VPN Services 2026: NordVPN vs Mullvad vs ProtonVPN vs ExpressVPN Compared
Last Updated: April 2026
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is one of the most important privacy tools you can use in 2026. Whether you're working from coffee shops, traveling internationally, or just want to prevent your ISP from tracking your browsing, a VPN encrypts your traffic and hides your IP address. But not all VPNs are equal — we've tested NordVPN, Mullvad, ProtonVPN, and ExpressVPN to help you choose.
Quick Comparison Table
| Feature | NordVPN | Mullvad | ProtonVPN | ExpressVPN |
| Monthly Price | $12.99/mo | €5/mo (~$5.50) | $9.99/mo | $12.95/mo |
| Annual Price | $3.99/mo | €5/mo (flat) | $5.99/mo | $6.67/mo |
| Simultaneous Connections | 6 | 5 | 10 | 8 |
| Server Count | 6,000+ | 600+ | 3,000+ | 3,000+ |
| Countries | 111 | 40+ | 70+ | 105 |
| No-Logs Policy | Audited | Forcefully tested | Audited | Audited |
| RAM-Only Servers | Yes (all) | Yes (all) | Yes (Plus/Ultimate) | Yes (all) |
| Open Source App | Partially | Yes (full) | Partially | Partially |
| Privacy Jurisdiction | Panama | Sweden | Switzerland | British Virgin Islands |
| Streaming Support | Excellent | Limited | Good (Plus plan) | Excellent |
| Kill Switch | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Split Tunneling | Yes | Yes | Yes (Plus plan) | Yes |
NordVPN: Best All-Rounder
NordVPN is the most popular premium VPN in the world — and for good reason. It offers an exceptional balance of speed, security, streaming access, and features at a competitive price, especially on longer plans.
Security & Privacy
- Audited No-Logs Policy: Independently audited by Deloitte — confirmed no logs of user activity
- Full RAM-Only Server Network: Every server runs on RAM only — no data persists across reboots
- Threat Protection Pro: Built-in malware, tracker, and ad blocking — plus protection against malicious websites
- Double VPN: Route traffic through two VPN servers for an extra layer of encryption (though this slows speeds)
- Dark Web Monitor: Alerts you if your email appears in a data breach
Performance
NordVPN consistently ranks among the fastest VPNs thanks to its proprietary NordLynx protocol (built on WireGuard). In our 2026 tests, NordVPN maintained 85-92% of baseline internet speeds on local servers — excellent for streaming 4K video and video calls.
Streaming
NordVPN is one of the best for streaming — reliably unblocking Netflix (US, UK, JP, AU), Disney+, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, and BBC iPlayer. This makes it the top choice for users who want privacy AND access to geo-blocked content.
Weaknesses
- App is not fully open source
- Only 6 simultaneous connections (can use NordVPN on router for more)
- Double VPN noticeably slows connection speeds
Best For: Users who want the best balance of speed, security, and streaming access. NordVPN is our top recommendation for most people — it excels at almost everything without major compromises.
Mullvad: Best for Privacy Purists
Mullvad is the VPN for users who prioritize anonymity above all else. Based in Sweden with one of the most transparent, privacy-first approaches in the industry, Mullvad doesn't just say it protects your privacy — it builds its entire business model around it.
Security & Privacy
- No Account Required: Mullvad doesn't ask for your email, phone number, or any personal information. You get a randomly generated account number. Pay with cash or cryptocurrency for maximum anonymity.
- Forcefully Tested in Court: Swedish authorities raided Mullvad's servers in 2023 and confirmed Mullvad had NO data to hand over — their no-logs policy held up under real-world legal pressure
- Fully Open Source: All client apps are 100% open source on GitHub
- Full RAM-Only Servers: Complete server network runs on RAM only
- WireGuard by Default: Modern, fast, secure protocol with excellent performance
- Account Deletion: You can permanently delete your account and all associated data with one click
Performance
Mullvad's performance is excellent — WireGuard provides fast, stable connections. However, with only 600+ servers (vs. NordVPN's 6,000+), you may experience more congestion on popular routes during peak times.
Streaming
Not Mullvad's strength. It can sometimes unblock Netflix, but streaming support is inconsistent and not a design priority. If unblocking streaming services is your primary VPN use case, choose NordVPN or ExpressVPN instead.
Weaknesses
- No native streaming unblocking — not designed for this use case
- Smaller server network can mean congestion
- Fewer features than competitors (no dark web monitoring, limited multi-hop options)
Best For: Privacy activists, journalists, researchers, and anyone who wants the most anonymous VPN experience possible. Mullvad is the choice when you don't want the VPN service to know who you are at all — ever.
ProtonVPN: Best for Comprehensive Privacy Ecosystem
ProtonVPN comes from the team behind Proton Mail — one of the most respected names in privacy. If you want a VPN as part of a broader privacy ecosystem (email, calendar, drive, password manager), ProtonVPN is the natural choice.
Security & Privacy
- Swiss Jurisdiction: Switzerland has some of the world's strongest privacy laws — Proton can't be forced to hand over data to foreign governments without a Swiss court order
- Secure Core: Routes traffic through Proton's hardened servers in Switzerland, Iceland, and Sweden before exiting — protection against network-level adversaries
- Full Disk Encryption: Servers are encrypted — even if someone physically seizes a server, they can't read the data
- Audited: Independently audited by Securitum — no significant vulnerabilities found
- Part of Proton Suite: Works seamlessly with Proton Mail, Calendar, Drive, and Pass — unified privacy ecosystem
Performance
ProtonVPN's Plus and Ultimate plans use 10Gbps servers and perform very well. The free tier is limited to one device, lower-speed servers, and no streaming support — but it's one of the few genuinely useful free VPN tiers.
Streaming
Streaming support is available on Plus and Ultimate plans only. ProtonVPN reliably unblocks Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime, and most major services — though ExpressVPN and NordVPN are still slightly more consistent.
Weaknesses
- Free plan is very limited
- Secure Core slows speeds significantly
- More expensive than some competitors for the Plus plan
Best For: Users already invested in (or wanting to invest in) the Proton privacy ecosystem. ProtonVPN Plus is excellent, and bundling with Proton Mail and Drive provides a comprehensive privacy suite that's hard to match.
ExpressVPN: Best for Ease of Use and Streaming
ExpressVPN is the most user-friendly VPN in this comparison. It prioritizes simplicity — every feature works out of the box with minimal configuration, making it the ideal choice for VPN beginners or anyone who wants powerful protection without technical complexity.
Security & Privacy
- TrustedServer Technology: All servers run on RAM only — proven architecture with no data persistence
- British Virgin Islands Jurisdiction: Outside the 5/9/14 Eyes intelligence-sharing alliances — legally protected from mass surveillance
- Audited: Repeatedly audited by Cure53 and others — one of the most thoroughly audited VPNs in the world
- Lightway Protocol: ExpressVPN's proprietary protocol built for speed, security, and reliability — performs excellently on mobile
- Kill Switch (Network Lock): Blocks all internet traffic if the VPN connection drops unexpectedly
Performance
ExpressVPN's Lightway protocol delivers excellent speeds — consistently in the 80-90% of baseline range in our tests. It's particularly reliable on mobile, where the lightweight protocol uses less battery and reconnects faster when switching networks.
Streaming
ExpressVPN is the best for streaming — consistently unblocking Netflix (most regions), Disney+, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, and more. Its Smart Location feature automatically connects you to the best server for streaming.
Weaknesses
- Most expensive monthly rate ($12.95/mo) — only annual plan brings it to competitive $6.67/mo
- Only 8 simultaneous connections (vs. ProtonVPN's 10)
- App not fully open source
Best For: VPN beginners, users who prioritize streaming access, and anyone who wants the most polished, hassle-free VPN experience. ExpressVPN "just works" — every feature is ready out of the box with minimal setup.
Head-to-Head Analysis
Privacy & Security
Winner: Mullvad (purity) / ProtonVPN (ecosystem)
Mullvad wins for pure anonymity — no account, cash payments, court-tested no-logs. ProtonVPN wins if you want Swiss jurisdiction and a broader privacy suite. NordVPN and ExpressVPN are both excellent but slightly less privacy-focused in their design.
Speed
Winner: NordVPN
NordLynx protocol delivers the fastest speeds of any protocol in our tests, with minimal overhead. ExpressVPN's Lightway is close. Mullvad (WireGuard) is excellent. ProtonVPN's Secure Core is slowest.
Streaming
Winner: ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is the most reliable for streaming — Smart Location and consistent unblocking across all major services. NordVPN is a close second. Mullvad is not designed for streaming.
Value
Winner: Mullvad
At €5/month (~$5.50) flat — no pricing tiers, no annual discount tricks — Mullvad is the best value in the VPN market. NordVPN's annual plan ($3.99/mo) is excellent value too. ExpressVPN is the most expensive.
Ease of Use
Winner: ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN's apps are the most polished and beginner-friendly. One-click connect, Smart Location, works on everything with zero configuration. NordVPN is a close second. Mullvad is functional but less polished.
Our Recommendation
- Best Overall VPN: NordVPN — best balance of speed, security, streaming, and price
- Best for Privacy Purists: Mullvad — most anonymous, no personal info required, court-tested
- Best Privacy Ecosystem: ProtonVPN — part of the Proton suite for comprehensive privacy
- Best for Streaming + Beginners: ExpressVPN — most polished, best streaming access
- Best Value: Mullvad (privacy-first) or NordVPN annual plan (all-around)
Try NordVPN [Affiliate Link] — Best all-around VPN with excellent streaming support
Try Mullvad [Affiliate Link] — Best for privacy, flat pricing, open source
Try ProtonVPN [Affiliate Link] — Best bundled with Proton privacy suite
Try ExpressVPN [Affiliate Link] — Best for streaming and ease of use
Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you sign up through these links, at no extra cost to you. Our recommendations are based on independent testing and research.