Mullvad and ProtonVPN both put privacy first but take different routes to user anonymity. Mullvad is a privacy cooperative with complete transparency. ProtonVPN comes from the team behind ProtonMail and pairs Swiss…
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.
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.
Mullvad and ProtonVPN both put privacy first but take different routes to user anonymity. Mullvad is a privacy cooperative with complete transparency. ProtonVPN comes from the team behind ProtonMail and pairs Swiss privacy advocacy with mainstream accessibility.
Mullvad accepts anonymous cash payments and assigns random account numbers. ProtonVPN uses conventional account management within a Swiss privacy framework. ProtonVPN has a free tier with unlimited bandwidth (speed-limited). Mullvad has no free tier but keeps its pricing consistent.
Both are technically strong. Mullvad offers the WireGuard protocol and complete transparency about its infrastructure. ProtonVPN provides Secure Core routing and Swiss engineering standards. ProtonVPN's apps are more accessible and designed around privacy, while Mullvad's technical depth expects more knowledge from the user.
ProtonVPN has made some effort on geo-unblocking. Streaming is not a priority for Mullvad. Mullvad charges a fixed €5/month, while ProtonVPN sells tiered plans based on features and device limits.
Both have excellent privacy credentials, earned differently. Mullvad offers complete anonymity. ProtonVPN relies on Swiss privacy laws and open-source transparency.
| Feature | Mullvad | ProtonVPN |
|---|---|---|
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 how you approach privacy and how accessible you need the service to be. Choose Mullvad if complete anonymity is your top priority and you value full operational transparency and anonymous payments. It suits people who don't need a free tier or streaming. Choose ProtonVPN if you want the protection of Swiss privacy laws, a full free tier and more accessible apps from a privacy service aimed at the mainstream. For strict privacy purists, no provider offers more anonymity than Mullvad. Mainstream privacy advocates will find ProtonVPN more accessible.
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