Head to head
The gap
The security score is not a total of good things. It starts at 100 and eight channels each take a share of what is left, so one channel can settle a record on its own. Both records are drawn here on the same scale — the model’s own cap of 0.9 — rather than on a scale fitted to this pair, which would make every comparison look equally dramatic.
Line by line
Every field the contract publishes about a provider, in the contract’s own groups, including the rows where the two agree — a table that printed only differences would invent a disagreement, and one that printed only the interesting rows would be us choosing what is interesting. Open a group to read its rows; each one says how many it holds and how many of them the two records answer differently.
A green cell means the methodology itself prices that value below the other one, not that we prefer it. Rows the model does not price carry no mark at all: price is never marked, because nothing in the model says cheaper is safer, and neither is coverage, platform count or devices. Where a value was never established the cell says so instead of showing a zero.
What actually happened
Other pairs
Pairs within the top ten get a page — 80 comparisons in all. Records below that are not paired here: a comparison earns a page where the choice between the two is a real one, and that choice is made near the top of the register.
1 documented demand, none of which produced data
Security
Usability
Rank 21 of 68 in the register
Canada · Commercial VPN
Country list not published
3 documented demands, none of which produced data
Security
Usability
Rank 2 of 68 in the register
Sweden · Commercial VPN
Exits in 50 countries
Notes
On the record as a whole.
The April 2023 search warrant is the strongest single item in this record: police attended the office and left with nothing, which is practice evidence rather than paper and ages far more slowly than an audit. Pricing is a flat 5 EUR/month on every term; U04_price_monthly carries 5.80 (the USD equivalent Mullvad states on its own page); U04b_price_yearly is 69.60, the full year at that rate.
On the record as a whole.
Three separate demands in three jurisdictions, none of which produced data, and all three dated. This is the record the practice route was built to price: it outweighs the audit, which is a pentest rather than a no-logs engagement.
U08 is desktop_only on Windscribe's own feature page: the Firewall ships in the Windows, Mac and Linux apps, and on Android and iOS the page directs the user to the operating system's own Always-On VPN instead. That is a platform feature rather than the provider's, which is the distinction the field is counting.
U12b is partial on the same basis — the marketing page promises unblocking, while the support article states the company cannot guarantee that all streaming services will work and a second article attributes Netflix showing only Originals to Netflix's own VPN detection.
Recent changes
Open questions
Still open on this record.
The audit cadence. Mullvad publishes an audit index in the app repository and it is honest about cadence: the index states outright that the main app audits happen every two years, with extras in between, which is why regularity is recorded as repeated at no fixed interval rather than as an annual series — no annual cadence is claimed by anyone.
Two reports, one date. Two separate engagements share 2026-02-17 and the record names both: Assured's code review of GotaTun, the userspace WireGuard implementation (no critical, high or medium issues; two low and nine notes), and Leviathan's Mobile App Profile assessment of the Android app, whose compliance report gives February 17, 2026 as its date of evaluation and AL2 as its assurance level. One date, two reports, no contradiction.
Why the count reads eight. The audit count is eight because the GotaTun review sits outside the app repository's own list. Before them, a 30 person-day X41 D-Sec review across all five platforms found six vulnerabilities — three high, two medium, one low, none critical.
What no engagement covers. What none of these engagements covers is the server fleet: every one of them examines the app or the tunnel protocol, which is why fleet coverage is recorded as not applicable rather than as a sample. The no-logs claim on the infrastructure side therefore rests on the April 2023 search warrant — Swedish police came for customer data and left without it — and not on any audit.
Reproducible builds, Android only. Reproducible builds are Android-only, from version 2025.2 onward, so the field stays partial; the desktop and iOS builds are not verifiable bit-for-bit. Turkey is the one mandate country on the offered list and the hosting behind it is not established.
Nothing published about demands. Nothing on record rests on anything the provider publishes about demands it receives: there is no transparency report and no warrant canary, so the April 2023 seizure carries that ground alone. Kill-switch coverage and P2P policy are unestablished; the latest audit is a protocol code review, not a no-logs engagement, so V11 is silent and retention leans on the declaration.
Still open on this record.
What the pentest found. The security score rests on the June 2024 Packetlabs report and reads it in the negative direction. The penetration test found the IKEv2 service storing the origin IP of connecting users along with session start and stop times, in volatile memory and also on disk, and microservice logs carrying OpenVPN credentials, WireGuard pre-shared keys and IKEv2 usernames.
The retest, and its own caveat. The retest three weeks later verified all of it remediated — but the report's own conclusion states that this "does not cover every discovery noted within the finding", and attributes part of the finding to configuration improperly deployed on the test node.
Why retention is priced on the finding. Retention is therefore priced on what an auditor demonstrated was reachable rather than on what the policy declares, and the integrity channel carries the distance between the two. Read that as a two-year-old finding on one node, not as a current measurement: the scope was ca-023.windscribe.com alone, and a newer engagement covering more of the fleet is what would settle it.
The list that was never read. The offered country list was never read, so neither the usability country score nor the mandate intersection can be computed — Windscribe publishes a physical/virtual distinction, which makes C09b answerable here as soon as the list is. User scale is also unestablished, which leaves the exposure band resting on less than it should.
Where the three events now cite from. AIN.UA still carries the Ukrainian servers taken on 24 June 2021, and Windscribe's own blog the Greek case dismissed on 11 April 2025. The Dutch seizure and the seizure field itself now cite Windscribe's own no-logs page rather than the affiliate-paid press that first reported it: a company account of its own seizure is primary, not somebody else's account of one. The Ukrainian event is dated to the seizure itself, not the write-up.
25 Sep 20261 changes
Monthly price USD, month-to-month plan, as chargedU04_price_monthly
5.8 changed to 5.69
12 Sep 20264 changes
Security scoresecurity.score
65 changed to 64
Security scoresecurity.score
64 changed to 60
Works under active censorshipU06_censorship_circumvention
none changed to claimed
Usability scoreusability.score
55 changed to 64
13 Sep 20261 changes
Why this provider is in the catalogueM14_inclusion_basis
hand_picked changed to adverse_record
12 Sep 20264 changes
Platforms with a clientU01_platforms
android, browser-extension, ios, linux, macos, windows changed to android, apple-tv, browser-extension, fire-tv, ios, linux, macos, routers, windows
Usability scoreusability.score
65 changed to 68
Chronology of documented enforcement eventsP12_case_history
{"date":"2021-06","kind":"seizure","outcome":"nothing_produced","source_url":"https://en.ain.ua/2021/07/28/ukrainian-authorities-seize-windscribe-vpn-servers/"}, {"date":"2025-04","kind":"court_order","outcome":"nothing_produced","source_url":"https://windscribe.com/blog/windscribe-greek-court-case/"}, {"date":"2026-02","kind":"seizure","outcome":"nothing_produced","source_url":"https://www.tomshardware.com/software/vpn/dutch-authorities-allegedly-seize-vpn-server-without-a-warrant-company-claims-that-law-enforcement-will-return-it-after-analyzing-the-device-fully"} changed to {"date":"2021-06","kind":"seizure","outcome":"nothing_produced","source_url":"https://en.ain.ua/2021/07/28/ukrainian-authorities-seize-windscribe-vpn-servers/"}, {"date":"2025-04","kind":"court_order","outcome":"nothing_produced","source_url":"https://windscribe.com/blog/windscribe-greek-court-case/"}, {"date":"2026-02","kind":"seizure","outcome":"nothing_produced","source_url":"https://windscribe.com/features/no-identifying-logs"}
Security scoresecurity.score
12 changed to 11
By circumstance
| Mullvad VPN | Windscribe | |
|---|---|---|
| Torrenting | — not established | Allowed on some servers partial |
| Streaming | — not established | Some services reachable partial |
| Devices at once | 5 | — not established |
| Under censorship | Claimed to work claimed | Claimed to work claimed |
| Exits in mandate countries | 1 Turkey | — not established |
| Hosting in those countries | — not established | — not established |
| Company under a mandate | No such mandate no | No such mandate no |
| Secret orders | Orders go through a judge judicial_only | Secret orders are possible secret_order_possible |
| Mullvad VPN | Windscribe | |
|---|---|---|
| Security | 60 acceptable · rank 2 of 68 | 11 not recommended · rank 21 of 68 |
| Usability | 64 out of 100 | 68 out of 100 |
| Record completeness | 87% usability 75% | 84% usability 83% |
| Mullvad VPN | Windscribe | |
|---|---|---|
| Who operates the exit | Run by the provider itself provider_operated | Run by the provider itself provider_operated |
| Retention as declared | Nothing that links traffic to a person none_linkableBmullvad.net · | Connection timestamps connection_timestampsBwindscribe.com · |
| RAM-only diskless servers | Yes, on the provider's word yes_declaredBmullvad.net · | Part of the fleet partialAdrive.google.com · |
| IP allocation model | Exit address shared between users sharedBmullvad.net · | Dedicated address offered as an option dedicated_optionBwindscribe.com · |
| Signup without email | Yes, on the provider's word yes_declared | Yes, on the provider's word yes_declared |
| Anonymous payment options | Cash · Cryptocurrency paid directly · Prepaid voucher or gift cardBmullvad.net · | Cryptocurrency through a processorBwindscribe.com · |
| Own DNS inside the tunnel | Yes, on the provider's word yes_declared | Yes, on the provider's word yes_declared |
| Worst third-party SDK category in the app | No third-party SDK none | No third-party SDK none |
| Worst third-party tracker category on the site | No third-party tracker noneBmullvad.net · | — not establishedno source published |
| Who owns the hardware | Owned and rented both mixed | Owned and rented both mixed |
| Offered countries that sit under a logging mandate | 1 TurkeyBmullvad.net · | — not establishedno source published |
| Hosting in the mandate countries it offers | — not established | — not established |
| Incorporation country mandates retention | No such mandate no | No such mandate no |
| Beneficial owner sits under a retention regime | No such regime no | No such regime no |
| Persistent device identifier | None held noneBplay.google.com · | An identifier scoped to the app app_scoped_idBplay.google.com · |
| Weakest protocol still offered | — the question does not arise | — the question does not arise |
| What the exit does to passing traffic | — not established | — not established |
| Mullvad VPN | Windscribe | |
|---|---|---|
| At least one independent audit | Yes, and the report was read yes_verified | Yes, and the report was read yes_verified |
| How the report is published | The full report is published full_pdf | The full report is published full_pdf |
| Subject of the audit | The protocol · The app's securityAassured.se · 2 sources · | The infrastructure · The app's securityAdrive.google.com · 2 sources · |
| Server fleet coverage | — the question does not ariseno source published | A sample of servers sampleAdrive.google.com · |
| Auditor name | Assured Security Consultants (GotaTun code review) and Leviathan Security Group (Android Mobile App Profile assessment) — two engagements, both reports dated 2026-02-17 |
| Mullvad VPN | Windscribe | |
|---|---|---|
| Server seizure by law enforcement | Seized, and nothing usable was on it seizure_no_data | Seized, and nothing usable was on it seizure_no_data |
| Actual disclosure history | No disclosure on record none_known | No disclosure on record none_known |
| Court record of compelled production | No court record none_knownBmullvad.net · | Told a court it had nothing to produce unable_to_produceBwindscribe.com · |
| Response to a national logging mandate | Was never present in that country no_presenceBmullvad.net · | — not establishedno source published |
| Transparency report |
| Mullvad VPN | Windscribe | |
|---|---|---|
| Documented gap between claim and behaviour | No documented lie none | No documented lie none |
| Marketing against audit findings | No gap on record noneCgithub.com · | The policy contradicts the audit policy_contradicts_auditBdrive.google.com · 2 sources · |
| Ownership structure transparency | Ownership is stated and checkable clear | Ownership is stated and checkable clear |
| Adverse events on the owner group record | Nothing adverse on record clean | Nothing adverse on record clean |
| How the service is paid for | Paid subscriptions only paid_onlyBmullvad.net · |
| Mullvad VPN | Windscribe | |
|---|---|---|
| Legal entity | Mullvad VPN AB, Box 53049, 400 14 Gothenburg, SwedenBmullvad.net · | Windscribe Limited, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaBwindscribe.com · |
| Where the company sits | Sweden SEBmullvad.net · | Canada CABwindscribe.com · |
| Year the service launched | 2009Bmullvad.net · | 2016Bwindscribe.com · |
| Mullvad VPN | Windscribe | |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms with a client | 5 Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, WindowsBmullvad.net · | 9 Android, Apple TV, Browser extension, Fire TV, iOS, Linux, macOS, Routers, WindowsBwindscribe.com · |
| Countries with an exit | 50 countriesBmullvad.net · | — not establishedno source published |
| Paying monthly | $5.69 per monthBmullvad.net · | $9.00 per monthBwindscribe.com · |
| Paying yearly | $69.60 a year at renewal, billed once |
Mullvad VPN and Windscribe were assessed by the HushFleet team: Mullvad VPN scores 60/100 for security, in the Acceptable band, and Windscribe 11/100, in the Not recommended band. They share an independent audit, independent ownership and sign-up without an account. The 49-point gap opens widest on Retention — “Does a record exist that links traffic to a person, and who checked?” — taking 22% from Mullvad VPN and 75% from Windscribe.
| ChannelPressure taken from what was left | Mullvad VPNDominant channel: Retention0 to 0.9, longer is worse | WindscribeDominant channel: Retention0 to 0.9, longer is worse |
|---|---|---|
| RetentionDoes a record exist that links traffic to a person, and who checked? | 0.218 | 0.750 |
| IntegrityHas it been caught saying one thing and doing another? | 0.000 | 0.320 |
| JurisdictionCan someone compel what exists, without the provider getting a say? | 0.050 | 0.145 |
| IgnoranceHow much of this did nobody establish? | 0.103 | 0.104 |
| HygieneWhat identifying material is collected in passing, and can the client be checked at all? | 0.050 | 0.083 |
| ArchitectureWho operates the exit, and what does it do to the traffic? | 0.050 | 0.050 |
| DisclosureHas it already handed something over? | 0.000 | 0.000 |
| SilenceTen years, millions of users and nothing on record? | 0.000 | 0.000 |
| What is left of 100The channels multiply: each one takes a share of what the one before it left standing | 60 | 11 |
| Packetlabs (June 2024 retest, one production node); Leviathan Security Group (desktop 2021, mobile 2022)Adrive.google.com · 2 sources · |
| Auditor category | A security specialist security_specialist | A security specialist security_specialist |
|---|
| Assurance standard | Another standard otherBgithub.com · | No standard stated noneAdrive.google.com · |
|---|
| Date of latest report | 2026-02-17Aassured.se · 2 sources · | 2024-06-26Adrive.google.com · |
|---|
| Audit cadence | Repeated, at no fixed interval repeated_irregular | Repeated, at no fixed interval repeated_irregular |
|---|
| Total published audits | 8Bgithub.com · 2 sources · | 3Bwindscribe.com · |
|---|
| Retention as the report states it | The report does not address retention not_statedBgithub.com · | Source IP address source_ipAdrive.google.com · |
|---|
| Client source code published | Every client all | Every client all |
|---|
| Reproducible builds | On some platforms partialBmullvad.net · | — not establishedno source published |
|---|
| Separate pentest | Yes, and the report was read yes_verified | Yes, and the report was read yes_verified |
|---|
| Strength of the assurance opinion | — the question does not ariseno source published | — not establishedno source published |
|---|
| — not establishedno source published |
Current, with request numbers fresh_with_numbersBwindscribe.com · |
| Reported numbers plausible for this scale | — the question does not ariseno source published | The numbers are plausible at this scale plausibleBwindscribe.com · |
|---|
| Warrant canary discipline | — not establishedno source published | Never had one noneBwindscribe.com · |
|---|
| Requests received | — not established | — not established |
|---|
| Requests that produced data | — not establishedno source published | 0Bwindscribe.com · |
|---|
| Secret-order regime | Orders go through a judge judicial_onlyBmullvad.net · | Secret orders are possible secret_order_possibleBwindscribe.com · |
|---|
| Chronology of documented enforcement events | 1 documented demandBmullvad.net · | 3 documented demandsCwindscribe.com · 3 sources · |
|---|
A free tier funded by the paid one freemium_fundedBwindscribe.com · |
| Claims of 100% anonymity or military-grade crypto | — not establishedno source published | Makes no such claim noBwindscribe.com · |
|---|
| Aggressive lifetime subscriptions | Does not no | Does not no |
|---|
| Coverage exists only on affiliate sites | Covered outside affiliate sites too no | Covered outside affiliate sites too no |
|---|
| Security incident and how it was disclosed | Disclosed by the provider, promptly self_disclosed_prompt | Disclosed by the provider, promptly self_disclosed_prompt |
|---|
| Affiliate programme and payout tier | No affiliate programme noneBmullvad.net · | — not establishedno source published |
|---|
| Owner-run review media discloses the tie | — the question does not arise | — the question does not arise |
|---|
| App store declaration | The store form matches the published policy matches_policyBapps.apple.com · 3 sources · | An identifier is declared to the store, not in the policy undisclosed_identifierBplay.google.com · 2 sources · |
|---|
| User base scale (mass >=10M, mid >=1M, niche <1M) | Mid: a million users or more midBmullvad.net · | — not establishedno source published |
|---|
| Ultimate beneficial owner as written | Amagicom AB, 100% owned by founders Fredrik Stromberg and Daniel BerntssonBmullvad.net · | Founder-owned: Yegor Sak (CEO), Alex Paguis (CTO), Mark Ulicki (CIO); self-funded, no outside investorsBwindscribe.com · |
|---|
| Other businesses of the owner group | None disclosedBmullvad.net · | Something elseBwindscribe.com · |
|---|
| Country of the ultimate beneficial owner | SEBmullvad.net · | CACwindscribe.com · |
|---|
| Owner group | independent | independent |
|---|
| Date the current owner took control | — the question does not arise | — the question does not arise |
|---|
| Role of this brand inside the group | The group's principal brand principal | The group's principal brand principal |
|---|
| Infrastructure shared with cluster siblings | Separate infrastructure separate | Separate infrastructure separate |
|---|
| $69.00 a year at renewal, billed onceBwindscribe.com · |
| Usable free tier | No free tier noneBmullvad.net · | A free tier with limits limited_freeBwindscribe.com · |
|---|
| Works under active censorship | Claimed to work claimed | Claimed to work claimed |
|---|
| Protocols offered | 1 WireGuardBmullvad.net · 2 sources · | 4 WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, An obfuscated protocolBwindscribe.com · |
|---|
| Kill switch coverage | — not establishedno source published | On desktop only desktop_onlyBwindscribe.com · |
|---|
| Split tunneling available | Available yes | Available yes |
|---|
| Simultaneous connections | 5Bmullvad.net · | — not establishedno source published |
|---|
| Friction to start using it | No account needed no_account | No account needed no_account |
|---|
| P2P allowed | — not establishedno source published | Allowed on some servers partialBwindscribe.com · |
|---|
| Major streaming services reachable | — not establishedno source published | Some services reachable partialBwindscribe.com · 2 sources · |
|---|
