Quick answer (July 2026): Surfshark wins overall — scoring 8.9/10 vs PIA's 8.6/10. Surfshark is better for streaming, has cleaner apps, and covers more countries (100 vs 91). Choose PIA if you specifically need port forwarding, dedicated IPs, or fully open-source VPN apps. Both offer 30-day money-back guarantees.
TL;DR Quick Answer
Surfshark wins overall — scoring 8.9/10 vs PIA's 8.6/10. Choose Surfshark for streaming, ease of use, and unlimited devices across 100 countries. Choose PIA for port forwarding, dedicated IPs, or maximum transparency via open-source apps. Both offer 30-day money-back guarantees.
Winner
Surfshark
Surfshark
Best for streaming, unlimited devices, 100 countries
Score: 8.9/10
PIA
Private Internet Access
Best for power users: port forwarding, dedicated IPs
Score: 8.6/10
Best for Budget
PIA
$2.03/mo on 3-year plan — cheapest overall
vs Surfshark $2.19/mo
SurfsharkVPN · from $2.19/mo (2-year)
Unlimited devices, 100 countries, best-in-class streaming unblocking. CleanWeb blocks ads and malware. Polished apps on all platforms. 30-day money-back.
Private Internet AccessVPN · from $2.03/mo (3-year)
35,000+ servers in 91 countries. Fully open-source apps (audited). Port forwarding, dedicated IPs, MACE ad blocker. Strong privacy track record — no-logs proven in court. 30-day money-back.
Verdict at a Glance
Both are strong consumer VPNs that price aggressively and allow unlimited simultaneous connections. The difference comes down to use case:
- Surfshark is better for streaming, everyday privacy, and users who want the smoothest experience across devices. It unblocks more streaming libraries than PIA.
- PIA is better for power users who need port forwarding (torrenting, home servers), dedicated IPs (business use, consistent geo-location), or want verifiably open-source code.
For most users, Surfshark is the better starting point — 30-day money-back so you can test it risk-free.
Our Pick
Surfshark — Best for Most Users
Unlimited devices, 100 countries, top streaming unblocking. From $2.19/mo with 30-day money-back.
Try Surfshark Free for 30 Days →
Pricing Comparison
PIA is technically cheaper on its longest (3-year) plan. But most buyers compare 1-2 year plans, where Surfshark is competitive.
| Plan | Surfshark | PIA |
|---|
| 2-year / longest plan | $2.19/mo | $2.03/mo (3-year) |
| 1-year plan | $3.99/mo | $3.33/mo |
| Monthly plan | $15.45/mo | $11.95/mo |
| Free trial | 30-day money-back | 30-day money-back |
| Simultaneous devices | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Dedicated IP add-on | Available (+$3.75/mo) | Available (+$2.50/mo) |
Verdict: PIA wins on monthly pricing. Surfshark wins on value delivered per dollar at 2-year pricing. For annual buyers, PIA is marginally cheaper but Surfshark's streaming performance often justifies the difference.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Surfshark | PIA |
|---|
| Server count | 3,200+ servers | 35,000+ servers |
| Countries | 100 countries | 91 countries |
| Protocols | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2 | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IPSec |
| Kill switch | Yes | Yes |
| Ad/malware blocker | CleanWeb | MACE |
| Port forwarding | No | Yes |
| Dedicated IPs | Yes (add-on) | Yes (add-on, cheaper) |
| Open-source apps | No | Yes (all platforms) |
| No-logs audit | Deloitte audited | Court-proven (no logs handed over) |
| Streaming (Netflix US) | Reliable | Inconsistent |
| Double VPN | Yes (MultiHop) | Yes (Multi-Hop) |
| Overall score | 8.9/10 | 8.6/10 |
PIA's edge: 35,000+ servers, port forwarding, open-source apps, and cheaper dedicated IPs make it the better choice for technically-minded users and those running seedboxes or home servers.
Surfshark's edge: More countries, more reliable streaming, cleaner UX, and a Deloitte-audited no-logs policy. Better for most everyday users.
Our Final Verdict
Surfshark is our recommendation for most users. Here is when each wins:
- Choose Surfshark if you want the best streaming unblocking, a polished app experience, or need 100-country coverage. From $2.19/mo with 30-day money-back.
- Choose PIA if you need port forwarding for torrenting or home servers, cheaper dedicated IPs, or you value having fully open-source, court-tested VPN apps.
- Both are good choices for everyday privacy, unlimited devices, and the basic kill switch + no-logs promise. Neither has a free tier — both offer 30-day refunds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Surfshark better than Private Internet Access (PIA)?
Surfshark scores 8.9/10 vs PIA's 8.6/10 in our scoring. Surfshark is better for streaming, has cleaner apps, and covers more countries (100 vs 91). PIA wins for port forwarding, dedicated IPs, and open-source transparency.
How much does Surfshark cost vs PIA?
Surfshark starts at $2.19/mo on a 2-year plan. PIA starts at $2.03/mo on its 3-year plan. On monthly billing, PIA ($11.95/mo) is cheaper than Surfshark ($15.45/mo). Both offer a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Does PIA allow port forwarding?
Yes — PIA supports port forwarding on most of its servers, which Surfshark does not. This makes PIA the better choice for torrenting via a VPN or running home servers that need inbound connections.
Which VPN is better for Netflix — Surfshark or PIA?
Surfshark. It reliably unblocks Netflix US, UK, JP, and 15+ other libraries. PIA's streaming performance is inconsistent — it works sometimes but is not as reliable as Surfshark for bypassing geo-restrictions on major streaming platforms.
Is PIA open source?
Yes — all PIA apps (Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android) are fully open-source and published on GitHub. Surfshark's apps are not open-source, though Surfshark has a Deloitte-audited no-logs policy. PIA's no-logs policy has also been court-proven.