List of VPN Service Providers - 2025

[RickDeckard]

I suppose that by now you are already trying NYM, so looking forward to your feedback. Cure53 have also recently released an audit[1] where most of NYM was audited and, in their conclusions, there's an interesting take:

Hello, not really, I am still using Mullvad. But I plan to do it soon enough and I 'll post in this thread, because I am curious as well.

I plan to test:

1. IVPN
2. NYM

As someone who has used IVPN in the past, their servers and customer service was great. At the time I still had to use an e-mail to register but now they've implemented a similar system to that of Mullvad (random ID generated). Pricier than Mullvad, but I also didn't face as many CAPTCHA as I sometimes face in Mullvad. They also haven't been serviced an warrant as of today[1].
[1]https://www.ivpn.net/resources/canary.txt

[apogio]

As someone who has used IVPN in the past, their servers and customer service was great. At the time I still had to use an e-mail to register but now they've implemented a similar system to that of Mullvad (random ID generated). Pricier than Mullvad, but I also didn't face as many CAPTCHA as I sometimes face in Mullvad. They also haven't been serviced an warrant as of today[1].
[1]https://www.ivpn.net/resources/canary.txt

Good! I 'll certainly keep this in mind, as I evaluate them. I admit their website captivates me, just like mullvad's website does.

The differences are in the details, but they may (or may not) be significant.

I wanna try them casually, just as I wasn't having in my mind the fact that "now I am trying something different". If I test it this way and I am good with it, then I 'll proceed with the actual feature comparison between the services.

[SFR10]

To Mullvad users using a fiber-optic internet connection: Based on your configurations ^{[preferably those who use WireGuard protocol with Shadowsocks obfuscation (multihop and DAITA is off)]}, how drastic is the decrease in your internet speed?
^{Note: Other configurations don't work with my new internet connection.}

- I recently changed my internet provider and got a fiber connection and noticed a huge drop ^{[I did expect a drop, but not this significant (I've tried a lot of servers)]}.

• _{Without a VPN: 950 Mbps download and 250 Mbps upload on average.}
• ^{With a VPN: 70 Mbps download and 30 Mbps upload on average.}

[apogio]

To Mullvad users using a fiber-optic internet connection: Based on your configurations ^{[preferably those who use WireGuard protocol with Shadowsocks obfuscation (multihop and DAITA is off)]}, how drastic is the decrease in your internet speed?
^{Note: Other configurations don't work with my new internet connection.}

- I recently changed my internet provider and got a fiber connection and noticed a huge drop ^{[I did expect a drop, but not this significant (I've tried a lot of servers)]}.

• _{Without a VPN: 950 Mbps download and 250 Mbps upload on average.}
• ^{With a VPN: 70 Mbps download and 30 Mbps upload on average.}

Hi mate.

So I am on Mullvad now and my current speed is 78Mbps. My ping latency is around 50 - 70 ms.

Without the VPN, the speed is 100Mbps, but it's the max speed where my ISP limits me. The ping latency is 30 - 40 ms.

My config is: Wireguard + Auto Shadowshocks, DAITA off, Multihop off. Quantum resistance tunnel automatic. IPv4.

[SFR10]

So I am on Mullvad now and my current speed is 78Mbps. My ping latency is around 50 - 70 ms.

Without the VPN, the speed is 100Mbps, but it's the max speed where my ISP limits me. The ping latency is 30 - 40 ms.

My config is: Wireguard + Auto Shadowshocks, DAITA off, Multihop off. Quantum resistance tunnel automatic. IPv4.

Thank you for the above details... I remember reading a post from one of their staff members ^{[in their subreddit]} that Mullvad doesn't limit our bandwidth, but it appears that's no longer the case ^{[I'm a long time user of Mullvad, but up until recently, I didn't have a good enough connection to fully test its limits]}.
^{- Please post an update about this stuff whenever you try IVPN or NYM.}

[dkbit98]

To Mullvad users using a fiber-optic internet connection: Based on your configurations ^{[preferably those who use WireGuard protocol with Shadowsocks obfuscation (multihop and DAITA is off)]}, how drastic is the decrease in your internet speed?

This depends on many factors and it's not the precise science.
You can have maximum internet speed without VPN, and totally different speed using different location in Mullvad and other VPN services.
When I was doing testing I had speed variation even in same location, that is based on server location load, ping and usage.
In theory you will get fastest speed with nearest location that has small usage.

[alani123]

Canaries are trust based and even if there was a warrant why would they announce it when they would lose customers? Anyway, don't base your decisions solely on a canary. But either way seems like IVPN has lowered their prices significantly. The price they have for 3 years now used to be their annual price. They were the only VPN with such superior services back in 2018 circa that time.

Now many decent VPNs have sprung up like Mullvad. Hopefully crypto adoption increases too. This is the main concern for a VPN imo.

[apogio]

When I was doing testing I had speed variation even in same location, that is based on server location load, ping and usage.
In theory you will get fastest speed with nearest location that has small usage.

For me, latency is the most important thing when measuring connection quality. Especially when streaming or gaming, you will notice a great difference if the latency is high.
As far as I know (like you said), you can decrease the latency if you connect to the nearest server, which is an option, but it depends on where you live; it's not always doable.

[LoyceV]

Canaries are trust based and even if there was a warrant why would they announce it when they would lose customers?

A canary is a way of saying something without saying it, so you'll still know something happened even if they're not allowed to disclose it. If they'd lie about this, they loose all the trust they have.

[SFR10]

When I was doing testing I had speed variation even in same location, that is based on server location load, ping and usage.
In theory you will get fastest speed with nearest location that has small usage.

You have a point... A speed variation of 10% to 15% is completely normal with most VPNs and that's why I only mentioned average speeds. I spent a few days to roughly test 70% to 80% of their WireGuard servers when I posted that comment earlier in the week and even though I know Mullvad is popular, I highly doubt all of those servers were/are overloaded, so I'm ruling out that part ^{[FWIW, the servers that they rent are faster than the servers that are owned by Mullvad]} and that's why I strongly believe they've started limiting the bandwith ^{[not sure when they started doing it]}.

[dkbit98]

You have a point... A speed variation of 10% to 15% is completely normal with most VPNs and that's why I only mentioned average speeds. I spent a few days to roughly test 70% to 80% of their WireGuard servers when I posted that comment earlier in the week and even though I know Mullvad is popular, I highly doubt all of those servers were/are overloaded, so I'm ruling out that part ^{[FWIW, the servers that they rent are faster than the servers that are owned by Mullvad]} and that's why I strongly believe they've started limiting the bandwith ^{[not sure when they started doing it]}.

And I forgot to say that for speed is also depends what type of connection you are using, wireguard, IKEv2, UDP or TCP.
You can always check the status of Mullvad servers on their website, some of the servers they own and others are rented.
Other VPN services are even showing server load and health in their status pages.
https://mullvad.net/en/servers

[RickDeckard]

Canaries are trust based and even if there was a warrant why would they announce it when they would lose customers?

A canary is a way of saying something without saying it, so you'll still know something happened even if they're not allowed to disclose it. If they'd lie about this, they loose all the trust they have.

LoyceV summed it pretty well. Do note that Mullvad has been - as far as we are let known - very transparent about search warrants to their service. Do check this[1] attempt of Swedish authorities to seize their data in 2023 and the follow-up here[2].
[1]https://mullvad.net/en/blog/mullvad-vpn-was-subject-to-a-search-warrant-customer-data-not-compromised
[2]https://mullvad.net/en/blog/update-the-swedish-authorities-answered-our-protocol-request

[apogio]

Canaries are trust based and even if there was a warrant why would they announce it when they would lose customers?

A canary is a way of saying something without saying it, so you'll still know something happened even if they're not allowed to disclose it. If they'd lie about this, they loose all the trust they have.

LoyceV summed it pretty well. Do note that Mullvad has been - as far as we are let known - very transparent about search warrants to their service. Do check this[1] attempt of Swedish authorities to seize their data in 2023 and the follow-up here[2].
[1]https://mullvad.net/en/blog/mullvad-vpn-was-subject-to-a-search-warrant-customer-data-not-compromised
[2]https://mullvad.net/en/blog/update-the-swedish-authorities-answered-our-protocol-request

The final summary of the second article says it all, in my opinion:

Since Mullvad VPN by law is not required to collect any data related to our users’ activities online – and since the pure purpose of our service is to protect users from collection of such data – it is in our interest, our customers interest, all our employees and owners’ interest to not collect any data and therefore there is no reasonable grounds to doubt that we do not collect any data about our users’ activities online.

[LoyceV]

The final summary of the second article says it all, in my opinion:

Since Mullvad VPN by law is not required to collect any data related to our users’ activities online

This also means they're one new law away from being forced to skip the country.

[apogio]

The final summary of the second article says it all, in my opinion:

Since Mullvad VPN by law is not required to collect any data related to our users’ activities online

This also means they're one new law away from being forced to skip the country.

Sure, but when I think about things like this, I always wonder "what could they do to avoid it?"
I mean, seriously, what can any company do to avoid government's intervention forever?

[LoyceV]

Sure, but when I think about things like this, I always wonder "what could they do to avoid it?"
I mean, seriously, what can any company do to avoid government's intervention forever?

Lobby and pay (taxes), that's all they can do.

[RickDeckard]

Sure, but when I think about things like this, I always wonder "what could they do to avoid it?"
I mean, seriously, what can any company do to avoid government's intervention forever?

Lobby and pay (taxes), that's all they can do.

Let's see how this goes[1] - Proton CEO already said that they would leave[2] the country if this were to pass:

The law's revision would extend surveillance obligations and require companies to collect information and identification on their users – a move that would significantly impact online privacy.

Public consultation was until 06/05[3], so we should see any upcoming announcement anytime during this summer (?).
[1]https://www.isoc.ch/swiss-surveillance-ordinance-encryption-threat-vupf-oscpt/
[2]https://www.vice.com/en/article/proton-says-it-will-leave-switzerland-if-controversial-swiss-law-passes/
[3]https://www.news.admin.ch/fr/nsb?id=103968

[dkbit98]

Let's see how this goes[1] - Proton CEO already said that they would leave[2] the country if this were to pass

Proton already worked with authorities many times, disclosing customer emails and personal detials, I think they even contributed to people getting arrested, so yeah I don't trust anything they say.
EU and UK are making big law changes, and they are preparing for digital ID, digital wallets, CBDC and all that crap.
I am sure they will try to target VPN services and anything related with privacy  

[RickDeckard]

Let's see how this goes[1] - Proton CEO already said that they would leave[2] the country if this were to pass

Proton already worked with authorities many times, disclosing customer emails and personal detials, I think they even contributed to people getting arrested, so yeah I don't trust anything they say.
EU and UK are making big law changes, and they are preparing for digital ID, digital wallets, CBDC and all that crap.
I am sure they will try to target VPN services and anything related with privacy  

This will be a bit off-topic, but on the same page as of your comment: The European Union has great upsides - they have been smashing big corporations with fees due to privacy abuse, they try to standardize a lot of technology topics and force big brands like Apple and Samsung to follow suit. However, not everything is great - their latest mass surveillance proposal is disgusting[1][2], and to add insult to the injury, they refuse[3] to share the names of the people that are behind this bill. Their reasoning[4]?:

In accordance with Article 4(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 “[t]he institutions shall refuse access to a document where disclosure would undermine the protection of […] privacy and the integrity of the individual, in particular in accordance with Community legislation regarding the protection of personal data”.

How ironic right?
[1]https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/document/download/4802e306-c364-4154-835b-e986a9a49281_en?filename=Concluding%20Report%20of%20the%20HLG%20on%20access%20to%20data%20for%20effective%20law%20enforcement_en.pdf
[2]https://edri.org/our-work/high-level-group-going-dark-outcome-a-mission-failure/
[3]https://fragdenstaat.de/files/foi/848493/document17-participantlistfirstplenary.pdf?download
[4]https://fragdenstaat.de/anfrage/sub-groups-working-groups-of-the-high-level-expert-group-on-access-to-data-for-effective-law-enforcement/849608/anhang/replyease2023-5384-60941_geschwaerzt.pdf

[dkbit98]

For anyone who is interested, NYM VPN is currently offering early bird 80% discount.
This is available for 2-year deal with $2.59 per month, and 1-year deal package for $3.65 per month.
Bitcoin, lightning, monero, litecoin mweb, L-BTC, L-USDT are available payment options, as well as other fiat options.
https://nym.com/