Mullvad review

Payment methods are some of the most comprehensive on offer including cash, bitcoin, bitcoin cash, bank wire, PayPal, Swish, Bankgiro, and credit or debit cards. Paying in cryptocurrency will even net you a slight discount.

While cash offers a high level of privacy, it limits your refund options. However, there’s still crypto support if you want easy, risk-free payments.

Supported Devices

Mullvad is compatible with most devices. You’ll find dedicated apps for Windows, Mac, and Linux. Support for Android, iOS, and Chrome OS is available through the OpenVPN app. If you have a router capable of running DD-WRT, Mullvad’s site includes everything you need to get up and running.

Ease of Use

Mullvad’s software isn’t the prettiest user interface around, but it offers easy access to common features and is generally user-friendly. If you’re brand new to VPNs, you might need to research a few terms. However, reviews indicate that the default settings offer a respectable level of protection if you’re not up to diving into the settings.

Security Gladiators says, “Mullvad VPN’s overall theme seems to be of simplicity... The app is very straightforward to use… And we have already mentioned the fact that the installation process is painless and quick.”

Simultaneous Connections

Mullvad allows up to five simultaneous connections. This is comparable to many competitors. And, you can also set up the service on your router if you need to protect many devices at once.

Included Features

In terms of features, Mullvad is easily one of the top VPNs. Whether you’re looking for protection while torrenting, trying to secure your email, or want protection while using the Wi-Fi at your favorite restaurant, you’ll find helpful features which help you make the most of your VPN subscription.

Popular features include:

• Regional video unlocking
• Port forwarding
• Email pass-through and spam blocking
• Frequently renewed encryption keys
• IP and DNS leak protection
• Torrenting support
• Kill switch support

Mullvad offers encryption using the OpenVPN or WireGuard protocols. WireGuard is one of the newest protocols available and claims to be the future of VPN. You can also encrypt using AES-256 or Blowfish encryption standards.

VPN Ranks says, “Netflix has invested heavily to fortify the site against VPN services. However, this has not stopped VPN providers like Mullvad from working seamlessly with the streaming service… The US servers of this VPN have no issue in unlocking Netflix as my tests for this Mullvad VPN review revealed.”

Privacy and Logging

At first glance, being based in Gothenburg, Sweden -- a 14-eyes country -- doesn’t appear to score any points for Mullvad on a privacy front. However, they’re extremely transparent on what they log and try to track as little information as possible.

Instead of providing an email address, user name, and other personally identifiable information, they assign you a random account number. This is the only thing linking you to your account.

If you pay using cash, bitcoin, or one of the other anonymous methods, you are virtually invisible.

VPN Ranks says, “Because Mullvad does not even ask for your email when you sign up. You can even pay the provider in Bitcoin, making sure you are a ghost to them.”

Performance

While Mullvad achieves some of the highest marks around in terms of security, this comes at the cost of transfer speeds. While you’ll still be able to stream video and perform other tasks online, don’t expect large file downloads or peer-to-peer file sharing to be snappy using Mullvad.

That said, if your focus is on privacy, Mullvad is hard to beat.

VPN Ranks highlights this in their review, saying, “While one expects a slash in speed in a VPN connection, this kind of drastic decrease is problematic to say the least.”

Support

Customer support is another area where Mullvad receives middling marks. Email is your only support option for advanced problems. While they offer a 24-hour response time, this might not feel reassuring if you’re having an urgent problem. Fortunately, there is an FAQ section for basic problems should you need it.

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Summary

If you need basic protection or peace of mind while using public Wi-Fi or checking your email, there are more affordable options available. But if you’re looking for the best privacy options around and a truly anonymous VPN service, definitely consider Mullvad.

VPN Ranks says, “There are many features in Mullvad that makes it stands out; the token-based account, the unique payment method and kill switch option to name a few. But what really separates Mullvad from other VPNs is its simple and straightforward mode of operations.”

VPN Analysis says, “Mullvad’s commitment to anonymity is commendable. The company has set up its subscription system to help dodge any possible legislation that requires VPN providers to hand over user activity logs. You are certainly safe from prosecution with this service.”