Comparisons VPN Comparison 2026
Mullvad vs IVPN: which VPN is better?
Two VPN providers side by side. They differ in 13 of 26 criteria. Here you can see where, and which one suits whom.
- Updated October 2026
- Compare all 9 providers
At a glance
Mullvad
Best for: Anyone for whom anonymity comes first.
- Account without email, just an account number
- Cash and Monero accepted
- Fixed price of €5 with no teaser offers
Price: €5, always the same
Visit MullvadIVPN
Best for: Anyone who wants maximum anonymity and is willing to pay a little more for it.
- Account without email, cash and Monero accepted
- Open source, regularly audited
- Honest prices without discount tricks
Price: from approx. €4.48 (approx. €53.81/year)
Visit IVPNAll criteria compared
Highlighted rows show where the two differ.
| Criterion | Mullvad | IVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ||
| Free plan | No | No |
| Lowest monthly price | €5, always the same | from approx. €4.48 (approx. €53.81/year) |
| Price with monthly billing | €5 | approx. €5.38 |
| Money-back guarantee | 14 days (not for cash) | 30 days |
| Provider & privacy | ||
| Headquarters | Sweden (EU) | Gibraltar |
| Owned by | Mullvad VPN AB (independent) | independent |
| No-logs policy independently audited | Yes | Yes |
| Open-source apps | Yes | Yes |
| Known incidents | None known. A police search in 2023 found no data. | None known |
| Account without email address | Yes | Yes |
| Anonymous payment (cash, crypto) | Yes, cash, Bitcoin, Monero | Yes, cash, Bitcoin, Monero |
| Technology | ||
| Protocols | WireGuard (OpenVPN discontinued in January 2026) | WireGuard, OpenVPN |
| RAM-only servers | Yes | n/a |
| Kill switch | Yes | Yes |
| Split tunneling | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-hop (via two servers) | Yes | Yes |
| Ad and tracker blocker | Yes (DNS filter) | Yes (AntiTracker) |
| Obfuscation for restricted networks | Yes | Yes |
| Features | ||
| Simultaneous devices | 5 | 5 to 10 depending on plan |
| Server countries | 50 | over 40 |
| File sharing (P2P) allowed | Yes | Yes |
| Streaming officially supported | No | No |
| Extras | DAITA against traffic analysis | Weekly plan for testing |
| Platforms | ||
| Windows, macOS, Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Android, iPhone | Yes | Yes |
| TVs and routers | Routers via WireGuard configuration | Routers |
Strengths and weaknesses
Mullvad
The privacy VPN from Sweden: a fixed price, no account with email, and you can even pay with cash by post.
- + Account without email, just an account number
- + Cash and Monero accepted
- + Fixed price of €5 with no teaser offers
- + Open source, RAM-only servers
- – No official streaming support
- – Only 5 devices
- – Fewer countries than the big providers
IVPN
Small, transparent provider focused on privacy: no account with email, cash accepted, no teaser offers.
- + Account without email, cash and Monero accepted
- + Open source, regularly audited
- + Honest prices without discount tricks
- + Multi-hop and AntiTracker
- – More expensive than the big providers
- – Fewer countries
- – No official streaming support
Our verdict
Both are a good choice, but for different needs. Mullvad is best for: anyone for whom anonymity comes first. IVPN is best for: anyone who wants maximum anonymity and is willing to pay a little more for it.
All information comes from the providers’ websites and the sources listed in the full comparison, as of October 2026. Links marked “Ad” are affiliate links.