Surfshark vs Private Internet Access: Which One to Pick in Oct 2026

Choosing between Surfshark and Private Internet Access (PIA) can be tricky since both VPNs are among the most trusted names in online privacy. Each service offers strong encryption, wide server coverage, and advanced features. However, their differences lie in the details, from performance and pricing to privacy policies and app usability.

Surfshark is recognized for its user-friendly interface, unlimited device connections, and consistent speeds across its global servers. On the other hand, Private Internet Access stands out for its proven transparency, customizable security settings, and long-standing reputation in the cybersecurity space.

In this comparison, we’ll evaluate both Surfshark and PIA based on their performance, privacy, speed, streaming capabilities, and more to determine which one is the better choice for your needs.

Surfshark vs Private Internet Access Comparison at a Glance

After testing both VPNs for security, streaming, and privacy, Surfshark clearly comes out on top. It offers stronger protection, better streaming support, and more affordable pricing, making it the best VPN overall for most users.

About Surfshark

Surfshark is based in the Netherlands, a privacy-friendly jurisdiction outside the Five Eyes alliance. This makes it a safe choice for users who value online anonymity. It follows a strict no-logs policy, meaning your browsing history and personal data are never stored or shared.

In terms of performance, Surfshark consistently delivers fast and stable connections across its global servers. It works perfectly with major streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+, offering access to multiple international libraries.

Its CleanWeb feature blocks ads and trackers, while the NoBorders mode helps bypass censorship in restricted regions. With strong encryption, unlimited device connections, and affordable pricing, Surfshark stands out as one of the most reliable VPNs available today.

For details, feel free to check out our detailed review of Surfshark.

About Private Internet Access

Private Internet Access (PIA) is one of the most established VPNs in the industry, known for its vast network and flexible security options. With more than 35,000 servers across 91 countries, it offers one of the largest server fleets available, giving users plenty of choices for streaming, torrenting, and secure browsing.

Launched in 2010, PIA has built a solid reputation for protecting online privacy. In 2019, it was acquired by Kape Technologies, the same company that owns ExpressVPN and CyberGhost.

The VPN operates from the USA, which is a concern for privacy-focused users since the country is part of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance.

However, PIA maintains a strict no-logs policy and recently underwent a Deloitte audit in 2024 to confirm that it does not store or track user activity. You can read about it in detail in our PIA VPN review.

With two encryption levels (AES-128 and AES-256), customizable settings, and consistent transparency, Private Internet Access remains a reliable choice for users seeking a balance between security, performance, and affordability. However, when it comes to overall performance and price, Surfshark takes the lead.

Surfshark vs PIA VPN Price Comparison

When comparing the pricing of Private Internet Access (PIA) and Surfshark, the difference becomes clear once you look at the long-term value. PIA’s monthly plan is a bit cheaper, and it allows users to choose between annual and 3-year subscriptions, giving flexibility in commitment.

However, Surfshark generally provides better value overall. Its yearly plan costs less than PIA’s, and its 2-year deal is priced close to what PIA charges for its long 3-year subscription. This means you can enjoy premium features without locking yourself in for such an extended period.

Surfshark also stands out with its tiered options — Starter, One, and One+ — offering varying levels of features and subscription lengths to suit different needs and budgets.

Both VPNs come with a 30-day money-back guarantee and a 7-day free trial on Android and iOS, but Surfshark takes it a step further by including the trial for macOS users as well.

When it comes to payment flexibility, both providers support major methods like credit cards, PayPal, and cryptocurrencies. Surfshark, however, adds extra convenience by also accepting Google Pay.

Winner: Overall, Surfshark provides more value and versatility, especially for users seeking affordability without long-term commitments.

Speed Performance: PIA vs Surfshark

When it comes to speed, both Surfshark and PIA VPN deliver strong performance, but the experience can vary depending on the server location and protocol used.

Speed is essential when it comes to choosing a VPN, because the added encryption can slow down your internet speeds. We checked the speed on our base connection of 100 Mbps. Let’s check out the results of both providers.

Surfshark Speed

Surfshark is one of the fastest VPN, offering consistently fast speeds across its servers. uses modern protocols like WireGuard, which provides an excellent balance between speed and security.

In testing, Surfshark maintained minimal drops in download and upload speeds, even when connected to servers across continents. We connected to its US server and got good download speeds.

PIA Speed

PIA VPN delivers decent overall speeds, but it doesn’t quite match Surfshark’s performance. When connected to a nearby USA server using the WireGuard protocol, the download speed remained stable, but the upload speed dropped to nearly half.

The difference becomes more noticeable on long-distance connections, where speed reductions are significant. While PIA is fast enough for browsing or streaming, it may not be the best choice for users needing consistently high global speeds.

Winner: Surfshark offers faster speeds, with minimal lag on its servers, as compared to Private Internet Access. PIA lags a lot on long-distance servers.

PIA vs Surfshark Features

Let’s take a look at the key features of Surfshark and Private Internet Access to see which VPN is the best choice for users.

Multi-Hop (Double VPN)

An amazing feature offered by Surfshark is Multi-Hop. Multi-Hop, also known as Double VPN, routes your internet traffic through two separate VPN servers for an extra layer of security.

This feature enhances privacy by encrypting your data twice, making it much harder for third parties to track your online activities. Some of the Multi-Hop locations offered by Surfshark are:

• France via the UK
• Germany via the UK
• Netherlands via Singapore
• Netherlands via the USA

Private Internet Access does not offer a Double VPN feature, but it does have its version of Multi-hop. It routes your traffic through a SOCKS5 proxy followed by a VPN server. So, instead of two VPN servers, your traffic passes through a proxy and then a VPN server.

Split Tunneling

Both Surfshark and PIA VPN offer split tunneling. Surfshark’s Bypasser gives users the flexibility to choose which apps or websites use the VPN and which connect directly to the internet. This helps balance speed and security, especially when using trusted apps that don’t require encryption. This feature is available on all apps.

While PIA offers split tunneling on Windows, Android, and macOS devices, in my experience, it didn’t perform as smoothly as Surfshark’s version.

For instance, when I attempted to add a browser to PIA’s exception list, my entire network became unprotected, even though the app indicated that I was still connected to the VPN.

Dedicated IP

For users who need consistent IP access, Surfshark also offers Dedicated IPs in multiple countries, perfect for online banking, gaming, or accessing business networks securely. These are available across 20 locations, and you can choose any IP location you desire.

Surfshark also offers free Static IP addresses across Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Singapore, the UK, and the USA.

Private Internet Access also offers a dedicated IP, but only in 10 locations: Australia, Germany, Canada, Japan, Singapore, Switzerland, Belgium, Sweden, the US, and the UK.

Camouflage Mode

One of Surfshark’s standout features is Camouflage Mode, which hides your VPN usage even from your internet service provider. This feature is handy in countries with strict internet regulations, such as China, as it makes VPN traffic look like normal web traffic.

PIA does not offer this feature; however, it does offer obfuscation. It passes your traffic through a Shadowsocks proxy, which hides your VPN traffic. Users have noted that this feature does not work in China, unlike Surfshark, which works perfectly fine on restricted networks.

Winner: Surfshark is the clear winner, offering tons of features for users, like the Camouflage mode, static IPs, Incogni data removal, antivirus, and others.

Surfshark vs Private Internet Access Servers

PIA VPN is famous for offering one of the biggest server networks in the industry. Private Internet Access’s 35,000+ servers truly outshine Surfshark’s [surfshark-server] server network. 

Surfshark offers more locations, as compared to PIA, but PIA wins when it comes to the number of servers. However, it is important to note that most PIA servers are virtual. They do act as physical servers, but you may experience slow speeds due to encryption and distance.

Streaming Performance of Private Internet Access vs Surfshark

Surfshark is one of the most reliable VPNs for streaming. It easily unblocks popular platforms like Netflix (US, UK, Japan, and more), HBO Max, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, and Kayo Sports.

During our tests, videos played smoothly in HD and 4K without buffering, even when connected to distant servers. We could easily access US Netflix and stream Supernatural without getting the proxy error.

Private Internet Access doesn’t perform as strongly in this area. It can access a few streaming platforms such as Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and YouTube, but there are noticeable drawbacks.

Although Netflix US is accessible, the speeds are slow, causing buffering and reduced video quality. Other Netflix regions were also inconsistent. On the positive side, PIA reliably unblocks Hulu using any of its US-based servers.

Winner: When it comes to streaming, Surfshark is a clear winner. It unlocks more than 20 Netflix libraries and works with all major streaming platforms.

Which VPN is Good for Torrenting: PIA vs Surfshark

Choosing between Surfshark and PIA for torrenting isn’t easy, as both deliver strong and secure performance. Each VPN supports P2P traffic across all servers and is optimized for efficient file sharing and fast downloads.

In my testing, both maintained impressive download speeds and handled large files without any problems. Therefore, whether you choose Surfshark or PIA, both are reliable options for torrenting due to their speed and P2P-friendly networks.

Winner: For torrenting, it’s a tie between Surfshark and PIA. Both are great VPNs for torrenting.

Security and Privacy of Surfshark vs PIA

In terms of security, Surfshark comes out ahead of Private Internet Access. It has completed three independent audits that verify its data protection practices and maintains a transparent, easy-to-understand privacy policy.

PIA, on the other hand, underwent its second audit in 2024 but still leaves some ambiguity in its data-sharing terms. In terms of jurisdiction, Surfshark again takes the lead, as it’s located in the Netherlands, and PIA is headquartered in the United States.

Both VPNs rely on AES-256 encryption—the same standard trusted by major financial institutions like PayPal and Bank of America—making them highly resistant to cyberattacks and data breaches. They also use the SHA-256 hash algorithm, which helps maintain fast, stable connections while streaming or browsing.

Additionally, both Surfshark and PIA operate RAM-only servers and follow strict no-logs policies, ensuring that no user information is stored or retrievable.

Winner: Despite these shared protections, Surfshark’s combination of stronger auditing history, advanced encryption, and clear transparency gives it the edge in overall security.

Apps and User Interface

Both Surfshark and Private Internet Access offer great apps, and both support unlimited simultaneous connections. Let’s take a closer look at the apps and user interface of both providers.

Surfshark Apps

Surfshark provides a well-designed and feature-packed app lineup for multiple platforms. Its Linux client is straightforward yet powerful, while the Windows version stands out as the most refined.

The desktop interface is clean and intuitive, with neatly organized feature categories for simple navigation. Instead of a map-based server selection, Surfshark displays an easy-to-browse list with country flags for quick identification.

On macOS, Surfshark offers two app versions—one from its official website and another via the App Store. The App Store version includes WireGuard, IKEv2, and OpenVPN protocols, whereas the website version lacks OpenVPN. Like the Windows client, neither macOS version features a map interface.

Surfshark’s Android app mirrors the Windows version in both appearance and functionality, even adding a GPS spoofer for enhanced privacy. The iOS counterpart looks nearly identical but excludes the GPS spoofer and Whitelister tools.

Despite this, both mobile apps are smooth, user-friendly, and visually appealing—typical of Surfshark’s polished design approach.

Private Internet Access Apps

Private Internet Access offers consistent desktop applications for both Windows and macOS. Each displays detailed connection information, including encryption type, VPN protocol, and status. However, PIA doesn’t provide a map interface for server selection.

Its mobile apps closely resemble the desktop layout, maintaining the same minimalist design philosophy. While functional, the amount of technical information shown on-screen may feel a bit overwhelming for casual users.

Winner: It’s a draw! Both providers offer great apps and support unlimited simultaneous connections on a single account.

Other VPN Comparisons

You can check our other VPN comparisons:

• PureVPN vs ExpressVPN
• Surfshark vs ExpressVPN
• CyberGhost vs NordVPN
• NordVPN vs Surfshark
• ExpressVPN vs NordVPN

Which One is Better: Surfshark or Private Internet Access?

When comparing Surfshark and Private Internet Access, Surfshark clearly takes the lead. It outperforms PIA in several key areas, including speed, security, streaming access, and app functionality. Surfshark also offers stronger protection features and a more refined user experience.

While PIA has the advantage in server count and performs equally well in torrenting and device compatibility, it falls short in overall reliability and performance.

Surfshark delivers faster connections, more advanced privacy tools, and better value for the price, making it the superior choice for users who prioritize speed, security, and consistent access to streaming platforms worldwide.