VPN for me

Head to head

Mullvad vs Private Internet Access

No email, no name, cash in an envelope: the privacy purist's VPN. Against: cheapest long-term, unlimited devices, open source; it's American.

Mullvad
Private Internet Access
Best plan
$5.60/mo · any term
$2.03/mo · 3 years + 3 months·
Up front
$67.20·
$79.00
Renews at
$67.20/yr
$26.33/yr·
Monthly
$5.60·
$11.95
Devices
5
Unlimited·
Countries
49
104·
No-logs audit
Cure53 / Assured 2024
Deloitte 2024
Open source
yes
yes
Pay without a name
no email, cash·
crypto
Based in
Sweden (14 Eyes)·
United States (5 Eyes)
Netflix
·
iPlayer
·
Torrenting
Blocked networks
·
Speed
Refund
14 days
30 days·
Free tier
no
no

A dot marks the better number on that row. Numbers carry their dates on each provider’s page.

Which one, for which job

Mullvad

  • +No email, no name, cash accepted
  • +Open source, regularly audited, survived a police raid
  • +One flat price, no renewal trap
  • –Only 5 devices
  • –Weak for streaming and makes no claim otherwise
Visit MullvadNot an affiliate link. Opens the provider's site.

Private Internet Access

  • +Lowest cost over three years
  • +Unlimited devices
  • +Open-source apps; no-logs tested in court
  • –US company, 5 Eyes
  • –Weak where VPNs are blocked
Visit Private Internet AccessNot an affiliate link. Opens the provider's site.