PIA vs Surfshark 2026 — Which is Better for P2P?
Both PIA and Surfshark offer unlimited connections and competitive pricing. But for torrenting users, there's one critical difference: port forwarding. Here's how they compare.
Private Internet Access
★★★★★4.6/5- ✓ Port forwarding (Surfshark has none)
- ✓ 35,000+ servers
- ✓ 3x audited no-logs
- ✓ Open-source clients
- ✓ Cheaper long-term
Surfshark
★★★★★4/5- ✗ No port forwarding
- ✓ Good streaming performance
- ✓ 100+ countries
- ✓ Netherlands jurisdiction
- ✓ Unlimited connections
Feature Comparison
| Feature | PIA | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Port Forwarding | ✓ All servers▲ | ✗ Not available |
| No-Logs Audit | Deloitte (3x)▲ | Deloitte (1x) |
| Open Source Apps | ✓ GitHub▲ | ✗ Proprietary |
| Best Price | $2.03/mo (3-yr)▲ | $2.49/mo (2-yr) |
| Server Count | 35,000+▲ | 3,200+ |
| Countries | 91 | 100+▲ |
| Simultaneous Connections | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| WireGuard | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Streaming (Netflix) | Works — inconsistent | Good, reliable▲ |
| Jurisdiction | USA | Netherlands▲ |
| Kill Switch | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Money-Back | 30 days | 30 days |
Key Differences
Port Forwarding: The Decisive Factor
Surfshark has never supported port forwarding, and there's no indication they plan to add it. This is a fundamental limitation for serious torrenting. PIA's port forwarding works on every server — enabling connectable mode in your torrent client, doubling peer connections, and delivering 35-60% faster downloads in our tests. If you torrent, this alone settles the comparison.
Price: PIA is Cheaper
PIA's 3-year plan at $2.03/mo undercuts Surfshark's 2-year plan at $2.49/mo. The difference is modest in dollar terms, but PIA delivers more features (port forwarding, open-source apps, more servers) for a lower price. There's no scenario where Surfshark is better value for a torrenting user.
When Surfshark Makes Sense
Surfshark is a legitimate choice for streaming users and those who prefer a non-US/non-Five Eyes jurisdiction. Netherlands-based jurisdiction is generally considered more privacy-friendly than the US for VPN providers. If you don't torrent and primarily use a VPN for streaming or general privacy, Surfshark is a reasonable pick.
Verdict: PIA Wins for P2P Users
For torrenting: PIA wins clearly. Port forwarding, more servers, cheaper price, and more audits.
For streaming-only users: Surfshark is competitive, with good Netflix performance and 100+ countries.