PIA and ProtonVPN are both well-regarded providers that share a number of core features, yet their overall scores reveal meaningful differences that may influence which service better suits a given user's priorities. ProtonVPN earns an overall score of 89% compared to PIA's 77%, a gap that reflects consistent advantages across several evaluated categories.
Both providers support WireGuard, kill switch functionality, split tunneling, P2P and torrenting traffic, and maintain a bug bounty program. In this respect, neither holds a clear edge on feature availability alone. Where the two diverge significantly is in jurisdiction and privacy credentials. ProtonVPN operates under Swiss law, a jurisdiction widely recognized for strong privacy protections, and this likely contributes to its perfect privacy audit score of 100%. PIA, based in the United States, scored 62% in that same category, which reflects the more complex legal landscape surrounding US-based VPN providers and the implications that carries for data retention and government access concerns.
On the ethics front, ProtonVPN again leads with a score of 100% versus PIA's 67%. ProtonVPN's parent organization has a well-documented history of advocating for privacy rights, which resonates with users who value a provider's broader mission alongside its technical capabilities. Both services achieved identical scores in speeds at 80% and tied for perfect marks in customer support at 100%, meaning day-to-day performance and help availability are comparable between the two.
Where PIA does stand out is in its application score of 87%, edging ProtonVPN's 80%, and in streaming performance where PIA achieved a perfect 100% compared to ProtonVPN's 86%. Users who prioritize unblocking streaming content across a wide variety of platforms may find PIA's performance in that area particularly relevant. ProtonVPN, however, scores a perfect 100% in GUI design, suggesting a cleaner and more refined interface experience compared to PIA's 70% in that category.
Pricing data was unavailable for direct comparison at the time of this review, so value assessments are based on category scores alone. ProtonVPN's pricing score of 73% slightly outpaces PIA's 64%, though both fall below the midpoint of their respective overall scores, suggesting neither provider is considered exceptional value relative to the broader market. For users who place privacy auditing and ethical standing at the top of their criteria, ProtonVPN presents a compelling case. For those focused on streaming access and application depth, PIA remains a competitive option.