Private Internet Access

VS

Surfshark

VPNs Comparison

Private Internet Access vs Surfshark: Side-by-Side Comparison

Private Internet Access
Surfshark
Rating
★★★★★★★★★★
4.4/5
★★★★★★★★★★
4.5/5
Free Tier
No
No
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.
Starter from $2.49/month (2-year). One from $3.49/month. One+ from $5.99/month.
Company
Kape Technologies
Surfshark B.V.
Founded
2010
2018
Best For
Privacy-aware power users wanting open-source audited VPN at the most affordable long-term price
Families or teams needing VPN on every device simultaneously without per-device restrictions

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

Surfshark

Unlimited simultaneous device connections on a single subscription
CleanWeb blocks ads and malware with significantly fewer ads than browsing without VPN
Nexus IP rotation changes your IP address continuously without dropping connection
Camouflage mode hides VPN usage from ISPs in countries monitoring VPN traffic
Budget-friendly pricing especially on 2-year plans compared to Nord or Express
Speeds are slightly inconsistent across different server locations
No-logs audit is less frequent than competitors who audit annually

Use Case Analysis

Which is better for Privacy?

Both Private Internet Access and Surfshark support Privacy workflows. Surfshark has a slight edge with a 4.5 rating and Unlimited device connections make it the best family or team VPN at the lowest price per user. If Privacy is your primary use case, Surfshark is the safer pick.

Which is better for No Logs?

Both Private Internet Access and Surfshark support No Logs workflows. Surfshark has a slight edge with a 4.5 rating and Unlimited device connections make it the best family or team VPN at the lowest price per user. If No Logs is your primary use case, Surfshark is the safer pick.

Which is better for Encryption?

Both Private Internet Access and Surfshark support Encryption workflows. Surfshark has a slight edge with a 4.5 rating and Unlimited device connections make it the best family or team VPN at the lowest price per user. If Encryption is your primary use case, Surfshark is the safer pick.

Which is better for Streaming?

Both Private Internet Access and Surfshark support Streaming workflows. Surfshark has a slight edge with a 4.5 rating and Unlimited device connections make it the best family or team VPN at the lowest price per user. If Streaming is your primary use case, Surfshark is the safer pick.

Verdict

Surfshark edges out Private Internet Access with a 4.5 vs 4.4 rating. Surfshark's main advantage: Unlimited device connections make it the best family or team VPN at the lowest price per user. 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 Start Free Trial

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