IVPN vs Mullvad VPN
Choose Mullvad if RAM-only servers and more recent VPN app audits matter most to you. Choose IVPN if founder ownership, a transparency report and a longer refund window carry more weight.
| Criterion | IVPN | Mullvad VPN |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 6.6 | 6.8 |
| Latest VPN audit | Cure53, Mar 2024 (public report) | Leviathan Security Group, 1 Jun 2026 (public report) |
| Owner group | Independent | Independent |
| Cheapest 3-year cost (USD) | $180 | $202 |
| Port forwarding | No | No |
| Open-source apps | Yes | Yes |
| RAM-only servers | Unknown | Yes |
| Refund window | 30 days | 14 days |
| Servers (provider-reported) | 89 | 566 |
Providers change prices often, and we regularly verify prices against their own pricing pages, though small differences from current prices are possible. Prices checked 11 Oct 2026. Three-year costs in US dollars at a fixed exchange rate.
Choose IVPN if
- You prefer a company wholly owned by its named founder and CEO.
- You value a transparency report and warrant canary.
- You want a refund window of 30 days.
Choose Mullvad VPN if
- You want RAM-only VPN servers.
- You put more weight on recent public VPN app assessments.
- You prefer the same monthly rate across the listed payment terms.
Our take
Mullvad makes the stronger case if your decision rests on recent VPN-specific scrutiny. Its public Android assessment dated 1 Jun 2026 passed after minor fixes. The public Radically Open Security infrastructure report dated 9 Aug 2023 found no user-activity logging on the inspected RAM-only servers, a bounded finding rather than a continuing guarantee. IVPN's public no-logs assurance engagement dated Mar 2019 covered gateway and authentication servers. IVPN calls it its only such audit and says it will not commission further engagements. Its newer Mailx and modDNS audits concern sibling products, not VPN systems. Its gateway review dated Feb 2023 used a test environment without production access. Read those scopes before treating recency as reassurance.
IVPN suits readers who place particular weight on direct ownership and formal transparency practices. IVPN Limited is wholly owned by founder and CEO Nicholas Pestell; Mullvad VPN AB is owned by Amagicom AB. Each is independent, with named leadership. IVPN also has a transparency report and warrant canary. Account privacy offers less reason to choose between them: either lets you register without email, use an account-number login and pay with cash or Monero. Those shared options matter if you want to limit the personal details attached to your subscription.
Price depends on your payment commitment and currency, so neither deserves an automatic value verdict. IVPN Standard 1 month costs $6 per month and renews at $6; Standard 1 year reduces those figures to $5 and $5. Mullvad's listed terms share a monthly rate of €5, with renewal at €5, so a longer commitment brings no listed monthly discount. Over the table's comparison period, IVPN Standard 1 year totals $180, against €180 for Mullvad 1 month. Compare in your payment currency and check the IVPN tier you actually need before committing.
FAQ
Can I sign up for IVPN or Mullvad without an email address?
Yes. Each supports registration without email and account-number login, plus cash, Monero and Bitcoin payments. These options reduce the personal information needed for an account, but do not establish anonymity by themselves.
Do IVPN and Mullvad audits prove their no-logs claims?
Audits provide evidence within a particular scope and assessment period, not a permanent guarantee. IVPN's public assurance engagement dated Mar 2019 examined its privacy-policy logging claims across gateway and authentication servers. Mullvad's public Radically Open Security report dated 9 Aug 2023 found no user-activity logging on the VPN servers inspected.
Should IVPN's security incidents put me off?
The iOS tunnel leak matters directly to VPN use: traffic could briefly leave the tunnel during WireGuard key rotation, and IVPN fixed the affected app. The separate BTCPay incident involved stolen Lightning node credentials and the company's operating funds; IVPN states that customer data, customer funds and VPN infrastructure were unaffected. We would weigh the tunnel flaw and its fix separately from the payment-system compromise.
Can I use IVPN or Mullvad to reach my own servers?
Neither offers port forwarding or a dedicated IP, so neither is a direct fit for accepting inbound connections through the VPN service. Their WireGuard configuration exports let you connect a client to the provider, but do not by themselves create a private network between your machines. For that requirement, start with private machine access.