Basically I started with mullvad then turned to proton but after they introduced AI and a crypto wallet I’m just looking for what peoples opinions are.

EDIT: Thank you all for your suggestions and opinions :D

  • u/lukmly013 💾 (lemmy.sdf.org)@lemmy.sdf.org
    ·
    5 months ago

    Mullvad is cheaper, and probably a bit more trusted, but Proton has port forwarding. Currently I use Mullvad. I don't like the Mullvad's 5 device limit on Wireguard clients though. You can only have 5 devices added to the account, no matter if just 1 or all 5 are currently connected. And after using Wireguard once, I don't want to use OpenVPN again where wg can fully replace it.
    Both support cash payments, though Proton makes me feel like they expect it for larger sums of cash:

    We cannot be responsible for lost shipments, so we strongly recommend sending your payment using a service that provides a tracking number so you can track the shipment. It’s also helpful to notify us that you’re sending us cash in the mail, so we know to expect it.

    While Mullvad asks you not to use registered mail nor send larger amounts of cash. I feel like the latter is implied by asking to notify them. I suppose "Hey, I am sending you 10 bucks via mail." is not what's expected here.

    What I absolutely like is the fair pricing. It's same price no matter how much time you buy, whether it's 1 month, a year or two. Even their direct competitor IVPN does this crap (and so does Proton). I value that quite a bit.

    So currently Mullvad is winning for me.

      • u/lukmly013 💾 (lemmy.sdf.org)@lemmy.sdf.org
        ·
        5 months ago

        It technologically can't. With Wireguard, you need to upload each device's public key to Mullvad, thus registering each device separately. With OpenVPN you login with username and password. Or in this case just the username.

        Theoretically speaking, you could have the same private key on 2 devices that won't be connected simultaneously though.

    • scarcity_of_the_self [none/use name]
      ·
      2 months ago

      Mail is extremely insecure, it's actually really nefarious for them to recommend it. I still use Mullvad sometimes because it's just so cheap and fast. I know it's some kind of high level NATO spyware though. Just look at where their servers are. I mean fucking come on now.

      • u/lukmly013 💾 (lemmy.sdf.org)@lemmy.sdf.org
        ·
        2 months ago

        Just look at where their servers are.

        Kind of... al around the place? What do you mean?

        Also, in the mail you don't send the account number, just a payment token. So the postman won't be stealing your account, just your cash at most.

        Vouchers are probably the safest, but I actually like sending mail, and this is basically my only opportunity to do so nowadays.

        • scarcity_of_the_self [none/use name]
          ·
          2 months ago

          They can just scan and open and reclose the mail they do this to everyone now I am so serious. Difficult to do at scale though so honestly I take it back, if everyone did it the mail way it could increase surveillance costs? Escalating everyone's piracy to require forensic cracking at a federal or international level would skyrocket costa which should be a goal