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The best alternative to Private Internet Access (PIA) depends on what you want to change: NordVPN is a strong candidate for performance and streaming, ExpressVPN emphasizes easier setup, Proton VPN offers public-facing privacy evidence, and Mullvad focuses on account anonymity. Surfshark is another option for households with many devices. None is a universal winner; weigh privacy evidence, speed, streaming needs, ease of use, device limits, and the current total subscription cost.
How to choose a PIA alternative
Start with the shortcoming you want to address rather than a single overall ranking. A VPN that is convenient for streaming may not be your best fit if you care most about how you can sign up, while privacy documentation alone cannot tell you how a service will perform on your network.
- Performance and streaming: Compare independent or clearly scoped performance results, then check whether the service meets your own streaming needs. A test result does not guarantee a particular speed or catalog will work for you.
- Privacy evidence: Look for who conducted or published an audit, what it examined, when it took place, and whether the report can be inspected. A provider’s “no-logs” claim is not the same as a public, independently verifiable audit.
- Convenience: Consider app usability, supported devices, and simultaneous-connection limits. These matter especially if you are setting up a VPN for a household.
- Total price: Check the current introductory price, renewal price, billing period, and which plan includes the features you need. Promotional prices change, so an old monthly starting figure is not a reliable comparison.
Which VPN alternatives fit different priorities?
| Provider | Best fit to investigate | What the cited evidence says | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | Performance and streaming | TechRadar recommends it for streaming. In Artifact Security’s 2026 test, as reported by NordVPN, it received the highest overall score among the five services tested. | TechRadar’s view is editorial, and the test is one defined sample—not a prediction for every network, region, protocol, or device. |
| ExpressVPN | Simpler setup | TechRadar describes it as especially easy for beginners. | This is an editorial assessment, not a guarantee of app behavior or suitability on every device. |
| Proton VPN | Public privacy documentation | Proton’s own comparison lists Swiss jurisdiction, open-source audited apps, and a published no-logs audit. | The comparison is published by Proton and is therefore a vendor’s presentation of its own service and competitors. |
| Mullvad | Account anonymity | Top10VPN identifies no-email signup and cash payment as anonymity-oriented features. | Check current payment availability and whether the service fits your streaming needs before subscribing. |
| Surfshark | Many devices and cost-conscious shopping | TechRadar characterizes it as budget-friendly and notes unlimited simultaneous connections. | Verify the current price, renewal terms, plan tier, and device behavior directly before buying. |
What does the 2026 performance comparison show?
Artifact Security’s test, published in June 2026 and reported by NordVPN on August 10, 2026, gave the five providers these overall scores: NordVPN 91, ExpressVPN 84, ProtonVPN 83, Surfshark 81, and Mullvad 70. The test covered 55 routes between five origin regions and a fixed destination server. Its reported methodology weighted throughput, stability, latency, and connection time. The report also says all tested providers passed core leak tests on Windows.
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These numbers describe that test, not a universal league table. NordVPN hosted the report of Artifact Security’s work, and results may differ by route, local network, device, and protocol. A score cannot establish that a service will be fastest for you or that it will reliably access a specific streaming catalog.
#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
How should you compare privacy claims with PIA’s evidence?
PIA says Deloitte Audit Romania examined its VPN service and concluded it did not collect data that could identify a user or their activity. PIA also says it has passed independent no-logs audits twice. Those are claims published by PIA; its page is the place to review the provider’s own account of the audit evidence: PIA’s no-logs information.
PIA’s page also says the company is headquartered in Denver, Colorado, and subject to US law. Proton’s comparison says PIA is owned by Kape Technologies; treat that ownership description as Proton’s vendor-published comparison rather than as an independently established finding here. Proton also discusses limitations on access to competitors’ audit reports. A no-logs audit and a court proceeding are different kinds of evidence: neither should be presented as interchangeable proof of every privacy claim.
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.
For Proton VPN, the provider’s April 2026 comparison describes its Swiss jurisdiction, open-source audited apps, and published no-logs audit. Review the claims in context on Proton’s comparison page. Because this material is self-published, it is useful for understanding what Proton says about its own controls, but it is not neutral comparative research.
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- Identify the reason for leaving PIA. Decide whether you need a different privacy model, an easier app, more simultaneous connections, or a better fit for performance and streaming.
- Check the current plan details. Compare the full billing term and renewal cost, not just a promotional monthly equivalent. Confirm which tier includes the features you want.
- Check your devices and use cases. Confirm app support for your operating systems and devices, and test the service with your ordinary network and streaming services during any applicable refund period.
- Read the privacy evidence itself where possible. Distinguish a provider’s summary from an auditor’s report, note the scope and date, and avoid treating a “no-logs” label as a guarantee of anonymity.
- Make the switch deliberately. Install and sign in to the new service, verify the VPN connection and leak protection settings, and only then cancel or disable your existing subscription if you no longer need it.
Sources and scope
The provider descriptions above draw on TechRadar’s editorial review, Top10VPN’s no-logs guide, NordVPN’s report of Artifact Security’s test, and vendor-published pages from Proton VPN and PIA. No firsthand service testing is represented here. Prices, promotions, server coverage, features, streaming compatibility, and ownership details can change, so verify the current terms and claims with the provider before purchase.
Quick Recap
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.
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.
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.
- TechRadar’s PIA review and alternatives
- NordVPN’s report of Artifact Security’s test
- Top10VPN’s no-logs guide
- Proton VPN’s comparison
- PIA’s no-logs page
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.
