Updated September 29, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
Mysterium VPN vs Proton Mail
Where Mysterium VPN and Proton Mail differ
| Compare |  Mysterium VPN |  Proton Mail |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $10.49 | $4.99Lower |
| Platforms | Android, iOS, MacOS, Windows, Chrome | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Web app, Command line interface, Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge, BraveCovers more |
| Logging policy | No-logs pledge: no records of websites visited, IP addresses, browsing history or session data are kept; basic connection data is deleted within minutes of a session ending | No permanent IP logs by default; temporary IP logs kept to combat abuse and fraud; authentication logging off by default; Proton states it has no technical means to access encrypted passwords or notes |
| Jurisdiction | PA | CH |
| Free plan | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Free plan limits | Not confirmed | Unlimited logins, notes, credit cards and devices; 10 hide-my-email aliases; passkeys on all devices; no vault or item sharing |
| Protocols | WireGuard | Not confirmed |
| Privacy tool type | Browser | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Open source (Yes).
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Key differences
- Price from is lower at Proton Mail: $4.99 vs $10.49.
- Platforms: only Proton Mail offers Linux, Web app, Command line interface.
- Support channels: only Mysterium VPN offers Chat.
- Support channels: only Proton Mail offers Community.
- Founded is lower at Proton Mail: 2014 vs 2019.
Our verdict on each
Mysterium VPN
Mysterium VPN combines a no logs pledge with 15 device slots, servers across from 100 countries and a browser extension, so it suits households and small teams that want one subscription across many devices. The trade off is cost: plans start at $10.49, and long term terms run $2.59 to $4.79.
Proton Mail
Proton Mail suits readers who want a password manager that is open source, free to start and end-to-end encrypted on every field, metadata included. Support runs on email, help centre and community, and the budget plan starts at $4.99, while the group median monthly price is €6.47.
Score breakdown
| Area | Mysterium VPN | Proton Mail |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.2HigherMonthly plans of $10.49 to $18.49 and long terms of $2.59 to $4.79 rank 86 of 133 on monthly price. | 9.1 |
| Offer | 9.115 devices and servers in from 100 countries on one open source plan. | 9.1 |
| Privacy | 8.2 | 8.9Higher |
What it costs in practice
A year on the entry plan
Mysterium VPN
$125.88
12 × $10.49
Proton Mail
$59.88
12 × $4.99
Proton Mail costs $66 less.
Worked out from the stated prices and rates; your own total depends on how you use it. Facts checked September 26, 2026.
How they place
| Ranking | Mysterium VPN | Proton Mail |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy tools | 14 of 280 | 11 of 280 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Mysterium VPN | Proton Mail |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | Free, Budget |
| Legal entity | UAB MN Intelligence | Proton AG |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Switzerland |
| Founded | 2019 | 2014Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Help centre | Email, Help centre, Community |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Mysterium VPN | Proton Mail | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | $10.49above the median | $4.99below the median | $8 |
Median across 82 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Mysterium VPN
Pros
- 15 devices on one account is the widest device limit among the 80 brands scored on it, well past the 7 category median.
- Servers in from 100 countries sit above the 48.5 median for the category.
- The client is open source, a choice 56.6% of the brands in the ranking make.
Cons
- Monthly pricing of $10.49 to $18.49 places it at 86 of 133 on cost, above the €7.89 category median.
- The long term plan at $2.59 to $4.79 ranks 23 of 112, so the discount is thinner than most rivals manage.
- Support runs on email, chat and help centre only.
Proton Mail
Pros
- End-to-end encryption covers passwords, usernames, web addresses, credit cards, note contents and metadata, and only the user can decrypt.
- The client is open source, and by its logging policy the company has no technical means to reach encrypted passwords or notes.
- Paid entry is light: the budget plan starts at $4.99, and custom domains are supported.
Cons
- Support runs on email, help centre and community, with no phone line and no live chat in that list.
- The free plan limits leave out vault and item sharing, so a free account suits one person rather than a household.
- By its logging policy, temporary IP logs are kept to combat abuse and fraud, and authentication logging is off by default.
Who each suits
Mysterium VPN
Who it suits
- Households and small teams that want 15 device slots on one account, well above the 7 median.
- Readers who want a browser extension and desktop and mobile apps on the same plan, since Android, iOS and macOS covers all of them.
- People who put a written no logs pledge and open source code above a low monthly price.
Who should look elsewhere
- Apple Inc., whose own privacy subscription is $0.99 a month, if a light browsing tool is enough.
- Sinew Software Systems at $1.99 a month, when stored passwords are the real problem.
- ESET Brasil, which covers 3 to 25 on its antivirus plans, when you want endpoint protection instead of a tunnel.
Proton Mail
Who it suits
- Readers who want open source, end-to-end encrypted storage with a free plan to start on.
- Single users on a budget: paid entry starts at $4.99 on the budget plan.
- Readers who want a named operator: Proton AG, founded in 2014 and under CH jurisdiction.
Who should look elsewhere
- Apple Hide My Email, which arrives inside iCloud+ rather than as a standalone vault and whose free plan limits leave it out of the entry iCloud plan.
- Apple Inc. for anyone shopping only inside the Apple ecosystem, since the free plan limits exclude Hide My Email from the entry iCloud plan.
- addy.io, whose free plan limits cap recipients, alias domains and monthly bandwidth, so it suits lighter alias use.
Current offers
Mysterium VPN
Current offer
Discount code
2-Year Basic plan discount: Save 78%: $2.59/mo, $62.16 billed every 2 years
Applied directly in the pricing table, no code stated; VAT may apply. Struck-through list price $251.76 for 2 years.
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Discount code
2-Year Plus plan discount: Save 74%: $2.99/mo, $71.76 billed every 2 years
Applied directly in the pricing table, no code stated; VAT may apply. Struck-through list price $323.76 for 2 years.
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Discount code
2-Year Pro plan discount: Save 75%: $4.79/mo, $114.96 billed every 2 years
Applied directly in the pricing table, no code stated; VAT may apply. Struck-through list price $443.76 for 2 years.
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Proton Mail
Current offer
Free trial
30-day money-back guarantee on Pass Plus and Proton Unlimited: 30 days
Applies to premium Pass Plus and Proton Unlimited plans; cancel and request refund within 30 days
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Discount code
Pass Plus discount on yearly plans: 40% off
Pass Plus annual billing
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Mysterium VPN | Proton Mail |
|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | Yes | No |
| Aland Islands | Yes | No |
| Albania | Yes | No |
| Algeria | Yes | No |
| American Samoa | Yes | No |
| Andorra | Yes | No |
| Angola | Yes | No |
| Anguilla | Yes | No |
8 of 250 countries where either is available.
Questions about each
Mysterium VPN
What does Mysterium VPN cost month to month and on a long term plan?+
The monthly plan costs $10.49 to $18.49. Longer commitments are cheaper per month, with the long term plan at $2.59 to $4.79 and the longest term running 24 months. Both figures sit above the €7.89 monthly median for the category, so the saving comes from committing rather than from a lower opening rate.
How many devices can one Mysterium VPN account cover?+
One account covers 15 devices, and the plan places 1 of 80 brands on that measure. For context, the median device allowance in the category is 7, so a household with a phone, a laptop, a desktop and a browser extension stays inside the limit.
Proton Mail
How much does Proton Mail cost?+
There is a free plan, and the budget plan starts at $4.99. For context, the median monthly price across secure email brands in this group is €6.47, and the median long-term rate is €4.67. Entry pricing sits below that group median.
Can Proton Mail read my passwords?+
No. End-to-end encryption covers passwords, usernames, web addresses, credit cards, note contents and metadata inside AES-GCM vaults, so only the user can decrypt. By its logging policy, Proton states it has no technical means to reach encrypted passwords or notes, and the client is open source under CH law.
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