Mullvad VPN is a fan favourite amongst privateness lovers for its emphasis on anonymity and transparency. However, NordVPN constantly ranks as a high VPN possibility for its in depth server community, further safety capabilities and polished software.
With this in thoughts, it might be tough to determine which VPN is greatest on your wants. Luckily, we’ve rounded up all of the vital information and information you want to select which VPN is the correct selection for you and your enterprise.
Let’s dive in and see whether or not Mullvad VPN or NordVPN is the very best match for you.
- Mullvad VPN: Greatest for people who prioritize privateness and absolute anonymity with their private info and shopping information.
- NordVPN: Greatest for many companies, massive or small, that want an all-around VPN with dependable speeds, a strong server community and extensive platform assist.
Mullvad VPN vs NordVPN: Comparability
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Mullvad VPN vs NordVPN: Pricing
Mullvad VPN pricing
Mullvad VPN is the one VPN I’ve tried that has a flat charge for all its contract choices. Other than the same old one-month and one-year subscriptions, Mullvad VPN additionally presents a singular one-decade subscription possibility.
- 1 month: $5.40 monthly.
- 1 yr: $5.40 monthly.
- 1 decade: $5.40 monthly.
If you wish to study extra, learn our full Mullvad VPN evaluate.
Sadly, Mullvad VPN doesn’t supply a free trial of its paid VPN. Whereas it gives clients with a 30-day money-back assure, I hope Mullvad considers providing a free trial on any one in all its VPN shoppers, particularly since different VPNs, like NordVPN, supply free trial entry — even when a few of them are solely via their cellular software.
NordVPN pricing
NordVPN categorizes its paid plans into three tiers: Primary, Plus and Final. NordVPN presents function upgrades as you progress as much as the Final plan, with all three subscription tiers providing a month-to-month, annual and two-year subscription.
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NordVPN has a seven-day free trial via its Android software. Whereas I want Nord gave Apple and desktop customers the identical entry to a free trial, it’s nonetheless lots higher when put next with Mullvad VPN, which doesn’t supply any form of check trial entry. Fortunately, you should utilize NordVPN on desktop after accessing the free trial by way of its Android cellular app.
SEE: NordVPN vs ExpressVPN: Which VPN Is Greatest? (TechRepublic)
Like Mullvad, NordVPN additionally gives a 30-day money-back assure to its clients, permitting them to refund their subscription inside the interval in the event that they discover it isn’t a superb match.
If you wish to study extra, try our full NordVPN evaluate.
Mullvad VPN vs NordVPN: Characteristic comparability
Safety protocols and encryption
Winner: Tie
Each Mullvad VPN and NordVPN include the high-quality safety protocols we would like out of modern-day VPNs. Mullvad VPN makes use of the OpenVPN and WireGuard tunneling protocols. However, NordVPN carries OpenVPN and NordLynx — its in-house VPN protocol based mostly on WireGuard.
I respect how each VPNs don’t sacrifice person flexibility in selecting to incorporate each OpenVPN and WireGuard/NordLynx. With these protocols, companies can simply change between having the robust safety of OpenVPN or the quick speeds of WireGuard/NordLynx when connecting to a VPN server from both supplier.
SEE: Surfshark vs NordVPN: Which VPN Is Higher in 2024? (TechRepublic)
For encryption, I’m glad to see that each Mullvad VPN and NordVPN use the industry-standard AES-256 encryption algorithm. AES encryption is extraordinarily safe, with banks and authorities businesses alike utilizing it to encrypt and shield their information.
With each Mullvad VPN and NordVPN utilizing AES-256, I’m glad to report a tie within the encryption spherical of this match-up.
VPN server community and areas
Winner: NordVPN
For server suites, NordVPN takes the decisive win over Mullvad VPN. As of July 2024, NordVPN has over 6,400+ servers throughout 111 nations in its server community. This covers areas within the Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific, Africa and the Center East.
On the flipside, Mullvad VPN presents 680+ servers from 44 nations and 81 cities. That is considerably smaller than NordVPN and is on the decrease finish in comparison with the typical 2,000–4,000 servers we see in different VPN suppliers as nicely.
The big server pool benefit advantages potential VPN customers who wish to unblock geo-restricted content material present in different nations. Theoretically, this could additionally assist with connection speeds because you’ll have extra choices to decide on servers nearer to your space — diminishing latency and lag.
SEE: 4 Completely different Varieties of VPNs & When to Use Them (TechRepublic)
That being stated, I respect how Mullvad VPN gives an in depth view of its server community on its official web site. It exhibits the accessible servers on its community, its respective suppliers and, extra critically, server possession.
This degree of transparency doesn’t go unnoticed, and I commend Mullvad for not being afraid to reveal which servers they’re renting and which of them they really personal.
Regardless of this, it’s nonetheless clear that NordVPN is the higher selection if your enterprise is on the lookout for a VPN with a various and sturdy server fleet.
Third-party audits and observe document
Winner: Mullvad VPN
Mullvad VPN wins by way of third-party testing and general observe document. With Mullvad’s heavy emphasis on transparency, it has proven a robust dedication to common impartial exams carried out by third-party specialists. In truth, Mullvad’s most up-to-date infrastructure audit end result was revealed on June 28, 2024.
Mullvad VPN has audits on completely different facets of its service relationship again to 2017, all of which can be found on its official web site. It’s also fully open-source, and its supply code is out there for public viewing and evaluate.
SEE: 6 Greatest Nameless (No-Log) VPNs for 2024 (TechRepublic)
One other large indicator of its robust safety is an incident in April 2023, the place Swedish Cops visited Mullvad VPN workplaces on the lookout for buyer information. As a result of Mullvad VPN was a no-logs VPN and really held true to this declare, the cops left its workplaces empty-handed. With this, Mullvad confirmed it isn’t bluffing when it says it doesn’t document any form of buyer info.
That’s to not say NordVPN lacks within the third-party testing division — removed from it. NordVPN has its service usually audited as nicely, with its most up-to-date audit end result revealed in January 2024. It’s additionally closed-source software program, which isn’t essentially a nasty factor.
However in the event you worth third-party testing and staunch firm transparency, I discover Mullvad VPN to have a slight edge over NordVPN.
Efficiency and velocity
Winner: NordVPN
For velocity and real-world efficiency, NordVPN earns the win. Throughout my testing, NordVPN gave me constant and quick speeds with my common workflow as a author. This concerned doing work on Google apps like Docs and Drive; attending on-line video conferences; doing analysis on a number of browser tabs; and streaming the occasional 1080p movies.
It additionally carried out exceptionally nicely with velocity exams, recording solely a 5.80% lower in obtain velocity and a 16.2% drop in add velocity in comparison with my web service supplier.
However, I had a constructive expertise with Mullvad VPN’s servers. I didn’t expertise any severe slowdown whereas doing the identical duties and was pretty impressed with the general reliability of Mullvad VPN’s servers.
SEE: How one can Begin a Profession in Cybersecurity (TechRepublic Premium)
Nevertheless, Mullvad VPN is let down by its velocity check outcomes. For downloads, Mullvad VPN had a 40.8% drop in velocity, whereas it had an 89.8% lower for uploads — a lot bigger deficits in comparison with what NordVPN supplied.
Whereas velocity exams don’t essentially inform the entire story, this may be an indicator that Mullvad may have much less constant outcomes throughout connection-intensive duties. Due to this, NordVPN will get the win for velocity and efficiency.
Standout safety features
Winner: Tie
Whereas NordVPN comes with a big quantity of extra safety features, I believe Mullvad VPN holds its personal with its distinctive, privacy-focused value-adds.
First, Mullvad VPN makes use of a definite nameless account numbering system for all its paid customers. Which means that Mullvad clients don’t want to supply an e mail tackle, password or username to have a Mullvad VPN account — including an additional layer of privateness to the tip customers.
It additionally lets customers pay for a Mullvad VPN subscription by way of nameless fee strategies like money, bodily vouchers or cryptocurrencies. This reduces customers’ digital footprint to a minimal, additional enhancing the nameless shopping expertise we would like with a VPN service.
After all, I can’t low cost the quantity of extra safety features NordVPN contains with its shopper. It has a built-in risk safety system that blocks adverts, malware and trackers. It additionally contains its Meshnet non-public networking system, permitting for safe file sharing and system entry via their VPN.
NordVPN additionally has security-focused server varieties, with obfuscated servers, double VPN capabilities and optimized P2P servers.
Regardless of NordVPN’s abundance of additional safety features, I believe Mullvad VPN’s complete method to buyer privateness helps it stand on equal floor with the favored VPN supplier.
Ease of use and design
Winner: NordVPN
On the subject of ease of use and general app design, I decide NordVPN. Personally, I believe NordVPN succeeds in having each an aesthetically pleasing design and an intuitive person interface.
Whereas NordVPN carries a number of options, I by no means felt overwhelmed as all the things was cleanly organized. I additionally favored Nord’s smooth and minimalist design, which helps elevate the general UI expertise.
To Mullvad VPN’s credit score, I had zero points utilizing its app as nicely. It was user-friendly and all of the settings and ordinary VPN options had been the place I anticipated them to be.
I additionally like how Mullvad VPN lets customers make a custom-made record of their favourite or most used VPN servers. This makes it pretty simple to shortly hook up with your enterprise’ high server location.
Subjectively talking, nonetheless, I nonetheless choose NordVPN’s extra polished UI design over Mullvad VPN’s interface. Whereas Mullvad VPN could be very intuitive, its desktop software is on the extra dated and cartoon-y facet in comparison with NordVPN.
Simultaneous system connections
Winner: NordVPN
NordVPN permits extra simultaneous system connections than Mullvad VPN. Proper now, customers can have as much as 10 simultaneous system connections with the NordVPN app. Whereas I might have most popular limitless system connections, that is considerably greater than Mullvad VPN’s present five-device restrict.
If your enterprise plans to have a number of units related to a VPN server, NordVPN will probably be a greater match with its 10 simultaneous system connections.
Mullvad VPN professionals and cons
Execs
- Nameless person account quantity system for elevated privateness.
- Constant third-party safety audits.
- Reasonably priced month-to-month subscription.
Cons
- Small server community and nation unfold.
- Lack of a devoted free trial.
- Solely 5 simultaneous system connections.
NordVPN professionals and cons
Execs
- Bigger server community of 6,400 servers in 111 nations.
- Quick and dependable VPN speeds.
- Polished and intuitive person expertise.
- Abundance of extra safety capabilities.
Cons
- Month-to-month plan is on the costly finish.
- Free trial is by way of Android app solely.
Ought to your group use Mullvad VPN or NordVPN?
General, NordVPN is the extra well-rounded VPN answer. It carries a strong server community of 6,400 servers throughout 111 nations and contains a wide range of further safety features apart from the VPN. It additionally gives extremely constant VPN speeds and efficiency.
NordVPN is greatest for many companies, large or small, that desire a full-featured VPN that may assist unblock geo-restricted content material, simply change system IP addresses and strengthen safety and privateness inside the group.
Mullvad VPN is greatest for particular person customers or particular person enterprise house owners who prioritize anonymity above all the things else. It’s additionally an incredible decide for customers who wish to go away as little a digital footprint as potential via its random account system and nameless fee choices.
Sadly, Mullvad VPN’s much less developed server community, poorer velocity check efficiency and smaller allowable simultaneous system connections maintain it again from getting the win over NordVPN.
Methodology
My comparability of Mullvad VPN and NordVPN concerned real-world analysis of each VPNs and an in depth evaluation of every VPN’s options, worth and efficiency.
To evaluate every VPN, each providers had been scored on all the things, from their safety protocols to pricing. Particularly, I took under consideration 5 principal pillars, every having corresponding weights:
- Pricing (20%).
- Core VPN options (30%).
- Ease of use (15%).
- Buyer assist (30%).
- Knowledgeable evaluation (5%).
I additionally took under consideration actual person suggestions and respected opinions to spherical out my remaining suggestions for each Mullvad VPN and NordVPN.
For velocity and efficiency, I examined each VPNs on my private Home windows laptop and ran them via Ookla’s public Speedtest. Lastly, I thought of which sorts of companies or particular person customers would greatest profit from both NordVPN or Mullvad VPN.