Proton VPN vs Mullvad (2026)
Head-to-head on price, speed, privacy posture and features - based on our independent reviews of both providers.
Score comparison
| Proton VPN | Mullvad | Winner | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 9.3 | 9.2 | Proton VPN |
| Speed & reliability | 9.1 | 9.0 | Proton VPN |
| Privacy & trust | 9.8 | 10.0 | Mullvad |
| Features & coverage | 9.4 | 8.2 | Proton VPN |
| Value for money | 9.2 | 9.4 | Mullvad |
| Ease of use | 8.8 | 8.6 | Proton VPN |
Side by side
| Proton VPN | Mullvad | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $3.59/mo | $5.50/mo |
| Service types | Consumer VPN, Free VPN | Consumer VPN |
| Jurisdiction | Switzerland outside 5/9/14 Eyes | Sweden in the 14 Eyes |
| Logging policy | No-logs, independently audited | No-logs, independently audited |
| Independent audits | Securitum (2025) Securitum (2024) | Assured AB (2025) Cure53 (2024) |
| Network | 12K servers | 700 servers |
| Country coverage | 117 | 45 |
| Money-back guarantee | 30 days | 30 days |
| Free tier | ✓ | - |
| Support | tickets, email, knowledge-base | email, knowledge-base |
| Pay with crypto | ✓ | ✓ |
Which should you pick?
Choose Proton VPN if this fits: best vpn for privacy, and the best free tier anywhere. Proton VPN is the strongest overall package for anyone who cares why they are buying a VPN: open-source audited apps, Swiss jurisdiction, and a free tier with no data cap and no catch.
Choose Mullvad if this fits: best vpn for privacy purists. Mullvad is the least commercial VPN on the market and the most credible on privacy: no account, flat pricing, cash accepted, code published. If you do not need streaming, it is close to ideal.
Overall, our scores favor Proton VPN (9.3 vs 9.2) - but the right choice depends on which trade-offs matter to you. Read the full Proton VPN review and Mullvad review.