ExpressVPN vs. Mullvad VPN 2025: Who Wins, Privacy Purist or Streaming Buff?

There are many factors to consider when searching for a virtual private network (VPN). If your focus is reliably streaming content across various platforms, like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and others, then ExpressVPN is a fast, secure VPN. It can unblock geo-restricted content with ease, offers reliable connections, and comes with a suite of powerful features. 

On the flip side, privacy enthusiasts will appreciate Mullvad VPN more for helping protect your anonymity if you desire true privacy. For one, you can generate an account number without handing over your personal information. Unlike other VPN providers, Mullvad offers a flat monthly fee that never changes, though ExpressVPN offers better deals with long-term subscriptions. 

Keep reading to learn more about ExpressVPN vs. Mullvad VPN, including features, pricing plans, streaming capabilities, and more.

ExpressVPN vs. Mullvad VPN at a glance

• ExpressVPN: Best for streaming
• Mullvad VPN: Best for privacy purists

	Our Pick
Starting price	Starts at $3.49/mo	Starts at €5.00/mo (about $5.88/mo)
Max # of connected devices	14	5
24/7 customer support
Compatibility	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS
# of servers	Unlisted in 105 countries	710+ servers in 49 countries
VPN protocol	Lightway, OpenVPN, IKEv2	OpenVPN, WireGuard
No-logs policy	No logs	No logs
Unblocks Netflix?
Learn more	Get ExpressVPN Read ExpressVPN Review	Get Mullvad VPN Read Mullvad Review

ExpressVPN pros and cons

ExpressVPN was able to unblock geo-restricted content on all streaming platforms we tested from VPN servers in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and Australia. We really enjoyed that ExpressVPN could access Netflix libraries from across the world. Of the two VPNs, ExpressVPN is certainly our winner for streaming. In fact, it's one of the best VPNs for streaming available. Plus, ExpressVPN boasts its proprietary Lightway protocol, which ensures steady speeds and enhanced security. 

Mullvad VPN pros and cons

Mullvad VPN is perfect for privacy-minded users who want to purchase a VPN anonymously. Its novelty is that it offers only fixed-price monthly subscriptions, so there's no long-term commitment. Plus, Mullvad VPN comes with the Mullvad Browser, which offers strong WebRTC protection and is one of the best privacy browsers. 

Compared to top-tier VPN services, Mullvad VPN lacks robust security features and has a significantly lower server count in fewer countries. Most reliable VPNs boast a much larger server network of thousands of servers in 100+ countries. Mullvad VPN also lost its advantage over other services when it removed its port forwarding capabilities.

Prices

	Our Pick
Price range	$3.49–$12.95/mo	€5.00/mo
Best value plan	24-month plan for $3.49/mo	Any length for €5.00/mo (about $5.88/mo)
Money-back guarantee	Yes — 30 days	Yes — 30 days (except for cash payments)
Learn more	Get ExpressVPN Read ExpressVPN Review	Get Mullvad VPN Read Mullvad Review

Mullvad’s pricing is competitive, only charging a flat fee of €5.00/mo (about $5.88/mo) for its one-month, one-year, and one-decade plans. You can try the VPN for one month for the same price a long-time subscriber pays per month. But ExpressVPN's starting price of $3.49/mo (billed every two years) is a better long-term deal. Even the second-tier plan, which includes a password manager, ad blocker, and up to 12 simultaneous connections, is still cheaper than Mullvad.

Mullvad is a great VPN choice for privacy purists, with features that help protect anonymity and privacy-focused payment methods like cash-in-mail and cryptocurrency. More importantly, Mullvad doesn't require any user information, such as your name and email, to generate an account. Instead, Mullvad lets you generate a random account number as your identifier, which is all you need to log in after paying for a plan.

ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee for all plans if you are not satisfied with its service. Mullvad VPN also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee if you aren't satisfied with its service, except for cash payments, due to anti-money laundering regulations.

ExpressVPN vs. Mullvad VPN: payment options

Both ExpressVPN and Mullvad VPN offer various payment options, including credit cards, PayPal, and cryptocurrency. If you’re seeking more private payment options, Mullvad lets you pay in cash by sending it by mail with your generated account number. This helps you retain anonymity since no name or other identifying information is needed.

Keep in mind that if you pay in cash, Mullvad can't offer refunds or money-back guarantees due to anti-money laundering regulations.

ExpressVPN payment options

• Credit cards
• PayPal
• bitcoin
• Other payment options, including UnionPay, iDeal, QIWI, Sofort, Giropay, SEPA, and more

Mullvad VPN payment options

• Credit or debit card
• PayPal
• Cash via mail
• Voucher
• Cryptocurrencies (e.g., bitcoin, bitcoin cash, Monero)
• Other payment options, including bank wire, Swish, Giropay, Eps transfer, Bancontact, iDEAL, and Przelewy24

Which VPN is more secure?

Feature	Our Pick
Number of servers	Unlisted in 105 countries	710+ servers in 49 countries
No-logs policy	No logs	No logs
VPN headquarters	British Virgin Islands	Sweden
Encryption	AES-256-GCM	AES-256-GCM
VPN protocol	Lightway, OpenVPN, IKEv2	OpenVPN, WireGuard
Kill switch
Split tunneling	Yes (for Windows, macOS, and Android only)	Yes (for Windows, Linux, and Android only)
DNS leak protection
Ad blocker
Learn more	Get ExpressVPN Read ExpressVPN Review	Get Mullvad VPN Read Mullvad Review

ExpressVPN has a larger server presence, with servers in 105 countries worldwide, even though its exact number of servers is unknown at the time of this review. Mullvad is more forthcoming, with 710+ servers in 49 countries.

Both ExpressVPN and Mullvad VPN offer standard features, such as a kill switch and split tunneling. However, Mullvad’s split-tunneling feature is only available on Windows, Linux, and Android. ExpressVPN offers split tunneling on Windows, macOS, and Android, but it is not available on macOS 11 or later.

Both services place a high value on privacy, with military-grade encryption and strict no-logs policies that independent third-party companies have audited to protect your privacy as you engage in online activities.

Another thing to consider is the jurisdiction of their headquarters. ExpressVPN’s base is in the British Virgin Islands, outside of any intelligence alliances, while Mullvad is headquartered in Sweden, part of the Nine Eyes alliance.

When it comes to VPN features, ExpressVPN boasts a robust set of protocols, including its proprietary Lightway, as well as OpenVPN and IKEv2. ExpressVPN also offers more advanced security features, such as stronger encryption with AES-256-GCM, smart DNS to help you unblock geo-restricted content, static and dedicated IP addresses, and TrustedServer technology that is routinely audited and ensures VPN servers never write your data to a hard drive for your privacy.

As for VPN protocols, Mullvad sticks with OpenVPN and WireGuard. Additionally, it blocks both ads and trackers, while ExpressVPN only blocks trackers and malicious sites.

Which VPN is faster?

We evaluated our internet speeds while using ExpressVPN and Mullvad VPN to determine how fast their servers are in locations worldwide. Before our speed tests, we obtained our baseline speed on our test device, a 2017 MacBook Pro running the latest OS version, Ventura, while based in Los Angeles, California, U.S.

Server location	Our Pick
Average speed change	14% slower	8% slower
Learn more	Get ExpressVPN Read ExpressVPN Review	Get Mullvad VPN Read Mullvad Review

ExpressVPN is clearly the faster VPN compared to Mullvad, with its faster download speeds across server locations in the U.S., the U.K., and Australia. It's expected that connecting to a VPN server will reduce your internet speeds because the VPN encrypts and routes your internet traffic. What's unexpected is that a VPN can actually boost your speeds, as we've seen with ExpressVPN and NordVPN in historical testing. 

Mullvad VPN offers marginally better upload speeds on some servers, but we noticed a significant impact on overall system performance when using it. ExpressVPN is the better choice for streaming and gaming enthusiasts alike. 

Compatibility and customer support

	Our Pick
Windows
macOS
Android
iOS
Linux
Routers
Smart devices
Browser extensions	Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Brave, Vivaldi	Firefox
24/7 customer support
Customer support options	Support center, email, 24/7 live chat	Email, online guides, social media
Learn more	Get ExpressVPN Read ExpressVPN Review	Get Mullvad VPN Read Mullvad Review

Both ExpressVPN and Mullvad VPN have simple and intuitive interfaces that are easy to navigate. We didn’t have any trouble finding the settings on either VPN. Both VPNs are also compatible with popular operating systems such as Windows, macOS, and Linux, and offer mobile apps for Android and iOS.

Additionally, both offer support for various routers. However, ExpressVPN offers a broader range of support for smart devices, such as smart TVs and gaming consoles. Mullvad appears only to offer support for Android TV, as stated on its website. Sadly, it doesn't seem to support any gaming consoles.

When it comes to customer support, ExpressVPN appears to have the upper hand. Its 24/7 live chat is a plus if you want readily available help for time-sensitive issues. Mullvad lacks 24/7 live chat support and accepts email inquiries only during weekday office hours in Central European Time. This is a significant downside for customer service.

That said, ExpressVPN and Mullvad both offer comprehensive online guides and blogs that are very helpful for troubleshooting common issues, setting up the VPN, and explaining their features. We really appreciate that ExpressVPN offers instant live chat support; however, it gets more brownie points from us.

ExpressVPN vs. Mullvad VPN alternatives

If you're looking for a better price point, need even more robust security features, or want unlimited simultaneous connections, consider these tested VPN alternatives.

FAQs

Is ExpressVPN or Mullvad VPN better?

When weighing ExpressVPN and Mullvad VPN in a head-to-head comparison, ExpressVPN is the better VPN service for a few reasons. 

It's capable of unblocking a wide variety of geo-restricted content on multiple streaming services, has a larger network of server locations, offers more advanced security features, and provides 24/7 live chat support.