
- Price-first readers have cheaper options: MEGA lists $1.67 and Sinew Software Systems lists $1.99 for a long-term plan.
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
Who it suits
- Households covering several device types, with apps across Windows, macOS and Linux.
- Small teams priced for business, with 100 server countries and privacy extras of private dns, ad blocker and search in one subscription.
- Readers who put audit evidence first, since the no-logs policy is verified by Deloitte and the current audit is Deloitte 2025.
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers chasing the lowest long-term rate, where MEGA at $1.67 and Sinew Software Systems at $1.99 sit lower.
- Buyers looking for antivirus rather than a network, where ESET Brasil is the comparison to read, with 40 to 70 server countries in its coverage.
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
Current offer
Bonus
+3 EXTRA months, Save 85% on Surfshark Starter: Starter EUR 2.49/mo., sale price EUR 67.23 for the first 27 months (old price EUR 444.15)
24-month plans, VAT may apply, 30-day money-back guarantee
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Free trial
7-day free trial: 7 days free on 3 devices
Available on all 12-month and 24-month plans; payment by credit card, Apple Pay or PayPal
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | PIA | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | No | Yes |
| Aland Islands | No | Yes |
| Albania | No | Yes |
| Algeria | No | Yes |
| American Samoa | No | Yes |
| Andorra | No | Yes |
| Angola | No | Yes |
| Anguilla | No | Yes |
8 of 250 countries where either is available.
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
What does Surfshark cost month to month and on a long commitment?+
Surfshark's monthly plan is listed at €2.49 and the yearly plan at €121.23. The longest plan runs 27 months, which brings the monthly rate to €2.49, below the site median for long-term plans, €3.97. A 30 money-back window sits behind the longer commitments.
Is there a free plan, or only a trial?+
The free plan is no, so nothing runs indefinitely at no cost. What is offered is a 7 trial, and the stated free plan limits read 7-day free trial, 3 devices. After that trial ends, the 30 money-back window is the route to a full refund if the service does not fit your setup.
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