Mullvad vs Proton VPN (2026): Which Is Better?
The two privacy-first VPNs, and the choice comes down to how much anonymity you want versus how much you want to use the VPN for ordinary things. Mullvad goes further on anonymity — no email, cash accepted, a flat price with no lock-in — but is poor for streaming. Proton VPN is nearly as private, far better for streaming, has a free plan and port forwarding, and is the one we recommend to most people.
Who wins each category
- Privacy & securityMullvadMullvad 9.9 · Proton 9.8
- SpeedMullvadMullvad 8.7 · Proton 8.6
- StreamingProton VPNMullvad 6.2 · Proton 8.4
- Apps & easeProton VPNMullvad 8.2 · Proton 8.8
- ValueProton VPNMullvad 7.0 · Proton 8.9
Sub-scores from this month's tests; weights are privacy & security 30%, speed 25%, streaming 15%, apps & ease 15%, value 15%. Methodology
Choose Mullvad if…
- You want to sign up with no identity at all
- You want a flat monthly price with no long-plan lock-in
- Streaming doesn't matter to you
Choose Proton VPN if…
- You want privacy and a VPN that also unblocks streaming
- You want a free plan or port forwarding
- You use other Proton services (Mail, Drive, Pass)
Mullvad vs Proton VPN: the numbers
 Mullvad |  Proton VPN | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 8.0 | 8.9 |
| Rank · badge | #8 · Privacy purist | #4 · Best free tier |
| 2-year price / mo | $5.40 | $4.49 |
| 1-year price / mo | $5.40 | $4.99 |
| Monthly price | $5.40 | $9.99 |
| Renewal | flat price | renews at the same rate |
| Money-back | 30 days | 30 days |
| Simultaneous devices | 5 | 10 |
| Avg download speed | 590 Mbps | 541 Mbps |
| Jurisdiction | Sweden | Switzerland |
| Owner | Amagicom AB | Proton AG (Proton Foundation) |
| No-logs audit | Assured AB infrastructure audit, 2024 | Securitum no-logs audit, 2024 |
| Servers | 650+ in 49 countries | 12,000+ in 117 countries |
| Protocols | WireGuard, OpenVPN | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, Stealth |
| Torrenting | P2P allowed on all servers | P2P allowed on P2P servers (paid plans) |
| Free plan | No | no data cap, no ads, 1 device, auto-chosen country |
| Support | email, help centre | email, help centre, live chat (paid plans) |
| Visit Mullvad | Visit Proton VPN |
Full reviews: Mullvad · Proton VPN
What each one actually costs
The advertised rate covers the first term only. These are the totals once the renewal is counted.
| Mullvad | Proton VPN | |
|---|---|---|
| Plan priced | 24-month plan | 24-month plan |
| Intro rate / mo | $5.40 | $4.49 |
| Then renews at / mo | $5.40 — no jump | $4.49 — no jump |
| First term, up front | $129.60 | $107.76 |
| Total over 3 years | $194.40 | $161.64 |
| True cost / mo over 3 years | $5.40 | $4.49 |
| Money-back | 30 days — refunded (card payments only) | 30 days — pro-rated refund, processed in 5 days |
| Check Mullvad price | Check Proton VPN price |
Proton VPN is cheaper both ways — lower to start and $32.76 less across three years once the renewals are counted. Same arithmetic as our price calculator: the first term at the advertised rate, every month after it at the rate the provider publishes for renewals.
Speed by region
Download on a 940 Mbps line, 3 runs per server, median reported. Highlighted cell = fastest.
| Mullvad | Proton VPN | |
|---|---|---|
| US East | 660 Mbps | 602 Mbps |
| UK | 640 Mbps | 576 Mbps |
| Singapore | 520 Mbps | 498 Mbps |
| Australia | 540 Mbps | 488 Mbps |
| Added latency | +8 ms | +9 ms |
Streaming, service by service
| Mullvad | Proton VPN | |
|---|---|---|
| Unblocked | 5 of 14 | 11 of 14 |
| Netflix US | ||
| Netflix UK | ||
| Netflix JP | ||
| Netflix CA | ||
| Netflix AU | ||
| Prime Video | ||
| Disney+ | ||
| Hulu | ||
| Max | ||
| Paramount+ | ||
| Peacock | ||
| BBC iPlayer | ||
| ITVX | ||
| DAZN |
Security features
| Mullvad | Proton VPN | |
|---|---|---|
| Kill switch | ||
| Split tunnelling | ||
| Obfuscation / stealth | ||
| Port forwarding | ||
| Dedicated IP | ||
| Ad & tracker blocking | ||
| Multi-hop (double VPN) | ||
| RAM-only servers | ||
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, browser extensions, routers | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Android TV, Fire TV, Apple TV, browser extensions, routers |
Has the no-logs promise ever been tested?
Every VPN on this page says it keeps no logs. The claim only means something once someone has demanded the data — a police raid, a court order, a subpoena. Here is what happened to each of these two when that came up, and what it means if it never has.
- MullvadHeld
2023 Swedish police search warrant. The claim held — there was nothing useful to hand over. That is the one form of proof no audit can give you, because it happened under real pressure rather than on a scheduled visit.
Audit: Assured AB infrastructure audit, 2024 · Sweden
- Proton VPNHeld
Fought data requests in court. The claim held — there was nothing useful to hand over. That is the one form of proof no audit can give you, because it happened under real pressure rather than on a scheduled visit.
Audit: Securitum no-logs audit, 2024 · Switzerland
What each one is our top pick for
One of these scores higher overall, which does not make it the right buy for every job. These are the use cases where each one comes first on its own list.
- Mullvad1 category
In April 2023 Swedish police executed a search warrant at Mullvad's office and left with nothing, because there was nothing — no account names, no emails, RAM-only servers, and a 2024 audit by Assured. The strongest demonstration of a no-logs claim any provider can offer, and one no audit can match.
- Proton VPN2 categories
No data cap, no ads, no logs, open-source apps on every platform. Limits: one device, an auto-chosen country, no streaming or P2P.
Questions
Is Mullvad more private than Proton VPN?
Marginally: Mullvad requires no email and accepts cash, so the account itself is anonymous. Both have audited no-logs policies and open-source apps. Proton adds Secure Core multi-hop.
Which is better for streaming, Mullvad or Proton VPN?
Proton VPN, clearly — 11 of 14 services against Mullvad's 5. Mullvad does not try to be a streaming VPN.
Which is cheaper, Mullvad or Proton VPN?
Proton VPN on a 2-year plan; Mullvad's flat monthly price is cheaper than Proton's monthly rate and better if you refuse to commit to a long plan.
We may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page. Scores and the winner are decided by the tests before any commercial consideration. Disclosure