Quick verdict: Mullvad is my first paid pick when minimising signup data is the priority. Proton Free is my no-cost starting choice for one device; IVPN suits a personal privacy toolkit with clearly limited account sharing. A VPN changes who you trust with routed traffic; none of these services makes a logged-in account anonymous.
This guide concentrates on three distinct privacy needs: a smaller signup footprint, an ongoing free tunnel, and a broader personal toolkit. I prioritise those needs over bundles or an assumed speed winner, then explain the limitations, costs and configuration checks that affect the choice.
Ranked shortlist: match the VPN to your need
- Mullvad: smallest signup footprint.
- Proton VPN: ongoing free access on one device.
- IVPN: a broader personal privacy toolkit.
Privacy choices at a glance
I put minimal account identifiers and a straightforward privacy-focused purchase first, useful free access second, and a broader personal toolkit third. This is an editorial order for these needs, not a measured claim that one VPN is universally safest. Three recommendations cover the distinct jobs without padding the list with similar subscriptions.
Scroll horizontally to see all columns.
| Product | Pricing (devices/users) | Main capabilities |
|---|---|---|
 Mullvad VPNFull review | €5 per month, VAT included; 5 devices. Same monthly rate across prepaid durations. View plans | Account-number VPN with prepaid access. |
 Proton VPNFull review | Free: 1 connection, unlimited data. VPN Plus: 10 connections; paid price and renewal depend on the current offer. View plans | Free VPN; Plus adds paid server selection, Secure Core multi-hop and NetShield DNS filtering. |
 IVPN | US Standard: $6/month or $60/year, 5 devices. Plus: $8/$80, 5 devices. Pro Suite: $10/$100, 10 devices. Check pricing | VPN, multihop and AntiTracker; Plus adds modDNS/email aliases; Pro Suite adds Portmaster Pro. |
Start with the privacy problem
Hide browsing from the hotspot or ISP: a connected full-device VPN obscures the traffic routed through its tunnel. The VPN operator becomes another party you must trust. A browser extension generally covers that browser, not every app.
Reduce account identifiers: choose minimal signup requirements and think about payment records separately. A no-email account does not remove browser cookies, logins, advertising IDs or the details you submit to a website.
Handle a targeted risk: an ordinary consumer VPN is insufficient for a compromised device, stalking, exposed cloud credentials or an adversary able to correlate traffic. Start with device security, account recovery and professional guidance suited to that risk.
For covered traffic, the VPN tunnel runs from your device to the VPN server. HTTPS separately protects web content to the website. Accounts, cookies and information you submit can still identify you; an excluded app bypasses the VPN tunnel.
How to read the evidence
This is a source-based buyer comparison, reviewed against official plan and support documentation on 6 October 2026. It does not supply new measured speed, leak, streaming or censorship results. A vendor audit is evidence about the stated scope and date, not a guarantee that no future defect can occur.
Read the policy for retained account, payment and diagnostic data as well as the activity-logging statement. Open-source apps make inspection possible; they do not prove that every release has been reviewed. Likewise, RAM-only servers do not replace sound access controls or a limited-data policy.
1. Mullvad — my privacy-first paid pick
Mullvad is a better fit than an ordinary email-based signup if your priority is reducing the personal information tied to the VPN account. Its account-number system avoids needing an email address. That reduces one identifier; it does not make your activity anonymous to every observer.
The price is €5 per month including VAT, for five devices. A bank or card payment can still leave a payment record. Do not choose a more complicated payment method unless it addresses your actual threat model, and keep the account number somewhere secure because account recovery works differently from an email-based service.
Mullvad no longer supports port forwarding, and it should not be chosen on the promise of reliable streaming unblocking. Its 14-day refund policy excludes cash and cryptocurrency payments. It offers a relatively clear cost comparison: twelve months at the flat rate costs €60, without assuming a discounted multi-year renewal.
Mullvad official plan or product details
2. Proton VPN — my no-cost starting choice
Proton VPN is worth considering when you want to start without paying or want open-source applications. Proton Free provides unlimited data for one VPN connection; that is an ongoing free tier rather than a refund promotion.
VPN Plus permits ten connections and adds paid features including Secure Core, NetShield and paid server selection. Secure Core changes the routing path; it does not stop a website identifying a signed-in account. App feature availability still needs checking on your operating system.
Free users have less control over server choice and do not get every Plus feature or a guaranteed streaming experience. If your aim is occasional network privacy on one device, use the free tier before deciding whether the extra locations or tools justify paying.
Proton VPN official plan or product details
3. IVPN — for a broader personal privacy toolkit
IVPN uses account IDs without requiring an email address and offers open-source apps. Standard is the VPN choice; Plus adds Mailx aliases and modDNS, while Pro Suite adds Portmaster Pro. Those tools address different tracking layers rather than simply making the tunnel more encrypted.
Current annual US prices are Standard $60, Plus $80 and Pro Suite $100, with five, five and ten device slots respectively. A slot is used when an app is logged in, even if the device is off or the VPN disconnected. Log out of an unused app to free a slot; do not interpret these limits as active connections only.
IVPN forbids sharing an account with another person, including inside a household. That makes its ten-device tier a poor substitute for a family-sharing offer. Portmaster is for Windows and Linux, and IVPN is not a port-forwarding or guaranteed-streaming recommendation.
IVPN official plan or product details
Choose the smallest plan that solves your problem
For one device with a tight budget, first check whether Proton Free covers your needs. For a household with many simultaneous connections, use the Surfshark review as a separate many-device comparison; it is not one of this privacy-first shortlist’s three picks. IVPN’s account-sharing restriction matters even when the number of slots looks generous.
For minimal signup data, compare Mullvad and IVPN’s account model rather than counting server locations. For desktop malware screening or email aliases, compare the relevant bundle and supported operating system. An unused bundle extra is a recurring cost, not a privacy benefit.
Write down the upfront amount divided by all introductory months, then the renewal amount divided by its renewal period. For example, an offer with 28 introductory months and a 12-month renewal has two different monthly equivalents. Include tax, currency conversion, add-ons and the cost of a second subscription if your devices exceed the allowance.
Privacy checks after installation
Use the official app or an official store listing, update the operating system and turn on the appropriate kill switch. Record whether the switch blocks traffic only after an accidental drop or also while disconnected; modes differ by app.
Compare the visible outward IP address before and after connecting. Check DNS and, where relevant, IPv6/WebRTC exposure using a reputable testing tool. Repeat after changing Wi-Fi, waking the laptop and reconnecting. A clean result on one device and date is useful evidence for that setup, not a lifetime promise.
Review split-tunnel exclusions, browser secure-DNS settings and any corporate VPN. An excluded browser or app can bypass the tunnel deliberately. Keep HTTPS, strong unique passwords and multifactor authentication; a VPN does not replace them.
When another tool is the better first step
For website profiling, start with browser privacy settings, tracking protection and account separation. For account takeover, secure the account and recovery methods. For malware, patch the device and use appropriate endpoint protection. A VPN helps at the network layer; it cannot erase data already held by a service.
For Tor use or a high-risk threat model, do not add a VPN merely because a marketing page says it means extra anonymity. The extra provider, account and payment trail can complicate the trust decision. Choose a workflow with advice appropriate to the situation.
Final recommendation
Choose Mullvad if your priority is less signup data and a flat paid subscription. Choose Proton Free if one device and limited server choice meet your need, or IVPN for its broader personal toolkit after checking plan and platform limits. Choose by your threat model, not a claim of complete anonymity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a VPN make me anonymous?
No. It changes the outward IP address for routed traffic, but websites can still recognise signed-in accounts, cookies and information you provide.
Is a free VPN always a bad privacy choice?
No. Proton Free is an ongoing no-cost plan with unlimited data and one connection. Check its server-selection and paid-feature limits rather than assuming every free service has the same model.
Are all ten-device plans family-sharing plans?
No. IVPN counts logged-in apps and prohibits account sharing with another person, including within a household. Read the actual subscription terms.
Is no email enough to make a payment anonymous?
No. A card or bank transfer can still identify the payer. Signup requirements and payment records are separate questions.
Does an audit prove a VPN never logs anything?
No. Read the audit’s scope and date, and the privacy policy’s account, payment and diagnostic-data provisions.
Should I buy the longest promotional plan?
Only if the service suits your devices and intended use. Compare the upfront commitment, refund eligibility and subsequent renewal period before paying.
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Stuart Kerr Spindlow is Impulsec’s Publisher, Chief Editor and Lead Reviewer. He writes and maintains coverage of consumer cybersecurity and digital-safety software, with a focus on practical suitability, limitations and the evidence behind product claims. Read Stuart’s full profile.