Choosing the right VPN can feel like picking a needle from a haystack, right?
There are tons of options and confusing features, and you just want something that works!
If you’re stuck between Surfshark VPN and Private Internet Access (PIA), you’re not alone.
These two popular services often appear on “best of” lists, but which is your favorite?
In this head-to-head matchup, we’ll compare SurfsharkVPN vs Private Internet Access.
We’ll examine everything from speed and security to streaming and price so you can finally choose the perfect VPN for your needs.
Let’s dive in!
Overview
We’ve spent weeks testing both Surfshark VPN and Private Internet Access to give you the most accurate comparison.
We’ve run speed tests, checked security features, and even tried streaming from different countries.
Now, let’s see how they stack up!
It’s a fantastic choice for budget-conscious users or those who need to connect multiple devices.
Pricing: 30-day money-back guarantee. Plan starts at $1.99/month
Key Features:
- Split Tunneling
- Lightway Protocol
- TrustedServer Technology
Boost your online privacy with Private Internet Access. Experience a truly secure connection.
Pricing: 30-day money-back guarantee. Plan Starts at $2.03/month
Key Features:
- MACE ad blocker
- Advanced split tunneling
- Multi-Hop
What is Surfshark VPN?
Have you ever wished for an invisibility cloak online? That’s kind of what Surfshark VPN does!
It hides your internet activity, making it look like you’re browsing from a different location.
This will protect your data from snoopers and allow you to easily access websites or content that might be blocked in your region.
Pretty cool, right?
Also, explore our favorite Surfshark alternatives…
Our Take
Surfshark VPN is popular because it offers an outstanding balance of features, security, and price. It’s a fantastic choice for budget-conscious users or those who need to connect multiple devices.
Key Benefits
- Unlimited simultaneous connections: Connect all your devices!
- Affordable price: Great value for your money.
- Strong security features: Includes AES-256 encryption and a kill switch.
- Fast speeds: Good for streaming and downloading.
- 30-day money-back guarantee: Plenty of time to try it out.
Pricing
All the Pricing Billed Annually.
- Surfshark Starter: $1.99/month + 3 Extra months
- Surfshark One: $3.19/month + 3 Extra months.
- Surfshark One+: $15.145/month
Pros
Cons
What is Private Internet Access?
Looking for a VPN that’s serious about privacy? Then, you need to check out Private Internet Access (PIA).
They’ve been around for ages and have a solid reputation for keeping your data safe & sound.
There are no complicated setups, just powerful protection for all your online activities.
Also, explore our favorite Private Internet Access alternatives…
Our Take
Unleash your online freedom with Private Internet Access! Connect an unlimited number of devices simultaneously to a vast network of 35,000+ servers across 91 countries. Start your journey to a more private internet today!
Key Benefits
- Extensive server network: Over 35,912 servers in 84 countries.
- Strong security: Uses AES-256 encryption and has a kill switch.
- Affordable price: Offers competitive plans.
- Ten simultaneous connections: Protect all your devices.
Pricing
- 2 Years + 2 Months Free: $2.19/month.
- 6 Months: $7.50/month.
All plans include unlimited bandwidth and access to all server locations.
Pros
Cons
Feature Comparison
Choosing between two major privacy tools requires close scrutiny of features, value, and overall infrastructure.
This detailed surfshark vpn review and deep dive into PIA’s features will help vpn users decide which virtual private network best secures their digital presence.
1. Global Server Network and Reach
- Surfshark: Boasts over 3,200 vpn servers across 100 country server locations, offering wider geographical coverage. It uses virtual servers to maintain presence in restricted areas, ensuring a broad vpn service.
- Private Internet Access: Operates a massive network of over 35,000 vpn servers in 91 country server locations. While offering fewer country server locations, the high vpn server count minimizes congestion and is noted in every private internet access review.
2. Simultaneous Connections and Device Limits
- Surfshark: A primary advantage is the allowance for unlimited simultaneous connections on a single account, providing excellent value for multiple devices.
- Private Internet Access: Also supports unlimited simultaneous connections, making PIA VPN an equally strong competitor for users who need to protect many devices at once.
3. Core Security Features and Kill Switch
- Surfshark: Includes a reliable kill switch feature on its major clients to immediately cut network traffic if the connection to surfshark servers is lost, preventing data leaks outside the vpn tunnel.
- Private Internet Access: Features an advanced kill switch and robust encryption. PIA’s commitment to security means network traffic is protected, and they have been tested private internet access numerous times to confirm their security claims.
4. IP Address Management and Specialization
- Surfshark: Offers dedicated ip addresses (for an added cost) and a rotating ip address feature. You can choose to maintain the same ip address for consistency when needed.
- Private Internet Access: Also offers a dedicated ip address option. Its vast network means it has an enormous pool of changing ip addresses to ensure user anonymity during every session.
5. Logging Policy and Audits
- Surfshark: Follows a strict no logs policy, which has been independently audited, affirming that no sensitive user data is stored on surfshark servers.
- Private Internet Access: Maintains a verified no logs policy that has been proven multiple times in court cases, cementing its reputation as a privacy-focused vpn provider. The private internet access review frequently highlights this commitment.
6. VPN Protocols and Customization
- Surfshark: Relies primarily on the WireGuard and OpenVPN protocol, focusing on speed and simplicity in its surfshark app.
- Private Internet Access: Highly customizable, allowing vpn users to adjust encryption levels and ports. It supports the WireGuard and openvpn protocol, catering to advanced vpn users who value control over their vpn protocols.
7. Geo-Unblocking and Streaming Services
- Surfshark: Known for its strong ability to unblock major streaming services like Netflix, its surfshark servers are optimized to reliably provide a high-quality vpn service for entertainment.
- Private Internet Access: While it has vastly improved, the private internet access vpn can be less consistent than Surfshark in bypassing streaming services geo-restrictions, though it performs well on its dedicated streaming servers.
8. Traffic Control: Split Tunneling
- Surfshark: Includes a feature called “Bypasser,” which provides split tunneling functionality, letting users decide which apps or websites bypass the secure vpn tunnel.
- Private Internet Access: Features fully customizable split tunneling (on desktop and android app clients), allowing vpn users to granularly control which applications pass through the VPN and which use their normal ip addresses.
9. App Design and Browser Extensions
- Surfshark: Offers highly polished, user-friendly applications across all platforms, including a well-designed android app, and comprehensive browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox.
- Private Internet Access: Provides feature-rich, customizable vpn app clients, which may appear more complex for novice vpn users. It also offers excellent browser extensions that provide additional features beyond the standard vpn service.
What to Look for in a VPN?
Here are some quick tips to help you choose the right VPN:
- Free VPNs are tempting but often come with limitations or risks. It’s usually better to invest in a reputable paid service.
- Consider your specific needs. Do you need a VPN for easy streaming, torrenting, or simply browsing securely?
- Check the VPN’s logging policy. Make sure they don’t store your data.
- Look for a VPN with a vast server network. This gives you more options for bypassing geo restrictions and finding faster speeds.
- Read reviews and compare features. See what other users are saying about different VPN providers.
- Test the VPN with a money-back guarantee. This lets you try it risk free before committing to a long-term plan.
Final Verdict
Both VPN services are excellent choices in the battle of Surfshark vs Private Internet Access.
However, for us, Surfshark emerges as the winner.
Its impressive speeds, unlimited simultaneous connections, and user-friendly interface make it a fantastic all-rounder.
Ultimately, the best choice fully depends on your individual needs.
If you prioritize speed and the ability to use a VPN on all your devices, Surfshark is the best option.
PIA is a solid option if privacy and a vast server network are more critical.
Regardless of which you choose, Surfshark and Private Internet Access offer secure VPN experiences that will keep your online activity safe and private.
Trust our in-depth analysis to help you make an informed decision and choose the perfect VPN for your needs in 2024!
More of Surfshark VPN
We’ve looked at alternatives to SurfsharkVPN, so how does SurfsharkVPN stack up directly against them?
- SurfsharkVPN vs NordVPN: It allows unlimited device connections, whereas NordVPN offers a larger server network.
- SurfsharkVPN vs ExpressVPN: It is generally more affordable and allows unlimited devices, while ExpressVPN is known for its consistent speeds and strong reputation.
- SurfsharkVPN vs PureVPN: It is often faster and has more features, while PureVPN boasts a larger server count. Surfshark has better streaming support in tests.
- SurfsharkVPN vs ProtonVPN: It is generally more affordable and allows unlimited connections, while ProtonVPN focuses on strong security and privacy, and can be slightly faster.
- SurfsharkVPN vs PrivadoVPN: It offers unlimited connections and more features, often at a better long-term price, while PrivadoVPN has a decent free plan but a smaller server network.
- SurfsharkVPN vs AdGuard VPN: It is a comprehensive VPN with more features, while AdGuard VPN’s strength is its ad-blocking integration.
- SurfsharkVPN vs Virtual Shield: It offers more features and better performance than the simpler Virtual Shield.
- SurfsharkVPN vs StrongVPN: It allows unlimited connections and often has better pricing, while StrongVPN is known for strong encryption.
- SurfsharkVPN vs FastestVPN: It generally offers more features and better performance than the budget-friendly FastestVPN.
- SurfsharkVPN vs AuraVPN: It focuses on VPN features and unlimited connections, while AuraVPN includes identity theft protection.
- SurfsharkVPN vs CyberGhost: It allows unlimited connections and often has better long-term pricing, while CyberGhost has user-friendly apps and specialized servers.
- SurfsharkVPN vs McAfee VPN: It is a dedicated VPN service with more features and better performance than the basic VPN from McAfee.
- SurfsharkVPN vs Private Internet Access: It allows unlimited connections and often has better streaming capabilities, while PIA is known for customization and a large server network.
- SurfsharkVPN vs Mysterium: It uses a traditional server network known for speed and features, while Mysterium is a decentralized VPN.
More of Private Internet Access
We’ve explored alternatives to Private Internet Access, so how does Private Internet Access compare to them?
- Private Internet Access vs NordVPN: PIA offers more simultaneous connections and a larger server count, while NordVPN provides faster speeds and better streaming support.
- Private Internet Access vs ExpressVPN: It is known for its consistently fast speeds, user-friendly apps, and reliable unblocking of streaming services. While PIA offers a larger server network and allows unlimited connections, ExpressVPN often provides a smoother and faster overall experience, especially for streaming.
- Private Internet Access vs PureVPN: PIA generally offers faster and more consistent speeds, along with unlimited simultaneous connections. While PureVPN boasts a larger server count and can unblock more streaming services in some tests, PIA’s performance and strong focus on security often give it an edge.
- Private Internet Access vs SurfsharkVPN: It is often more affordable, especially for long-term plans, and allows unlimited connections. While PIA has a larger server network, Surfshark generally provides faster speeds, better apps, and more features, making it a strong all-around competitor.
- Private Internet Access vs ProtonVPN: It emphasizes strong security and privacy with features like Secure Core servers and a transparent approach. While PIA offers faster speeds on nearby servers and allows unlimited connections, ProtonVPN’s focus on privacy and consistent performance on international servers makes it a strong contender for privacy-conscious users.
- Private Internet Access vs AdGuard VPN: It’s primary strength lies in its integration with ad and tracker blocking. PIA is a more comprehensive VPN service offering a wider range of server locations and functionalities beyond ad blocking.
- Private Internet Access vs Virtual Shield: PIA offers a more extensive server network, stronger security features, and generally better performance than the simpler Virtual Shield.
- Private Internet Access vs StrongVPN: Both VPNs offer strong encryption, but PIA boasts a significantly larger server network and allows unlimited connections, providing greater flexibility.
- Private Internet Access vs FastestVPN: PIA generally offers a larger server network and more robust security features than FastestVPN, which is budget-friendly.
- Private Internet Access vs AuraVPN: It includes identity theft protection alongside its VPN. PIA focuses on providing a secure and private VPN connection with a large server network and unlimited connections.
- Private Internet Access vs CyberGhost: It is known for its user-friendly apps and specialized servers for various online activities. PIA offers a larger server network and unlimited connections, appealing to users with many devices.
- Private Internet Access vs McAfee VPN: PIA is a dedicated VPN service with a wider range of features and better performance than the basic VPN included with McAfee’s security suite.
- Private Internet Access vs Mysterium: PIA uses a traditional server network known for its size and consistent performance. Mysterium is a decentralized VPN with a different approach to anonymity and potentially variable speeds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Surfshark VPN better than PIA?
It depends on your needs! Surfshark offers faster speeds and unlimited connections, while PIA boasts a more extensive server network and a stronger focus on privacy.
Can I use a free VPN instead?
While free VPNs exist, they often have limitations, such as data caps, slower speeds, and weaker security. Investing in a reputable paid VPN like Surfshark or PIA is generally recommended.
What is a VPN kill switch?
A kill switch is a most crucial security feature that automatically cuts your internet connection if your VPN connection drops. This prevents your data from being exposed.
Can I use a VPN for streaming?
Absolutely! Surfshark and PIA are great for streaming, allowing you to access geo restricted content on platforms like Netflix, Hulu, & more.
How do I choose the correct VPN server?
For optimal speed, choose a server that’s close to your location. If you’re trying to access geo-restricted content, select a server in the country where that content is available.
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