Many cybersecurity experts deem Mullvad the most secure VPN because of its business practices we’ll discuss later. However, even more people swear by NordVPN and its unrelenting privacy, security, speed, and compatibility. Therefore, choosing between NordVPN or Mullvad is incredibly difficult if you value these aspects.
Today’s Mullvad vs NordVPN comparison will pin the two providers against each other. The goal is to make your selection easier and explain what exactly is better in one provider over another. Today’s repertoire houses several important tests and comparisons.
We’ll review their compatibility, ease of use, security, privacy, streaming, and other aspects. Ultimately, we’ll calculate the score, see who wins, and base our advice on that. Let’s make haste and initiate our NordVPN vs Mullvad 2026 comparison right away.
Mullvad vs NordVPN: All You Need To Know
NordVPN has proven to be the better choice against Mullvad VPN by a noticeable margin, making it a superior option for most people. The table below compares some of their most important features to help you choose the VPN that fits your needs, if you prefer a quick overview:
| Mullvad | NordVPN | |
| Our Current Ranking | #8 | #1 |
| Prices | Starting at $5.43/mo | Starting at $2.99/mo |
| Money-Back Guarantee | 30 Days | 30 Days |
| Free Version/Free Trial | No | 7-Day Free Trial on Android |
| Logging | No | No |
| Protocols | OpenVPN, WireGuard | OpenVPN, NordLynx |
| Servers | 690 in 47 countries | 6,400+ in 111 countries |
| Specialty Servers | No | Double VPN, Obfuscated, P2P, Onion Over VPN, Dedicated IP |
| RAM-Only Servers | Yes | Yes |
| Working With Netflix | Yes (1-3 catalogs) | Yes (20+ catalogs) |
| P2P Allowance | Yes | Yes |
| Simultaneous Connections | 5 | 10 |
Applications & Ease of Use
To start the NordVPN vs Mullvad analysis, we’ll review their compatibility and ease of use. The former is on NordVPN’s side, as the provider offers apps for all devices. By that, we mean not only desktop and mobile but also devices like your Smart TV, Fire TV, Apple TV, Nvidia Shield TV, etc.
NordVPN’s compatibility extends to routers as well, and in our book, it’s the top VPN to install on any router. Of course, there are browser extensions that will let you spoof your location, prevent WebRTC leaks, and as such, unblock even streaming services.
Mullvad’s compatibility is on the short end of the stick. You get apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android, along with the Mullvad Browser for Windows. No Firestick, Apple TV, and other devices on the list. Ease of use is excellent in both – look at Mullvad VPN.
Mullvad looks identical no matter the platform you’re on. The app is small, lightweight, and easy to navigate. We’ll just mention its Settings menu where things are a bit crammed in and not the most intuitive. Yet, the app is snappy, quick, and connects instantaneously.
NordVPN looks more lavish, with the huge world map and ample options to play around with. The server list on the left lets you connect in seconds, while Settings house features like protocol selection, a kill switch, and split tunneling that we explained recently.
Finally, simultaneous connections. NordVPN has 10, with Mullvad offering only 5, making the former a better option. In fact, NordVPN wins the first round because of its superior compatibility, more concurrent connections, and, at least for us, better ease of use.
Try NordVPN’s Apps on Your Devices
Mullvad vs NordVPN Price Comparison
Moving on with our NordVPN vs Mullvad duel, let’s discuss their prices. Both providers are considered affordable in 2026 but ultimately, one will emerge as the cheaper; let’s see who.
Mullvad Price Analysis
Mullvad has one of the simplest pricing structures. It has a flat fee of €5 a month, which translates to $5.43 a month if you’re in the US, A$8.11 in Australia, CA$7.47 in Canada, and £4.18 in the UK. There are no commitments here; instead, you add time to your account.
After you generate the account, you pay $5.43 if you want the VPN for a month. Conversely, you can immediately pay $65.16 for an entire year or twice as much for two years. If you forget to add time to your account, Mullvad simply becomes unavailable until you do so.
On one hand, Mullvad’s price is great for short-term users who use the VPN occasionally. On the other, the flat fee might “hit” long-term users differently. There are no savings if you go long-term with Mullvad, but again, there’s no commitment, giving you a sense of freedom.
Like NordVPN, it still gives you a 30-day money-back guarantee in case you make up your mind. Oh, and one more thing; Mullvad doesn’t use your email to register an account! You generate the account number, add time, and enjoy. This is why it’s a good VPN for privacy.
If you want, you can even buy it by sending physical money directly to Mullvad’s address in Sweden. We haven’t seen that in any other provider.
NordVPN Price Analysis
NordVPN is more flexible than Mullvad, but like any other VPN, it requires commitment.
However, long-term users will prefer NordVPN for its extremely low prices. As you can see, its 2-year plans are discounted by at least 73% and you get 3 extra months. The Basic plan is the cheapest.
It’s around $3 a month, which translates to roughly $80 for 27 months, making Mullvad VPN way more expensive for the same “treatment.” NordVPN’s best-value plan is the Plus one, which still costs modestly considering its addition of Threat Protection and NordPass.
NordVPN also has 1-year plans with at least a 60% discount. These are currently available with 3 free months and cost as low as $4.6, which is still lower than Mullvad. In fact, an equivalent would be the 1-year Plus plan at ~$5.5/mo that still offers way MORE.
Its monthly plans are on the expensive side and not really that popular. NordVPN’s 30-day money-back guarantee is joined by a 7-day free trial through Google Play sign-ups. Mullvad has no free trial AND it’s more expensive, albeit, with the lack of mandatory commitment.
Try NordVPN’s 1-Year Plans Risk-Free
In our book, NordVPN is a clear winner because it’s more affordable than Mullvad VPN. Click the button above to get its exclusive discounts or stay in touch with its current best offerings through our NordVPN coupon that lets you get the latest and greatest discounts.
NordVPN vs Mullvad: Features Analysis
While ExpressVPN is light on features for some of you, we doubt you’ll be left unimpressed with NordVPN and Mullvad. This Mullvad vs NordVPN comparison round will see what both providers offer and determine the winner based on who offers more.
Shared Features
As VPNs are, more or less, the same in their essence, Mullvad and NordVPN share some features; usually the basic ones. Let’s explore them and see how similar these two are.
- 256-bit encryption. We’re glad that both have it because it’s the strongest encryption that prevents data breaches and conserves your privacy.
- Kill Switch. Another great option is to avoid data leaks and exposing your IP address. Both have the option to prevent internet access unless you connect to a VPN as well.
- Split Tunneling. You can exclude certain apps from using a VPN tunnel or only include some of them. This is available in Mullvad and NordVPN’s desktop and mobile apps.
- MultiHop/Double VPN. You can tunnel your traffic through two servers using this feature. MultiHop in Mullvad is slightly more customizable but also way slower. NordVPN’s iteration is faster but comes with pre-determined server pairs.
Unique Features
On paper, these providers aren’t very similar and offer merely a few identical features. There’s more under the hood and the Mullvad vs NordVPN comparison below will attest to that.
Tunneling Protocols
NordVPN and Mullvad VPN have OpenVPN but we deem NordLynx and WireGuard respectively better options. NordVPN’s NordLynx is an improved version of WireGuard, with better speeds, more attention to privacy, and superior, even lighter architecture.
We found it great for streaming or even gaming, as it can be used when you set up the VPN with your Xbox or PlayStation consoles. Now, WireGuard in Mullvad isn’t your run-of-the-mill WireGuard because it allows for certain tweaks. Namely, you can use specific ports.
Even better, you can set up a custom port if you’re more tech-savvy. In WireGuard settings, you can enable something titled Quantum-Resistant tunnel. This technology is seen in PureVPN as well, and it protects you against quantum computer attacks believed to be highly dangerous.
Advanced Protection Features
Both providers have what we call advanced protection, which means they can block ads, trackers, malicious sites, malware, etc. NordVPN’s Threat Protection is superior here, as it provides real-time protection against malicious downloads and vulnerabilities.
It’ll often check apps on your device to ensure they’re invulnerable against online threats. Mullvas has a very handy option to block different types of sites. For example, you can forbid access to social media, adult sites, and gambling sites; handy if you have children.
While NordVPN lists blocked threats, Mullvad just blocks them without listing them. This might make you wonder if the threats are, at all, blocked! Threat Protection in NordVPN works a bit better and is more versatile, as it works on all devices – mobile included.
Just know that Threat Protection isn’t in the Basic plan; you’ll have to get Plus at least.
Secure Your Traffic With NordVPN Threat Protection
Meshnet
Meshnet isn’t a security feature but in a way, it is. It’s NordVPN’s proprietary feature for secure file sharing, remote access, and IP routing. We mentioned it in our comprehensive NordVPN test, where we praised its versatility and ability to do many things.
One of them is routing your connection through another device’s IP address, and by extension, bypassing geo-blocks. Meshnet is FREE and you don’t even need to subscribe to NordVPN! Such a nice feature can’t be found in Mullvad and other popular providers.
So, overall, both providers excel in the security round. Mullvad is slightly more customizable and adaptable to your needs, while NordVPN has more to offer in advanced protection and other non-VPN-related “stuff.” This spawns an expected result – a tie.
Do NordVPN and Mullvad VPN Store Logs?
No, they don’t. These are some of the most impressive providers privacy-wise. Mullvad VPN is very light on logging because it doesn’t even require your email address.
When using Mullvad, it doesn’t store logs of your IP address, DNS queries, bandwidth consumption, location, browsing history, timestamps, etc.
The only bit of data stored on Mullvad’s servers is the number of current connections. This is to enforce the 5-device limit and prevent service abuse. NordVPN stores your email address and billing method, which is necessary to keep your subscription “alive.”
However, everything else is omitted from NordVPN’s logging practices or lack thereof. This means NordVPN doesn’t know what you’re doing online, it has no idea what your original IP address is, and has no clue about your DNS requests. Both providers have RAM-only servers.
We think this is vital because these servers can be wiped clean with each restart, after which, ALL data is lost. This is how Random Access Memory works in your PC, for example. Also, NordVPN and Mullvad use Private DNS servers to prevent DNS leaks.
In terms of audits, both have them. Mullvad was audited by Cure53, while NordVPN has several audits from PwC and Deloitte. The former is based in Sweden, which arguably isn’t the best but NordVPN is in Panama, which is more privacy-friendly as an off-shore region.
These are great instances of no-logging VPNs and we must say we’re impressed with both. This is yet another tie in the NordVPN vs Mullvad VPN comparison, as neither of them stores a speck of identifying logs that could, in any way, shape, or form endanger your privacy.
Which VPN Is Faster: Mullvad or NordVPN?
If you want speedy connections without hiccups, this NordVPN vs Mullvad VPN duel will tell you which provider is more befitting. Below is our internet speed without a VPN. At the time of testing, we were in Belgrade, from where we tested both providers for 3 days in a row.
We also did our tests 3 times a day, using 3 server locations; the UK, the US, and Japan. The protocols were set to “Auto” to allow the VPNs to “think” and select a better option based on the chosen server location. The table below displays the average speed loss percentages, let’s analyze it together:
| Download Speed Loss | Upload Speed Loss | |
| Mullvad | 34% | 7% |
| NordVPN | 18% | 7% |
We can see that the upload speed loss is identical at 7%. However, NordVPN is faster than Mullvad by 16% in download speeds, which is quite a margin. This results in a better experience in streaming, torrenting, gaming, and even basic browsing.
Enjoy NordVPN’s Fastest Speeds
If you’re interested in exact numbers and would like to see how fast both are, examine the table below. Again, you’ll see a stark difference, as NordVPN never went under 220 Mbps and Mullvad dropped its speed to 154 Mbps when using the Japanese server.
| UK (Download/Upload) | US (Download/Upload) | Japan (Download/Upload) | |
| Mullvad | 298.61/18.69 Mbps | 215.32/18.39 Mbps | 154.37/17.80 Mbps |
| NordVPN | 324.25/18.68 Mbps | 292.75/18.31 Mbps | 223.54/17.85 Mbps |
Streaming & Torrenting Comparison
We said that NordVPN is better for P2P and streaming speed-wise. While speed is a huge contributor, it’s not the only because you still need excellent unblocking prowess to access a variety of streaming sites.
How does NordVPN and Mullvad VPN compare?
Streaming
Poorly. NordVPN can unblock more than twenty Netflix libraries while Mullvad can do merely a few. It will work with Netflix US but apart from that, it’s frequently detected and shot down like an intruder. Other streaming platforms produce mixed results too, which is a shame.
While both work with BBC iPlayer, Mullvad struggles with more “hardcore” services like Prime Video, ESPN Plus, and Hulu, all of which are “eager” to detect VPNs. It’s worth noting that NordVPN’s browser extension plays a huge role in unblocking streaming sites.
Its Location Spoofing function helps a lot, as it alters your browser location to match the VPN allocation. Location spoofing is unavailable in Mullvad. Smart DNS in NordVPN also functions wonderfully, especially for US-based streaming services that you can unblock on any device by simply swapping your original DNS with a Smart DNS address.
Torrenting
P2P support is excellent on both Mullvad VPN and NordVPN.
NordVPN has dedicated P2P servers you can use for this purpose but their speed and security are comparable to the other servers on the list. Mullvad doesn’t have dedicated servers but works with torrenting without them.
There’s virtually no difference. We went back and forth using one and then another provider and even the speed was identical. Of course, using a more distant server will put NordVPN at the throne but you never want to use distant locations when doing P2P file sharing.
To maximize speed and stability, switch to closer server locations, which is what we did in this Mullvad vs NordVPN test. So, torrenting is a tie but NordVPN won in the streaming department by a long shot. By extension, NordVPN is a better choice than Mullvad.
Server Locations: Mullvad VPN vs NordVPN
Mullvad was never a giant to begin with, so don’t expect loads of servers; expect server loads instead! At the time of comparing the two:
- Mullvad has around 700 servers in 47 countries
- NordVPN has around 6,400 servers in 111 countries
These numbers aren’t even comparable. Mullvad offers way fewer servers and countries, making it dwindle in comparison. On top of that, NordVPN has excellent variety with:
- P2P servers
- Onion Over VPN servers
- Obfuscated servers
- Dedicated IP addresses
Its dedicated IP addresses are an excellent addition for those hosting gaming/business servers or wanting to get rid of captcha puzzles. NordVPN’s server distribution is phenomenal, overshadowing Mullvad’s rather basic and bland one.
You’ll find NordVPN’s virtual servers in various countries useful. For example, it’s a useful VPN for Indians abroad who want to access their local content because it provides ample Indian IP addresses. In comparison to NordVPN, Mullvad lacks servers in this region.
Bypassing Censorship: Which VPN Does It Better?
Bypassing censorship is crucial in countries like Turkey, Iran, Russia, and most notably – China. Both providers offer obfuscation that allows you to mask your VPN traffic and prevent it from being blocked by the firewall.
So, are these VPNs up to the task? Yes.
In particular, both work in Russia and Turkey, let alone less censored regions like the UAE, Qatar, and a few others. The situation in China is ever-changing, which poses a challenge for many VPNs. Fortunately, NordVPN is happy to accept the challenge and beat it.
NordVPN’s obfuscated servers are great for overcoming the Great Firewall, as proven many times by our testers. We’ve also found that Mullvad will work in China reliably when using WireGuard and turning obfuscation on. This was also mentioned in our Mullvad review.
Very few VPN providers can be compared to NordVPN in this regard, but Mullvad is one of them. They’re also both great VPNs for the UAE, Russia, and Saudi Arabia.
The final comparison round is a tie, so if you need a VPN for this purpose, both will be fine, as long as the other features are up to your liking.
Conclusion: NordVPN Wins Against Mullvad VPN
The final score of 8:3 for NordVPN signals an important message – NordVPN is a better pick overall than Mullvad.
Mullvad held its ground in some of the most crucial aspects, such as security, privacy, and bypassing censorship. Sadly, NordVPN is a better all-arounder, which is why it won.
For instance, streaming is way better with NordVPN and its speeds are 16% faster. NordVPN also offers more servers, better server variety, superior compatibility, and an additional 5 simultaneous connections. All of this comes at a more affordable price – quite important.
This means you’ll pay less and get more unless you prefer Mullvad’s lack of commitment. At the end of the day, we promised earlier to give you advice on which provider to pick. Our team would decide on NordVPN without thinking twice. It’s hard to beat this VPN’s value.