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Private Internet Access vs Surfshark: Kill Switch Reliability Uncovered

Explore how US-based Private Internet Access and Lithuania's Surfshark compare in ensuring a reliable kill switch, critical for safeguarding your online privacy. Discover which VPN service offers the peace of mind you need.

Last updated: March 7, 2026Reviewed by Built in EU Team

Should You Switch to Surfshark?

What You Gain

Gain GDPR compliance, no Cloud Act, and advanced privacy features

Privacy advantage
Trade-offs

None significant

Surfshark matches features
Bottom Line

Switch to Surfshark for better privacy; ideal for privacy-focused users

At a Glance

Data Location
🇺🇸US

US data laws

🇱🇹LT

GDPR protected

Pricing

Private Internet Access

Contact

Surfshark

subscription

Migration
Easy difficulty~30-60 minutes

Privacy & Compliance Comparison

Critical data sovereignty factors at a glance

CriteriaPrivate Internet AccessSurfshark
Server Location
US, EUEU
GDPR Compliance
Partial (SCCs)Full
Open Source
E2E Encryption
OptionalOptional
Data Portability
UnknownUnknown

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. Surfshark is not subject to US jurisdiction.

Switching from
Private Internet Access logo

Private Internet Access

🇺🇸

Kape Technologies

VS
Switching to
Surfshark logo

Surfshark

🇱🇹

Surfshark

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

EU-Based
GDPR Compliant
ISO 27001

Reasons to Switch

  • Unlimited devices with Surfshark vs. limited with PIA
  • Surfshark offers 4500+ servers in 100+ countries
  • Surfshark's RAM-only servers enhance data security
  • Camouflage mode hides VPN use from ISPs

Things to Consider

  • !Learning curve for Surfshark's MultiHop feature
  • !No open-source transparency with Surfshark
  • !Migration may disrupt current VPN settings
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 Surfshark account

2

Export data from Private Internet Access

3

Import to Surfshark and verify

Other alternatives to Private Internet Access

Ready to make the switch?

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