Private Internet Access vs Surfshark VPN
Two of the most-considered options in their category. Compared on the same scoring scale, here's the honest breakdown.
Private Internet Access
Budget-friendly, privacy-focused VPN with unmatched server scale and open-source transparency
See Private Internet Access review →Surfshark VPN
Secure your data with unlimited devices and 24/7 support.
See Surfshark VPN review →Scoreboard Surfshark VPN 5–1
What each one actually costs
Calculated from each vendor's published prices. A dash means the vendor does not publish enough to work it out.
| Private Internet Access | Surfshark VPN | |
|---|---|---|
Entry price (paid) Cheapest plan that costs money | $11.99 | $16.45 |
Free plan | No | No |
How it is charged Decides what a team pays | Tiered | Flat rate |
Monthly, 5 people | $2.19 | $2.49 |
Monthly, 10 people | $2.19 | $2.49 |
Monthly, 50 people | $2.19 | $2.49 |
Three-year total, 10 people | $78.84 | $89.64 |
Renewal price published | Not published | Not published |
What you get
Side-by-side capability comparison. ✓ included, ✕ not included, or a specific value where it matters.
| Feature | Private Internet Access | Surfshark VPN |
|---|---|---|
| Unlimited Simultaneous Connections | — | ✓ |
| Server Network Size | — | 4,500+ servers in 100+ countries |
| RAM-Only Server Infrastructure | — | ✓ |
| WireGuard Protocol Support | — | ✓ |
| No-Logs Policy | — | ✓ |
| Money-Back Guarantee Period | — | 30 days |
| 24/7 Customer Support | — | ✓ |
| Bundled Antivirus Protection | — | ✓ |
| Incogni Data Broker Removal Service | — | ✓ |
| Identity Theft Insurance Coverage | — | Up to $1M reimbursement |
Which one is right for you?
There's rarely a universal winner. Here's who wins for which use case.
How to choose between them
The trade-offs that follow from the figures above, rather than a single winner.
- Private Internet Access starts cheaper — $11.99 a month against $16.45 for Surfshark VPN.
- At ten people the gap is $0.30 a month, in Private Internet Access's favour — the pricing models diverge as the team grows.
- They charge differently: Private Internet Access is tiered and Surfshark VPN is flat rate. That, not the headline price, decides which is cheaper at your size.
- Their scores are within half a point of each other, so neither is the obvious choice on our scoring alone.
Scores follow our published methodology. Prices come from each vendor’s own pricing page — see the source and date on Private Internet Access and Surfshark VPN.