Mullvad is a very well-established and respected VPN brand. Founded in 2009 in Sweden (one of the most privacy-centric countries in Europe) it is widely regarded as one of the best VPNs, and is aimed at those with a "privacy above all else" mindset.
It comes as no surprise that Mullvad’s ultimate owner, Amagicom AB, stands for (in their words) "free communication".
One of the interesting things about Mullvad is its price. It's €5 (~$5.70) per month, no matter how long you plan to use the service. This means no discounts on long-term plans, but no unexpected price hikes either.
Because its main focus is privacy and security, Mullvad has historically not invested substantially in unblocking geo-located streaming services. However, although it's still not up to par with the likes of NordVPN and Proton VPN, Mullvad significantly improved in this area in our last round of testing. Overall, if you're looking for a no-frills VPN that focuses on serious privacy, it's ideal.
Mullvad on paper
Feature |
Details |
|---|---|
Number of servers |
578 |
Server countries |
48 |
Supported platforms |
Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, Firefox |
Simultaneous connections |
5 |
Split tunneling |
Yes (Windows, Linux, Android) |
Kill switch |
Yes |
Protocols supported |
OpenVPN, WireGuard |
Country of registration |
Sweden |
Support |
Email, help centre |
Mullvad features
As previously mentioned, as one of the most private VPNs, Mullvad is all about privacy at its core. The service can be as anonymous as users need it to be, even allowing them to pay in cash so there is nothing linking them to the VPN. You can't get much more private than that.
As with most VPN vendors, there is a money-back guarantee of fourteen days for a trial, unless you paid for the service with cash or crypto. Mullvad are unable to refund these payments because of anti-money laundering laws.
An interesting note is if you use Tailscale, Mullvad servers can be used as exit nodes. Similarly, Obscura VPN has partnered with Mullvad, using its own servers as entry nodes, and Mullvad's as exit nodes.
Basic features you'd expect to see from any reputable VPN provider like split tunneling and a kill switch are present, and in our testing, both proved to be very reliable and fuss-free.
Both its desktop and mobile VPN apps work as expected and allow users to pick and choose their server exit locations within just a few clicks.
Another interesting feature Mullvad includes is "Lockdown Mode", which means that users cannot connect to the internet if they are not first connected to a Mullvad VPN server. While it may not be used by average users, this feautre is incredibly useful for those who rely on tools to circumvent government censorship and who want to make sure their internet traffic is never not encrypted.
Additionally, Mullvad automatically includes 'anti-censorship' on its connections, which means it tries a series of methods to get around VPN blocking (WireGuard port, LWO, QUIC, Shadowsocks, and UDP-over-TCP). Again, while this is generally not necessary for most users, it once again underscores Mullvad's commitment to users privacy and security.
Score out of 10: 7
Mullvad server network
The Mullvad VPN network may not be the largest with 90 locations in 50 countries and a total of 578 servers (as of the time of writing), but it is extremely secure and cutting-edge, with servers that boot without disks and run purely in RAM.
Mullvad has most of its presence in Western countries (41 locations in Europe and 25 in North America). For those needing locations in other regions, including Asia, Mullvad may not be the best choice. However, what it lacks in terms of locations it makes up for in the quality of its network.
With this being said, it's difficult to overlook the fact that almost all competitors – ExpressVPN, NordVPN, Surfshark, Proton VPN – offer much larger server networks, in terms of both overall server number and locations supported.
Score out of 10: 6
Mullvad price and payment
Plan length |
Overall cost |
Monthly cost |
|---|---|---|
1 month |
€5 (around $5.70) |
€5 (around $5.70) |
1 year |
€60 (around $69) |
€5 (around $5.70) |
10 years |
€600 (around $690) |
€5 (around $5.70) |
Mullvad offers a single tier and uniform price (€5/~$5.70 per month), no matter what. It initially makes it more expensive than other VPNs – for example, NordVPN or Surfshark – in multi-year deals, but on the flip side, it does mean that there are no end-of-contract price hikes built in to the offer.
This does come with some drawbacks, however. There is no option for discounted multi-month or year-long contracts, as the price is the price. This does mean that while it won't be making our list of the best cheap VPNs, you are guaranteed to pay the same price each month, no matter what.
For those looking for cheap monthly VPN, it's a lot better value than your average month-to-month VPN subscription. However for those prepared to enter a longer contract, it can work out more expensive in the long run, at least for the first couple of years.
Score out of 10: 8
Is Mullvad easy to use?
Mullvad's ease of use is best described as functional but secure. It does what you'd expect, with a decent range of options and configurability.
It has good speeds, maxing out at 857 Mbps in our testing, so connection to the VPN should be quick and easy. Its help center includes lots of documentation for Linux and other Operating Systems, so you can get the help you need when setting up.
The interface layout is consistent across all devices which makes life a bit easier, as you won't have to re-learn how to use the VPN when switching between devices.
Installation is straightforward, and I had no issues during the process. Same goes for using the VPN itself, with changing between VPN locations taking just a couple of clicks from within the app.
One of the main issues I had with it was the fact that Mullvad's app automatically hides on desktop once connected. This is fine if you just want to plug-and-play (or if you're somehwere where VPN use is restricted or banned), but users that want to dig into the settings, it's a little frustrating. In order to pull the app up again, you need to launch the app again via its desktop icon. If you navigate away from it (e.g. clicking on a different window), it hides again.
With this being said, Mullvad has made some efforts to improve its ease of use for first-time VPN users. Its advanced features (DAITA and MultiHop) both have explanations and diagrams on how they work, which is very helpful and handy for those newer to VPNs who might not be familiar with what these terms mean or what these features are supposed to do
Score out of 10: 7
Mullvad apps
Speaking bluntly, apps are a bit of a weak point with Mullvad. However, it does still support all the core platforms such as Mac, PC, Android and Linux. It even supports F-Droid, the alternative App store.
While this may not sound huge, it means those with rooted Android-based phones or custom firmware can get their hands on an official Mullvad VPN client.
It does also offer support for Amazon Fire Stick, although it is not as straightforward as one would hope. It's a bit of a potluck scenario if the installation works. But then again, it's a month-to-month $5.15 contract so it may be worth a test to just see if you can access it. Even if it doesn't work, you're not tied into a contract so you can simply try out a different VPN the next month. Plus, if you're within Mullvad's 14-day money-back window (as long as you didn't pay with cash or crypto), you can simply get your subscription refunded.
For other devices, such as Roku, and other unusual devices there are workarounds, such as using a generic VPN client with the configuration details from Mullvad. However, doing this means changing the VPN endpoint is not as easy as a few clicks.
For devices that are supported by Mullvad, it is a rudimentary affair, but it works.
Score out of 10: 7
How private is Mullvad?
Mullvad's standout area is privacy, with an extensive privacy policy that details in minute detail what information is recorded and for what purpose, and expands on its no-logging policy. It is clear and quite readable as far as privacy policies go.
The policy goes into what is logged and what isn't in minute detail. It even details what server logs are kept (such as general stats, memory, CPU etc). The no-logging also extends as far as the Mullvad website. The only cookies it stores are limited to payment operations.
Importantly, Mullvad is independently audited twice a year, which gives the claims of no-logging some real heft. Plus, the VPN provider expends a lot of time and effort creating a great, private VPN service beyond the basics. This includes adding new and novel features such as DAITA resistance to AI traffic analysis.
Mullvad also does not collect any personal information when you sign up. While other VPNs require you to use an email address/username and password to log in, Mullvad provides you with a unique account number. It's a small thing, but it underlines Mullvad's commitment to user privacy.
Mullvad has an extensive privacy policy that details in minute detail what information is recorded and for what purpose
Speaking of Mullvad's transparency, its recent App vulnerability report can be found here. Mullvad fixed all the issues with only two significant issues that were promptly fixed.
It is worth mentioning that some other VPN vendors do undergo audits, for example Surfshark. VPN audits are a way to separate the serious players from those looking to make as much profit at the cost of the user.
Interestingly, Mullvad are also openly committed to removing OpenVPN support in favour of Wireguard, a more lightweight and faster VPN protocol.
Score out of 10: 10
How fast is Mullvad VPN?
Protocol |
Speed result |
|---|---|
WireGuard |
2,308 Mbps |
Mullvad's US-US peak speed has shot up, and in this round of testing it posted speeds of 2,308 Mbps, compared to last time's 857 Mbps. In short, this is incredibly impressive.
If you're looking for the best gaming VPN, Mullvad is now an excellent choice – depending, of course, that it offers a server in the right country for you.
For almost all users, Mullvad's speeds will be extremely close to your maximum broadband performance.
US-UK connections were a little less impressive, but averaging at 938 Mbps, it's certainly no slouch, regardless of where you're connecting to.
When streaming, even with 4K streams (typically 25 Mbps), there is lots of performance left in the tank. For most users, Mullvad's speeds will be extremely close to your maximum broadband performance. It's not something you'd need to worry about day to day.
Score out of 10: 9
How good is Mullvad for streaming?
Service |
Test results |
|---|---|
Netflix |
Working |
Prime |
Mixed results (US + AU only) |
YouTube |
Working |
iPlayer |
Working |
Disney Plus |
Mixed (US + UK only) |
10Play |
Not working |
9Now |
Working |
ITVX |
Working |
All4 |
Working |
We were always so sure that Mullvad didn't care about streaming. Well, how wrong we were. In our latest round of testing, Mullvad has posted up massively improved streaming performance.
Big wins are Netflix access in every country we tried, access to all the free UK streamers, and a smattering of other big names around the world.
With some failures with Disney Plus and Amazon Prime Video, it still can't compete with the likes of NordVPN and Surfshark, but compared to a year or so ago, Mullvad has hugely improved.
Mullvad has hugely improved when it comes to unblocking streaming sites.
Mullvad performed as a middle-of-the-pack player accessing torrent sites which are often blocked by ISPs.
So, not one of the best torrenting VPNs, but a point in its favor if you're looking for a private VPN and do a lot with BitTorrent.
Score out of 10: 7
Mullvad's track record
As one of the most secure VPNs, Mullvad VPN has established itself as a reputable service in the VPN industry, consistently prioritizing user privacy and security. Over several years, it has demonstrated a strong commitment to maintaining high standards of reliability and user satisfaction.
Mullvad has undergone multiple external security audits since 2018, underscoring its dedication to transparency and security. This includes a March 2026 GotaTun audit, and a January 2026 account and payment audit. Thankfuylly, the results were positive in both.
User feedback reflects a generally positive experience with Mullvad, with the service holding a 4.3 out of 5 star rating on the Apple App Store. While some users have reported occasional dropped connections, overall many praise its reliability and straightforward approach to privacy.
Score out of 10: 10
What customer support does Mullvad offer?
Unfortunately, this is an area where Mullvad needs to up its game. To put it politely, it could be much better. There is no phone support or chat-based support, and while the former is rare, almost all top VPNs offer live chat.
It comes down to three options: self-service support pages, email support, and a dedicated subreddit. The guides are well written, tried and tested, but it would be nice to see some more hands-on support for those that want or need it.
Score out of 10: 6
Mullvad VPN review: Final verdict
Subscribe if:
✅ Privacy and security are your top priorities. Mullvad's main focus is ensuring that its users have complete anonymity. You can even pay in cash if you want your VPN use to be completely untraceable.
✅ You want a VPN with simple pricing. Mullvad has a single price per month. While this may mean no discounts for long-term subscriptions, it does also mean no unexpected price hikes.
✅ You want a VPN with great speeds. With its excellent results in our speed testing, Mullvad is sure to not slow you down.
Don't subscribe if:
❌ You want to use your VPN for streaming. Despite showing improvements when it comes to streaming, other VPNs are much more reliable.
❌ You live outside the US or Europe. Mullvad doesn't have a particularly large server spread, so you may struggle to find a useable server.
We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad.We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
