Is Mullvad a Good VPN Option for You

Mullvad is a VPN option that stands out for its unique features and approach to online security. Mullvad has a strong focus on user anonymity, making it a great choice for those who want to keep their online activities private.

The VPN has a no-logs policy, which means Mullvad doesn't collect any information about its users' activities. This is a major plus for those who value their online privacy.

One thing to consider is Mullvad's limited server network. With only 397 servers in 36 countries, it may not be the best option for those who need to access content in a specific region or want a large server selection.

Mullvad's pricing is straightforward, with a flat monthly rate of $5. It's a great option for those on a budget or who want a simple, hassle-free VPN experience.

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Mullvad VPN is a Sweden-based provider that's been around since 2009.

Starting its operations in 2009, Mullvad has built a reputation for protecting user privacy and security.

Intriguing read: Mullvad Netflix

Mullvad's strong no-logs policy is a key part of its commitment to user security.

It doesn't require personal information on sign-up, which is a unique feature among VPN providers.

Mullvad's transparency with customers is another aspect of its commitment to user security.

It's currently unranked on our list of best VPN services, but it's still one of the most well-regarded providers on the market.

Mullvad offers a variety of features that make it a great VPN option.

Mullvad's price is a standout feature, costing just €5 ($5.15) per month, with no discounts for long-term plans or price hikes.

The VPN uses WireGuard and OpenVPN protocols, which are super speedy and secure. It also has a kill switch and leak protection to keep your data safe.

Some of the key features of Mullvad VPN include a kill switch, leak protection, and the ability to block malicious domains and ads.

Here are some of the key features of Mullvad VPN:

Mullvad also offers a range of payment options and provides anonymous browsing, making it a great choice for those who value their online privacy.

Mullvad offers a range of features that make it a solid choice for those prioritizing privacy and security.

Mullvad's custom apps are available for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Linux, with a full graphical user interface (GUI) on the Linux app. This gives users a high degree of control over their VPN experience.

Each app includes protocol selection, a kill switch (enabled by default), auto-connect, split tunneling (available on Windows, Android, and Linux), and the option to use custom DNS resolvers with full DNS leak protection.

Mullvad encrypts OpenVPN traffic with AES-256-GCM and uses ChaCha20 for WireGuard connections, making it one of the most secure VPNs available.

Here are the payment options available on Mullvad:

Mullvad's pricing is a major selling point, with a single tier of €5 ($5.15) per month, no matter the subscription length.

This means you can pay the same price for a month, a year, or even 10 years. Yes, you read that right - €5 ($5.15) per month for 10 years!

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However, this simplicity comes with some drawbacks. Mullvad doesn't offer discounts for longer commitments, unlike some other VPNs. This means that while it's great for short-term use, it might not be the best value for those who need a VPN for an extended period.

Here's a breakdown of Mullvad's pricing:

While Mullvad's pricing might seem steep compared to some other VPNs, it's actually very affordable for short-term use. And with no automatic renewals or price hikes, you know exactly what you're getting.

Mullvad VPN has a strict no-logs policy, which means it doesn't save any user information, including email addresses and payment details.

This policy has been verified through independent audits, showing that Mullvad is committed to user anonymity. Its servers are also diskless, using only RAM for enhanced privacy.

Mullvad's advanced security features include DNS leak protection, custom DNS support, and obfuscation via Shadowsocks proxy and OpenVPN bridge mode. It also has a lockdown mode that prevents internet access unless the VPN is connected, and multi-hop capabilities for manual entry and exit server selection.

The kill switch is a crucial feature in any VPN service, and Mullvad delivers. It works as intended, halting internet traffic in the event of a network shutdown or similar event that would disconnect you from your VPN.

Mullvad's kill switch is a system-level kill switch, which is the safest and most reliable type. This means it will keep you connected to the VPN server even if the app is forced to crash.

You can't turn the kill switch off, which is actually a good thing. It's set up to protect you automatically at all times, ensuring your security and anonymity are always top priority.

If you want to enable a permanent kill switch, you can select Lockdown mode. This will ensure you can't access the internet without first connecting to the VPN.

Here are the key benefits of Mullvad's kill switch:

Mullvad VPN has a strict no-logs policy, which means it doesn't collect any user data. This policy has been verified by independent audits, giving users an extra layer of security and peace of mind.

The company stores information related to user accounts, but only in a way that doesn't compromise user anonymity. This is evident in the screenshots provided by Mullvad, showcasing how it stores information.

Mullvad's no-logs policy is one of the most transparent and in-depth we've seen yet. This transparency is a testament to the company's commitment to user privacy.

One of the key security features included in a Mullvad subscription is diskless servers (RAM-only), which enhance user privacy. This feature is part of a broader suite of security and privacy features designed to protect users.

Mullvad's DNS leak protection and custom DNS support are also noteworthy features that help keep users safe online. Additionally, the company offers obfuscation via Shadowsocks proxy and OpenVPN bridge mode, which helps users bypass firewalls in restrictive countries.

The company's apps are also open-source, and the server infrastructure has been audited by Cure53. This level of transparency and accountability is rare in the VPN industry.

Here are some of the advanced security and privacy features included in a Mullvad subscription:

Mullvad's commitment to user security and privacy is evident in its strict no-logs policy and transparent approach to data storage. This, combined with its advanced security features, makes it an excellent choice for users who prioritize their online safety.

Mullvad VPN doesn't offer multi-factor authentication (MFA) for its product. This can be a drawback for some users.

The app operates on an "empty vault" style of security, which means it doesn't collect sensitive data on account setup. This makes it difficult for hackers to steal data in the event of a breach.

The account system is set up to not require MFA in the first place. This unique approach can have a bit of a learning curve.

The account recovery process is workable, but it's dependent on the payment method you used and the last time you made a payment.

Mullvad has almost 700 servers, which is impressive, but falls behind some of the biggest names in the VPN market, like NordVPN with over 7,000 servers.

Mullvad's speeds are actually quite good, with download speeds dropping by between 11 and 15 percent in testing, and upload speeds dropping by less than 9 percent.

Mullvad uses the WireGuard protocol, which is designed to give you even faster speeds for streaming, torrenting, and gaming. It's an excellent choice for making private VoIP calls in countries where VoIP is blocked.

Here's a comparison of Mullvad's speed using different protocols:

In the real world, these differences wouldn't even be noticeable, and this kind of fluctuation is expected day-to-day.

Mullvad's streaming performance is somewhat limited, as it's not designed for accessing region-locked content. It can unblock some streaming services, but not all.

Mullvad was able to unblock iPlayer, Channel 4, and 9Now in our testing, but failed to unblock Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Netflix, ITV, and 10 Play. This is not surprising, given that unblocking streaming services is not something Mullvad actively advertises.

Mullvad performed as a middle-of-the-pack player when accessing torrent sites, which are often blocked by ISPs. This is a point in its favor, but it's not one of the best torrenting VPNs.

Here's a breakdown of Mullvad's streaming performance:

Mullvad's speeds while streaming shows are minimal, which is a good thing for those who want a private VPN. However, if your goal is to find shows not available on streaming services in your home country, Mullvad isn't your best bet.

Mullvad has almost 700 servers, which is still impressive but falls behind some of the biggest names in the game.

A major perk of Mullvad is that all of its servers are real, dedicated servers, unlike some of its competitors that use virtual servers that may not always be where they say they are.

Mullvad rivals the big names when it comes to getting around geoblocks, with Netflix being entirely open in our testing, letting us switch between content libraries with ease.

However, it's worth noting that some VPNs offer the same functionality, but at a much higher price.

Download speeds dropped by between 11 and 15 percent in our testing, which is really quite impressive.

Upload speeds dropped by less than 9 percent, making Mullvad a great choice for those who need fast and reliable connections.

Mullvad's speeds are superb, providing plenty of bandwidth for tasks like torrenting, gaming, and streaming.

The VPN uses the modern WireGuard protocol, which gives you faster speeds for online activities. In fact, Mullvad's peak speed has been clocked at 857 Mbps, making it an excellent choice for gaming and streaming.

During speed tests, Mullvad's download speeds dropped by between 11 and 15 percent, while upload speeds dropped by less than 9 percent. This is really quite impressive, especially considering the VPN's focus on privacy.

Mullvad's speed is comparable to the best VPNs on the market, with some minor differences in upload speeds. For example, IPVanish marginally exceeds Mullvad, but by negligible amounts.

Here are the results of Mullvad's WireGuard VPN tests:

These speeds are more than sufficient for most online activities, including streaming 4K content. In fact, Mullvad's speeds will be extremely close to your maximum broadband performance, making it a great choice for streaming and gaming.

Mullvad VPN offers five simultaneous connections per subscription, which is about average for VPN providers.

You can use Mullvad's VPN with your Firefox browser, thanks to their extension, but unfortunately, they don't have extensions for Chrome or any other browser.

Their own privacy-focused browser, developed in partnership with the Tor Project, is an alternative option for users.

Mullvad's customer support is limited to self-service support pages and email support, which is a drawback for those who prefer live chat or phone support.

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Mullvad's interface is incredibly easy to navigate and use, even for beginners. It boasts a minimalist design with a set of to-the-point options that require minimal technical knowledge.

You can install Mullvad on multiple devices, including Windows, iOS, Android, and Firefox, with ease. The VPN is available in the Google Play Store, making installation on Android devices simple.

The app's performance is flawless, connecting quickly and delivering excellent speeds. It's perfect for streaming on YouTube without buffering.

One of the features that sets Mullvad apart is its ability to block ad/tracker/malware, which can be a major concern for users. You can also pick whether you want to block adult content and gambling sites.

However, Mullvad's advanced features can be overwhelming for some users, requiring a basic understanding of technical concepts like DNS and IPv6. This might not be a problem for tech-savvy users, but beginners might find it a bit confusing.

Mullvad has a relatively low number of servers with 641 active servers in 43 different countries.

While this might not seem like a lot compared to competitors, it's worth noting that Mullvad's servers are extremely secure and cutting-edge, with servers that boot without disks and run purely in RAM.

Mullvad's server network consists of 649 servers across 85 locations in 49 countries.

Most of Mullvad's presence is in Western countries, with 42 locations in Europe and 23 in North America.

For users needing locations in other regions, including Asia, Mullvad may not be the best provider due to its limited international presence.

Mullvad VPN's customer support is available via email only, with no live chat option.

The company's customer service agents operate only during Mullvad's business hours, which may be a challenge for customers outside of Europe.

Mullvad's customer support agents are knowledgeable and helpful, making the most of the limited contact time.

The provider's knowledge base is one of the best in the industry, offering a wealth of information to help users troubleshoot issues.

You can submit a support request directly through the app itself, making it easy to get assistance when you need it.

For customers outside of Europe, the limited overlap with customer support hours may cause delays in getting help.

Mullvad VPN offers five simultaneous connections per subscription, which is about average for VPN providers.

You can connect up to five devices at the same time with a single subscription, making it suitable for most families and power users.

Mullvad VPN has a Firefox browser extension but no extensions for Chrome or any other browser.

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However, Mullvad does have its own privacy-focused browser users can try out, in partnership with the Tor Project.

Mullvad has custom apps for all major operating systems, including Android and iOS.

You can download its Android APK from its website and sideload it onto your FireOS device, even though there is no dedicated Firestick app in the Amazon App Store.

Each subscription supports up to five simultaneous connections, which should be enough for most users, but larger families may prefer a VPN with unlimited connections.

Mullvad Privacy Companion is available for Firefox, but unfortunately, it's not available for other popular browsers like Chrome, Edge, Brave, or Safari.

The extension disables WebRTC to prevent IP leaks, which is a great feature for those concerned about online privacy.

It also includes SOCKS5 proxy access, but keep in mind that it's not a full VPN tunnel and is unencrypted.

In addition to these features, the extension recommends other privacy extensions to help protect your online privacy.

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Here's a quick rundown of the features available and not available in the Mullvad Privacy Companion browser extension:

Linux users have a range of distributions to choose from, and Mullvad supports some of the most popular ones.

Mullvad offers a full-featured graphical user interface (GUI) for Linux, making it a great option for those who prefer a user-friendly experience.

The Linux app is compatible with Ubuntu, Debian, and Fedora distributions.

Mullvad's Linux app mirrors its Windows and macOS counterparts' design and functionality, providing a seamless experience for users.

Here's a summary of the features available for each distribution:

Overall, Mullvad's support for Linux distributions provides a solid foundation for users to enjoy a secure and private browsing experience.

Mullvad's Android app feels nearly identical to the Windows version, making it easy to switch between versions.

The app is available in the Google Play Store, making installation a simple process.

Anybody who wants to install it on an Android TV, set-top box, Firestick, or other Android device without access to Google Play can find the APK on Mullvad's website.

The app performed flawlessly on a Samsung tablet, connecting quickly and delivering excellent speeds.

The OS-level kill switch functioned exactly as expected, providing an added layer of security.

The VPN includes split tunneling, MultiHop, and ad/tracker/malware blocking, giving users a range of features to customize their experience.

You can still pick whether you want to block adult content and gambling sites, providing users with flexibility and control.

The app established connections quickly, and speeds were ideal for streaming on YouTube without buffering.

However, one notable absence is an auto-connect feature for public wifi, which is something I consider essential for a VPN with such a strong focus on privacy.

Despite this, the app is highly reliable and speedy, making it perfect for users wanting to hide their activities from local networks, switch their IP address, and make VoIP calls without being tracked.

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Mullvad for Windows doesn't have a "connect to fastest server" option, which can make it harder to choose the best server for performance and location.

The lack of visible server statistics like ping and load is another weakness, which is common among its competitors.

In our testing, we consistently got excellent speeds on all servers, so the lack of congestion data never caused any real issues.

This suggests that Mullvad's speeds are reliable, even if you can't choose the fastest server.

Mullvad for Android has a few drawbacks worth mentioning. No auto-connect feature is available, which means you won't be automatically protected when using public WiFi.

This lack of auto-connect means you'll need to manually connect to a VPN server each time you use public WiFi. This can be a hassle, especially if you're not tech-savvy.

Some users may also miss the "Fastest server" or ping-based sorting in the server list, which can make it harder to find the fastest connection.

The absence of streaming servers is another drawback, which may be a problem for users who rely on these servers for their online activities.

Additionally, some advanced features can be a bit tricky to find, which may lead to frustration for users who are used to having these features easily accessible.

Logging in using the account number requires you to keep the code safe, which can be a challenge for some users.

Here's a summary of the Android drawbacks:

Mullvad's network is smaller than many of its main rivals, with 683 servers compared to some of its competitors. NordVPN has a whopping 7200 servers, while CyberGhost boasts an impressive 11,500 servers.

Mullvad also lacks specialty servers for streaming, gaming, or P2P. However, it excels in infrastructure transparency and trust. Its combination of RAM-only servers, zero virtual locations, and a filterable server list makes it one of the most transparent and granularly controlled networks on the market.

If you're looking for a VPN with a larger server network, here's a comparison of Mullvad with some of its top competitors:

Mullvad's relatively small server network is a drawback for some users. It has fewer servers compared to other VPN providers.

The number of simultaneous connections is also limited, with only 5 connections allowed at a time. This is lower than some of its competitors.

Unblocking geo-located streaming services is not Mullvad's main focus, and it struggles with accessing services like Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney+ outside the US library.

A few core VPN features are missing from Mullvad's apps, which might be a disappointment for some users.

Long-term subscriptions can be pricey, with no discounts offered. This might make it less appealing to users who want to commit to a VPN service for an extended period.

Mullvad's account system can be confusing for first-time users, which might lead to a steeper learning curve.

Here's a summary of Mullvad's cons:

If you're considering alternatives to Mullvad VPN, there are several options to explore. Mullvad's competitors include NordVPN, TorGuard VPN, and ExpressVPN.

One key difference between these options is their headquarters location. Mullvad is headquartered in Sweden, while NordVPN is based in Panama, TorGuard VPN is in the U.S., and ExpressVPN is in the British Virgin Islands.

In terms of pricing, Mullvad is the most affordable option, with a starting monthly price of $5.35. NordVPN, TorGuard VPN, and ExpressVPN charge $12.99, $9.99, and $12.95 per month, respectively.

If you're looking for a VPN that offers anonymous browsing, NordVPN, TorGuard VPN, and ExpressVPN are good options, as they all provide this feature. Mullvad does not offer anonymous browsing.

Here's a summary of the key features of each option:

Ultimately, the choice between these options will depend on your specific needs and preferences.

TorGuard has a lot of features and greater technology backing its VPN, but its vague privacy policy raises concerns.

It lacks public audits, which is a major red flag for anyone prioritizing transparency.

Personal users concerned about privacy should look elsewhere, as TorGuard's minimal privacy features don't quite cut it.

Business users would be wise to explore alternative VPN options altogether, given TorGuard's shortcomings.

Mullvad's network is smaller than many of its main rivals, with 683 servers compared to some of its competitors.

The number of servers can be a significant factor in choosing a VPN, but Mullvad excels in other areas, such as infrastructure transparency.

Mullvad's lack of specialty servers for streaming, gaming, or P2P may be a drawback for some users, but it's an extremely good VPN for security-conscious users.

Here's a comparison of Mullvad with some of its main competitors:

Mullvad's transparency and control make it a standout choice for users who prioritize security.

Mullvad VPN is a solid choice for those prioritizing privacy and security. It's available for multiple platforms, including Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Linux, making it a versatile option.

At €5 per month with no rolling contract, Mullvad is an excellent VPN for traveling, remote work, and vacations. However, this price point may be a bit steep for what you get, considering its smaller network and lack of streaming servers.

Mullvad shines in terms of security and performance, with excellent speeds and no data collection for P2P use. This makes it a great option for those who value their online anonymity.

On the other hand, Mullvad's small network of 600+ servers in 49 countries may not be ideal for those who need access to a wide range of streaming services. It's inconsistent with popular services like BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and Prime Video.

Here's a breakdown of Mullvad's pros and cons to help you decide if it's worth it:

Mullvad VPN is a great choice for individual users who want to protect a select amount of personal devices.

It's worth noting that users don't need to provide any personally identifiable information to open and use an account, depending on the payment method.

While Mullvad excels in its commitment to privacy, it may not be the best option for business use due to a low number of servers and lack of key features.

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Mullvad VPN is one of the most private and secure VPNs on the market, offering a user-friendly interface and good speeds.

Its inexpensive pricing and strong focus on user privacy make it a top VPN service, especially for those who prioritize their online security.

In the end, Mullvad is a fantastic VPN service that's about as privacy-minded as can be, making it a solid choice for those who value their online anonymity.