Private Internet Access

VS

Proton VPN

VPNs Comparison

Private Internet Access vs Proton VPN: Side-by-Side Comparison

Private Internet Access
Proton VPN
Rating
★★★★★★★★★★
4.4/5
★★★★★★★★★★
4.6/5
Free Tier
No
Yes
Trial Days
30-day trial
30-day trial
Pricing
3-year plan from $2.03/month. 1-year plan $3.33/month. 1-month plan $11.99/month.
Free tier available. Plus from $4.99/month (2-year). Proton Unlimited from $7.99/month.
Company
Kape Technologies
Proton AG
Founded
2010
2017
Best For
Privacy-aware power users wanting open-source audited VPN at the most affordable long-term price
Privacy advocates wanting an audited open-source VPN with free tier and Swiss legal protection

Pros & Cons

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Private Internet Access

35,000+ servers is the largest VPN server network available by raw count
Open-source Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android apps with published audit results
MACE feature blocks ads, trackers, and malware at the DNS level
WireGuard and OpenVPN support gives maximum flexibility for advanced users
10 simultaneous connections on a budget-friendly subscription price
US-based jurisdiction subject to US law enforcement data requests
Interface is less polished than premium competitors for non-technical users

Proton VPN

Based in Switzerland with the strongest legal privacy protections of any VPN jurisdiction
Open-source apps with published code independently audited by SEC Consult
Secure Core routes traffic through privacy-safe countries before exiting to destination
Free tier available with no data limits and no ads or tracking
Netshield ad-blocker and Stealth protocol included on all paid plans
Speeds on the free plan are noticeably slower due to server congestion
Fewer total servers than NordVPN or Surfshark limits server selection variety

Use Case Analysis

Which is better for Privacy?

Both Private Internet Access and Proton VPN support Privacy workflows. Proton VPN has a slight edge with a 4.6 rating and Only major VPN with fully audited open-source apps and a genuinely unlimited free tier. If Privacy is your primary use case, Proton VPN is the safer pick.

Which is better for No Logs?

Both Private Internet Access and Proton VPN support No Logs workflows. Proton VPN has a slight edge with a 4.6 rating and Only major VPN with fully audited open-source apps and a genuinely unlimited free tier. If No Logs is your primary use case, Proton VPN is the safer pick.

Which is better for Encryption?

Both Private Internet Access and Proton VPN support Encryption workflows. Proton VPN has a slight edge with a 4.6 rating and Only major VPN with fully audited open-source apps and a genuinely unlimited free tier. If Encryption is your primary use case, Proton VPN is the safer pick.

Which is better for Streaming?

Both Private Internet Access and Proton VPN support Streaming workflows. Proton VPN has a slight edge with a 4.6 rating and Only major VPN with fully audited open-source apps and a genuinely unlimited free tier. If Streaming is your primary use case, Proton VPN is the safer pick.

Which is better for Kill Switch?

Both Private Internet Access and Proton VPN support Kill Switch workflows. Proton VPN has a slight edge with a 4.6 rating and Only major VPN with fully audited open-source apps and a genuinely unlimited free tier. If Kill Switch is your primary use case, Proton VPN is the safer pick.

Verdict

Proton VPN edges out Private Internet Access with a 4.6 vs 4.4 rating. Proton VPN's main advantage: Only major VPN with fully audited open-source apps and a genuinely unlimited free tier. That said, Private Internet Access may still be the better choice if Privacy-aware power users wanting open-source audited VPN at the most affordable long-term price.

Try Them Yourself

The best way to choose is to trial both. See full details on each:

Visit Private Internet Access Try for Free

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