Proton VPN vs. Private Internet Access: Which VPN should you choose?

Proton VPN has finally caught up to Private Internet Access (PIA), thanks to rapid changes over the last few years. Some things remain the same, like PIA being the cheaper virtual private network (VPN), and Proton VPN offering the best free service. I compared both services to see if one is better than the other.

Also: The best VPNs we’ve tested

I’ve reviewed both Proton VPN and Private Internet Access for ZDNET. And when doing my research for this story, I found comments from Reddit users who say they’ve switched to Proton VPN on a whim due to PIA’s middling speeds. While that may be the case, many factors, including the VPN app settings, can affect its performance. PIA has the upper hand when it comes to adaptability.

To make the right pick, you need to determine what your expectations are for the VPN. Your response to that will help to guide you to a better choice. Based on my experience with both services, I can point you in the right direction.

Specifications

You should choose Proton VPN if…

1. You want better privacy and security

Privacy is at the core of Proton VPN operations, as it has stricter data handling rules than PIA. 

To be clear, both VPNs have strong encryption, leak protection, and verified no-logs policies, which leaves less to worry about your data being collected. However, Proton VPN provides stricter data handling rules than PIA because it adheres to Switzerland’s rigorous privacy laws. In comparison, in the U.S., government interference possible and data can be shared with other member countries allied to the 14 Eyes coalition. 

In the past, the FBI has asked PIA to produce logs in a criminal court case. Though no important leads were found — proving their commitment to zero logging — it remains a concern about what might happen if a similar incident happens in the future.

Proton VPN even has a fleet of servers dedicated to privacy called Secure Core. If you connect to these, the VPN will tunnel your traffic through Switzerland, Iceland, or Sweden first before your chosen destination. This greatly minimizes the chances of being tracked. PIA offers multi-hop support by bouncing traffic via proxy and VPN server, but this isn’t as robust as the double encryption you get with Proton VPN. 

Also: Proton VPN vs. IPVanish

2. You want reliable speeds on nearby and distant server locations

Using a VPN often results in slow internet speeds, but Proton VPN is one of those apps optimized to have minimal impact on speed. Both Proton VPN and PIA boast capable servers that can handle up to 10Gbps connections, but PIA seems to suffer significant speed losses on some servers, especially with the OpenVPN protocol. I encountered as much as 28% connection drops in faraway locations, whereas Proton VPN remained well below 20% in the same server locations. 

Proton’s built-in VPN Accelerator feature helps boost speed, making it ideal for high-bandwidth activities like 4K streaming or responsive gaming. In my tests, the app delivered consistent performance across devices of all sizes including mobile phones, PCs, and smart TVs. If you are leaning more towards PIA, WireGuard and OpenVPN UDP are most recommended for achieving better speeds.

3. You want a free VPN with no side sells

With Proton VPN, you can start for free and upgrade to premium later. The free version includes unlimited bandwidth, allowing you to browse freely without monthly data caps common with many free services. 

Free servers are offered in the U.S., the Netherlands, Romania, Poland, and Japan, though the special streaming and torrenting servers are only available to premium customers. Restrictions aside, Proton VPN remains the best free VPN that also respects user privacy and doesn’t serve ads on the app.

PIA also has a seven-day free trial on mobile devices if you purchase through the App Store or Google Play Store. While the trial is short-lived, it’s enough time to get a feel for the premium features and make a decision.

4. You want a reliable VPN for censored networks

If you’re experiencing access challenges opening certain websites or using VPN apps on school or hotel Wi-Fi, Proton VPN is the better option. It offers the Stealth Protocol commonly used by VPNs like Astrill VPN to avoid detection in places like China. 

In case you aren’t sure how to properly configure the VPN, simply select the Smart Protocol, and the app will automatically choose the right settings or ports to use for specific network restrictions. Thanks to alternative routing technology, Proton VPN can also detect if its servers are blocked on a particular network and then redirect traffic to third-party servers to ensure uninterrupted connectivity.

You should choose Private Internet Access if…

1. You want a VPN for multi-device connections

PIA is only one of a few VPNs that support unlimited simultaneous connections with a single account. Other renowned providers with similar privileges are Surfshark, IPVanish, and Windscribe. The unlimited allowance is ideal for securing devices in a household setting, especially where everyone wants to use a VPN for streaming from their personal devices. Proton VPN allows you a maximum of 10 devices on the paid plan and only one on the free service.

Also: The best VPNs for streaming

2. You want a first-class VPN without prohibitive costs

PIA is one of the most affordable VPNs we recommend, especially for extended usage. It costs a fraction of Proton’s premium subscriptions. Three years with PIA costs $79, or $2.03 per month. Proton VPN costs $71 for two years, or $3 per month. It’s important to note the latter is currently discounted. 

If you want a VPN for just one month, Proton VPN might be the cheaper option at $10 versus $12 for PIA. Many providers charge more for short subscriptions, which is why I often recommend Mullvad VPN, which always costs roughly $5.40 per month, to anyone who doesn’t want to be tied to long-term contracts.

The good news is that both PIA and Proton VPN have 30-day money-back guarantees. You can ask for a refund if either service fails to meet your expectations.

3. You want the best server coverage in the US

PIA’s point of presence across all 50 US states and Washington DC makes it a top contender for the best US VPN category. You can easily get an internet protocol (IP) address for any location in the North American region. It’s also easier to find fast servers in the country, going by the rule that the nearest server locations deliver the fastest speeds because traffic tunnels over a shorter distance.

The server network across 91 countries versus Proton VPN’s 117 means the latter offers IPs in slightly more countries. That being said, I found both services reliable for bypassing international geo-restrictions, each offering dedicated servers for accessing streaming sites that usually block VPNs.

4. You want many advanced settings to customize your VPN

The PIA app supports AES 128-bit and 256-bit encryptions over the OpenVPN protocol. While both are secure, AES 128-bit has fewer layers of encryption, which can result in faster data transmissions, especially when used with the User Datagram Protocol (UDP). 

Another advantage PIA has over Proton VPN is automating and managing connections by running a few scripts on the command-line terminal. It’s our best VPN for Linux for various reasons including an easy setup and compatibility with most distros.   

Although Proton VPN doesn’t allow you to select encryptions, I still found a good number of features to optimize the app such as port changing, IPv6 protection, and split tunneling.

The final verdict

Proton VPN is the more well-rounded service considering three key benchmarks — security, speed, and server reach. It has a lot in common with our best VPN, NordVPN, offering advanced user protection without compromising on performance. PIA remains a VPN industry giant due to its reliability across major platforms and is also one of the best value-for-money services. However, we need to see more game-changing developments like more server countries and consistent connections.

Can Proton VPN be trusted?

Yes, Proton VPN is a trustworthy app. Not only is it security-centered, but it’s also based in Switzerland, which has strict consumer privacy protection laws. The app doesn’t log your usage data whether you’re on the free or paid plan. 

Which is better for torrenting between PIA and Proton VPN?

Proton VPN offers better support for peer-to-peer (P2P) including optimized servers for smooth file transfers. PIA allows torrenting on all its servers and supports port forwarding, but it’s based in the US, which is a huge privacy setback. Torrenting is a highly sensitive affair, and you can’t afford to compromise.

Which is more beginner-friendly, Proton VPN or PIA?

You won’t notice the difference with either VPN. Both have a dark theme and are cluttered with many settings to configure the app. Some users may prefer the Proton VPN app because it has a map interface where you can tap on a server location and connect.

Which one works better with streaming between PIA and Proton VPN?

While both apps can be reliably used with platforms such as Netflix, Proton VPN has consistent speeds to support high-quality streaming on close and distant server locations. PIA is reliable for US-specific streaming. For example, when experiencing live game blackouts, you can get an IP address for any state.

Alternatives to consider