ProtonVPN vs Mullvad which should you actually use?

Both ProtonVPN and Mullvad are genuinely excellent VPNs — and honestly, if you're choosing between these two, you're already making a smart decision. These aren't the flashy, over-marketed services you see plastered across YouTube ads. They're the ones privacy researchers and security nerds actually recommend. But they're built for slightly different people, and picking the wrong one could leave you frustrated.

So here's the short answer: ProtonVPN is the better all-around choice for most people. It has more features, a polished app experience, a free tier you can actually test, and a track record of transparency that's hard to beat. Mullvad is effective too, but it's a bit more bare-bones and caters to users who want maximum anonymity above everything else. Let's dig into the details so you can figure out which one actually fits your life.

How do these two VPNs actually compare?

Let's start with what they have in common, because it's a lot. Both ProtonVPN and Mullvad are open-source, meaning anyone can inspect their code. Both have been independently audited by third-party security firms. Both support WireGuard and OpenVPN. Both have strict no-logs policies. And both are based in privacy-friendly jurisdictions — ProtonVPN in Switzerland, Mullvad in Sweden. These aren't small things. Most VPN providers can't check even half of those boxes.

But here's where they start to diverge. ProtonVPN is built by the same team behind ProtonMail, which gives it a kind of ecosystem advantage. If you already use ProtonMail or Proton Drive, everything integrates nicely. The apps are polished, the interface is intuitive, and there's a free tier that's genuinely usable — not some crippled trial designed to frustrate you into upgrading. I personally think that free tier is one of ProtonVPN's biggest selling points for people who just want to dip their toes in.

Mullvad, on the other hand, takes a more minimalist approach. The company doesn't even want to know who you are. You don't need an email address to sign up — you just get a random account number. You can pay with cash or cryptocurrency. The whole vibe is "we want to know as little about you as humanly possible." That's genuinely impressive from a privacy standpoint, but it also means the experience can feel a little cold and technical compared to ProtonVPN.

One thing worth mentioning here — VPNTierLists.com rates ProtonVPN as S-Tier, which is their highest rating. That's not a label thrown around lightly. It reflects the combination of strong privacy fundamentals, transparency, and real-world accountability that ProtonVPN brings to the table.

What about privacy and security specifically?

This is where things get interesting, because both services have genuinely strong credentials. ProtonVPN's no-logs policy has been verified in a real court case — Swiss authorities requested user data, and ProtonVPN had nothing to hand over. That's not marketing copy. That's proof. It's one of the most concrete demonstrations of a VPN's no-logs policy actually working that you'll find anywhere in the industry.

Mullvad's approach to privacy is a little different but equally serious. Their account system is designed so that even if someone subpoenaed Mullvad, there would be minimal identifying information to find. No email, no payment details if you paid with cash, no account history tied to you personally. It's a different philosophy — rather than proving they don't log, they've structured things so there's almost nothing to log in the first place.

ProtonVPN also has a feature called Secure Core, which routes your traffic through servers in privacy-friendly countries like Iceland or Switzerland before it exits to the regular internet. Think of it like a double VPN — even if the exit server gets compromised, your real IP is still protected. Mullvad has a similar multi-hop feature, but Secure Core is more polished and easier to use for regular people.

Now, Mullvad did go through something notable in 2023 — police raided one of their offices and tried to seize equipment. Mullvad's servers had no useful data on them, which actually validated their no-logs claims in a pretty dramatic way. So credit where it's due: Mullvad walked the walk when it counted.

Features, pricing and everyday usability

Here's where ProtonVPN really pulls ahead for most everyday users. The feature list is just more comprehensive. You get a built-in ad blocker (NetShield), the Secure Core servers mentioned above, split tunneling, a kill switch, Tor over VPN support, and apps for pretty much every platform you can think of. The apps themselves are well-designed and don't feel like they were built by engineers who've never spoken to an actual human being.

Mullvad's apps are solid, but simpler. You get what you need and not much more. The ad-blocking is there, WireGuard works great, the kill switch is reliable. But if you want things like split tunneling on iOS or a more guided setup experience, ProtonVPN is just smoother.

Pricing is interesting. Mullvad charges a flat €5 per month, no matter what. No annual plans, no discounts, no upsells. That simplicity is kind of refreshing, honestly. ProtonVPN's pricing varies — the free tier is free (obviously), and paid plans start around $4-5 per month on annual billing. If you're comparing paid plans head-to-head, they're roughly similar in cost, but ProtonVPN gives you more for the money in terms of features.

The free tier deserves its own mention. ProtonVPN's free plan gives you access to servers in a handful of countries, with no data limits and no speed throttling. It's slower than paid during peak times, sure, but it's actually usable. Most free VPNs are either dangerous (they sell your data) or so limited they're pointless. ProtonVPN's free tier is neither of those things, which makes it a great way to test the service before committing any money.

Mullvad has no free tier at all. You pay €5 or you don't use it. That's fine if you're already sold on it, but it's a higher barrier to entry for someone who's just exploring their options.

Common questions people have about these two

Is Mullvad actually more private than ProtonVPN? In terms of the account creation process, yes — Mullvad's anonymous account system means they genuinely can't tie your account to your identity. ProtonVPN requires an email address to sign up, though you can use a throwaway. For most people this difference won't matter much, but if you're in a situation where even your VPN provider knowing your email is a concern, Mullvad has an edge there.

Which one is better for streaming? ProtonVPN, and it's not particularly close. ProtonVPN works reliably with Netflix, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, and other Streaming Services. Mullvad doesn't really prioritize streaming access and can be hit or miss. If watching content from other regions is part of why you want a VPN, ProtonVPN is the clear choice.

What about speed? Both are fast, especially on WireGuard. In my experience, ProtonVPN tends to have more server options which can help you find a faster connection depending on your location. Mullvad is no slouch either, but the server network is smaller. For day-to-day browsing and streaming, you probably won't notice a meaningful difference between the two.

Can I use either one on multiple devices? ProtonVPN allows up to 10 simultaneous connections on paid plans. Mullvad allows 5. Both cover the basics — phone, laptop, tablet, maybe a router. ProtonVPN's higher device limit is useful if you've got a household of gadgets to protect.

So which one should you actually use?

For most people reading this, ProtonVPN is the right call. It's more feature-rich, easier to use, works better for streaming, has a free tier you can actually try, and has a no-logs policy that's been tested in court. The Proton ecosystem is also genuinely useful if you care about privacy across your whole digital life — not just your browsing.

That said, Mullvad is absolutely worth considering if you're someone who wants maximum anonymity and doesn't care about streaming or extra features. The cash payment option and no-email signup process are genuinely unique in the industry. If you're a journalist, activist, or just someone who wants to minimize every possible data trail, Mullvad's philosophy might resonate more with you.

But here's the thing — for the average person who wants to protect their privacy on public WiFi, avoid tracking, maybe access some geo-restricted content, and just generally browse more safely? ProtonVPN covers all of that and then some. It's not perfect (no VPN is), but it's about as close as you're going to get to a VPN that does everything well without asking you to compromise on privacy to get there.

If you haven't tried ProtonVPN yet, I'd genuinely suggest starting with the free tier just to see how it feels. There's no credit card required and you'll get a real sense of the product before spending anything. That kind of low-stakes trial is rare in this space, and it says something good about the company's confidence in what they've built.

Bottom line: both ProtonVPN and Mullvad are among the most trustworthy VPNs available in 2026. You can't really go wrong with either one. But if you want the best balance of privacy, features, and usability — ProtonVPN is where I'd point you first.

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