I've used both Mullvad and Proton VPN. Mullvad is my #1 for pure privacy. But I use Proton daily — because it's a full ecosystem, not just a VPN.
📝 Full disclosure: I earn a commission if you choose Proton VPN. I earn nothing from Mullvad. I genuinely use and recommend both.
Don't have time? Here's who each VPN is for.
My #1 for pure privacy
Best for: Maximum anonymity. No email, no identity. Pay with cash. Police raid proved zero logs.
Visit Mullvad →No affiliate link. I earn nothing.
What I use daily
Best for: Privacy + a full ecosystem: VPN, encrypted email, calendar, cloud storage, password manager — all in one.
Try Proton Free →Affiliate link. I may earn a commission.
The marketing giant
Best for: People who prioritize streaming and price over open-source transparency.
Visit NordVPN →Not what I use.
What actually matters for privacy — not marketing claims.
| Feature | Mullvad | Proton VPN | NordVPN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Privacy & Verifiability | |||
| Open Source Apps | ✓GPLv3 licensed | ✓All on GitHub | ✗Closed source |
| No-Logs Audit (Public) | ✓Cure53 | ✓4 audits (Securitum) | ~Exists but NDA |
| Real-World Test | ✓Police raid: 0 data | ✓29 requests denied | ~2018 breach (1 server) |
| Jurisdiction | 🇸🇪 Sweden | 🇨🇭 Switzerland | 🇵🇦 Panama(ownership unclear) |
| Ownership Transparency | ✓Amagicom AB | ✓Non-profit foundation | ~Complex structure |
| Account Privacy | |||
| Email Required | ✓No — just account # | ~Optional (use throwaway) | ✗Required |
| Anonymous Payment | ✓Cash by mail, Monero | ✓Crypto, cash resellers | ~Crypto only |
| Features & Performance | |||
| Servers | 580+ in 50 countries | 15,000+ in 126 countries | 8,000+ in 178 countries |
| Speed | Fast | Fast (10 Gbps) | Fast |
| Network Switching (Mobile) | ✓Very stable | ~Can be finicky | —Worked fine |
| Streaming Support | ~Limited | ✓Good | ✓Excellent |
| Free Tier | ✗ | ✓Unlimited, no ads | ✗ |
| Pricing | |||
| Monthly Price | €5/moFlat, no discounts | $9.99/mo | $12.99/mo |
| Best Deal (2yr) | €5/moSame price always | $3.59/mo | $3.39/mo |
| The Meta Question | |||
| Affiliate Program | ✗Deliberately none | ✓18-100% | ✓40-100% |
What you need to know about each option.
"I've tested Mullvad. For no-compromise privacy, nothing else comes close. If I needed to disappear online, this is what I'd use."
"Mullvad wins on pure privacy. But I use Proton every day because it's not just a VPN — it's a complete privacy ecosystem."
"I tried NordVPN when they had a promo. It worked fine. But I couldn't verify what the closed-source app was actually doing — and that bothered me enough to switch."
The stuff you only learn after using these VPNs daily on your phone.
This is something no review ever mentions: what happens when you switch between WiFi networks, or from WiFi to cellular? What about restrictive networks?
I'm still testing whether Mullvad VPN + Proton ecosystem (Mail, Calendar, Drive) might be the best of both worlds. Haven't committed to that setup permanently yet.
Bottom line: If you're on iPhone and constantly switch between WiFi/cellular, or use restrictive networks, Mullvad's "just works" reliability is a real advantage — even if you use Proton for everything else.
Here's the uncomfortable truth about VPN reviews: almost every "Best VPN" list is driven by affiliate commissions. NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Surfshark dominate these lists because they pay 40-100% commissions.
Mullvad deliberately has no affiliate program. They believe it corrupts recommendations. And they're right — that's one reason I respect them so much.
My setup: I've tested and used Mullvad. For pure, no-compromise privacy, it's unbeatable. But I switched my daily driver to Proton because I wanted the full ecosystem — encrypted email, calendar, cloud storage, and password manager all in one place. When you're already using Proton Mail, adding the VPN just makes sense.
If your only goal is maximum anonymity — no email, no identity, pay with cash — choose Mullvad. It's my #1 recommendation for pure privacy, and I earn nothing from saying that.
If you want privacy + a complete ecosystem — email, calendar, drive, passwords, and VPN under one Swiss roof — Proton is what I actually use every day. Yes, I earn a commission if you sign up. But I'd use it regardless.
The hybrid option I'm testing: Mullvad VPN + Proton ecosystem (Mail, Calendar, Drive, Pass). Best network stability + best privacy tools. If Proton's VPN stability on iPhone doesn't improve, this might become my permanent setup.
If you just want to watch Netflix from another country and don't care about open-source code, NordVPN will work. But it's not what I use, and it's not what I'd recommend for real privacy.
Mullvad for pure privacy. Proton for the full ecosystem. Both are excellent — pick what fits your needs.
I earn a commission from Proton. I earn nothing from Mullvad. I use and recommend both.