This is Swiss privacy against Swedish transparency: two privacy-first services with different approaches to user anonymity. ProtonVPN is a mainstream privacy service built on Swiss engineering. Mullvad is a privacy…
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.
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.
This is Swiss privacy against Swedish transparency: two privacy-first services with different approaches to user anonymity. ProtonVPN is a mainstream privacy service built on Swiss engineering. Mullvad is a privacy cooperative with uncompromising ethical principles.
Their privacy methods differ in interesting ways. Mullvad accepts anonymous cash payments and assigns random account numbers, while ProtonVPN uses conventional account management under the Swiss privacy framework. Mullvad charges exactly €5/month for everyone, while ProtonVPN's prices are tiered by features and device limits.
ProtonVPN is well ahead on features, with Secure Core routing, user-friendly applications and a full free tier. Mullvad answers with the WireGuard protocol, complete infrastructure transparency and detailed technical documentation. ProtonVPN tries harder at geo-unblocking, while Mullvad pays little attention to streaming.
In use they feel very different. ProtonVPN's apps are more accessible, with a privacy-focused design. Mullvad is technically excellent but expects more knowledge from the user.
| Feature | ProtonVPN | Mullvad |
|---|---|---|
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 |
Your view of privacy and your technical skill decide the winner. Choose ProtonVPN if you want accessible privacy, Swiss privacy laws, a full free tier and user-friendly apps. Go with Mullvad if absolute anonymity comes first, you value complete transparency and you can do without streaming or a free tier. For mainstream privacy advocates, ProtonVPN is easier to use. For privacy purists, Mullvad offers the strongest anonymity.
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