NordVPN vs Private Internet Access

Start with the operating system

PIA is a strong documented candidate if you need app routing on Linux or a supported Mac setup. Its desktop rules can require selected apps to use a VPN or let others bypass it, and Windows/Linux have DNS-rule options. NordVPN’s Linux Allowlist instead exempts ports and subnets; its app splitting is documented for Windows and Android.

NordVPN can make sense if you want its particular app ecosystem, have no need for those desktop routing choices and will stay within 10 simultaneous connections. The Windows App Kill Switch is also a distinct feature: it closes chosen programs rather than merely blocking their network traffic.

We compare documentation and subscription terms checked on 13 October 2026. We have not run independent speed, DNS leak, streaming or hands-on app tests, so these are assessments of feature fit rather than performance rankings.

Selected plans and documented features; checked 13 October 2026

Compare
Selected plan	Basic	VPN
Initial payment · USD	$94.23	$46.54
Initial months	27	26
Monthly equivalent	$3.49 (upfront plan)	$1.79 (upfront plan)
Quoted renewal	$139.08 / 12 months	Annual; check current table
Simultaneous devices	10	Unlimited
Split tunneling	Windows, Android and Android TV app rules; Linux port/subnet Allowlist. No documented Mac or iOS app splitting.	Windows, macOS and Linux app rules; Android per-app settings. iOS app splitting is unverified.
Refund policy	30-day initial-purchase guarantee, with eligibility and purchase-channel conditions.	30-day refund policy; current terms include initial purchases and renewals, subject to eligibility.
Details	NordVPN review Offer and sources	PIA review Offer and sources

USD quotes checked 13 October 2026, before applicable tax. Currency, campaign and checkout prices can vary. Monthly rates are equivalents of upfront payments. How pricing works.

PIA asks for less upfront, but its renewal is not shown

The selected NordVPN Basic quote is $94.23 for 27 months, at $3.49 per month equivalent. PIA’s current deal, the one our offer button opens, is $46.54 for 2 years plus 2 months, or 26 months: $46.54 ÷ 26 = $1.79 per month equivalent. PIA asks for $47.69 less upfront ($94.23 − $46.54), while NordVPN’s first term lasts one month longer.

The renewal is where the comparison stops. NordVPN Basic renews at $139.08 a year, or $11.59 a month, so keeping it through one renewal costs $233.31 for 39 months. PIA’s deal page says the plan renews “yearly thereafter” but does not print the amount. PIA’s public plans page lists other plans with their own renewal amounts, not this deal, so we do not borrow those figures. Until PIA shows the renewal amount, any combined first-term-plus-renewal comparison would be a guess. Look for it at checkout, and if it is shown, record it with your confirmation.

A lower first bill is not automatically better value. If you only need short-term coverage, look at the shorter plans: PIA’s deal page lists 6 months for $45.00, only $1.54 less than its 26-month deal, and a monthly plan at $11.95. NordVPN’s monthly Basic plan is $14.99. A low monthly equivalent can be poor value when most of the paid period goes unused.

Prices and currencies vary by location and campaign. The NordVPN coupon guide and PIA coupon guide explain the source quotes and the need to verify the live checkout.

Device allowance and apps

NordVPN documents 10 simultaneous connections. PIA documents unlimited simultaneous connections. A household with several always-connected laptops, phones and TVs may find that difference useful, while one person with a few devices may not need an unlimited allowance.

Both providers list common desktop and mobile apps, TV support and browser extensions. The actual app and operating system determine available settings. Router-based coverage requires compatible hardware and does not automatically reproduce per-app controls from a desktop app.

Neither allowance is a speed benchmark or permission to resell access. If several people share a connection, its capacity remains a practical constraint regardless of the subscription’s device count.

Desktop routing is PIA’s clearest distinction

Current PIA support describes desktop app rules on Windows, macOS and Linux. IP and subnet rules can bypass the tunnel, and the default route for other apps is configurable. Windows and Linux also document whether DNS follows app rules or uses the app’s configured resolver.

NordVPN’s Windows and Android splitting is app based, while its Linux Allowlist is port/subnet based and bypasses the kill switch for matching traffic. Mac and iOS app splitting are not documented in its current platform list. These designs are not interchangeable if your requirement is “this one desktop app must always use the VPN.”

PIA’s Mac marketing FAQ conflicts with newer support documentation. The current setup describes a network extension that needs approval, so use those specific instructions for the installed app. PIA’s iOS app-splitting claims also conflict across official pages, and we have not verified them. Avoid choosing either service on an unconfirmed iPhone app-routing promise.

Kill-switch details change by app

NordVPN’s Windows Internet Kill Switch blocks connectivity; App Kill Switch closes selected programs. Its support also warns about interactions with split-tunnel exclusions. The Mac website and App Store versions use different protection designs, which matters when following setup guides.

PIA’s desktop VPN Kill Switch covers connection loss. Advanced Kill Switch requires a VPN even when it is turned off, and its Windows guide says that advanced protection can persist with the app closed. PIA also has an “Only VPN” app-routing rule. Its iOS guide says protection covers unexpected drops and reconnection, but not manual disconnect.

For a Windows user who wants a selected program closed, NordVPN’s App Kill Switch is a specific reason to examine it. For a desktop user who wants connectivity blocked until a tunnel is active, compare PIA’s advanced mode and the exact NordVPN platform behavior. Read our kill-switch guide before treating every mode as the same.

Refund terms require a careful comparison

NordVPN’s ordinary guarantee covers eligible initial purchases, with purchase-channel and local-law qualifications. PIA’s current terms explicitly include requests within 30 days of initial purchase and/or renewal, while some marketing pages, including its deal page, refer only to new users.

This difference is relevant, but does not justify promising an approved refund. Verification requirements, prior-refund conditions and payment channels still apply. App-store purchases can use a different procedure. See the refund guide for the distinction between refund requests and stopping automatic renewal.

Which one belongs on your shortlist?

PIA has the stronger documented fit for Linux/Mac desktop app rules, Windows/Linux DNS choices and many simultaneous connections. Its current deal also asks for $47.69 less upfront, but its renewal amount is not shown, so the long-run cost cannot be compared yet. NordVPN is worth checking for its supported app setup, its published renewal price and Windows selected-app closure if those solve a specific need.

The remaining question is performance on your connection and devices. We have not measured it here. Make the final purchase from the current checkout and applicable terms, then verify the settings you intended to use instead of relying on a generic “best VPN” score.

Common questions

Which is cheaper, NordVPN or PIA?

For the first term, PIA: its deal is $46.54 for 26 months against NordVPN Basic’s $94.23 for 27 months, before tax. After that, NordVPN renews at $139.08 a year, while PIA’s deal page does not show its renewal amount, so the long-run cost cannot be compared yet.

What does PIA’s deal renew at?

PIA’s deal page says it renews yearly but does not print the amount, and we have not verified it. Look for the renewal amount in PIA’s checkout before paying. To stop renewal of a website purchase, turn off auto-renewal in PIA’s Client Control Panel; you keep access through the paid term.

Which allows more devices?

PIA documents unlimited simultaneous connections, while NordVPN allows 10 per account. A router counts as one NordVPN connection and can cover the devices behind it.