ProtonVPN Wins
Winner
VS
Score Comparison
Criteria
ProtonVPN
Mullvad VPN
Overall Score
8.7
8.4
Security
9.5
9.8
Speed
8.2
8.5
Features
8.5
7.5
Pricing/Value
8.5
8.5
Ease of Use
8.5
8.0
Pricing & Features
Specification
ProtonVPN
Mullvad VPN
Starting Price
Free / $4.99/mo
$5/mo
Free Tier
Pricing Model
Freemium
Subscription
Making Your Decision
When to Choose ProtonVPN
Privacy advocates who trust the Proton brand and want a free option
ProtonVPN offers the best free VPN tier available with no catches, backed by Swiss privacy laws and the trusted Proton name, making it ideal for privacy-focused users on any budget.
Strengths
- Genuinely free tier with no data limits or ads
- Swiss-based with strong privacy laws
- All apps are open-source and independently audited
- Secure Core servers route through privacy-friendly countries
Limitations
- Free tier limited to 3 server locations
- Speeds can be slower than premium competitors
- Streaming features only on higher-tier plans
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
