NordVPN vs Private Internet Access
Side-by-side comparison based on Reddit & Twitter discussions
Community Pick
Private Internet Access
Based on community sentiment and discussions
Approval Rate
52%
203 recommend · 187 warn
Data Quality
High
Reviews
665
Reviewers
554
Best for:
People who want a simple, mainstream VPN that usually just works
Streaming and travel use (Firestick, watching shows abroad)
Users who like extra features beyond basic VPN
NordVPN comes up a lot as a “solid all-rounder” VPN that’s easy to use and generally feels reliable day to day. People like the speed when everything’s working normally, and it’s often mentioned as a...
Private Internet Access
Winner
Approval Rate
58%
63 recommend · 46 warn
Data Quality
High
Reviews
159
Reviewers
128
Best for:
People who want a cheaper VPN that still feels full-featured
Torrenters who want port forwarding
Folks who use multiple devices (Windows, Android, macOS, Linux) and want one VPN for all of them
Users who prefer a VPN with a long history and lots of community familiarity
Private Internet Access (PIA) has a long-time fan base and a reputation for being a solid “everyday VPN” that’s usually easy to live with. People like that it’s affordable, works across Windows, Andro...
Performance by Use Case
| Use Case | NordVPN | Winner | Private Internet Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Streaming | 71% (74) | ← | 67% (9) |
| Torrenting | 62% (16) | ← | 63% (8) |
| Privacy | 40% (151) | → | 46% (64) |
| Censorship | 56% (37) | ← | 25% (4) |
| Gaming | 100% (4) | ← | - |
| Travel | 67% (3) | ← | - |
| Work | 43% (8) | ← | 0% (3) |
| Router | 0% (1) | → | 100% (2) |
| Mobile | 67% (3) | ← | 100% (1) |
| Price | 51% (47) | → | 86% (12) |
NordVPN
Strengths
- Good everyday speeds
- Easy to use on phones and streaming devices
- Lots of servers and locations
- Privacy-focused features (no-logs claims, extra tools like Meshnet)
- Works well for many people with multiple devices
Weaknesses
- Renewal price can jump unexpectedly
- Billing and account login/device-limit issues
- Can be slow on some settings or servers
- Past security incident still worries some people
- Not the cheapest long-term option
Private Internet Access
Strengths
- Good value for the price
- Generally easy to use on Windows and Android
- No-logs track record people point to
- Linux support (especially with the GUI app)
- Port forwarding and torrent-friendly features
Weaknesses
- Ownership and trust concerns (Kape)
- US jurisdiction makes some people uneasy
- Some reports of slower speeds or worse reliability over time
- macOS app/daemon can be glitchy
- Linux command-line experience can be frustrating