Mullvad VPN vs NordVPN

Why Switch from NordVPN to Mullvad VPN?

NordVPN is the most heavily marketed VPN in the world, sponsoring countless YouTube creators and running aggressive advertising campaigns. But behind the marketing, NordVPN is owned by Nord Security, with a complex corporate structure registered in Panama. Their business model relies on collecting your email, payment information, and locking you into long-term subscriptions.

Mullvad VPN, a Swedish company, takes a fundamentally different approach to privacy. You do not need an email address, a name, or any personal information to use it. You get an anonymous account number, and you can even pay with cash mailed in an envelope. This is what a VPN built purely for privacy looks like.

Feature Comparison

Feature	Mullvad VPN	NordVPN
Price	€5/month (flat)	€3.49-€12.99/month
Account required	❌ Anonymous number only	✅ Email required
Data location	Sweden 🇸🇪	Panama 🇵🇦 (complex structure)
GDPR compliant	✅ Full (EU company)	⚠️ Unclear (Panama entity)
No-logs policy	✅ Audited and verified	✅ Audited
Open source	✅ Fully	⚠️ Partial
Cash payment	✅ Yes	❌ No
Cryptocurrency payment	✅ Yes (Monero, Bitcoin)	✅ Bitcoin only
Server locations	~40 countries	60+ countries
Streaming optimized	❌ No	✅ Yes
Multi-hop	✅ Yes (WireGuard)	✅ Yes
RAM-only servers	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Speed	✅ Excellent	✅ Excellent

Pricing

Mullvad’s pricing is refreshingly simple, while NordVPN uses complex tiered plans designed to push long-term commitments:

• Mullvad VPN: €5/month — always. No contracts, no discounts, no tricks. Cancel anytime.
• NordVPN Standard: €3.49/month (2-year plan) or €12.99/month (monthly)
• NordVPN Plus: €4.49/month (2-year plan) or €13.99/month (monthly)
• NordVPN Ultimate: €6.49/month (2-year plan) or €15.99/month (monthly)

NordVPN’s advertised prices require committing to a 2-year subscription paid upfront. On a monthly basis, NordVPN is actually more expensive than Mullvad. Mullvad’s flat €5/month rate means you always know exactly what you are paying, and you can cancel any month without losing money on a long-term commitment.

Privacy & Data Sovereignty

This is where Mullvad stands in a category of its own among VPN providers:

• No account information: You receive a random number. No email, no name, nothing.
• Cash payments accepted: You can literally mail cash in an envelope for complete payment anonymity
• Cryptocurrency support: Pay with Monero (truly anonymous) or Bitcoin
• Fully open source: Every component of Mullvad’s apps is open source and auditable
• Independently audited: Regular third-party audits of both infrastructure and no-logs claims
• Swedish jurisdiction: Subject to EU law and Swedish privacy protections
• RAM-only servers: Server data is wiped on every reboot, making seizure useless
• No affiliate marketing program: Mullvad does not pay influencers to promote them, reducing commercial incentive to collect user data
• Police raid proven: In 2023, Swedish police raided Mullvad’s offices and left empty-handed — there was no data to seize

Migration Guide

Difficulty: Easy | Estimated time: 15-30 minutes

1. Generate a Mullvad account number. Visit mullvad.net and click “Generate account.” You will receive a random 16-digit number — no email or personal information is required. Save this number securely.
2. Add time to your account. Choose your payment method: credit card, PayPal, Bitcoin, Monero, bank wire, or even cash in an envelope. Add at least one month (€5) to activate your account.
3. Download and install the Mullvad app. Install the app for your operating system (Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, or iOS). Enter your account number to log in.
4. Configure your preferences. In settings, choose your preferred VPN protocol (WireGuard is recommended for best speed), enable the kill switch, and select your preferred server locations.
5. Test your connection. Connect to a Mullvad server and verify your new IP address using mullvad.net/check. Ensure DNS leak tests pass and your real IP is hidden.
6. Cancel NordVPN. Log into your NordVPN account, disable auto-renewal, and request a refund if you are within the 30-day money-back guarantee period. Uninstall the NordVPN app from all devices.

Real-World Use Cases

• A freelance journalist in Berlin uses Mullvad VPN to protect source communications while researching politically sensitive stories. The anonymous account and cash payment option mean there is no paper trail linking them to the VPN service, even if their devices are seized.
• A Dutch software developer working remotely connects through Mullvad to keep client project data secure when working from cafes and coworking spaces across Europe. The WireGuard protocol provides fast, stable connections for remote desktop and file transfers.
• A privacy-conscious family in Stockholm runs Mullvad on their home router to protect all household internet traffic — including children’s devices — without needing to install individual apps. The flat €5/month fee covers the entire household under one account.

Company Background

Mullvad VPN was founded in 2009 in Gothenburg, Sweden, by Fredrik Stromberg and Daniel Berntsson. The founders, both long-time privacy advocates and technology professionals, created Mullvad with a singular focus: building a VPN service that truly cannot identify its own users. The name “Mullvad” means “mole” in Swedish — fitting for a service designed to let users dig beneath the surveillance infrastructure of the modern internet.

Mullvad operates as Mullvad VPN AB, a Swedish limited company, employing approximately 40-50 people in Gothenburg. The company has never taken external investment, remaining entirely self-funded through subscription revenue. This deliberate independence means Mullvad answers only to its users, not to investors demanding growth metrics or data monetization. The company does not run an affiliate marketing program, does not sponsor influencers, and spends nothing on advertising — its reputation spreads entirely through word of mouth and recommendations from privacy experts.

Mullvad’s commitment to privacy was dramatically validated in April 2023 when Swedish police raided the company’s Gothenburg offices with a search warrant seeking customer data. The police left empty-handed: Mullvad stores no customer data, no connection logs, no email addresses, and no payment details linked to accounts. This real-world demonstration that Mullvad’s no-logs policy holds up under legal pressure is arguably the strongest proof of any VPN provider’s privacy claims. The incident cemented Mullvad’s reputation as the VPN that privacy professionals trust for their own use.

Security & Compliance

Mullvad’s security practices are among the most rigorous and transparent in the VPN industry:

• Independent security audits conducted regularly by firms including Cure53 and Assured AB, with full audit reports published publicly for anyone to review
• Open-source applications — all Mullvad client apps (Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS) are fully open source on GitHub, allowing independent code review
• WireGuard protocol as the primary VPN protocol, offering modern cryptography (ChaCha20, Curve25519, BLAKE2s) with superior performance and a minimal attack surface
• RAM-only servers (diskless) that are wiped on every reboot, ensuring no persistent data survives a server seizure or compromise
• No-logs policy verified by audit and proven by the 2023 police raid — no connection logs, no traffic logs, no DNS query logs
• GDPR compliant as a Swedish company under EU jurisdiction, though Mullvad’s data minimization goes far beyond what GDPR requires
• Quantum-resistant tunnels in development, with post-quantum key exchange already available as an experimental feature

Integration Ecosystem

Mullvad takes a focused approach to integrations, prioritizing core VPN functionality and privacy:

• WireGuard and OpenVPN configuration files available for manual setup on any device or router that supports these standard protocols
• Open-source clients for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS — each built by Mullvad’s team and auditable on GitHub
• Router support through standard WireGuard or OpenVPN configuration, compatible with pfSense, OPNsense, DD-WRT, OpenWrt, and other router firmware
• Mullvad Browser — a privacy-focused web browser developed in partnership with the Tor Project, configured to minimize fingerprinting and tracking
• SOCKS5 proxy support for applications that can route traffic through a proxy rather than a full VPN tunnel
• Port forwarding support for users who need to host services (torrenting, gaming servers, self-hosted applications) behind the VPN
• DNS-over-HTTPS and DNS-over-TLS through Mullvad’s own DNS servers, preventing DNS query leaks even outside the VPN tunnel
• Split tunneling support on Android, Linux, and Windows for excluding specific apps from the VPN tunnel when needed

Who Should Switch?

Mullvad VPN is ideal for:

• Privacy purists who want the most anonymous VPN experience possible
• Journalists and whistleblowers who need untraceable communications
• EU citizens who want a VPN governed by European law
• Technical users who value open-source, auditable software
• Anyone who distrusts marketing-heavy VPN companies and wants pure privacy

The Bottom Line

NordVPN is a solid VPN for casual users who want to unblock streaming services and want the cheapest possible long-term rate. Its marketing budget is enormous, and it delivers a polished product.

But if privacy is your actual reason for using a VPN, Mullvad is the clear choice. No account needed, no personal data collected, cash payments accepted, fully open source, and audited. It is the VPN that privacy experts themselves use — and that should tell you everything you need to know.

---

Looking for more European alternatives in this category? See also: IVPN and ProtonVPN.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Mullvad VPN for streaming Netflix or other services?

Mullvad does not optimize for streaming and does not maintain dedicated streaming servers. While some servers may work with certain streaming platforms, Mullvad prioritizes privacy over entertainment features. If streaming is your main use case, Mullvad may not be the best fit.

How do I pay for Mullvad VPN without revealing my identity?

Mullvad accepts cash sent in an envelope to their Swedish office, as well as Monero and Bitcoin. You can generate an account number without providing any personal information, then fund it anonymously using one of these methods.

Is Mullvad VPN fast enough for daily use and gaming?

Yes. Mullvad uses the WireGuard protocol, which provides excellent speeds with low latency. Independent speed tests consistently place Mullvad among the fastest VPNs available, making it suitable for both daily browsing and online gaming.

What happened during the 2023 police raid on Mullvad's offices?

In April 2023, Swedish police raided Mullvad's offices in Gothenburg with a search warrant seeking customer data. They left empty-handed because Mullvad does not store any customer data — there was literally nothing to seize, proving their no-logs policy in practice.

Can I use Mullvad on multiple devices at the same time?

Yes. Mullvad allows up to 5 simultaneous connections on a single account. The apps are available for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS, and you can also configure it manually on routers.