MullVAD VPN 2024 Review: 2 Cons and 5 Pros

by Vít Nováček
updated January 1, 2024 (Report a bug)

1. MullVAD VPN Uses RAM Servers, but Being Based in Sweden Raises Concerns

   • Unblocked only some streaming platforms
   • Only 663 servers available

   • Almost all servers use RAM only
   • VPNs can be purchased completely anonymously
   • 10% discount when paying with cryptocurrencies
   • Does not track user activity
   • Money-back guarantee within 30 days

   The operator of MullVAD VPN is the Swedish company Mullvad VPN AB; the service was launched in 2009.

   MullVAD VPN can be purchased completely anonymously; no personal information is required for registration, and cryptocurrencies can be used for payment. In addition, when choosing this payment method, the user will receive a 10% discount on the subscription fee.

   The good level of privacy with MullVAD VPN is aided by the service’s claim not to log user activity. Users can choose from WireGuard and OpenVPN protocols in the settings, and multi-hop is supported, where the VPN connects through two different VPN servers simultaneously.

   The weakest point of MullVAD VPN is the number of servers, with 663 being below average, although judging by our tests, this didn’t affect connection speeds.

   MullVAD VPN had issues with video unblocking when we were unable to start a stream from Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, and Hulu platforms.

   With a score of 7.6/10, MullVAD VPN ranks in the better half of the VPNs reviewed. However, it loses out to top services like NordVPN (9.4/10) or Surfshark (9.2/10).

2. MullVAD VPN Subscription: Discount Code, Free Trial, Money Back Guarantee…

   • Your Price: $5.33​0% off  $5.33 /mo (5 devices)
   • Money Back Guarantee: Yes (30 days)
   • Free Trial: No
   • Cryptocurrency payments:
     Yes

     Bitcoin :Yes
     Dash :No
     Ethereum :No
     Ripple :No

   

   7.6

   ★★★☆

   Anonymous VPN that doesn’t track user activity and mainly uses RAM servers. It only managed to unblock some streaming platforms in tests.

   $5.33 /mo  ​30-day money back guarantee

   Get this VPN 0% cheaper

   MullVAD VPN is unique in its pricing model; a subscription always costs $5.33, regardless of the length of the term.

   The only available discount of 10% is given to users who use the cryptocurrencies Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, or Monero for payment. Other supported payment methods include debit and credit cards and payment systems like PayPal, Swish, Giropay, Eps transfer, Bancontact, iDEAL, and Przelewy24.

   All orders are covered by a money-back guarantee of 30 days. A trial version of MullVAD VPN is not available; to try the service, you can subscribe and get your money back.

3. MullVAD VPN and Supported Devices: Android, iOS, macOS…

   • Device limit: 5

   Platforms supported

   • Android:
     Yes

     Android is supported by 98 % of reviewed VPNs
   • Android TV:
     Yes

     Android TV is supported by 36 % of reviewed VPNs
   • Apple TV:
     No

     Apple TV is supported by 18 % of reviewed VPNs
   • Fire TV:
     No

     Fire TV is supported by 43 % of reviewed VPNs
   • Chromebook:
     Yes

     Chromebook is supported by 20 % of reviewed VPNs
   • Chromecast:
     Yes

     Chromecast is supported by 16 % of reviewed VPNs
   • iOS:
     Yes

     iOS is supported by 99 % of reviewed VPNs
   • Kodi:
     No

     Kodi is supported by 21 % of reviewed VPNs
   • Linux:
     Yes

     Linux is supported by 61 % of reviewed VPNs
   • Mac:
     Yes

     Mac is supported by 98 % of reviewed VPNs
   • NAS:
     No

     NAS is supported by 24 % of reviewed VPNs
   • nVidia Shield:
     No

     nVidia Shield is supported by 14 % of reviewed VPNs
   • Playstation:
     No

     Playstation is supported by 20 % of reviewed VPNs
   • Raspberry Pi:
     No

     Raspberry Pi is supported by 17 % of reviewed VPNs
   • Roku:
     No

     Roku is supported by 16 % of reviewed VPNs
   • Router:
     Yes

     Router is supported by 53 % of reviewed VPNs
   • Windows:
     Yes

     Windows is supported by 100 % of reviewed VPNs
   • xBox:
     No

     xBox is supported by 20 % of reviewed VPNs

   Browser Extensions

   • Brave :
     No

     The Brave browser add-on is offered by 43 % of reviewed VPNs.
   • Chrome :
     No

     The Chrome browser add-on is offered by 43 % of reviewed VPNs.
   • Edge :
     No

     The Edge browser add-on is offered by 21 % of reviewed VPNs.
   • Firefox :
     Yes

     The Firefox browser add-on is offered by 34 % of reviewed VPNs.
   • Opera :
     No

     The Opera browser add-on is offered by 43 % of reviewed VPNs.
   • Safari :
     No

     The Safari browser add-on is offered by 0 % of reviewed VPNs.
   • Vivaldi :
     No

     The Vivaldi browser add-on is offered by 43 % of reviewed VPNs.

   MullVAD VPN can be used on 5 devices simultaneously, but this is below average compared to other VPNs. For example, Surfshark can be connected to 999 devices.

   The MullVAD VPN app is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux desktop devices, and for Android and iOS mobile devices. Android TV smart TVs, Chromecast, and Chromebook devices are also supported. Game consoles and other device types are not directly supported.

   Securing all devices connected to the same network is possible by supporting MullVAD VPN for traffic on the router. In terms of the quota allowed, the router is considered a single device.

   The MullVAD VPN browser extension is only available for Firefox. The advantage of the extension is its ease of use, where there’s no need to install a separate application, and you can quickly connect directly from the browser.

4. MullVAD VPN App: User-friendliness, whitelist, server selection…

   • App Languages: 🇺🇸 English +18 more🇩🇪 German 🇪🇸 Spanish 🇫🇷 French 🇵🇹 Portuguese 🇮🇹 Italian 🇨🇳 Chinese 🇷🇺 Russian 🇰🇷 Korean 🇵🇱 Polish 🇯🇵 Japanese 🇫🇮 Finnish 🇹🇷 Turkish 🇳🇱 Dutch 🇸🇪 Swedish 🇩🇰 Danish 🇳🇴 Norwegian 🇹🇭 Thai 🇲🇳 Burmese
   • Whitelisting:
     Yes

     Whitelisting is supported by 52 % of reviewed VPNs

   The MullVAD VPN desktop app is user-friendly, and even less experienced users will have no trouble using it. The minimalistic interface has only two buttons, one for connecting to the VPN and the other for changing the server.

   The app’s interface is available in 19 languages. The default dark theme cannot be changed to light.

   MullVAD VPN supports a whitelist, and in the settings, you can select websites for which VPN protection will always be active. The list of servers is sorted alphabetically by country and possibly further by city. You can connect to a specific server, and the protocol used is always listed.

   For fast connections, the automatic selection of the nearest server is available.

5. MullVAD VPN Connection Speed: Upload, Download & Latency

   • Traffic limit: Unlimited

   Download speed

   Higher is better. The average download of all tested VPNs is 115 Mb/s.

   Upload speed

   Higher is better. The average upload of all tested VPNs is 81 Mb/s.

   Server latency

   A lower value is better. The average response rate of all tested VPNs is 48 ms.
   Subscriptions to MullVAD VPN include unlimited traffic; this is standard with paid services.

   In repeated tests, we measured MullVAD VPN‘s average download speed of 190 Mb/s, faster than most competing VPNs. The average upload speed of 130 Mb/s also exceeds the speed of most private networks tested.

   The values varied from server to server, but the measured speeds are sufficient for P2P file sharing and 4K video viewing. For this, a download speed of at least 50 Mbps is stated as necessary.

   Very good values of 11 ms were achieved for response speeds, so MullVAD VPN can be used for gaming or video chatting without difficulty. For response speeds, as opposed to download and upload speeds, lower is better.

6. MullVAD VPN Server Locations

   • Number of servers:
     663

     The average number of servers for the reviewed VPNs is 1699.
   • Number of countries:
     40

     The average number of countries available for the reviewed VPNs is 41.

   Europe	🇦🇱 Albania 🇧🇪 Belgium 🇧🇬 Bulgaria 🇨🇿 Czech Republic 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇪🇪 Estonia 🇫🇮 Finland 🇫🇷 France 🇭🇷 Croatia 🇮🇪 Ireland 🇮🇹 Italy 🇱🇻 Latvia 🇱🇺 Luxembourg 🇭🇺 Hungary 🇲🇩 Moldova 🇩🇪 Germany 🇳🇱 Netherlands 🇳🇴 Norway 🇵🇱 Poland 🇵🇹 Portugal 🇦🇹 Austria 🇷🇴 Romania 🇬🇷 Greece 🇲🇰 Northern Macedonia 🇸🇰 Slovakia 🇬🇧 United Kingdom 🇷🇸 Serbia 🇪🇸 Spain 🇸🇪 Sweden 🇨🇭 Switzerland
   North America	🇨🇦 Canada 🇺🇸 USA
   South America	🇨🇴 Colombia
   Asia	🇭🇰 Hong Kong 🇮🇱 Israel 🇯🇵 Japan 🇸🇬 Singapore
   Africa	🇿🇦 South Africa
   Oceania	🇦🇺 Australia 🇳🇿 New Zealand

   MullVAD VPN operates 663 servers in 40 countries around the world.

   Although it was not noticeable on the transfer speeds, 663 available servers are significantly less than the competition. The number of servers is only one indicator; their configuration and current load also affect the speed and stability of the connection.

   MullVAD VPN servers cover all continents, with the largest number in Europe. In less frequented countries, servers are available in Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, and Colombia, while the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa are among the locations offered.

   MullVAD VPN does not offer servers in countries with government Internet censorship, such as Russia, China, or the United Arab Emirates. With 40 countries available, MullVAD VPN ranks among the average. A very wide selection of sites includes Surfshark (97) and ExpressVPN (94).

   Some of the servers MullVAD VPN uses are equipped with RAM only; no hard drives are installed. The data on the RAM memory is continuously overwritten or deleted when the server is shut down or restarted. This configuration provides a higher level of privacy and security.

   In addition, all servers running MullVAD VPN are optimized for P2P traffic and can transfer torrents without restrictions.

7. MullVAD VPN Security Features: DNS Leak Protection, Kill Switch…

   • DNS leak protection :
     Yes

     DNS leak protection is offered by 92% of the reviewed VPNs.
   • Kill Switch:
     Yes

     Kill Switch is supported by 87% of the reviewed VPNs.
   • Multi-Hop:
     Yes

     Multi-Hop connection is offered by 20 % of the VPNs reviewed.
   • Tor:
     Yes

     Tor support is offered by 19 % of the reviewed VPNs.

   The primary security feature of MullVAD VPN is DNS protection, which ensures that all traffic is routed through the VPN servers. This keeps the user’s IP address hidden from unwanted monitoring.

   The kill switch acts as a failsafe in case the connection to the VPN server fails. The function will disconnect the device from the internet at that moment, preventing the user’s real IP address, location, and data from being compromised.

   MullVAD VPN gives users a choice of WireGuard and OpenVPN protocols. WireGuard is a modern protocol with the advantage of high speed and simple code. OpenVPN has been a standard relied upon by many VPN operators for many years.

   The data transmitted is protected by 256-bit AES encryption, which is considered very secure.

   An advantage of MullVAD VPN is the ability to use a VPN when browsing the Tor network.

8. MullVAD VPN & Streaming: Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Prime…

   • Amazon Prime:
     No

     Amazon Prime streaming is supported by 52 % of reviewed VPNs
   • Disney+:
     Yes

     Disney+ streaming is supported by 53 % of reviewed VPNs
   • HBO:
     No

     HBO streaming is supported by 57 % of reviewed VPNs
   • Hulu:
     No

     Hulu streaming is supported by 49 % of reviewed VPNs
   • Netflix:
     Yes

     Netflix streaming is supported by 67 % of reviewed VPNs
   • YouTube:
     Yes

     YouTube streaming is supported by 97 % of reviewed VPNs

   MullVAD VPN has only limited ability to unblock streaming platforms. In our test, we were able to unblock video from Netflix, YouTube, and Disney Plus. In contrast, we were unsuccessful in unblocking video from Amazon Prime, HBO Max, and Hulu.

   Video playback on Netflix and YouTube was smooth and without annoying loading times. High-resolution 4K playback was not a problem with MullVAD VPN, which was due to the average download speed of 190 Mb/s. For unblocking 4K video, the speed required is usually quoted as 50 Mbps.

   The best VPNs for Netflix and other platforms have dedicated servers for streaming, high connection speeds, and advanced security features to protect users. For smooth video playback, we recommend preferring NordVPN or CyberGhost VPN.

9. Features of MullVAD VPN: AdBlock, Static IP…

   • Blocks Ads:
     Yes

     Ad blocking is offered by 44 % of the VPNs reviewed.
   • Blocks Malware:
     Yes

     Malware blocking is offered by 33 % of the VPNs reviewed.
   • Blocks Trackers:
     Yes

     Trackers blocking is offered by 38 % of the VPNs reviewed.

   Included in MullVAD VPN is an ad-blocking feature that removes intrusive banners and pop-ups from the web pages you are viewing. Malware blocking protects the device from malicious code and dangerous applications that may want to install from certain websites.

   MullVAD VPN also supports blocking trackers that monitor a user’s Internet behavior. In the MullVAD VPN settings, blocking of adult content and gambling sites can be enabled.

   Static IP addresses are not available with MullVAD VPN, even at an additional cost.

10. MullVAD VPN‘s CPU usage and App Performance

    When testing MullVAD VPN on a Windows desktop computer, the load on the device was minimal. Thus, the application had no negative impact on normal usage. A short-term load spike of approximately 5 seconds occurred when connecting to the VPN server, but the load returned to its original values afterward.

    After shutting down, the application remained running in the background of the computer, and the system tray icon must be clicked to exit it completely.

11. MullVAD VPN Torrenting Servers

    • Torrenting servers:
      Yes

      Torrenting support is offered by 89 % of the reviewed VPNs.

    MullVAD VPN supports torrenting and P2P transfers on all servers. None of them are specifically optimized for torrenting.

    Our measured average download speed of 190 Mb/s and upload speed of 130 Mb/s are suitable for torrenting. Users are protected when transferring torrents by the kill switch feature, which disconnects the device from the Internet if the connection to the VPN server fails. This protects the user’s IP address and location.

    Overall, MullVAD VPN is usable for torrenting, but some competing services offer dedicated servers and even higher levels of security. For example, we can recommend CyberGhost VPN or Proton VPN Plus.

12. What is the country of origin of MullVAD VPN?

    • VPN Provider: Mullvad VPN AB
    • Country of origin: 🇸🇪 Sweden

    The operator of MullVAD VPN is MullVAD VPN AB, which was founded in 2020 and is registered in Gothenburg, Sweden. The VPN was launched in March 2009, with Amagicom AB as the original developer. “Mullvad” means mole in Swedish, and the VPN also features this animal in its logo.

    Being based in Sweden poses some security risks as the country is part of the 14 Eyes group. The secret services and police of these countries can monitor users’ activity on the Internet and share the information obtained with other countries.

13. MullVAD VPN and Privacy: Logging Policy, Security Issues…

    • No-Logs Policy:
      Yes

      The No-Logs Policy is followed by 78% of reviewed VPNs.

    The MullVAD VPN site explicitly states that no user activity is logged. Thus, no information is collected about VPN usage times, sites visited, IP addresses, or device identifiers.

    The operator of MullVAD VPN must release user data when requested by authorized authorities. If the information about zero log storage is true, the company has nothing to release. Almost all MullVAD VPN servers use only RAM memory, which by design does not support long-term data storage.

    MullVAD VPN supports multi-hop, where the connection is routed through two different VPN servers simultaneously. The advantage is a higher level of anonymity and better security, but the trade-off for this may be a lower connection speed.

    MullVAD VPN passed a security audit in September 2018, giving it added credibility. We don’t have information about a more recent audit. The best VPNs are regularly audited by reputable companies, and the results are published.

    Sweden is a member of the 14 Eyes group of countries that monitor internet traffic and share identified security threats among themselves. Thus, for the purpose of ensuring maximum privacy and security on the Internet, MullVAD VPN may not be the best choice.

14. MullVAD VPN Support: Chat, e-mail…

    The fastest way to contact MullVAD VPN technical support is via email at support@mullvad.net.

    A FAQ section is available on the MullVAD VPN website, where, among other things, tutorials on setting up VPNs on different devices are published.

    MullVAD VPN has profiles on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, GitHub, and Mastodon.

15. MullVAD VPN FAQ

    What are the payment methods for MullVAD VPN?

    Subscriptions to MullVAD VPN can be paid by debit and credit card, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, and Monero cryptocurrencies, or PayPal, Swish, or Giropay payment systems. The subscription price for MullVAD VPN is $5.33 per month.

    What is the log storage policy for MullVAD VPN?

    MullVAD VPN does not store any logs or metadata from user activity. In addition, the vast majority of servers use only RAM memory, which does not allow long-term data storage.

    Does MullVAD VPN support torrenting?

    Yes, MullVAD VPN supports P2P data sharing, including torrenting, on all available servers. Our measured download (190 Mb/s) and upload (130 Mb/s) speeds are sufficient for torrenting.