Private Internet Access vs Avast VPN: VPN Showdown in 2025

Choosing a VPN can feel like navigating a maze.

You want online privacy, but which service delivers?

Two popular contenders are Private Internet Access (PIA) and Avast VPN.

They both promise security, but how do they really stack up?

This article dives deep into a head-to-head comparison: Private Internet Access vs Avast VPN. 

Let’s get started!

Overview

We’ve rigorously tested both Private Internet Access (PIA) and Avast VPN, putting them through real-world scenarios.

Our hands-on experience, combined with in-depth feature analysis, forms the basis of this comparison.

It allows us to provide you with a clear picture of their strengths and weaknesses.

What is Private Internet Access?

Looking for a VPN that’s serious about privacy? Then, you need to check out Private Internet Access (PIA). 

They’ve been around for ages and have a solid reputation for keeping your data safe & sound.

There are no complicated setups, just powerful protection for all your online activities.

Also, explore our favorite Private Internet Access alternatives…

Key Benefits

• Unwavering commitment to privacy: A strict no-logs policy you can trust.
• Advanced security features include a kill switch, DNS leak protection, and split tunneling.
• Colossal server network: Offers 35,912+ servers in 84 countries.
• MACE ad blocker: Blocks ads, trackers, and malware.
• Unlimited simultaneous connections: Protect all your devices at once.

Pricing

• 1 Month: $11.95/month.
• 3 years+ 3 Months: $2.03/month.
• 1 year: $3.33/month.

What is Avast VPN?

You might know Avast for their antivirus software. But did you know they also have a VPN?

Avast VPN helps keep your online activity private and allows you to access websites that might be blocked in your country.

Think of it like this: Avast VPN creates a secure connection.

This connection makes it much harder for others to snoop on your data.

Also, explore our favorite Avast VPN alternatives…

Key Benefits

• Good streaming speeds: Our tests showed average speeds of around 80 Mbps. This is not the fastest, but it’s good enough for most.
• Open-source privacy protection: Avast VPN uses open-source libraries, which means anyone can check their code for security flaws. Pretty cool, right?
• P2P support: Allows torrenting on optimized servers.
• Streaming support: Unblocks popular streaming services like Netflix and Hulu.
• User-friendly interface: Easy to navigate, even for beginners.

Pricing

• 1-Year Plan: Price per Month-$4.59
• 2-Year Plan: Price per Month-$4.39
• 3-Year Plan: Price per Month-$4.39

Feature Comparison

Let’s break down the key features of Private Internet Access (PIA) and Avast SecureLine VPN to see how they compare.

This will help you determine which vpn service best meets your needs.

1. Speed Test

• PIA: Offers generally good speeds, sufficient for most online activities. Performance can vary slightly depending on the vpn server you choose, server load, and location. The faster the vpn, the better your experience.
• Avast SecureLine VPN: Some user reports indicate Avast SecureLine VPN vs other vpns as being faster than Private Internet Access, but this can also be inconsistent. Speed tests in your specific use case are recommended.

2. Security and Privacy

• PIA: Employs strong encryption and offers a variety of security features. Being based in the United States raises some data jurisdiction questions for some. PIA is based there. It’s important to examine privacy policies before buying a vpn.
• Avast SecureLine VPN: Provides robust encryption and claims a no-logs policy. It’s crucial to review their privacy policies carefully. They claim not to log your vpn traffic as regular internet activity. Avast SecureLine VPN or Private Internet Access both offer a secure vpn connection.

3. Streaming Services

• PIA: Generally offers good access to streaming platforms like Amazon Prime, but performance isn’t guaranteed for all platforms. Do you need a vpn for streaming?
• Avast SecureLine VPN: Can provide access to streaming content, but its performance can be less consistent than PIA.

4. VPN Protocol

• PIA: Supports a range of vpn protocols, including OpenVPN, WireGuard, and IKEv2, giving users flexibility. PIA also offers a variety of protocols.
• Avast SecureLine VPN: Offers a selection of protocols but may have fewer options compared to PIA.

5. Server Network

• PIA: Maintains a very large vpn server network, providing numerous server locations and ip address options. PIA also has a huge network.
• Avast SecureLine VPN: Offers a decent underlying vpn network, but it’s typically smaller compared to PIA’s extensive network.

6. Simultaneous Connections

• PIA: Allows a generous number of simultaneous connections, enabling you to protect multiple devices to the vpn with one vpn subscription.
• Avast SecureLine VPN: Offers a limited number of simultaneous connections, which might be a constraint for some users.

7. VPN App and User Experience

• PIA: Provides user-friendly vpn apps for various platforms, although the interface might be considered less modern by some. PIA VPN review sites often praise it.
• Avast SecureLine VPN: Offers easy-to-use best vpn apps with a clean interface, making it accessible for beginners. Many vpn reviews highlight the importance of a good vpn app. You’ll want an app that makes it easy to use the vpn and connect to the vpn.

What to Look for in a VPN? 🤔

• Free VPNs are tempting but often come with limitations or risks. It’s usually better to invest in a reputable paid service.
• Consider your specific needs. Do you need a VPN for easy streaming, torrenting, or simply browsing securely?
• Check the VPN’s logging policy. Make sure they don’t store your data.
• Look for a VPN with a vast server network. This gives you more options for bypassing geo restrictions and finding faster speeds.
• Read reviews and compare features. See what other users are saying about different VPN providers.
• Test the VPN with a money-back guarantee. This lets you try it risk free before committing to a long-term plan.

Final Verdict

Choosing between Private Internet Access (PIA) vs Private Internet Access can be tricky.

While Avast SecureLine VPN might be appealing, especially if you’ve used PIA before and are looking for a change, our vpn tests suggest that PIA provides a more well-rounded experience.

PIA consistently offers a good balance of speed, security, and features, making it a strong contender in the vpn industry.

While neither vpn is perfect (PIA does not offer everything), PIA generally comes out on top for most users, especially those who like PIA and value a large server network and vpn for torrenting capabilities.

Although Avast SecureLine VPN is a popular vpn and popular vpn service, PIA offers more value for the price, even though it is not the clear winner in every single category.

If you are considering NordVPN vs Private Internet Access or NordVPN and Private Internet Access, remember that every vpn has its strengths and weaknesses.

Consider Surfshark VPN Review, TunnelBear VPN, or other options like those from Kape’s VPN Holdings before making your final decision.

We recommend PIA for its overall reliability and performance.

More of Private Internet Access

We’ve explored alternatives to Private Internet Access, so how does Private Internet Access compare to them?

• Private Internet Access vs NordVPN: NordVPN generally offers faster speeds, a larger server network spanning more countries, and better streaming capabilities. While PIA provides unlimited simultaneous connections and can be more affordable, NordVPN offers a more robust security package and consistently better performance.
• Private Internet Access vs ExpressVPN: ExpressVPN is known for its consistently fast speeds, user-friendly apps, and reliable unblocking of streaming services. While PIA offers a larger server network and allows unlimited connections, ExpressVPN often provides a smoother and faster overall experience, especially for streaming.
• Private Internet Access vs PureVPN: PIA generally offers faster and more consistent speeds, along with unlimited simultaneous connections. While PureVPN boasts a larger server count and can unblock more streaming services in some tests, PIA’s performance and strong focus on security often give it an edge.
• Private Internet Access vs SurfsharkVPN: Surfshark is often more affordable, especially for long-term plans, and allows unlimited connections. While PIA has a larger server network, Surfshark generally provides faster speeds, better apps, and more features, making it a strong all-around competitor.
• Private Internet Access vs ProtonVPN: ProtonVPN emphasizes strong security and privacy with features like Secure Core servers and a transparent approach. While PIA offers faster speeds on nearby servers and allows unlimited connections, ProtonVPN’s focus on privacy and consistent performance on international servers makes it a strong contender for privacy-conscious users.
• Private Internet Access vs AdGuard VPN: AdGuard VPN’s primary strength lies in its integration with ad and tracker blocking. PIA is a more comprehensive VPN service offering a wider range of server locations and functionalities beyond ad blocking.
• Private Internet Access vs Virtual Shield: PIA offers a more extensive server network, stronger security features, and generally better performance than the simpler Virtual Shield.
• Private Internet Access vs StrongVPN: Both VPNs offer strong encryption, but PIA boasts a significantly larger server network and allows unlimited connections, providing greater flexibility.
• Private Internet Access vs FastestVPN: PIA generally offers a larger server network and more robust security features than FastestVPN, which is budget-friendly.
• Private Internet Access vs AuraVPN: AuraVPN includes identity theft protection alongside its VPN. PIA focuses on providing a secure and private VPN connection with a large server network and unlimited connections.
• Private Internet Access vs CyberGhost: CyberGhost is known for its user-friendly apps and specialized servers for various online activities. PIA offers a larger server network and unlimited connections, appealing to users with many devices.
• Private Internet Access vs McAfee VPN: PIA is a dedicated VPN service with a wider range of features and better performance than the basic VPN included with McAfee’s security suite.
• Private Internet Access vs Mysterium: PIA uses a traditional server network known for its size and consistent performance. Mysterium is a decentralized VPN with a different approach to anonymity and potentially variable speeds.

More of Avast VPN

We’ve explored alternatives to Avast VPN, so how does Avast VPN stack up directly against them?

• Avast VPN vs NordVPN: NordVPN generally offers faster speeds, a vastly larger server network, more advanced features, and better streaming capabilities than Avast VPN. NordVPN also has a stronger and independently audited no-logs policy.
• Avast VPN vs ExpressVPN: ExpressVPN is known for its consistently fast speeds, user-friendly interface, strong security features, and reliable unblocking of streaming services. While Avast VPN is simpler and can be cheaper, ExpressVPN offers superior performance and privacy.
• Avast VPN vs PureVPN: PureVPN boasts a larger server network than Avast VPN and can sometimes unblock more streaming services. However, Avast VPN can offer decent speeds and a user-friendly interface, though it lacks some advanced privacy features of PureVPN.
• Avast VPN vs SurfsharkVPN: Surfshark typically provides faster speeds, allows unlimited connections, and offers more features like split tunneling at often better long-term prices than Avast VPN. Surfshark also has a larger server network and better streaming capabilities.
• Avast VPN vs ProtonVPN: ProtonVPN focuses on strong security and privacy with features like Secure Core and a transparent no-logs policy. While Avast VPN offers decent speeds and ease of use, ProtonVPN generally provides stronger privacy and better unblocking of streaming services.
• Avast VPN vs PrivadoVPN: PrivadoVPN often provides more consistent speeds and a stronger focus on privacy. At the same time, Avast VPN has a smaller server network and a less strict no-logs policy. PrivadoVPN also offers a free tier.
• Avast VPN vs AdGuard VPN: AdGuard VPN’s primary strength is its integration with ad and tracker blocking. Avast VPN is a more general-purpose VPN but lacks the specific ad-blocking focus.
• Avast VPN vs Virtual Shield: Avast VPN offers a more established brand name and a slightly larger server network than the very basic Virtual Shield.
• Avast VPN vs StrongVPN: StrongVPN is known for its robust encryption and reliable connections. Avast VPN also offers strong encryption but has a smaller server network.
• Avast VPN vs FastestVPN: FastestVPN is a budget-friendly option. Avast VPN, while not the most expensive, doesn’t necessarily outperform FastestVPN in speed or server selection.
• Avast VPN vs AuraVPN: AuraVPN includes identity theft protection, while Avast VPN focuses solely on VPN services and has a smaller server network.
• Avast VPN vs CyberGhost: CyberGhost offers user-friendly apps and specialized servers for various activities.¹² Avast VPN is simpler but has a smaller server network and may not be as effective for streaming.
• Avast VPN vs McAfee VPN: Both are often bundled with antivirus software. Avast VPN generally offers a more feature-rich VPN experience than McAfee’s basic VPN.
• Avast VPN vs Mysterium: Mysterium is a decentralized VPN with a different approach to anonymity. Avast VPN uses a traditional server network, which may offer more consistent speeds.

Frequently Asked Questions