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There is no universal winner: Mullvad is the better fit if you prioritize account-number signup and a streamlined privacy-focused service. Proton VPN is the stronger match if you want a free plan, streaming features, broader platform support, more simultaneous connections, or port forwarding.
RTINGS’ comparison, updated July 30, 2026, favors Mullvad overall, but that assessment reflects one publisher’s evaluation of Proton VPN Plus and Mullvad—not a result that applies to every user. Your choice should turn on the features you will actually use.
At a glance: Mullvad vs Proton VPN
| What matters | Mullvad | Proton VPN |
|---|---|---|
| Account signup | RTINGS reports that Mullvad assigns a randomly generated account number instead of requiring an email address. RTINGS comparison | Proton’s feature page describes a strict no-logs policy and open-source apps; the reviewed sources do not establish an equivalent email-free signup model. Proton VPN features |
| Free plan | No free plan is established in the reviewed sources. | Yes. Proton says its Free plan has unlimited bandwidth and no time or data limit, with fewer features than paid plans. Proton Free vs paid |
| Port forwarding | Not supported. Mullvad says new port forwarding was disabled May 29, 2023, and existing ports were scheduled for deletion July 1, 2023. Mullvad connectivity FAQ | Listed as a feature, including for P2P performance and access to local resources. Proton VPN features |
| Simultaneous devices | Not stated in the reviewed comparison. | Up to 10, according to RTINGS’ comparison of Proton VPN Plus with Mullvad. RTINGS comparison |
| Streaming | Streaming support is not established in the reviewed sources. | Proton says it supports many popular streaming services and includes streaming on paid plans. Access can vary by service, country, and catalog. Proton VPN features Proton pricing |
| Price | Current price, taxes, and renewal terms were not established. | Current price, taxes, and renewal terms were not established. Check the live checkout for your location and subscription term. Proton pricing |
Which VPN should you choose?
Choose Mullvad for account-number signup
Mullvad’s account model is a differentiator if you would rather not provide an email address during signup. RTINGS also favored Mullvad in its overall comparison, citing account-number registration and clarity of its privacy policy. That is an attributed assessment, not proof that Mullvad makes users anonymous or is the right choice for every privacy need.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsA VPN changes how your internet traffic is routed; it does not make you anonymous or protect against every threat. Consider your broader security practices and the specific risks you are trying to reduce.
#1 Best Overall
- 【Five Gigabit Ports】1 Gigabit WAN Port plus 2 Gigabit WAN/LAN Ports plus 2 Gigabit LAN Port. Up to 3 WAN ports optimize bandwidth usage through one device.
- 【One USB WAN Port】Mobile broadband via 4G/3G modem is supported for WAN backup by connecting to the USB port. For complete list of compatible 4G/3G modems, please visit TP-Link website.
- 【Abundant Security Features】Advanced firewall policies, DoS defense, IP/MAC/URL filtering, speed test and more security functions protect your network and data.
- 【Highly Secure VPN】Supports up to 20× LAN-to-LAN IPsec, 16× OpenVPN, 16× L2TP, and 16× PPTP VPN connections.
- Security - SPI Firewall, VPN Pass through, FTP/H.323/PPTP/SIP/IPsec ALG, DoS Defence, Ping of Death and Local Management. Standards and Protocols IEEE 802.3, 802.3u, 802.3ab, IEEE 802.3x, IEEE 802.1q
Choose Proton VPN for a free option or broader feature set
Proton offers a free plan with unlimited bandwidth and no time or data limit, according to the provider. Its paid plans add features such as streaming and broader access to servers and devices; the precise differences depend on the current plan. Proton Free vs paid
Proton lists apps and support for major desktop, mobile, and TV platforms, as well as browser extensions. Its feature page also describes split tunneling on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, Android TV, and a browser extension. Verify the current compatibility and feature details for your device before choosing a plan. Proton VPN features
Rank #2
- 【AC1200 Dual-band Wireless Router】Simultaneous dual-band with wireless speed up to 300 Mbps (2.4GHz) + 867 Mbps (5GHz). 2.4GHz band can handles some simple tasks like emails or web browsing while bandwidth intensive tasks such as gaming or 4K video streaming can be handled by the 5GHz band.*Speed tests are conducted on a local network. Real-world speeds may differ depending on your network configuration.*
- 【Easy Setup】Please refer to the User Manual and the Unboxing & Setup video guide on Amazon for detailed setup instructions and methods for connecting to the Internet.
- 【Pocket-friendly】Lightweight design(145g) which designed for your next trip or adventure. Alongside its portable, compact design makes it easy to take with you on the go.
- 【Full Gigabit Ports】Gigabit Wireless Internet Router with 2 Gigabit LAN ports and 1 Gigabit WAN ports, ideal for lots of internet plan and allow you to connect your wired devices directly.
- 【Keep your Internet Safe】IPv6 supported. OpenVPN & WireGuard pre-installed, compatible with 30+ VPN service providers. Cloudflare encryption supported to protect the privacy.
Choose Proton VPN if you need port forwarding
Proton lists port forwarding as a feature for P2P performance and access to local resources. Mullvad does not support it: its connectivity FAQ says new port forwarding was disabled on May 29, 2023, and existing ports were scheduled for deletion on July 1, 2023. If incoming connections are essential to your setup, this is a clear point in Proton’s favor. Proton VPN features Mullvad connectivity FAQ
Choose Proton VPN if streaming is a priority
Proton says it supports many popular streaming services, and its paid plans include streaming. This is a provider claim, not a guarantee that a particular service, country, or catalog will work. Check the exact streaming service and region you care about before subscribing; access can change. Proton VPN features Proton pricing
Rank #3
- New-Gen WiFi Standard – WiFi 6(802.11ax) standard supporting MU-MIMO and OFDMA technology for better efficiency and throughput.Antenna : External antenna x 4. Processor : Dual-core (4 VPE). Power Supply : AC Input : 110V~240V(50~60Hz), DC Output : 12 V with max. 1.5A current.
- Ultra-fast WiFi Speed – RT-AX1800S supports 1024-QAM for dramatically faster wireless connections
- Increase Capacity and Efficiency – Supporting not only MU-MIMO but also OFDMA technique to efficiently allocate channels, communicate with multiple devices simultaneously
- 5 Gigabit ports – One Gigabit WAN port and four Gigabit LAN ports, 10X faster than 100–Base T Ethernet.
- Commercial-grade Security Anywhere – Protect your home network with AiProtection Classic, powered by Trend Micro. And when away from home, ASUS Instant Guard gives you a one-click secure VPN.
Privacy claims, audits, and what they mean
Proton says it has a strict no-logs policy, open-source apps, and independent audits. These are useful transparency signals, but the reviewed sources do not establish a complete, directly comparable audit history and scope for both providers. Avoid treating a policy statement or an audit as a guarantee of anonymity; assess the specific documentation and your own threat model. Proton VPN features
RTINGS’ July 30, 2026 comparison tested Proton VPN Plus against Mullvad using its Methodology v0.11 and favored Mullvad overall. It also reports Proton has servers in more countries and supports up to 10 simultaneous devices, while identifying port forwarding as a Proton advantage. This is one reviewer’s comparison, not an objective ranking for all use cases. RTINGS comparison
Rank #4
- 【DUAL BAND WIFI 7 TRAVEL ROUTER】Products with US, UK, EU, AU Plug; Dual band network with wireless speed 688Mbps (2.4G)+2882Mbps (5G); Dual 2.5G Ethernet Ports (1x WAN and 1x LAN Port); USB 3.0 port.
- 【NETWORK CONTROL WITH TOUCHSCREEN SIMPLICITY】Slate 7’s touchscreen interface lets you scan QR codes for quick Wi-Fi, monitor speed in real time, toggle VPN on/off, and switch providers directly on the display. Color-coded indicators provide instant network status updates for Ethernet, Tethering, Repeater, and Cellular modes, offering a seamless, user-friendly experience.
- 【OpenWrt 23.05 FIRMWARE】The Slate 7 (GL-BE3600) is a high-performance Wi-Fi 7 travel router, built with OpenWrt 23.05 (Kernel 5.4.213) for maximum customization and advanced networking capabilities. With 512MB storage, total customization with open-source freedom and flexible installation of OpenWrt plugins.
- 【VPN CLIENT & SERVER】OpenVPN and WireGuard are pre-installed, compatible with 30+ VPN service providers (active subscription required). Simply log in to your existing VPN account with our portable wifi device, and Slate 7 automatically encrypts all network traffic within the connected network. Max. VPN speed of 100 Mbps (OpenVPN); 540 Mbps (WireGuard). *Speed tests are conducted on a local network. Real-world speeds may differ depending on your network configuration.*
- 【PERFECT PORTABLE WIFI ROUTER FOR TRAVEL】The Slate 7 is an ideal portable internet device perfect for international travel. With its mini size and travel-friendly features, the pocket Wi-Fi router is the perfect companion for travelers in need of a secure internet connectivity on the go in which includes hotels or cruise ships.
Compare price and plan terms before paying
The reviewed pricing information does not establish reliable current amounts for either provider. Promotions, taxes, renewal rates, subscription length, and country can affect what you pay, so compare the checkout totals for the same term rather than relying on an old headline price. Proton lists Free, VPN Plus, and Proton Unlimited structures and a 30-day money-back guarantee; confirm the current conditions on its pricing page. Proton pricing
For Proton’s network size, the feature page reports over 20,000 servers in over 140 countries. Those are vendor-reported, time-sensitive figures, not a fixed guarantee of performance or availability at a given location. Proton VPN features
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Next-Gen Gigabit Wi-Fi 6 Speeds: 2402 Mbps on 5 GHz and 574 Mbps on 2.4 GHz bands ensure smoother streaming and faster downloads; support VPN server and VPN client¹
- A More Responsive Experience: Enjoy smooth gaming, video streaming, and live feeds simultaneously. OFDMA makes your Wi-Fi stronger by allowing multiple clients to share one band at the same time, cutting latency and jitter.²
- Expanded Wi-Fi Coverage: 4 high-gain external antennas and Beamforming technology combine to extend strong, reliable, Wi-Fi throughout your home.
- Improved Battery Life: Target Wake Time helps your devices to communicate efficiently while consuming less power.
- Improved Cooling Design: No heat ups, no throttles. A larger heat sink and redefined case design cools the WiFi 6 system and enables your network to stay at top speeds in more versatile environments.
A quick decision checklist
- Pick Mullvad if account-number signup is a priority and you do not need port forwarding.
- Pick Proton VPN if you want a no-cost plan, streaming features, broader platform coverage, or port forwarding.
- Check the exact device count and platforms you need against the current plan details.
- Verify your streaming service and region rather than assuming every catalog will work.
- Compare the full current checkout price and renewal terms for your intended subscription period.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
