Mullvad and IVPN are two privacy purists in the small niche of ethical VPN services. Both started from a privacy-first philosophy. They differ in how they handle user anonymity and how they run the business.
Swedish VPN that signs you up with a random account number and charges a flat 5 euros a month. Suits privacy-first users who can live without streaming.
Gibraltar VPN with open-source apps and yearly Cure53 audits since 2019. Suits privacy-focused users who can accept a small network and patchy streaming.
Mullvad and IVPN are two privacy purists in the small niche of ethical VPN services. Both started from a privacy-first philosophy. They differ in how they handle user anonymity and how they run the business.
Both have strong principles. Mullvad accepts anonymous cash payments and gives each user a random account number. IVPN offers anonymous signup options and proactively removes features that could enable abuse. Mullvad is completely transparent about how it operates, while IVPN keeps to ethical business practices with a boutique focus.
On the technical side, Mullvad offers the WireGuard protocol and detailed documentation. IVPN concentrates on core privacy features and does them well. Mullvad takes a standard approach to devices, while IVPN prices its plans by the number of simultaneous connections (2 or 7 devices).
Neither service prioritizes geo-unblocking for streaming. Both put their effort into privacy instead. Each is aimed at people who already know something about privacy. Mullvad is more open about its technical workings, while IVPN has cleaner interfaces.
The business models differ slightly. Mullvad charges everyone exactly €5/month. IVPN's price depends on how many connections you need.
| Feature | Mullvad | IVPN |
|---|---|---|
Ad & Tracker Blocking | ||
Anonymous Payment Methods | ||
Connection Protocols | ||
Custom VPN Protocols | ||
Customer Support Availability | ||
Dedicated IP Option | ||
Encryption Standard | ||
Independent Audits | ||
IPv6 Leak Protection | ||
Kill Switch | ||
Multi-Hop | ||
No-logs Policy | ||
Open Source Apps | ||
RAM-only Servers | ||
Simultaneous Connections | ||
Split Tunneling | ||
Streaming Support | ||
Support Channels | ||
Torrenting Support |
The choice between these two comes down to small preferences. Choose Mullvad if you want maximum anonymity through anonymous payments. It also suits people who value complete operational transparency and like a cooperative business model. Choose IVPN if you care about ethical business practices and anonymous signup. IVPN is the better fit if you want a boutique privacy provider and would rather pay by the number of connections. Both offer excellent privacy. Mullvad gives slightly more anonymity, while IVPN offers a more refined user experience.
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