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.
Unlimited simultaneous device connections at a budget-friendly price makes Surfshark the obvious pick for households or anyone with too many devices. PCMag found it had the best upload and download speeds of any VPN tested.
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
- Unlimited simultaneous device connections — no per-device limits
- Best upload and download speeds in PCMag's testing
- Strong no-logs policy with solid encryption
- Competitive pricing, especially on multi-year plans
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 (same parent as NordVPN) — raises independence questions
- Smaller privacy pedigree compared to Proton or Mullvad
- Some advanced privacy features require higher-tier plans
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.
Surfshark is the move if you're covering a whole family or just refuse to pay for multiple VPN seats. Unlimited devices, top-tier speeds, and a no-logs policy — it punches well above its price point.
Buy
