Proton VPN
Free plan; Plus $53.88 first year, renews $83.88; up to 10 devices.
- Free plan
- Up to 10 devices
- Swiss company
Security & privacy
Mullvad vs Proton VPN: which privacy VPN?
Short version: Proton VPN is the better choice for most people, because you can start on its free plan and Plus covers up to 10 devices. Mullvad is better if you want the simplest, most anonymous setup: €5 a month, no email, no contracts and no renewal jump.
Mullvad charges one flat €5 a month, allows up to 5 devices and identifies accounts by a random number instead of an email. Proton VPN has a free plan with unlimited data on one device; Plus is $9.99 a month or $53.88 for the first year, renewing at $83.88, for up to 10 devices. Both publish independent no-logs audits.
Based on FTC · Proton VPN pricing · Mullvad pricing +1 more
Which one should you buy?
Mullvad VPN
€5/month flat, up to 5 devices, no email to sign up.
- €5/month
- 5 devices
- No email
Prices are official list prices as of October 2026 and can change. Links on this page go to official sites with no affiliate tag. How we choose.
The short answer: Proton VPN if you want a free start or more than 5 devices. Mullvad if you want to pay month to month with no email and no promo pricing.
This is a focused guide. For the full category with every pick, read the best VPN.
Mullvad vs Proton VPN: side by side
Swipe the table sideways to see both →
| Spec | Best for most peopleProton VPN | Best for anonymity and simple pricingMullvad VPN |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free; Plus $9.99/mo or $53.88 first year | €5/month flat |
| Renewal | $83.88/yr after first year | Same (no promos) |
| Free plan | Yes (1 device, unlimited data) | No |
| Devices | Up to 10 on Plus | Up to 5 |
| Logging | No-logs, independently audited | No-logs, independently audited |
| Best for | Most people | Privacy-first users |
| Plans | See plans | See plans |
Why pick Proton VPN?
Proton’s free plan has unlimited data on one device and no ads, so you can test it on your own connection before paying.
Plus covers up to 10 devices, twice Mullvad’s limit. Annual billing is $53.88 the first year and $83.88 after that (October 2026).
Great if you
- Want to start free
- Care about privacy
- Want a reputable company
Skip it if you
- Want the lowest multi-year price
Key specs
- Free plan
- 1 device, unlimited data, limited countries
- Plus
- $9.99/month; $53.88 first year annual; renews $83.88/yr
- Company
- Proton AG, Switzerland
- Audits
- Independent no-logs audits published
Proton VPNPrices are list prices on each official site as of October 2026; taxes, promotions and renewals vary. These are not affiliate links.
See plans on the official site Why pick Mullvad VPN?
Mullvad’s account is a random number, so you don’t hand over an email address, and the price never changes: €5 a month with no contract.
There’s no free plan, and it isn’t built for streaming-service unblocking.
Great if you
- Want maximum privacy
- Hate promo pricing games
- Pay monthly
Skip it if you
- Want streaming features
- Want a free plan
Key specs
- Price
- €5/month, flat
- Devices
- Up to 5
- Account
- Account number, no email
- Company
- Mullvad VPN AB, Sweden
Mullvad VPNPrices are list prices on each official site as of October 2026; taxes, promotions and renewals vary. These are not affiliate links.
See plans on the official site How to choose between Mullvad and Proton VPN
Both are reputable, audited no-logs VPNs. Decide on devices, sign-up privacy and how you like to pay.
Devices
Up to 5 (Mullvad) vs up to 10 on Proton Plus.
Free plan
Only Proton has one.
Sign-up
Mullvad needs no email; Proton uses a Proton account.
Pricing
Flat monthly (Mullvad) vs intro then renewal (Proton).
Proton VPNPrices are list prices on each official site as of October 2026; taxes, promotions and renewals vary. These are not affiliate links.
See plans on the official site Mullvad vs Proton VPN: common questions
Is Mullvad better than Proton VPN?
For anonymous sign-up and flat pricing, yes. For a free plan and more devices, Proton is better.
How much is Mullvad?
€5 a month, flat, with no long-term contracts.
How many devices does Mullvad allow?
Up to 5.
Is Proton VPN free?
It has a permanent free plan with unlimited data on one device and limited countries.
How we compared them
We compared Mullvad and Proton VPN official pricing pages as of October 2026. Prices change; check the live page before you buy.
We have not hands-on tested these products; we compare published specifications, independent measurements and manufacturer documentation, and we update this page when models change. Read the full methodology.
What sources did we use?
- FTC: In the market for a VPN app? (2018) (accessed October 23, 2026)
- Proton VPN pricing (accessed October 23, 2026)
- Mullvad pricing (accessed October 23, 2026)
- NordVPN pricing (accessed October 23, 2026)