Mullvad and Private Internet Access (PIA) both have strong records on transparency but earn trust differently. Mullvad is a privacy cooperative built on complete anonymity. PIA is well known for court-tested…
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.
Private Internet Access is a US-based VPN that had no user logs to hand over in three court cases. Deloitte audited it in 2025. Suits budget power users.
Mullvad and Private Internet Access (PIA) both have strong records on transparency but earn trust differently. Mullvad is a privacy cooperative built on complete anonymity. PIA is well known for court-tested transparency and technical depth.
PIA has court-tested proof of its no-logs policy from multiple legal victories. Mullvad offers complete operational transparency and anonymous account management. Mullvad accepts anonymous cash payments and assigns random account numbers, while PIA uses conventional payment systems.
PIA gives you granular control over encryption, protocols and connection settings. Mullvad concentrates on the WireGuard protocol and strong technical engineering. PIA runs over 35,000 servers. Mullvad's network is smaller and focused on quality.
Mullvad charges exactly €5/month to everyone. PIA's prices vary, with significant discounts on long-term plans. Both expect some technical knowledge, though PIA offers more customization and Mullvad is cleaner and simpler.
Both are excellent on privacy, by different routes. PIA has proven legal resilience. Mullvad has complete anonymity and transparency.
| Feature | Mullvad | Private Internet Access |
|---|---|---|
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 depends on which kind of transparency you trust and how much technical control you want. Choose Mullvad if complete anonymity comes first and you value full operational transparency, anonymous payments and a simple, ethical service. Choose PIA if you're technically inclined, want maximum customization and value transparency that has been tested and proven in court. If complete anonymity is your priority, Mullvad offers as much privacy as any provider. Technical users who want proven transparency get stronger legal validation from PIA.
Telling the truth can be dangerous. Journalists and activists use VPNs to get around censorship and hide where they are connecting from.
David Chen
The right VPN depends on what you need it for: streaming, privacy, security on public Wi-Fi or speed. This guide explains the features to look for and how the top providers compare.
Emma Rodriguez
If you've heard about torrenting but worry about the legal and privacy risks, you're not alone. Torrenting itself is completely legal when you're downloading the right content. Here's how to torrent safely and legally with the best VPN protection, plus legitimate alternatives to sites like EZTV.
Sarah Mitchell
A mainstream VPN with a no-logs policy audited five times and bundled security extras. It suits households with several devices and frequent travelers.
Surfshark is a lower-priced VPN with unlimited device connections and a no-logs policy verified twice by Deloitte. It suits households with many devices.
ProtonVPN is a Swiss VPN from the Proton Mail team with open-source apps and a free tier that has no data cap or ads. It suits privacy-first users.
Detailed feature analysis, performance benchmarks, and pricing comparison
Security protocols, server networks, and streaming capabilities compared
Speed tests, privacy policies, and user experience evaluation