Mullvad VPN vs Proton VPN

Updated October 2026 · AppBreakup editorial

Mullvad VPN

A privacy-first Swedish VPN with one flat price, numbered accounts and no email required.

PaidOpen source

Visit Mullvad VPN Mullvad VPN profile

Proton VPN

A Swiss VPN with open-source, audited apps and one of the few free tiers without a data cap.

Free plan + paidOpen source

Visit Proton VPN Proton VPN profile

The short answer

Both are privacy-first VPNs with open-source apps. Mullvad suits people who want anonymous signup and one flat price with no renewal surprises. Proton VPN suits people who want a usable free plan, streaming support or a bundle with Proton's other apps. The biggest difference is philosophy: Mullvad strips everything to the minimum, Proton offers a fuller consumer service.

Mullvad VPN or Proton VPN: our take

Proton VPN and Mullvad are the two providers privacy-minded users most often compare. Both publish open-source apps and audits, both run on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android, and both operate under no-logs policies from privacy-friendly countries: Proton from Switzerland, Mullvad from Gothenburg, Sweden.

Mullvad asks almost nothing of you. Signup generates a random account number with no email or password, and you can pay with cash or cryptocurrency as well as cards. The price is €5 per month whatever term you choose, and there is a 14-day money-back guarantee, except for cash payments. Its apps support WireGuard, multi-hop, DAITA traffic obfuscation and quantum-resistant tunnels. It deliberately skips streaming-unblocking promises, removed port forwarding, and has a smaller server network than the big providers.

Proton VPN is a more conventional consumer service from the company behind Proton Mail and Proton Pass. Its free plan is unusual: no data cap and no ads, limited to one device and fewer servers. Paid plans unlock the full network, Secure Core multi-hop routing, streaming support, P2P, a tracker blocker and up to 10 devices, with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Discounts depend on longer terms, and full price is high without one. Proton also sells bundles with its other privacy apps and offers browser extensions and TV apps, which Mullvad does not.

Choose Mullvad if anonymity and simple, predictable pricing matter most and you don't need streaming. Choose Proton VPN if you want to start free, need streaming or P2P on a privacy-focused service, or already use Proton's mail, password or storage apps.

Choose Mullvad VPN if…

Privacy-minded users who want anonymous signup and a simple flat price
No email or personal details needed to sign up
Same low price for any length of subscription

Choose Proton VPN if…

Privacy-focused users, and anyone who needs a free VPN they can trust
You want a free option (Mullvad VPN is paid only)
You need Browser extension, which Mullvad VPN doesn't list
Free plan with no data cap and no ads
Open-source, audited apps on every platform

What is Mullvad VPN?

Mullvad is a VPN from Sweden that is often recommended by privacy researchers because of how little it asks of you. Signing up generates a random account number; there is no email, username or password, and you can pay with cash or cryptocurrency as well as cards. There is one price, the same whether you pay for a month or a year, so there are no renewal surprises. The apps are open source, support WireGuard, multi-hop, DAITA traffic obfuscation and quantum-resistant tunnels, and the company publishes its infrastructure audits. Mullvad deliberately skips features aimed at marketing, such as affiliate deals or streaming unblocking promises, and it removed port forwarding to cut abuse. It also co-develops Mullvad Browser with the Tor Project. Apps are available for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android. It suits people who care most about anonymity and transparency and are happy with a no-frills service.

What is Proton VPN?

Proton VPN comes from Proton, the Swiss company behind Proton Mail, Proton Pass and Proton Drive. Its apps are open source and independently audited, and the service operates under a no-logs policy from Switzerland. The free plan is unusual: it has no data limit and no ads, though it is limited to one device and a reduced choice of servers. Paid plans unlock the full network, faster servers, Secure Core multi-hop routing through privacy-friendly countries, streaming support, P2P, a tracker and ad blocker, and up to ten devices. Proton also sells bundles that include its other privacy apps. Pricing is subscription based with discounts for longer terms and a 30-day refund window. Apps run on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Chromebooks, browsers and TV devices. It suits privacy-minded people who want a trustworthy provider, and anyone who needs a genuinely usable free VPN.

Side by side

Attribute	Mullvad VPN	Proton VPN
Pricing	Paid	Free plan + paid
Open source	Yes	Yes
Self-hostable	No	No
Platforms	Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android	Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension
Best for	Privacy-minded users who want anonymous signup and a simple flat price	Privacy-focused users, and anyone who needs a free VPN they can trust
Status	Active	Active

Verified facts, compared

Facts both apps publish, checked on each vendor's own site.

Fact	Mullvad VPN	Proton VPN
Money-back guarantee	14 days (not for cash payments)	30 days