Mullvad VPN review 2024: Cost, features and more (2024)

Mullvad VPN is a fast and competitively priced virtual private network (VPN) provider. The company offers a well-rounded VPN that could work well for small business owners and entrepreneurs who work independently and want to maintain a secure, private internet connection.

Mullvad takes one of the strongest approaches to privacy and transparency of all VPN providers we reviewed. It allows you to create an account anonymously, with no need for an email address or other identifying information, depending on your payment method.

Prices are very reasonable, particularly if you’re looking for a short-term VPN or want to pay for one month at a time. Since Mullvad launched, the service has remained a flat €5 per month (about $5.37). The VPN works with most popular devices and you can set up Mullvad to work with compatible routers and open-source VPN clients.

One of the only drawbacks is its headquarters in Sweden, a member of the 14 eyes intelligence alliance. Member countries hold to surveillance and data-sharing agreements, so some VPN users may prefer a VPN based in a country with friendlier privacy laws.

Note: With an ironclad no-log policy, a VPN company has nothing to share with governments requesting access to their logs. Mullvad goes above and beyond when it comes to maintaining users’ privacy by never even collecting your name or email address when you sign up. Therefore, the Swedish headquarters should not be a privacy concern, even though it’s located within the 14 eyes.

Mullvad VPN overview and facts

Mullvad VPN is a product from Amagicom, a privately owned VPN company based in Sweden. Founded in 2009, Mullvad has provided users with internet privacy for over a decade. Since it launched, Mullvad has kept users in mind by keeping pricing consistent (without long-term contracts) and never collecting users’ personal information at sign-up.

So, it’s no surprise that most past users are happy with the service, as indicated by an average 4.3-star review on Trustpilot. User reviews repeatedly mention the company’s fair business practices, affordable service and fast VPN speeds.

Mullvad VPN pricing

Mullvad VPN offers a single tier of service with a flat-rate monthly price of €5 per month. That comes out to about $5.37 with the current exchange rate. That’s much simpler than most competitors, which tend to charge more for month-to-month subscriptions and less as you commit to longer terms. It also offers a one-month money-back guarantee if you are not satisfied with its VPN. So, though the provider doesn’t offer a free plan, you can try the VPN risk-free for one month.

To sign up, you can generate an account for free, identified with a unique 16-digit number. Then, users prepay for a number of months and add those months to their accounts.

Mullvad accepts payment nearly any way you’d want to pay. You can purchase the VPN service with cryptocurrency, including Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash and Monero. Prepaid vouchers are available from Amazon, among other retailers, and they work like gift cards.

The option to send cash in the mail using a unique payment token makes accounts completely anonymous.

Mullvad VPN plans

With a paid account, you can access all Mullvad VPN servers and features with no limitations. Mullvad employs a strict no-log policy and works with OpenVPN and WireGuard protocols. Accounts include features for which other providers charge additional fees, such as multi-hop connections (called bridge server connections by Mullvad) and split tunneling. Other useful features include integrated ad and tracker blocking, port forwarding, a killswitch and custom DNS servers. However, not all features work on all devices.

When you sign up for Mullvad VPN, you can connect up to five devices simultaneously and use all of the VPN’s features with no data caps or speed limits. Native applications are available for Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS and Android devices. You can also use Mullvad’s browser, a Firefox plugin or download configuration details for your router or other compatible devices.

Since you can only sign up for one user at a time, Mullvad is best for solo entrepreneurs or small businesses looking for VPN service for a single user. Other providers like NordVPN offer team and group plans with the ability to pay for and manage VPN access for an entire team. But for single users, Mullvad offers an excellent VPN package.

Mullvad add-ons and optional features

Mullvad’s flat-rate pricing means there are no additional charges for optional features. It’s all included, and you never have to pay more than the standard €5 per month. However, Mullvad does have some optional features and connection choices you can make while setting up your VPN.

These include Lockdown mode, split tunneling, a choice between tunnel protocols and multihop with WireGuard. Each adds additional security layers in its own way. Here’s an overview of each of these features.

• Lockdown mode: To ensure you are never online without VPN protection, this feature blocks internet connectivity if you manually click “disconnect” or “quit.”
• Split tunneling: This feature allows you to use the VPN for some apps while opting out of using it for other apps for which you do not need VPN coverage.
• Tunnel protocols: Your VPN protocol allows for the secure transfer of your data. You can choose between WireGuard or OpenVPN tunnel protocols. OpenVPN is considered the gold standard protocol due to its no known security issues and higher privacy standards, but WireGuard is faster in terms of upload and download speeds.
• Multihop with WireGuard: This feature allows you to “hop” from one server to another while browsing the internet. That way, if one server is compromised, you rapidly get protection from another server as hackers would not be able to follow you from one server to another easily.

Mullvad customer support and experience

In terms of customer experience, Mullvad’s customer support is limited to email and self-help resources. If you use one of the native Mullvad apps, they are easy to install and use if you’re comfortable with computers. Configuring a router and taking advantage of advanced features, such as port forwarding and split tunneling, requires more computer knowledge.

Self-help guides provided by Mullvad are generally very good, but you can’t reach anyone for live customer support since the VPN provider doesn’t offer live chat or phone support. You can send in questions to Mullvad’s support team by email, but responses take about a day.

Therefore, if you don’t have an IT team or your employees aren’t tech-savvy, Mullvad may not be the best option for you. Instead, you may be better suited by a company like IPVanish, which offers phone support, a rarity in the VPN industry. However, if you’re comfortable working through issues with how-to guides, Mullvad’s library of guides and blogs should work for you.

Mullvad vs. NordVPN

NordVPN is one of the biggest and most well-known VPN companies, but it’s not much different than Mullvad when it comes to performance. Download and upload speed differences are negligible, and both support a similar list of devices and features. However, NordVPN offers dedicated IP addresses and a larger number of servers in more countries.

With more robust features, NordVPN is more expensive than Mullvad. Monthly plans start at $12.99 per user in comparison to about $5.37 for Mullvad. If you’re willing to make a long-term commitment, NordVPN is a little cheaper than Mullvad, though you’ll need to pay for the length of your contract upfront. In comparison, Mullvad’s price never changes and doesn’t require a long-term commitment, so it still may be the better bet for budget-conscious buyers.

NordVPN also doesn’t match the privacy provided by Mullvad. In addition to keeping more personal information for logging in and payments, NordVPN once suffered a data breach on one of its servers, exposing user data in a rare but serious instance for a company with a privacy-focused mission. On the other hand, Mullvad can be signed up and paid for with complete anonymity.

If you’re looking for a business solution to support your entire team, NordLayer by NordVPN is a great option. But if you simply need a single-user account, Mullvad is likely your better bet.

Mullvad vs. Proton VPN

ProtonVPN performs similarly to Mullvad but costs more for its premium speeds. At $9.99 per month compared to Mullvad’s $5.37 monthly price, ProtonVPN costs more when you pick a one-month or even one-year plan. The two VPNs’ pricing evens out when you pick a two-year ProtonVPN plan. But, long-term commitments require a lump sum payment upfront. Therefore, Mullvad is the better option if you’re on a budget and looking to avoid long-term contracts.

ProtonVPN also works on a smaller list of devices and isn’t configurable with routers or other VPN software. And you’ll need to provide more personal information to sign up. However, it’s located in one of the most privacy-friendly countries (Switzerland).

ProtonVPN is best for users looking for a larger suite of privacy tools, including alternatives to Gmail and Google Drive. If you’re interested in ProtonVPN, you should try out its free plan, which gives you access to the VPN service with limited speeds and servers. This is a great way to test out a VPN and see if it’s right for you.

Learn more in our full ProtonVPN review.

Is Mullvad VPN right for your business?

Overall, Mullvad VPN is a great choice for privacy-centric business owners. It’s best for solo businesses or small business owners who don’t need VPN coverage for a large team. Flat-rate pricing, fast speeds and support for nearly any device make it a standout option.

If you’re less tech-savvy, you may want to consider another provider with better support, like ExpressVPN. And while accounts are anonymous (no personal information is necessary at sign-up), the Swedish headquarters could mean that users with extreme privacy concerns should look for an alternative, such as IVPN. However, many users should find it easy to look past the 14-eyes location because of Mullvad’s dedication to user privacy and strict no-log policy.

With a low monthly cost and no contracts, Mullvad is easy to try out with a low commitment, giving you plenty of opportunity to decide if you want to pay to continue using the service. Its 30-day money-back guarantee further reduces the risk of trying out the service.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)