Head-to-Head Comparison
Private Internet Access vs Proton VPN
Which VPN wins in 2026? We compared speed, security, streaming, and price.
Our recommendation
Proton VPN wins (8.8/10 vs 8.5/10)
Private Internet Access
8.5/10
PIA is the most customisable VPN with the largest server network. Fully open-source, court-proven no-logs policy, and extremely affordable.
Speed8.5
Security9.5
Streaming7.5
£2.03/mo
Get Private Internet Access30-day money back
Our Pick — Proton VPN wins
Proton VPN
8.8/10
Proton VPN is built by the team behind ProtonMail. Swiss jurisdiction, fully open-source, and the strongest security posture of any VPN we've reviewed.
Speed8.5
Security10.0
Streaming8.0
£3.99/mo
Get Proton VPN30-day money back
Score Breakdown
| Category | Private Internet Access | Proton VPN | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Score | 8.5/10 | 8.8/10 | Proton VPN |
| Speed | 8.5/10 | 8.5/10 | Tie |
| Security | 9.5/10 | 10/10 | Proton VPN |
| Streaming | 7.5/10 | 8/10 | Proton VPN |
| Torrenting | 9.5/10 | 8.5/10 | Private Internet Access |
| Ease of Use | 7.5/10 | 8/10 | Proton VPN |
| Value | 9.5/10 | 8.5/10 | Private Internet Access |
| Support | 8/10 | 8/10 | Tie |
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Private Internet Access | Proton VPN |
|---|---|---|
| Servers | 35,000+ | 3,000+ |
| Countries | 91 | 91 |
| Simultaneous Devices | 10 | 10 |
| Jurisdiction | USA (5 Eyes) | Switzerland (not in 14 Eyes) |
| Kill Switch | ||
| No-Logs Audited | ||
| Ad Blocker | ||
| Double VPN | ||
| Split Tunneling | ||
| Port Forwarding |
Our Verdict
Proton VPN wins this comparison with a score of 8.8/10 vs Private Internet Access's 8.5/10. Proton VPN is built by the team behind ProtonMail. Swiss jurisdiction, fully open-source, and the strongest security posture of any VPN we've reviewed.