2026

Mullvad VPN vs PIA VPN

Mullvad VPN and PIA VPN compared side by side: protection, performance, pricing, and features. Which antivirus suits you better?

Mullvad VPN

8.3

/ 10

Mullvad VPN is the gold standard for privacy: no account needed, cash payment possible, fully open source and independently audited. The service costs a flat EUR 5/month – no introductory offers or price increases. Mullvad uses the WireGuard protocol and offers solid speeds. The feature set is intentionally minimalist – no streaming focus, no marketing. The best choice for purists.

1st Year PriceCHF 60.00 RenewalCHF 60.00 PlatformsWindows, Mac, Android, iPhone / iPad

Protection 9.8

Performance 9.0

Best for 7.8

First-year price 8.5

Key features 7.5

Support 7.2

PIA VPN

8.7

/ 10

Private Internet Access (PIA) is a proven VPN provider with fully open-source apps and a court-proven no-logs policy. PIA offers unlimited simultaneous connections, a large server network, and advanced configuration options. The software targets technically savvy users who want maximum control over their VPN settings.

1st Year PriceCHF 56.90 RenewalCHF 119.90 PlatformsWindows, Mac, Android, iPhone / iPad

Protection 9.1

Performance 8.6

Best for 8.4

First-year price 9.3

Key features 8.9

Support 8.0

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Our Verdict

PIA VPN narrowly wins – Mullvad VPN is the leaner choice.

PIA VPN scores 8.7 / 10 overall and is the stronger pick on protection and feature scope. If you value maximum performance, low resource use and lower renewal costs, Mullvad VPN is the better fit. Both are excellent options for Swiss users.

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Our verdict

PIA VPN takes a slight lead in our comparison with an overall score of 8.7 out of 10 – an advantage of 0.4 points over Mullvad VPN. The gap is small but consistent across multiple test dimensions.

On price, Mullvad VPN currently sits at CHF 60 in year one, PIA VPN at CHF 57. Watch the renewal price closely: both are transparently listed in the table above and matter more long-term than the introductory price.

Strength profiles: Mullvad VPN scores highest on protection, PIA VPN on price-performance. If you care most about one of those dimensions, the choice is clear. For all-round needs, either product is a safe pick.

Feature-by-feature comparison

Criterion	Mullvad VPN	PIA VPN
Real-time protection	Yes	Yes
Built-in VPN	No	No
Password manager	No	No
Anti-tracking / anti-phishing	No	No
Parental controls	No	No
Identity protection	No	No
Low system impact	No	No
Platforms	Windows, Mac, Android, iPhone / iPad	Windows, Mac, Android, iPhone / iPad
Number of devices (standard licence)	5	999
System impact in daily use	Very low	Moderate

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Frequently asked questions about Mullvad VPN vs PIA VPN

Which scores higher on protection, Mullvad VPN or PIA VPN?

Both reach top scores in AV-TEST and AV-Comparatives – the differences are small. The exact scores are in the comparison table above.

Which is cheaper in year 1 and on renewal – Mullvad VPN or PIA VPN?

Look at the price columns above: year-one price and renewal price are stated transparently side by side. The renewal delta is often the bigger cost factor over 3 years.

Which is better for families, Mullvad VPN or PIA VPN?

Both offer family plans for 5–10 devices. What matters: does the product have a dedicated parental-controls mode, screen-time management and a smooth setup. Details in the feature table.

Do I get better Mac/mobile support with Mullvad VPN or PIA VPN?

Platform support is listed in the comparison above. Generally: macOS performance is best with Bitdefender and Intego; Android protection is most mature with Bitdefender, Norton and Kaspersky.