Software · head to head
Kaspersky Total Security vs Mullvad VPN
Kaspersky Total Security
Software
Complete protection for your digital life
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Mullvad VPN
Software
Privacy-first VPN with one flat price and no email required to sign up
- From
- $5/month
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Kaspersky Total Security has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Kaspersky Total Security uS sales banned since June 2024 with support ending September 29, 2024; Mullvad VPN offers no free trial or free tier, unlike several consumer VPN competitors.
- They diverge on capability: Kaspersky Total Security covers Real-time protection, Mullvad VPN covers Flat single pricing.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Kaspersky Total Security and Mullvad VPN actually diverge.
| Attribute | Kaspersky Total Security | Mullvad VPN |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | $5/month |
| Pricing model | Unknown | subscription |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android | windows, mac, linux, ios, android |
| Founded | 1997 | 2009 |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
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 Kaspersky Total Security
- Real-time protection
- Ransomware protection
- Safe Money
- Privacy protection
- Parental controls
- Password manager
- VPN
- File encryption
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.
Kaspersky Total Security
- Antivirusnot Mullvad VPN
- Internet Securitynot Mullvad VPN
- Parental Controlnot Mullvad VPN
Mullvad VPN
- Paying for a VPN anonymously with cash or cryptocurrencynot Kaspersky Total Security
- Avoiding tiered upsells with a single flat-rate plannot Kaspersky Total Security
- Signing up without providing an email addressnot Kaspersky Total Security
- Verifying a provider's privacy claims via independent auditsnot Kaspersky Total Security
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Kaspersky Total Security
- US sales banned since June 2024 with support ending September 29, 2024
- VPN limited to 200 MB per day and servers in only 24 countries
- Password manager has privacy concerns with questionable terms and policies
- VPN and password manager only included in Plus and Premium tiers, not in Standard
- Occasionally flags legitimate files as false positives
- Firewall leaves open ports on public networks
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
Kaspersky Total Security
Free- FreeFree
- Basic antivirus
- No real-time protection
- Standard$38.99/year
- Antivirus
- Firewall
- Anti-phishing
- Plus$52.99/year
- Standard features
- Password manager
- VPN with limit
- Premium$74.99/year
- Plus features
- Identity protection
- Unlimited VPN
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 Kaspersky Total Security if
- You need real-time protection.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android.
- You also want ransomware protection.
Choose Mullvad VPN if
- You need flat single pricing.
- You work on windows, mac, linux, ios, android.
- You also want account-number signup.
Questions people ask
- Is Kaspersky Total Security or Mullvad VPN better?
- Neither clearly leads. Kaspersky Total Security 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, Kaspersky Total Security or Mullvad VPN?
- Kaspersky Total Security has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Kaspersky Total Security and $5/month for Mullvad VPN.
- Does Kaspersky Total Security or Mullvad VPN run on more platforms?
- Kaspersky Total Security runs on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android. Mullvad VPN runs on windows, mac, linux, ios, android.
- Can I use Kaspersky Total Security for free?
- Yes. Kaspersky Total Security has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Mullvad VPN starts at $5/month.
- What is Kaspersky Total Security best used for?
- Kaspersky Total Security is most often used for antivirus, internet security, parental control. Of those, antivirus and internet security are not what Mullvad VPN is typically brought in for.
- What can Kaspersky Total Security do that Mullvad VPN cannot?
- Kaspersky Total Security covers Real-time protection, Ransomware protection, Safe Money, Privacy protection. Mullvad VPN covers Flat single pricing, Account-number signup, Cash and crypto payments, WireGuard support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Kaspersky Total Security: What does Kaspersky Total Security include?
Kaspersky Total Security (Premium tier) includes antivirus, firewall, password manager, VPN with 200 MB daily limit, parental controls (Kaspersky Safe Kids), and anti-ransomware protection.
SourceKaspersky Total Security: How much does Kaspersky Total Security cost?
Kaspersky Standard costs $38.99/year for 3 devices. Plus tier is $52.99/year for 5 devices. Premium is $74.99/year for 10 devices. Multi-year discounts available.
SourceKaspersky Total Security: Is Kaspersky available in the United States?
No. The U.S. government banned Kaspersky software sales in June 2024, with support and software updates ceasing September 29, 2024, citing national security concerns regarding Russian government ties.
SourceKaspersky Total Security: Does Kaspersky have parental controls?
Yes. Premium and Plus tiers include one year free access to Kaspersky Safe Kids parental controls app, which provides activity reports, app monitoring, usage limits, and geo-fencing with location tracking.
SourceKaspersky Total Security: How much does the VPN provide?
Kaspersky's free VPN (Kaspersky Secure Connection) offers only 200 MB per day of traffic, limiting data usage. Full VPN is included in Plus and Premium plans but with limited servers in only 24 countries.
SourceRelated pages
More on Kaspersky Total Security
More on Mullvad VPN
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