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Private Internet Access vs Mullvad VPN

Private Internet Access logo

Private Internet Access

Software

Long-standing VPN service with a large server network and flexible multi-year plans

From
$11.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Mullvad VPN logo

Mullvad VPN

Software

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

From
$5/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Private Internet Access monthly plan is priced noticeably higher than the discounted multi-year commitments, penalizing short-term users.; Mullvad VPN offers no free trial or free tier, unlike several consumer VPN competitors.
  • They diverge on capability: Private Internet Access covers Split tunneling, Mullvad VPN covers Flat single pricing.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Private Internet Access and Mullvad VPN actually diverge.

Attributes where Private Internet Access and Mullvad VPN differ
AttributePrivate Internet AccessMullvad VPN
Starting price$11.99/month$5/month
FoundedUnknown2009

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), platforms (windows, mac, linux, ios, android), 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 Private Internet Access

  • Split tunneling
  • Kill switch
  • Ad and tracker blocking
  • Dedicated IP add-on
  • Bundled antivirus add-on

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.

Private Internet Access

  • Encrypting traffic on public Wi-Fi with a kill switchnot Mullvad VPN
  • Blocking ads and trackers network-wide via MACEnot Mullvad VPN
  • Maintaining a consistent connection identity with a dedicated IP add-onnot Mullvad VPN
  • Committing to a long-term plan for a lower effective monthly ratenot Mullvad VPN

Mullvad VPN

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

Where each one falls short

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

Private Internet Access

  • Monthly plan is priced noticeably higher than the discounted multi-year commitments, penalizing short-term users.
  • Dedicated IP and antivirus are paid add-ons rather than included features.
  • Headquartered in a jurisdiction whose privacy reputation some competitors market against, despite audited no-logs claims.
  • App interface is less streamlined than some higher-priced premium VPN competitors.

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

Private Internet Access

$11.99/month
  • Monthly$11.99/month
    • Billed month to month
    • Full server network access
    • 30-day money-back guarantee
  • 1-Year$3.1/month
    • Billed annually at $37.19
    • Full server network access
  • 2-Year$2.19/month
    • Lowest advertised rate, billed every 2 years
    • Full server network access

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 Private Internet Access if

  • You need split tunneling.
  • You work on windows, mac, linux, ios, android.
  • You also want kill switch.
Private Internet Access 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 Private Internet Access or Mullvad VPN better?
Neither clearly leads. Private Internet Access starts at $11.99/month and Mullvad VPN at $5/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Private Internet Access or Mullvad VPN?
Private Internet Access starts at $11.99/month and Mullvad VPN at $5/month.
Does Private Internet Access or Mullvad VPN run on more platforms?
Both run on windows, mac, linux, ios, android, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
What is Private Internet Access best used for?
Private Internet Access is most often used for encrypting traffic on public wi-fi with a kill switch, blocking ads and trackers network-wide via mace, maintaining a consistent connection identity with a dedicated ip add-on, committing to a long-term plan for a lower effective monthly rate. Of those, encrypting traffic on public wi-fi with a kill switch and blocking ads and trackers network-wide via mace are not what Mullvad VPN is typically brought in for.
What can Private Internet Access do that Mullvad VPN cannot?
Private Internet Access covers Split tunneling, Kill switch, Ad and tracker blocking, Dedicated IP add-on. Mullvad VPN covers Flat single pricing, Account-number signup, Cash and crypto payments, WireGuard support.
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