Mullvad VPN Review 2025: The Hidden Gem of Online Privacy

Mullvad is king when it comes to respecting your privacy and giving you real anonymity online. Speeds are also superb, and as a torrenting VPN it’s unbeatable. Some real efforts are made to obfuscate traffic (keeping you connected on restrictive networks), although there’s room for improvement on this front. Power users will find plenty of goodies like SOCKS proxies. Most streaming services work too, and at 5 EUR per month I personally find it difficult to even consider another VPN right now.

Mullvad is much smaller than providers like NordVPN which boast thousands of servers. As part of their commitment to transparency you can get a detailed breakdown here.

Global Coverage

Looks like no attempt has been made to add countries like China, Russia and Iran to the list. But given Mullvad’s privacy standards, that’s hardly surprising.

Specialized Servers

Just like their one clear pricing option, Mullvad keeps things nice and simple with their servers. Just select a location and (optionally) tweak settings like obfuscation to fit your requirements, and the app will set up a suitable connection.

Server Speed & Reliability

While some servers on the list are inevitably down (probably maintenance), the app always does a great job reconnecting to another one when there’s a problem.

Mullvad leads the pack when it comes to privacy and anonymity, hands down. It sets the standards other VPNs should be compared to. For example, it doesn’t require an email address from you. Almost every other service does, including privacy-oriented Proton.

Mullvad is also trusted by a leading, respectable NGO like Mozilla and tech companies like Tailscale to deliver VPN solutions for their users. That carries a lot more weight than a Premier League sponsorship, does it not?

Encryption and Protocols

Using their app on any OS, you’re getting the standard WireGuard with an optional obfuscation layer we’ll look at below. It’s also possible to create a manual OpenVPN config (TCP or UDP) for devices like routers, and these use the highest standards of encryption and authentication.

You can also enable quantum resistant tunneling, to protect you from scary evil monster computers from the future:

Censorship Circumvention

Unlike most of the big players, Mullvad actually cares about people trying to access the Internet in repressive countries or behind corporate firewalls, and it’s worth taking a closer look at how they facilitate this. I’ve watched them try different approaches over the years, and currently they have two methods built into the app:

WireGuard is great for many reasons, and one of them is simplicity. Unfortunately, that also makes it easy for entire countries to instantly block WireGuard traffic. So Mullvad wraps it in another layer that’s much harder to detect. It’s kind of like mailing a postcard as is, versus sending it in one of those darkened envelopes banks use.

Shadowsocks is not as unblockable as it once was and the UDP over TCP option can be really slow. But as fallbacks they’re both a whole lot better than nothing!

That’s all very well, but what use is a nice disguised connection if the app is blocked from talking to Mullvad to begin with? No worries, they’ve got you covered with all kinds of ways to bypass this kind of interference too:

Even looking at their update notes, it’s obvious that Mullvad is actively keeping up with the latest censorship techniques on this front. That’s what I like to see: a VPN that fights for you.

So how well does all this work in practice? I have a test environment set up with some pretty fascist real world VPN restrictions. After a delay, the app appears to connect with obfuscation enabled:

I don’t actually have Internet access though, and after ~10 seconds the connection drops and Mullvad tries to establish another one:

After a few cycles of this I still wasn’t online and started tweaking settings. Lo and behold, manually selecting “UDP-over-TCP” as the obfuscation method worked! So a few remarks:

• Mullvad can break through a Nazi firewall, but not automatically. Users have to change settings by hand, and that’s never good.
• Maybe it’s time to add some newer, faster obfuscation methods to the arsenal?

Payment

Mullvad accepts cash payments in an envelope! While there’s no dark alleyway for these transactions, feel free to mail it from anywhere. You can also pay with Monero, the only truly anonymous major cryptocurrency. Don’t worry, payment methods for normal people are accepted too. So no email, and untraceable payments if you so choose. As far as I know, this badass anonymity sandwich is still unique in the VPN world.

Source Code

Mullvad publishes the source code for its apps, which allows independent review. The Android app is also available on F-Droid, a respected alternative to Google Play. This means that smart people can review and contribute changes to something like Mullvad’s quantum resistance tunnel. It’s not just a ticked box or a promise on a website. Scientists have their peer-reviewed journals, we software developers have open source.

Logging and Trackers

Compared to every other VPN I’ve seen, Mullvad’s Android app requires zero trackers and far fewer permissions. I consider this to be a great litmus test for how seriously a company really takes user privacy.

Jurisdiction

I admit, I’m partial to any company located in a Scandinavian country. Mullvad’s address is music to my ears:

Mullvad VPN AB

Box 53049

400 14 Gothenburg

Sweden

Although I’m no expert on data protection laws and the like, I think it’s harder to find a better jurisdiction for a VPN. Sweden’s historic tendency to uphold freedom of information and minimize censorship is encouraging.

Leak Protection

As expected, Mullvad doesn’t allow DNS, IPv6, WebRTC or any other leaks that I could discover.

Extra Security Features

Apart from quantum resistance, you’ll also find a feature called Lockdown Mode which is even more effective than the standard kill switch. It prevents leaks even when the Mullvad app is not running:

You can also use multihop connections for even greater anonymity.

Accessing streaming services used to be a problem for Mullvad. Things are looking much better now! Most services are working, and at maximum available streaming quality.

Netflix

I was able to sign in to my Netflix account without problems (this is the first hurdle when they detect a VPN). Playback works flawlessly, and after trying several servers in different countries I didn’t find any that were blocked by the Netflix police.

Prime

No such luck ducking under the radar of team Amazon Prime. They seem to be making an exceptional effort to crack down on all VPN users now. Fine, prevent us from paying for content. Thanks to Mullvad we have fast anonymous torrents!

Disney+

Disney+ is working perfectly, with the correct country recognized by as expected:

BBC iPlayer

Can you watch the latest David Attenborough on BBC iPlayer? You bet!

You have a British TV license of course. You do, don’t you?

Mullvad took first prize in my detailed review of torrent-friendly VPNs. We’ve already covered their iron-clad anonymity. When it comes to speed, I’m able to match what I get without a VPN even on a gigabit connection:

And this is during evening rush hour in Europe. Unlike rivals like NordVPN which hit you with a rate limit very quickly, Mullvad seems to either have no restrictions or very generous ones. Look no further!

Ping/Latency

I did not see Mullvad adding any noticeable latency to connections.

Geo-Blocking for Games

Tired of this nonsense?

Using a US server I was able to see games only available on Steam in the US and proceed to checkout.

Warning: You may still need to create a new account and/or add another payment method to actually install geo restricted games like this. Unfortunately, more and more services are linking your country to your payments.

Many of Mullvad’s servers are registered under “Mullvad VPN” in line with their transparency philosophy, and you can bet that triggers some VPN alarms:

Despite this, the browsing experience is surprisingly… okay. Even some aggressive sites like Reddit work without problems.

The Mullvad app experience is consistently simple and reliable across all platforms, except for those slight problems I had bypassing extreme censorship. A few other things worth mentioning:

Android TV

Alas, another great app has surrendered to the curse of the Android TV remote! Help, I can’t pick a location with my four stupid buttons!

All you can do is connect to the default server on the main screen, or attach a mouse to your TV if you want to fully use the app. I expected better from you, Mullvad.

Browser

What Mullvad offers here isn’t a mere extension, but an entire privacy-focused browser very similar to the Tor Browser. This is also a nice, simple way to get some split tunneling on desktop: you get a fast VPN browser without affecting the rest of your traffic (like games).

As always, my speed tests are done between my own servers on a gigabit connection using iperf3, the industry standard benchmark tool. The time is evening in Europe, which is when VPNs get busy and tend to limit traffic.

This multi-connection bandwidth is awesome and probably near the maximum any VPN can give you. It’s worth remembering that all that data is being securely encrypted AND decrypted on the fly, not just sent across the network. The drop in single connection speed is significant, but also better than anything I’ve seen recently from other VPNs. Keep in mind, a real single connection like a download will often be limited to a much lower speed by other factors anyways.

Price Comparison

There’s only one plan: €5/month, always.

Is this Scandinavian minimalism? I like it. Being confronted with about a dozen different plans and extra paid add-ons from a VPN service can be annoying and daunting even for me. Mullvad keeps it simple.

True, some may grumble about not having a super cheap “sign up for 50 years and save” option. But I think the price you’re paying for all that Mullvad awesomeness in 2025 is more than reasonable.

Promotions or Discounts

They pride themselves in never having promotions or discounts, just the same fair low price always. Fair enough.

The self-help site is excellent, with many useful guides even if you’re not a Mullvad user. Extra support is available via email, so I stand corrected. They do require an email address from you in this case, but it likely won’t be directly associated with your account in any way.

Common issues

• Help, I can’t select a server (location) on my Android TV!
  Sadly you can only use the default location selected by the app, or bight the bullet and connect a mouse to your TV every time you want to change locations. Ugh.

Mullvad VPN remains a respected choice in 2025, with users praising its strong commitment to privacy, no-log policy, and open-source transparency. However, some concerns have emerged regarding its recent performance issues and changes in service reliability. While many users still trust Mullvad’s dedication to security, a few have voiced worries about slow speeds and occasional connectivity problems.

Key Takeaways from Reddit Users

Performance and Speed

While Mullvad has historically been known for stable speeds, several users have reported a decline in 2025. Some claim their connections fluctuate, while others mention slower speeds than previous years.

 “I used to get solid speeds with Mullvad, but recently, I’ve had trouble with latency and consistency.” Others speculate that increased server congestion or infrastructure changes may be the cause.

Read the Full discussion on Reddit: Mullvad VPN Review in 2025: Any Thoughts?

Streaming and Website Access

Mullvad has never prioritized streaming access, and this will remain unchanged in 2025. While a few users report success accessing certain services, others say they struggle with popular streaming platforms.

“It works with some lesser-known streaming services, but don’t count on it for Netflix or Hulu,”

Some also noted that certain websites flag Mullvad’s IP addresses, leading to occasional accessibility issues.

Read the Full discussion on Reddit: Mullvad VPN Review 2025: How was the No-Log Policy?

Security and Privacy

Mullvad maintains a strong reputation for security, mainly due to its strict no-log policy and anonymous account system. Many Reddit users continue to trust Mullvad over other providers.

“It’s still the best in terms of privacy. No email sign-up, no logs—just pure security.”

However, a few users expressed concerns about recent security audits and whether Mullvad is still as impenetrable as before.

Read the Full discussion on Reddit: Mullvad VPN Review for 2025: Is It Secure?

Usability and Features

Mullvad’s minimalistic approach appeals to privacy-focused users, but some find its interface lacking in user-friendliness.

“I love that it’s simple and to the point, but a better UI wouldn’t hurt,”

Others appreciate Mullvad’s commitment to open-source transparency. Despite some complaints, most users value its straightforward functionality over additional features.

Read the Full discussion on Reddit: What is Going on with Mullvad VPN?

Issues and Common Complaints

A few Reddit users have raised concerns about Mullvad’s recent performance inconsistencies and occasional server downtime.

“I still trust Mullvad, but I hope they don’t face the same fate as other ‘no-log’ VPNs that got exposed,” one user cautioned.

Some worry that potential external pressures could affect its no-log stance, though there is no direct evidence to support this claim.

Read the Full discussion on Reddit: Pros and Cons of Mullvad

Alternative VPN Suggestions from Reddit

While Mullvad remains a popular privacy-first VPN, some users have suggested alternatives for those facing speed issues or looking for better streaming access. The most recommended options include:

• IVPN – Another privacy-focused VPN with a firm no-log policy.
• ProtonVPN – Offers good speeds and security with an audited no-log policy.
• Windscribe – A solid free-tier option with good privacy features.

Mullvad has truly overcome the speed and streaming problems users have complained about in the past. In my books it’s become the greatest VPN on the market, no compromises. You won’t see their logo on a goalkeeper’s back anytime soon, but as a Mullvad user you can be sure you’re getting the best.