Detailed side-by-side comparison based on our March 2026 testing. Which VPN comes out on top?
| Feature | NordVPN | Private Internet Access |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 9.7/10 | 8.8/10 |
| Price (Best Plan) | $3.39/mo | $2.03/mo |
| Servers | 6,300+ | 35,000+ |
| Countries | 111 | 91 |
| Simultaneous Devices | 10 | Unlimited |
| Download Speed | 890 Mbps | 770 Mbps |
| Upload Speed | 480 Mbps | 360 Mbps |
| Latency | 12 ms | 21 ms |
| Protocols | NordLynx (WireGuard), OpenVPN, IKEv2 | WireGuard, OpenVPN |
| Encryption | AES-256-GCM | AES-256-GCM |
| Kill Switch | Yes | Yes |
| Split Tunneling | Yes | Yes |
| No-Logs Policy | Verified | Verified |
| Streaming Support | Yes | Yes |
| Torrenting | Yes | Yes |
| Jurisdiction | Panama | United States |
| Money-Back Guarantee | 30 days | 30 days |
In our March 2026 speed tests, NordVPN achieved download speeds of 890 Mbps compared to Private Internet Access's 770 Mbps. This gives NordVPN a clear speed advantage, although both VPNs are fast enough for 4K streaming and gaming.
Upload speeds tell a similar story: NordVPN at 480 Mbps versus Private Internet Access at 360 Mbps. For latency-sensitive tasks like gaming, NordVPN's 12 ms average ping beats Private Internet Access's 21 ms.
Both NordVPN and Private Internet Access offer AES-256-GCM encryption and maintain no-logs policies. NordVPN is based in Panama while Private Internet Access operates from United States. Both passed our DNS, WebRTC, and IPv6 leak tests without issues.
While both are excellent VPNs, NordVPN edges ahead with a 9.7/10 rating compared to Private Internet Access's 8.8/10. NordVPN offers faster speeds, more servers, and premium features that justify the investment.
That said, Private Internet Access is still a strong choice, especially if you value open source. You cannot go wrong with either option.