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🔒 If privacy is your #1 priority, these are the two VPNs you should be considering. Mullvad and ProtonVPN are built by privacy advocates, for privacy advocates. No marketing fluff. No dark patterns. Just bulletproof anonymity.
But they serve different needs. Mullvad is the most anonymous VPN on the market — you can pay with cash or Monero. ProtonVPN is built by the ProtonMail team and integrates into a broader privacy ecosystem.
This comparison cuts through the noise and tells you exactly which belongs on your device in 2026.
Mullvad vs ProtonVPN: Side-by-Side
| Feature | Mullvad | ProtonVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Price | €5/month flat | $4.99–$9.99/month |
| Free plan | ❌ No | ✅ Yes (limited) |
| Servers | 600+ in 38 countries | 9,000+ in 112 countries |
| No account required | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Payment methods | Card, crypto, cash, Monero | Card, PayPal, crypto |
| Tor over VPN | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Open source | ✅ Fully | ✅ Fully |
| Audit | ✅ Cure53 2023 | ✅ SEC Consult 2024 |
Privacy: Which VPN is More Anonymous?
Mullvad wins on anonymity — by design. No email required to sign up — you get a randomly generated account number. No personal data stored after payment. RAM-only servers. Accept cash by mail or Monero cryptocurrency.
In 2023, Swedish police raided Mullvad’s office and seized equipment. Result: zero data obtained — because zero data existed. ProtonVPN requires an email address but offers anonymous sign-up via Tor.
Speed & Performance
- Mullvad: Average 88% speed retention on nearby servers
- ProtonVPN: Average 85% standard servers, up to 10 Gbps on Plus servers
- ProtonVPN’s Accelerator feature boosted speeds 15-20% on longer routes in our tests
Streaming & Unblocking
ProtonVPN has a clear advantage. Its 9,000+ servers and streaming-optimized infrastructure reliably unblock Netflix US/UK, BBC iPlayer, and Disney+. Mullvad does not actively optimize for streaming. If streaming matters alongside privacy, ProtonVPN wins. For dedicated streaming VPNs, see our best VPN for Netflix guide.
Pricing & Value
- Mullvad: €5/month always — no annual plans, no upsells
- ProtonVPN Free — 3 countries, 1 device, no speed limits
- ProtonVPN Plus — $4.99/mo (2yr), all servers, 10 devices
- Proton Unlimited — $9.99/mo, includes ProtonMail, ProtonDrive, ProtonCalendar
Who Should Choose Each VPN?
Choose Mullvad if: you need maximum anonymity, want to pay with cash or Monero, or prefer no account linkage.
Choose ProtonVPN if: you want privacy + streaming + a rich feature set, or already use Proton’s other services.
🔗 More comparisons: NordVPN vs ExpressVPN | Best VPN for Privacy
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mullvad really anonymous?
Mullvad is as close to truly anonymous as a VPN can get. No account linked to your identity, no payment data stored, RAM-only servers. It’s been audited and has proven its no-logs policy when police seized their servers.
Does ProtonVPN work in China?
ProtonVPN’s Stealth protocol bypasses censorship in China, Iran, and Russia. Mullvad currently lacks an obfuscation protocol for these regions.
