Two of the most privacy-focused VPNs on the market. Swiss open-source vs Swedish anonymous accounts. Who wins the privacy battle?
| Feature | ProtonVPN | Mullvad | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $4.99/mo (2yr) | €5/mo (flat) | Tie |
| Signup Privacy | Email required | Zero info required | Mullvad |
| Jurisdiction | Switzerland | Sweden | Tie (both outside 14 Eyes) |
| Open Source | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Free Plan | ✓ | ✗ | ProtonVPN |
| Streaming | Yes | Inconsistent | ProtonVPN |
| Secure Core / Multi-hop | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Tor over VPN | ✓ | ✗ | ProtonVPN |
| Traffic Analysis Defense | ✗ | DAITA | Mullvad |
| Cash/Crypto Payment | Crypto only | Cash + Crypto | Mullvad |
| Server Seizure Resistance | Not tested | Proven (2023) | Mullvad |
| Devices | 10 | 5 | ProtonVPN |
If your goal is maximum anonymity with zero linkability to your real identity, Mullvad is unmatched. No email. Random account number. Pay with cash. DAITA makes your traffic patterns unreadable to AI traffic analysis. And Swedish police proved the no-log policy holds under real-world pressure.
ProtonVPN delivers 95% of Mullvad's privacy with far better usability. It has a free plan, unblocks streaming platforms, supports Tor over VPN, allows 10 devices, and comes from the team behind ProtonMail. Swiss jurisdiction is arguably stronger than Swedish for privacy laws.
Choose ProtonVPN if you want privacy + streaming + a free option + Tor support + 10 devices.
Choose Mullvad if you're a journalist, activist, or high-risk user who needs maximum anonymity and doesn't need streaming.