Proton VPN vs Mullvad

Proton VPN and Mullvad both have serious privacy credentials, so the useful differences are more practical than the branding suggests. One gives you a continuing free route in; the other gives you a confirmed RAM-only server model.

You can keep using a real free plan

Proton VPN has a continuing free plan. Mullvad does not currently offer a continuing free plan. That matters if you want to test how a VPN fits your routine without turning the first step into a subscription.

Streaming access is the clearer everyday difference

Proton VPN currently supports access to major streaming platforms. Reliable major-platform streaming is not confirmed for Mullvad. If streaming is one of the normal jobs for the VPN, this is a more useful distinction than arguing over two otherwise privacy-focused products.

The full fleet is documented as RAM-only

Mullvad's server fleet is documented as RAM-only. A full RAM-only fleet is not confirmed for Proton VPN. If persistent storage on VPN servers is part of your threat model, that difference belongs near the top of the decision.

The clients are open too, but that part is shared

Mullvad's client apps are open source across the supported platform set. Proton VPN's client apps are open source across the supported platform set. Both sides already give you open client code, so that feature is a tie here.