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Whether you’re someone seeking a higher level of online privacy, a small company looking to secure your work documents or a traveller who frequently connects to public Wi-Fi, a virtual private network (VPN) can serve as an answer to these concerns.
NordVPN and Private Internet Access are two popular VPNs that provide Australians with high-speed encrypted internet access and online security. In this comparison, we’ll examine how these companies stack up from the perspective of price, servers, device compatibility and customer service.
In our guide to our favourite VPNs for Australians, both Private Internet Access and NordVPN scored highly.
Read on to find out which VPN of the two is the best choice for you.
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NordVPN Vs. Private Internet Access: At a Glance
As mentioned, both NordVPN and Private Internet Access (PIA) are both rated in our top 10 VPNs. While they’re both well-established names, they vary slightly in terms of cost and features, with PIA offering a lower annual price. Both companies allow you to pay by month and by year, while PIA offers a steep discount for a three-year plan and NordVPN does the same for a two-year plan.
A slight benefit to PIA is its pricing and charging in Australian dollars for local customers, which NordVPN doesn’t do.
How NordVPN and Private Internet Access Stack Up
When it comes to price, Private Internet Access is considerably cheaper than NordVPN. As far as similarities, both companies offer 24/7 customer service, feature the same encryption (AES with 256-bit keys) and both are compatible with Android, iOS, Windows, Mac and Linux, while NordVPN is also compatible with Android TV.
One of the main differences is that PIA allows you to connect to a total of ten devices while NordVPN has a limit of six. Private Internet Access also has a substantially higher number of servers and by far the highest of all the VPNs we’ve tested. NordVPN still has a high number of servers relative to other VPNs at 5,500, but Private Internet Access is a clear winner here.
The number of server locations is a closer comparison, with Private Internet Access at 78 compared to NordVPN’s 60 server locations. Rather than compare the number though, it could be beneficial to check which ones have server locations in countries you plan to connect your VPN to. You can check whether NordVPN server locations will match yours on the company’s website.
Both VPNs offer the option of a dedicated IP for an additional fee, which grants you the ability to access IP-restricted networks while still maintaining your anonymity. PIA has a much more competitive offer here, too, at $3.50 AUD per month for three years, compared with $US3.69 ($5.59 AUD) per month for two years.
Additional Features
NordVPN also offers an additional service called NordLocker Premium, which allows you to encrypt up to 500 GB of cloud files. This service costs an additional $US7.99 ($12.11 AUD) per month, or, if you’re signing up for the annual plan, it comes out to $US2.99 ($4.53 AUD) per month. Meanwhile, PIA offers an additional security feature in the form of PIA antivirus for PCs, which offers protection against malware and viruses for Windows users, from $1.50 AUD per month on the three-year plan,
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Bottom Line
Overall, both Private Internet Access and NodVPN offer a premium service for Australian users.
If you’re looking for an everyday fast-speed VPN, Private Internet Access is a great choice. Plus: you are charged in Australian dollars, which is preferable to US.
On the other hand, NordVPN’s service NordLayer makes it a great choice for securing the privacy of large teams. Finally, given that PIA does not undergo third-party reviews, if privacy is your main concern—as it often is when it comes to VPNs—consider NordVPN over PIA.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How secure are VPNs?
Both NordVPN and Private Internet Access provide military-grade AES 256-bit encryption. This is the same security that governments and armed forces around the world use to protect sensitive information. Both VPNs include a kill switch, which automatically disconnects your internet connection when your device isn’t connected to the VPN. Private Internet Access has a built-in ad-blocker, PIA MACE, which adds an extra layer of protection by blocking harmful ads, scripts and trackers before they even have a chance to load. And NordVPN offers NordLayer, which provides internet privacy for Australian companies and businesses.
Are there any VPNs that are less expensive than NordVPN and PIA?
There are some free VPNs available, such as Hotspot Shield, though we recommend choosing a paid solution because free VPNs are less secure and come with many advertisements. If budget is an issue, you can find many cheap VPNs to choose from.
How do I connect to a VPN in Australia?
The process for connecting to a VPN varies, depending on your device and operating system. Generally, you need to download the VPN’s app or software, enter your username and password and select a server. For more detailed instructions, check out the VPN’s website or contact customer service.
What is NordVPN pricing?
The price for a VPN from NordVPN varies depending on whether you pay monthly or lock-in a two-year contract, which is the longest term available. If you opt for monthly payment, prices start at $US12.99 ($19.69 AUD) for a basic plan whereas on the two-year plan, prices drop to $US3.09 or $4.68 AUD on the same plan.
What is pricing for PIA VPN?
The pricing for Private Internet Access (PIA) VPN start at $2.73 AUD per month, on the longest plan of three years, and rises to $5.42 AUD and $19.79 AUD for the one-year and month-to-month plans.