100% open-source code on GitHub — independently verifiable, no hidden backdoors. Swiss jurisdiction outside all intelligence-sharing alliances. Tor over VPN servers built in. Stealth obfuscation protocol. Free plan with unlimited bandwidth. Audited by Cure53 and SEC Consult.
Full Ranking
| # | VPN | Open-Source | Jurisdiction | Audits | Tor | Anon Signup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🏆 #1 | ProtonVPN | GitHub | Switzerland | Cure53+SEC | Tor over VPN | Email req |
| 🥈 #2 | Mullvad | Client OSS | Sweden | Cure53 3x | No built-in | No email |
| 🥉 #3 | NordVPN | Closed | Panama | 5x PwC+Del | No | Email req |
| #4 | ExpressVPN | Closed | BVI | KPMG 1x | No | Email req |
| #5 | Surfshark | Closed | Netherlands | Deloitte 1x | No | Email req |
Why Open-Source Code Matters for Privacy
When a VPN publishes their app source code on GitHub (as ProtonVPN does), any security researcher can inspect it line by line. Backdoors or hidden data collection cannot be concealed — they would be discovered and published, causing catastrophic reputational damage. This is a structural guarantee, not a trust-based claim.
Closed-source VPNs require you to trust the company's word. Third-party audits check server infrastructure at a specific point in time, not the ongoing behavior of the software running on your device. Open-source code is continuously reviewed by the global security community. For users who genuinely prioritize privacy, this distinction is significant.
ProtonVPN vs Mullvad: Two Different Approaches to Privacy
ProtonVPN focuses on technical privacy guarantees: open-source apps, Swiss law (strong privacy protections, outside all intelligence-sharing alliances), Tor over VPN servers (traffic exits through the Tor network adding multiple anonymization layers), and a free tier with unlimited bandwidth — the only premium VPN with a genuinely usable free plan.
Mullvad focuses on anonymity at signup and payment: you receive a random 16-digit account number with no email, name, or identifying information required. You can pay with cash sent in an envelope, Bitcoin, Monero, or card. Mullvad also has no affiliate program — meaning independent reviewers have no financial incentive to recommend it, which makes recommendations more credible.
What 5/9/14 Eyes Means for Your VPN
The Five Eyes (US, UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand), Nine Eyes (adds France, Netherlands, Denmark, Norway), and Fourteen Eyes (adds Germany, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Sweden) are intelligence-sharing alliances. A VPN based in a Five Eyes country may be legally compelled to hand over user data and keep that compulsion secret.
Switzerland (ProtonVPN) and Panama (NordVPN) are outside all Eyes alliances and have no mandatory data retention laws for VPN providers. British Virgin Islands (ExpressVPN) is a UK overseas territory — its relationship with UK intelligence sharing is legally ambiguous but functionally independent. Sweden (Mullvad) is a Fourteen Eyes member, though it has strong domestic privacy laws.
ProtonVPN for verifiable technical privacy: open-source on GitHub, Swiss jurisdiction, Tor over VPN, audited by Cure53 and SEC Consult. Mullvad for anonymity at signup: no email required, cash payment accepted, random account number — zero personal data collected.
Yes, significantly. Closed-source VPNs require you to trust the company. Open-source VPNs let any security researcher verify there are no backdoors. ProtonVPN publishes all apps on GitHub. This is a structural guarantee — hidden data collection would be discovered publicly. It is verifiable rather than trust-based.
More than any other mainstream VPN. No email at signup. Random 16-digit account number. Cash payment by mail accepted. Monero accepted. No billing records kept after payment. Even Mullvad employees cannot link an account to a person. No affiliate program means reviews are more likely to be unbiased.
Mullvad wins on signup anonymity (no email, cash, Monero). ProtonVPN wins on features (Tor over VPN, streaming, free plan, open-source clients, 10 devices, Swiss jurisdiction). Both are audited. Choose Mullvad for maximum anonymity. Choose ProtonVPN for a full-featured private VPN with streaming.