Our Review Criteria
We evaluate VPNs based on privacy, not marketing claims. Our criteria:
- No-logs policy - Verified by independent audit
- Jurisdiction - Legal framework and history
- Open source clients - Transparency
- Security audits - Third-party verification
- Anonymous payment - Cash, crypto options
Top Recommendations
Mullvad - Best for Privacy
Account numbers instead of emails, accepts cash in envelope. Maximum privacy.
- No email required to sign up
- Accepts cash payment by mail
- Audited infrastructure
- WireGuard support
Price: €5/month flat
ProtonVPN - Best Free Option
Swiss privacy, from the makers of ProtonMail. Generous free tier.
- Free tier with no data limits
- Swiss jurisdiction (strong privacy laws)
- Open source and audited
- Integrates with ProtonMail
Price: Free / $5-10/month
IVPN - Best for Transparency
Extremely transparent, publishes detailed ethics and security info.
- Multi-hop connections
- Open source clients
- Warrant canary
- Anonymous accounts available
Price: $6-10/month
Comparison
| Feature | Mullvad | ProtonVPN | IVPN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jurisdiction | Sweden | Switzerland | Gibraltar |
| Audited | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Open Source | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| WireGuard | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Free Tier | No | Yes | No |
| Anonymous Pay | Cash, Crypto | Crypto | Cash, Crypto |
VPNs to Avoid
Red Flags
Avoid VPNs with: "Lifetime" subscriptions, excessive marketing, no audit history, free services with no clear business model, apps not in official stores.