Proton VPN vs Mullvad: Which Should You Buy?

If you’re building out a home lab, your network perimeter is everything. You can have the most secure firewall and segmented VLANs in the world, but once your traffic hits the open web, you’re at the mercy of whoever handles your routing. For years, I’ve seen a constant debate in the self-hosting community: do you go with a feature-rich privacy ecosystem or a stripped-down, anonymous pipe?

Today we are pitting Proton VPN against Mullvad. These aren’t your typical “unblock Netflix” consumer VPNs; these are tools for people who actually care about metadata and logs.

Quick verdict

If you don’t want to spend an hour analyzing a spreadsheet, here is the bottom line based on how you use your lab:

If you are…	Buy this…
Looking for a comprehensive privacy suite with bundled services	Proton VPN
Seeking maximum anonymity and a predictable flat-rate cost	Mullvad

Spec-by-spec

When we strip away the marketing fluff, here is how these two stack up side-by-side.

Feature	Proton VPN	Mullvad
Category	VPN/Privacy	VPN
Type	SAAS	SAAS
Price	$5/mo	€5/mo
Best For	Privacy-first homelab	Privacy-max flat-rate VPN
Logs	No-logs	No logs

The Analysis: Ecosystem vs. Anonymity

The “Suite” Approach to Privacy

From a home-labber’s perspective, Proton VPN isn’t just a tunnel; it’s an entry point into a larger ecosystem. One of the biggest draws here is the Drive bundle. When you are self-hosting, you usually want to avoid cloud lock-in, but having a privacy-focused encrypted backup or storage option that integrates with your VPN service simplifies your billing and identity management. It turns your privacy strategy from a collection of disjointed tools into a cohesive suite.

The Purist’s Pipeline

Then there is Mullvad. If Proton is about the “ecosystem,” Mullvad is about the “void.” They have leaned heavily into the concept of anonymity. While many services claim to be private, Mullvad’s approach to a flat-rate pricing model and their focus on remaining anonymous is a breath of fresh air in an industry obsessed with long-term contracts and aggressive marketing.

One thing that stands out to me as a veteran in this space: Mullvad does not have an affiliate program. In a world where almost every VPN review site is paid for by the provider, that’s a loud statement about their business model. They aren’t interested in buying growth; they are interested in providing a utility.

Pros & Cons

Proton VPN

Pros:

• No-logs policy: Essential for anyone running sensitive services at home.
• Drive bundle: Having integrated storage options is a massive win for those who want a privacy-first cloud alternative alongside their VPN.

Cons:

• Pricier: Depending on your currency and how you value the bundles, it can feel more expensive than the minimalist alternatives.

Mullvad

Pros:

• Anonymous focus: Designed for those who want to minimize their digital footprint as much as humanly possible.
• Flat €5 pricing: No “introductory offers” that jump up in price after a year. It’s just five Euros.
• No logs: A strict adherence to not keeping data on your connection.

Cons:

• Lack of ecosystem: You aren’t getting bundled drives or extra suite tools here; you are paying for a VPN and nothing more.
• NO affiliate program: While great for their ethics, it means they don’t push the same level of visibility as other brands.

Which should you buy?

Choosing between these two comes down to your philosophy on privacy.

If you want a “Privacy-first homelab” experience where your VPN is part of a broader toolkit—including things like encrypted storage via their Drive bundle—then Proton VPN is the clear winner. It’s about building a secure digital life where all your tools talk to each other under one privacy umbrella.

However, if you are a purist who wants a “Privacy-max flat-rate VPN,” go with Mullvad. If you don’t care about bundles and just want an anonymous pipe to the internet for a predictable €5 per month without any corporate fluff, this is your tool.

FAQ

Do either of these services keep logs? No. Both Proton VPN and Mullvad maintain no-logs policies, which is a non-negotiable requirement for anyone serious about privacy in their home network.

Is the pricing different between the two? Yes. Proton VPN is priced at $5/mo, while Mullvad uses a flat rate of €5/mo.

Can I get other services bundled with my VPN? If you choose Proton VPN, you can take advantage of their Drive bundle. Mullvad focuses exclusively on the VPN service and does not offer similar bundles.

Why doesn’t Mullvad have an affiliate program? Mullvad has explicitly opted out of affiliate programs, focusing instead on a minimalist, anonymous business model rather than traditional growth marketing.

Our top VPN pick

Whichever you choose here, our overall top pick is NordVPN — independently audited no-logs policy, one of the largest server networks, fast speeds, and Threat Protection built in. It’s the VPN we recommend for most people. **