Mullvad VPN vs Windscribe
It is a trade-off. Windscribe has the higher Safety grade (8.1 against 7.6), while Mullvad VPN has the higher Privacy grade (9.7 against 6.8).
Mullvad VPN
Swedish VPN using numbered accounts; accepts cash by post and Monero
Privacy
9.7/ 10
Excellent
Safety
7.6/ 10
Strong
ID never required KYC 0 Docs reviewed Full review →
Windscribe
Canadian VPN with open-source apps, a free tier and crypto payment
Privacy
6.8/ 10
Fair
Safety
8.1/ 10
Strong
No ID mentioned KYC 1 Docs reviewed Full review →
Side by side
| Mullvad VPN | Windscribe | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | VPNs | VPNs |
| KYC policy | ID never required | No ID mentioned |
| Custody | N/A | N/A |
| Sign-up | Random account number | Email optional |
| Open source | Yes | Yes |
| Tor onion address | Yes | No |
| Coins | BTC, BCH, XMR | Not published |
| Pay with | Crypto, Monero, Cash, Bank transfer, Card, PayPal | Crypto, Card, PayPal |
| Fees | Flat monthly price; 14-day money-back guarantee except for cash payments | Monthly plan $9.00 when checked |
| Founded | 2009 | 2016 |
| Jurisdiction | Sweden | Canada |
| Incidents on record | 1 | 0 |
| Published tests (180 days) | 0 | 0 |
Only Mullvad VPN
No email neededNo phone neededAccount-number loginTor onion serviceAccepts MoneroAccepts cashRefund without ID
Both
Open sourceNo-logs policy5+ years operatingLegal entity disclosed
Only Windscribe
Independent audit
Where they sit among vpns
Questions
Is Mullvad VPN or Windscribe safer?
Windscribe has the higher Safety grade: Mullvad VPN 7.6, Windscribe 8.1, out of 10.
Does Mullvad VPN or Windscribe require KYC?
Mullvad VPN is KYC level 0 (ID never required). Windscribe is KYC level 1 (no ID mentioned).
Which has more incidents on record?
Mullvad VPN has 1 and Windscribe has 0 documented incidents in the registry.