VPN Comparison
BlackVault vs Mullvad
TL;DR: Mullvad is the minimalist's VPN - a flat €5/mo, no email required, cash payments accepted, and a no-frills interface focused purely on privacy. BlackVault shares Mullvad's privacy-first philosophy but adds features Mullvad intentionally omits: biometric app lock, 8 DNS providers, per-app split tunneling, and a polished native UI - all at €1.99/mo versus Mullvad's €5/mo.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | BlackVault | Mullvad |
|---|---|---|
| Encryption Standard | AES-256-GCM | AES-256-GCM |
| VPN Protocol | WireGuard + OpenVPN | WireGuard, OpenVPN |
| Server Count | 50+ curated servers | ~89 servers in 36 countries |
| Simultaneous Devices | Multi-device | 5 devices |
| No-Logs Policy | ✓ | ✓ |
| Kill Switch | ✓ | ✓ |
| Split Tunneling | Per-app (macOS), IP/CIDR (iOS) | ✓ |
| Custom DNS | 8 providers + DoH + custom | - |
| Always-On VPN | ✓ | ✓ |
| App Lock (Biometrics) | Face ID / Touch ID | - |
| File Scanner | MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256 | - |
| Multi-Hop | - | ✓ |
| Obfuscation | - | Obfsproxy, Shadowsocks |
| Anonymous Sign-Up | - | Account number only, no email |
| Cash Payments | - | Accepts cash by mail |
| Post-Quantum Encryption | - | DAITA (AI traffic analysis defense) |
| Monthly Price | €1.99/mo | €5/mo |
Pricing Comparison
Mullvad
€5/mo flat (no discounts, no annual plans)
BlackVault
€1.99/mo - 60% less than Mullvad
Pros & Cons
Mullvad does well
- •Ultimate anonymity - no email, no personal data required to sign up
- •Accepts cash payments by mail for completely untraceable transactions
- •RAM-only servers with strict no-logging infrastructure
- •DAITA (Defense Against AI-guided Traffic Analysis) - cutting-edge anti-surveillance technology
- •Post-quantum encryption for future-proof security
- •Flat €5/mo pricing since 2009 - no sales tactics, no intro rates, no upsells
- •Open-source clients and auditable infrastructure
Potential trade-offs
- •€5/mo flat rate is 2.5× more expensive than BlackVault - with no annual discount option
- •Only ~89 servers in 36 countries - significantly smaller network
- •Limited to 5 simultaneous device connections
- •No custom DNS configuration - uses Mullvad's own DNS exclusively
- •Minimal UI with no analytics, no speed monitoring, no connection history
- •No biometric app lock or additional security layers beyond the VPN itself
- •No ad or malware blocking built into the service
Where BlackVault stands out
- •€1.99/mo vs Mullvad's €5/mo - 60% cheaper for core VPN functionality
- •8 built-in DNS providers + DNS-over-HTTPS - Mullvad offers none
- •Biometric app lock with Face ID / Touch ID for device-level security
- •File scanner with triple-algorithm malware detection
- •Per-app split tunneling on macOS with domain exclusions
- •Real-time connection analytics with speed, latency, and usage tracking
- •Simple/Advanced mode toggle - accessible to beginners and power users alike
- •Polished, native UI on iOS and macOS vs Mullvad's minimalist interface
Who It's Best For
Mullvad
Privacy purists who value anonymous sign-up, cash payments, and cutting-edge anti-surveillance technology (DAITA). Ideal for users in restrictive regions who need obfuscation and multi-hop, or those who philosophically prefer Mullvad's no-marketing, no-discount approach.
BlackVault
Users who share Mullvad's privacy-first values but want more features - custom DNS, biometric lock, split tunneling, and connection analytics - in a polished native app at 60% lower cost.
Ready to Try BlackVault?
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