What is the difference between ExpressVPN and Mullvad?

ExpressVPN is best for Users wanting a reliable, fast VPN across all devices, while Mullvad is best for Privacy maximalists wanting anonymous VPN. ExpressVPN starts at $6.67/mo and Mullvad starts at €5/mo.

ExpressVPN vs Mullvad

ExpressVPN is Premium VPN known for speed, reliability, and wide device support, while Mullvad is Privacy-focused VPN with anonymous accounts — no email, no personal data. Mullvad comes in cheaper, but price alone does not tell the full story. ExpressVPN is built for users wanting a reliable, fast vpn across all devices, whereas Mullvad targets privacy maximalists wanting anonymous vpn.

At a glance

	ExpressVPN	Mullvad
Best for	Users wanting a reliable, fast VPN across all devices	Privacy maximalists wanting anonymous VPN
Starting price	$6.67/mo	€5/mo
Free tier	—	—
Open source	—	—
Free tier available	—	—
Open source	—	—
94 Countries	✓	—
Anonymous Accounts	—	✓
Fast Speeds	✓	—
MediaStreamer	✓	—
No Logs	—	✓
Split Tunneling	✓	—
WireGuard	—	✓
€5 Flat	—	✓

ExpressVPN

Strengths

Includes Fast Speeds as a core feature, purpose-built for vpn workflows
Includes 94 Countries as a core feature, purpose-built for vpn workflows
Affordable at $6.67/mo — one of the lower-priced options in the vpn category
Established product with 17+ years on the market and a mature ecosystem

Weaknesses

No free plan — you need to pay $6.67/mo from day one to use it
Fewer built-in features means you may need additional tools to cover gaps
Ecosystem of third-party integrations is smaller than the market leaders in vpn
Limited team/admin features if your organization eventually scales up

Try ExpressVPN → Full review

Mullvad

Strengths

Includes Anonymous Accounts as a core feature, purpose-built for vpn workflows
Includes WireGuard as a core feature, purpose-built for vpn workflows
Affordable at €5/mo — one of the lower-priced options in the vpn category
Established product with 17+ years on the market and a mature ecosystem

Weaknesses

No free plan — you need to pay €5/mo from day one to use it
Fewer built-in features means you may need additional tools to cover gaps
Ecosystem of third-party integrations is smaller than the market leaders in vpn
Limited team/admin features if your organization eventually scales up

Try Mullvad → Full review

The bottom line

Pricing: ExpressVPN starts at $6.67/mo. Mullvad starts at €5/mo. Mullvad is the more affordable option.

Feature gaps: ExpressVPN offers 94 Countries, Fast Speeds and MediaStreamer that Mullvad lacks. Mullvad brings Anonymous Accounts, No Logs and WireGuard that ExpressVPN does not have.

Team fit: Both tools target individuals teams, so the decision hinges on features and workflow fit rather than scale.

Where each tool shines: ExpressVPN's biggest strengths are: includes fast speeds as a core feature, purpose-built for vpn workflows. includes 94 countries as a core feature, purpose-built for vpn workflows. Mullvad's biggest strengths are: includes anonymous accounts as a core feature, purpose-built for vpn workflows. includes wireguard as a core feature, purpose-built for vpn workflows.

Watch out for: With ExpressVPN, users commonly note that no free plan — you need to pay $6.67/mo from day one to use it. With Mullvad, the main complaint is that no free plan — you need to pay €5/mo from day one to use it.

Choose ExpressVPN if...

You need a tool built for users wanting a reliable, fast vpn across all devices
You specifically need 94 Countries and Fast Speeds
You care about includes 94 countries as a core feature, purpose-built for vpn workflows

Choose Mullvad if...

You need a tool built for privacy maximalists wanting anonymous vpn
You want to save on per-user costs — Mullvad is $1.67/user/mo cheaper
You specifically need Anonymous Accounts and No Logs
You care about includes wireguard as a core feature, purpose-built for vpn workflows