Mullvad vs NordVPN: A 2024 Comparison

NordVPN and Mullvad adhere to strict no-logs policies. They don’t collect, store or share user IP addresses, connection logs, browsing history or connection timestamps. 

Mullvad’s adherence to its no-logs policy was tested when police raided its offices in 2023 in search of user data. The police came out empty-handed, and no user data was exposed during the raid, proving that Mullvad has reliable privacy measures. 

Mullvad has also undergone independent security audits. In 2022, Assured AB audited Mullvad’s infrastructure and confirmed that it doesn’t leak or store user data, either intentionally or accidentally. In similar fashion, Deloitte Audit Lithuania audited NordVPN’s systems and infrastructure, confirming that it doesn’t collect or withhold user data. 

Plus, Mullvad allows users to sign up without an email, and it accepts anonymous cryptocurrency and cash payments. This ensures that each user is completely anonymous and that no online activity can be traced back to their IP address or email. 

Both providers are based in privacy-friendly jurisdictions: Mullvad in Sweden, and NordVPN in Panama. The two countries have no mandatory data retention laws, enabling both VPN providers to adhere to their no-logs policies.

Overall, the Mullvad and NordVPN apps are easy to download, install and use. Mullvad’s user interface (UI) is streamlined but doesn’t exude a modern look. Luckily, the app design doesn’t complicate its usability, so beginners won’t struggle to find their way around. 

Each Mullvad feature is accompanied by a description of how it works, which enables you to easily tweak the settings to suit your needs. The server search function lets you quickly find servers by country or city name. Mullvad also allows you to create a custom list of favorite servers.

NordVPN’s apps feature intuitive and well-organized interfaces, so many users won’t have issues navigating them. Like Mullvad, NordVPN describes how each feature works and has a server search bar to help users quickly find relevant servers. Unfortunately, you can’t “favorite” servers to find them easily in the future. 

Split tunneling lets you set some apps or URLs to use the VPN tunnel while others access the internet without encryption. For example, you can route a torrenting client’s traffic through the VPN while accessing a banking app without protection. Both NordVPN and Mullvad VPN offer split tunneling, but they differ in terms of which apps allow it.

Mullvad offers app-based split tunneling on Windows, Android and Linux devices. The difference between app-based and URL-based split tunneling is that the URL-based option lets you split tunnels between individual websites, whereas app-based split tunneling discriminates between internet-capable apps only.

NordVPN offers app-based split tunneling on Windows, Android and Android TV. It also provides URL-based split tunneling on its Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge and Mozilla Firefox browser extensions. 

Both NordVPN and Mullvad offer the industry-standard 30-day money-back guarantee. This means that you’ll get a full refund if you request one within 30 days of purchasing a VPN subscription. 

Mullvad doesn’t issue refunds for Apple in-app purchases, vouchers, cash and cryptocurrency payments, but it may intervene if the Google Play store denies you a refund. NordVPN doesn’t offer refunds for purchases made on the Apple or Amazon app stores. 

NordVPN and Mullvad both come with admirable security performance, but they differ significantly in terms of their particular security features. Mullvad covers the basics well but offers only a few advanced tools. On the other hand, NordVPN has an impressive suite of basic and advanced security features.  

Mullvad supports the OpenVPN and WireGuard protocols, whereas NordVPN uses OpenVPN, IKEv2 and NordLynx (a version of WireGuard). These protocols are generally secure, but since they support different encryption ciphers, their speeds and levels of security may vary.

OpenVPN and IKEv2 use AES 256-bit encryption, which is the gold standard of encryption ciphers that has been tested for years. AES 256-bit encryption provides a nice balance between speed and security. NordLynx and WireGuard use ChaCha20, a lightweight encryption cipher that is still very secure and offers faster speeds. 

Mullvad and NordVPN’s protocols came out clean during our IP, WebRTC and DNS leak tests. In other words, the protocols don’t leak your IP address or DNS requests. Additionally, there are no WebRTC leaks, so your public IP address won’t be exposed by your video and audio communication software. 

A kill switch blocks internet access when the VPN connection drops, preventing accidental traffic leaks that could compromise your online security and privacy. NordVPN and Mullvad offer traditional kill switches. However, Mullvad’s kill switch is built in and activated by default, whereas NordVPN allows users to turn its kill switch on or off as they see fit. 

Mullvad VPN offers another feature called lockdown mode. When you turn on lockdown mode, you can’t access the internet unless you’re connected to a Mullvad server. NordVPN has an app kill switch, which lets you select apps that will instantly quit when the VPN is disconnected. 

Obfuscation scrambles the VPN metadata from your VPN traffic, making it look like regular internet traffic. This enables users in countries where anonymizers are banned to use a VPN without detection. Obfuscation also helps users access online services that frown upon VPN use. 

NordVPN and Mullvad implement obfuscation differently. NordVPN offers a fleet of obfuscated servers in 16 countries. You can connect to any of these servers to obfuscate your traffic, so you can use a VPN in a restrictive regime like China, India or Russia — though we’ve also got a list of the best free India VPNs if you want a no-cost backup option.

Mullvad supports obfuscation on the WireGuard protocol through a method that encapsulates WireGuard inside another stealth protocol. Obfuscation isn’t activated by default; you must turn it on under WireGuard’s settings. Keep in mind that only 468 out of 686 Mullvad servers support the WireGuard protocol.  

You can also get obfuscation benefits by turning on the bridge mode under OpenVPN’s settings. Bridge mode provides obfuscation by way of a multi-hop feature, routing traffic through the bridge server before sending it through your selected OpenVPN server. The bridge server obfuscates the traffic to thwart fingerprinting. 

NordVPN’s suite of advanced security features is better than Mullvad’s. NordVPN offers Threat Protection, which thwarts malware, ads and trackers. It also scans the files you download, removing those that are infected with viruses and malware. 

In addition, NordVPN offers a vulnerability detection tool that alerts you when it detects an infected app on your device. The dark web monitoring feature scours dark web resources for data associated with your email and alerts you when it finds any hits, warning you to change your compromised credentials.

Mullvad offers DNS content blockers that block ads, malware and trackers. The blockers also help eliminate unwanted content, such as adult sites, gambling and social media. In addition, Mullvad offers a defense against AI-guided traffic analysis (DAITA) feature that distorts data packet sizes and patterns to protect your traffic against sophisticated analysis. 

Both Mullvad and NordVPN deliver fast download speeds, even when you connect to servers that are continents away. However, NordVPN is a more consistent performer, which is why we ranked it as the fastest VPN. If you want to watch high-definition movies without lags or download large files faster, pick NordVPN over Mullvad.

On the upload speed front, NordVPN and Mullvad deliver comparable speeds on near-distance connections. However, NordVPN is fast and consistent on long-distance connections, whereas Mullvad is sluggish and inconsistent. Mullvad users may find it harder to upload content on remote servers.

In terms of latency, Mullvad performs slightly better than NordVPN on near-distance connections. However, on distant servers, NordVPN delivers slightly lower latency than Mullvad. Lower latencies are best for gaming and video chatting, so choose your service accordingly.

The best VPN for streaming must have fast download speeds and the ability to unblock any movie or TV show library. While both providers tick the first box, NordVPN has the upper hand because it unblocks all streaming services and loads videos faster than Mullvad. 

NordVPN accessed Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ and Max on the first attempt during our testing. Thanks to NordVPN’s low latency, videos loaded like they were local sessions. We were also able to watch full HD and 4K videos without lags or buffering with NordVPN’s fast download speeds. 

Mullvad unblocked Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video on the first attempt, but it couldn’t unblock Hulu or Max. For the streaming services that it could unblock, the videos loaded fast and sessions were uninterrupted (most of the time), thanks to Mullvad’s fast download speeds.

If you want a short-term online security solution, buy Mullvad as its monthly plan is cheaper. However, if you need long-term digital security, NordVPN has some exciting offers on its extended plans.

Mullvad’s pricing model is as straightforward as it gets: You pay a flat price of 5 euros per month, regardless of the billing cycle. Whether you buy a monthly, yearly or a decade-long plan, you’ll pay 5 euros per month. The price in dollars is around $5.30 per month, depending on exchange rates.

NordVPN has a bundled pricing model with three tiers, each with monthly, yearly or biennial billing options. The bottom tier (Basic plan) offers the full range of VPN features. The other tiers — known as Plus and Ultimate — include cloud storage, a password manager, malware protection, a dark web monitor and other advanced cybersecurity tools. 

The table below shows NordVPN’s pricing at a glance:

30-days money-back guarantee

Basic

• *The prices are charged in the first billing cycle only. Renewal prices vary.
• Unlimited GB
• 10
• Yes

1-month plan, 1-year plan

1-month plan

$12.99/month

1-year plan

$4.99/month

$59.88 billed every year

Save 61%

2-year plan + 3 months

$3.55/month

$95.76 billed every 2 years

Save 72%

Plus

• *The prices are charged in the first billing cycle only. Renewal prices vary.
• Unlimited GB
• 10
• Yes

1-month plan, 1-year plan

1-month plan

$13.99/month

1-year plan

$5.99/month

$71.88 billed every year

Save 57%

2-year plan + 3 months

$4.44/month

$119.76 billed every 2 years

Save 68%

Ultimate

• *The prices are charged in the first billing cycle only. Renewal prices vary.
• Unlimited GB
• 10
• Yes

1-month plan, 1-year plan

1-month plan

$15.99/month

1-year plan

$7.99/month

$95.88 billed every year

Save 50%

2-year plan + 3 months

$6.21/month

$167.76 billed every 2 years

Save 61%

We used each VPN to download a 264MB test torrent file on a 30 Mbps internet connection. We connected NordVPN to the fastest P2P server, which was in South Africa. Mullvad doesn’t offer P2P servers, so we connected it to a South African server to level the playing field. 

Mullvad won the torrenting race this time, even though it’s not on our best VPN for torrenting list. The provider downloaded the torrent file in 126 seconds, whereas NordVPN needed 149 seconds.

NordVPN is the undisputed winner on the VPN server network front. It has over 6,000 servers in 111 countries, compared to Mullvad’s 686 servers in 44 countries. 

With the large pool of IP addresses, NordVPN’s servers are less likely to get overcrowded, even during peak hours. This likely accounts for its more consistent speeds compared to Mullvad. All NordVPN and Mullvad servers are RAM-based, meaning they wipe data with every reboot to enhance user privacy and security. 

NordVPN also uses a secure central infrastructure to manage its servers, including those it rents from third parties. Nothing is hosted locally, not even the server operating system. If law enforcement or malicious actors were to seize a NordVPN server, they would find no data or configuration files. 

Specialty Servers

Mullvad doesn’t offer specialty servers, which isn’t a huge issue because all of its servers are optimized for streaming, torrenting, gaming and Tor Onion Routing. However, if you prefer to use servers built for specific functions, NordVPN has an admirable fleet that includes the following: 

• Double VPN servers: These route your traffic through two VPN servers for extra protection, making them ideal for journalists, activists and residents of countries known for intrusive surveillance. NordVPN has double VPN servers in nine countries.
• Obfuscated servers: NordVPN offers obfuscated servers in 16 countries. These are useful for getting around government censorship, such as the WhatsApp ban in Dubai.
• P2P servers: These servers are optimized to facilitate fast and secure torrenting and large file sharing. NordVPN has P2P-optimized servers in 107 countries. 
• Onion Over VPN servers: With these, you can route your traffic through a VPN tunnel and the Tor network to enhance your online security and anonymity. NordVPN’s Onion Over VPN servers are based in Switzerland and the Netherlands. 

Besides the regular servers, NordVPN has dedicated IP servers in 20 countries. A dedicated IP is exclusively yours, so you don’t share it with other VPN users. Moreover, you get the same IP address whenever you connect to your appointed dedicated IP server.

NordVPN’s dedicated IP servers are located in the following countries. Be warned that this list changes frequently, though we’ll update it as often as we can.

• United States
• United Kingdom
• Hong Kong
• Switzerland
• Germany
• France
• Denmark
• Australia
• Czech Republic
• Japan
• South Africa
• Spain
• Belgium
• Italy
• Poland
• Netherlands
• Sweden
• Mexico
• Portugal
• Canada

Dedicated IP addresses help you avoid the bad neighbor effect, where online services blocklist your IP address for misdeeds committed by others with the same address. They’re also helpful for accessing IP-sensitive digital services, like online banking platforms, and for avoiding frequent CAPTCHA verification requests. 

NordVPN offers native apps for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iOS (iPhone and iPad). You can also install it on routers, Android TV, Fire Stick and tvOS. Moreover, NordVPN has browser extensions for Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge and Mozilla Firefox. 

NordVPN also offers SmartPlay, a feature that uses smart DNS technology to help users unblock content. The feature allows you to change IP addresses to access blocked content on your smart TV.  

Mullvad has native apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android. Beyond these options, it offers a browser extension for Mozilla Firefox, but it has no extension for Chrome and Edge browsers. You can install Mullvad on a router, which allows you to protect devices that don’t natively support VPN apps, like gaming consoles and old smart TVs. 

Mullvad also offers a free private browser. While this browser has a built-in ability to block ads and trackers, it doesn’t incorporate any standard VPN features. You’ll still need to use a VPN to remain anonymous and access blocked content. If you really want free browsing, see our article on the best free VPNs with unlimited data.

Simultaneous connections refer to the number of devices that you can connect to a VPN at the same time under one account. Mullvad supports five simultaneous VPN connections, whereas NordVPN allows up to 10 simultaneous connections.

However, you can install NordVPN and Mullvad on a router to protect additional devices. The router counts as one simultaneous device, but it protects all the devices that are connected to it, including smart TVs, printers and gaming consoles. 

NordVPN offers a tool called Meshnet, which is ideal for remote teams and users who need to access their devices remotely. Meshnet enables users to build a virtual local area network (LAN) for connecting devices in different parts of the world.

Since devices on a virtual LAN communicate through an encrypted tunnel, they can securely share files. For example, you can access files and software on your home PC while away. You can also use Meshnet to play multiplayer games with friends abroad.

In addition, Meshnet lets users bypass Netflix’s password-sharing restrictions. Suppose you want to share Netflix with your friend abroad. Once the friend activates Meshnet, they just have to click “route traffic” and select your device’s name. This routes your friend’s internet traffic through your device, fooling Netflix into thinking you’re in the same household.  

Both NordVPN and Mullvad provide knowledgebases with helpful guides. Mullvad’s knowledgebase has troubleshooting guides and setup tutorials on one page. This page has a search bar that lets you find a guide or article using a keyword. 

NordVPN has separate pages for troubleshooting guides, setup tutorials and frequently asked questions (FAQs). The troubleshooting guides are well organized into general info, billing, FAQ and connectivity categories, which makes it easy to find relevant articles. You can also use the search function to find guides by keywords. 

Besides the knowledgebases, both VPN services offer email support. NordVPN provides a live chat option that is accessible on any web page. When you first access the live chat, you’ll interact with a chatbot that suggests relevant articles based on the description of your issue. 

If you’re unsatisfied with the self-service solutions, the chatbot will refer you to a human agent. NordVPN’s agents responded to our queries in under two minutes during our testing. Unfortunately, Mullvad doesn’t have live chat support. 

Many online users — who seem to be torrenting enthusiasts — acknowledge Mullvad as a reliable VPN. They are happy with Mullvad’s privacy, especially regarding its support for cash and anonymous payments. However, one group of users is unhappy with its decision to remove port forwarding. 

When searching for answers to this question online, ExpressVPN, Surfshark and Mullvad cropped up in most discussions. Users think Mullvad beats NordVPN because it offers better privacy, more affordable prices and faster torrenting. Our test results showed that Mullvad excels on these fronts, but NordVPN performs better in many other categories. 

According to most comments online, Mullvad used to be better than Proton VPN until it removed the “port forwarding” feature. Online users claim that Proton VPN now offers better torrenting performance because it still has port forwarding. When coupled with its free plan and more extensive server network, this makes Proton VPN better than Mullvad. 

The online consensus is that ExpressVPN is better than Mullvad, thanks to its speeds and streaming performance. However, some users claim that Mullvad is the best VPN for users looking for online anonymity or risk-free torrent downloads.