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Developer Tools · head to head

Helm vs Mullvad VPN

H

Helm

Developer Tools

The package manager for Kubernetes

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite
M

Mullvad VPN

Cybersecurity

Privacy-first VPN with one flat price and no email required to sign up

From
$5/month
Free plan
No
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Helm has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Helm licensed under Apache License 2.0 per the project's GitHub repository (helm/helm LICENSE); as open source software it has no paid tier or vendor price to compare; Mullvad VPN offers no free trial or free tier, unlike several consumer VPN competitors.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Helm and Mullvad VPN actually diverge.

Attributes where Helm and Mullvad VPN differ
AttributeHelmMullvad VPN
Starting priceFree$5/month
Pricing modelopen-sourcesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebwindows, mac, linux, ios, android
CategoryDeveloper ToolsCybersecurity
FoundedUnknown2009

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Helm

Nothing recorded that Mullvad VPN does not also cover.

Only in Mullvad VPN

  • Flat single pricing
  • Account-number signup
  • Cash and crypto payments
  • WireGuard support
  • Independent audits

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Helm

  • Kubernetes package manager and deployment toolnot Mullvad VPN

Mullvad VPN

  • Paying for a VPN anonymously with cash or cryptocurrencynot Helm
  • Avoiding tiered upsells with a single flat-rate plannot Helm
  • Signing up without providing an email addressnot Helm
  • Verifying a provider's privacy claims via independent auditsnot Helm

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Helm

  • Licensed under Apache License 2.0 per the project's GitHub repository (helm/helm LICENSE); as open source software it has no paid tier or vendor price to compare
  • Contributors must sign commits under the Developer Certificate of Origin to have them accepted, per helm.sh, a process requirement not all Kubernetes tools impose

Mullvad VPN

  • Offers no free trial or free tier, unlike several consumer VPN competitors.
  • Lacks a bundled tiered structure, so there is no cheaper limited plan for occasional users.
  • Server network and streaming-unblocking performance is smaller than large mainstream VPN providers.
  • No annual discount, meaning long-term subscribers pay the same monthly rate as short-term users.

Pricing, plan by plan

Helm

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Helm review.

Mullvad VPN

$5/month
  • Mullvad VPN$5/month
    • Flat rate regardless of subscription length
    • 5 simultaneous devices
    • No email required

Which should you pick?

Choose Helm if

  • You want to start without paying.
Helm review

Choose Mullvad VPN if

  • You need flat single pricing.
  • You work on windows, mac, linux, ios, android.
  • You also want account-number signup.
Mullvad VPN review

Questions people ask

Is Helm or Mullvad VPN better?
Neither clearly leads. Helm starts at Free and Mullvad VPN at $5/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Helm or Mullvad VPN?
Helm has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Helm and $5/month for Mullvad VPN.
Does Helm or Mullvad VPN run on more platforms?
Helm runs on Web. Mullvad VPN runs on windows, mac, linux, ios, android.
Can I use Helm for free?
Yes. Helm has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Mullvad VPN starts at $5/month.
What is Helm best used for?
Helm is most often used for kubernetes package manager and deployment tool. Of those, kubernetes package manager and deployment tool is not what Mullvad VPN is typically brought in for.
What can Helm do that Mullvad VPN cannot?
Mullvad VPN covers Flat single pricing, Account-number signup, Cash and crypto payments, WireGuard support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Helm: How much does Helm cost?

Helm is free and open-source. It is a graduated project in the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) with no commercial pricing model.

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