Mullvad VPN Review: Why Nobody Recommends the Best VPN
Table of Contents
I’ve spent months tearing apart the VPN industry. Every “no-logs” lie, every ex-malware company, every fake competitor pretending to be independent.
So when people ask “okay smartass, what VPN SHOULD I use?” I have one answer: Mullvad.
And here’s the kicker: Mullvad has no affiliate program. I make $0 if you buy it. Zero. Zilch.
I could recommend ExpressVPN and make $95 per sale. I could push CyberGhost for $135. But I’m recommending the VPN that pays me nothing because it’s the only one in this entire industry that isn’t trying to screw you over.
Let me show you why.
⚡ 30-Second Verdict
- Price: €5/month flat (no sales, no tricks, no renewal scams)
- Affiliate program: None (that’s why nobody recommends it)
- Account system: Random number, no email required
- Payment: Cash in envelope, crypto, or cards (actual anonymity)
- Logging: Proven in 2023 Swedish police raid - found nothing
- Jurisdiction: Sweden (actual GDPR protection)
- Open source: Apps are verifiable
- Commission I make: $0
Bottom line: The most honest VPN in existence. Also the least profitable for me to recommend. That tells you everything about this industry.
Why I’m Even Writing This
After calling out NordVPN for hiding breaches, ExpressVPN for being owned by alleged ex-malware distributors, and the entire industry for “military-grade encryption” lies, people keep asking: “Okay smartass, but what VPN SHOULD I use?”
Here’s the problem: The best VPN in existence doesn’t have an affiliate program.
That means:
- Nobody recommends it (no money in it)
- YouTubers ignore it (can’t monetize)
- Review sites skip it (no commission)
- I lose money writing this (opportunity cost)
Sometimes I recommend things that don’t pay me. This is one of those times.
The Company Behind It (No Red Flags for Once)
Owner: Amagicom AB (Swedish company) Founded: 2009 Headquarters: Gothenburg, Sweden Parent company: None. Actually independent. Acquisitions: None. They haven’t bought anyone. Been acquired by: Nobody (and they’ve rejected offers)
For once in this industry, there’s no shady ownership to expose:
- ✅ Not owned by ex-malware companies (looking at you, Kape)
- ✅ Not pretending to compete with themselves (looking at you, Nord Security)
- ✅ Not owned by review sites (looking at you, Ziff Davis)
- ✅ Actually Swedish (not “Panama-based” with 12 servers there)
The name: “Mullvad” is Swedish for “mole.” As in the animal that digs tunnels. Get it? VPN tunnels? They’re nerds. I respect that.
Revenue model: You pay €5/month. That’s it. They don’t sell ads, they don’t sell your data, they don’t have an affiliate program to bribe reviewers.
This is what a legitimate business model looks like when you’re not trying to scam people.
What Makes Mullvad Different (And Why It Pisses Off Other VPNs)
No Account System (Actual Anonymity)
Most VPNs: “We value your privacy! Please enter your email, name, address, phone number, and social security number.”
Mullvad: “Here’s a random 16-digit number. That’s your account. Don’t lose it.”
No email. No name. No password recovery because there’s no password. Just a number.
Example account number: 1234 5678 9012 3456
That’s it. That’s your entire identity with Mullvad.
If you lose that number, your account is gone. They can’t help you. They don’t know who you are. That’s the point.
Accept Cash (Literally)
You can mail cash in an envelope to Mullvad’s Swedish office. They’ll add time to your account when they receive it.
Why this matters: No payment trail. No credit card. No PayPal. Just cash and a note with your account number.
Also accept:
- Cryptocurrency (Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Monero)
- Credit cards (if you don’t care about payment anonymity)
- PayPal (same)
- Bank wire
- Swish (Swedish payment system)
Most VPNs claim privacy while requiring your credit card and email. Mullvad actually means it.
€5/Month Forever (No Sales, No Tricks)
ExpressVPN: $12.95/month (or $6.67 if you pay for 2 years upfront) NordVPN: $12.99/month (or $3.99/month for first 2 years, then surprise renewal at $12) CyberGhost: $12.99/month (or $2.19/month for 2 years, then $56/year forever)
Mullvad: €5/month
No sales. No “limited time offers.” No renewal price increases. Just €5, today and forever.
You want 1 month? €5. You want 12 months? €60 (€5 × 12).
There’s no discount for commitment because they’re not trying to lock you into a 2-year contract before jacking up prices.
This is what honest pricing looks like.
Open Source Apps (Verifiable)
Mullvad’s apps are open source and available on GitHub.
Why this matters: Anyone can audit the code. Security researchers can verify Mullvad isn’t logging, isn’t tracking, isn’t doing anything shady.
Compare that to ExpressVPN, NordVPN, etc. whose apps are closed source black boxes. You have to trust them. With Mullvad, you can verify.
Apps available:
- Windows
- macOS
- Linux
- Android
- iOS
No smart TV apps. No router apps. No apps for your toaster. Just the platforms that matter.
No Affiliate Program (The Real Reason Nobody Recommends Them)
This is the big one.
ExpressVPN pays affiliates $95 per sale. CyberGhost pays $135 per sale. NordVPN pays $40 per sale. ProtonVPN pays $25 per sale.
Mullvad pays: $0
They don’t have an affiliate program. Never have. Never will.
Result: Almost nobody recommends Mullvad despite it being objectively one of the best VPNs for privacy.
Why? Because there’s no money in it.
YouTubers can make $95,000 if 1,000 people buy ExpressVPN through their link. With Mullvad? $0.
This is why every VPN “review” you read is misleading. The recommendations are based on commission rates, not quality.
I’m recommending Mullvad anyway because it’s the best VPN for privacy.
WireGuard Protocol (Modern and Fast)
Mullvad was one of the first major VPNs to adopt WireGuard, a modern VPN protocol that’s faster and more secure than OpenVPN.
Why this matters:
- Faster connection speeds (less encryption overhead)
- Faster reconnection (seconds vs minutes)
- Smaller codebase (easier to audit for security flaws)
- Better battery life on mobile
Most VPNs still primarily use OpenVPN because it’s familiar. Mullvad uses WireGuard by default because it’s better.
They also support OpenVPN if you need it for compatibility, but WireGuard is the recommended choice.
The 2023 Police Raid (Proof of No-Logs)
Most VPNs claim “no logs” until the FBI shows up with a warrant. Then suddenly they have logs (looking at you, IPVanish, PureVPN, HideMyAss).
Mullvad’s no-logs claim was tested in the best possible way: Swedish police raided their office in April 2023 with a search warrant.
According to Mullvad’s statement:
“We argued they had no reason to expect to find what they were looking for and any seizures would therefore be illegal… They left with nothing. Since we don’t keep any logs and don’t know who uses our service, police couldn’t get any customer data.”
The police came looking for user data connected to a criminal investigation. They left empty-handed because there was nothing to find.
This is what “no logs” looks like when actually tested.
Compare that to:
- IPVanish: Claimed no logs, gave logs to FBI, user arrested
- PureVPN: Claimed no logs, gave logs to FBI, user arrested
- HideMyAss: Claimed no logs, gave logs to FBI, LulzSec hacker arrested
Mullvad had armed police in their office and still couldn’t provide data because they don’t have it.
That’s the difference between marketing claims and technical reality.
What Actually Sucks About Mullvad (Because Nothing’s Perfect)
The real downsides:
1. No Account Recovery
Lose your account number? Your account is gone. Forever.
Mullvad can’t help you because they don’t know who you are. That’s the price of actual anonymity.
Mitigation: Save your account number in a password manager, write it down, tattoo it on your ass. Whatever. Just don’t lose it.
2. Netflix Isn’t Their Priority
Mullvad doesn’t market Netflix unblocking. They don’t maintain dedicated streaming servers. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.
If your main use case is Netflix: Use NordVPN instead (they actively maintain streaming compatibility).
If your main use case is actual privacy: Use Mullvad.
Know what you’re buying.
3. Smaller Server Network
Mullvad: ~900 servers in 40+ countries NordVPN: 7,000+ servers in 118 countries
If you need a server in some obscure country, Mullvad might not have it.
Reality: Most people use servers in 3-5 countries. 900 servers is plenty.
4. No 24/7 Live Chat Support
Mullvad has email support. That’s it.
No phone support. No live chat. No hand-holding.
If you need help: You email them. They respond within 24 hours usually.
If you need instant support: Use ProtonVPN (they have live chat).
5. The Account Number Confuses People
“Why can’t I just use my email?!”
Because email = identity = not anonymous.
If this confuses you, you’re not Mullvad’s target audience. Use something else.
6. No Extra Features Bullshit
Mullvad doesn’t have:
- “CyberSec” (NordVPN’s ad blocker)
- “Threat Manager” (ProtonVPN’s tracker blocking)
- “CleanWeb” (Surfshark’s ad blocking)
They have one job: VPN. That’s it.
If you want ad blocking: Use uBlock Origin (free, better, open source). If you want tracker blocking: Use Firefox with enhanced tracking protection (free).
Don’t pay extra for features you can get better for free.
Technical Specs (For the Nerds)
Encryption
- Protocol: WireGuard (modern, fast, secure)
- Also supports: OpenVPN (legacy, slower, still secure)
- Cipher: ChaCha20 with Poly1305 (WireGuard) or AES-256 (OpenVPN)
No “military-grade encryption” marketing hype. Just actual technical specs.
Kill Switch
Yes. If VPN disconnects, internet is blocked until reconnection.
DNS
Mullvad runs their own DNS servers. No third-party DNS that could log queries.
IPv6 Support
Yes. Full IPv6 routing (most VPNs just disable IPv6, which is lazy).
Port Forwarding
Yes, but you have to manually request it through their website.
Split Tunneling
Yes on Android and Linux. No on Windows/macOS/iOS (yet).
Simultaneous Connections
5 devices per account.
Servers
~900 servers across 40+ countries. Mix of owned and rented.
RAM-Only Servers
Not all servers, but moving towards diskless infrastructure.
Audits
- 2024 audit by Cure53 - Infrastructure review
- 2023 audit for Mozilla VPN (which uses Mullvad’s infrastructure)
- Apps open source = continuous community audit
Pricing Reality Check (No Hidden Fees)
Mullvad: €5/month
That’s it. No tiers. No upsells. No “premium features.”
Comparison to the Scam Artists:
| VPN | Monthly Price | ”Sale” Price | Renewal Price | Hidden Bullshit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mullvad | €5 | €5 | €5 | None |
| ExpressVPN | $12.95 | $6.67/mo (2 years) | $12.95 | Renewal surprise |
| NordVPN | $12.99 | $3.99/mo (2 years) | $12.99 | Massive renewal hike |
| CyberGhost | $12.99 | $2.19/mo (2 years) | $56/year | Bait and switch pricing |
| ProtonVPN | $9.99 | $3.99/mo (2 years) | $9.99 | Expensive but honest |
Mullvad is the ONLY VPN with consistent pricing. No games, no tricks, no “introductory rates.”
Money-Back Guarantee
None needed. You can buy one month for €5 and cancel anytime.
Why would they offer a “30-day money-back guarantee” when you can just… not renew?
This is what happens when your pricing isn’t a scam from day one.
Who Should Use Mullvad (Know Your Threat Model)
✅ Use Mullvad If:
- You actually care about privacy (not just saying it for clout)
- You’re okay with a slightly different account system
- You don’t need 24/7 hand-holding support
- Netflix unblocking isn’t your primary use case
- You want a VPN that treats you like an adult
- You’re willing to pay €5/month for actual anonymity
- You trust open source more than marketing claims
❌ Don’t Use Mullvad If:
- You need help recovering passwords (there are no passwords)
- Netflix access is your main reason for a VPN (use NordVPN)
- You want apps for every device ever made
- You need immediate live chat support
- You’re confused by the account number system
- You want “extra features” instead of just VPN
- You trust marketing over technical reality
Simple test: If you read “no email required” and thought “but how will I log in?” - Mullvad isn’t for you. Use ProtonVPN instead.
Commission Disclosure
Mullvad has no affiliate program. I make $0 if you buy it.
I could recommend VPNs that pay high commissions. I’m not doing that.
If you want to support this site financially: Use ProtonVPN (also legitimate).
If you want actual privacy and don’t care about supporting me: Use Mullvad.
I’m fine with either.
The Reddit Reality (What Real Users Say)
Unlike other VPNs where Reddit is full of complaints about logging, billing scams, and breaches, Mullvad’s Reddit presence is boringly positive:
Common themes in r/mullvadvpn:
- “Setup was weird but it works great”
- “I paid with cash and it actually worked”
- “Support responded in 6 hours”
- “Police raid proved no-logs, I’m switching”
The negative comments:
- “Netflix stopped working” (Mullvad doesn’t prioritize this)
- “I lost my account number and they can’t help” (that’s the point)
- “Why can’t I use my email?” (privacy, dummy)
What you DON’T see:
- Unexpected charges
- Hidden renewal prices
- Logs given to authorities
- Fake no-logs claims
It’s almost like when you run an honest business, customers don’t hate you.
🔍 Verify This Yourself
Want to see the raw data behind my claims? Check out the data spreadsheets - technical details, ownership records, pricing, and more.
Don’t trust my review. Verify these claims:
- Check the 2023 police raid: Search “Mullvad police raid 2023” - they posted about it publicly
- Verify the pricing: Go to mullvad.net - it’s €5/month, no tricks
- Review the open source code: GitHub - mullvadvpn-app
- Read independent audits: Search “Mullvad Cure53 audit 2024”
- Check Reddit: r/mullvadvpn for real user experiences
- Try the account system: Generate a number, no email required
- Compare affiliate programs: Search “Mullvad affiliate program” (doesn’t exist)
- Test it yourself: €5 for one month, cancel anytime, no refund games
The proof is in the testing. Unlike ExpressVPN, I’m not asking you to trust marketing claims.
Final Verdict: 9/10 (The Only VPN That Deserves It)
Why 9/10 and not 10/10?
Nothing’s perfect. Mullvad has downsides:
- Account number system confuses normies (-0.5)
- Netflix isn’t prioritized (-0.5)
But compared to the rest of this industry?
ExpressVPN: 3/10 (owned by alleged ex-malware company, expensive) NordVPN: 6/10 (reformed villain, good for casual use, monopolistic) CyberGhost: 2/10 (Kape-owned, commission-bait pricing) ProtonVPN: 8/10 (legitimate, expensive, better support than Mullvad)
Mullvad: 9/10 (actually private, proven in court, pays me nothing)
What Mullvad Gets Right:
✅ No affiliate program (honest incentives) ✅ Open source (verifiable) ✅ Police raid proof (actually no-logs) ✅ Honest pricing (€5 forever) ✅ No email required (actual anonymity) ✅ Accept cash (payment privacy) ✅ Swedish jurisdiction (GDPR protection) ✅ WireGuard protocol (modern and fast)
What Mullvad Gets Wrong:
❌ Account recovery impossible (trade-off for anonymity) ❌ Netflix isn’t prioritized (use NordVPN if that’s your need) ❌ Smaller server network (still 900+ servers)
Bottom line: If you want actual privacy, use Mullvad VPN. If you want Netflix unblocking, use NordVPN. If you want both, you’re asking too much from one VPN.
The fact that Mullvad has no affiliate program tells you everything about why nobody else recommends it despite it being objectively one of the best.
I’m recommending it anyway because it’s the best option for privacy.
The Alternative (When Mullvad Isn’t Right)
If Mullvad confuses you or doesn’t fit your needs:
For Netflix/Streaming: NordVPN
- Dedicated streaming servers
- Works reliably with Netflix
- Better for non-technical users
- Reformed from 2018 breach issues
For Hand-Holding Support: ProtonVPN
- Live chat support
- Email account system (normal login)
- Swiss privacy laws
- Free tier available
For Maximum Integrity: Mullvad
- No email required
- Proven no-logs
- €5/month honest pricing
Don’t use:
- ExpressVPN (Kape-owned)
- CyberGhost (Kape-owned)
- IPVanish (proven logging despite claims)
- Any VPN ranked #1 on every review site (commission-driven)
Legal Note: This review discusses documented facts about Mullvad’s ownership, audits, Swedish legal cases, and technical features. Where I express opinions about trustworthiness or make recommendations, these are clearly marked as my personal opinions based on publicly available information and my own testing.
Top Comments (5)
For me, one thing I love about Mullvad is that you have the option to pay with a prepaid card you can order from Amazon, so any account you make isn't in your name. It's only attached to a randomly created account number which you use to log in and such. That is one benefit. There is no name, ad...
If they truly had no logs, then authorities should not have had that kind of power over them. It makes it seem like 1) authorities DO have leverage and Mullvad isn't being straight with their users, or 2) Mullvad simply made...