Mullvad vs ProtonVPN - Privacy VPN Comparison
Mullvad and ProtonVPN are the two VPN providers most frequently recommended by security researchers and privacy advocates. Both are independently audited, open-source, and have proven no-logs policies. Choosing between them comes down to your priorities: Mullvad maximises anonymity and simplicity; ProtonVPN integrates with a broader privacy ecosystem and offers more flexible pricing.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Criterion | Mullvad | ProtonVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Flat €5/month - No discounts, no annual plans | Tiered plans - Free (unlimited data), Plus (~$3.99/month 2yr), Visionary |
| Account system | Anonymous account number - No email or personal details required | Email address required for account creation |
| Jurisdiction | Sweden - 14 Eyes member | Switzerland - Outside 14 Eyes, strong constitutional privacy protections |
| No-logs audit | Cure53 - Multiple audits (2020, 2022, 2023) | SEC Consult - Multiple audits including infrastructure review |
| Open-source clients | Full - All clients on GitHub | Full - All clients on GitHub |
| Protocols | WireGuard, OpenVPN | WireGuard, OpenVPN, Stealth (obfuscated) |
| Multi-hop / Double VPN | Yes - Any two servers, fully configurable | Yes - Secure Core (entry in Iceland/Switzerland/Sweden) |
| Simultaneous devices | 5 | 10 (Plus plan) |
| Streaming | Not optimised - Inconsistent unblocking | Good - Netflix and most major platforms on Plus |
| Ecosystem | VPN only | Proton Mail, Proton Drive, Proton Calendar, Proton Pass (integrated) |
| Real-world test | Police raided offices (2023) - No user data found; logs technically impossible | Swiss court orders received - No usable user data provided |
Mullvad - Key Strengths
- Maximum account anonymity: Sign up with just an account number - No email, no name, no payment data linked to identity. Pay with cash sent by post or Monero.
- Flat pricing removes the incentive to collect or retain user data for billing purposes.
- All WireGuard key pairs are rotated automatically, preventing long-term IP mapping.
- The 2023 police raid proved the no-logs policy technically rather than just legally - Officers left empty-handed.
ProtonVPN - Key Strengths
- Swiss jurisdiction: Switzerland has not signed the CLOUD Act, and Swiss courts have a high bar for ordering data disclosure.
- Free tier offers unlimited data with no bandwidth cap - The only reputable truly free VPN option.
- Stealth protocol reliably bypasses censorship in China, Iran, and Russia.
- Deep integration with Proton ecosystem: use the same account for Proton Mail (end-to-end encrypted email), Proton Drive, and Proton Pass (password manager).
- Secure Core multi-hop routes traffic through privacy-friendly jurisdictions (Iceland, Switzerland) before exiting anywhere.
Audit History
| Provider | Auditor | Years | Scope |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mullvad | Cure53 | 2020, 2022, 2023 | Apps, infrastructure, no-logs, network security |
| ProtonVPN | SEC Consult, Securitum | 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023 | Apps, infrastructure, no-logs, cryptography |
Verdict
Choose Mullvad if your priority is maximum anonymity - You want no identity linked to your subscription and the simplest possible setup. Choose ProtonVPN if you want Swiss jurisdiction, a free tier to start, streaming support, or integration with the Proton privacy ecosystem.