Private Internet Access vs Proton VPN
VPN pricing comparison · 2026
Private Internet Access pricing ranges from $1.59–$11.95/month, while Proton VPN ranges from $0–$12.99/month. Proton VPN is typically 26% more affordable, though your actual cost depends on tier and team size.
P
Private Internet Access
Private Internet Access pricing starts at custom pricing.
verified 5w ago
$199
$292
Proton VPN
Proton VPN is a Swiss-based VPN service developed by Proton AG, the same company behind th
verified 10w ago
$199
$292
Recorded annual contract medians
Proton
median is
$93
less than
Private
· different customer contracts; not a quote
Cheapest
$199
Spread
32%
Estimated license cost
at 25 seats
List price × seats. Click a tier below to lock it.
1 Year
$999/yr
year 1 license · $3/seat
VPN Plus (1-Year)
$60/yr
year 1 license · flat plan price
What buyers actually pay
median, annual
Vendr deal-flow data. The real benchmark, not list price.
Median annual
$292/yr
Vendr · n=156
↓ Lowest median
Median annual
$199/yr
Vendr · n=23
REF · 01
Sources & confidence
Every dollar amount and contract clause below traces back to a sourced fact. We don't manufacture composite scores.
Where this data comes from
Vendr · TrustRadius · Reddit · BBB · official docs
Sources
6 sourced facts
3 hidden-cost · 1 contract · Vendr median · 1 review platform
Last verified
1mo ago
Confidence
Limited confidence
Sources
19 sourced facts
13 hidden-cost · 3 contract · Vendr median · 2 review platforms
Last verified
2mo ago
Confidence
High confidence
REF · 02
Plans at a glance
Every tier per product. Lock one to drive the cost row above and reveal a tier-specific outbound CTA.
Tier ladder
Click a tier to lock the cost row to it. Locking surfaces a tier-specific Visit CTA.
REF · 04
Contract terms
The fine print, surfaced. Green = buyer-friendly. Each clause backed by a quoted source.
Private
Proton
Auto-renewal
Yes
Yes
Cancellation
Users can cancel auto-renewal at any time through their Client Control Panel.
30-day money-back guarantee advertised; cancellation handled via email-only support with reported multi-day delays
Commitment
✓
PIA offers various subscription lengths, including one-month, six-month, and two-year plans, with longer commitments generally resulting in lower average monthly costs.
✓
Monthly (no long-term minimum); 1-year and 2-year plans available at lower monthly rates
Price escalation
116.89%
Users report introductory pricing nearly doubles at renewal; no published escalation schedule but pattern consistently reported by long-term customers
Can downgrade
—
—
REF · 05
What users say
Aggregated, with sample sizes. We use whichever review platform has data.
User reviews
TrustRadius · Trustpilot · G2
Decide
Get a quote from each vendor
Each link opens the vendor's pricing page in a new tab.
Visit Proton pricing
Affiliate partner — does not affect ranking.
License cost is computed from publicly listed plans (real math, list price × seats).
Median annual cost is from Vendr's deal flow when available — see source badges.
Hidden costs and contract terms each cite their own sources. We do not invent composite scores.
VS
Plan-by-Plan Pricing
| Plan | Private Internet Access | Proton VPN |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Month | $11.95 /user/month | Free /month |
| 1 Year | $3.33 /user/month | $9.99 /month |
| 3 Years + 3 Months | $1.59 /user/month | $4.99 /month |
| VPN Plus (2-Year) | — | $2.99 /month |
| Proton Unlimited (Monthly) | — | $12.99 /month |
| Proton Unlimited (1-Year) | — | $9.99 /month |
| Proton Unlimited (2-Year) | — | $7.99 /month |
Market Intelligence
Private Internet Access
- Median annual cost
- $292
- Based on
- 156 deals
Proton VPN
- Median annual cost
- $199
- Based on
- 23 deals
Contract Terms
| Term | Private Internet Access | Proton VPN |
|---|---|---|
| Auto-renewal | Yes | Yes |
| Cancellation | Users can cancel auto-renewal at any time through their Client Control Panel. | 30-day money-back guarantee advertised; cancellation handled via email-only support with reported multi-day delays |
| Minimum commitment | PIA offers various subscription lengths, including one-month, six-month, and two-year plans, with longer commitments generally resulting in lower average monthly costs. | Monthly (no long-term minimum); 1-year and 2-year plans available at lower monthly rates |
| Price escalation | 116.89% | Users report introductory pricing nearly doubles at renewal; no published escalation schedule but pattern consistently reported by long-term customers |