Affiliate disclosure: We may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page. That does not change the verification notes below. Always confirm price and terms on Mullvad’s checkout.
Mullvad Review 2026
Account-number privacy, no streaming pitch, and what to verify yourself
Reviewed September 2026 · Pricing checked September 2, 2026 · StatesVPN editorial
Quick verdict
A leading choice for privacy-focused users. Requires no email to sign up and accepts cash. <strong>Note:</strong> It does not support streaming platforms.
Best for: people who want the least account data, a posted price, and a VPN that is not trying to sell them streaming.
Skip if: you need Netflix / Hulu / Disney+ through a VPN, recurring billing, or a hand-holding travel app (compare Nord / Express / Surfshark).
| Check | What we know | What you should do |
|---|---|---|
| US speed / latency | No in-house lab figure published here | Median of 3 runs on your ISP after you add account time |
| DNS / WebRTC leak | Use our free on-site tools after connect | DNS · WebRTC |
| Streaming | Provider is not positioned as a streaming VPN | Do not buy Mullvad for US catalog access |
| Account data | Provider documents a 16-digit account number; no email required | Confirm current signup and payment options on Mullvad’s site |
| Refund / time | No recurring subscription; you add time manually | Start with a short increment, then decide |
How we tested
This is the method we use for first-party Mullvad checks. The first named run is not published yet— the results table and screenshot slots below stay empty until we have a dated city/ISP record. We are not claiming completed speed, leak, or streaming lab results on this page.
| Method item | This page |
|---|---|
| Named date, city, ISP | Pending — first-party run in progress |
| VPN off baseline vs connected | Same machine and ISP; connect, then repeat the same checks (WireGuard if that is the app default on the test device) |
| IP / DNS / WebRTC | What Is My IP · DNS leak · WebRTC |
| Speed | 3 runs each; report the median. No Mbps on this page until that run exists. |
| Streaming | Dated pass/fail notes only when we have them — not a blanket “works” claim. |
You can copy this method during the refund window on your own ISP. When we publish the first Mullvad run, the named date and figures will appear in the table and slots below.
First-party results
Empty on purpose. Mullvad login for a dated StatesVPN run is not available yet, so this table does not invent Mbps, leak pass/fail, or streaming outcomes.
| Check | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Test date / city / ISP | Pending — first-party run in progress | Named run not published yet |
| IP (VPN off vs connected) | Pending — first-party run in progress | On-site What Is My IP |
| DNS leak | Pending — first-party run in progress | On-site DNS leak tool |
| WebRTC leak | Pending — first-party run in progress | On-site WebRTC tool |
| Speed, VPN off (3-run median) | Pending — first-party run in progress | No Mbps published yet |
| Speed, connected (3-run median) | Pending — first-party run in progress | No Mbps published yet |
| Streaming notes | Pending — first-party run in progress | Pass/fail only when dated |
First-party screenshots
Empty slots stay empty until dated screenshots are added. No stock or invented images.
Screenshot pending
Screenshot pending
Screenshot pending
Screenshot pending
Screenshot pending
Screenshot pending
How we tested this page
- Public materials: Feature lists, apps, and privacy claims are summarized from Mullvad documentation and linked public reports.
- Pricing check: Intro long-term USD rates last verified September 2, 2026. Confirm total due today and renewal price at checkout.
- Self-test window: Use the provider refund period plus our free IP, DNS leak, and WebRTC tools on your own network.
First-party tests appear on this review when dated results are published. Until then, treat this section as a public-source verification note. We do not invent speed or malware benchmarks, and we do not certify provider infrastructure. Full editorial policy.
Pricing (verify before you buy)
Mullvad is known for a simple posted price and no aggressive upsell carousel. We are not listing an invented USD/month here because it is not in our verified intro-catalog table. Confirm the current amount and payment methods (including cash-by-mail) on Mullvad’s site as of your purchase date — last catalog pass on this site was September 2, 2026.
Practical tip: add a short block of time first. There is no multi-year “gotcha” renewal in the usual sense, but you still have to remember to top up.
Apps and daily US use
The app is intentionally sparse: account number, location list, connect. Check kill switch and split tunneling on your OS. If you want a map and a streaming profile picker, this is the wrong product.
- Signup: A random account number instead of an email login. Store that number the way you would store a recovery code.
- Payments: Provider documents several low-identity options, including cash. Confirm the current list before you rely on one.
- Kill switch: Confirm system-wide vs app-level behavior, then disconnect mid-session on your OS.
Speed and stability
We are not publishing invented Mbps numbers. WireGuard is the protocol Mullvad documents as the everyday default. Method we will use on the first named run:
- 3 runs each, report the median
- Baseline = VPN off; then WireGuard on a nearby US city plus one cross-country US city
- Confirm your exit IP with What Is My IP
When we publish first-party medians from a named city/ISP, they will appear in the first-party results table and the update log below.
Streaming and travel
Do not buy this to access streaming platforms. It is purely for secure browsing and enhanced privacy.
Treat streaming as out of scope. If you need home-catalog access while traveling, pick a provider that actually markets that and still test it yourself. Mullvad is for encrypted browsing and minimizing account data.
Privacy and trust
What you can test here: IP change, DNS leak, and WebRTC leak via our tools after connect. Those slots are reserved above for a dated Mullvad run.
What we only review from public materials: Swedish jurisdiction, published audits, and the account-number model. Read the current Mullvad privacy policy and any audit they link — note the date and scope. We do not certify no-logs infrastructure.
Who should pick Mullvad vs alternatives
- Choose Mullvad if account-data minimization is the point.
- Choose Proton VPN if you want a similar privacy posture plus a free tier / Secure Core option — see Mullvad vs Proton VPN.
- Choose NordVPN if you want streaming convenience and a polished app — see NordVPN vs Mullvad.
Editorial fit notes
- PerformanceWireGuard reputation is public-source; no in-house Mbps here yet
- Travel and streamingNot a streaming product — do not buy it for Netflix
- Privacy materialsAccount-number signup + published audits; still read the current policy
- Ease of useMinimal UI; no hand-holding and no recurring-bill convenience
- ValueSimple posted price — confirm current EUR/USD on Mullvad’s site
Editorial summary from public-source research — not a lab score.
FAQ
Can I use Mullvad for Netflix?
Do not buy it for that. Mullvad is not positioned as a streaming VPN. If catalog access is the job, pick a different provider and still test it yourself.
Does Mullvad slow my connection?
Overhead depends on your ISP and server choice. Run your own median tests. Our first-party medians will land in the results table when we have a named run.
Is there a money-back window?
Mullvad sells time, not a typical intro/renewal subscription. Confirm current payment and refund language on their site, and start with a short increment.
Update log
- September 7, 2026 — Structural prep for first-party Mullvad tests: methodology section, screenshot slots, and a pending results table. No lab numbers published.
- September 2, 2026 — Review rewritten as a verification checklist (no invented speed/streaming pass claims).
- Pending — First-party speed medians, leak screenshots, and dated notes from a named US city/ISP.