Mullvad VPN stands apart in the crowded VPN market. Its open-source nature, fixed pricing, and acceptance of untraceable payments, identifying users solely by account numbers, position it as a strong contender for anonymity-focused users. This review examines Mullvad VPN’s speed, privacy policy, and support options to determine if it deserves a place among the top VPN services.
Pricing and Plans
alt text: Mullvad VPN's pricing has remained consistent at 5 euros per month since 2009.
Mullvad VPN employs a refreshingly straightforward pricing model. For 5 euros per month (approximately $5.50), users can connect up to five devices simultaneously, including computers, phones, and tablets. This single subscription option eliminates the confusion often associated with tiered VPN plans.
Unlike many competitors who lure customers with introductory discounts and limited-time offers, Mullvad maintains a consistent, affordable price. This transparency prevents unexpected price hikes upon renewal. Some VPN services offer enticing initial discounts only to double or triple the price upon renewal. NordVPN, for instance, offers a high-quality service but increases its annual price significantly after the first year.
alt text: Mullvad VPN offers a variety of payment methods, including credit cards, cryptocurrency, and even cash.
This fixed-price model offers peace of mind for budget-conscious users. There’s no free version, no annual plan, and no upselling of add-ons. The 5 euro monthly price has remained unchanged since the service launched in 2009.
Payment options cater to various preferences, including credit cards, PayPal, and wire transfers. For enhanced anonymity, users can opt for cryptocurrency payments (Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Monero) or even send cash via mail.
Design and Interface
alt text: Mullvad VPN requires only an account number for login, enhancing user anonymity.
Mullvad VPN’s installation is quick and efficient. Upon launch, users are prompted to enter their account number or create a new one. Notably, only the account number is required for login. Mullvad doesn’t collect personal information like email addresses, names, phone numbers, or physical addresses.
After logging in, users can select from a network of over 700 servers in 47 countries. The interface allows for specific server selection or choosing a city or country for automatic server assignment.
alt text: Mullvad VPN's server list can be filtered by provider and ownership status.
The searchable server list offers filtering options by provider and owner. Filtering by “Mullvad owned” narrows the list to servers in the U.K., Germany, France, and Nordic countries, ensuring exclusive use of servers directly managed by Mullvad. A favorites list allows for quick access to frequently used servers.
The settings menu, accessible via a gear icon, allows for UI customization, VPN configuration, split tunneling setup, and access to support resources.
alt text: Mullvad VPN's settings menu provides options for UI customization, VPN configuration, and split tunneling.
The account button displays the user’s account number for setting up Mullvad VPN on other devices and provides access to subscription renewal. While the design is clean and user-friendly, improvements could be made. The small app window limits the number of visible servers, and a browser extension would enhance usability.
Performance and Features
alt text: Speed test results for Mullvad VPN connected to a nearby server.
VPN speed is crucial for activities like streaming, downloading, gaming, and even general browsing. Tests were conducted using SpeedTest to evaluate Mullvad VPN’s performance across various global servers.
Testing from Canada with a baseline 900Mbps connection, the Canadian server yielded lower-than-expected speeds. While latency was low, download and upload speeds were significantly reduced. Connecting to a U.S. server improved performance considerably, but upload speeds remained surprisingly low. After trying several nearby servers, acceptable speeds were achieved, highlighting some inconsistency in server performance.
alt text: Speed test results comparing different Mullvad VPN servers.
European servers showed more consistent performance, delivering good download speeds and reasonable latency. Connections to Australia, despite the distance, maintained acceptable speeds for browsing and general use.
alt text: Speed test results for Mullvad VPN connected to European servers.
Beyond speed, Mullvad VPN offers useful features like split tunneling, allowing designated apps to bypass the VPN for location-based services and optimal throughput. Built-in content blockers target malware, trackers, ads, gambling, adult content, and social media, although the malware blocker is acknowledged as not being foolproof. Additional features include obfuscation for bypassing firewalls, a kill switch, and automatic startup.
Customer Support
alt text: Mullvad VPN offers email support and a comprehensive help center.
Mullvad VPN’s support resources primarily consist of a searchable online help center. For direct assistance, email support is available. A test inquiry regarding the malware blocker received a response within eight hours, faster than the typical one-day turnaround for email support.
Privacy and Security
Mullvad VPN’s commitment to anonymity is a key strength. The service treats users as numbers, minimizing data collection. No personal information is required for signup, and payment methods like cryptocurrency and cash further enhance privacy. Payment details are purged after the 30-day refund period, limiting the data footprint even for credit card transactions. Independent audits regularly verify Mullvad VPN’s security protocols and no-log policy.
Conclusion: Is Mullvad VPN Right for You?
Mullvad VPN prioritizes privacy without requiring blind trust. This is particularly appealing for individuals concerned about surveillance or identity theft, and for those in regions with restrictive internet access. Even for casual users, the enhanced anonymity offered by Mullvad VPN provides an added layer of security.
While Mullvad VPN’s monthly price is competitive, longer-term subscriptions with other VPN providers might offer slightly lower costs. Services like Surfshark and Proton VPN offer compelling alternatives, particularly for budget-conscious users.
Despite some inconsistencies in speed and reliance on email support, Mullvad VPN’s straightforward approach and unwavering commitment to privacy make it a recommendable choice for users seeking hassle-free anonymity.
