Let’s be clear from the start: If your search for a Mullvad VPN review is solely about unblocking every streaming service under the sun, this isn’t the article for you. Mullvad isn’t just another VPN; it’s a statement – a tool built on the radical idea that your privacy is not a commodity to be sold.

Having spent years testing and dissecting countless VPN services, I’ve seen the same marketing playbook over and over: Flashy deals, exaggerated claims, and privacy policies buried in fine print. Mullvad throws that playbook out the window. It operates on a philosophy of absolute anonymity and radical transparency that is almost unheard of in this industry. But principles are one thing – proof is another.

Is this VPN truly as trustworthy as security experts claim? And what must you give up to achieve this gold standard of privacy?

Your privacy is non-negotiable. Let me guide you through this in-depth analysis to see if Mullvad’s uncompromising approach is the digital shield you truly need.

1. The bottom line for privacy purists: Our verdict

Let’s get straight to the point. After putting dozens of VPNs through their paces here at Safelyo, I’ve learned that you can’t measure every service with the same yardstick. Judging Mullvad on its ability to unblock a US streaming library is like judging a professional-grade camera on its ability to make phone calls – it completely misses the point of what it was built for.

Mullvad is engineered for one primary mission: To make your digital footprint as close to non-existent as possible. It’s a tool designed with a singular, uncompromising focus on privacy and anonymity. For the user who values this above all else, Mullvad isn’t just a good VPN – it’s the benchmark against which all others should be measured.

Mullvad VPN: Safelyo's Verdict
Overall Safelyo Rating: 9.0/10

• Privacy & Trust: 10/10
• Anonymity: 10/10
• Performance: 7.5/10
• Features: 7.0/10

Mullvad is the gold standard for user privacy and anonymity. While it intentionally forgoes some mainstream conveniences, its uncompromising security model and proven no-logs policy make it the most trustworthy VPN we have ever tested.

• Who it’s for: Privacy advocates, journalists, activists, and anyone who wants to leave the smallest possible digital footprint.
• Who it’s not for: Users whose primary goal is to unblock a wide variety of streaming services or who require 24/7 live chat support.

2. The Mullvad philosophy: More than just a VPN

To truly understand Mullvad, you have to look beyond its software and examine its core beliefs. In my years of reviewing tech products, it’s rare to find a company that operates with such a rigid and principled philosophy. Most companies talk about privacy – Mullvad builds its entire identity around it. This philosophy rests on three unshakable pillars.

2.1. Absolute anonymity: No email, no password

The first time I went to create a Mullvad anonymous account, the experience was almost jarring in its simplicity. Where was the form asking for my email? The “create a strong password” field? The request to link a Google account?

There was none of that.

Instead, Mullvad simply generates a unique, 16-digit account number. That’s it. This number is your key.

Think of it like an old-school locker at a train station. You’re given a key, you put your belongings (your subscription time) inside, and you lock it. The owner of the station doesn’t know your name or what you look like; they only know that key #12345 has access to that locker. There is absolutely no personal information linking you to your account. This is the highest level of account anonymity I have ever encountered in a commercial VPN.

2.2. Radical transparency: Audited and open-source

This trust isn’t a one-way street. Mullvad places just as much trust in the public to scrutinize its own operations. Every single one of their applications is 100% open-source.

What does that mean in simple terms? It means anyone – from a curious student to a world-class security researcher – can pop the hood and examine the engine. They can read every line of code to ensure there are no hidden backdoors or privacy-invading trackers. Furthermore, they regularly hire independent cybersecurity firms to conduct exhaustive audits on their infrastructure and apps, and they publish the full results – good or bad – for all to see.

2.3. A single, fair price: No tricks, no long-term traps

This commitment to honesty extends directly to their business model. In an industry famous for deceptive pricing, Mullvad’s approach is a breath of fresh air. I’ve lost count of how many VPNs I’ve tested that lure you in with a massive “80% off” discount, only to have the price skyrocket after your initial term ends. It’s a tactic designed to lock you in.

Mullvad rejects this entirely. Their pricing is the simplest and most honest I have ever seen: It’s €5 per month. Period.

Plan Duration	Price Per Month	Total Price
1 Month	€5	€5
1 Year	€5	€60
1 Decade	€5	€600

Note: €5 is approximately $5.50 USD, but this can fluctuate slightly.

Why this matters:

• Flexibility and Fairness: You are never penalized for not wanting to commit to a long-term plan. Whether you pay month-to-month or for a year upfront, the rate is the same. This respects your freedom to choose.
• Sustainability: That €5 price hasn’t changed since they launched in 2009. They call it unconventional; I call it sustainable. This stable income allows them to continuously invest in security and infrastructure, rather than chasing new sign-ups with unsustainable “lifetime” deals that often lead to a decline in service quality.
• No “Gotcha” Renewals: You’ll never have that frustrating moment of checking your credit card statement and seeing a surprise charge for three times what you thought you were paying. With Mullvad, what you see is what you get.

They also offer a 10% discount if you pay with select cryptocurrencies due to lower fees, and they provide a 30-day money-back guarantee (except for cash payments, for obvious reasons). This isn’t just a pricing model; it’s a statement of confidence in their product and respect for their customers.

3. Proof, not promises: Mullvad under the microscope

Any VPN can write “no-logs policy” on its website. It’s one of the most common – and least verifiable – marketing claims in the industry. As a security analyst, I always look past the promises and ask: Where’s the proof?

For Mullvad, that proof isn’t just found in audit reports. It’s demonstrated through real-world events and features so concrete that they are impossible to ignore.

3.1. The ultimate test: The 2023 police raid

So, is Mullvad trustworthy? Let’s talk about the ultimate stress test for a VPN’s privacy policy.

On April 18, 2023, this wasn’t a hypothetical question. Officers from Sweden’s National Operations Department (NOA) arrived at the Mullvad office in Gothenburg with a search warrant, demanding access to servers to seize customer data.

This is the nightmare scenario for any VPN user. It’s the moment where a company’s promises are put to the ultimate test by law enforcement. And what happened?

They left empty-handed.

The police could find no user data to seize, because there was no user data to find. Mullvad’s Mullvad no logs policy wasn’t just a statement on a webpage – it was a fundamental architectural reality. I cannot overstate how significant this event is. It serves as concrete, real-world proof that Mullvad’s system is designed exactly as they claim: To know as little about their users as humanly possible.

3.2. Anonymous payments: Paying with cash

Mullvad’s commitment to verifiable privacy doesn’t stop at their servers. It extends to the one place most companies can’t resist collecting data: Your wallet.

While they accept standard Mullvad payment methods like credit cards and cryptocurrencies, they offer something almost mythical in the digital age: The ability to pay with cash.

The process is exactly what it sounds like. You put cash (in a supported currency, like USD or EUR) and your 16-digit account number into an envelope and physically mail it to their office in Sweden. Once received, they credit your account.

I find this feature absolutely remarkable. It’s the digital equivalent of buying something from a corner store with cash – there is no paper trail, no transaction record linking your name to the purchase. This demonstrates a level of commitment to decoupling your real-world identity from your online account that goes beyond what 99% of other services are even willing to consider.

4. Performance and speed: A reality check

While Mullvad’s primary mission is privacy, a VPN is useless if it slows your connection to a crawl. To find out if you can have world-class security without sacrificing everyday usability, I ran a series of speed tests from my 500 Mbps fiber connection in Southeast Asia.

My methodology was simple: I measured my baseline speed, then connected to Mullvad VPN servers in different key regions – the US, the UK, and Japan – to see the impact. I ran each test multiple times to get a stable average. Here are the results:

Server Location	Baseline (No VPN)	Mullvad Connection	Speed Drop	Ping (ms)
Download Speed	498 Mbps	–	–	5 ms
↳ 🇺🇸 USA (New York)	–	285 Mbps	43%	210 ms
↳ 🇬🇧 UK (London)	–	312 Mbps	37%	185 ms
↳ 🇯🇵 Japan (Tokyo)	–	415 Mbps	17%	45 ms

Analysis of the results:

As the numbers show, Mullvad’s performance is impressive, especially on servers closer to my physical location.

• Excellent Local Performance: The connection to the nearby Tokyo server was outstanding, with only a 17% drop in speed. I could stream 4K video, join video calls, and browse the web without noticing any difference compared to my non-VPN connection.
• Solid Long-Distance Speeds: As expected, speeds dropped when connecting to servers halfway across the world in the UK and the US. However, a download speed of around 300 Mbps is still incredibly fast and more than enough for almost any online activity, including downloading large files and streaming in high definition.

5. Principled Sacrifices: What you give up for Ultimate Privacy

No product is perfect for everyone, and Mullvad is no exception. However, what other reviews might label as “cons” or “disadvantages,” I see as deliberate sacrifices made in service of their core mission. When you choose Mullvad, you are trading some common conveniences for an unparalleled level of privacy. It’s crucial to understand what those trade-offs are.

5.1. Streaming and geo-unblocking: A game they don’t play

In my tests for this Mullvad VPN review, I tried accessing Mullvad Netflix libraries in the US and UK. The results were exactly as I expected: inconsistent. One day, a server might work, the next it won’t.

This isn't a failure - it's a deliberate choice.

The battle between VPNs and streaming platforms is a constant, resource-intensive cat-and-mouse game. Companies like Netflix invest heavily in blocking VPN IP addresses, and VPNs must constantly acquire new ones to stay ahead. In Mullvad’s view, the engineering time and money required to win this game are better spent on strengthening core security and privacy infrastructure. They are not in the business of unblocking TV shows – they are in the business of protecting your digital rights.

5.2. The removal of port forwarding

In 2023, Mullvad made a decision that caused a stir in some technical communities: They removed support for Mullvad port forwarding. For some users, especially those heavily involved in torrenting or running home servers, this was a significant loss of functionality.

So why did they do it? Their reasoning was simple and consistent with their philosophy: It posed a privacy and security risk. Port forwarding, if abused by malicious actors, could be used to host harmful content. More importantly, it could potentially be exploited in ways that would expose user information, which goes against everything Mullvad stands for. I know this decision was controversial, but from a security-first perspective, their logic is sound. They chose to eliminate a potential vulnerability for all users rather than keep a feature for a few.

5.3. Customer support: No live chat

If you run into an issue, you won’t find a little “24/7 Live Chat” button on Mullvad’s website. Support is handled exclusively through email.

Again, this is a calculated decision. Most live chat systems are run by third-party companies like Zendesk or Intercom. Using them would require Mullvad to share user data (like your IP address or account number) with another corporation, which they refuse to do.

When I reached out to their team with a technical question about their WireGuard implementation, the experience was revealing. I didn’t get a fast, generic response from a level-one agent reading a script. Instead, I received a thoughtful, technically detailed answer a day later from someone who clearly had deep knowledge of the product. They prioritize quality and privacy of support over speed and convenience.

6. Mullvad vs. Proton VPN: The privacy grudge match

If you ask me which VPNs truly lead the pack in privacy and trust, the conversation almost always boils down to two names. Forget the flashy, feature-packed providers for a moment – the real championship match for privacy purists is Mullvad vs Proton VPN.

Both are giants founded on principles of security and transparency, but they approach their mission with fundamentally different philosophies. I’ve used both extensively, and choosing between them isn’t about which one is “better,” but which philosophy aligns with your personal needs.

Here’s a head-to-head breakdown

Feature	Mullvad VPN	Proton VPN
Jurisdiction	Sweden (14 Eyes)	Switzerland (Strong Privacy Laws)
Account Creation	Anonymous Number (No PII)	Email Required
Pricing Model	Single Flat Fee (€5 /month)	Tiered (Free, Plus, Unlimited)
Key Feature	Uncompromising Anonymity & Simplicity	Privacy-Focused Ecosystem (Mail, Drive, etc.)
Free Plan	No (3-hour trial on some apps)	Yes, an excellent free version

Analysis: Two Paths to Privacy

Let me be clear: You can’t go wrong with either choice for protecting your core online activities. Both services have sterling reputations, open-source apps, and proven no-logs policies. The difference is in their approach.

Mullvad’s advantage lies in its absolute, militant approach to anonymity. By not requiring an email and accepting cash payments, it offers a way to completely decouple your real-world identity from your VPN account. It’s the digital equivalent of being a ghost. It does one thing – provide a secure VPN connection – and it does it with unparalleled dedication to anonymity.

Proton VPN, on the other hand, plays a different game. Think of it as building a digital fortress. It aims to be your one-stop shop for a private online life. With Proton, you get not only a top-tier VPN but also an integrated ecosystem of encrypted email (Proton Mail), calendar (Proton Calendar), and cloud storage (Proton Drive). Its free plan is also genuinely useful and the best in the industry, making it more accessible for beginners.

7. Pro guide: How to use Mullvad like a privacy expert

Simply installing Mullvad is a huge step toward better privacy, but for those who truly want to maximize its potential, there are a few extra steps. Having used Mullvad for years as my go-to for sensitive tasks, I’ve developed a simple checklist to ensure I’m getting the absolute most out of its security features. Think of this as shifting your car from “automatic” into “manual” for full control.

Here’s how you can use Mullvad like a pro:

Pay with Cash or Monero for Ultimate Anonymity

This is the number one tip. While paying with a credit card is fine, it still creates a financial link. For true, unlinkable privacy, take the extra step. Mail cash to their office in Sweden or pay with a privacy-focused cryptocurrency like Monero (XMR). I’ve personally tried the cash method – it feels a bit old-fashioned, but the peace of mind knowing there’s zero connection between my identity and my account is unparalleled.

Always Enable 'Lockdown Mode'

Go into Settings -> VPN Settings and turn on “Lockdown mode.” This is more than just a standard kill switch. A regular kill switch blocks traffic if the VPN disconnects. Lockdown mode goes a step further: It blocks all internet traffic from leaving your device unless you are connected to a Mullvad server. This prevents any accidental data leaks, even for a split second when you’re connecting or switching servers. It’s a foolproof safety net that I recommend every single user enable from day one.

Pair with the Mullvad Browser

A VPN encrypts your connection, but your browser can still give you away through cookies, trackers, and browser fingerprinting. For maximum protection, use Mullvad VPN together with their free Mullvad browser. It’s a hardened version of Firefox that incorporates the powerful anti-tracking technology of the Tor Browser. Think of it this way: The VPN is your armored car protecting you on the digital highway, and the Mullvad Browser is like wearing a disguise so no one can identify you when you arrive at your destination. Using them together is the ultimate privacy combo.

8. FAQ about Mullvad VPN

We’ve covered a lot of ground in this deep-dive review, but you might still have some specific questions. Here are some of the most common inquiries I see about Mullvad, answered directly.

9. Conclusion

Our Mullvad VPN review concludes that this service is more than just a product; it’s a statement. In an online world where privacy is constantly under threat, Mullvad stands as a testament to the idea that true digital anonymity is still possible. It deliberately trades mainstream appeal for an uncompromising commitment to its core principles.

To summarize, here’s what you need to remember about Mullvad:

• Unmatched Anonymity: The anonymous account system (no email required) and cash payment option set the industry standard.
• Proven No-Logs Policy: Vindicated by a real-world police raid in 2023, offering concrete proof rather than just promises.
• Principled Sacrifices: It intentionally forgoes reliable streaming unblocking and live chat support to focus resources on core security.
• Fair and Transparent Pricing: A single, flat rate of €5/month demonstrates respect for the user and a sustainable business model.

If you believe your privacy is non-negotiable and you’re looking for a tool built on integrity, Mullvad isn’t just a good choice – it’s one of the only choices.

Ready to experience a VPN that puts your privacy first? Safelyo recommends you get your anonymous Mullvad account number today and explore more expert analyses in our Best VPN Reviews category.