Overall comparison

Proton VPN vs Private Internet Access: our current pick is Proton VPN.

Proton VPN is the stronger all-round pick right now if you want one VPN for streaming, travel, everyday security, and general privacy. Private Internet Access may still suit you better if its pricing or device policy matches your needs more closely. In our current scoring, Proton VPN is at 8/10 versus 8/10 for overall.

Quick verdict

Choose Proton VPN if you want the stronger mix of features for overall right now. Choose Private Internet Access if its pricing, device allowance, or overall approach fits you better.

Why Proton VPN stands out
  • 15,000+ servers in 120+ countries on current official pages
  • Swiss base, open-source apps, and public audits add useful transparency
  • Stealth protocol helps when VPN traffic gets blocked
Why Private Internet Access may still suit you
  • Unlimited devices make it easy to cover a whole household
  • 90+ countries and mature apps across major platforms
  • Public Deloitte audit history helps support its no-logs claims

What to compare first

  • price versus long-term value
  • country coverage and server variety
  • device limit for your household
  • refund window if you want time to test it
MetricProton VPNPrivate Internet Access
JurisdictionSwitzerlandUnited States
Servers15,000+
Countries120+90+
Devices10Unlimited
Refund30 days30 days
Monthly plan$9.99$11.95
ProtocolWireGuard + StealthWireGuard
Stealth / anti-blockingStealth protocolMulti-hop options and privacy tooling
WireGuard
Score for Overall8/108/10

Choose Proton VPN if…

  • 15,000+ servers in 120+ countries on current official pages
  • Swiss base, open-source apps, and public audits add useful transparency
  • Stealth protocol helps when VPN traffic gets blocked
  • A strong fit if privacy matters more to you than flashy extras

Look elsewhere if…

  • The interface and plan lineup can feel more technical than NordVPN or Surfshark
  • Streaming performance is good but not usually the category leader
  • Premium tiers can feel expensive if you mainly want a simple everyday VPN
Next step

Ready to try one?

Start with the service that matches your needs best, then use the refund window to see how it performs on your own devices and network.

Official sources used on this page

Proton VPN
Private Internet Access

Related comparisons

Browse all matchups →