People who wish to enhance their online security or unlock some sites and streaming apps already know that a VPN is a possible solution. In case you are looking for a VPN provider, you have probably heard about both NordVPN and PIA. They are reputable and convenient so that every user could easily cope with it. Let’s compare both options looking at every aspect so that you could choose the best overall option.
The pros and cons of NordVPN
A Panama-based VPN provider has a privacy-friendly jurisdiction meaning there is no policy. The company doesn’t log, track or store the history of your online activities. Moreover, it’s not bound to follow any retention laws. It means your information won’t be shared.
Moreover, it allows up to 6 simultaneous connections. Using 1 account you can easily cover all your household devices.
NordVPN stands out by offering 24/7/365 live chat support. The team of professionals can easily solve any occurring issues.
Most users get it to unlock Netflix since it’s one of the few companies that actually manage to keep up with it. In addition to great prices, the software has such great features as:
- CyberSec,
- Multihop,
- DNS Leak Protection,
- Over 5500 servers in 60+ countries,
- Kill Switch.
On the other hand, there is some place for improvement. The slight drawbacks include the lack of free trial. You can find a solution by taking advantages of Money-Back Guarantee but the refund takes time. If you look for a provider that accepts PayPal, you should skip this option. Finally, NordVPN doesn’t support split-tunneling which can be disappointing for some advanced users.
The pros and cons of PIA
Private Internet Access is based in the US. This company has been on the market for over a decade. There is a reason why millions of users trust them with their PCs. The list of advantages is huge.
First of all, PIA secures decent transparency and high download speeds. Just like its competitor, the software has a kill switch. It’s a very useful feature that ends the session if it’s interrupted for some reason.
The provider also has dedicated apps for devices that run on Windows, Mac OS, iOS, and Android. Just like its competitor, it can help you access Netflix. Some other advantages include:
- The support of SOCKS5 proxy,
- Ad-blocker feature (MACE),
- 5 simultaneous connections,
- Affordable price, etc.
However, not everything is so great about this VPN provider. For instance, there is no free trial period. Even worse, it lacks live chat support meaning you’ll have to wait for a response in your email. Some users find its location in the USA as a drawback, too. This is probably the worst place for a VPN provider to have its headquarters in. That’s one of the reasons why it doesn’t clearly state its logging policy. The company is smaller than NordVPN and offers smaller server spread. It fails to deliver high download speed, either.
The verdict
While both providers deliver decent protection and abundance of features, there is only one obvious winner. It’s NordVPN. The company beats PIA in almost every category as it’s better in logging policy, jurisdiction, security, speed, and performance. This is a reliable provider with lots of extra features and torrent support. You can unlock Netflix and some other streaming apps. NordVPN also has a better pricing and refund policy compared to Private Internet Access.
