Both VPNs offer full leak protection against IPv6, DNS, and WebRTC leaks.
I connected to more than 20 different servers from each provider and never experienced any leaks during my tests.
I like that both NordVPN and PIA have other advanced security features.
They both run on RAM-only servers and use perfect forward secrecy.
Plus, both VPNs have very secure protocols, including OpenVPN and IKEv2.
PIA also has WireGuard an open-source protocol thats fast and reliable.
NordVPN has its own proprietary protocol called NordLynx, which is built around the WireGuard protocol.
Extra Features Both VPNs Have Great Additional Features
NordVPN and PIA both offer plenty of convenient features.
I think PIAs split-tunneling is better because it lets you split-tunnel both apps and IP addresses.
NordVPN only lets you split-tunnel apps.
I was also happy to see that both VPNs come with obfuscation.
Both VPNs come with an ad blocker PIA has MACE, and NordVPN has Threat Protection Pro.
Its also great that both NordVPN and Private Internet Access have a smart DNS.
PIA also has port forwarding, which helps you increase your P2P speeds by connecting to more peers.
And NordVPN has 2 more features that PIA lacks: double VPN servers and Meshnet.
PIA also has port forwarding, while NordVPN has double VPN servers and Meshnet.
Privacy Both VPNs Are Excellent Options
Both NordVPN and PIA provide top-notch privacy.
They have strict no-logs policies that have been independently audited and confirmed.
Finally, both VPNs accept cryptocurrency payments, which provide much better privacy than regular payment methods.
NordVPN is also located in a privacy-friendly country, and both VPNs accept cryptocurrency payments.
NordVPNs servers are well spread in 118 countries, whereas PIA has servers in 91 countries.
NordVPN and PIA both use physical servers and virtual servers.
VPN providers usually opt for virtual servers due to restrictive governments or poor internet infrastructure in certain countries.
Regardless, virtual servers are just as safe as physical servers.
These servers are configured to refresh their IPs very often to avoid detection and blocks.
PIA and NordVPN also support obfuscation on their servers.
NordVPN has 100+ obfuscated servers in 15+ countries, and PIA allows obfuscation on servers in 5+ countries.
Also, it has double VPN servers as well.
Finally, for an extra cost, both VPNs provide access to dedicated IP address servers.
In my speed tests, PIA had really fast speeds on both nearby and distant servers.
NordVPN was also fast on nearby servers, but there were slowdowns on distant servers.
I maintained really fast connections for streaming, browsing, and torrenting on both nearby and distant servers.
With NordVPN, I had fast speeds on nearby servers, but I experienced some slowdowns on distant servers.
Streaming Both VPNs Are Great for Streaming
Both providers have good streaming support.
In addition to that, both VPNs come with a smart DNS.
Winner (Streaming): Its a tie
Both VPN providers are great options for streaming.
On top of that, they both offer a smart DNS, and NordVPN also comes with SmartPlay.
Torrenting Both VPNs Are Good Picks
You get great P2P support with either VPN.
PIA supports torrenting on servers in 91 countries, while NordVPN has P2P servers in 110+ countries.
Both VPNs work great with top P2P apps.
I tested them with Vuze, BitTorrent, and uTorrent and never experienced any issues.
PIA also has port forwarding, which increases torrenting speeds by allowing you to connect to more peers.
Plus, both Private Internet Access and NordVPN offer excellent security for torrenting.
They have a strict no-logs policy that has been audited, a kill switch, and full leak protection.
Winner (Torrenting): Its a tie
Both VPNs are great for torrenting.
PIA also has port forwarding, but NordVPN can protect you from malware-infected torrents.
Gaming Both VPNs Provide a Great Experience
I had a great gaming experience with both VPNs.
And both VPNs protect you from Distributed-Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks because they change your IP address.
Unfortunately, neither VPN offers cloud gaming support.
Winner (Gaming): Its a tie
I had a great gaming experience with both VPNs.
PIA also has anti-DDoS protection on all servers, while NordVPN comes with Meshnet.
So I dont recommend using NordVPN in regions like China, Iran, and Saudi Arabia.
NordVPN also has an app for Chromebook.
Additionally, both VPNs support manual router setups.
They also have great desktop apps that are super intuitive.
But things can get a little bit complicated with NordVPN if you have a Mac.
Finally, you could set up both VPNs on your router.
I like how both providers have helpful tutorials that make the setup process pretty straightforward.
And it’s possible for you to also configure both VPNs on your router.
Private Internet Access also has a 1-month plan, a 6-month plan, and a 2-year plan.
The 2-year plan starts at IDR34,420 / month and provides the best value.
NordVPN has monthly and annual plans that offer tier-based subscriptions:Basic, Plus,andUltimate.
ThePlussubscription (costs IDR67,650 / month) adds Threat Protection Pro and also a password manager.
And theUltimatesubscription adds a cloud encryption service and protection against cyber extortion and identity theft.
Its longest plan is much more affordable than NordVPNs longest plan.
Also, NordVPN only allows 10 connections, whereas PIA supports unlimited connections.
Plus, both VPNs have 24/7 live chat.
I also tested each VPNs email support and had good results.
Overall Winner:Private Internet Access
Private Internet Access has great security, and great P2P support.
NordVPN has strong security and privacy features and includes useful extra features.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Private Internet Access better than NordVPN?
Which one is better for streaming Private Internet Access or NordVPN?
Is NordVPN faster than Private Internet Access?
No, as I had faster speeds with Private Internet Access.
NordVPN was also pretty fast, but I experienced slowdowns while connected to distant servers.
Which one is more secure Private Internet Access or NordVPN?
Both Private Internet Access and NordVPN have advanced security features.
Read more about the best VPNs in 2025
