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Mullvad vs ZoogVPN compares two small, independent European VPNs with very different evidence. Mullvad, from Sweden, has more than 10 audits in our table and asks for no email. ZoogVPN, run by Zoog Services in Patras, Greece, has no public no-logs audit but offers 10 GB a month free and its Shadow protocol for blocked networks.
This guide compares evidence, anonymity, free use, censorship tools, price and fit.
Two European Independents
Neither runs review sites or partner programmes in our sources.
Neither belongs to a big VPN group. Mullvad has no affiliate programme or sister brands; ZoogVPN is a single small company under Greek and EU law.
Both avoid the ownership questions that larger groups raise, so evidence becomes the main difference.
Mullvad vs ZoogVPN on Evidence
Repeated audits show whether practices hold over time, which a single app review cannot.
Mullvad’s audits run back years, and Swedish police left its office empty-handed in 2023, CyberInsider reported. ZoogVPN has no public no-logs or infrastructure audit, findcheapvpns found in September 2026; its Android app passed Google Play’s security review, and its warrant canary was current to August.
A warrant canary is a statement updated regularly to show no secret orders have arrived. Our VPN audit tracker compares providers.
Anonymity
Never share it.
Write Mullvad’s account number down somewhere safe offline.
Card payments are usually easier to refund.
Mullvad gives you an account number and accepts cash by post or cryptocurrency. ZoogVPN’s free plan needs no card, but one review notes its paid checkout takes standard methods, including Alipay and WeChat Pay.
For paying without revealing who you are, Mullvad is the stronger design.
Free Use
Paid ZoogVPN plans switch to AES-256 encryption.
Use the free tier to test Shadow on the network you plan to use.
The free allowance resets monthly.
ZoogVPN’s free plan gives 10 GB a month on one device, with ads on Android and AES-128 encryption rather than its paid AES-256. Mullvad has no free plan or trial.
For a no-cost start, ZoogVPN is the only option here.
Blocked Networks or Traffic Analysis
Test the tool from the network where you need it.
At home, neither feature matters much.
ZoogVPN’s Shadow and ZoogTLS protocols aim to get past networks that block VPNs. Mullvad’s DAITA instead pads traffic to resist analysis of what you are doing, and its multihop routes through two servers.
Each answers a different threat; pick by the one you face.
What Each Costs, and Jurisdiction
Mullvad costs a flat €5 a month, €60 a year. ZoogVPN costs about $59.99 for its two-year plan, though sources differ on whether that covers 24 or 27 months.
ZoogVPN is cheaper over two years and adds a free tier. Our renewal price guide compares renewals.
Devices, Protocols, Kill Switch and Leaks
Check ZoogVPN’s current limit at checkout.
Mullvad allows five devices and runs WireGuard only. ZoogVPN allows 10 on paid plans in several reviews, though some list unlimited, and supports OpenVPN, IKEv2 and L2TP plus its own protocols.
Routers that need OpenVPN or IKEv2 work with ZoogVPN but not Mullvad.
Mullvad’s audits matter more than its address.
Sweden’s data retention law does not apply to VPNs in its current form, a 2026 review notes. Greece is an EU member, so ZoogVPN falls under European privacy rules.
Both are in the EU; Mullvad’s audit record is the larger difference.
Who Each Is For
Both are simple to install, so testing ZoogVPN free costs nothing.
Mullvad suits people who need proven, anonymous privacy and resistance to traffic analysis. ZoogVPN suits budget users and travellers who want a free start and Shadow on blocked networks, accepting no public audit.
Try ZoogVPN free; choose Mullvad when proof matters.
Mullvad’s lockdown mode blocks traffic if the tunnel drops, and ZoogVPN documents a kill switch and leak protection, findcheapvpns found.
Run a DNS leak test after setup on either.
Open Source and Transparency
Outside reviews of code help, but only audits check what servers keep.
Mullvad’s apps are open source and its audit reports are public. ZoogVPN’s transparency rests on its Android app’s Google Play security review and its regularly updated warrant canary, findcheapvpns notes.
Mullvad gives outsiders far more to check.
Speed, Streaming and Mullvad’s DNS Change
Mullvad kept about 95% of connection speed on UK servers in Comparitech’s tests, but does not try to unblock streaming. ZoogVPN’s small network, roughly 35 to 55 countries, gives fewer locations to try when a service blocks one.
Neither is a streaming-first choice; test any service within a refund window.
Mullvad is retiring its public encrypted DNS on 2 November 2026 and recommends Quad9; its in-app DNS continues. ZoogVPN users are not affected. Our TunnelBear vs ZoogVPN comparison sets the two side by side.
Switch resolver before that date if you used Mullvad’s DNS on its own.
How We Research
This page draws on CyberInsider’s report on Mullvad’s 2023 police visit, findcheapvpns’ ZoogVPN safety check, listify’s 2026 VPN comparison, WP Room’s ZoogVPN review and our Mullvad tables. We cross-checked these sources against each other, and where they conflict or something can’t be verified, we say so in the text rather than guessing. We checked time-sensitive figures, including prices in US dollars, on 8 October 2026. The main source we relied on is findcheapvpns’ ZoogVPN safety check. Our full approach lives on the About Us page.
Mullvad vs ZoogVPN FAQ
Mullvad for audits and anonymity; ZoogVPN for a free plan and Shadow.
No public no-logs audit; Mullvad has more than 10.
Yes, 10 GB a month on one device.
ZoogVPN, at about $59.99 for two years.
Mullvad in Sweden; ZoogVPN in Patras, Greece.
The Verdict
Mullvad vs ZoogVPN: Mullvad for proven, anonymous privacy; ZoogVPN for a free start, lower cost and Shadow on blocked networks.