Mullvad VPN Wins
Winner
VS
Score Comparison
Criteria
Mullvad VPN
IPVanish
Overall Score
8.4
7.8
Security
9.8
8.0
Speed
8.5
8.2
Features
7.5
7.8
Pricing/Value
8.5
7.8
Ease of Use
8.0
7.5
Pricing & Features
Specification
Mullvad VPN
IPVanish
Starting Price
$5/mo
$3.33/mo
Pricing Model
Subscription
Subscription
Making Your Decision
When to Choose Mullvad VPN
Privacy maximalists who want anonymous sign-up and transparent pricing
Mullvad is the gold standard for privacy purists, offering anonymous accounts, cash payments, and transparent pricing, though it sacrifices streaming features for its security-first approach.
Strengths
- No email or personal info required to sign up
- Accept cash and cryptocurrency payments for anonymity
- Simple, transparent €5/month flat pricing
- Open-source apps and externally audited infrastructure
Limitations
- Smaller server network than mainstream VPNs
- No streaming optimization or dedicated servers
- Basic app with fewer features than competitors
When to Choose IPVanish
Torrent users who want self-owned servers and unlimited devices
IPVanish appeals to torrent users with its unlimited connections and self-owned server infrastructure, though its past privacy issues and US location may give privacy purists pause.
Strengths
- Unlimited simultaneous device connections
- Owns and operates 100% of its server network
- Good speeds for torrenting and P2P
- SOCKS5 proxy included for faster torrents
Limitations
- Past logging controversy (2016, now resolved)
- US-based with Five Eyes jurisdiction concerns
- Struggles to unblock some streaming services