Detailed side-by-side comparison based on our March 2026 testing. Which VPN comes out on top?
| Feature | Surfshark | Private Internet Access |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 9.3/10 | 8.8/10 |
| Price (Best Plan) | $2.19/mo | $2.03/mo |
| Servers | 3,200+ | 35,000+ |
| Countries | 100 | 91 |
| Simultaneous Devices | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Download Speed | 830 Mbps | 770 Mbps |
| Upload Speed | 420 Mbps | 360 Mbps |
| Latency | 16 ms | 21 ms |
| Protocols | 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 | Netherlands | United States |
| Money-Back Guarantee | 30 days | 30 days |
In our March 2026 speed tests, Surfshark achieved download speeds of 830 Mbps compared to Private Internet Access's 770 Mbps. This gives Surfshark a clear speed advantage, although both VPNs are fast enough for 4K streaming and gaming.
Upload speeds tell a similar story: Surfshark at 420 Mbps versus Private Internet Access at 360 Mbps. For latency-sensitive tasks like gaming, Surfshark's 16 ms average ping beats Private Internet Access's 21 ms.
Both Surfshark and Private Internet Access offer AES-256-GCM encryption and maintain no-logs policies. Surfshark is based in Netherlands while Private Internet Access operates from United States. Both passed our DNS, WebRTC, and IPv6 leak tests without issues.
While both are excellent VPNs, Surfshark edges ahead with a 9.3/10 rating compared to Private Internet Access's 8.8/10. Surfshark offers faster speeds, 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.