Mullvad VPN Review Australia: Most Private VPN in 2025

Mullvad Overview

Mullvad (Swedish for "mole") is operated by Amagicom AB, a small Swedish company focused exclusively on privacy. Founded in 2009, Mullvad pioneered the account-free VPN model.

What makes Mullvad unique:

• No email or name required - just account number
• Accept cash payments for complete anonymity
• Open source code
• Transparent pricing ($5/month, no games)
• No marketing or affiliate programs
• Swedish jurisdiction (strong privacy laws)

Philosophy: Mullvad believes you shouldn't need to trust them with personal information to use their service.

True Anonymity - How It Works

No Account Creation

Traditional VPNs require:

• Email address
• Name
• Payment information
• Account creation with personal details

Mullvad requires:

• Nothing

How signup works:

1. Visit mullvad.net
2. Click "Generate account number"
3. Receive random 16-digit number (e.g., 1234-5678-9012-3456)
4. That's your account - no email, no password

Important: Save this number. Mullvad has no way to recover it if lost.

Anonymous Payment Methods

Cash:

• Mail cash (any currency) to Mullvad's Sweden address
• Include your account number on paper
• They credit your account when received
• Completely anonymous - no paper trail

Cryptocurrency:

• Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Monero
• Most anonymous electronic payment
• Monero especially untraceable

Vouchers:

• Buy voucher with cash from retailers
• Enter code on Mullvad website
• No connection between purchase and account

Credit card/PayPal:

• Available but defeats anonymity purpose
• Use only if anonymity not critical

What Mullvad Doesn't Know About You

• Your name
• Your email
• Your location
• How to contact you
• Any identifying information

Implication: Even if Mullvad wanted to hand over data to authorities, they have nothing to hand over. True privacy through ignorance.

Speed Test Results from Sydney

Testing from Sydney on 100 Mbps NBN connection:

Australian servers (Sydney and Melbourne):

• Download: 90 Mbps (10% reduction)
• Upload: 37 Mbps (7.5% reduction)
• Latency: 14ms

Comparison:

• ExpressVPN: 98 Mbps (fastest)
• NordVPN: 95 Mbps
• Mullvad: 90 Mbps
• ProtonVPN: 90 Mbps
• Surfshark: 88 Mbps

Verdict: Mullvad's speeds are excellent - in the top tier of VPNs we've tested. The 10% reduction is typical for VPNs and barely noticeable in real-world use.

Privacy & Security - Best in Class

Jurisdiction: Sweden

Advantages:

• Outside Five Eyes intelligence alliance
• Strong privacy protections under Swedish law
• Transparent government (no secret courts)
• No mandatory data retention for VPNs

2023 Police Raid: Swedish police raided Mullvad's office investigating suspected misuse. They seized servers and equipment. Result: Zero user data found. Mullvad's no-logs policy validated in real-world scenario.

No-Logs Policy

What Mullvad doesn't log:

• IP addresses
• Browsing history
• Connection timestamps
• DNS queries
• Any identifying information

Audited by: Cure53 (2020) - no issues found

Proof: 2023 police raid found zero user data

Open Source

Mullvad's entire codebase is open source:

• Anyone can audit for security flaws
• Community reviews code regularly
• No hidden backdoors possible
• Transparent development process

GitHub: All code publicly available

WireGuard Protocol

Mullvad was early adopter of WireGuard (modern, fast protocol):

• Faster than OpenVPN
• More secure than older protocols
• Less battery drain
• Smaller codebase (easier to audit)

Other protocols available: OpenVPN (for compatibility)

RAM-Only Servers

Mullvad uses diskless servers running entirely on RAM:

• Nothing written to permanent storage
• All data wiped on restart
• Impossible to forensically recover data
• Similar to ExpressVPN's TrustedServer technology

Streaming Performance - Not Optimized

The Bad News

Mullvad doesn't optimize for streaming. They believe users should have privacy without tailoring service for specific use cases (streaming, torrenting, etc.).

Our testing:

• Netflix Australia: ❌ Blocked
• Stan: ❌ Blocked
• Kayo Sports: ❌ No reliable access
• 9Now: ⚠️ Occasionally works
• ABC iView: ✅ Usually works

Success rate: 20-30% - significantly worse than NordVPN (100%) or Surfshark (98%)

The Good News

It's possible to stream with Mullvad, but requires:

• Trial and error finding working servers
• Switching servers when blocked
• Manual configuration

If streaming is priority: Choose NordVPN or Surfshark instead.

Australian Server Network

Locations: Sydney, Melbourne (2 cities) Total servers: Approximately 15-20 (Mullvad doesn't disclose exact numbers)

vs Competitors:

• NordVPN: 190+ Australian servers
• Surfshark: 5 Australian cities
• ExpressVPN: 5 Australian cities
• Mullvad: 2 Australian cities

Performance: Despite fewer servers, we never experienced overcrowding. Speeds consistently excellent.

Features & Usability

Apps

Platforms:

• Windows, Mac, Linux (full-featured)
• iOS, Android (mobile apps)
• No browser extensions
• No router app (though can be manually configured)

Interface: Minimalist and functional. No flashy features or marketing. Just works.

Device Limit

5 simultaneous connections

Comparison:

• NordVPN: 6 devices
• Surfshark: Unlimited
• ExpressVPN: 8 devices

Note: Adequate for individuals/couples, may be limiting for families.

Port Forwarding

Mullvad supports port forwarding - critical for:

• Torrenting (better speeds, more peers)
• Gaming servers
• Remote access

Availability: Built into apps, easy to enable

Rare feature: Most VPNs removed port forwarding due to abuse. Mullvad maintains it for legitimate users.

SOCKS5 Proxy

In addition to VPN, Mullvad offers SOCKS5 proxy:

• Faster than VPN (no encryption overhead)
• Useful for torrenting
• Lower privacy but better speeds

Use case: Torrent through SOCKS5 proxy, browse through VPN.

DNS Leak Protection

Built-in DNS leak protection prevents your ISP from seeing which websites you visit.

Our testing: No DNS leaks detected using ipleak.net and dnsleaktest.com.

Kill Switch

Blocks internet if VPN disconnects, preventing IP leaks.

Platforms: All apps (Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android)

Effectiveness: Worked perfectly in testing. We forcibly disconnected VPN 10 times - internet was blocked instantly every time.

Customer Support

Support channels:

• Email support (response time: 4-12 hours)
• FAQ/documentation (comprehensive)
• No live chat
• No phone support

Email support quality: Technical and knowledgeable. Responses are thorough and address root issues, not just surface problems.

Comparison: NordVPN, Surfshark, and ExpressVPN offer 24/7 live chat. Mullvad's email-only support is slower but adequate.

Pricing - Refreshingly Simple

Price: $5/month (or €5/month depending on location)

No discounts for:

• Annual payments
• Multi-year commitments
• Bulk purchases

Philosophy: Mullvad believes VPN pricing should be transparent. No "limited time offers," no price increases, no games.

Comparison:

• Mullvad: $5/month (flat rate)
• NordVPN: $4.50/month (2-year commitment) or $12.99/month
• Surfshark: $3.50/month (2-year commitment) or $15.99/month
• ExpressVPN: $8/month (annual) or $12.95/month

Verdict: Mullvad's pricing is middle-of-pack but requires no long-term commitment.

Torrenting

Mullvad is excellent for torrenting:

Why it works:

• Verified no-logs policy
• Port forwarding supported
• Fast speeds (90 Mbps)
• SOCKS5 proxy option
• Allows P2P on all servers

Legal warning: Torrenting copyrighted content is illegal in Australia. Use Mullvad only for legal torrenting (Linux ISOs, open-source software, public domain content).

Mullvad vs Competitors

vs NordVPN

Mullvad wins:

• More anonymous (no account needed)
• Swedish vs Panama jurisdiction (both good)
• Simpler pricing ($5 flat vs $4.50 with 2-year commitment)

NordVPN wins:

• More Australian servers (190+ vs 15-20)
• Better streaming support (100% vs 20-30%)
• 24/7 live chat support
• Threat Protection ad blocker

Verdict: NordVPN for most users (streaming, convenience). Mullvad for privacy purists.

vs ProtonVPN

Mullvad wins:

• No account required (ProtonVPN needs email)
• Cash payment option
• Simpler interface
• Port forwarding

ProtonVPN wins:

• Free plan available
• More features (Secure Core, NetShield)
• Better for beginners

Verdict: Both excellent for privacy. Mullvad for maximum anonymity, ProtonVPN for free option and more features.

vs Surfshark

Mullvad wins:

• Better privacy (no account needed)
• Open source
• Swedish jurisdiction vs Netherlands

Surfshark wins:

• Much cheaper ($3.50 vs $5/month)
• Unlimited devices (vs 5)
• Better streaming
• 24/7 live chat

Verdict: Surfshark for families and streaming. Mullvad for privacy-focused individuals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Mullvad legal in Australia?

Can I really pay Mullvad with cash?

What if I lose my Mullvad account number?

Does Mullvad work with Netflix Australia?

Is Mullvad better than NordVPN for privacy?

Can Australian police track me if I use Mullvad?

Why doesn't Mullvad have live chat support?

Can I use Mullvad for torrenting in Australia?

Is 5 devices enough for a family?

Why is Mullvad so cheap ($5/month) without discounts?

Who Should Choose Mullvad?

Choose Mullvad if:

• Maximum anonymity is top priority
• Don't want to provide email or personal info
• Want to pay anonymously (cash/crypto)
• Privacy matters more than streaming
• Appreciate transparent, simple pricing
• Support open source projects
• Need port forwarding for torrenting

Choose NordVPN instead if:

• Need reliable streaming (Netflix, Stan, Kayo)
• Want more Australian servers
• Prefer 24/7 live chat support
• Need ad blocking (Threat Protection)

Choose Surfshark instead if:

• Need unlimited devices for family
• Want cheapest option ($3.50/month)
• Streaming is important
• Need beginner-friendly interface

Conclusion

Mullvad is the gold standard for VPN privacy. No email, no personal info, accept cash payments, open source code, independently audited, and proven through real-world police raid that found zero user data.

At $5/month with 90 Mbps speeds from Sydney, it's competitively priced and performs well. Port forwarding, WireGuard protocol, and RAM-only servers add to security benefits.

However, Mullvad deliberately doesn't optimize for streaming. If you watch Netflix, Stan, or Kayo Sports regularly, NordVPN or Surfshark are better choices.

Our verdict: Mullvad is perfect for privacy-focused users, journalists, activists, and anyone who prioritizes anonymity over streaming convenience. For most Australians who want balance of privacy and usability, NordVPN ($4.50/month) offers better overall value.

Mullvad proves that privacy and VPNs can coexist without collecting personal data. It's the VPN for users who truly understand and prioritize privacy.

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Try Mullvad risk-free - no email required, no commitment. Generate account number, test for a month, pay only if satisfied.