VPN review
Mullvad review
Mullvad offers a flat EUR 5 monthly top-up, 5 registered devices and WireGuard apps, with split tunneling on selected platforms.
By VPNTrends · Updated 2026-10-21
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Our assessment
Mullvad at a glance
Mullvad offers a flat EUR 5 monthly top-up, 5 registered devices and WireGuard apps, with split tunneling on selected platforms.
Key capabilities
Mullvad offers a flat EUR 5 monthly top-up, 5 registered devices and WireGuard apps, with split tunneling on selected platforms.
Limitations to check
Mullvad sells prepaid account time at EUR 5 per month including VAT. It is not a discounted introductory subscription. Displayed equivalents in other currencies are illustrations, not verified fixed charges. No automatic renewal amount is assumed.
See platform support ↓
Account numbers and a focused privacy model
Mullvad uses an account number rather than asking you to create an email-and-password identity. Keep that number safe: it is the credential that connects your devices to the time you have purchased. A simpler account does not remove the need to protect your own device or the accounts you use through the connection.
Its stated no-logging policy concerns VPN activity. That is a different question from whether a website recognises your signed-in account or browser. Judge the VPN as a network privacy tool, alongside browser and account settings, rather than as a promise that every online action becomes anonymous.
Five registered devices, with platform differences
The five-device allowance is a registration limit, not permission to install the app on an unlimited collection of devices and connect any five. If the account already holds five devices, adding another means removing an existing entry. Count laptops, phones and tablets before deciding whether one account fits your setup.
Mullvad supplies desktop and mobile applications, but controls vary. The desktop guide distinguishes protection during a failed connection from Lockdown mode, which also blocks traffic while intentionally disconnected. Check how your actual operating system handles these settings instead of assuming every mobile app exposes the same firewall controls.
WireGuard replaces older OpenVPN configurations
Mullvad ended OpenVPN support on 15 January 2026. This matters when following older router tutorials or reusing saved configuration files: an old OpenVPN profile is not a current route into the service. A router must support a suitable WireGuard client and the configuration you intend to install.
Split tunneling lets selected applications bypass the tunnel on Windows, macOS, Linux and Android. Mullvad does not provide inverse split tunneling in its app, where only a small selection of apps would use the VPN. Excluded traffic also needs its own privacy assessment; an exclusion deliberately changes which path that traffic takes.
Flat-rate account time instead of an introductory deal
The direct price is EUR 5 for one month of account time, including VAT. It is a prepaid top-up, so the low monthly headline is not dependent on purchasing a multi-year introductory contract. The site also displays currency equivalents, which should not be read as fixed USD charges.
Buying more time does not create an advertised annual discount at the standard rate. Compare the amount you want to commit today, and check payment-specific conditions separately. A reseller voucher or cryptocurrency discount can have different terms from the standard website price; this review does not combine those offers into one fictional subscription.
Who should consider Mullvad?
Mullvad is worth considering when straightforward account time and a WireGuard-based setup matter more than a large subscription bundle. Its shared exit addresses are unsuitable when a workflow explicitly requires an address dedicated to you. Mullvad also does not provide port forwarding, so do not plan an incoming service around that missing feature.
Before buying, confirm the required locations and test your usual applications on your own network. This review assesses documented capabilities and billing, not measured speed, streaming access or reconnect reliability. The useful decision is whether its device model, protocol choice and routing controls match your everyday requirements.
Plans, first payment and renewal
Introductory offers and renewals are different billing periods. Compare the actual charge and included months, not only an advertised monthly equivalent.
| Plan | First payment | Monthly equivalent | Renewal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mullvad VPN — 1 month top-up | EUR 5.00First 1 months | EUR 5.00Introductory equivalent | No automatic renewalManual top-up |
Mullvad sells prepaid account time at EUR 5 per month including VAT. It is not a discounted introductory subscription. Displayed equivalents in other currencies are illustrations, not verified fixed charges. No automatic renewal amount is assumed.
Features and platform support
Support can differ between apps and operating systems. Platform coverage and limitations are shown below.
- Windows
Official Mullvad VPN app available for windows.
- macOS
Official Mullvad VPN app available for macos.
- Linux
Official Mullvad VPN app available for linux.
- iOS
Official Mullvad VPN app available for ios.
- Android
Official Mullvad VPN app available for android.
- WireGuard / WireGuard-based protocol
WireGuard is used by current Mullvad applications; configuration files are also available.
Verified platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android.- OpenVPN
Mullvad removed OpenVPN service on 15 January 2026; old OpenVPN setup articles do not establish current support.
- Kill switch
Desktop app blocks traffic during connection failure. Lockdown mode additionally blocks traffic while disconnected; these are distinct controls. Mobile kill-switch equivalence is not established here.
Verified platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux.- Router support
Use a compatible router with a WireGuard client; stock ISP-router support is not assumed.
- Split tunneling
App exclusions on Windows, macOS, Linux and Android; inverse split tunneling is not provided by the Mullvad app.
Verified platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android.- Dedicated IP available
Mullvad uses shared exit IP addresses and does not offer dedicated IP addresses.
Questions about Mullvad
How many devices can connect simultaneously?
5 registered devices per account; remove an existing device before adding a sixth.
Is the introductory monthly equivalent the renewal price?
No. It divides the exact first payment by its initial service period. Renewal is shown separately with its own charge and period; an unknown renewal is never inferred from the introductory offer.
Does a supported platform include every feature?
No. Protocols, split tunneling and kill switches can have different platform support. Use the feature descriptions above to check the app you intend to use.
Does Mullvad still support OpenVPN?
No. Mullvad removed OpenVPN support on 15 January 2026. Use its current WireGuard applications or a compatible WireGuard configuration.
Is Mullvad a discounted annual subscription?
No. The standard direct price is EUR 5 per month of prepaid account time, including VAT. Paying for a longer period does not change that standard monthly rate.
Before you choose
Regional offers, taxes and purchase channels can change the amount billed. Paid add-ons are identified separately, and unavailable pricing remains marked as not verified.
We have not conducted hands-on speed, streaming or app tests for this review. No numerical ratings or test badges are assigned.