ProtonVPN and Mullvad are the two most privacy-focused VPN services available. Both are recommended by privacy advocates, journalists, and security researchers. Both have open-source apps, no-logs policies, and strong privacy credentials. Yet they differ in meaningful ways that make one or the other more appropriate depending on your specific privacy requirements.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | ProtonVPN | Mullvad |
|---|---|---|
| Signup | Email required | No email — account number only |
| Payment methods | Card, PayPal, crypto | Card, cash, Bitcoin, Monero |
| Jurisdiction | Switzerland | Sweden |
| Max Speed | 590 Mbps | 610 Mbps |
| Servers | 8,700+ in 112 countries | 700+ in 49 countries |
| Connections | 10 | 5 |
| Free plan | ✅ Unlimited data | ❌ |
| Price/month | $4.99 | €5.00 |
| Open source | ✅ | ✅ |
Anonymity at Signup: Mullvad Wins Clearly
This is the most meaningful difference between the two. Creating a Mullvad account requires no personal information whatsoever — just click “Generate account number” and you get a 16-digit number. No email, no name, no payment linked to your identity if you pay with cash or Monero. ProtonVPN requires an email address at signup, which creates an inherent link between your identity and your VPN account.
For users who require strict anonymity — journalists, activists, whistleblowers — Mullvad’s signup process is significantly more private.
Jurisdiction: Switzerland vs Sweden
Both countries have strong privacy traditions, but there are important differences. Switzerland is not in the European Union and has no intelligence-sharing agreements with 5/9/14 Eyes countries. Sweden is in the EU and participates in 14 Eyes. However, Sweden has historically strong privacy courts, and Mullvad’s 2023 police raid — where authorities left empty-handed after failing to seize servers — demonstrated this in practice. ProtonVPN’s Swiss jurisdiction remains the more privacy-favorable legal environment on paper.
Speed Comparison
| Location | ProtonVPN | Mullvad |
|---|---|---|
| US – New York | 584 Mbps | 591 Mbps |
| UK – London | 571 Mbps | 579 Mbps |
| Germany | 577 Mbps | 601 Mbps |
| Japan | 489 Mbps | 471 Mbps |
Speeds are nearly identical — effectively a tie. Mullvad has a slight edge in Europe; ProtonVPN has a slight edge in Asia.
Advanced Privacy Features Compared
ProtonVPN Exclusive
- Secure Core: Routes traffic through Switzerland, Iceland, or Sweden before exiting
- Tor servers: Built-in Tor-over-VPN without needing Tor Browser
- Stealth protocol: Obfuscates traffic in restrictive countries
- Proton ecosystem: Integration with ProtonMail, ProtonDrive, ProtonPass
Mullvad Exclusive
- DAITA: Defense Against AI-guided Traffic Analysis — adds noise to defeat traffic correlation
- Cash payment: True anonymous payment option
- No-email signup: Zero personal data at account creation
- Quantum-resistant tunnels: Post-quantum cryptography for future-proofing
Streaming: ProtonVPN Wins
ProtonVPN unblocks Netflix (multiple regions), Disney+, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime reliably. Mullvad does not prioritize streaming and most of its IPs are blocked by major streaming platforms. If you want both privacy and streaming, ProtonVPN is the clear choice.
Server Network: ProtonVPN’s Major Advantage
ProtonVPN’s 8,700+ servers across 112 countries vastly outnumber Mullvad’s 700+ across 49 countries. For users who need servers in specific regions — South America, Southeast Asia, Africa — ProtonVPN has far more options.
Free Plan: ProtonVPN Only
ProtonVPN’s free plan offers unlimited bandwidth across 5 server locations — the only genuinely free VPN we recommend. Mullvad has no free tier; the €5/month flat rate is its only option.
Final Verdict
Choose Mullvad if: you need maximum anonymity at signup, want to pay with cash or Monero, or need DAITA protection against traffic analysis attacks.
Choose ProtonVPN if: you want a free plan, need streaming capability alongside privacy, want the Swiss jurisdiction advantage, or use other Proton services (mail, drive, calendar).
Both are outstanding — the choice comes down to your specific threat model and usage requirements.