Best Mullvad Alternatives in 2026

Mullvad is built for anonymity - no email signup, cash payment, open source. Alternatives fall into two camps: those that preserve that privacy-first ethos, and those that add streaming and a bigger network at some cost to anonymity. Here are the strongest options from our 20 rated providers.

The Short Answer

The best alternative to Mullvad is ProtonVPN - also open source and Swiss-based, but with streaming, a much larger network, and a free tier. For Mullvad's signature anonymous, no-email signup, IVPN is the closest match. For a more capable everyday all-rounder, NordVPN is excellent, though it requires an email.

Top Mullvad Alternatives Compared

1. ProtonVPN - Best Overall Alternative

ProtonVPN shares Mullvad's core values - open-source apps, independent audits, a privacy-first company (the Proton Mail team), and a strong jurisdiction (Switzerland) - while doing more: it streams, runs a far larger network (4,500+ servers), and offers a free tier with no data cap. It does require an email to register, so it's slightly less anonymous than Mullvad, but for most privacy-conscious users it's the best all-round alternative. See Mullvad vs ProtonVPN.

2. IVPN - Closest for Anonymity

IVPN is the nearest match to Mullvad's model: sign up with an account ID rather than an email, pay with cash or cryptocurrency, and rely on a lean, privacy-first design with a clear anti-marketing ethos. It's smaller and pricier than Mullvad, and not a streaming tool, but if anonymous signup is the whole point, IVPN is the closest alternative.

3. NordVPN - Best All-Rounder

If you're willing to trade Mullvad's strict anonymity for a more capable everyday VPN, NordVPN is our top-rated provider - fastest in our ratings, excellent for streaming, with RAM-only servers and two no-logs audits. It requires an email at signup, but its privacy credentials are still very strong.

4. PIA - Open Source with Court-Proven Logs

Private Internet Access shares Mullvad's open-source transparency and adds a no-logs policy that has been upheld in actual court cases - hard evidence it keeps no records. At $2.03/month with unlimited devices and port forwarding, it's also far cheaper and more flexible, though US-based rather than in a privacy haven.

5. Surfshark - Value All-Rounder

Surfshark is the pick if you want a low-cost, do-everything VPN with unlimited devices and reliable streaming. It's not built for anonymity the way Mullvad is, but it's audited, RAM-only, and excellent value at $2.19/month.

Our Verdict

Few VPNs match Mullvad's uncompromising anonymity, so be clear on what you want. ProtonVPN is the best alternative for most privacy-focused users - same open-source ethos, but more capable. IVPN is the closest match if the no-email signup is essential. For a powerful everyday VPN, NordVPN or Surfshark are excellent, accepting that they require an email.