Mullvad VPN Review
The Privacy Purist's Choice.
I've tested dozens of VPNs that promise "zero logs", but then ask for your email, home address, and mother's maiden name. Mullvad is different. No email. No password. Just a generated number. Let's see if this Swedish powerhouse is actually practical for daily use in this honest Mullvad VPN review in 2026.
To understand the 7.9/10 score, you have to split the user base in two:
The gold standard. If your goal is anonymity and avoiding mass surveillance, Mullvad is arguably the most trustworthy tool in existence.
A poor choice. It does not actively bypass blocks for US Netflix or iPlayer. If you want to watch TV abroad, look elsewhere.
The Anti-Marketing VPN
Flat Price, No Tricks
Most VPNs try to lock you into a 2-year contract to get a decent price. Mullvad has had the same pricing model for over a decade: €5 per month (approx £4.20 / $5.40).
Mullvad is mainly a top-up model: you add time/credit manually rather than being pushed into a recurring subscription. You can even mail cash to their headquarters in Gothenburg if you want total anonymity.
What It Nails
-
Anonymity First Account number login—no email, phone, or personal data ever required.
-
Audited + Transparent Audited + transparent no-logging approach (multiple third-party audits; no-logging policy published).
-
Anonymous Payments Accepts cash, privacy-friendly crypto, and offers a flat rate with no renewal tricks.
-
Advanced Tech DAITA (Defense against AI-guided Traffic Analysis) adds cover traffic/packet shaping to make traffic analysis harder (currently introduced as a beta feature).
The Drawbacks
-
Streaming Weakness Rarely works with Netflix, Disney+, or BBC iPlayer.
-
No Port Forwarding Port forwarding removed (new forwards disabled May 29, 2023; existing removed July 1, 2023).
-
Higher Monthly Cost At €5/mo, it is pricier than the long-term deals of competitors (e.g., ~€2/mo).
-
Smaller Network Fewer servers globally compared to giants like NordVPN or Surfshark.
User Experience
Desktop & Mobile Apps
Mullvad's interface is refreshingly Spartan. There are no interactive maps or flashy animations. It is a functional list of countries and a big green "Connect" button.
For advanced users, the settings menu is a goldmine. You can easily toggle "Lockdown Mode" (to block internet if the VPN is manually disconnected) or configure custom DNS servers without digging through sub-menus. It feels like a tool built by engineers for engineers, yet simple enough for a beginner to use.
Privacy Specs
This is where Mullvad truly shines. The onboarding process is startlingly simple because it omits the data collection steps we have become accustomed to.
The Account Number System
You do not create a username. You do not provide an email. You click a button, and the site generates a 16-digit account number. That number is your account. If you lose it, the account is gone. Mullvad doesn’t require personal details for the account itself. Cash and some crypto options can reduce what you share with Mullvad—but crypto isn’t automatically anonymous.
The 2023 Office Search
In April 2023, Swedish authorities visited Mullvad's offices with a search warrant for customer data. Mullvad says such customer data did not exist, and police left without taking anything.
Performance & Speed
WireGuard Implementation
Mullvad was an early adopter of the WireGuard protocol, and it shows. In our testing on UK fibre lines, the speed loss was negligible (often less than 5%). As of 15 Jan 2026, Mullvad has fully removed OpenVPN support; WireGuard is the only protocol.
The connection is instant. On mobile devices, the transition between Wi-Fi and 5G is seamless, largely thanks to their excellent implementation of the protocol. It feels lightweight, unlike some bloated competitors.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Mullvad VPN | Typical Competitor | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registration | Account Number Only | Email Required | Superior |
| Pricing | €5/mo (Flat) | High Monthly / Low Yearly | Fairer |
| Server Network | ~600 Servers | 5,000+ Servers | Small |
| Port Forwarding | Removed (2023) | Often Supported | Restrictive |
| Streaming | Unreliable | Optimised Servers | Poor |
The Trade-Offs
Before you rush to buy, you need to know what you are giving up. Mullvad is a privacy tool, not a media centre.
Streaming: If you want to watch US Netflix, BBC iPlayer, or Disney+ from abroad, Mullvad is not for you. They do not actively play "cat and mouse" with streaming services. You will often see proxy errors.
Port Forwarding: Mullvad permanently removed port forwarding support in 2023. This was a blow to the torrenting community who relied on it for seeding, though downloading remains safe and fast.
Controversies
A Clean Record, With One Caveat
No confirmed compromise of Mullvad’s backend systems has been publicly disclosed, but like all VPNs, there have been platform-specific leak scenarios (notably on Android) that users should understand. That said, two events are worth noting:
1. The Removal of Port Forwarding (2023): This caused significant friction within the community. Mullvad removed the feature to prevent malicious use (hosting illegal content via their IPs), which led to law enforcement blacklisting their servers. While it improved the network's health, it alienated many torrenting power users.
2. The 2023 Police "Raid": Police visited with a warrant intending to seize computers with customer data; Mullvad says such customer data did not exist, and police left without taking anything. It turned a potential legal controversy into a marketing win.
Ownership & Jurisdiction
Who Owns Mullvad?
Mullvad is owned by its parent company, Amagicom AB. The name Amagicom is derived from the Sumerian word for "freedom" (ama-gi). It is 100% owned by founders Fredrik Strömberg and Daniel Berntsson, meaning there are no hidden venture capital firms or data-mining conglomerates pulling the strings.
The 14 Eyes Factor
Sweden is part of the 14-Eyes alliance. Mullvad’s position is that they don’t keep activity logs and have structured their systems to minimize retained data. Since Mullvad's infrastructure is built to be technically incapable of storing logs, a government subpoena would yield no data, regardless of the jurisdiction.
FAQs
Can I pay with cash?
You bet. Stay anonymous all the way. Just put your cash and payment token (randomly generated on the website) in an envelope and send it to their HQ. They accept GBP, EUR, USD, and more.
Are there any discounts?
Generally, the price is a flat €5. However, accepted cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Monero, etc.) are discounted at 10% due to lower fees and less administration. Note: Crypto purchases aren’t refundable.
Is there a money-back guarantee?
Yes, they offer a 14-day money-back guarantee for eligible payment methods (not available for cash; crypto payments aren’t refundable).
