Mullvad and ProtonVPN are two well-regarded VPN providers that share a strong commitment to user privacy, though their overall performance scores reflect meaningful differences across several categories. Mullvad earned an overall score of 63%, while ProtonVPN scored considerably higher at 89%, making ProtonVPN the stronger performer in this head-to-head comparison.
Both providers support WireGuard, kill switch functionality, split tunneling, and P2P torrenting, giving users a solid foundation of core security features regardless of which service they choose. ProtonVPN goes a step further by also offering a bug bounty program, which invites independent security researchers to identify vulnerabilities, adding an extra layer of accountability to its security posture. On the privacy and ethics front, both providers scored 100% for ethics, and their jurisdictions reflect a genuine commitment to user data protection. Mullvad operates out of Sweden, while ProtonVPN is based in Switzerland, a country frequently cited for its strong privacy laws. ProtonVPN achieved a perfect 100% in the privacy audit category, edging out Mullvad's already respectable 85%.
Performance is where the two providers diverge most noticeably. ProtonVPN recorded a speed score of 80%, compared to Mullvad's 30%, suggesting that users who prioritize consistent connection speeds will likely find ProtonVPN the more reliable option. Streaming performance follows a similar pattern, with ProtonVPN scoring 86% against Mullvad's 29%, indicating that ProtonVPN is considerably more capable when it comes to accessing streaming content across different platforms.
In terms of application quality and user experience, ProtonVPN again leads the field. Its GUI score of 100% and application score of 80% suggest a polished and well-designed product, while Mullvad's scores of 80% and 67% respectively still indicate a reasonably capable interface, though not quite at the same level. Customer support is another area where the gap is apparent, with ProtonVPN earning a perfect 100% compared to Mullvad's 50%.
Mullvad does hold a slight edge in pricing value relative to ProtonVPN's broader feature set, scoring 64% to ProtonVPN's 73% in that category, though ProtonVPN's higher pricing score reflects stronger perceived value for what users receive. Mullvad has historically been known for its straightforward, privacy-first pricing model, which appeals to users who prefer simplicity over feature breadth.
Overall, ProtonVPN presents a more complete and higher-performing package across most tested categories, while Mullvad remains a credible option for privacy-focused users who may prioritize its ethical standing and audit transparency above raw performance.