Head to head · Updated August 13, 2026
Mullvad vs PureVPN
Mullvad takes it by 16.5 points, 85.5 against 69.0. That margin is worth reading past — PureVPN wins 2 of the seven criteria outright.
Mullvad
85.5The strongest privacy posture of any provider in this dataset, and the only one we cannot earn a commission from.
- From
- $5.50/mo
- Based in
- Sweden
- Devices
- 5
- Audits
- 2
We earn nothing from Mullvad. This link is included because the ranking says it belongs here.
PureVPN
69.0Cheap and broadly capable, carrying a documented 2017 logging incident that the current audit arrangement is designed to answer.
- From
- $2.11/mo
- Based in
- British Virgin Islands
- Devices
- 10
- Audits
- 1
We earn a commission if you subscribe through this link. It does not change PureVPN’s score.
Criterion by criterion
Mullvad wins 3, PureVPN wins 2, 2 tied. Each row shows the raw score out of ten and the weighted contribution to the total.
| Criterion | Weight | Mullvad | PureVPN | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent audit | 20 | 10/10 (20.0) | 7/10 (14.0) | Mullvad |
| Jurisdiction and ownership | 15 | 6/10 (9.0) | 6/10 (9.0) | Tied |
| Protocol and crypto stack | 15 | 9/10 (13.5) | 9/10 (13.5) | Tied |
| Leak protection | 15 | 10/10 (15.0) | 7/10 (10.5) | Mullvad |
| Transparency | 15 | 10/10 (15.0) | 4/10 (6.0) | Mullvad |
| Price and refund terms | 10 | 7/10 (7.0) | 9/10 (9.0) | PureVPN |
| Platform coverage | 10 | 6/10 (6.0) | 7/10 (7.0) | PureVPN |
| Total | 100 | 85.5 | 69.0 | Mullvad |
Where each one actually wins
Mullvad is ahead on
- Independent audit. Recurring published audits by Assured AB and Cure53 covering infrastructure, apps and extension.
- Leak protection. Kill switch is always on by design across desktop and mobile, with IPv6 and DNS resolved in-tunnel.
- Transparency. All clients are open source, signup issues a random account number with no email, and cash payment is accepted by post.
PureVPN is ahead on
- Price and refund terms. Effective $2.11/month on a two-year term with a 31-day refund window.
- Platform coverage. Desktop, mobile, Android TV and router with 10 simultaneous connections; no Apple TV app.
Choose Mullvad if
Readers who want the least possible account data held about them.
Choose PureVPN if
Readers who want a low price and are satisfied by the current audit arrangement.
Reasons to pick neither
Skip Mullvad if: Your main reason for buying a VPN is watching a specific streaming catalogue. Mullvad does not chase streaming platforms and does not claim to.
Skip PureVPN if: Past conduct matters to you. The 2017 incident is a matter of public court record, and no later audit erases it.
Questions
- Is Mullvad or PureVPN better?
- Mullvad scores higher overall, 85.5 against 69.0, a gap of 16.5 points out of 100. The strongest privacy posture of any provider in this dataset, and the only one we cannot earn a commission from.
- Which is cheaper, Mullvad or PureVPN?
- PureVPN, at $2.11/mo against $5.50/mo. Both rates require committing to the provider’s longest term; the monthly rates are considerably higher.
- Which one has been audited more recently?
- Mullvad, most recently in 2024 against PureVPN’s 2023.
- Does jurisdiction differ between them?
- Yes. Mullvad operates from Sweden and PureVPN from British Virgin Islands. PureVPN is outside the Fourteen Eyes agreement; the other is not.
Related comparisons
Comparison generated from the same dataset as the ranking. Emphasis criterion definitions are on the rubric page. Criterion labels: Independent audit, Jurisdiction and ownership, Protocol and crypto stack, Leak protection, Transparency, Price and refund terms, Platform coverage.