About Mullvad VPN
I grabbed Mullvad after seeing it perched near the top of the charts in the Play Store. Most top-rated apps are polished garbage, so I was skeptical. I’ve burned through a dozen VPNs, from the flashy big names to the obscure ones, and they all eventually annoyed me with bloated apps, shady data policies, or connection drops. My goal was simple: find a set-it-and-forget-it tunnel for my phone that wouldn’t flake out when I switched from my home Wi-Fi to the sketchy network at the local library. Mullvad’s reputation was all about no-logging and technical rigor, which sounded good on paper. I decided to put it through its paces for a couple of weeks, and my first impression was pure confusion—in a good way.
Features & Highlights
Don’t come here looking for a server map that spins or a built-in password manager. Mullvad gives you the essentials, executed with precision. The kill switch is non-negotiable for me, and theirs is rock solid. Last Thursday, I was on a crowded train using mobile data, and the VPN connection dropped for a split second. The app instantly killed all internet traffic before my real IP could leak a single packet. It’s silent and ruthless. I also rely heavily on split tunneling. I routed only Chrome and Signal through the VPN, letting my banking app and a podcast app connect directly. This isn’t just a privacy thing; it stops my banking app from throwing a security fit and saves battery. The ad/tracker blocker (they call it “DNS-based content blocking”) is a nice bonus. It’s not uBlock Origin, but I immediately noticed news sites loaded without those annoying consent pop-ups and video ads.
User Experience
The setup process is the most minimalist thing I’ve ever seen. You install the app, open it, and you’re greeted by a 16-digit account number. No email, no password, no name. I actually laughed out loud. It felt like I’d broken into a system rather than signed up for one. Connecting is a one-tap affair on a big power button. The server list is clean, showing ping and load percentage, which is genuinely useful for picking a fast server. Now, the rough edges: the Android app UI feels dated. It’s not ugly, just… basic. Toggling the ad blocker or finding the WireGuard protocol settings requires a few extra taps buried in menus. On my Galaxy A54, I encountered a weird bug where the app’s notification would sometimes disappear from the pull-down shade, even though the VPN was still running. It’s a minor thing, but as a power user, inconsistencies like that stick out.
Pricing
It’s a flat €5 a month. No “first year” deals, no confusing three-year plans that jack up the price later. You pay for a month of service, and that’s it. That price covers up to five devices simultaneously, which is fair. I paid with Monero because I was testing their privacy claims end-to-end, and the fact that option even exists tells you everything about their priorities. It’s not the cheapest, but the transparency is refreshing. You know exactly what you’re getting, and there’s zero upsell.
Updates & Support
I got one app update during my two-week test, a minor version bump that fixed some connectivity issues. Speaking of issues, I had to contact support. The ad blocker was being overly aggressive and breaking the login page for my local council’s website. I sent a detailed report through their website on a Monday morning. I didn’t get a canned response. Instead, on Wednesday afternoon, I got a reply from a person named Linus who acknowledged the problem, explained it was due to the filter lists they use, and suggested a workaround (disabling the blocker temporarily for that site). It was helpful and technical, but the several-day wait shows they’re not built for instant gratification.
Security & Privacy
This is where Mullvad earns its keep. Their entire model is built on minimizing the data they have on you. That random account number *is* your identity. They don’t know your email, your name, or even a password hash. Their no-logging policy has been verified through independent audits, which is more than most VPNs can say. I appreciate that they’re open about their infrastructure and even publish a warrant canary. Using WireGuard by default is the right move—it’s modern, fast, and has a smaller codebase, which means fewer potential vulnerabilities. For someone who scrutinizes privacy policies, Mullvad’s approach is brutally honest. They don’t make fluffy promises; they build a system where they *can’t* see your data even if they wanted to.
Does Mullvad VPN have a kill switch and split tunneling?
Yes, Mullvad offers a rock-solid kill switch that instantly cuts all internet traffic if the VPN drops, preventing IP leaks. It also supports split tunneling, letting you route only specific apps like Chrome through the VPN while banking apps connect directly to save battery and avoid security blocks.
How does the ad and tracker blocker work in Mullvad VPN?
Mullvad includes a DNS-based content blocker that stops ads and trackers at the network level, so news sites load without annoying consent pop-ups or video ads. While it’s not as powerful as uBlock Origin, it’s a convenient bonus that works automatically once enabled.
Why does my Mullvad VPN connection drop when switching from Wi-Fi to mobile data?
This can happen if your network changes faster than the VPN can reconnect, but Mullvad’s kill switch will temporarily block all internet to prevent data leaks. To fix it, try enabling the 'Always-on VPN' setting in your phone’s system VPN menu to ensure a seamless handoff between networks.
I can't connect to Mullvad VPN after signing up—what should I do?
First, double-check that you’ve entered your 16-digit account number correctly in the app, as there’s no email or password to recover. If the issue persists, try switching to a different server or protocol (like WireGuard instead of OpenVPN) in the app’s advanced settings.
How does Mullvad VPN compare to ExpressVPN in terms of privacy and features?
Mullvad focuses on bare-bones privacy with no email or name required—just a random account number—while ExpressVPN offers a polished, feature-rich app with a server map and more server locations. For sheer no-logging rigor and a set-it-and-forget-it experience, Mullvad wins; for flashy extras and broader server access, ExpressVPN is better.
