NordVPN vs Mullvad vs ProtonVPN: Independent Comparison

NordVPN, Mullvad, and ProtonVPN are consistently the most-recommended privacy-focused VPNs. They’ve each earned that reputation for different reasons, and the right choice depends on what matters to you.

Here’s a factual comparison based on publicly verifiable information: audit records, privacy policies, jurisdiction, and pricing.

No-Log Policies and Audits

NordVPN

NordVPN has published multiple third-party no-log audits, most recently by Deloitte. The audit scope covers their server configuration and data practices. They’re incorporated in Panama, which has no mandatory data retention laws and is not in any intelligence-sharing alliance.

In 2018, one of NordVPN’s servers in Finland was accessed by an attacker who exploited an insecure remote management system. Critically, the attacker obtained nothing usable because NordVPN logs nothing. The incident resulted in a full infrastructure overhaul and is one of the more credible real-world validations of a no-log claim.

Mullvad

Mullvad is the most privacy-forward of the three in terms of policy. They don’t require an email address to sign up — you create an account number and pay. They accept cash and cryptocurrency. Their privacy policy is brief and specific because there’s genuinely little to say about what they collect.

They’ve published no-log audits and also passed a server seizure test: Swedish police seized a Mullvad server in 2023 and found nothing of investigative value because nothing was stored. That’s about as good as real-world verification gets.

Mullvad is based in Sweden, which is a 9 Eyes country. In theory, Sweden participates in intelligence sharing. In practice, Mullvad’s architecture is designed so there’s nothing to hand over even under legal compulsion, which matters more than jurisdiction in their specific case.

ProtonVPN

ProtonVPN is operated by Proton AG, the Swiss company behind Proton Mail. Switzerland has strong privacy laws and is not part of any intelligence-sharing alliance. They’ve published multiple no-log audits by Securitum and other firms.

Proton is notable for being open source across their product line. Their VPN clients are all open source and reproducibly built, which is a level of transparency the other two don’t offer.

They were compelled to comply with a Swiss legal order related to a Proton Mail account in 2021 (not VPN), which raised questions. The outcome: Proton does not log VPN traffic, but they can identify account holders in some circumstances. For anonymity, this matters — if you create a ProtonVPN account with an email address, that email address is a link to your identity.

Pricing

NordVPN prices vary significantly with promotional deals. Their standard 2-year plan frequently lands in the $3-4/month range on promotion. Standard pricing without promotions is higher. Covers 6 simultaneous devices.

Mullvad uses a flat rate: 5 EUR/month, always. No annual discounts, no multi-year deals, no promotions. You pay per month. They accept cash and cryptocurrency in addition to standard payment methods. Covers 5 devices.

ProtonVPN has a genuinely functional free tier with no data limits (just fewer servers and lower speeds). Paid plans start around $4-5/month on annual billing. The Plus plan adds Proton Mail Plus and other Proton services. Covers 10 devices.

Performance

All three perform adequately for everyday use. WireGuard support is available on all three, which is the current performance standard.

Mullvad tends to have slightly fewer servers but performs well because their user base is smaller. NordVPN has the largest server network, which helps for streaming geo-unblocking. ProtonVPN’s free tier has speed restrictions.

Streaming

NordVPN has the most reliable track record for streaming: large server network, dedicated streaming servers, consistent Netflix and other service access.

ProtonVPN Plus also works for streaming. Mullvad is less focused on streaming and works inconsistently with some services.

Which to Choose

Choose Mullvad if: Privacy and anonymity are your primary concern and you want the simplest, most privacy-forward setup. The flat rate and cash payment option are ideal if you want no financial connection between you and your VPN provider.

Choose ProtonVPN if: You want a VPN that integrates with an encrypted email service, or you want a free starting point before committing. The open-source clients and Swiss jurisdiction are meaningful differentiators.

Choose NordVPN if: You want the widest server network, reliable streaming unblocking, and are comfortable with a larger commercial provider. The audit history and Panama jurisdiction are solid, and the promotional pricing is often the best value.

All three are meaningfully better than most of the VPN market. You won’t make a bad choice picking any of them.