What is the difference between NordVPN and Private Internet Access?

NordVPN is best for Anyone wanting fast, secure VPN with lots of servers, while Private Internet Access is best for Privacy-focused users who want a proven no-logs VPN with open-source transparency. NordVPN starts at $3.99/mo and Private Internet Access starts at $2.03/mo.

NordVPN vs Private Internet Access

NordVPN is VPN service with 5,000+ servers, double VPN, and threat protection, while Private Internet Access is Long-established VPN provider with open-source apps and a proven no-logs policy. Private Internet Access comes in cheaper, but price alone does not tell the full story. NordVPN is built for anyone wanting fast, secure vpn with lots of servers, whereas Private Internet Access targets privacy-focused users who want a proven no-logs vpn with open-source transparency.

At a glance

	NordVPN	Private Internet Access
Best for	Anyone wanting fast, secure VPN with lots of servers	Privacy-focused users who want a proven no-logs VPN with open-source transparency
Starting price	$3.99/mo	$2.03/mo
Free tier	—	—
Open source	—	✓
Free tier available	—	—
Open source	—	✓
35000+ servers	—	✓
5000+ Servers	✓	—
Double VPN	✓	—
Meshnet	✓	—
No-logs	—	✓
Open source	—	✓
Threat Protection	✓	—
Unlimited connections	—	✓
VPN	—	✓

NordVPN

Strengths

Includes 5000+ Servers as a core feature, purpose-built for vpn workflows
Includes Double VPN as a core feature, purpose-built for vpn workflows
Affordable at $3.99/mo — one of the lower-priced options in the vpn category
Established product with 14+ years on the market and a mature ecosystem

Weaknesses

No free plan — you need to pay $3.99/mo from day one to use it
Fewer built-in features means you may need additional tools to cover gaps
Ecosystem of third-party integrations is smaller than the market leaders in vpn
Limited team/admin features if your organization eventually scales up

Try NordVPN → Full review

Private Internet Access

Strengths

No-logs policy proven in court — twice
All apps are open source for transparency
35,000+ servers — largest server network of any VPN
Very affordable on long-term plans

Weaknesses

Owned by Kape Technologies (formerly Crossrider) — controversial parent company
Based in the US — Five Eyes jurisdiction
Speeds can be inconsistent on some servers
Interface is functional but not as polished as NordVPN

Try Private Internet Access → Full review

The bottom line

Pricing: NordVPN starts at $3.99/mo. Private Internet Access starts at $2.03/mo. Private Internet Access is the more affordable option.

Feature gaps: NordVPN offers 5000+ Servers, Double VPN and Meshnet that Private Internet Access lacks. Private Internet Access brings 35000+ servers, No-logs and Open source that NordVPN does not have.

Open source: Private Internet Access is open source, meaning you can self-host, audit the code, and avoid vendor lock-in. NordVPN is proprietary — you are trusting the vendor with your data and uptime.

Where each tool shines: NordVPN's biggest strengths are: includes 5000+ servers as a core feature, purpose-built for vpn workflows. includes double vpn as a core feature, purpose-built for vpn workflows. Private Internet Access's biggest strengths are: no-logs policy proven in court — twice. all apps are open source for transparency.

Watch out for: With NordVPN, users commonly note that no free plan — you need to pay $3.99/mo from day one to use it. With Private Internet Access, the main complaint is that owned by kape technologies (formerly crossrider) — controversial parent company.

Choose NordVPN if...

You need a tool built for anyone wanting fast, secure vpn with lots of servers
You specifically need 5000+ Servers and Double VPN
You care about includes double vpn as a core feature, purpose-built for vpn workflows

Choose Private Internet Access if...

You need a tool built for privacy-focused users who want a proven no-logs vpn with open-source transparency
You want to save on per-user costs — Private Internet Access is $1.96/user/mo cheaper
You need self-hosting, data sovereignty, or the ability to audit source code
You specifically need 35000+ servers and No-logs
You care about all apps are open source for transparency