Proton vs Mullvad. Which is actually anonymous in 2026?
Short answer
Proton or Mullvad depends entirely on your threat model. If account creation itself is a risk, use Mullvad. No email, no identity, cash by post. If you need a full privacy ecosystem or a VPN that works through active blocking, use Proton. Both have been tested under real adversarial conditions. Both held.
This comparison exists because the question is legitimate. Both are serious. Both have been audited. Both have real track records. The choice between them depends on your threat model, not on which review site gave a higher score.
The fundamental difference
Proton requires an account with an email address. That email can be a Proton Mail address with no real identity attached, but an account exists and is linked to an email. Proton knows that email address. (See: Proton VPN review 2026.)
Mullvad requires nothing. A 16-digit random number, funded anonymously. No email. No name. No linkable identity at any stage. (See: Mullvad VPN review 2026.)
If account creation itself is part of your threat surface, the choice is made before you evaluate any other feature.
Verification: what’s actually been tested
Proton: multiple independent audits published with findings and remediation. Swiss court cases documented in transparency reports. No connection logs handed over because no connection logs exist.
Mullvad: physical police visit to servers in 2023. No data found. Cure53 audits published. Swedish jurisdiction. No connection logs handed over because no connection logs exist.
Both have been tested under real adversarial conditions. Both held. The difference is in the identity layer.
Jurisdiction
Proton: Switzerland. Not in the EU, not in 14 Eyes. Requires formal Swiss legal process for any disclosure.
Mullvad: Sweden. In the EU, subject to EU data retention directives, but Swedish courts have historically been protective of privacy. The 2023 police visit is the strongest evidence available for any VPN provider.
The actual decision framework
Does your threat model include the risk of account creation being traced back to you? If yes: Mullvad.
Do you need a VPN that works in countries with active VPN blocking? If yes: Proton, for the Stealth protocol. Test it before you arrive, not after.
Do you want a single provider for your privacy stack? If yes: Proton. The ecosystem exists. Mullvad is a VPN and nothing else.
Is operational anonymity the primary requirement? If yes: Mullvad. Cash by post, 16-digit account number, no email, no identity.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Proton VPN or Mullvad?
Neither is categorically better. Proton is better for users who want an ecosystem and need obfuscation for restrictive countries. Mullvad is better for users where account creation anonymity is itself part of the threat model.
The question isn’t which is better. It’s which threat model you’re protecting against. Proton for the ecosystem. Mullvad for the anonymity.
Affiliate disclosure: this article contains a link to Proton. Mullvad is also mentioned, no affiliate link, no commercial relationship. We recommend it anyway.
There’s no perfect setup. Anyone selling you perfect is selling fear. The goal is simple: make yourself a harder target than the person next to you.