PIA vs Surfshark - Which Is Better in 2026?
Two unlimited-device value champions go head-to-head. We compared both against the same criteria and the same reference baseline. Here's the full breakdown.
Quick Verdict
Surfshark wins overall (8.9/10 vs 8.3/10) on speed, streaming and app polish. PIA wins for torrenting and raw server choice, with port forwarding, a 35,000-server network, open-source apps and court-proven no-logs. Both cover unlimited devices. Here's who should choose which:
Choose Surfshark if you want:
- • Faster speeds (83% vs 81% retention)
- • The best streaming access of the two
- • CleanWeb ad and tracker blocking
- • A more polished, beginner-friendly app
- • Unlimited devices
Choose PIA if you want:
- • The largest server network (35,000+)
- • Port forwarding for torrenting
- • Fully open-source apps
- • A no-logs policy proven in court
- • Unlimited devices
Category-by-Category Comparison
Category-by-Category Scores
Full Feature Comparison
| Feature | PIA | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Score | 8.3/10 | 8.9/10 |
| Speed Retention | 81% | 83% |
| Best Price | $2.03/mo | $2.19/mo |
| Servers | 35,000+ | 3,200+ |
| Countries | 91 | 100 |
| Devices | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Netflix Libraries | 5+ | 12+ |
| Port Forwarding | Yes | No |
| Open Source | Yes | No |
| Ad Blocker | Yes (MACE) | Yes (CleanWeb) |
| Protocol | WireGuard | WireGuard |
| No-Log Audits | Deloitte (+ court-proven) | Deloitte, Cure53 |
| Jurisdiction | United States | Netherlands |
| Kill Switch | Yes | Yes |
| Money-Back | 30 days | 30 days |
Speed Comparison
Surfshark holds a slim edge in our ratings. On our 487 Mbps reference baseline:
- Surfshark (WireGuard): 404 Mbps download, 16ms latency - 83% retention
- PIA (WireGuard): 394 Mbps download, 15ms latency - 81% retention
The two-point gap is negligible in practice - both are plenty fast for 4K, gaming and large downloads. PIA actually posts marginally lower latency, and its enormous network makes it easy to find a fast nearby server.
Torrenting Comparison
PIA is the stronger torrenting pick. It offers port forwarding (which improves peer connectivity and speeds), allows P2P across its network, ships open-source apps, and its no-logs policy has been tested and upheld in court. Surfshark permits torrenting on all servers too, but without port forwarding. For serious, frequent downloaders, PIA is the more capable option.
Our Verdict
Surfshark is the better all-rounder - faster, better for streaming, and more polished, which is why it rates higher overall. Choose PIA if torrenting, open-source transparency, or a court-proven no-logs record is your priority, or if you simply want the largest server network available. Both give you unlimited devices for around $2/month, so value is a wash - pick on what you'll actually use them for.
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