Mullvad VPN vs Proton VPN: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Mullvad VPN and Proton VPN side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, Proton VPN leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Mullvad VPN
Anonymous VPN with no personal info required
Best for you if:
- • You want anonymous signup
Proton VPN
Swiss privacy protection with unlimited bandwidth
Best for you if:
- • You want a free tier before you commit
| At a Glance | Mullvad VPN | Proton VPN |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | From $5/mo, billed monthly Mullvad VPN plan | Free plan, paid from $6.99/mo, billed yearly VPN Plus plan |
Category | VPN Security | VPN Security |
Rating | 3.7/5 Trustpilot 3.3 · G2 4.6 · SourceForge 5.0 154 reviews | 4.3/5 G2 4.3 5 reviews |
Free plan | No | Yes |
Watch out for | 10% crypto discount requires specific payment method. | Monthly pricing ($9.99/month) is 3.3x more expensive than the 2-year rate. Casual users testing the service for a few months pay a significant premium. |
Choose Mullvad VPN or Proton VPN?
Choose Mullvad VPN if
- You want anonymous signup
- You want simple pricing
Choose Proton VPN if
- You want a free tier before you commit
- You want secure VPN
- You want swiss-based
In-Depth Analysis
Mullvad VPN
Anonymous VPN with no personal info required
Mullvad VPN's single flat rate of $5/month is fair and highly competitive, especially considering its strong privacy focus and support for up to 5 devices.
Watch out
10% crypto discount requires specific payment method.
Strengths
- Pro: Anonymous signup
- Pro: Simple pricing
- Pro: Open source apps
Weaknesses
- Con: Smaller server network
- Con: No streaming focus
Key features
Proton VPN
Swiss privacy protection with unlimited bandwidth
Proton VPN is the strongest privacy-first VPN on the market, and the 2-year plan at $2.99/month makes it one of the cheapest premium options too.
Watch out
Monthly pricing ($9.99/month) is 3.3x more expensive than the 2-year rate. Casual users testing the service for a few months pay a significant premium.
Strengths
- Pro: Secure VPN
- Pro: Swiss-based
- Pro: Good privacy
- Pro: Free tier
- Pro: Active development
Weaknesses
- Con: Slower than some
- Con: Limited free servers
- Con: Expensive premium
- Con: Server availability
- Con: Better alternatives exist
Key features
Plans and prices: Mullvad VPN vs Proton VPN
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Mullvad VPN |
| mullvad.net/pricing read Oct 3, 2026 |
| Proton VPN |
| protonvpn.com/pricing read Oct 15, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Mullvad VPN pricing and Proton VPN pricing.
Key Takeaways
Mullvad VPN
- Choose if you want anonymous VPN with no personal info required
Proton VPN
- Has a free plan
What the data shows
On the data below, Proton VPN leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- User ratings rest on too few reviews to rank (3.7/5 from 154 reviews for Mullvad VPN, 4.3/5 from 5 reviews for Proton VPN; we compare ratings only above 20 reviews on both sides).
- Entry prices are not ranked, they are charged on different bases: Mullvad VPN $5/mo, billed monthly; Proton VPN $6.99/mo, billed yearly.
- Only Proton VPN has a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Mullvad VPN and Proton VPN compare in 2026?
On the data below, Proton VPN leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. User ratings rest on too few reviews to rank (3.7/5 from 154 reviews for Mullvad VPN, 4.3/5 from 5 reviews for Proton VPN; we compare ratings only above 20 reviews on both sides). Entry prices are not ranked, they are charged on different bases: Mullvad VPN $5/mo, billed monthly; Proton VPN $6.99/mo, billed yearly. Only Proton VPN has a free plan.
What are Mullvad VPN and Proton VPN used for?
Mullvad VPN: Anonymous VPN with no personal info required. Proton VPN: Swiss privacy protection with unlimited bandwidth.
What does Mullvad VPN cost vs Proton VPN?
Mullvad VPN's cheapest paid plan is Mullvad VPN at $5/mo, billed monthly. Proton VPN's cheapest paid plan is VPN Plus at $6.99/mo, billed yearly; it also has a free plan. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 15, 2026.
What's the main difference between Mullvad VPN and Proton VPN?
Mullvad VPN's main strength: anonymous signup. Proton VPN's main strength: secure VPN.