If you're comparing ProtonVPN and Mullvad, you're already in a different category of VPN user — one where marketing doesn't matter and technical privacy architecture does. Both are trusted by journalists, activists, and security researchers. The differences are in account requirements, jurisdiction, and the breadth of additional privacy tools.
Mullvad
Mullvad wins for maximum anonymity — no account, no email, pay with cash. ProtonVPN wins for users who want a full privacy suite including email and cloud storage.
Specs Comparison
| Spec | ProtonVPN | Mullvad |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $5.99/mo (annual) or $9.99/mo | €5/mo (~$5.50, flat) |
| Account required | Yes (email) | No (just account number) |
| Cash payment | No | Yes |
| Tor support | Yes (Tor over VPN servers) | Limited |
| Ecosystem (email/drive) | Yes (ProtonMail, Drive) | No |
| Free tier | Yes (limited servers) | No |
Account Anonymity
Mullvad requires no email address to sign up. You get a random account number; you pay with cash, Bitcoin, or credit card; no personal information is collected. This is the purest anonymity model of any mainstream VPN.
ProtonVPN requires a Proton account (email + password). Proton is privacy-focused and Swiss-based (outside 14 Eyes surveillance alliance), but creating an account still creates a record. For most privacy use cases this is fine; for activists in hostile environments, Mullvad's no-account model is meaningfully safer.
Proton Ecosystem
ProtonVPN is part of the Proton ecosystem alongside ProtonMail, Proton Drive, and Proton Calendar. If you want encrypted email, calendar, and cloud storage alongside your VPN under one account, ProtonVPN bundles naturally with Proton Unlimited ($9.99/mo for all products).
Mullvad is just a VPN. It does that one thing exceptionally well and doesn't upsell ecosystem services. For users who want privacy tooling from a single vendor, Proton is more convenient.
Pricing
Mullvad charges a flat €5/mo (~$5.50/mo). No annual plans, no promotional pricing. One price, full features, no commitment. ProtonVPN free tier exists with limited servers. ProtonVPN Plus is $9.99/mo (monthly) or $71.88/yr ($5.99/mo effective).
Mullvad's flat pricing is appealingly simple. ProtonVPN's annual plan is competitive, and the Proton Unlimited bundle at $9.99/mo is excellent value if you'd use ProtonMail and Drive.
ProtonVPN Strengths
- Full Proton ecosystem (email, drive, calendar)
- Tor over VPN servers
- Free tier with unlimited bandwidth (limited servers)
- Swiss jurisdiction — strong legal privacy protections
Mullvad Strengths
- No account required — pay with cash/Bitcoin anonymously
- Simple flat pricing (€5/mo, no commitment)
- Port forwarding for torrenting
- Audited annually by Cure53
ProtonVPN Weaknesses
- Account required (email address)
- More expensive standalone ($9.99/mo monthly)
- Less anonymous than Mullvad for high-risk users
Mullvad Weaknesses
- VPN-only — no email/cloud/calendar bundle
- No annual discount or promotional pricing
- Smaller server network than ProtonVPN
Best For
- a: Privacy-conscious users who want a full encrypted productivity suite (VPN + email + cloud) under one trusted provider
- b: Journalists, activists, and security researchers who need maximum account anonymity and minimal personal data exposure
FAQ
Is Mullvad blocked in any countries?
Like all VPNs, Mullvad may face blocks in countries with heavy censorship (China, Russia, Iran). Both ProtonVPN and Mullvad have obfuscation options that help circumvent VPN blocking.