Side-by-side comparison based on expert reviews and community consensus.
Mullvad VPN
Most Privacy-HardenedPrice
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Summary
The only VPN that doesn't even ask for your email — you get an anonymous account number and that's it. Rtings.com calls it the best VPN they've tested, and Wirecutter agrees it's the top pick for privacy purists.
The most consistently recommended VPN across Reddit and expert reviewers alike. Nails the trifecta of speed, privacy, and streaming — with NordLynx protocol delivering just 3% average speed loss.
Pros
- No personal information required to sign up — account number system only
- Accepts cash and cryptocurrency payments for full anonymity
- Highest-rated VPN by rtings.com with 9.1 for private browsing
- Supports DNS over HTTPS/TLS with clean IP addresses
- Fastest VPN tested by CNET with only 3% average download speed loss via NordLynx protocol
- Strong no-logs policy with audited privacy practices
- Excellent streaming server support across major platforms
- Feature-rich for both beginners and power users
Cons
- No streaming-optimized servers — not ideal for Netflix unblocking
- Expensive at over $15/month compared to competitors
- Smaller server network (49 countries) than rivals like Proton
- Owned by Nord Security, a larger corporate entity — less indie than Mullvad
- Best pricing requires committing to a 2-year plan
- Had a server breach in 2018, though no user data was exposed
Our take
Mullvad is the VPN for people who actually read privacy policies. No account, no email, pay with cash or crypto — it's built from the ground up to know nothing about you. If privacy is your #1 concern, nothing else comes close.
If you want one VPN and never want to think about it again, NordVPN is the answer. It's what the Tom's Guide testing team uses on their personal devices, and Reddit keeps voting it #1 year after year.
Buy
