Mullvad VPN vs Proton Mail
Which is better in 2026? Five scores, side by side.
It's close: Mullvad VPN edges it 8.8 to 8.7, so the right pick depends on what you need. Mullvad VPN wins on 3 of the 5 scores, Proton Mail on 2.
People who want a VPN that knows as little about them as possible
People who want private, encrypted email without giving up a modern inbox
Score by score
The details
| Feature | Mullvad VPN | Proton Mail |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Privacy & Security | Privacy & Security |
| Category rank | #5 of 8 | #6 of 8 |
| Developer | Mullvad VPN AB | Proton AG |
| Pricing | Subscription | Free + paid plans |
| Usable for free | No | Yes |
| iPhone & iPad | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mac | ✓ | ✓ |
| Windows | ✓ | ✓ |
| Linux | ✓ | ✓ |
| Web | — | ✓ |
Strengths and weaknesses
Mullvad VPN
- Collects almost nothing about you
- One flat price with no renewal surprises
- Open-source apps and independent audits
- Less reliable for unblocking streaming services
- No free plan, and no port forwarding
Mullvad is the most privacy-focused VPN you can use. You sign up with a random account number instead of an email, can pay with cash or cryptocurrency, and get one flat monthly price with no upsells or long-term deals. The apps are open source, servers run from RAM, and DAITA helps hide your traffic patterns. It has fewer streaming tricks than mainstream VPNs.
Full Mullvad VPN review
Proton Mail
- Strong encryption with a privacy-first business model
- Free plan works well for a personal inbox
- Password-protected emails to non-Proton users
- Search and filters are weaker than Gmail's
- Free plan has tight storage and feature limits
Proton Mail is the easiest way to move your email somewhere private. Messages are stored with zero-access encryption, emails between Proton users are end-to-end encrypted, and there's no ad-driven scanning of your inbox. Paid plans add custom domains, more addresses and more storage. The trade-offs are weaker search and fewer integrations than Gmail. Get it if privacy matters more than convenience.
Full Proton Mail review
