Side-by-side comparison based on expert reviews and community consensus.
Mullvad VPN
Most Privacy-HardenedProton VPN
Best for PrivacyPrice
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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.
Built by the team behind ProtonMail, this Swiss-based VPN is the gold standard for privacy-first users. It's the only major VPN with a genuinely usable free tier that doesn't cap your data.
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
- Free tier with no data limits — rare and legitimate among free VPNs
- Swiss-based with strong legal privacy protections
- Open-source apps independently audited for security
- Covers 117 countries with up to 10 simultaneous connections
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
- Speeds slightly slower than NordVPN in head-to-head tests
- Free tier limits server selection significantly
- Premium plans can be pricier than competitors without a sale
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.
Proton VPN is what I'd recommend to anyone who actually cares about who's behind their VPN. Swiss jurisdiction, open-source apps, and a free plan with no data limits — it's the rare VPN you can trust without just taking their word for it.
Buy
