Proton VPN vs Mullvad VPN
Two of the top three VPN services, compared rule by rule on published facts.
In short
- Proton VPN has 81 points and Mullvad VPN 78, 3 apart on our VPN services rules.
- Proton VPN earns more on apps, everyday use and price; Mullvad VPN earns more on security features.
- Price on a one-year plan: Proton VPN $6.99/mo, Mullvad VPN $5.59/mo.
- Only Proton VPN meets: transparency report and free plan with no data cap.
- Only Mullvad VPN meets: RAM-only servers, post-quantum encryption and price on a one-year plan.
Mullvad VPN78/100 #3 of 9
Best for: People who want to sign up without an email and pay one flat price.
Points by group
| Group | Proton VPN | Mullvad VPN |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy and audits of 35 | 30 | 30 |
| Security features of 20 | 15 | 20 |
| Apps of 15 | 14 | 13 |
| Everyday use of 10 | 10 | 6 |
| Price of 20 | 12 | 9 |
| Total | 81 | 78 |
Rule by rule
What each vendor publishes, and the points it earns. Sources are on each product page.
| Rule (points) | Proton VPN | Mullvad VPN |
|---|---|---|
| No-logs audit since 2024 (10) | Yes 10 | Yes 10 |
| App security audit since 2024 (5) | Yes 5 | Yes 5 |
| RAM-only servers (5) | No 0 | Yes 5 |
| Open-source apps (5) | Yes 5 | Yes 5 |
| Anonymous sign-up (5) | Yes 5 | Yes 5 |
| Transparency report (5) | Yes 5 | Not published 0 |
| WireGuard (5) | Yes 5 | Yes 5 |
| Kill switch (5) | Yes 5 | Yes 5 |
| Post-quantum encryption (5) | No 0 | Yes 5 |
| Multi-hop (5) | Yes 5 | Yes 5 |
| Apps (10) | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android 10 | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android 10 |
| Browser extensions (3) | Chrome, Firefox 2 | Firefox 1 |
| Router setup (2) | Yes 2 | Yes 2 |
| Devices at once (5) | 10 5 | 5 1 |
| Split tunnelling (5) | Yes 5 | Yes 5 |
| Free plan with no data cap (5) | Yes 5 | No 0 |
| Price on a one-year plan (8) | $6.99/mo 0 | $5.59/mo 2 |
| Same price on renewal (7) | Yes 7 | Yes 7 |
Proton VPN
Proton VPN is the pick for people who want a free plan without a data cap. Paid plans add Secure Core double-hop routing and 10 devices, and Securitum audits the no-logs policy every year. The catch: post-quantum encryption is still only planned, and the servers use encrypted disks rather than running from memory alone.
Mullvad VPN
Mullvad suits people who put privacy first: you sign up with an account number, can pay in cash or Monero, and pay €5 a month on any term. Its servers run without disks, had an outside audit in 2024, and its open-source apps were audited the same year. The catch is a 5-device limit and no free plan.
Both products are scored by the same rules: how we score VPN services.