Head to head · Updated August 13, 2026
Mullvad vs Windscribe
Mullvad takes it by 18.5 points, 85.5 against 67.0. That margin is worth reading past — Windscribe wins 1 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.
Windscribe
67.0Unusually honest about its own incidents, but Canadian jurisdiction and a three-day refund window are real costs.
- From
- $5.75/mo
- Based in
- Canada
- Devices
- Unlimited
- Audits
- 1
We earn nothing from Windscribe. This link is included because the ranking says it belongs here.
Criterion by criterion
Mullvad wins 5, Windscribe wins 1, 1 tied. Each row shows the raw score out of ten and the weighted contribution to the total.
| Criterion | Weight | Mullvad | Windscribe | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent audit | 20 | 10/10 (20.0) | 6/10 (12.0) | Mullvad |
| Jurisdiction and ownership | 15 | 6/10 (9.0) | 3/10 (4.5) | Mullvad |
| Protocol and crypto stack | 15 | 9/10 (13.5) | 9/10 (13.5) | Tied |
| Leak protection | 15 | 10/10 (15.0) | 8/10 (12.0) | Mullvad |
| Transparency | 15 | 10/10 (15.0) | 8/10 (12.0) | Mullvad |
| Price and refund terms | 10 | 7/10 (7.0) | 6/10 (6.0) | Mullvad |
| Platform coverage | 10 | 6/10 (6.0) | 7/10 (7.0) | Windscribe |
| Total | 100 | 85.5 | 67.0 | 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.
- Jurisdiction and ownership. Sweden participates in the Fourteen Eyes agreement, but Mullvad holds no email, name or payment identity to hand over.
- 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.
- Price and refund terms. Flat €5/month with no discount tiers: more expensive than 2-year deals, cheaper than most monthly plans.
Windscribe is ahead on
- Platform coverage. Desktop, mobile, Android TV and router covered, with unlimited connections but no Apple TV app.
Choose Mullvad if
Readers who want the least possible account data held about them.
Choose Windscribe if
Readers who need a free tier or want to pay only for two or three specific locations.
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 Windscribe if: You want a long trial period before committing. Three days and 10 GB is the tightest refund policy in this dataset.
Questions
- Is Mullvad or Windscribe better?
- Mullvad scores higher overall, 85.5 against 67.0, a gap of 18.5 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 Windscribe?
- Mullvad, at $5.50/mo against $5.75/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 Windscribe’s 2022.
- Does jurisdiction differ between them?
- Yes. Mullvad operates from Sweden and Windscribe from Canada. Windscribe 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.