Surfshark vs Private Internet Access: Which Should You Buy?

Listen, if you’ve spent any time in the self-hosting world or managing a home lab, you know that your network perimeter is everything. While I prefer my own tunnels and wireguard configs for site-to-site stuff, there are plenty of times when you just need a commercial VPN to mask your traffic or bypass geo-blocks without spending an afternoon auditing config files.

When you’re looking at the budget end of the spectrum, two names keep popping up: Surfshark and Private Internet Access. Both are SaaS offerings that aim to give you privacy without breaking the bank, but they approach “value” from different angles. One focuses on sheer device volume; the other leans into configurability.

Quick verdict

If you don’t want to spend your weekend counting how many tablets and IoT devices are hitting your tunnel, go with Surfshark. If you want the absolute lowest monthly cost and a bit more control over the knobs and dials, PIA is your play.

If you are…	Buy this…
A power user with an army of devices	Surfshark
A budget-conscious tinkerer who wants config options	Private Internet Access
Looking for the absolute cheapest monthly entry point	Private Internet Access

Spec-by-spec

Here is how they stack up based on the raw numbers. In a home lab, we care about cost per seat and flexibility.

Feature	Surfshark	Private Internet Access
Category	VPN	VPN
Type	SaaS	SaaS
Price	$3/mo	$2/mo
Best For	Budget unlimited devices	Budget configurable VPN
Device Limit	Unlimited	Many devices

The “Unlimited” Factor vs. Configurability

In my experience, the biggest friction point with commercial VPNs is the device limit. There is nothing more annoying than trying to connect a new Raspberry Pi or a secondary laptop only to find you’ve hit your cap and have to go kill an old session.

This is where Surfshark takes a clear lead for the home labber. By offering unlimited devices, they remove the mental overhead of managing your fleet. You can throw it on every single machine in your house—from your main workstation to that dusty old server in the closet—without worrying about an account lockout.

On the flip side, Private Internet Access targets a different kind of user: the one who wants a “configurable” experience. While they support many devices (though not unlimited), the value proposition here is for those who want to tweak their connection settings rather than just hitting a “Connect” button and walking away.

The Jurisdiction and Network Trade-off

We have to talk about the trade-offs, because in this industry, you never get something for nothing.

If you choose Private Internet Access, you’re dealing with US jurisdiction. For some of us in the privacy community, that’s a non-starter; for others, it’s a manageable risk depending on what you’re actually hiding. It is a significant point to consider if your threat model includes government-level surveillance.

Surfshark, meanwhile, operates with a smaller network. If you’re the type of person who needs a specific exit node in every single corner of the globe for niche routing purposes, you might find their footprint more limiting than some of the industry giants. However, for 95% of use cases—like hiding your IP from a streaming service or securing public Wi-Fi—a smaller network is rarely a dealbreaker.

Pros & cons

Surfshark

Pros:

• Cheap: Very accessible pricing for those on a budget.
• Unlimited Devices: This is the killer feature. No more juggling active sessions.

Cons:

• Smaller Network: Fewer server options compared to some of the larger competitors.

Private Internet Access

Pros:

• Cheap: At $2/mo, it’s one of the lowest price points in the market.
• Many Devices: Supports a wide array of hardware across your network.

Cons:

• US Jurisdiction: This is a major consideration for privacy purists due to US data laws.

Which should you buy?

Choosing between these two comes down to whether you value quantity of devices or cost and control.

Go with Surfshark if you have a massive home network. If you’re running a dozen different VMs, several mobile devices, and a couple of laptops, the “unlimited” nature of their service saves you from a management nightmare. It is the most frictionless experience for a large household or a dense lab environment.

Go with Private Internet Access if every dollar counts and you prefer a VPN that lets you dive into the configurations. If your device count is reasonable (not “unlimited” but still “many”) and you are comfortable with US jurisdiction, it’s technically the cheaper option on a monthly basis.

FAQ

Is Surfshark better for large families? Yes, because it allows for unlimited devices. You can install it on every family member’s phone and laptop without hitting a cap.

Which VPN is cheaper per month? Private Internet Access is the cheaper option at $2/mo compared to Surfshark’s $3/mo.

What is the main downside of Private Internet Access? The primary concern for many users is its US jurisdiction, which may be a drawback depending on your specific privacy requirements.

Does Surfshark have a massive server network? No, one of its noted cons is that it has a smaller network compared to some other options in the VPN space.

Our top VPN pick

Whichever you choose here, our overall top pick is NordVPN — independently audited no-logs policy, one of the largest server networks, fast speeds, and Threat Protection built in. It’s the VPN we recommend for most people. **