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Private Internet Access vs ProtonVPN: Speed Performance Duel

Discover if US's Private Internet Access or Switzerland's ProtonVPN delivers faster online connections. Choose the right VPN for your needs today!

Last updated: March 7, 2026โ€ขReviewed by Built in EU Team

Should You Switch to ProtonVPN?

What You Gain

Gain privacy, open-source apps, and bypass censorship

Privacy advantage
Trade-offs

None significant

ProtonVPN matches features
Bottom Line

Switch if privacy and EU compliance are priorities; features match

At a Glance

Data Location
๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธUS

US data laws

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ญCH

GDPR protected

Pricing

Private Internet Access

Contact

ProtonVPN

freemium

Migration
Easy difficulty~30-60 minutes

Privacy & Compliance Comparison

Critical data sovereignty factors at a glance

CriteriaPrivate Internet AccessProtonVPN
Server Location
US, EUEU, CH
GDPR Compliance
Partial (SCCs)Full
Open Source
E2E Encryption
OptionalAll plans
Data Portability
UnknownFull export

CLOUD Act Notice

Private Internet Access is a US company and must comply with CLOUD Act data requests, even for data stored in EU data centers. ProtonVPN is not subject to US jurisdiction.

Switching from
Private Internet Access logo

Private Internet Access

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ

Kape Technologies

VS
Switching to
ProtonVPN logo

ProtonVPN

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ญ

ProtonVPN

US Data Storage

Data subject to US CLOUD Act and may be accessed by US authorities

EU Data Protection

Data protected under GDPR with EU-only data residency

Certifications & Compliance

No certifications listed

Open Source
EU-Based
Swiss hosted
GDPR Compliant

Reasons to Switch

  • โœ“12,000+ servers in 120+ countries for global access
  • โœ“Secure Core routes via privacy-friendly countries
  • โœ“Open source apps with independent audits
  • โœ“Free tier offers unlimited bandwidth, no ads

Things to Consider

  • !Migration may require reconfiguring devices
  • !Learning curve for Secure Core and Stealth protocol
  • !Potentially fewer US-based servers than PIA
Migration difficulty:
Easy
~30-60 minutes

Migration Overview

Full guide
Difficulty
Easy
Time Estimate
~30-60 minutes

Depends on data size and complexity

Quick Steps

1

Create your ProtonVPN account

2

Export data from Private Internet Access

3

Import to ProtonVPN and verify

Other alternatives to Private Internet Access

Ready to make the switch?

Start using ProtonVPN today and take control of your data privacy.