NordVPN vs Private Internet Access: more countries and features, or unlimited devices and flat renewals
By Jean Luc Poitier, SEO and growth marketing strategist · NordVPN Reviews · Updated November 3, 2026
NordVPN is the stronger all-rounder: servers in 150 countries against PIA's 113, malware and scam blocking and Meshnet in the app, six no-logs reviews to PIA's three, and a PCMag Editors' Choice (PIA scores 4.0 without one). It rates higher on Google Play, from many more ratings.
Pick PIA if you have a lot of devices or want a low price that stays low. It allows unlimited connections, its plans renew at the price you paid, its apps are open source, and it offers port forwarding and servers in all 50 US states.
NordVPN vs PIA at a glance
| Compared on | NordVPN | PIA |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest price | Basic: $3.49/mo, $94.23 for 27 months | $2.03/mo on 3 years + 4 months (sale price, Nov 3, 2026) |
| 1-year plan | $74.85 for 15 months | $47.88 |
| Month to month | $14.99 / $19.99 / $29.99 by plan | $11.95 |
| After the first term | Basic renews at $139.08/yr | Same price: $47.88/yr, or $81.20 every 3 years |
| Free option | No free plan; 7-day trial on Prime in some countries | No free plan; 7-day trial on iOS |
| Refund | 30 days | 30 days, new customers buying direct |
| Devices | 10 | Unlimited |
| Servers | 7,200+ in 150 countries | Count not published; 113 countries, all 50 US states, some virtual |
| No-logs reviews | Six (PwC 2018, 2020; Deloitte 2022 to 2025) | Three (Deloitte 2022, 2024, 2025) |
| Extras | Malware and scam blocking, Meshnet, double VPN, dedicated IP add-on | Ad, tracker, and malware blocking, port forwarding, open-source apps, dedicated IP add-on |
| Company | Nord Security (Lithuania); sold from Panama | Private Internet Access, Inc. (US); owned by Kape Technologies |
| PCMag | Editors' Choice, 4.5 (Apr 2026) | 4.0, no Editors' Choice (Apr 2026) |
| App Store (US) | 4.7 from 712,373 ratings | 4.7 from 150,163 ratings |
| Google Play (US) | 4.6 from 1,375,260 ratings | 4.4 from 109,095 ratings |
| Trustpilot, invited | 4.74 (127 recent reviews, to Nov 3, 2026) | 4.79 (72 recent reviews, to Nov 1, 2026) |
| Trustpilot, unprompted | 2.7 (23 recent reviews, to Nov 3, 2026) | 2.6 (28 recent reviews, to Nov 1, 2026) |
Figures checked against each company's published pages and review-platform listings as of 2026-11-03. “Not published” means the company does not publish that figure.
Price: PIA renews at what you paid
PIA was running a Black Friday sale when we checked: $2.03 a month on a 3-year plan with 4 extra months, renewing at $81.20 every 3 years. Its 1-year plan is $47.88 and renews at $47.88. NordVPN Basic is $94.23 for 27 months, and then $139.08 a year. Over three or four years, PIA costs a fraction of NordVPN Basic. NordVPN's Complete and Prime plans add a password manager, cloud storage, and identity tools; PIA sells antivirus and a dedicated IP as add-ons.
Devices, network, and features
PIA puts no limit on devices, against NordVPN's 10. It covers 113 countries and has locations in every US state; NordVPN covers 150 countries with 7,200+ servers. PIA offers port forwarding, which NordVPN doesn't, and publishes its apps as open source. NordVPN adds Meshnet for linking your own devices and blocks malware and scam sites on its higher plans; PIA's apps block ads, trackers, and malware domains through DNS.
No-logs audits and ownership
Deloitte Audit Romania has checked PIA's no-logs setup three times, in 2022, 2024, and 2025. NordVPN's policy has been reviewed six times, by PwC in 2018 and 2020 and by Deloitte from 2022 to 2025. PIA is based in Denver and owned by Kape Technologies, the parent of ExpressVPN and CyberGhost. NordVPN is part of Nord Security.
What NordVPN and PIA reviewers say
Both invite Trustpilot reviews, and the two are level among invited reviewers: PIA's 72 most recent averaged 4.79 and NordVPN's 127 averaged 4.74. Unprompted reviews were close too, 2.7 for NordVPN from 23 and 2.6 for PIA from 28. On the App Store both rate 4.7; on Google Play NordVPN rates 4.6 to PIA's 4.4. Long-time PIA customers praise the price and simple apps; critics mention connections that time out and refunds.
“Very light software, no bloat at all. Simple subscription plans and easy to share with family members.”Jonah Levy, Trustpilot, August 2026 (PIA)
“Consistently times out/refuses to connect.”Chris Tookey, Trustpilot, October 2026 (PIA)
“NordVPN provides great value.”Brummie, Trustpilot, October 2026 (NordVPN)
See every NordVPN review we track, or how NordVPN compares with ExpressVPN, another Kape brand.
Where PIA wins
- Unlimited devices on one subscription, against NordVPN's 10
- Renewals at the price you paid: $47.88 a year, or $81.20 every 3 years
- Port forwarding, which NordVPN doesn't offer
- Open-source apps
- Server locations in all 50 US states
NordVPN vs PIA FAQ
Is NordVPN or PIA cheaper?+
PIA. On November 3, 2026 its 1-year plan was $47.88 and renews at the same $47.88, and its 3-year plan with 4 extra months renews at $81.20 every 3 years (a sale price at the time). NordVPN Basic is $94.23 for 27 months and renews at $139.08 a year. Month to month, PIA is $11.95 and NordVPN $14.99.
Who owns Private Internet Access?+
Private Internet Access, Inc. is based in Denver, Colorado. Its privacy policy names Kape Technologies, which also owns ExpressVPN and CyberGhost. NordVPN belongs to Nord Security, the same group as Surfshark.
How many devices can I use with NordVPN and PIA?+
PIA allows unlimited devices at once on one subscription. NordVPN allows 10.
Has PIA's no-logs policy been audited?+
Yes, three times by Deloitte Audit Romania (2022, 2024, and 2025). NordVPN's has been reviewed six times, by PwC in 2018 and 2020 and by Deloitte from 2022 to 2025.