Mullvad VPN Review 2026
Mullvad is the most private VPN in existence. No email, no name, no payment details required — you get a random account number and that's your identity. When Swedish police raided Mullvad's office in 2023, they left empty-handed because there was literally no user data to seize. Every app is fully open-source and has been audited by Assured AB and Cure53. Mullvad's flat €5/month pricing with no discounts and no affiliate marketing program means the company has zero incentive to collect or monetize your data. The DAITA feature defends against AI-powered traffic analysis. Mullvad is not designed for streaming or casual use — it's built for people who take privacy seriously and want the strongest possible protection.
Mullvad VPN at a Glance
Mullvad earns our #8 ranking at 8.4/10, but holds the the highest privacy score (9.8, tied with Proton VPN) of any VPN we've reviewed. The sign-up process tells you everything: visit the website, click "Generate Account," receive a random number, pay with cash/crypto/card, and you're connected. No email. No name. No personal information whatsoever.
Based in Sweden, Mullvad is fiercely independent. They don't run affiliate programs, don't offer discounts, don't do marketing, and don't have a sales team. The flat €5/month price is the same whether you pay monthly or annually. This isn't a business optimized for growth -- it's a service optimized for privacy.
Mullvad's apps are fully open-source and audited. In 2023, Swedish police executed a search warrant at Mullvad's office and left empty-handed -- Mullvad demonstrated that they had no customer data to seize.
- Users who want maximum anonymity with zero personal information required
- Privacy purists who don't trust VPN marketing claims
- Users who prefer paying with cash or cryptocurrency
- Linux users (Mullvad's Linux support is excellent)
- Users who value principles over features
Speed Performance
| Protocol | Download | Upload | Ping |
|---|---|---|---|
| WireGuard | 474 Mbps | 38 Mbps | 9 ms |
| OpenVPN (UDP) | 280 Mbps | 24 Mbps | 16 ms |
Privacy & Security
Sweden is a Fourteen Eyes member, but Mullvad has demonstrated that this is irrelevant when there's no data to provide. In April 2023, Swedish police arrived at Mullvad's office with a search warrant seeking customer data. Mullvad informed them that they store no customer data. Police left without seizing any equipment or data. Mullvad published a public statement about the incident.
Streaming & Unblocking
Features & Apps
Pricing & Plans
Pros & Cons
- No personal information required to sign up
- Highest privacy score (9.8, tied with Proton VPN)
- Proven by police raid -- zero data found
- Open-source, audited apps
- Strong WireGuard speeds
- Accepts cash payment via mail
- DAITA AI traffic analysis protection
- Port forwarding support
- No affiliate marketing or influencer deals
- Cannot unblock most streaming services
- Only 5 simultaneous connections
- Only 46 countries (far fewer than competitors)
- No mobile-friendly features (no Smart DNS, limited app features)
- No 24/7 live chat support
- €5/month flat -- no discounts for long-term commitment
- Smaller server network (700+ vs thousands for competitors)
Final Verdict
Mullvad is the most private VPN in existence. No email, no name, no payment details required — you get a random account number and that's your identity. When Swedish police raided Mullvad's office in 2023, they left empty-handed because there was literally no user data to seize. Every app is fully open-source and has been audited by Assured AB and Cure53. Mullvad's flat €5/month pricing with no discounts and no affiliate marketing program means the company has zero incentive to collect or monetize your data. The DAITA feature defends against AI-powered traffic analysis. Mullvad is not designed for streaming or casual use — it's built for people who take privacy seriously and want the strongest possible protection.
Mullvad is for people who take privacy seriously and are willing to sacrifice streaming and convenience for it. If that's you, there's no better option at any price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Builder, tinkerer, privacy advocate. I believe privacy is a right, not a product feature.