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Cybersecurity · head to head

Mullvad VPN vs Privacy Badger

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Mullvad VPN

Cybersecurity

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

From
$5/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Privacy Badger logo

Privacy Badger

Browser Extensions

Automatically learn to block invisible trackers

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Privacy Badger has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Mullvad VPN offers no free trial or free tier, unlike several consumer VPN competitors.; Privacy Badger it is not an ad blocker; the project states its aim is to prevent non-consensual tracking rather than to block ads
  • They diverge on capability: Mullvad VPN covers Flat single pricing, Privacy Badger covers Automatic tracker detection.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Mullvad VPN and Privacy Badger actually diverge.

Attributes where Mullvad VPN and Privacy Badger differ
AttributeMullvad VPNPrivacy Badger
Starting price$5/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfree
Free tierNoYes
Platformswindows, mac, linux, ios, androidChrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera
CategoryCybersecurityBrowser Extensions
Founded20091990

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 Mullvad VPN

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

Only in Privacy Badger

  • Automatic tracker detection
  • Learning algorithm
  • Do Not Track support
  • No filter lists required
  • Chrome support
  • Firefox support
  • Edge support
  • Opera support

What people use each for

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

Mullvad VPN

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

Privacy Badger

  • Blocking third-party trackers that follow users across websitesnot Mullvad VPN
  • Sending Do Not Track and Global Privacy Control signalsnot Mullvad VPN
  • Disabling social media tracking widgets like Facebook Like buttonsnot Mullvad VPN
  • Preventing canvas fingerprinting across websitesnot Mullvad VPN

Where each one falls short

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

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.

Privacy Badger

  • It is not an ad blocker; the project states its aim is to prevent non-consensual tracking rather than to block ads
  • There is no Safari build, and Safari on iOS lacks extension capabilities Privacy Badger needs to work
  • Chrome on Android does not support extensions, so Android users have to switch to Firefox or Edge
  • Protection is aimed at third-party trackers and does not comprehensively cover tracking by the site you are actually visiting

Pricing, plan by plan

Mullvad VPN

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

Privacy Badger

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Automatic tracker learning
    • Third-party blocking
    • Do Not Track

Which should you pick?

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

Choose Privacy Badger if

  • You need automatic tracker detection.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera.
  • You also want learning algorithm.
Privacy Badger review

Questions people ask

Is Mullvad VPN or Privacy Badger better?
Neither clearly leads. Mullvad VPN starts at $5/month and Privacy Badger at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Mullvad VPN or Privacy Badger?
Privacy Badger has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $5/month for Mullvad VPN and Free for Privacy Badger.
Does Mullvad VPN or Privacy Badger run on more platforms?
Mullvad VPN runs on windows, mac, linux, ios, android. Privacy Badger runs on Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera.
Can I use Privacy Badger for free?
Yes. Privacy Badger has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Mullvad VPN starts at $5/month.
What is Mullvad VPN best used for?
Mullvad VPN is most often used for paying for a vpn anonymously with cash or cryptocurrency, avoiding tiered upsells with a single flat-rate plan, signing up without providing an email address, verifying a provider's privacy claims via independent audits. Of those, paying for a vpn anonymously with cash or cryptocurrency and avoiding tiered upsells with a single flat-rate plan are not what Privacy Badger is typically brought in for.
What can Mullvad VPN do that Privacy Badger cannot?
Mullvad VPN covers Flat single pricing, Account-number signup, Cash and crypto payments, WireGuard support. Privacy Badger covers Automatic tracker detection, Learning algorithm, Do Not Track support, No filter lists required.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Privacy Badger: How much does Privacy Badger cost?

Privacy Badger is free browser extension made by the Electronic Frontier Foundation. There are no pricing tiers or subscription costs. The project accepts donations to support EFF's work.

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