There's a sign with two arrows on it; one arrow points to the right and reads "Surfshark", and the other points to the left and reads "Private internet Access."

It’s Surfshark vs. Private Internet Access. We’ll delve deep and see what makes each provider tick. From added features, server speeds, and privacy settings to leading protocols, subscription costs, and customer support — it’s time to see who takes the 2025 title.

Note: The comparison was made on June 2, 2023, and updated in October 2024.

Table of contents

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    Surfshark vs. PIA: summary

    Both Surfshark and PIA offer a premium VPN experience. Surfshark offers unlimited simultaneous connections, while PIA offers 10. Surfshark also has servers in more countries and more additional features, while PIA is the slightly cheaper option, although you need to get a 3-year plan for the best price.

    Surfshark
    PIA
    Devices
    Unlimited
    10
    Server countries
    100
    89
    Protocols
    OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKEv2*
    WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, IPSec
    Cookie pop-up blocker
    check
    uncheck
    Ad blocker
    check
    check
    Independent audit
    check
    check
    10Gbps servers
    check
    check
    24/7 support
    check
    check
    Best subscription cost
    $1.99 monthly
    $2.03 monthly
    Money-back guarantee
    30 days
    30 days
    Top products/features
    VPN, Search, Alert, Ad blocker, Cookie pop-up Blocker, Antivirus, Dedicated IP
    VPN, Adblock, Antivirus, Dedicated IP address
    Desktop/mobile compatibility
    Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, Apple iOS, Chrome, Firefox, consoles, smart TV, FireTV, Edge, Apple TV
    Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, Apple iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Consoles, smart TV
    Payment methods
    17+ including crypto
    17+ including crypto

    *Surfshark stopped supporting IKEv2 protocol on Windows in July, 2022

    Disclaimer: The displayed pricing and server details in this article are correct as of October 2024 and are subject to change.

    Speed

    When comparing Surfshark vs. PIA, we tested each platform using the WireGuard and OpenVPN protocols and measured our results in Mbps (Megabits per second). Here’s what we found.

    Note: The speed test results are the average for each provider.

    Surfshark vs. PIA speed test results (WireGuard)

    Fastest protocol
    Surfshark (WireGuard)
    PIA (WireGuard)
    Download average
    278 Mbps
    167 Mbps
    Upload average
    183 Mbps
    112.3 Mbps

    Surfshark vs. PIA speed test results (OpenVPN)

    VPN service
    Surfshark (OpenVPN)
    PIA (OpenVPN)
    Download average
    125.6 Mbps
    109.7 Mbps
    Upload average
    136.8 Mbps
    125.4 Mbps

    While the above metrics were displayed for me, you may see different results. Remember, a number of factors can affect your internet speed — your region, internet provider, Wi-Fi, operating system, and physical proximity to the server you’re connecting to.

    Key takeaway: While the PIA speed test produced good results, Surfshark performed consistently better on both WireGuard and OpenVPN protocols.

    Features

    Let’s unpack some additional features designed to enhance your online experience.

    Feature
    Surfshark
    PIA
    Ad blocker
    CleanWeb
    PIA MACE
    Antivirus
    Surfshark Antivirus
    Antivirus by PIA
    Double VPN
    Dynamic MultiHop
    Multi-Hop
    Split tunneling
    Bypasser
    Configurable Split Tunneling
    Search capability
    Surfshark Search
    uncheck
    GPS spoofing
    GPS Override
    uncheck
    Cookie pop-up blocker
    check
    uncheck
    Browser extensions
    check
    check
    User masking
    Alternative ID
    uncheck
    Alert
    Surfshark Alert
    Identity Guard

    Ad blockers

    Surfshark’s CleanWeb ad blocker prevents malicious ads, pop-ups, and trackers. The feature is included in all subscriptions.

    PIA’s MACE feature provides a similar service by blocking ads, trackers, and malicious websites. The feature is part of a monthly subscription.

    User masking

    Surfshark offers a tool to mask the user’s real identity and help reduce the potential for spam — Alternative ID. It generates an online persona with a name, age, address, and email. These details can be used for various online registrations. Alternative ID comes with every subscription plan.

    PIA doesn’t offer a similar feature.

    Antivirus

    Surfshark’s Antivirus app will give you real-time online protection by scanning all files that are downloaded onto your device. This ensures that threats are detected in real time, safeguarding your system from malicious software. Additionally, while there are critical files and folders on your device that you, as a user, can’t access to maintain your operating system’s stability, these areas can still be vulnerable to virus infections. Surfshark Antivirus scans these as well.

    PIA also has an antivirus that will scan your PC and protect your device from malware.

    Double VPN

    Both VPN providers have Double VPN, which is coincidentally called MultiHop.

    This feature hides your online activity by routing your traffic through two different VPN servers instead of one. With a double VPN, your online traffic is encrypted twice, giving you an added layer of protection.

    Also, Surfshark’s Dynamic MultiHop lets you manually select the servers through which your traffic will be routed.

    However, once enabled, this feature can slightly slow down your connection. It is most beneficial for political activists, journalists, or others who need the added privacy.

    Split tunneling

    Both platforms have a built-in split tunneling feature, which allows you to choose which apps you’d like to encrypt. Split tunneling protects sensitive information by dividing your network traffic into two separate connections, giving your data traffic two IP addresses.

    For example, split tunneling is useful when you need to access a banking app while connected to a VPN. Exclude a website or an app from the VPN tunnel, and they’ll always be available.

    You can use split tunneling on both PIA’s and Surshark’s desktop and mobile apps (note: Surshark’s feature is called Bypasser).

    Search capability

    Surfshark has a built-in private web browsing tool that provides organic search results specific to your region. Surfshark Search doesn’t track your activity and doesn’t show ads.

    Currently, PIA doesn’t have its own search tool.

    GPS override 

    Using GPS Override, or GPS spoofing, will make your device appear in a different location or time zone. This means you can retain your online privacy, and your personal data isn’t tracked. Only available on Surfshark’s Android app.

    At this time, PIA doesn’t offer GPS spoofing. 

    Cookie pop-up Blocker

    Surfshark’s Cookie pop-up Blocker removes cookie pop-ups, meaning you won’t deal with annoying banners and consent requests when browsing online.

    PIA doesn’t have such a feature at the moment.

    Alerts and notifications

    A hand holds a warning alarm light; behind it is an application screen reading Data breach

    PIA’s Identity Guard tool allows you to check if your email addresses have been compromised in a data breach. However, it won’t alert you to suspicious activity in real time.

    Surfshark, on the other hand, actively monitors your personal information with Surfshark Alert and notifies you in real time if your email address, banking details, password, or any other sensitive information has been leaked.

    Stay safe with an all-in-one cybersecurity solution
    VPN, Antivirus, Search, and Alert in a single subscription
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    Privacy and security 

    Brace yourself as we tackle privacy and security. Jargon takes over, descriptions get tricky, and your eyes may start to glaze over. But never fear! We’ll make it easy for you to follow.

    Below is a list of the privacy and security features available at Surfshark and PIA.

    Surfshark
    PIA
    VPN protocols
    OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKEv2
    WireGuard, OpenVPN, IPSec
    OpenVPN data encryption
    AES-256
    AES-256
    Obfuscation
    Camouflage mode
    ShadowSOCKS protocol
    App security
    Kill Switch
    Kill Switch
    DNS status
    Private DNS
    Private DNS

    Encryption

    Both providers use protocols employing AES-256 encryption — IKEv2 and OpenVPN. Additionally, Surfshark and PIA offer Wireguard. It uses the ChaCha-20-Poly1305 encryption, which, similar to AES-256, uses the same 256-bit key to encrypt the data packets.

    In easier words, it’s virtually impossible to hack your data using brute-force methods. With current computing technology, AES-256 would take a lifetime to hack.

    Surfshark and PIA use WireGuard and OpenVPN for authorization, authentication, and encryption. Both are industry-leading, open-source protocols known for their breakneck download speeds, stable connections, and advanced data security.

    For mobile, PIA offers IPsec (for iOS), while Surfshark uses IKEv2.

    Obfuscation

    Surfshark and PIA have cloaking features to hide your digital footprint. Surfshark has a built-in obfuscation tool (called Camouflage Mode) that masks the fact that you’re using a VPN, making your connection appear as regular internet traffic. It is particularly useful in regions with restrictive internet laws.

    PIA has its own obfuscation protocol (ShadowSOCKS), which also disguises your VPN traffic as normal activity and conceals all metadata.

    Surfshark also goes a step further with its NoBorders mode. This feature lets you browse in restricted regions and avoid government censorship.

    Smart DNS

    Smart DNS technology routes Domain Name Server (DNS) requests through a server in a different country to mask your location. This is useful for smart TVs and gaming consoles that don’t support VPNs. 

    You can activate Smart DNS* for Surfshark through your account dashboard, while Smart DNS for PIA will need to be set up through the site’s client control panel.

    *Smart DNS does not encrypt your traffic and doesn’t offer any VPN protection

    Kill switch

    Each VPN has its own kill switch — a feature that will disconnect you from the internet if your VPN connection suddenly drops. A kill switch ensures your privacy is always protected and your data is never compromised.

    PIA vs. Surfshark VPN: audits

    The best way to find out if you’re dealing with a reputable VPN service is through an independent audit.

    What is a VPN security audit? It’s a comprehensive security evaluation performed by an independent firm to analyze a company’s operations, including on-site security, privacy, data policies, and similar aspects.

    PIA audit

    In 2022, PIA’s internal server infrastructure was audited by Deloitte. One of the Big Four auditing companies found that PIA didn’t log any details that could be used to identify its users or pinpoint their activities.

    Surfshark audit

    In 2018, Surfshark was independently audited by Cure53. The company found that Surfshark’s browser extensions had no serious flaws and that all security protocols were up to global standards. Surfshark addressed any recommendations and published the results.

    In 2021, Cure53 audited Surfshark’s entire VPN infrastructure. Again, no serious issues were discovered, and all recommendations were addressed. 

    In 2023, Surfshark’s no-activity-logs statement was verified by Deloitte — even more evidence of Surfshark sticking to its privacy policy and promises.

    In 2023, Surfshark’s Android app passed an independent Mobile App Security Assessment (MASA) security audit. The audit evaluated how the Surfshark app handles sensitive data, uses encryption, authenticates users, and manages sessions. The MASA audit confirms that the Surfshark Android app meets the MASA safety criteria.

    Pricing and plans 

    How much is Surfshark VPN compared to PIA? Straight off the bat, you’ll see that both products are two of the most affordable VPN services on the market, with PIA just nudging ahead.

    Pricing

    PIA offers slightly cheaper 1-month and 1-year plans, but if you want to get the best pricing, you have to commit to the service for 3 years. Surfshark’s cheapest option costs $1.99/month but only requires you to subscribe for 2 years.

    Plan
    Surfshark
    PIA
    One-month subscription
    $15.45 monthly
    $11.95 monthly
    12-month subscription
    $2.99 per month
    $3.33 per month
    24-month subscription
    $1.99 monthly
    N/A
    36-month subscription
    N/A
    $2.03 monthly

    Disclaimer: Monthly subscription costs may vary depending on the currency, VAT requirements, and discount coupons.

    Payment methods

    Both Surfshark and PIA offer quick, safe, and reliable banking methods, including credit/debit cards, e-wallets, and some leading cryptocurrencies. Depending on the method, payment processing can take anywhere from an hour to a day, and you’ll get an email confirmation as soon as your service is active.

    Surshark has 17+ banking methods, including 8+ cryptocurrencies. Both sites work with well-respected crypto payment platforms like CoinGate and CoinPayments (for Surfshark), and BitPay (for PIA).

    Payment method
    Surfshark
    PIA
    Visa
    check
    check
    Mastercard
    check
    check
    AMEX
    check
    check
    Discover Card
    check
    check
    American Express (AMEX)
    check
    check
    PayPal
    check
    check
    Amazon Pay
    check
    check
    GooglePay
    check
    check
    ACH
    check
    uncheck
    Bitcoin (BTC)
    check
    check
    Bitcoin Cash (BCH)
    check
    check
    Ethereum (ETH)
    check
    check
    TRON (TRX)
    check
    uncheck
    Tether (USDT)
    check
    check
    Litecoin (LTC)
    uncheck
    check
    Dai (DAI)
    check
    uncheck
    Nano (XNO)
    check
    uncheck
    BitTorrent token (BTT)
    check
    uncheck
    Travala.com (AVA)
    check
    uncheck
    BitPay
    uncheck
    check

    Refund policy 

    What if your VPN subscription isn’t all you’d hoped for? Not to worry. Both Surfshark and PIA have a 30-day money-back guarantee. You’ll need to reach out to either provider’s customer support team via email or live chat, and you will get a full refund within 30 days of purchasing the subscription.

    Server locations

    A quick Surfshark review shows 3200+ servers in 100 countries, while PIA servers have around 35,000+ locations in 89 countries.

    At first glance, PIA seems to be the outright winner. But look closer, and you’ll see that most server locations are dotted throughout the United States. What about the rest of the world?

    Below is a list of server locations per platform, including available countries.

    Surfshark
    PIA
    Servers
    3200+
    35,000+
    Countries (total)
    100
    89
    The Americas
    18
    17
    Europe
    43
    43
    Asia Pacific
    26
    17
    The Middle East and Africa
    7
    12

    Surfshark trails ahead, offering four more locations when logging in from the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. Both providers are almost equal when logging in from Europe. PIA wins in terms of localization, with tailored servers in all 50 US states.

    Surfshark has recently upgraded all its servers from 1Gbps to 10Gbps. PIA doesn’t disclose any numbers, which puts Surfshark ahead of PIA.

    Customer support 

    Good customer support is key to a positive user experience.

    Surfshark
    PIA
    Live chat
    check
    check
    Ticket support
    check
    check
    Email support
    check
    check
    Searchable knowledge base
    check
    check
    Video guides

    Both providers have a solid knowledge base, an FAQ section, and a great customer support team — it’s a draw.

    Surfshark vs. PIA: Reddit reviews

    A Reddit user, paperplans5, has made a VPN comparison table. The VPNs are peer-reviewed, and the results are constantly updated. This community effort is meant to raise awareness about online privacy and help people choose VPN tools for better online security.

    Some of the criteria: jurisdiction, audits, speed, protocols, encryption, leak protection, availability, owned servers, transparency, payment options, customer support, ethics, and additional security features.

    In this table, Surfshark scores second with an aggregate score of 4.39 out of 5, while PIA scores seventh with 3.72.

    Reddit review: Surfshark

    User calculatoreclipse shares their perspective on Surfshark under the r/VPN_Support thread. We’ve condensed the essence of the review into one paragraph:

    “Surfshark was a clear winner by a mile. The only real downside I found was that it has fewer servers, but they are available in more countries.”

    Reddit review: PIA

    A Reddit user, whowannawut, shares their PIA review under the subreddit r/VPNlab. Here’s the essence, but feel free to read the rest of it.

    “PIA is popular because it has a lot of servers and keeps your browsing safe and private. It also works with different devices and operating systems.”

    Check out other Reddit reviews and discussions:

    The summary

    Category
    Summary
    Server speeds
    While server speed was neck and neck on both platforms, Surfshark was consistently faster.
    Protocols
    Both platforms have very similar protocols, including OpenVPN, IKEv2, WireGuard, and IPsec.
    Added features
    While PIA has some great features for Antivirus and split tunneling, they can't compare to the list of tools available at Surfshark, including Surfshark Alert, Alternative, ID, Surfshark Search, Cookie pop-up blocker, Dynamic MultiHop, etc.
    Privacy and security
    Both platforms have exceptionally strong security and encryption technology. Surfshark does, however, go above and beyond in terms of its additional privacy features, like Alternative ID and NoBorders mode.
    Server locations
    Surfshark locations appear in more countries (100 vs. 89), but PIA's list of local servers (35,000+) puts them in the lead.
    Streaming
    Surfshark performs slightly better than PIA, with 4K HD quality viewing.
    Subscription costs
    In terms of monthly subscription costs, PIA charges $2.03 per month (on a 3-year plan), while Surfshark $1.99 per month (on a 2-year plan).
    Payment methods
    Both platforms have a wide range of banking methods, with Surfshark accepting more types of cryptocurrency.
    Customer support
    Both platforms have good customer support turnaround times.
    Knowledge base
    Both VPN providers have a well-rounded pool of helpful articles.

    Surfshark proves itself to be a fast, affordable, and effective VPN service, while PIA has a strong set of unique features, leading protocols, and some affordable pricing plans. At the end of the day, it’s for you to decide who your favorite is.

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    More Surfshark reviews and comparisons

    Is Surfshark for you? To help you make a better decision, here’s a Surfshark review. Need more details before subscribing to a VPN service? Look no further!

    Here’s how Surfshark compares to others in its category. And here are individual VPN provider comparisons:

    FAQ

    Can Surfshark VPN be trusted?

    Yes, Surfshark can be trusted — it’s one of the market’s safest and most reliable VPN service providers. Key safety features include a built-in Kill Switch, split tunneling, and OpenVPN, IKEv2 and Wireguard protocols. Additionally, Surfshark adheres to the no-logs policy, which means we don’t log your online activity.

    Do Surfshark and Private Internet Access offer any deals?

    Yes, both PIA and Surfshark offer special deals. Surfshark has dedicated pages for limited-time VPN deals and VPN coupons, and so does PIA.