Mullvad is the best Astrill VPN alternative for most privacy-first users, while Proton VPN is the safer pick if you want a full security suite with email, storage, and password tools. Astrill can still be useful in strict censorship regions, but its pricing is hard to ignore: its monthly plan is listed at $30, which is far above many rivals [source: Astrill].
TLDR: If you want a simple replacement for Astrill, start with Mullvad; it costs far less and does not even require an email address. If you want a broader privacy setup, pick Proton VPN and pair it with Proton Mail. For example, someone paying $30 per month for Astrill could cut that bill by more than 70% with Mullvad’s flat €5 monthly plan. Windscribe is the best flexible option if you want a cheap custom plan or need many locations without paying for a premium bundle.
1. Mullvad VPN: best for strict privacy
Mullvad is blunt, clean, and serious. That is the point. You do not need an email address to sign up. You get an account number, pay, and connect. Its price is also simple: €5 per month, with no long-term discount games [source: Mullvad].
This makes Mullvad a strong choice for journalists, researchers, activists, and anyone tired of marketing noise. It supports WireGuard and OpenVPN. It also has useful privacy extras, like a kill switch and DNS leak protection.
The catch is that Mullvad is not built for people who want glossy streaming shortcuts. It may unblock some platforms, but that is not its main job. If Netflix access is your top need, pick another service.
2. Proton VPN: best all-round privacy service
Proton VPN is the best Astrill alternative if you want more than a VPN. Proton also offers encrypted email, cloud storage, calendar tools, and a password manager. That makes it useful for people trying to move away from large ad-driven platforms.
Its apps are polished. The free plan is also usable, which is rare in the VPN market. Paid users get faster servers, more countries, streaming support, and Secure Core routing. Secure Core sends traffic through privacy-friendly countries before it leaves the VPN network.
Proton VPN is not always the cheapest choice. Still, it feels dependable. For families or small teams, the wider Proton ecosystem can be worth the higher bill.
3. Windscribe: best for flexible pricing
Windscribe is a practical pick for users who hate rigid plans. Its free tier is generous compared with most VPNs. Its paid plans are also flexible, especially the build-a-plan option, where you can choose specific server locations.
Windscribe includes ad blocking, tracker blocking, split tunneling, and browser extensions. It is also good for people who switch between devices often. The tone of the product is casual, but the feature set is serious.
Honestly, it feels like the interface tries a bit too hard to be funny at times. That said, the service works well, and power users get plenty of control.
4. IVPN: best for transparency and minimal tracking
IVPN is similar to Mullvad in spirit. It is privacy-focused, direct, and light on gimmicks. You can sign up without giving much personal information, and its apps are open source.
IVPN supports multi-hop connections, anti-tracker tools, and strong leak protection. It also publishes clear policy pages, which helps users understand what is and is not being collected.
The downside is server count. IVPN does not try to win by listing endless locations. If you need a server in a very specific country, check the location list before paying.
5. NordVPN: best for speed and streaming
NordVPN is not as privacy-purist as Mullvad or IVPN, but it is fast, polished, and easy to use. It is a good Astrill replacement for users who care about streaming, travel, gaming, and general security.
Its apps include threat protection, split tunneling, Meshnet, and specialty servers. Speeds are usually strong, especially with the NordLynx protocol. For households with less technical users, NordVPN is easier to recommend than many niche privacy tools.
Expect more upsells than with Mullvad. That can get annoying. Still, the product is mature, and support is easier to reach than with smaller providers.
6. Surfshark: best budget option for many devices
Surfshark is the best choice if you need to cover many devices at a low price. It allows unlimited device connections under one account, which is useful for families, roommates, and people with too many gadgets.
It includes MultiHop, CleanWeb ad blocking, rotating IP options, and GPS spoofing on Android. It also performs well for streaming and daily browsing. If your main complaint with Astrill is price, Surfshark is one of the easiest swaps.
The lowest prices usually require long subscriptions. Read the renewal price before buying. VPN deals can look cheap at first, then jump later.
Quick comparison
- Best privacy-first pick: Mullvad
- Best full privacy suite: Proton VPN
- Best flexible plan: Windscribe
- Best small, serious provider: IVPN
- Best for streaming and speed: NordVPN
- Best for many devices: Surfshark
How to choose the right Astrill alternative
Start with your real need. If you want privacy above all else, pick Mullvad or IVPN. If you want one account for VPN, email, storage, and passwords, Proton makes more sense. If you want value and unlimited devices, Surfshark is hard to beat.
For streaming, NordVPN and Surfshark are stronger bets than Mullvad. For custom pricing, Windscribe stands out. For people in high-censorship regions, test before committing to a long plan. No VPN works perfectly everywhere, every day.
Final pick: choose Mullvad if you want the cleanest break from Astrill’s high price and complex plans. Choose Proton VPN if you want a serious privacy setup that goes beyond a VPN.