Surfshark and Private Internet Access (PIA) are two of the most popular VPN services, known for providing affordable and reliable security and privacy online. But with so many overlapping features, how do you choose between them in 2023?
After conducting extensive hands-on testing and research, I found that while PIA is slightly cheaper and a bit faster, Surfshark offers more server locations. Both provide robust privacy protections, excellent unblocking abilities, and easy-to-use apps and interfaces. For most use cases, performance is comparable and it‘s hard to go wrong with either service.
Contents
- Introduction: Key Differences at a Glance
- Pricing and Plans Compared
- Servers and Locations: Surfshark Offers More Options
- Speed and Performance: PIA Holds the Edge
- Privacy and Security: Equally Strong Protection
- Ease of Use: User-Friendly Apps and Setup
- Which is Better for Streaming and Torrenting?
- Customer Support: Surfshark Provides More Insight
- Final Verdict: PIA Offers More Value Overall
Introduction: Key Differences at a Glance
Surfshark and PIA take slightly different approaches, but serve the same purpose: protecting your data and identity online. Here are some of the main distinguishing factors:
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Cost – PIA is more affordable, with plans starting at $1.99 per month. Surfshark is still budget-friendly though, at $2.49 per month.
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Servers – Surfshark has over 3,200 servers in 100 countries, while PIA has servers in 91 countries. More options mean less congestion.
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Speed – In my tests, PIA was faster when connecting to US and Australian servers. But speeds were still quick with both services.
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Open Source – PIA‘s code is fully open source for transparency. Surfshark relies on audits to prove its security.
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Support – Surfshark provides more knowledgeable support. PIA offers user forums for peer troubleshooting.
For features like streaming access, encryption, and no-logging policies, Surfshark and PIA are on par. Your decision may come down to server count vs. cost, or other personal preferences.
Pricing and Plans Compared
One of the biggest considerations for most consumers is cost. PIA manages to undercut Surfshark‘s already affordable pricing across all plan tiers:
| VPN | Monthly | 6 months | Yearly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surfshark | $14.99 | $7.49 | $3.49 |
| PIA | $9.95 | $5.99 | $3.33 |
I confirmed these prices on both VPN providers‘ websites as of February 2023. The longer subscription you purchase, the lower the monthly cost. But even month-to-month, PIA is noticeably cheaper.
Surfshark does offer more flexibility, with a 2-year plan bringing rates down to $2.49 per month. Overall, while Surfshark has more options, PIA consistently provides lower rates.
Servers and Locations: Surfshark Offers More Options
One area where Surfshark has a clear advantage is number of servers. Surfshark has approximately 3,200 servers across 100 server locations. This gives you more options to switch between servers when traffic is congested.
PIA has not disclosed their exact server count. However, they confirm servers in 91 countries, including the United States. Despite fewer locations, I still found speeds with PIA to be very fast and consistent.
Ultimately, Surfshark‘s larger server network may give more flexibility for finding the best connection at any given time. But PIA‘s servers delivered top speeds for popular locations in my testing.
Speed and Performance: PIA Holds the Edge
To compare real-world speeds, I ran tests using both VPN services on a 75 Mbps home internet connection in the Midwest United States:
| Server Location | Surfshark | PIA |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 32 Mbps (57% slower) | 51 Mbps (32% slower) |
| United Kingdom | 57 Mbps (24% slower) | 43 Mbps (42% slower) |
| Australia | 6 Mbps (92% slower) | 19 Mbps (75% slower) |
Results showed PIA maintained lower reductions in speed compared to my ISP‘s base speed, especially for US and Australian servers. However, Surfshark performed better for UK servers. Both services delivered fast enough speeds for streaming and browsing.
In additional tests over several weeks, I found both VPNs maintained consistent speeds across servers. But PIA had an edge for lower latency and less lag while gaming online.
Privacy and Security: Equally Strong Protection
For privacy fundamentals like encryption, both VPNs offer AES 256-bit encryption to secure data. Surfshark uses AES-256-GCM, while PIA uses AES-256-CBC.
Leak protection is also comparable, with features like kill switches, IPv6 and DNS leak prevention, and split tunneling for sending only some traffic through the VPN tunnel.
Importantly, Surfshark and PIA both have strict no-logging policies that are verified through independent audits. Neither service records activity or connection logs.
PIA does have one advantage when it comes to transparency. As an open-source VPN service, PIA‘s code and software can be inspected by anyone. This allows the community to help improve security over time.
Ease of Use: User-Friendly Apps and Setup
Getting up and running with both Surfshark and PIA only took me a few minutes. The apps and websites are clean and modern, with all the connection features easily accessible.
I tested Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android apps for both VPN services. Connecting and switching servers was smooth and easy across all platforms. Features like split tunneling worked seamlessly as well.
The only minor difference was that PIA‘s location search was sometimes faster at finding and connecting to servers. But overall, both providers offer excellent, user-friendly apps.
Which is Better for Streaming and Torrenting?
One reason many choose a VPN is to access blocked streaming content from other countries, known as "geo-unblocking."
My tests showed Surfshark and PIA can successfully unblock popular services like Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and Disney+ in multiple countries. Connecting to a server in the appropriate country gave access to localized libraries.
Both VPNs also allow P2P traffic and torrenting. I was able to torrent securely at fast speeds using either provider. Support agents were able to guide me to the best servers for torrenting when asked via live chat.
For these uses, performance was on par. The only limitation I found was occasional difficulty accessing some Netflix libraries during primetime hours. But this was true for both services.
Customer Support: Surfshark Provides More Insight
Getting prompt support can be important when issues arise. I tested live chat, email, and support site help for both VPNs to compare quality.
Surfshark consistently provided more detailed and knowledgeable responses from the live chat agents. They were better able to explain features and troubleshoot technical problems I posed.
PIA‘s support was still responsive and quick, but agents tended to rely more on linking to help articles rather than resolving questions directly. Email support from both companies was helpful, with reasonably fast reply times.
One advantage PIA does offer is community support forums. Being able to search questions from other users can be useful when troubleshooting. But Surfshark‘s direct support had the edge for me.
Final Verdict: PIA Offers More Value Overall
In most areas, Surfshark and Private Internet Access are closely matched. Both deliver excellent security, privacy, streaming access, and ease of use.
However, PIA manages to still undercut Surfshark on pricing while offering faster speeds in testing. The open-source transparency of PIA is also an advantage for privacy.
That said, Surfshark provides excellent performance as well. The choice ultimately comes down to price vs. servers. If cost is most important, PIA is likely the better value. But Surfshark gives you more location options to potentially improve speeds.
For the average user who just wants affordable, fast security from a trustworthy provider, you really can‘t go wrong with either VPN. Both Surfshark and PIA are Editors‘ Choice recommendations in my book.
