Surfshark vs Private Internet Access

The important differences

For these two providers, device count does not decide the comparison: both document unlimited simultaneous connections. The more useful questions are how much you want to pay today, whether you need to know the renewal before buying, and which operating-system routing controls you need.

Surfshark is a candidate for supported Mac Bypasser and iOS website exclusions. PIA is a candidate for desktop app rules on Windows, Mac and Linux, including additional DNS choices on Windows/Linux. We do not equate an iOS website exclusion with full app splitting, and PIA’s conflicting iOS documentation remains unresolved here.

This comparison is based on documentation and price sources. We have not independently measured speed, streaming access, leaks or app usability, so the recommendations describe documented fit rather than test-based winners.

Selected plans and documented features; checked 13 October 2026

Compare
Selected plan	Starter	VPN
Initial payment · USD	$67.23	$46.54
Initial months	27	26
Monthly equivalent	$2.49 (upfront plan)	$1.79 (upfront plan)
Quoted renewal	$79.00 / 12 months	Annual; check current table
Simultaneous devices	Unlimited	Unlimited
Split tunneling	Windows, Android and supported macOS apps/sites. iOS websites only; Linux Bypasser not listed.	Windows, macOS and Linux app rules; Android per-app settings. iOS app splitting is unverified.
Refund policy	30-day initial-purchase guarantee; renewal payments are excluded under the stated policy.	30-day refund policy; current terms include initial purchases and renewals, subject to eligibility.
Details	Surfshark 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.

Smaller bill today or a known renewal?

PIA’s deal costs $46.54 for 26 months, a $1.79 monthly equivalent ($46.54 ÷ 26). Surfshark Starter’s selected USD quote is $67.23 for 27 months, a $2.49 equivalent ($67.23 ÷ 27). PIA therefore asks for $20.69 less upfront and has the lower monthly equivalent by 70 cents, while Surfshark’s first term runs one month longer.

The renewal is where PIA’s lead becomes uncertain. Surfshark’s renewal table lists Starter at $79.00 a year before tax, although its billing page says displayed renewal prices can be subject to testing. Its first term plus one renewal comes to $146.23 for 39 months ($67.23 + $79.00). PIA’s deal also renews yearly, but the deal page doesn’t print the amount, so we can’t calculate PIA’s two-term cost or name a cheaper provider over the longer run.

Don’t fill that gap with the $47.88 yearly renewal on PIA’s public plans page; it belongs to a separate 1-year plan. Before buying PIA, look for the renewal amount at checkout, and if none is shown, set a reminder to review auto-renewal before month 26.

If cash today is the constraint, PIA’s deal is the smaller bill and the lower equivalent. If you want the renewal cost in writing before you buy, Surfshark states it and PIA’s deal does not. Sorting only by the rate beside “per month” hides both the payment you make now and the one that follows.

Unlimited connections do not mean identical app features

Both services support common desktop and mobile devices, supported TVs and browser extensions. An unlimited simultaneous allowance is useful when a household has many active devices, but each platform can still have different settings. The allowance also remains subject to account and usage terms.

If you need a VPN on a console or a device without a suitable native app, check a compatible router setup. A router route can cover multiple connected devices, but it does not automatically identify desktop processes or replace the local app’s split-tunnel rules.

If your requirement is performance with several active devices, that still needs testing on your connection. We have not measured whether either provider sustains a particular throughput under a multi-device workload.

Linux, Mac and iOS routing

PIA’s current desktop guide documents app rules on Linux, making it the clearer documented fit here for Linux per-app routing. Surfshark’s Bypasser platform list does not include Linux. PIA additionally gives Windows/Linux users DNS choices tied to app rules.

On supported Macs, both providers have documented app-routing workflows. Surfshark requires approval of a system extension and current guidance specifies macOS 12 or later. PIA’s newer support guide also requires extension approval, despite an older marketing FAQ that states a conflicting restriction. Follow the current guide for the actual installed app.

Surfshark explicitly documents iOS website exclusions and does not support full iOS app exclusions in the cited support guidance. PIA blog claims about iOS app splitting conflict with the detailed settings guide, and we have not tested the app to settle that. If full per-app routing on an iPhone is essential, neither set of evidence here establishes a purchase-ready solution.

MultiHop labels describe different designs

Surfshark’s Dynamic MultiHop uses two VPN-server locations on supported platforms. PIA’s desktop Multi-Hop setting uses a proxy-based design. A shared name does not mean identical routing, server selection or protection properties.

More hops also add complexity and can affect performance. We have not measured either design and do not present them as necessary for ordinary browsing or a guarantee of anonymity. For many buyers, a correctly configured single VPN connection and clear split-tunnel rules are more relevant than enabling every optional feature.

Kill-switch and refund differences

Surfshark’s feature page describes soft and strict kill-switch behavior, but its setup guide does not establish both selectable modes on every OS. PIA documents a desktop kill switch and an Advanced Kill Switch that requires a tunnel even when the VPN is turned off. PIA’s iOS guide says its protection does not cover manual disconnect.

Refunds differ too. Surfshark’s policy limits the 30-day guarantee to eligible initial purchases and excludes recurring payments. PIA’s current terms explicitly include initial and renewal requests within 30 days, subject to eligibility, even though its deal page describes the guarantee as “for new users” and some pricing footers state new subscribers only. Read the current terms and purchase-channel rules rather than treating either policy as a guaranteed outcome.

How to choose between them

Choose a shortlist based on the setting you need: Surfshark for documented iOS website exclusions and a renewal price stated in advance; PIA for Linux desktop app rules, Windows/Linux DNS control and the smaller first bill. Supported Mac app routing is documented for both, so check the specific OS and app requirements.

Then compare the current checkout. Use our Surfshark offer page and PIA offer page for the bill-reading steps, and keep the renewal amount with your purchase confirmation. Regional and affiliate offers can differ from the USD quotes used here.

Common questions

Which is cheaper, Surfshark or PIA?

Today, PIA: its deal costs $46.54 for 26 months, while Surfshark Starter costs $67.23 for 27 months. Over a longer period we can’t say, because Surfshark states a $79.00 yearly renewal and PIA’s deal page doesn’t state its renewal amount.

Do Surfshark and PIA both allow unlimited devices?

Both document unlimited simultaneous connections, subject to account and usage terms. Features still differ by platform, for example website exclusions on iPhone with Surfshark and Linux app rules with PIA.

Which one splits apps on an iPhone?

Neither is established here. Surfshark documents website exclusions on iOS but not app exclusions, and PIA’s official pages conflict about iOS app splitting. If you need it, confirm with the provider before paying.