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There is no universal winner. Private Internet Access (PIA) is the better fit if you need unlimited simultaneous connections on one subscription and the lowest displayed long-term price. NordVPN is the better fit if its specialty features and its repeated, recently completed no-logs assurance process matter more to you, and you can accept its higher listed price. A third-party comparison dated August 6, 2026 favored NordVPN on speed and server-network size, so performance is where the evidence leans toward NordVPN.
No-logs claims: what the audits do and do not show
Both providers say they keep no logs of user activity. The evidence behind those claims differs in how it is described, who can read it, and how recent it is.
NordVPN’s audit history
NordVPN says its first two no-logs examinations were performed by PricewaterhouseCoopers AG Switzerland, and that later examinations were performed by Deloitte. The sixth engagement was carried out by Deloitte Lithuania. The assessment period ran from November 10 to December 12, 2025, and the report was issued on December 12, 2025. NordVPN describes the work as a point-in-time assessment under ISAE 3000 (Revised). The full report can be read by Nord Account holders, so you need an account to see it.
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NordVPN’s February 3, 2026 statement describes the engagement this way:
#1 Best Overall
- 【Five Gigabit Ports】1 Gigabit WAN Port plus 2 Gigabit WAN/LAN Ports plus 2 Gigabit LAN Port. Up to 3 WAN ports optimize bandwidth usage through one device.
- 【One USB WAN Port】Mobile broadband via 4G/3G modem is supported for WAN backup by connecting to the USB port. For complete list of compatible 4G/3G modems, please visit TP-Link website.
- 【Abundant Security Features】Advanced firewall policies, DoS defense, IP/MAC/URL filtering, speed test and more security functions protect your network and data.
- 【Highly Secure VPN】Supports up to 20× LAN-to-LAN IPsec, 16× OpenVPN, 16× L2TP, and 16× PPTP VPN connections.
- Security - SPI Firewall, VPN Pass through, FTP/H.323/PPTP/SIP/IPsec ALG, DoS Defence, Ping of Death and Local Management. Standards and Protocols IEEE 802.3, 802.3u, 802.3ab, IEEE 802.3x, IEEE 802.1q
“The assurance engagement took place between November 10 and December 12, 2025, with Deloitte assessing our systems exactly as they operated during that period.”
PIA’s audit claim
PIA says its systems were independently audited through Deloitte and that the report is available to customers. It also describes its apps as open source and cites prior court cases as support for its no-logs claim. These are PIA’s own statements. PIA’s public offer and feature pages do not give the report’s assessment period, scope or findings, so you cannot check the audit’s details from those pages alone.
Rank #2
- 【AC1200 Dual-band Wireless Router】Simultaneous dual-band with wireless speed up to 300 Mbps (2.4GHz) + 867 Mbps (5GHz). 2.4GHz band can handles some simple tasks like emails or web browsing while bandwidth intensive tasks such as gaming or 4K video streaming can be handled by the 5GHz band.*Speed tests are conducted on a local network. Real-world speeds may differ depending on your network configuration.*
- 【Easy Setup】Please refer to the User Manual and the Unboxing & Setup video guide on Amazon for detailed setup instructions and methods for connecting to the Internet.
- 【Pocket-friendly】Lightweight design(145g) which designed for your next trip or adventure. Alongside its portable, compact design makes it easy to take with you on the go.
- 【Full Gigabit Ports】Gigabit Wireless Internet Router with 2 Gigabit LAN ports and 1 Gigabit WAN ports, ideal for lots of internet plan and allow you to connect your wired devices directly.
- 【Keep your Internet Safe】IPv6 supported. OpenVPN & WireGuard pre-installed, compatible with 30+ VPN service providers. Cloudflare encryption supported to protect the privacy.
What an assurance engagement can and cannot tell you
An assurance report is evidence about systems and controls within a defined scope and period. It is not a guarantee of anonymity, and it does not describe how a provider will behave after the period ends. Do not rank the two services by audit count. NordVPN’s six engagements are a documented part of its history, but the sources available do not give a directly comparable audit report for both providers, so the counts do not measure relative privacy protection.
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Prices in this category change often and many are promotional. The table below keeps each figure tied to its source and date rather than merging them.
Rank #3
- New-Gen WiFi Standard – WiFi 6(802.11ax) standard supporting MU-MIMO and OFDMA technology for better efficiency and throughput.Antenna : External antenna x 4. Processor : Dual-core (4 VPE). Power Supply : AC Input : 110V~240V(50~60Hz), DC Output : 12 V with max. 1.5A current.
- Ultra-fast WiFi Speed – RT-AX1800S supports 1024-QAM for dramatically faster wireless connections
- Increase Capacity and Efficiency – Supporting not only MU-MIMO but also OFDMA technique to efficiently allocate channels, communicate with multiple devices simultaneously
- 5 Gigabit ports – One Gigabit WAN port and four Gigabit LAN ports, 10X faster than 100–Base T Ethernet.
- Commercial-grade Security Anywhere – Protect your home network with AiProtection Classic, powered by Trend Micro. And when away from home, ASUS Instant Guard gives you a one-click secure VPN.
| Source | Monthly | One year | Long term |
|---|---|---|---|
| PIA official offer page (2026) | $11.95 | $3.99/mo, billed $47.88 for the first year | $2.03/mo for three years plus three months; renews at $79 every three years |
| PIA in Security.org comparison (updated August 6, 2026) | $11.95 | $3.33/mo | $2.03/mo for three years |
| NordVPN in Security.org comparison (updated August 6, 2026) | $14.99 | $5.49/mo | $3.49/mo for two years |
The NordVPN row comes only from the Security.org table. This article did not establish NordVPN’s current price from its own official site, so check NordVPN’s checkout before comparing totals.
PIA’s official page lists all amounts in USD and calculates its discounts against the $11.95 monthly price. Its 30-day money-back guarantee applies to new subscribers. Purchases made through third-party app stores are subject to those stores’ terms. For any offer, compare the amount charged at checkout and the renewal terms, not the monthly equivalent alone.
Rank #4
- 【DUAL BAND WIFI 7 TRAVEL ROUTER】Products with US, UK, EU, AU Plug; Dual band network with wireless speed 688Mbps (2.4G)+2882Mbps (5G); Dual 2.5G Ethernet Ports (1x WAN and 1x LAN Port); USB 3.0 port.
- 【NETWORK CONTROL WITH TOUCHSCREEN SIMPLICITY】Slate 7’s touchscreen interface lets you scan QR codes for quick Wi-Fi, monitor speed in real time, toggle VPN on/off, and switch providers directly on the display. Color-coded indicators provide instant network status updates for Ethernet, Tethering, Repeater, and Cellular modes, offering a seamless, user-friendly experience.
- 【OpenWrt 23.05 FIRMWARE】The Slate 7 (GL-BE3600) is a high-performance Wi-Fi 7 travel router, built with OpenWrt 23.05 (Kernel 5.4.213) for maximum customization and advanced networking capabilities. With 512MB storage, total customization with open-source freedom and flexible installation of OpenWrt plugins.
- 【VPN CLIENT & SERVER】OpenVPN and WireGuard are pre-installed, compatible with 30+ VPN service providers (active subscription required). Simply log in to your existing VPN account with our portable wifi device, and Slate 7 automatically encrypts all network traffic within the connected network. Max. VPN speed of 100 Mbps (OpenVPN); 540 Mbps (WireGuard). *Speed tests are conducted on a local network. Real-world speeds may differ depending on your network configuration.*
- 【PERFECT PORTABLE WIFI ROUTER FOR TRAVEL】The Slate 7 is an ideal portable internet device perfect for international travel. With its mini size and travel-friendly features, the pocket Wi-Fi router is the perfect companion for travelers in need of a secure internet connectivity on the go in which includes hotels or cruise ships.
Simultaneous connections
PIA support states that a single subscription allows an unlimited number of simultaneous connections (PIA Support, April 21, 2026). This is the clearest device-count difference between the two services. NordVPN’s current numeric device limit is not stated in the official material cited here, so confirm it in your plan terms before assuming it covers a large household.
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Features: what the named options are for
NordVPN’s specialty features
- Double VPN routes traffic through two VPN servers in sequence. The extra hop adds protection against a single server being compromised, but it usually costs some speed.
- Onion Over VPN routes traffic through the Tor network. It suits specific privacy threat models, is slower than a standard connection, and is not a general streaming tool.
- Obfuscated servers disguise VPN traffic so it is harder to detect. They are useful on networks that block or restrict VPN use.
- Meshnet and SmartPlay are also listed by NordVPN. Check current availability for the services you use, since streaming access changes often.
PIA’s features
- 10 Gbps server network. PIA advertises this network capacity. It describes the network, not the speed you will get on your own connection.
- Smart DNS routes selected DNS lookups so that region-locked content can be reached on specific services. It does not encrypt your general traffic, so it is not a replacement for a full VPN connection.
- Streaming and file-sharing use cases. PIA markets its service for both. Neither claim has been independently verified in this article.
Speed and independent testing
Security.org’s comparison, last updated August 6, 2026, says its authors tested both services for three months. It favored NordVPN for speed and server-network size, and it identified PIA as the more affordable option with unlimited simultaneous connections. This is one publisher’s result. It is not a reproduced lab benchmark, and this article adds no speed measurements of its own.
Best Value
- Next-Gen Gigabit Wi-Fi 6 Speeds: 2402 Mbps on 5 GHz and 574 Mbps on 2.4 GHz bands ensure smoother streaming and faster downloads; support VPN server and VPN client¹
- A More Responsive Experience: Enjoy smooth gaming, video streaming, and live feeds simultaneously. OFDMA makes your Wi-Fi stronger by allowing multiple clients to share one band at the same time, cutting latency and jitter.²
- Expanded Wi-Fi Coverage: 4 high-gain external antennas and Beamforming technology combine to extend strong, reliable, Wi-Fi throughout your home.
- Improved Battery Life: Target Wake Time helps your devices to communicate efficiently while consuming less power.
- Improved Cooling Design: No heat ups, no throttles. A larger heat sink and redefined case design cools the WiFi 6 system and enables your network to stay at top speeds in more versatile environments.
If speed is the deciding factor, look for dated testing from your region, on the device types you use, with the protocol you plan to run. Streaming access also varies by country, so check your target services directly.
Using either VPN on a router
Both providers document router setup, but compatibility depends on the router’s firmware. NordVPN says a router must support an OpenVPN client to potentially run its configuration. Its support page also names FlashRouters as a partner for preconfigured VPN-compatible routers. PIA documents setup on supported routers.
Before buying or configuring a router, check the following:
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- Confirm that the router’s current firmware supports an OpenVPN client, using the manufacturer’s documentation for your exact model and firmware version.
- Check whether your VPN provider lists your model or firmware as supported.
- Remember that a router-level connection covers every device on that network. Consider a separate guest network for devices you do not want routed through the VPN.
- Expect lower speeds on modest router hardware, particularly with encrypted connections.
Which to choose
- Choose PIA if you need many devices under one subscription, the lowest displayed long-term price matters most to you, and you are comfortable relying on PIA’s own description of its audit.
- Choose NordVPN if specialty options such as Double VPN, Onion Over VPN or obfuscated servers matter, you want an assurance report you can read directly, and you accept its higher listed price.
- Decide on speed and streaming last, using dated independent tests for your own location and devices, because the Security.org result favoring NordVPN comes from a single publisher’s test window.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
