Mullvad VPN has constructed a stable fame for being the most effective privacy-focused VPNs available on the market. Its distinctive nameless consumer account quantity system, sturdy encryption and dedication to common third-party safety audits make it a best choice for these whose main concern is privateness.

Whereas it’s hampered by a small 641-server community unfold throughout simply 40 international locations, Mullvad’s give attention to privateness is one thing I wish to see extra of in different VPNs accessible at present.

Mullvad VPN pricing

Mullvad presents a flat fee of €5 or $5.48 per 30 days, no matter subscription size. Compared, different VPNs have various costs per plan and period.

Mullvad’s month-to-month subscription could be very inexpensive in comparison with different VPNs resembling NordVPN at $12.99 per 30 days and ProtonVPN at $9.99 per 30 days. If you happen to’re trying to make use of a VPN for a restricted period of time, Mullvad VPN is likely one of the most inexpensive choices.

Nevertheless, there’s a draw back to the flat fee — you don’t routinely obtain a reduction or extra financial savings for selecting a long term, which different VPNs sometimes supply. Due to this fact, Mullvad VPN isn’t probably the most cost-effective choice for long-term customers.

There isn’t a free model or free trial for Mullvad VPN, however there’s a 30-day money-back assure if subscribers aren’t happy with the service.

I commend Mullvad’s give attention to privateness when it comes to its cost choices. Exterior of the same old selections like bank card or PayPal, Mullvad VPN allows you to pay with money, cryptocurrencies or purchasable bodily vouchers — all of which give customers with anonymity with their funds. This can be a nice choice for privateness fanatics who wish to stay nameless.

Is Mullvad VPN secure and reliable?

Mullvad VPN comes with OpenVPN and WireGuard safety protocols — two of probably the most safe and best-performing protocols at present. As well as, Mullvad makes use of the gold-standard AES-256 encryption, features a built-in kill swap and protects towards DNS leaks.

It has a no-logs coverage that states that the VPN “by no means retailer[s] any exercise logs of any variety.” Fortuitously, Mullvad has proven a powerful dedication to common unbiased safety audits to again their privateness claims. Its most up-to-date audit was carried out by Radically Open Safety in August 2023, which “discovered no logging of consumer exercise knowledge” inside Mullvad’s VPN infrastructure.

Some customers might specific concern that Mullvad relies in Sweden, a member of the 14 Eyes surveillance alliance. Nevertheless, I argue that Mullvad VPN efficiently alleviated such considerations when the corporate was subjected to a search warrant in April 2023.

In accordance with Mullvad, six cops from the Nationwide Operations Division (NOA) of the Swedish Police visited their places of work and wished to grab computer systems that held buyer knowledge. Mullvad defined that, due to their no-logs coverage, “such buyer knowledge didn’t exist.” This finally led to the cops leaving empty-handed.

The corporate emphasised that even “if [the police] had taken one thing that will not have given them entry to any buyer info” due to their no-logs coverage.

General, Mullvad VPN proves to be a secure and safe VPN service to make use of in 2024.

Key options of Mullvad VPN

Other than offering customers with a safe VPN connection and a community of servers all over the world, Mullvad presents a number of standout options that set it aside from different VPN distributors.

Nameless account numbers

One other distinctive privateness characteristic of Mullvad is its use of nameless account numbers.

Determine A

As an alternative of requiring clients to supply an e-mail tackle, username or password, Mullvad routinely generates a random account quantity for every consumer, serving as their primary method to log in and use Mullvad VPN. The 16-digit quantity can also be used to let customers pay for his or her subscription.

This supplies a further layer of anonymity since customers gained’t have to supply any sort of non-public or figuring out info to make use of Mullvad. On the minimal, most VPNs ask customers to supply an e-mail tackle to make use of their service, so I respect the added privateness of not needing to take action with Mullvad VPN.

Mullvad Lockdown mode

Determine B

Mullvad features a Lockdown mode characteristic that blocks any web connection not secured by a Mullvad VPN server. Which means that even when you unintentionally stop the Mullvad VPN app or disconnect from one in all its servers for any motive, your knowledge and site visitors will stay safe and blocked from unprotected networks.

In my testing, Lockdown mode labored as marketed and reliably reduce off the web on my machine every time I attempted to attach outdoors of the VPN.

DNS content material blockers

Determine C

You additionally get a set of content material blockers inside Mullvad’s app that permits you to limit entry to intrusive content material resembling adverts, grownup content material and malware.

Whereas rivals like ExpressVPN allow you to block adverts and trackers as properly, I like that Mullvad offers you a bit extra choices within the kinds of content material you may block. Particular callouts listed here are having the ability to block playing websites, grownup content material and even social media websites.

Velocity and efficiency: How briskly is Mullvad VPN?

Mullvad carried out properly when it comes to pace and efficiency. I didn’t expertise any critical slowdown with my typical workflow that includes working in Google Docs, having a number of tabs open for analysis and streaming the occasional 1080p YouTube movies. I used to be additionally impressed with how dependable Mullvad’s connection was throughout an hour-long Google Meet name I attended whereas testing the VPN; I didn’t expertise any points with the connection.

When it comes to pace testing, Mullvad obtained extra modest numbers. For obtain speeds, it recorded a 40.8% drop in pace in comparison with my web service supplier, which is nice however not nice. Add pace was noticeably worse, with an 89.7% lower in pace. If you happen to or your corporation incessantly uploads giant information, NordVPN could also be a greater decide because it has proven to supply sooner general speeds.

Regardless of the stable efficiency, I need to point out that speeds might differ extra with Mullvad VPN in comparison with different VPNs on account of its smaller server community. I’ll dive into that extra within the subsequent part, however having extra servers normally permits for sooner efficiency.

All issues apart, my time with Mullvad VPN confirmed it could possibly present moderately quick speeds with out challenge.

Mullvad VPN servers and areas

Mullvad VPN’s server community is the place it sadly falls behind the competitors. At present, Mullvad has 641 servers in round 40 international locations; this server suite is sort of small in each the server quantity and nation unfold, contemplating {that a} trendy VPN normally has round 3,000 servers in round 60 international locations.

For context, ProtonVPN supplies round 3,090 servers throughout 71 international locations, whereas CyberGhost VPN presents round 11,330+ servers throughout 100 international locations.

Which means that if Mullvad VPN doesn’t have a server location that’s near you, it’s possible you’ll expertise slower speeds or impacted efficiency. This smaller server suite additionally means Mullvad gained’t be a major choice for many who plan to unblock geo-restricted content material on-line.

If a big nation unfold is a precedence, CyberGhost VPN or Personal Web Entry can be higher choices as they supply servers from 100 and 91 international locations, respectively.

Mullvad doesn’t categorize its servers for extra specialised use instances like NordVPN’s safer Double VPN servers or CyberGhost’s streaming-optimized servers.

Mullvad VPN app expertise

I examined Mullvad VPN on my Home windows laptop computer and located the desktop software to be very simple to make use of.

Determine D

Issues such because the server listing have been the place I anticipated them to be, and I had no hassle activating totally different options throughout the app’s VPN settings.

I actually like that Mullvad allows you to create a customized listing or group of high servers. You possibly can put servers in lists and title every group as you want. This may be helpful when you commonly entry content material from sure areas and wish to connect with the suitable server location simply.

Determine E

Subjectively, I do really feel like Mullvad’s app is lagging behind when it comes to design because the cartoon-like interface seems to be a bit outdated. Nevertheless, I’ve no complaints in regards to the software’s efficiency because it labored with out a hitch.

Mullvad execs

• Inexpensive month-to-month plan.
• Constant unbiased audits.
• Nameless consumer account quantity system.
• Respectable speeds and efficiency.
• Simple-to-use desktop software.

Mullvad cons

• Small server community of 641 servers.
• Helps servers from solely 40+ international locations.
• Longer subscriptions could be costly.
• No free trial.
• Solely permits for 5 simultaneous system connections.
• Primarily based in Sweden (14 Eyes alliance).

Who’s Mullvad VPN greatest for?

Mullvad VPN is greatest for privateness fanatics who worth anonymity above all else. Its distinctive cost system and nameless consumer account quantity system are significant methods so as to add further safety for end-users who wish to share as little knowledge as potential.

It’s a VPN service that gives respectable speeds and an intuitive software. It’s additionally an excellent decide for particular person customers who need sturdy encryption and safety for a brief period of time, particularly with its extra inexpensive month-to-month subscription.

Whereas its lack of an inexpensive long-term subscription and minuscule server community wanes compared to the competitors, Mullvad’s huge give attention to privateness is a welcome taste to the VPN area as a complete.

Options to Mullvad VPN

If you happen to discover that Mullvad VPN isn’t a match for you, I’ve listed three sturdy options that will higher fit your wants.

Proton VPN

In order for you a VPN that gives a full-fledged free model, give Proton VPN a attempt. Its free model presents limitless knowledge and entry to 86 servers in three international locations at no extra value. It additionally operates in privacy-friendly Switzerland, making it a major choice for these apprehensive about authorities surveillance.

In our full evaluate, ProtonVPN obtained 4.0 stars out of 5. To study extra, learn right here.

ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN presents a no-nonsense VPN that has a well-designed software, quick speeds and safety for as much as eight simultaneous units. It additionally has servers throughout 105 international locations and makes use of RAM-only server know-how for much more safety.

In our full evaluate, ExpressVPN obtained 4.4 stars out of 5. To study extra, learn right here.

CyberGhost VPN

Customers who need an in depth server suite ought to have CyberGhost VPN on their listing. It presents greater than 11,000 servers throughout 100 international locations and over 125 areas. It additionally has a beneficiant 24-hour free trial that permits you to check its premium VPN with no bank card required. On high of this, CyberGhost well categorizes its servers for streaming, gaming and torrenting.

In our full evaluate, CyberGhost VPN obtained 4.3 stars out of 5. To study extra, learn right here.

Evaluate methodology

My evaluate of Mullvad VPN concerned a complete evaluation of its options, value and real-world efficiency. I had hands-on time with Mullvad VPN on my Home windows laptop computer via a paid one-month subscription.

For pace, I used Ookla’s public Speedtest to measure obtain and add speeds. I additionally ran Mullvad via DNSLeakTest a number of occasions to examine for any drops in its DNS leak safety.

I scored Mullvad VPN on all the pieces, from its safety protocols to its pricing, based mostly on an inside algorithm to get a ranking of three.7 out of 5 stars. In my scoring, I checked out Mullvad VPN each by itself and in relation to different VPNs accessible.