A closer look · VPNs
Two tools. Their published features, platforms and plan details, together — so you can decide what fits your needs.
No rating or declared winner
On smaller screens, scroll horizontally to see every product column. Plan terms differ; displayed prices are not a direct value ranking.
| Compare the facts | VPNs | VPNs |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | Proton VPN is a privacy-focused VPN service that encrypts internet traffic and masks the user's IP address. Proton publishes apps for major desktop and mobile platforms, plus browser extensions, and offers a permanent free plan. | Mullvad VPN is a privacy-focused VPN service designed to mask a user’s IP address and encrypt traffic between the device and a VPN server. Mullvad describes the service as supporting anonymous accounts, no activity logging, censorship circumvention, and defenses against traffic analysis. |
| Starting price | See current pricing Numeric monthly USD price unverified — not zero. | From $5.60/mo $5.60/month equivalent USD monthly figure; billing commitment and plan terms apply. |
| Pricing & billing notes | The official pricing page lists Proton Free, VPN Plus, and Proton Unlimited, but the retrieved official page content did not explicitly display a USD monthly-equivalent starting price. No annual amount was converted. Official pricing | Mullvad’s official pricing page displays a flat €5/month rate and explicitly shows €5 as equivalent to $5.60. It shows 1 month, 1 year, and 1 decade at the same €5/month rate; the page also states that a 14-day money-back guarantee applies, except for cash payments. Official pricing |
| Free plan | Free plan available The official free-VPN page describes the plan as unlimited and free forever, with no data or time limits, no ads, and no activity logs. It is a permanent free plan, not merely a trial; the pricing page states that no credit card is required. Free-plan limits include one device at a time, medium speed, and connection to servers in 10 randomly selected countries. | Paid plans Mullvad’s official pricing page says it does not offer a free plan. The 14-day money-back guarantee is a refund policy, not a free trial. |
| Supported platforms |
|
|
| Listed features |
|
|
| Strengths |
|
|
| Things to consider |
|
|
| Source information checked | ||
| Sources | ||
| Explore further |
How to read the differences
The notes below describe differences in the sourced records, not performance or features proven absent. Different vendors use different names and describe their plans at different levels of detail.
Both records list Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS.
Proton VPN's record additionally lists Browser.
A platform appearing in only one record is not proof that the other product lacks support. Features can differ by operating system.
Proton VPN has a verified free plan; Mullvad has no verified ongoing free plan.
Read the separate free-plan notes in the table. Trials, refunds, quotas and ongoing free tiers are different things.
These are record-level differences, not exclusive capabilities. Check the linked official feature pages for scope and plan restrictions.
Mullvad has a numeric USD monthly starting figure in the record; Proton VPN does not. That is not enough for a direct price comparison.
A lower displayed price is not a direct value ranking. Billing commitments, introductory periods, renewals, country, taxes and included features differ by plan.
Use the comparison to shortlist, not to pick a universal winner. Review each product's strengths and things to consider, confirm support for your devices and read the current plan terms. The checked dates in the table show when the source information was reviewed; this is not a hands-on test.
