Updated September 29, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
Mysterium VPN vs Proton
Where Mysterium VPN and Proton differ
| Compare |  Mysterium VPN |  Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Devices | 15Higher | 10 |
| Server countries | from 100 | 140 |
| Money-back period | 7 to 30 days | 30 days |
| Jurisdiction | PA | CH |
| Protocols | WireGuard | WireGuard, OpenVPNCovers more |
| Streaming services | Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max, Crunchyroll, Crave TV, Stremio, ESPN+ | Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Hulu |
| Platforms | Android, iOS, MacOS, Windows, Chrome | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Web app, Command line interface, Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge, BraveCovers more |
| Monthly price | $10.49 to $18.49 | Not confirmed |
| Long-term plan price | $2.59 to $4.79 | Not confirmed |
| Owner | Not confirmed | Proton Foundation |
Same on both: Features (Kill switch), Longest plan (months) (24 months).
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- Proton scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 9.0.
- Devices is higher at Mysterium VPN: 15 vs 10.
- Protocols: only Proton offers OpenVPN.
- Streaming services: only Mysterium VPN offers BBC iPlayer, HBO Max, Crunchyroll.
- Streaming services: only Proton offers Amazon Prime Video.
- Platforms: only Proton offers Linux, Web app, Command line interface.
- Support channels: only Proton offers Community.
- Founded is lower at Proton: 2014 vs 2019.
- Features: only Proton offers Travel.
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
Proton bundles a password manager, VPN and encrypted storage in one account, with Pass starting at $4.99 and a free tier. It suits readers who want passwords, private files and a VPN in a single subscription, and who can live with free plan limits that leave out an authenticator, password sharing and file attachments.
Score breakdown
| Area | Mysterium VPN | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.2Monthly plans of $10.49 to $18.49 and long terms of $2.59 to $4.79 rank 86 of 133 on monthly price. | 9.2Entry at $4.99 sits under the site median of €6.84, with storage at $95.88 per TB per year and a free plan. |
| Offer | 9.115 devices and servers in from 100 countries on one open source plan. | 9.5Higher |
| Privacy | 8.2 | 9.1Higher |
How the counts compare
| Fact | Mysterium VPN | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Devices | 15 | 10 |
| Server countries | from 100 | 140 |
| Money-back period | 7 to 30 days | 30 days |
| Longest plan (months) | 24 months | 24 months |
Licences and countries
| Country | Mysterium VPN | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Switzerland |
Sources behind this comparison
Mysterium VPN
- mysteriumvpn.com: 15 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Proton
- proton.me: 17 facts, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Mysterium VPN | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| VPNs | 15 of 232 | 13 of 232 |
| Privacy tools | 14 of 280 | 10 of 280 |
| Free VPNs | 11 of 189 | 9 of 189 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Mysterium VPN | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Features | No logs, Streaming | No logs, Streaming, TravelCovers more |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Business |
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | Free |
| Legal entity | UAB MN Intelligence | Proton AG |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Switzerland |
| Founded | 2019 | 2014Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Help centre | Email, Chat, Help centre, CommunityCovers more |
Privacy tools
| Fact | Mysterium VPN | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $10.49 | $4.99Lower |
| Free plan | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Free plan limits | Not confirmed | Unlimited logins, notes, credit cards and devices; 10 hide-my-email aliases; passkeys and password health alerts; no 2FA authenticator, secure sharing, file attachments or dark web monitoring |
| 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 |
| Open source | Yes | Yes |
| Privacy tool type | Browser | Not confirmed |
Password managers
| Fact | Mysterium VPN | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Family plan | Not confirmed | Pass Family: up to 6 users, includes 6 Pass Plus accounts and an admin panel |
| Passkeys | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Security audit | Not confirmed | Independently audited by third-party experts (Cure53 audit published July 2023), open source under GPLv3, public bug bounty |
| Encryption | Not confirmed | End-to-end encryption; 256-bit AES-GCM encrypted vaults; OpenPGP with ECC (Curve25519) for vault keys |
| Zero-knowledge encryption | Not confirmed | Yes |
Secure email
| Fact | Mysterium VPN | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| End-to-end encryption | Not confirmed | All fields end-to-end encrypted: passwords, usernames, web addresses, credit cards, note contents and metadata; 256-bit AES-GCM vaults; only the user can decrypt, Proton cannot |
| Custom domains | Not confirmed | Yes |
Encrypted storage
| Fact | Mysterium VPN | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Free storage | Not confirmed | 5 |
| Price per TB per year | Not confirmed | $95.88 |
| Compliance certifications | Not confirmed | ISO 27001, SOC 2 Type II |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Mysterium VPN | Proton | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $10.49 to $18.49above the median | Not confirmed | $9 |
| Long-term plan price | $2.59 to $4.79lowest quarter | Not confirmed | $4.50 |
| Devices | 15highest quarter | 10at the median | 10 |
| Server countries | from 100highest quarter | 140highest quarter | 62 |
| Money-back period | 7 to 30 daysat the median | 30 daysat the median | 30 |
| Longest plan (months) | 24 monthsabove the median | 24 monthsabove the median | 12 months |
Median across 139 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
Pros
- A single account covers a password manager, a VPN and end-to-end encrypted storage, with a free plan to start.
- Passkeys, custom domains and a Family plan with an admin panel suit single-user and shared use.
- Vaults use AES-GCM encryption with OpenPGP and ECC keys, and only the account holder can decrypt.
Cons
- Support runs on email, chat and help centre with no phone line.
- Free plan limits leave out the authenticator app, password sharing, attachments and dark web monitoring.
- Extra storage costs $95.88 per TB per year beyond 5 GB free.
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
Who it suits
- Readers who want a password manager, a VPN and private files under a single subscription rather than separate products.
- Households and small teams that need shared accounts, since the Family plan bundles several Pass Plus accounts and an admin panel.
- Buyers who care about open source under a copyleft licence, outside security audits and a public bug bounty.
Who should look elsewhere
- Apple Hide My Email at $0.99 if email aliasing is the whole job, since Proton adds a VPN, storage and a password manager.
- Apple Inc. at $0.99 when aliasing is the priority; Proton's $4.99 entry brings a VPN, storage and password manager in the same account.
- EasyOptOuts at $19.99 for a single higher priced subscription, against Proton's $4.99 entry and a free plan.
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
Current offer
Discount code
40% off Pass Plus: 40% off
Shown on the Proton Pass pricing page alongside a 30-day money-back guarantee; applies to the Pass Plus paid plan
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Mysterium VPN | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| 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
How much is Proton Pass at the entry price?+
Proton Pass starts at $4.99, and there is a free plan beside it. The paid tiers widen the set of features, so the entry price only pays off if you want more hide my email aliases, passkeys and password health alerts.
What does the free plan leave out?+
The free plan covers as many logins, notes, cards and devices as you like, but it leaves out the authenticator app, sharing with other people, file attachments and dark web monitoring. Those sit on paid Pass plans, where entry starts at $4.99.
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