NordVPN is persistently ranked as among the finest VPNs, nevertheless it’s undoubtedly not probably the most budget-friendly selection, which leads many individuals to discover cheaper alternate options equivalent to Non-public Web Entry VPN. On this evaluation, I examine NordVPN vs. PIA VPN head-to-head that can assist you resolve if NordVPN’s higher speeds and further options are definitely worth the elevated value or for those who’ll be glad with PIA’s less expensive VPN.
PIA VPN is finest for budget-conscious customers who’re on the lookout for an affordable VPN and don’t thoughts inconsistent speeds and fewer options.
NordVPN is finest for customers who need a quicker VPN and extra superior options and are keen to pay extra for that further functionality.
1
ESET PROTECT Superior
Workers per Firm Measurement
Micro (0-49), Small (50-249), Medium (250-999), Giant (1,000-4,999), Enterprise (5,000+)
Any Firm Measurement
Any Firm Measurement
Options
Superior Risk Protection, Full Disk Encryption , Fashionable Endpoint Safety, and extra
2
ManageEngine Log360
Workers per Firm Measurement
Micro (0-49), Small (50-249), Medium (250-999), Giant (1,000-4,999), Enterprise (5,000+)
Micro (0-49 Workers), Medium (250-999 Workers), Enterprise (5,000+ Workers), Giant (1,000-4,999 Workers), Small (50-249 Workers)
Micro, Medium, Enterprise, Giant, Small
Options
Exercise Dashboard, Superior Risk Analytics, Analytics/Reporting, and extra
3
Graylog
Workers per Firm Measurement
Micro (0-49), Small (50-249), Medium (250-999), Giant (1,000-4,999), Enterprise (5,000+)
Medium (250-999 Workers), Enterprise (5,000+ Workers), Giant (1,000-4,999 Workers)
Medium, Enterprise, Giant
Options
Anomaly Detection, Audit Logs, Compliance Reporting, and extra
PIA VPN vs. NordVPN: Comparability desk
PIA VPNNordVPN
# of serversNot disclosed6,355
# of countries91111
# of devicesUnlimitedUp to 10 units
No-logs policyYesYes
Beginning value for one-year plan$3.33 monthly$4.59 monthly
Beginning value for month-to-month plan$11.95 monthly$12.99 monthly
Free trial7 daysNot accessible
PIA VPN vs. NordVPN pricing
Non-public Web Entry VPN pricing
PIA gives three easy subscriptions for its standalone VPN product. It’s necessary to notice that PIA doesn’t hike costs after the introductory interval, and as an alternative it is possible for you to to resume your subscription on the similar value. The pricing for these plans is as follows:
3 years + 4 months: $1.98 monthly.
1 12 months: $3.33 monthly.
1 month: $11.95 monthly.
PIA VPN additionally gives two paid add-ons, antivirus safety for Home windows PC and a devoted IP tackle. Many different VPNs embody these options with increased tier plans, so it’s necessary to crunch the numbers so that you simply’re getting the very best deal. Right here’s how a lot these add-ons from PIA will value you:
Antivirus for Home windows PC
3 years: $1.00 monthly.
1 12 months: $2.00 monthly.
1 month: $4.50 monthly.
Devoted IP tackle
3 years: $2.50 monthly.
1 12 months: $4.25 monthly.
1 month: $5.00 monthly.
A free trial is offered for PIA VPN, however solely by means of the App Retailer or Google Play Retailer. After you obtain the app and join a subscription, you’ve seven days to try it out at no cost earlier than you’ll be charged. The free trial isn’t accessible by means of the PIA retailer or for desktop apps. Nonetheless, after I signed up for the trial on my iOS gadget, I used to be in a position to obtain the Mac app on my laptop computer and log in with my credentials that means. PIA additionally gives a 30-day money-back assure, so you possibly can ask for a refund for those who change your thoughts through the first month.
For extra info, learn our full PIA VPN evaluation.
NordVPN pricing
NordVPN gives three completely different subscription lengths: two years, one 12 months and month-to-month. NordVPN additionally gives three completely different tiers of plans, with the dearer ones providing extra options. The Fundamental plan supplies a VPN for as much as 10 units. The Plus plan provides malware safety, a password supervisor, a tracker and advert blocker, and an information breach scanner. The Final plan contains all the things in Plus and 1 TB of encrypted storage. NordVPN does increase costs after the introductory interval ends, although generally it gives reductions (particularly for those who threaten to cancel your subscription altogether). The costs for these plans are as follows:
2-year plan
Fundamental: $3.09 monthly + 3 further months.
Plus: $3.99 monthly + 3 further months.
Final: $5.99 monthly + 3 further months.
1-year plan
Fundamental: $4.59 monthly + 3 further months.
Plus: $5.59 monthly + 3 further months.
Final: $7.59 monthly + 3 further months.
Month-to-month
Fundamental: $12.99.
Plus: $13.99.
Final: $15.99.
A free trial isn’t accessible for NordVPN. Nonetheless, it does provide a 30-day money-back assure, so for those who resolve you don’t need to maintain utilizing it through the first month, you may get a refund. I had beforehand signed up for a two-year NordVPN plan for my private use, and because of this didn’t want a free trial in an effort to check it.
For extra info, learn our full NordVPN evaluation or try our comparisons for NordVPN vs. Surfshark and NordVPN vs. Specific VPN.
PIA VPN vs. NordVPN: Function comparability
Velocity and efficiency
Considered one of PIA VPN’s main drawbacks is its average-to-slow speeds. As quickly as I logged into the desktop app (Determine A) and related to the closest server in Atlanta, I seen the lag instantly. A fast pace check confirmed this: I received obtain speeds of 295.66 mbps and add speeds of 75.23 mbps with PIA VPN operating within the background. That is a lot slower than NordVPN in addition to one other common price range VPN choose, Surfshark. For reference, I received obtain speeds of 503.19 mbps and add speeds of 330.90 mbps when testing out Surfshark final month.
NordVPN (Determine B) is dearer than PIA, however I discovered its speeds to be a lot quicker throughout my two-year subscription. In reality, pace was a significant cause why I selected NordVPN within the first place. There would generally be slightly little bit of a lag, particularly when connecting to a server far-off, nevertheless it was noticeably quicker than PIA VPN on common.
Take note, nonetheless, that connection pace can range quite a bit relying on a large number of things, from what number of different individuals are connecting to the identical server to what media you’re making an attempt to stream to your geographic location. For example, fellow TechRepublic author Luis Millares skilled fairly good speeds and minimal lag when testing out PIA VPN for his in-depth evaluation. That’s why I like to recommend testing out PIA VPN vs. NordVPN for your self to see which one is quicker at your private home or enterprise.
Streaming
Streaming content material was straightforward with each PIA VPN and NordVPN. I used to be ready to connect with a server within the UK to stream Studio Ghibli movies on Netflix after which switched to a server in Canada to stream “The Workplace.” Although I related to PIA’s “streaming optimized” servers (Determine C), there was a noticeable lag in comparison with NordVPN.
When related to PIA servers, I needed to wait some time for every Netflix web page to load, and as soon as I hit the “play” button it took between 15 and 20 seconds for the content material to start out streaming. After that preliminary pause, the video stream was completely tremendous. That being stated, I’d be involved about utilizing PIA for bigger duties, equivalent to importing very lengthy, high-quality movies to YouTube or streaming complicated video games that require loads of computing energy.
Ease of use
PIA’s varied interfaces aren’t probably the most intuitive VPN platform I’ve tried, however in addition they weren’t the worst. The iOS app was quite simple in design, and it solely took me a pair seconds to search out the area selector instrument within the left sidebar and connect with the UK. Nonetheless, the design of the desktop app was a bit extra complicated, particularly in comparison with the straightforward cellular apps.
SEE: The way to Begin a Profession in Cybersecurity (TechRepublic Premium)
On a Mac, the PIA VPN desktop interface gives two views, condensed and expanded, and the scale of both can’t be modified. The condensed view (Determine D) solely reveals the join/disconnect buttons and what server you at the moment have chosen. The expanded view extends the toolbar vertically till the bar covers the complete top of the display screen, which is a relatively odd design selection. The expanded view provides you entry to extra settings and metrics however hides the join button — it’s a must to collapse the window once more to make the button present up once more.
In distinction, the NordVPN desktop opens in a separate window which you could resize and transfer round to your coronary heart’s content material. I personally want this, so I can maintain the VPN open in a window within the background whereas I’m working or streaming. I additionally recognize NordVPN’s map that reveals me what server I’m related to, although another customers might discover this function pointless or visually distracting. To entry different settings, merely click on by means of the icons on the left menu bar. The NordVPN cellular apps are equally easy to navigate (Determine E), and so they all comply with an analogous design to the desktop, so it seems like one cohesive system.
Safety and privateness
PIA gives many safety and privateness options that at the moment are thought-about customary for VPNs, together with AES 256-bit encryption, a kill change and multi-hop routing. Its apps are additionally absolutely open supply, which supplies extra transparency and allows anybody (together with you) to investigate the supply code. PIA VPN additionally has a no-logs coverage and a particularly clear privateness coverage that spells all the things out, and it’s been independently audited by Deloitte to again up these claims.
The one safety quirk which may give some customers pause is the truth that PIA has a U.S. jurisdiction, versus a rustic that isn’t a part of an intelligence-sharing alliance. In 2019, it was additionally purchased by Kape Applied sciences, which has been identified to distribute malware and adware prior to now. (PIA has asserted that it operates utterly impartial of Kape itself.)
For many on a regular basis customers like myself, this U.S. jurisdiction and Kape possession received’t be a dealbreaker. If this is a matter for you, you then’ll be glad to know that NordVPN relies in Panama, which doesn’t take part within the 5 Eyes, 9 Eyes or Fourteen Eyes intelligence-sharing alliances.
NordVPN additionally gives loads of different safety and privateness measures which are much like PIA VPN. It additionally makes use of AES 256-bit encryption, a kill change and multi-hop routing (which the platform calls “Double VPN,” see Determine F). NordVPN additionally has a strong no-logs coverage, which has been independently verified by Deloitte 4 completely different instances, with the newest one being the top of final 12 months.
Extra about Cloud Safety
PIA VPN execs and cons
Non-public Web Entry VPN execs
Cheaper than NordVPN.
No value hikes after the introductory interval.
Helps limitless simultaneous connections.
Many security measures.
Free trial accessible by means of App Retailer or Google Play Retailer.
Non-public Web Entry VPN cons
Antivirus safety and devoted IP addresses are paid add-ons.
Might end in important pace loss.
Desktop app design might be improved.
US jurisdiction might fear privacy-focused customers.
NordVPN execs and cons
NordVPN execs
Sooner speeds than PIA VPN on common.
Panama jurisdiction is best for knowledge privateness.
Desktop app will be resized and moved round.
Superior plans embody extra options like malware safety.
NordVPN cons
Costlier than PIA VPN.
Worth will increase after the introductory interval.
Restricted to 10 simultaneous gadget connections.
No free trial accessible.
Ought to your group use PIA VPN or NordVPN?
Whether or not your group ought to select PIA or NordVPN is dependent upon quite a lot of elements. In case you are on the lookout for the most cost effective standalone VPN and don’t care in regards to the inconsistent pace or the U.S. jurisdiction, then you’ll almost definitely be glad with PIA VPN. I particularly recognize that it doesn’t hike costs after the preliminary subscription, which is one thing that nearly each different common VPN does.
In case you are on the lookout for quick and constant speeds, need higher privateness measures and are keen to pay extra for that, then NordVPN could also be a better option. Remember that if your online business additionally wants extra options like malware safety and a password supervisor, it could truly be cheaper to bundle it altogether with Nord than to purchase every product individually.
If neither PIA VPN nor NordVPN looks like an incredible match on your wants and price range, then try our different picks for the highest free VPNs.
Evaluate methodology
To match PIA and NordVPN, I signed up for a free trial of PIA VPN. I had already subscribed to NordVPN beforehand for my private use. I examined each VPNs on pace, streaming and ease of use. I additionally delved into their safety and privateness measures to make sure that they’re each protected and dependable VPN choices.