Proton VPN vs Mullvad: Two Privacy Picks Compared

For a privacy-first purchase, choose Proton VPN if you need a free tier, streaming support, up to 10 simultaneous devices, split tunneling, Secure Core, or port forwarding. Choose Mullvad if a numbered account, flat €5 monthly price, cash or cryptocurrency payments, and a five-device limit fit your priorities better.

Before paying, count the devices that need simultaneous connections, identify whether streaming or port forwarding matters, and decide whether a free tier is useful. Then compare the amount due today, the renewal terms, refund eligibility, and the requirements of the streaming service and device you plan to use.

A VPN encrypts the connection between your device and the VPN server and changes the public IP address websites see. It does not remove account records, cookies, browser fingerprints, app identifiers, or payment records, and it works alongside updates, account security, and phishing protection.

Proton VPN or Mullvad: Which Fits a Privacy-Minded Buyer?

Neither service is better for every buyer. Proton VPN is the broader-feature choice. Its Plus plan supports up to 10 simultaneous connections and includes Secure Core, split tunneling, NetShield, streaming support, P2P support, a kill switch, DNS-leak protection, and port forwarding. Its Free plan allows unlimited data, one connection, and servers in 10 countries.

Mullvad is the simpler-account choice. Mullvad generates a numbered account instead of asking for a username, password, or email address at sign-up. It supports up to five devices, accepts several payment methods including cash and cryptocurrency, and keeps its listed price at €5 per month.

That difference gives you a practical first decision. If your household needs more than five simultaneous devices, or if you want split tunneling on Android TV, streaming support, or port forwarding for a supported application, Proton fits more easily. If minimizing account details matters more than a free tier, streaming coverage, or incoming connections, Mullvad has the cleaner account model.

Count the devices you will connect at the same time, not every device you own. A phone, laptop, television, and tablet can already make Mullvad’s five-device limit relevant in a household. Also identify whether you need a VPN on a router, Fire TV device, PS5, or smart TV, because app and router support can differ by platform.

What You Give Up And What Each Service Records At Sign-Up

Proton VPN requires a Proton Account. Depending on the sign-up route, Proton can use a Proton Mail address or an external email address for account identification, notifications, recovery, or verification. Human verification can involve CAPTCHA, email, or SMS. Proton says permanently retained email or phone values are stored as cryptographic hashes.

Mullvad generates an account number and expiry date. It does not request a username, password, or email address at sign-up. Payment processors can still handle transaction information, and contacting support can involve personal information. The numbered account reduces the information needed to open the account, but it does not make every later payment or support interaction free of identifying details.

The ownership and legal setting also differ. Proton AG operates Proton VPN from Switzerland. Mullvad VPN AB is incorporated in Sweden and is owned by Amagicom AB, which is 100% owned by founders Fredrik Strömberg and Daniel Berntsson. A company’s country and ownership describe jurisdiction and control, not immunity from legal process or every form of tracking.

Mullvad’s 2023 office incident is sometimes called a controversy. On April 18, 2023, Swedish National Operations Department officers visited Mullvad’s Gothenburg office with a search warrant seeking computers containing customer data. Mullvad reported that no customer data was compromised. The event is relevant to its documented data-retention model, but it does not prove that every threat is eliminated.

The tradeoff is straightforward. Proton gives you a conventional account system with recovery and broader platform features. Mullvad reduces the information requested at sign-up, but its five-device limit, lack of port forwarding, and less streaming-focused model may matter more later.

What Proton VPN And Mullvad Cost And Renew At

The prices below are for a United States buyer and were checked on October 28, 2026. Proton’s paid tier is Plus. Mullvad uses the same €5 monthly rate whether you pay for one month or fund a year, rather than offering a separate discounted annual tier.

Proton’s 24-month price includes 24 paid months, not extra bonus time. The first-term price renews at US$83.88 before tax for 12 months. Confirm the amount on the final checkout screen before paying. Currency conversion, tax, and the checkout channel can affect the final amount.

Mullvad’s €60 yearly total is simply 12 months at €5. Mullvad accepts US dollars and gives accepted cryptocurrencies a 10% discount, checked October 29, 2026. If you use a payment method that converts euros, check the amount your payment provider will charge.

Proton’s Free plan is free access, not a free trial. It has unlimited data, one simultaneous connection, and no guaranteed streaming coverage. Proton’s paid plans have a 30-day money-back window. Mullvad has no free plan and no separate free trial. Its 14-day money-back window applies to card, PayPal, Google Play, Swish, and bank-wire payments, while cash, cryptocurrency, Apple App Store payments, and vouchers are excluded.

Devices, Free Access, Payments, And Refunds

Proton Plus allows up to 10 simultaneous devices. Proton’s Free plan allows one. Mullvad allows up to five devices. These are active connection limits, so they matter when a household uses several phones, computers, televisions, and tablets at once.

Proton’s split tunneling is supported on Windows, macOS, Linux GUI, Android, Android TV, and its browser extension. Proton port forwarding is supported on Windows, macOS, Linux GUI, Linux CLI, and routers. Mullvad does not support port forwarding. If you need a Fire Stick, PS5, television, or router setup, check the app or router requirement for the exact operating system before paying. The VPN on a Fire Stick setup and VPN on a PS5 setup can help with those device-specific next steps.

Proton accepts cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Bitcoin, cash, bank transfer and Proton credits. Proton does not refund cash or bank-transfer subscriptions. Mullvad accepts cards, PayPal, Google Play, bank wire, Swish, cash, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Monero, vouchers, EPS, Bancontact, iDEAL/Wero, and Przelewy24. Confirm refund eligibility for the selected billing channel before completing payment.

Proton is the easier fit when free access, ten-device coverage, or a wide range of app features matters. Mullvad is the easier fit when payment choice and reduced sign-up information matter more than free access or device count.

Secure Core, Multihop, DAITA, Port Forwarding, And Split Tunneling

Proton Secure Core sends traffic through a Proton-controlled server in Switzerland, Iceland, or Sweden before sending it through a second VPN server. Proton describes this as protection against certain network-based and timing attacks. The extra route can reduce performance, and Proton says destination-country Secure Core servers are not always optimized for streaming.

Mullvad’s multihop routes traffic through more than one Mullvad server. Mullvad says this can reduce speed because the traffic travels through two servers. Its DAITA feature adds traffic padding and other countermeasures intended to reduce traffic-analysis signals. Mullvad says DAITA increases network traffic and can reduce speed.

These features are not automatic privacy guarantees. They change the route and the traffic pattern within defined limits. Accounts, cookies, device fingerprints, and application identifiers can still connect activity to you. A VPN also does not replace software updates, account security, or phishing protection.

Proton supports port forwarding on paid plans through supported Windows, macOS, Linux, and router configurations. Port forwarding creates an incoming path and can help some P2P applications and gaming setups, but it also creates a security responsibility. Mullvad removed port forwarding, disabling new ports on May 29, 2023, and scheduling existing ports for removal on July 1, 2023.

Proton split tunneling lets selected apps use the regular connection while other traffic uses the VPN. Proton documents platform-specific limits, and on most platforms split tunneling is incompatible with the kill switch. Read the feature documentation for the operating system you will use, then decide whether keeping local access or blocking all non-VPN traffic matters more.

Streaming And Netflix: What Works, What Gets Blocked, And Why

Proton lists streaming support for paid plans and publishes service-and-country coverage. Proton says Netflix often blocks IP addresses belonging to Proton Free servers, while paid Proton plans have streaming coverage. That does not mean every server, country, device, or title will work at every moment.

Netflix says a VPN can cause users to see only titles licensed worldwide or require the VPN to be turned off. Netflix also says VPN use is unsupported for live events and ad-supported viewing. A VPN subscription does not grant a streaming catalog, remove the need for a streaming subscription, or override platform restrictions.

Mullvad’s model is different. It does not present equivalent provider-maintained streaming coverage, so treat Netflix and other platforms as service-specific compatibility questions. Confirm the streaming service, country, device, and account requirement before paying. Keep the platform’s terms in view, especially when changing regions while traveling.

If Netflix shows a proxy message, work through the Netflix VPN proxy error fixes. Common documented causes include a blocked VPN IP, an unsuitable server, cached data, a DNS or location mismatch, protocol incompatibility, a subscription issue, or a connection limit. Changing servers, clearing cache or DNS, updating the app, changing protocol, and checking for IP or DNS leaks are practical next steps.

Audits, Speed Evidence, And The Limits Of The Claims

Proton’s latest detailed Securitum no-logs audit was performed August 18 to 20, 2025, with the report dated September 18, 2025. It examined Proton VPN production server infrastructure, including randomly selected servers, configurations, running processes, storage, deployment practices, and possible activity or metadata logging. It excluded account systems, the CI/CD pipeline, formal source-code review, and client binaries. Proton also states that Securitum completed a fifth consecutive annual no-logs audit in 2026.

Mullvad has several defined assessments. Cure53’s June 2024 engagement covered WireGuard and OpenVPN relay infrastructure through white-box penetration testing and source-code audits. X41 D-Sec’s 2024 audit covered Mullvad’s Linux, Windows, macOS, and Android apps and daemons, including GUI and command-line components. An Assured AB report dated September 30, 2025 covered the public web application, account portal, payment interfaces, static content, and Tor version, while excluding backend APIs and third-party payment integrations.

These audits describe their named systems, dates, and scopes. They are point-in-time assessments, not guarantees against every future vulnerability or every system operated by a provider. Read the scope of the audit that matches the feature or system you care about.

VPNMeter’s published comparison measured ProtonVPN and Mullvad through Netherlands servers. It reported median download speeds of about 620 Mbps for ProtonVPN and 591 Mbps for Mullvad. Mullvad had lower latency in 101 of 135 cycles and faster connection times in 95 of 135 cycles. The measurements describe the lab’s machine and connection, not your home network, privacy, logging, or streaming performance.

Which One To Choose And What To Read Next

Choose Proton VPN if you want the broader package: a free tier, up to 10 simultaneous devices, paid streaming support, Secure Core, split tunneling, NetShield, and port forwarding. Its tradeoffs are a conventional account system, a one-device Free plan, paid access for streaming coverage, and plan or platform limits around split tunneling and port forwarding.

Choose Mullvad if a numbered account and flat pricing are the deciding points. Its tradeoffs are no free plan, five simultaneous devices, no port forwarding, and a less defined streaming fit. Mullvad’s cash and cryptocurrency options can also matter if the payment channel is part of your privacy decision, though refund eligibility changes by payment method.

Before committing, compare each provider’s feature and streaming documentation with your own device and connection. Confirm the renewal amount on the final checkout screen, check refund eligibility, and keep account, browser, app, payment, platform, and streaming-service limits in the decision.

If you lean toward Proton, continue with the Proton VPN review. If the numbered account and flat price matter more, use the Mullvad VPN review. Follow local law and the terms of the service you access.

Frequently asked questions

The short answers below separate the account model, pricing, safety claims, and streaming limits that often get combined in one VPN decision.

Is Proton VPN or Mullvad better?

Neither is universally better. Proton fits free access, streaming, ten-device households, Secure Core, split tunneling, and port forwarding, while Mullvad fits buyers who prefer a numbered account, flat pricing, and cash or cryptocurrency payments.

What is the Mullvad controversy?

On April 18, 2023, Swedish National Operations Department officers visited Mullvad’s Gothenburg office with a search warrant seeking computers containing customer data. Mullvad reported that no customer data was compromised, but the event does not prove that every threat is eliminated.

Is Mullvad really the best VPN?

“Best” depends on the task. Mullvad has documented strengths in account minimization, flat pricing, open-source software, and published audits, but it has no free plan, supports five devices, does not provide port forwarding, and may require separate checking for streaming compatibility.

What country owns Mullvad?

Mullvad VPN AB is a Swedish company owned by Amagicom AB. Amagicom is 100% owned by founders Fredrik Strömberg and Daniel Berntsson.

Is Mullvad really safe?

Mullvad’s published audits cover defined areas, including relay infrastructure, supported applications, and the web application. Those assessments are useful evidence about their stated scopes, but they are not guarantees against every future vulnerability or threat.

How much does Mullvad cost per year?

Mullvad lists €5 per month including VAT, so 12 months costs €60 before any payment conversion difference. The provider also lists a 10% discount for accepted cryptocurrency payments, and the same €5 rate applies when funding the account for longer.

Is Proton VPN blocked by Netflix?

Proton says Netflix often blocks IP addresses used by Proton Free servers, while paid Proton plans have streaming coverage. Netflix says a VPN can limit visible titles or require the VPN to be turned off, and it does not support VPN use for live events or ad-supported viewing.

Why does Proton VPN not work anymore?

A blocked VPN IP, unsuitable server, cached data, DNS or location mismatch, protocol issue, streaming subscription problem, or connection limit can cause a failure. Proton recommends changing servers, clearing cache or DNS, updating the app, changing protocol, and checking for IP or DNS leaks.

What are the downsides of using Proton VPN?

Streaming coverage requires a paid plan, Proton Free allows one simultaneous connection, and Secure Core can reduce video quality because it is not optimized for streaming. Port forwarding and split tunneling also have plan and platform limits, and a kill switch can block internet access until the VPN reconnects.

Can I be tracked if I use Proton VPN?

Yes, a VPN does not prevent tracking by every website, app, account provider, or payment service. It changes the network path and can hide the device’s public IP address, but accounts, cookies, browser fingerprints, app identifiers, and payment records can still identify activity.

Glossary

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