Mullvad vs NordVPN: Detailed Comparison in 2025

By Arthur Sabayi

Last update: May 10, 2025

Quick Summary: Mullvad vs NordVPN

Quick Summary: Mullvad vs NordVPN

The main differences between NordVPN and Mullvad VPN are that NordVPN provides faster speeds, cheaper long-term plans, greater device compatibility and a bigger server network. However, Mullvad offers true account anonymity (you can even pay in cash) and the cheapest monthly plan pricing, costing a flat rate of 5 euros ($5.46) per month.

Overall Rating 9.3 / 10

Visit NordVPN

Try NordVPN with its 30-day money-back guarantee.

Pitting Mullvad VPN vs NordVPN in a head-to-head matchup means comparing two of the best virtual private network (VPN) services. Both can handle basic VPN functions like encryption for protection and anonymity through reliable privacy. You can reliably unblock geo-restricted content with either service, but they differ in many aspects.

For starters, NordVPN offers faster connection speeds and a bigger server network. NordVPN also supports up to 10 simultaneous device connections, which makes it better for families. Mullvad holds its ground in privacy, pricing and the ability to unblock restricted content.

This detailed NordVPN vs Mullvad VPN comparison will explore all the similarities and differences that define these two services. See which service comes out on top across key categories like security, privacy, streaming, torrenting and more.

1. 

   Overall Rating 9.3 / 10

   Visit NordVPN
   Money-Back Guarantee

   30 Days

   Worldwide Server Amount

   Over 5,400+ servers in 59 countries
2. 

   Overall Rating 8.4 / 10

   Visit Mullvad
   Money-Back Guarantee

   30 Days

   Worldwide Server Amount

   Over 760 servers in 63 countries

Mullvad vs NordVPN: Comparison at a Glance

Here’s a quick summary of the winners for each key category in this Mullvad vs NordVPN review.

My Expert Opinion: Is Mullvad or NordVPN Better?

NordVPN either outperformed or tied Mullvad in seven of the nine categories that I tested. I got better speeds with NordVPN, which made it better for streaming and torrenting. NordVPN also has a greater number of server locations in more countries than Mullvad, giving you more options for unblocking restricted content.

Both VPNs have RAM-only servers and zero-logs policies audited by independent bodies. NordVPN has been audited five times, while Mullvad VPN has been audited once. Plus both NordVPN and Mullvad offer post-quantum encryption.

That said, Mullvad managed to unblock all my benchmark streaming sites and passed my encryption tests with ease. 

It also packs some unique features like Defense Against AI-Guided Traffic Analysis (DAITA), which prevents AI from analyzing encrypted traffic. There’s also server IP override to bypass VPN blocks and provide obfuscation. Plus, Mullvad VPN offers full anonymity in account creation, even allowing users to pay by cash — costing a flat fee of 5 euros ($5.46) per month.

I Recommend Mullvad For:

• One-time subscribers: Mullvad has a standard price of $5.46 per month, making it one of the cheapest monthly VPNs.
• Beginners: While it doesn’t offer the same range of device compatibility as NordVPN, the Mullvad VPN apps for desktop and mobile are user-friendly and ideal for first-time VPN users.
• Full anonymity: Mullvad VPN creates numbered, anonymous accounts for users, and signing up doesn’t require a username, password or email address. You can even pay by cash. Learn more about that in our Mullvad VPN review.

1. $5.40 per month (one-month plan)
   

   Overall Rating 8.4 / 10

   Visit Mullvad
   Try Mullvad VPN for a flat monthly fee of $5.46; it offers a 14-day money-back guarantee.

I Recommend NordVPN For:

• Fast speeds: NordVPN is ideal for activities that require fast speeds like streaming, gaming and torrenting.
• Wide server network: NordVPN offers 153 server locations in 118 countries.
• Multiple devices: NordVPN is compatible with a wider range of devices, making it ideal to protect up to 10 devices you use to access the internet. You can read more about it in our NordVPN review.

1. $3.09 per month (two-year plan + three months)
   

   Overall Rating 9.3 / 10

   Visit NordVPN
   Save money with NordVPN’s two-year plan, which comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Pricing and Subscription Plans

When choosing a VPN, consider the affordability of long-term plans and the length of the money-back guarantee. I explored Mullvad and NordVPN to see how their prices compare.

Mullvad VPN Pricing 

Mullvad VPN has an unconventional pricing model compared to NordVPN and most other VPN alternatives. Every plan has a fixed price of 5 euros ($5.46) per month. When you load your account with enough funds, Mullvad simply deducts the monthly charge until it runs out, much like a parking fee meter.

Mullvad offers a 14-day money-back guarantee for all payment methods except subscriptions paid through cash or crypto. Mullvad used to have a 30-day refund period, but the company reduced this to 14 days in January 2025.

NordVPN Pricing 

NordVPN has four price tiers: Basic, Plus, Complete and Prime. The Basic plan is the cheapest — and has the fewest features — and comes in three durations. You’ll get the best offer with the 24-month plan that goes for $3.09 per month. This is followed by a 12-month plan that costs $4.99 per month.

These two plans are cheaper than Mullvad, but the monthly option is more costly at $12.99. NordVPN comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Cost vs Value

Mullvad VPN has cheaper monthly pricing, and both have nearly the same pricing for 12 months. However, if you’re ready to commit to two years of NordVPN, you’ll find big savings.

Using Mullvad for two years will cost you $131.04, while NordVPN will cost you $83.43 over the same period. However, note that many of NordVPN’s features are held behind higher-priced tiers; NordVPN’s two-year Plus plan costs $107.73.

Ultimately, this is a tie. You can save more if you sign up with NordVPN’s two-year plan, but having the stable, flat rate from Mullvad offers flexibility. Plus, Mullvad’s one-month rate is the cheapest you’ll find from a reliable provider.

1. Tie
   

   Overall Rating 8.4 / 10

   Visit Mullvad
2. 

   Overall Rating 9.3 / 10

   Visit NordVPN

OS Support: VPN Apps and Usability

The more devices a VPN supports, the greater its flexibility and convenience. Mullvad is compatible with the following devices.

• Windows: 10 and later (64-bit only)
• macOS: Ventura 13 and later
• Linux: Ubuntu, Debian and Fedora
• iOS: Version 15.0 and later 
• Android: Version 8.0 and later
• Browsers: Mullvad browser, Firefox
• Routers: Manual setup on OpenWRT, DD-WRT, Asus Merlin, pfSense and more

You can connect up to five devices simultaneously on a single Mullvad VPN account.

NordVPN is compatible with a wider range of platforms. You can install it on the following devices.

• Windows: 7, 8.1, 10 and 11
• Linux: Debian, Ubuntu and Elementary OS
• macOS: macOS 11 Big Sur and later
• Android: 9.0 and later
• iOS: 15.0 and later
• iPadOS: 15.0 and later
• Browsers: Edge, Firefox, Chrome
• Apple TV: tvOS 17.0 and later
• Android TV
• Routers: Privacy Hero II WiFi 6 NordLynx Router, Asus WiFi 6 OpenVPN Router and more

In addition, NordVPN allows you to connect up to 10 simultaneous devices through a single account.

1. Winner
   

   Overall Rating 9.3 / 10

   Visit NordVPN
   NordVPN wins this category for being compatible with more devices and for supporting twice as many simultaneous devices.

VPN Server Network

Mullvad VPN has 87 server locations in 49 countries, and none of them are virtual servers. Most of these are concentrated in Europe and North America, which account for a combined total of 66 server locations. Africa, the Middle East and Oceania have only nine server locations spread across six countries.

NordVPN’s server network is much larger than Mullvad’s, spanning 153 server locations across 118 countries. This includes 58 virtual servers in locations, like Pakistan or India, which might ban VPNs or require cooperation with the local government. The table below shows NordVPN’s server distribution around the globe.

Specialty Servers

Mullvad and NordVPN are both equipped with different types of specialty servers designed for specific use cases like torrenting, streaming or bypassing VPN blocks. Mullvad has multi-hop servers (double VPN) that route your traffic through two servers. This makes it even harder for anyone to trace your online connections.

NordVPN has multiple types of specialty servers. Its double VPN works similarly to Mullvad’s multi-hop servers. You can use obfuscated servers to bypass VPN blocks on networks and in regions that censor VPNs.

NordVPN also comes with P2P servers for torrenting and Onion over VPN servers that combine the Tor browser’s privacy with VPN security. Finally, dedicated IP servers let you connect to the VPN with the same IP address every time, making it easier to host remote servers and avoid the bad neighbor effect.

1. Winner
   

   Overall Rating 9.3 / 10

   Visit NordVPN
   NordVPN has a bigger server network and offers more specialty servers, so it wins this round.

Speed Performance

Since your traffic is encrypted and routed through long-distance servers, a VPN may reduce your speeds. I tested both VPNs to determine which was the fastest, and the results weren’t far from expectations.

Mullvad VPN Speed Test Results

Mullvad VPN averaged 43.24 Mbps download speeds against our unprotected speeds of 60 Mbps. This was a 27.9% speed drop. I experienced lags when playing Fortnite on my Windows PC. Additionally, there was noticeable buffering when streaming 4K content, and I had to adjust down to HD to enjoy my movie without interruptions.

NordVPN Speed Test Results

NordVPN averaged 53.39 Mbps download speeds on our unprotected 60 Mbps network. This was an 11.1% speed drop, making it faster than Mullvad VPN. There were no lags when playing video games, and all the 4K shows and movies I streamed were smooth from start to finish.

Torrenting Speed Comparison

I chose the fastest servers from each VPN and conducted torrenting speed tests using a 500 Mbps torrent file. Mullvad averaged torrenting speeds of 1.29 Mbps, and the file took about 6 minutes and 30 seconds to download.

While torrenting with NordVPN, I averaged 2.15 Mbps when downloading the same file. It completed the download in about 3 minutes and 50 seconds, which was over two and a half minutes faster than Mullvad.

1. Winner
   

   Overall Rating 9.3 / 10

   Visit NordVPN
   NordVPN wins this round for outperforming Mullvad on both the speed and torrenting tests.

Privacy

Privacy governs how services like Mullvad VPN and NordVPN handle your data when it’s routed through their servers. A no-logs policy maintains your anonymity by ensuring that your browsing history, connection timestamps and the servers you connect to are never stored. 

Mullvad observes a strict zero-logging policy and runs on RAM-only servers, which are periodically wiped to ensure no data falls into the wrong hands. Mullvad’s privacy policy has also been audited once, and no signs of logging or data leaks were found. 

NordVPN also follows a no-logs policy and uses RAM-only servers. The NordVPN privacy policy has been audited five times: PWC conducted audits in 2018 and 2020, followed by Deloitte in 2022, 2023 and 2024. None of these audits found anything amis.

Mullvad’s Anonymous Accounts

What makes Mullvad perfect for privacy is its anonymous signup. Instead of emails, usernames and passwords, Mullvad randomly generates account numbers that you input when signing in. This reduces the risk of your credentials falling into the wrong hands. 

You can also make cash payments, though you won’t be able to get a refund due to anti-money-laundering laws. Additionally, Mullvad doesn’t use trackers for marketing purposes. 

1. Winner
   

   Overall Rating 8.4 / 10

   Visit Mullvad
   Though both VPNs have strong privacy standards, with audited no-log policies and RAM-only servers, Mullvad has the upper hand in privacy with its anonymous account creation.

Security

Mullvad VPN and NordVPN provide security through encrypted VPN protocols. Here’s a quick summary of the encryption types and protocols available for Mullvad and NordVPN.

Mullvad and NordVPN use AES-256 and ChaCha20, two of the best encryption ciphers available today. Mullvad delivers encryption through the WireGuard and OpenVPN protocols, while NordVPN uses NordLynx, NordWhisper and OpenVPN.

I tested both VPNs with Wireshark, and you can view side-by-side screenshots of the results below. The random numbers, symbols and text are the scrambled details of my online traffic. This is what anyone who might intercept my encrypted traffic would see — proof that encryption works on both Mullvad VPN and NordVPN.

Both Mullvad and NordVPN offer post-quantum encryption, which deals with quantum threats. Mullvad VPN introduced this back in 2017, expanding it to WireGuard in 2022. For NordVPN, this feature was introduced in early 2025, and it is still in its early stages; it is currently available on Linux, Windows, Android, iOS, tvOS and Android TV.

Mullvad Advanced Security Features

Mullvad VPN and NordVPN have extra security features to make your connections more secure. Mullvad’s Defense Against AI-Guided Traffic Analysis (DAITA) feature hides patterns in your encrypted VPN traffic, making it harder for AI tech to analyze your data packets and find a weakness. You can activate or deactivate DAITA in the app settings.

Mullvad also has DNS content blockers that limit pop-up ads, trackers, malware and adult content sites. You can also use it to block gambling and social media sites on your network to prevent children from accessing them.

Mullvad users also get two kill switches — a regular kill switch that disables your internet when the VPN connection drops, as well as the lockdown mode. Once activated, lockdown mode prevents you from accessing the internet until you connect to a Mullvad VPN server.

The last notable Mullvad security feature is the server IP override. This allows you to circumvent networks that censor VPNs. Unlike NordVPN’s obfuscated servers, where you just tap to connect, you must import and install a file provided by Mullvad to override the blocked IP addresses.

NordVPN Advanced Security Features

NordVPN also has a kill switch to prevent your IP from being exposed if your VPN connection drops. The Windows version comes with two kill switches: an internet kill switch that disables the internet when the VPN connection is interrupted, and an app kill switch that quits selected apps only.

Furthermore, NordVPN can block ads, trackers and malware through a feature called Threat Protection Pro, available starting on the Plus plan. It also provides users with a data breach scanner (Plus and above) that checks for leaked passwords, credit card numbers and email addresses. 

On the Prime plan, you also get the dark web monitor, which alerts you when your information has appeared on the dark web.

Ultimately, this round is a tie, as well. Both VPNs have very strong, post-quantum encryption, plus important security features.

1. Tie
   

   Overall Rating 8.4 / 10

   Visit Mullvad
2. 

   Overall Rating 9.3 / 10

   Visit NordVPN

Other VPN Features

Beyond the security features, a few extra features enhance NordVPN and Mullvad’s functionality. First is split tunneling that lets you choose which apps and websites to route through the VPN and which to leave out. This can potentially increase your VPN speeds for non-encrypted activities.

NordVPN has split tunneling on Android, Windows and Android TV, while Mullvad offers it on Windows, Linux, macOS and Android. 

NordVPN is also equipped with Meshnet; It functions like a secure LAN, connecting remote devices through a P2P network combined with the NordLynx protocol. Meshnet is available for free on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS.

1. Winner
   

   Overall Rating 9.3 / 10

   Visit NordVPN
   NordVPN takes this category because it has a wider range of helpful extra features compared to Mullvad.

Streaming Capabilities

I tested the unblocking capabilities of both VPNs using major streaming services and various server locations. Mullvad and NordVPN got Netflix unblocked without any issues, along with all the other platforms I tested. However, streaming was smoother on NordVPN due to its faster internet connection speeds.

1. Winner
   

   Overall Rating 9.3 / 10

   Visit NordVPN
   Both Mullvad and NordVPN successfully unblocked each streaming service. However, NordVPN had faster speeds, which made the streaming experience better.

Customer Support

Mullvad has a help center that offers a direct email for contacting customer support. Responses can take up to 48 hours. Mullvad VPN also provides FAQs and guides but has no live chat option.

NordVPN offers live chat support that runs all day and night with quick responses. It also has an email option that may take longer than live chat but still works. You can also use NordVPN’s support center, which has sections for FAQs, general information, billing information and troubleshooting guides.

1. Winner
   

   Overall Rating 9.3 / 10

   Visit NordVPN
   NordVPN is the winner due to its live chat and wide range of methods to contact support.

Conclusion: Why I Think NordVPN Wins Overall

NordVPN wins this Mullvad vs NordVPN contest because it is slightly better in almost every category. It offers the best speeds, more features and is compatible with more devices. NordVPN is also cheaper in the long term and has a bigger server network. 

Mullvad VPN is a top-quality VPN, though. It offers solid security, has cheap monthly plans and can unblock major geo-restricted streaming sites. It excels in privacy, allowing fully anonymous account creation. However, it simply doesn’t hold up to NordVPN in this head-to-head match.

Do you agree with my assessment, or do you have a different opinion? Have you used either of these two services? Tell me what you think in the comments below, and keep reading Privacy Journal for more informative VPN comparisons.

1. Winner, NordVPN vs Mullvad VPN
   

   Overall Rating 9.3 / 10

   Visit NordVPN
   Try NordVPN with its 30-day money-back guarantee.

Methodology: How I Compared Mullvad and NordVPN

Here’s how I reached my best analysis in this Mullvad vs NordVPN review.

• Pricing and Value: I compared the short- and long-term plans that each VPN provider offers, and then I explored their money-back guarantees. This helped me determine which service was more cost-effective.
• OS Support With Desktop and Mobile VPN Apps: I investigated the range of devices that each VPN supports and paid special attention to commonly used devices like PCs and smartphones. In addition, I considered routers, consoles and smart TVs.
• VPN Servers: I counted the number of server locations and countries that each VPN offers. I also looked at the availability of virtual servers and specialty servers.
• Speed Performance: I tested the speeds of both VPNs using seven servers from seven continents. After that, I averaged the speed results and measured them against my unprotected speeds to determine how sharply each VPN caused my speeds to drop.
• Streaming Performance: Streaming performance is closely tied to speed. I tested how fast each VPN could unblock geo-restricted streaming services and how well they could handle streaming without buffering.
• Privacy and Security: For this category, I checked for RAM-only servers and independent privacy audits. I also ran encryption tests for both VPNs to see if they scramble traffic data as they claim.
• Advanced Features: I looked for the presence of advanced features other than standard encryption, and I investigated how each feature aids functionality.
• Customer Support: Lastly, I checked out the available avenues for contacting customer support, with a special focus on live chat. 

Other VPN Alternatives I Like

NordVPN and Mullvad VPN aren’t the only VPN services around. Here are a few alternatives you can try.

1. $2.19 per month (two-year plan + three months)
   

   Overall Rating 9.2 / 10

   Visit Surfshark
   Unlimited Simultaneous Connections

You can connect an unlimited number of devices with Surfshark, and it has one of the most affordable long-term plans. Find out more in this Surfshark review.

1. $2.19 per month (two-year plan + two months)
   

   Overall Rating 7.5 / 10

   Visit CyberGhost
   Large Server Network

You can unblock restricted content from anywhere in the world using CyberGhost. This VPN service also offers reliable security and privacy. You can read more on that in this CyberGhost review.

1. Free or $1.11 per month (two-year plan + three months)
   

   Overall Rating 8.4 / 10

   PrivadoVPN
   Best Free VPN

With PrivadoVPN, you get a free service that offers 13 server locations, unlimited data (though speeds cap after 10GB) and reliable encryption. The premium version is also one of the most affordable. Read our Best Free VPN guide for more details.

FAQ: Mullvad VPN vs NordVPN

• Is NordVPN or Mullvad Better?

  NordVPN is better than Mullvad. It’s f aster, has a bigger server network, offers more affordable long-term plans and supports more devices than Mullvad VPN. However, Mullvad is a trustworthy VPN option.

• What Is the Mullvad Controversy?

  The Mullvad controversy refers to a raid on Mullvad’s office by the Swedish police in 2023, who seized computers with customer data. Nothing was found on those computers, highlighting the strength of Mullvad’s privacy standards.

• Does Mullvad Work With Netflix?

  Yes, Mullvad VPN works with Netflix. You can unblock restricted Netflix libraries from anywhere in the world.

• Is Mullvad a Good VPN?

  Yes, Mullvad is a good VPN. It is secure, has decent privacy and can unblock restricted content. It also offers decent speeds and is compatible with multiple devices.