Mullvad VPN Review: Does it Provide Enough Privacy and Security?

In the VPN universe, Mullvad is not among the biggest players or best-known names. Instead, it’s a much smaller VPN in the industry. Nevertheless, it has a niche status. Some of the most enthusiastic privacy fans globally have embraced it as one of the best in the market. The features in Mullvad are robust, and security is good without compromising convenience. Additionally, the pricing structure is straightforward.

But when you look at the cold facts, how good is Mullvad, really? Is it really in the same league as the best in the industry, such as NordVPN, ExpressVPN, or Surfshark?

This honest review of Mullvad is going to explore this VPN in detail. I will answer questions about its speed, supported protocols, privacy policy, streaming capabilities, and customer service quality.

It’s been a while since I tried Mullvad. Back then, my daily VPN network was not working correctly with WireGuard (it’s not my provide anymore). So I thought of trying my setup with a different provider and see if it worked. It was Mullvad, and it did.

Mullvad worked exceedingly well, so I kept my membership active. We still have it because it’s always a good idea to have a backup VPN. So while NordVPN is my top choice and everyday VPN network, Mullvad is there, always available, for when I need a little extra help.

I decided to remain a Mullvad customer because it worked very well for me. But that’s a subjective, anecdotal assessment. So how good is Mullvad when I put it to the test, as I’ve done with other VPNs? Keep reading to find out.

Mullvad VPN key feature at a glance

Server	800+ servers
No-log policy	Yes
Kill switch	Yes
Price	5 EUR/month
Country-based	Sweden
Torrenting allowed	Yes
Simultaneous connections	5 simultaneous devices
Money-back guarantee	30 days

Mullvad VPN’s summary

Mullvad’s headquarters are in Sweden. Its privacy policy is clear and exhaustive, and it keeps no logs. When you log into the network, it collects no data. Instead, it comes up with a random number that will be your user identifier for that session.

The protocol menu includes OpenVPN (the industry standard) and WireGuard (a favorite for high speeds). In addition, there is multiple server hop available through the Bridge feature. Other features include a kill switch and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Mullvad’s priority is privacy, and it excels at it with a strong focus on security features.

Mullvad’s general overview

If you’re in a rush and need to get the gist of this unbiased review of Mullvad VPN, here it is. I will discuss every aspect in further detail, but here are the essentials.

Here’s the good news: connection speeds are very good with most of the servers in the network. The VPN protocols include OpenVPN and WireGuard. The first one is the industry standard because it’s an open-source project that’s been thoroughly audited throughout the years and has a developing community that keeps it updated.

The second one is very efficient and allows for high transfer speeds. IPv6 support is on the menu. The network keeps no logs at all. The Bridge feature gives you the ability to have a multi-hop connection. There is a kill switch. And last but not least, this VPN works in China, a widespread but critical issue. This is the make-or-break feature for many users looking for a new VPN provider.

Not so good news: the customer service is not the best we at PrivacySavvy have seen. When many new VPN users are looking for a way to unblock streaming services, Mullvad will give mixed results. It unblocks Amazon Prime and Netflix, but if you have other streaming platforms in mind, you’ll find you can’t use them. Friendliness is not an advantage either.

If you want to use some features such as split tunneling or custom DNS queries, you’ll need a degree of expertise to activate them. The network doesn’t block any ads. The website could be a lot more useful.

So Mullvad is a good VPN indeed, but it’s far from perfect. Moreover, even this preliminary view puts it at a clear disadvantage relative to NordVPN – my regular VPN provider.

Mullvad and connection speeds: How fast is it?

Mullvad VPN has excellent connection speeds in short-distance servers. Despite its relatively small server network, the VPN’s connection speeds are up there with the best premium VPNs. 

As expected, the speed may slightly drop when connecting to long-distance servers, but it is still enough to perform data-intensive activities like gaming, torrenting, and streaming.

We measure a VPNs connection speed based on the following aspects;

• Ping: Ping indicates connection speeds by showing the time a data packet takes to travel from point X to Y in milliseconds (ms). The lower the ping, the more responsive the network. Low ping rates are ideal for data-intensive activities, like gaming, requiring fast responsiveness.
• Upload speed: This shows how fast your device can send data and is also measured in megabits per second (Mbps). It indicates how fast you can upload files, send emails or make social media posts.
• Download speed: This shows how fast your device can receive data and is measured in megabits per second (Mbps). It indicates how quickly you can stream videos, load web pages, or download files. 

It is important to note that connection speeds depend on different factors, including physical location, hardware, operating system, your ISP provider, etc. Therefore, don’t be surprised if your speed results turn out much better or worse.

Local speeds

We tested our local internet connection speed in London without a VPN to establish a baseline connection speed. The following table shows the connection speed results without a VPN;

Ping (ms)	7
Download (Mbps)	10.24
Upload (Mbps)	1.31

We then connected to a MullVad server in London on a Wireguard tunneling protocol and recorded the following results.

Ping (ms)	31
Download (Mbps)	10.05 (2% drop)
Upload (Mbps)	1.31 (same)

The results above indicate a slight 2% decrease in download speeds when connected to a local VPN server. However, the drop is insignificant and unnoticeable when browsing.

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Long distance speeds

As we expect in most VPNs, the connection speeds drop significantly when you connect to a long-distance server. However, you can continue your activities without even noticing if you have a strong internet connection.

The tables below show speed test results when connected to Singapore and US servers. 

Singapore 

Ping (ms)	195
Download (Mbps)	9.92 (11% drop)
Upload (Mbps)	1.31 (14% drop)

United States 

Ping (ms)	202
Download (Mbps)	9.23 (8% drop)
Upload (Mbps)	1.14 (13% drop)

It is visible from the test results above that speed drops when connected to US and Singapore servers from London are hardly noticeable. You can stream HD videos without buffering and unblock Netflix to enjoy your favorite shows. However, you may notice that heavy web pages take longer to download, but light pages load normally. Surprisingly, Mullvad’s connection speeds over long-distance servers are pretty consistent in most locations.

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Is Mullvad’s connection speeds sufficient for gaming? 

Mullvad VPN’s connection speeds are smooth and consistent on most servers, which can help you play games online without interruptions. Also, the VPN protects you against ISP throttling, which is meant to slow down your connection speeds.

While Mullvad VPN performed excellently in gaming when connected to various locations, servers in Brazil had speed issues that caused lags. This is understandable since they are over 8000 km away from the UK. Overall, Mullvad VPN servers are fast enough for gaming, but there may be a few servers with speed inconsistencies.

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Mullvad VPN supports operating systems and platforms

Mullvad VPN has Linux, iOS, Mac, and Windows operating systems applications. They have similar designs and interfaces but some minor differences in features. 

Desktop applications

Mullvad has applications for Linux, Mac, and Windows operating systems. The applications allow you to choose between OpenVPN and WireGuard tunneling protocols. Mulldav desktop applications are user-friendly, with a neat interface.

In addition, you can configure desktop applications to receive notifications about Mullvad VPN’s beta version releases.

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Android apps

The Mullvad VPN Android application is a beta version and lacks some important features discussed in this review. For instance, it has no kill switch, and you cannot use IPv6 communication. Additionally, the application supports WireGuard tunneling protocol only.

However, Android apps allow you to use local network sharing and set Wireguard MTU value. Also, it has a split tunneling feature that is missing in Windows applications.

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iOS apps

Unlike the Mullvad Android application, the iOS app is a full version released in 2020. The application is fully featured, and just like Android apps, it only supports the Wireguard tunneling protocol.

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Simultaneous device connections

Mullvad VPN allows up to five simultaneous connections to one account. We tested this by connecting devices of different operation systems – iPhone, MacBook, Android Tablet, smartphone, and a Windows laptop. All the devices worked just fine without speed issues. 

If you wish to add more devices to one Mullvad account, consider installing your Mullvad VPN to your router. The process may be tricky, but installation guides are on Mullvad’s official website. Before attempting this process, ensure your router is VPN compatible, like DD-WRT, Asus Merlin, IP Fire, or pfSence.

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Installation and setup

Setting up Mullvad VPN on your device is seamless. In fact, you can configure it and get started in just three minutes after downloading your application. Here’s a quick guide to setting up your Mullvad VPN.

• Signup with Mullvad VPN: Visit the official Mullvad VPN website and create an account by clicking ‘Generate Account’ and choosing a payment method.
• Download and install: Choose an application based on your operating system and click the ‘Download button.’ Follow instructions to complete installation.
• Connect to the server: Launch the VPN application and log in with your Mullvan account number. After logging in, select a server of your choice and click ‘Secure My Location.’

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The Mullvad pricing structure

Pricing in Mullvad is convenient in every way. The structure is simple enough: there’s one plan available only, the monthly one. It’s 5 EUR per month. This is a very accessible price when you consider that the average fee in the market for a premium VPN service is around 10 USD.

So the pricing and the availability of the plans already set Mullvad apart from the competition. But that’s just the beginning. It’s the setup process that is really atypical in the industry. With most VPN providers, you need to provide at least a minimal amount of personal information to get started – a valid email, for instance, not with Mullvad.

Mullvad will ask you for no identifiable information at all except for a payment method. So you won’t even have a username or a password. Instead, the system will provide you with an account number (16 digits). The account number will act in the stead of a username and a password.

If you sign-up, renewal is automatic until you cancel it. You can get a new account number every month if you choose to make a one-time payment.

This very particular feature in Mullvad’s user management policy is unique. It makes this VPN a favorite among privacy enthusiasts. And it makes all the sense in the world! It’s cool, and it’s very private; it’s effective.

The payment options include credit cards and PayPal, which fit in with the automatic renewal policy. On the other hand, you can pay using those two methods, bank wires, Swish, Vouchers, Bitcoin Cash, and Bitcoin, if you are in the one-time payment camp.

Any VPN that accepts anonymous payments through cryptocurrencies is easily welcomed. It shows how serious the company is about privacy.

There is a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Every account is suitable for five simultaneous connections. If you take advantage of the ability to use Mullvad from your router, then every device at home will be connected simultaneously, regardless of the number.

Mullvad and routers

Mullvad VPN supports the following routers:

• pfSense
• OPNsense (unofficially, but it works with the pfSense settings. I tried it)
• IPFire
• Asus Merlin
• DD-WRT

As a Mullvad user, you will find the detailed guides you’ll need to set the VPN up on your router.

I’ve mentioned the advantages briefly in setting up your VPN in a router when possible. First, any device that connects to the Internet through the router will be protected by the VPN. Even those not supported directly with Mullvad apps – or that use an unsupported operating system. Second, the VPN sees the router as a single connection.

Your account gives you the right to connect only five devices. However, if you configure your router, then every computer, smartphone, and tablet you have at home (or gaming consoles and any other internet-enabled piece of hardware) will tunnel its traffic through the VPN while counting as a single connection.

Mullvad and Netflix, and other video streaming platforms

In January 2016, Netflix decided it didn’t like VPN users anymore, so it started banning VPNs from the platform. The goal was to enforce the geo-location restrictions imposed by the content’s copyright owners. Netflix is under a legal obligation to respect its licensing agreements. So, this measure solved Netflix’s problem. It is still debatable how intelligent it was to go for the jugular with this measure, but that’s how things stand.

However, as per PrivacySavvy’s observations, Netflix relaxed its VPN ban slightly not too long ago. According to this new information, Netflix allows VPN users to see videos that are not geo-restricted. That content mainly includes shows produced by Netflix.

So, how can I know for sure if a VPN can unblock Netflix? I look for content I know to be geo-restricted and find out if the VPN connection makes it available. So, if you connect to Netflix and see some content, that doesn’t mean your VPN is giving you any advantages. You’ve unlocked nothing as long as all you can see is a fraction of the site’s catalog. Netflix is giving you that access on purpose.

Mullvad’s marketing doesn’t sell the unblocking of any streaming service as a critical feature, which is a good, honest thing because it barely works in that regard. As I tested Mullvad’s against Netflix, I found that only a US-based server out of the entire server list could get me the full Netflix library.

If unblocking Netflix is a priority for you as you choose a VPN vendor, Mullvad is not the way to go. The chances of success are small, to say the least.

We were also able to run a successful test against Amazon Prime Video from US servers. But I failed with every other geo-restricted streaming video website.

Mullvad and BitTorrent

I have good news for the BitTorrent fanatics out there: every server in the Mullvad VPN network supports P2P networks. So you don’t need to find a dedicated server for the service. Instead, just regularly connect to the VPN and launch your torrent client.

The speeds were good enough, and the torrenting experience was smooth.

It’s safe to say that Mullvad is a good VPN for P2P file sharing, which is worth noting because it’s not an industry-standard in the VPN universe.

Mullvad VPN and split tunneling

“Split tunneling” is a feature also known as “selective routing.” It allows you to cherry-pick the portion of your traffic you want to route through the VPN. The rest uses your ISP’s regular, open connection. 

Split tunneling is not a standard feature in the VPN market. As a result, few services offer it, usually the ones on the industry’s top. Mullvad has this feature, but it’s not too easy to set up. Also, it works if you’re on OpenVPN only, and you’ll need some additional third-party software to have it working correctly.

Mullvad VPN does provide clear instructions on how to configure this feature. But just reading them correctly takes some expertise. Also, it’s not friendly to new users, and some of them could be scared away from it.

This is a department in which Mullvad VPN has some room for improvement.

Privacy – Is Mullvad VPN private

Mullvad VPN is privacy-friendly and has developed some amazing features to keep you private online. The VPN does not collect sensitive user data and was audited in 2020 by Cure53. Let’s look at some of the reasons why Mullvad is considered a private VPN.

Mullvad’s VPN privacy policy

Mullvad is in Sweden, as noted earlier. That’s not great news because this country, quite liberal regarding individual rights, belongs to the 14 Eyes alliance. The member countries of that alliance share intelligence among themselves. That intelligence includes digital surveillance data. And that can consist of the online activities of its citizens and corporations. It goes without saying that this doesn’t bring peace to the heart of many VPN users.

As a general rule, I do prefer VPNs based in countries more friendly towards individual privacy. Plenty of the best VPNs in the market are based in Panama, for instance. And this matters because it means that your data lives physically in a jurisdiction that doesn’t want to seize it.

That being said, in practical terms, a VPN’s logging policy is more relevant to user privacy than the jurisdiction. For example, your VPN provider could be forced to turn its logs over to the authorities, thus spilling the beans on you.

If, however, your provider’s logs are empty as a matter of principle, they have no beans to spill, and your privacy will remain safe. So when you have to choose between a VPN because of its logging policy vs. its local jurisdiction, it’s the policy that’s critical while the jurisdiction is merely circumstantial.

So if the vital thing is the VPN’s privacy policy, what is Mullvad VPN’s?

I can tell you that Mullvad’s privacy policy is among the most transparent ones I’ve found in the VPN world. It’s easy to read. It’s written in plain English for the most part. It has no Legalese traps or small print. It’s clear and to the point.

Mullvad will not keep logs of your internet traffic, your DNS requests, connection timestamps, used bandwidth, IP address, or account activity. It only keeps track of the number of concurrent connections you have active at any given time because you are allowed only five.

The VPN also keeps payment information. That much is expected, given the renewal policy. But the website clearly informs you about the data they hold and shows you some examples.

Mullvad VPN’s privacy policy is solid, and it brings together the best of all possible worlds. It’s the primary reason why so many paranoid geeks favor it so decidedly.

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Ownership

Mullvad VPN’s parent company, Mullvad AB, is a branch of Amagicom AB owned by Daniel Berntsson and Fredrik Stromberg. All information about the company’s ownership is available on Mullvad’s website. The good news is that these companies and their proprietors have never been involved in data scandals or under investigation for mishandling data.

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Security breaches and independent audits

Mullvad VPN version 2020.3 and older were subjected to a minor security breach in 2020. It was a privilege escalation attack that only targeted Windows users who may have had their accounts named build. The next upgrade of version 2020.4 fixed the issue, and Mullvad advised users to upgrade their applications.

In June 2020, Mullvad invited Cure53 to conduct a systems audit on all its iOS, Android, Mac, and Windows applications. Cure53 identified seven issues that required fixing. Two issues were classified as medium severity, another as low, and three as lower than low info.

By the time Mullvad version 2020.5 was released, all the issues identified by Cure53 were fixed. You can find the complete audit report on Cure53’s website.

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Information required by Mullvad

Unlike other VPNs that require you to provide your email address to create an account, Mullvad VPN approaches registration differently. Instead, the provider assigns you a unique code to identify you in the future. You then link your subscription payment to your unique code.

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Information collected by Mullvad 

Payment methods and customer support are the main methods through which Mullvad VPN collects user information. Cash payments and cryptocurrency give less information than direct transfers or payment gateways like PayPal. 

Mullvad VPN collects the following information along with payment. 

• PayPal: Email address, country, name, transaction ID (deleted 40 days after payment)
• Financial transfer: Mullvad’s financial account number, bank account number, address, and name. You should avoid direct transfers because they expose too much of your financial information.  

When you contact the customer support team via email seeking help, Mullvad collects the following data.

• Email: The provider collects your email address together with all the email contents.
• App information: Program logs, email, and IP address, which are then deleted. Ensure you don’t give out any personal information when troubleshooting.

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Can Mullvad VPN leak your data?

Mullvad VPN’s systems were audited in 2022 by Assured AB and found not to leak user data. The audit results also found that the VPN does not log personal data.

However, in October 2022, Android devices were found to leak user data outside the VPN tunnel. The leaks included DNS lookups, HTTPS traffic, and IP addresses. The company reached out to Google about the issue and recommended some changes to be made to the operating system.

You can use many online tools to check whether Mullvad VPN is leaking your data. A good example is browserleaks.com, where you can check for DNS, IPv4/IPv6, and WebRTC leaks.

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Security – Is Mullvad VPN secure?

Mullvad VPN has excellent security features to protect your data and device from online threats. The VPN uses a unique system to secure customer accounts, collects very little personal data, and uses the safest tunneling protocols. Here are some of the reasons why Mullvad is one of the safest VPNs in the industry.

• Mullvad uses OpenVPN and WireGuard tunneling protocols which are the safest in the industry.
• The VPN maintains a strict no-logs policy
• You can create an account without providing your email address.
• The VPN has an inbuilt permanent kill switch
• Mullvad VPN has special servers to circumvent strong firewalls.
• You don’t need to worry about government interference because the provider is Sweden-based, which is a privacy-friendly region.
• Communication with the customer support team can be done through PGP-encrypted email.

Encryption

Following is the encryption configuration for Mullvad in OpenVPN:

• Server authentication through 4096-bit RSA certificates (with SHA512)
• Key exchange: 4096 bit Diffie-Hellman
• Perfect forward secrecy: DHE
• Default encryption: AES-256-GCM. This is the standard not only in the VPN environment but also for intelligence agencies the world over
• Re-keying: every 60 minutes

“Perfect Forward Secrecy” is a procedure that comes up with new encryption keys at fixed periods. This renders the data in past sessions unreadable because the current keys can’t decrypt them anymore.

WireGuard is also in Mullvad’s menu, and this is the configuration:

• Symmetric encryption is ChaCha20, with Poly1305 for authentication with RFC7539’s-AEAD construction
• ECDH is Curve 25519
• Hashing and keyed hashing are BLAKE2s
• Hashable keys: SipHash24
• Key derivation: HKDF

If you don’t understand in full the technical specifications I’ve shown for both OpenVPN and WireGuard, don’t worry. All you need to know is that every algorithm in use is among the best available. So encryption in Mullvad is state-of-the-art, robust, and reliable.

And notice this also: most VPNs do not offer that high degree of detailed information about the protocols and algorithms they use. This in itself is remarkable in the case of Mullvad VPN.

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Leak tests

Mullvad doesn’t leak any IP information at all. The reported IP came from the Mullvad servers in every leakage test I ran, never from my ISP. This means that your actual IP address is hidden by the VPN and replaced by one assigned by its servers. And that’s one of the two most vital tasks that any VPN must perform for every user -the other one being encryption.

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Leak protection and leak test

Mullvad VPN has a permanent DNS leak protection feature that prevents any DNS request from accidentally going through your ISP. When you have a DNS leak, your online privacy is compromised, and your ISP can monitor your browsing activities. Always conduct a VPN leak test to ensure the VPN is protecting your privacy.

We tested Mullvad’s leak protection feature on ipleak.net when connected to servers in Germany, Australia, Singapore, and the US. As expected, Mullvad protects you against DNS leaks and conceals your IP address to give you anonymity.

Unlike other VPNs, Mullvad VPN also protects you against DNS leaks in IPv6 connections. IPv6 connections aren’t common, so most VPNs don’t offer this kind of protection, leaving users vulnerable.

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Protocols

Mullvad uses two of the safest tunneling protocols; WireGuard and OpenVPN (TCP and UDP ports). You can choose your preferred tunneling protocol in the ‘Advanced’ tab in the Mullvad application. Alternatively, you can set it to automatic, which is the default setting. WireGuard is the default tunneling protocol for Linux, Android, iOS, and Mac devices. The default connection in Windows depends on your connection.

• OpenVPN is a classic open-source protocol that has become the industry standard. It can be configured with various ports, a reason why it is the default tunneling protocol in most VPNs.
• WireGuard VPN is relatively new, but it is becoming popular for its good balance of security and speed. 

Besides the two tunneling protocols, Mullvad uses Shadowshocks, designed to circumvent censorships. It is implemented via the bridge server feature, where your traffic is first routed through shadowshocks before entering the tunneling protocol. Shadowshocks are especially helpful in P2P platforms because of their fast download speeds and smaller data packets.

OpenVPN is the best protocol when security and privacy are important. However, WireGuard is the best option if you need a fast connection or when performing data-intensive activities like streaming, gaming, or torrenting.

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Kill switch

A kill switch protects your privacy and security by disconnecting your device from the internet when your VPN connection drops. Mullvad VPN has a permanent kill switch that is always enabled without a disabling option. Some users feel it is necessary to keep you protected at all times, while others feel they should have more control. Either way, enabling it is safer because it protects your privacy and security when a VPN connection drops. You can find it in the ‘Preferences’ tab.

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Mullvad VPN features

Besides hiding your IP address and encrypting your traffic, a VPN has additional features designed to give you a better online experience. They give you the freedom to personalize your settings and preferences.

Luckily, Mullvad VPN is feature-rich, and it may surprise you with features you cannot find in other premium VPNs.

Mullvad and the Bridge feature (multihop servers)

Multihop means that your traffic goes through two or more servers in a VPN network instead of one. Mullvad supports this feature under the name of “Bridge.”

Why two servers, I hear you ask? Because the second server adds an additional encryption layer to your traffic. That will make it impossible to track by any meaningful standard.

There’s an extra benefit on Bridge. It helps you to bypass restrictive firewalls. 

Suppose that you are connecting to the Internet from a jurisdiction that blocks access to the US. But you need to get some content that is only available in the US. So here’s what you can do: you use your VPN to connect to a location your country’s government allows. Then you set up the second connection to a US-based server. Thus, any surveillance of your activities by third parties will only see your first connection.

When you choose your location, the Advanced section will require you to select both servers (entrance and exit).

The Bridge feature is powerful and helpful; there’s no doubt about it. But before you go ahead and use it, keep in mind that the extra encryption and the additional server hop come at a cost. You will lose some of your speed. Also, the Bridge server list in the network is shorter than the regular list, so your options are more limited, bringing your speeds down.

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Enable IPv6

There are very few IPv6 internet users, and that’s why most VPN providers do not support it. Mullvad VPN has the infrastructure necessary for IPv6 connections, but your device may not support it because it is not fully adopted.

To see if it works, you can test this feature by setting up bridged dual-stack IPv4 and IPv6 connections on Linux. Being a relatively new technology, chances are even your provider doesn’t support IPv6 but don’t worry, as you can get it with Mullvad VPN.

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Automatic connection

If you are a frequent VPN user, turning it on and off every time can be a nuisance. The Launch on Start-up feature launches your VPN when you turn on your device. Additionally, you can configure your VPN to connect to a server automatically when you open it.

Automatic connection is important because it ensures you are protected 24/7, especially when traveling and you are afraid your device might connect to unsecured Wi-Fi networks. You can enable this feature in the ‘Preferences’ section.

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Split tunneling

Some applications require more privacy than others. Therefore, you don’t need to use a VPN in all your applications when connecting to the internet. This is where the split tunneling feature comes in. It allows you to choose applications that require a VPN when connecting to the internet and leave others to connect normally.

Mullvad VPN has a split tunneling feature in Linux and Android applications. You can access it in the ‘Advanced settings’ section and choose the applications that don’t require a VPN connection.

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Port forwarding

Port forwarding allows you to direct incoming connections to a specific device. You can achieve this by mapping the device’s IP address to a specific port number on the router. Unfortunately, most VPNs block most ports on your device and do not support port forwarding. 

Unlike most VPNs, Mullvad VPN supports Port forwarding. Therefore, you can set up a gaming server on a device connected to one of the Mallvad servers and play games online with your friends.

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WireGuard Key

This is an advanced section where you can regenerate and manage your WireGuard keys. However, it supports only the generation of up to five keys per account, which aligns with Mulvad’s policy of supporting up to five simultaneous connections.

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WireGuard MTU

Setting up your WireGuard MTU can help you with performance issues. You can pick values between 1,280 and 1,420.

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OpenVPN MSSFIX

OpenVPN MSSFIX is an advanced tool to gain insights about connection speed and stability. You can set OpenVPN MSS values within the range of 1,000 and 1,450.

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Local network sharing

Local network sharing is an important feature designed to share resources among devices in the same network. You must enable this feature to access printers and other devices on your network when connected to Mullvad VPN.

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The Mullvad VPN server network

Mullvad VPN provides a lot more information about its servers than most other VPNs.

The server page will give you the server address and its status. But it goes above and beyond by telling you which server is owned or rented. According to the “about our servers” page, the rented ones are in charge of contractors. I can only praise this level of transparency, which is rare even among the best VPNs.

The truth is that most VPN vendors in the industry rent at least a fraction of the servers in their network. But very few recognize it publicly, let alone inform you which they are. Owned servers are a better choice regarding security because nobody outside the network has access to the server.

That’s not to say that renting servers is a bad idea. However, deploying a worldwide server network is expensive and labor-intensive. Furthermore, it’s unrealistic to expect every VPN in the market to own every single server it uses. Granted, that would be the perfect option in an ideal world. But consider VPNs that offer you thousands of servers in more than a hundred countries globally, and you’ll start to see why renting servers is a necessity.

With Mullvad, you can sort your servers by ownership, provider, city, country, hostname, or protocol.

Yet another virtue of Mullvad VPN is that they do not use virtual servers at all. Every node in the network is a physical computer that is exclusive to Mullvad. No virtual machines, virtual locations, or virtual servers. 

Mullvad and the Great Chinese Firewall

A recurrent issue in VPN reviews is: will it work in China? The answer in Mullvad’s case is: probably.

We will give you a detailed answer, but before that, we will tell you that Mullvad’s website is not the best one I’ve seen in VPNs. While the service is undoubtedly feature-rich, those features are not even listed on the website’s main pages. If you need information from the “Help” section, you’ll find that it’s hard to navigate. You often won’t even find the data you need because it’s not there.

But I digress. Let’s return to the issue: Mullvad doesn’t claim to work in China. This in itself is meaningless. Advertising such a feature out in the open is tantamount to declaring the service blatantly illegal for use in China. 

But does it work, regardless of the marketing?

The jury is still out on that. Some serious VPN testers have tried and failed to use Mulvad from China. Some others say that it does work. And there’s even a third group that says it could make it work with a given set of servers that became unavailable. And that’s why my answer to the question is “probably.”

No available data allow me to tell you that this VPN will never work from China. However, there is no guarantee, whether from the vendor itself or a solid group of expert users. This is a hit-and-miss issue with this VPN and this particular country.

Logic suggests that the Bridge feature should be beneficial in evading the Great Chinese Firewall. Everything should work if your entrance server is in a “neutral” country and your “exit” server is in one of the forbidden ones. Theoretically, in practice, we have not been able to confirm it.

Mullvad’s customer support

I attempted to find out the truth about the Chinese issue with the help of Mullvad’s customer support. That would also give me an idea of how good it is. And I was disappointed on both accounts.

I had already swept the support information available on Bridge and Shadowsocks proxy. It was a waste of time. All I learned from the website was that the available information is hardly helpful.

So I sent an email. I told them I wanted to understand how to work around the Chinese censorship apparatus. I described what I intended to do in full detail and asked them if it would work or not.

The answer I had was beyond useless. They sent me a link pointing to the help section on the website, which had already proven worthless.

There is no live chat option or phone customer service.

I can tell you without a doubt that customer service is not Mullvad’s most robust feature by any means. In fact, it’s terrible. That’s terrible when you consider how many advanced features are available in the apps. Unexperienced VPN users will need help with those features and will not get any from Mullvad.

Alternatives to Mullvad VPN

1. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN‘s reputation is excellent in the VPN verse. It’s almost as good as NordVPN.

Every server runs on a RAM hard drive, and it boots from a read-only disk. This makes all the information in every session very volatile. It fades into oblivion every time the server reboots. Also, it means that these servers are lightning-fast.

ExpressVPN is as versatile and as reliable as NordVPN. Unlike Mullvad, ExpressVPN is well-known to work in China, which is a critical feature if you need it.

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2. Private Internet Access (PIA)

Private Internet Access (PIA) is one of the oldest VPNs in the industry, with one of the most extensive server networks. It has easy-to-use applications for all major operating systems and devices, including Windows, Android, iOS, and Mac.

PIA is reputable for its customizable security and privacy features, including an automatic kill switch, split tunneling, dedicated IP, and more. Additionally, the VPN supports OpenVPN, WireGuard, and IKv2 tunneling protocols. It also supports up to ten simultaneous connections and has good value for money.

3. NordVPN

NordVPN is one of the best VPN services in the world. The network boasts more than 5,000 servers in 59 countries. The connections are high-speed, and the platform is user-friendly.

You can use NordVPN to see Netflix if you want, but you will get much more from it. Safety and anonymity are totals in NordVPN. Its features include Double VPN, Onion over VPN, and malware blocking, just to name a few.

Yes, anonymity is better at Mullvad, but it’s a one-trick pony, while NordVPN can do anything any VPN in the market does, only better and in style.

Think twice if pricing seems like one of Mullvad’s most decisive advantages. Although the monthly fee at NordVPN is much higher if you go for the monthly plan, if you choose a more extended plan, you can end up paying about 3,30 USD every month, which is even less money than with Mullvad.

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4. Surfshark

Surfshark is a relative newcomer disrupting the VPN world by offering a service at the best level for a fraction of the price – you can have SurfShark for less than half the price of Mullvad, which is already low.

So why is it so cheap? What do you lose by opting for such a low price? Nothing. SurfShark is solid in every regard, including video streaming services and the all-important bypassing of the Chinese Great Firewall.

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Conclusion

Mullvad is a VPN network designed and operated with a clear purpose: to offer a service that privacy enthusiasts will appreciate, especially if they have a degree of technical expertise in VPNs.

Privacy and anonymity features in Mullvad are robust, very flexible, and highly customizable.

Mullvad VPN’s privacy policy is transparent, it’s friendly to open-source philosophy, and its out-of-the-box features are remarkable even among the industry’s best services.

And in addition to all those advantages, this is a relatively cheap VPN service, costing about half of the market’s average fee.

After examining Mullvad’s service in detail, it’s easy to see why many privacy enthusiasts love it. Truthfully, it’s hard to find a better service than this one regarding privacy or anonymity.

That said, this is not a VPN for all tasks. Yes, the security features are great, but this VPN offers those features by sacrificing other functionalities. Unblocking streaming services is a glaring example.

So this VPN will be good for those users who care most about keeping their anonymity and privacy safe, who are on a budget, who have a high degree of expertise, and who do not need or want a very versatile VPN if that’s you, congratulations! You’ve found your match! But on the other hand, if you need a better VPN that keeps you safe online but gives you additional advantages, keep reading.

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