Mullvad VPN

VS

Private Internet Access

VPNs Comparison

Mullvad VPN vs Private Internet Access: Side-by-Side Comparison

Mullvad VPN
Private Internet Access
Rating
★★★★★★★★★★
4.5/5
★★★★★★★★★★
4.4/5
Free Tier
No
No
Trial Days
30-day trial
30-day trial
Pricing
Flat rate €5/month (~$5.50). No annual discount. No free tier.
3-year plan from $2.03/month. 1-year plan $3.33/month. 1-month plan $11.99/month.
Company
Mullvad VPN AB
Kape Technologies
Founded
2009
2010
Best For
Journalists, activists, and privacy extremists needing maximum anonymity with no account trail
Privacy-aware power users wanting open-source audited VPN at the most affordable long-term price

Pros & Cons

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Mullvad VPN

Account number system requires no email or personal information to sign up
Accepts cash and cryptocurrency for truly anonymous account creation
RAM-only servers ensure no data persists after server reboots
DAITA technology defeats traffic analysis attacks invisible to standard VPNs
Flat €5/month pricing with no long-term contracts or discount tricks
No streaming-optimized servers - not designed for Netflix or content unblocking
Only 5 simultaneous device connections on a single account

Private Internet Access

35,000+ servers is the largest VPN server network available by raw count
Open-source Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android apps with published audit results
MACE feature blocks ads, trackers, and malware at the DNS level
WireGuard and OpenVPN support gives maximum flexibility for advanced users
10 simultaneous connections on a budget-friendly subscription price
US-based jurisdiction subject to US law enforcement data requests
Interface is less polished than premium competitors for non-technical users

Use Case Analysis

Which is better for Privacy?

Both Mullvad VPN and Private Internet Access support Privacy workflows. Mullvad VPN has a slight edge with a 4.5 rating and Most anonymous VPN - sign up with no email, pay with cash, verified zero data retention. If Privacy is your primary use case, Mullvad VPN is the safer pick.

Which is better for No Logs?

Both Mullvad VPN and Private Internet Access support No Logs workflows. Mullvad VPN has a slight edge with a 4.5 rating and Most anonymous VPN - sign up with no email, pay with cash, verified zero data retention. If No Logs is your primary use case, Mullvad VPN is the safer pick.

Which is better for Encryption?

Both Mullvad VPN and Private Internet Access support Encryption workflows. Mullvad VPN has a slight edge with a 4.5 rating and Most anonymous VPN - sign up with no email, pay with cash, verified zero data retention. If Encryption is your primary use case, Mullvad VPN is the safer pick.

Which is better for Kill Switch?

Both Mullvad VPN and Private Internet Access support Kill Switch workflows. Mullvad VPN has a slight edge with a 4.5 rating and Most anonymous VPN - sign up with no email, pay with cash, verified zero data retention. If Kill Switch is your primary use case, Mullvad VPN is the safer pick.

Verdict

Mullvad VPN edges out Private Internet Access with a 4.5 vs 4.4 rating. Mullvad VPN's main advantage: Most anonymous VPN - sign up with no email, pay with cash, verified zero data retention. That said, Private Internet Access may still be the better choice if Privacy-aware power users wanting open-source audited VPN at the most affordable long-term price.

Try Them Yourself

The best way to choose is to trial both. See full details on each:

Try Mullvad Visit Private Internet Access

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