Head-to-head
Mullvad vs Proton VPN
The two privacy champions head to head: Sweden-based Mullvad with no accounts at all, against Switzerland-based Proton with a free plan.
Private
Mullvad VPNMullvad VPN AB
Mullvad VPN
Maximum privacy: no account, no logs, one flat price.
Private
Proton VPNProton AG
Proton VPN
Swiss privacy with a genuinely usable free plan.
Mullvad VPNProton VPN
Our score4.6 / 54.5 / 5
PriceFrom $5.50/moFree
Free planNo
Best for5 devices at once10 devices at once
CategoryPrivacy-firstPrivacy-first
ProviderMullvad VPN ABProton AG
Our verdict
For maximum anonymity, Mullvad is unmatched: no account, no email address, and you can even pay cash. Proton VPN is more versatile: there is a genuinely usable free plan, streaming works well on the paid plan, and everything is open source. Purists pick Mullvad; if you want privacy without giving up everyday convenience, pick Proton VPN.
“Mullvad plays no marketing games: flat price, no account, no logs. For pure privacy, this is the most honest service we know. For streaming, look elsewhere.”Editorial team, on Mullvad VPN
“The only serious free VPN without a data cap, and the paid Plus plan handled streaming just fine in our tests. Swiss, open source, and audited: solid on every front.”Editorial team, on Proton VPN