Proton VPN is 100% cheaper
than Private Internet Access (PIA VPN)
$0/mo (Proton Free) vs Private Internet Access (PIA VPN) 1 Year at $3.33/mo — covering 40% of the 10 compared capabilities.
Same job. Way less money.
Comparison scenario
Every cheaper-than claim is tied to a defined scenario — never a bare list price.
single user, monthly billing · USD · prices as observed on official pricing pages.
1 Year plan at $3.33/mo, the cheapest paid plan.
Proton Free: 0 USD/monthly.
Private Internet Access (PIA VPN) costs $3.33/mo on the 1 Year plan at single user, monthly billing. We found 1 assessed alternative that is cheaper in this scenario; 0 of them cover at least 75% of the 10 compared capabilities.
Capability comparison
Proton VPN covers 40% of the 10 capabilities compared against Private Internet Access (PIA VPN). ✓ native · ◐ via integration · ✗ not found.
| Capability | Proton VPN | Private Internet Access (PIA VPN) |
|---|---|---|
| No-logs policy | ✓ | ✓ |
| Unlimited devices | ✗ | ✓ |
| Server network size | ↑ VPN Plus | ✓ |
| Dedicated IP | ✗ | ✓ |
| Money-back guarantee | ↑ VPN Plus | ✓ |
| Simultaneous devices | ✓ | ✓ |
| Ad & tracker blocking | ↑ VPN Plus | ✓ |
| Split tunneling | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multi-hop | ↑ VPN Plus | ✓ |
| Port forwarding | ✓ | ✓ |
What you give up
Capabilities Private Internet Access (PIA VPN) has that Proton VPN lacks.
- Unlimited devices — Connect an unlimited number of devices to the VPN at once.Missing from Proton VPN.
- Server network size — Choose from a large network of server locations.Missing from Proton VPN.
- Dedicated IP — Use a static IP address reserved for your account.Missing from Proton VPN.
- Money-back guarantee — Get a refund if you cancel within a guarantee period.Missing from Proton VPN.
- Ad & tracker blocking — Block ads and trackers while connected.Missing from Proton VPN.
- Multi-hop — Route traffic through more than one VPN server for extra privacy.Missing from Proton VPN.
Plans & pricing, side by side
Advertised prices in USD as observed on the official pricing pages — per-seat and transaction-fee plans are marked.
| Proton Free | Free |
| VPN Plus | $9.99/mo |
| Proton Unlimited | $12.99/mo |
| 1 Month | $11.95/mo |
| 1 Year | $3.33/mo (billed yearly) |
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Frequently asked
How much cheaper is Proton VPN than Private Internet Access (PIA VPN)?
100% cheaper in our scenario (single user, monthly billing): $0/mo on Proton Free vs $3.33/mo on 1 Year. That is $39.96 a year.
What does Proton VPN lack compared with Private Internet Access (PIA VPN)?
Unlimited devices, Server network size, Dedicated IP, Money-back guarantee, Ad & tracker blocking, Multi-hop — 6 of the 10 compared capabilities.
When were these prices checked?
Private Internet Access (PIA VPN): 2026-10-03; Proton VPN: 2026-10-03 — on the official pricing pages.
Sources & freshness
- https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/vpn-features (feature_page, checked 2026-10-03)
- https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/buy-vpn-online (official_pricing, checked 2026-09-07)
- Proton VPN data last verified 2026-10-03