Private Internet Access vs AirVPN (2026)
Head-to-head on price, speed, privacy posture and features - based on our independent reviews of both providers.
Score comparison
| Private Internet Access | AirVPN | Winner | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 8.5 | 8.3 | Private Internet Access |
| Speed & reliability | 8.6 | 8.5 | Private Internet Access |
| Privacy & trust | 8.4 | 8.8 | AirVPN |
| Features & coverage | 9.0 | 8.9 | Private Internet Access |
| Value for money | 9.5 | 8.6 | Private Internet Access |
| Ease of use | 8.0 | 6.4 | Private Internet Access |
Side by side
| Private Internet Access | AirVPN | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $2.03/mo | $2/mo |
| Service types | Consumer VPN | Consumer VPN |
| Jurisdiction | United States in the 5 Eyes | Italy in the 14 Eyes |
| Logging policy | No-logs, independently audited | No-logs claimed, no public audit |
| Independent audits | Deloitte (2024) | None published |
| Network | 35K servers | 260 servers |
| Country coverage | 91 | 24 |
| Money-back guarantee | 30 days | 30 days |
| Free tier | - | - |
| Support | chat, tickets, knowledge-base · 24/7 | tickets, email |
| Pay with crypto | ✓ | ✓ |
Which should you pick?
Choose Private Internet Access if this fits: best cheap vpn for tinkerers and torrenting. PIA is the value pick for people who like knobs: open source apps, port forwarding, unlimited devices and a no-logs record repeatedly tested in US courts, at a price nothing else in this tier matches.
Choose AirVPN if this fits: best for torrenting and port forwarding. AirVPN is built by and for technical users: live server statistics, superb port forwarding, and operators who argue with you in public. Beginners will hate the interface; power users rarely leave.
Overall, our scores favor Private Internet Access (8.5 vs 8.3) - but the right choice depends on which trade-offs matter to you. Read the full Private Internet Access review and AirVPN review.