- Pick it if you are:
- Torrent / P2P users; Households with many devices
- Top complaint:
- PIA not working with Netflix: proxy error on many servers
- Price:
- From $11.95/mo
- Pick it if you are:
- Families and people with many devices; Budget buyers willing to re-buy every 2 years
- Top complaint:
- Surfshark renewal price much higher than the price you signed up at
- Price:
- From $1.78/mo
Score Comparison
Signals Comparison
Private Internet Access
- PIA not working with Netflix: proxy error on many servers(7/10)
- Why is PIA so slow on distant servers?(6/10)
- PIA port forwarding not available on US servers(5/10)
Surfshark
- Why is Surfshark so slow?(5/10)
Private Internet Access
- PIA keeps disconnecting or stuck on 'Connecting'(7/10)
- Connected to PIA but no internet(7/10)
Surfshark
- Surfshark not working with Netflix (proxy error)(6/10)
- Surfshark keeps disconnecting(7/10)
- Surfshark not connecting or stuck on connecting(7/10)
Private Internet Access
- PIA owned by Kape Technologies and based in the US(6/10)
Surfshark
No signals
Private Internet Access
- CAPTCHAs and sites blocking PIA (banks, Google, Amazon)(5/10)
- Too many settings for beginners(3/10)
Surfshark
- Websites and Google show CAPTCHAs or block Surfshark(5/10)
- Hard to find how to cancel Surfshark(5/10)
Private Internet Access
- PIA auto-renews and the cheap price needs a 3-year commitment(6/10)
- Dedicated IP and antivirus cost extra(4/10)
Surfshark
- Surfshark renewal price much higher than the price you signed up at(8/10)
- Surfshark One+ price raised twice in early 2026(5/10)
- Surfshark auto-renewed without warning and won't refund(8/10)
- Surfshark monthly plan is expensive(5/10)
- Antivirus and identity extras inflate the price(4/10)
Private Internet Access
- Refund only if you contact support within 30 days(6/10)
- PIA support slow or generic(5/10)
Surfshark
- Surfshark customer service unhelpful on refunds(6/10)
Private Internet Access
- Missing kill switch on Android TV / Fire Stick(4/10)
Surfshark
No signals
Pricing Comparison
Private Internet Access
Users: Unlimited devices
Users: Unlimited devices
Users: Unlimited devices
Surfshark
Limits: VPN-focused tier; antivirus and identity tools need One or One+
Limits: Data removal (Incogni) is in One+ only
Limits: Incogni only for US, UK, EU, Swiss and Canadian residents; identity theft coverage US-only (not New York)
Limits: Higher per-month price than the 2-year deal
Limits: About 8x the 2-year monthly rate
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Private Internet Access | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Core | ||
| WireGuard and OpenVPN OpenVPN with UDP/TCP and selectable ports | ||
| Unlimited simultaneous devices All plans | ||
| WireGuard and OpenVPN protocols Settings > VPN Settings > Protocol | ||
| Split tunneling Desktop and Android | ||
| Port forwarding Not on US servers | ||
| IPv6 support Surfshark says it does not support IPv6; disable it to avoid connection issues | ||
| Unlimited devices | ||
| Security | ||
| Kill switch Standard + Advanced Kill Switch on desktop; not on Fire TV | ||
| Multi-hop / Shadowsocks obfuscation | ||
| Open-source apps | ||
| Bundle | ||
| Antivirus One and One+ | ||
| Incogni data removal One+; US, UK, EU, Swiss and Canadian residents | ||
| Add-on | ||
| Dedicated IP Paid extra | ||
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan 7-day trial on mobile only, 30-day money-back guarantee | ||
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