Mullvad VPN Review

VPNs (virtual private networks) promote the interlinking of remote workplaces and the exchange of resources. But what does it mean for an individual? Today, any netizen lives in trepidation of potential harm. Although such scenarios are deemed rare for everyday users, there are still billions of internet users. Hence, it is a lucrative market for malicious individuals to exploit. A person may not feel threatened, but we believe there is no harm in being cautious. That’s why we review various VPN providers, and Mullvad is one.

VPN is a technology that can ensure your privacy on the net and also secure your data. It does so by employing remote servers in different parts of the globe to carry out data relays. Thus, the originating IP remains obscured. But it also adds an extra layer of security, as it encrypts every bit of data coming and going from the VPN network. Thus, this technology is useful. A great example of that is Mullvad VPN, which we’ll review now.

A short recap of Mullvad VPN

Mullvad VPN hails from Sweden, a country that’s part of the 14 Eyes alliance, which can turn away some potential users. But is this mid-tier service with a global fleet of 700+ servers spread across 38 countries worth looking into? The official website of the vendor claims to ensure your data privacy. In our analysis, we can proudly say it turned out to be a decent no-logs VPN. However, we couldn’t find any independent audits to substantiate the claim. The company is still a good one as it meets most of the privacy needs a potential user may have and abhors data logging.

Thus, despite being a Swedish corporation, the VPN is well suited for the privacy-centric and torrenting crowd. The vendor ensures above-average speeds and comes with a flawless kill switch to prevent leaks. Although the service is good enough from a privacy and security point of view, entertainment lovers would be disappointed. Mullvad VPN fails to unblock most of the popular streaming platforms and geo-blocks. Furthermore, it doesn’t manage to bypass censorship, owing to poor obfuscation.

Today’s review will highlight all the positives of the service while debating the shortcomings. We can safely conclude that the service is a good privacy tool, but it falls short of the competition. Although fast, secure, and private, it lacks the mettle to go against the hardened VPN market leaders.

Mullvad VPN data sheet

Features	Mullvad VPN
Bandwidth	Unlimited
Connection speed	Up to 86 Mbps
Logging policy	No-logs VPN
Data leaks	No
Origin	Sweden (14-Eyes Member)
Number of servers	700+
Number of IP addresses	700+
Server locations	38
Streaming	Can’t unblock geo-locked content
Torrenting	Favors P2P traffic
Number of simultaneous connections	5
Obfuscation	Available (SOCKS5)
Customer Support	Poor, no live chat
Cheapest price	$5.70 per month (only a single plan available)
Money-back guarantee	30-day money refund
Official website	Mullvad.net

Detailed features of Mullvad VPN

It’s time to delve deeper into our Mullvad VPN review with a list of notable perks. Let’s start.

Privacy and security

Hailing from Sweden, the company isn’t in a privacy-friendly location. But the strict no-logging policy ensures that it can make it up. Furthermore, the service focuses on privacy and security, even at the expense of entertainment. Thus, as a user, you may not be able to enjoy geo-blocked content, but you’d remain anonymous while browsing. The VPN also fashions a kill switch that can prevent DNS, IP, and WebRTC leaks, and it comes with the latest security protocols and encryption practices. The numerous security features are:

• VPN protocol — WireGuard, OpenVPN(UDP/TCP)
• Encryption — 256-bit AES
• Security features — DNS leak blocking, First-party DNS, IPv6 leak prevention, Support for TCP port 443
• Advanced features — Double VPN, Split tunneling, SOCK5 proxy

Servers and performance

Mullvad VPN only has 700+ servers in 38 different locations. It is not a lot, but a casual user would be satisfied. Furthermore, the service is a gem for torrenting. Every server is suitable for P2P traffic with port forwarding. Hence, it makes for an attractive offer. Also, there is a SOCKS5 proxy available to aid obfuscation. But the VPN is unreliable when it comes to circumventing censorship. Yet another drawback is the lack of geo-unblock capabilities. Thus, it is a VPN with low server strength and mediocre performance in the aforementioned areas.

Customer Support

Honestly, Customer Service needs work. It is not easy to find relevant materials on the website, and the live chat function is missing. Users have to depend on email to initiate contact, which can be cumbersome. Although, the staff appears to be knowledgeable and helpful when you get through.

Mullvad VPN application support

Despite lacking Smart DNS, the VPN offers decent apps across multiple platforms. It includes Windows, iOS, macOS, Android, and Linux. It has router support as well. The apps are simple enough to use and favor beginners. There are no extensions available for Chrome and Firefox, and the service offers limited simultaneous connections to only 5 users.

Pricing for Mullvad VPN

Unlike other VPN services, Mullvad doesn’t offer different subscription plans. Be it a long-term subscription or a hefty discount, both are absent from the service. Hence, the VPN costs the same no matter what, at $5.7 per month. However, top-ups are allowed, meaning you can at a time buy multiple monthly subscriptions, and it will add up. Sadly, the service doesn’t offer any discounts. It effectively demotes the users from investing long term.

Coming back to the price, while paying $5.7 may seem steep, given that most providers with longer plans can bring down the cost to a couple of bucks, it is the cheapest strictly monthly plan out there. Mullvad VPN’s single-tier pricing is rare and is precisely what attracts users. However, if you do want to experience the VPN for a long time, then yes, you’d lose money. The service offers the standard modes of payments, cryptocurrencies included. Additionally, there is a 30-day money-back guarantee, though it doesn’t proffer a free version or a trial.

Verdict

In the end, Mullvad VPN is a reasonably fast, secure, and somewhat popular VPN service that targets the privacy-centric crowd. The monthly cost could be lower, but a single-tier plan may be appealing to some users. Despite failing on the streaming and anti-censorship, even with advanced features like the SOCKS5 proxy, the company retains its best for torrenting and anonymity. It has a double VPN option to enhance your privacy. Yes, the service can improve further. But for now, we don’t see a reason to recommend it.