What is the difference between NordVPN and Mullvad?

NordVPN is best for Anyone wanting fast, secure VPN with lots of servers, while Mullvad is best for Privacy maximalists wanting anonymous VPN. NordVPN starts at $3.99/mo and Mullvad starts at €5/mo.

NordVPN vs Mullvad

NordVPN is VPN service with 5,000+ servers, double VPN, and threat protection, while Mullvad is Privacy-focused VPN with anonymous accounts — no email, no personal data. NordVPN comes in cheaper, but price alone does not tell the full story. NordVPN is built for anyone wanting fast, secure vpn with lots of servers, whereas Mullvad targets privacy maximalists wanting anonymous vpn.

At a glance

	NordVPN	Mullvad
Best for	Anyone wanting fast, secure VPN with lots of servers	Privacy maximalists wanting anonymous VPN
Starting price	$3.99/mo	€5/mo
Free tier	—	—
Open source	—	—
Free tier available	—	—
Open source	—	—
5000+ Servers	✓	—
Anonymous Accounts	—	✓
Double VPN	✓	—
Meshnet	✓	—
No Logs	—	✓
Threat Protection	✓	—
WireGuard	—	✓
€5 Flat	—	✓

NordVPN

Strengths

Includes 5000+ Servers as a core feature, purpose-built for vpn workflows
Includes Double VPN as a core feature, purpose-built for vpn workflows
Affordable at $3.99/mo — one of the lower-priced options in the vpn category
Established product with 14+ years on the market and a mature ecosystem

Weaknesses

No free plan — you need to pay $3.99/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 NordVPN → 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: NordVPN starts at $3.99/mo. Mullvad starts at €5/mo. NordVPN is the more affordable option.

Feature gaps: NordVPN offers 5000+ Servers, Double VPN and Meshnet that Mullvad lacks. Mullvad brings Anonymous Accounts, No Logs and WireGuard that NordVPN 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: NordVPN's biggest strengths are: includes 5000+ servers as a core feature, purpose-built for vpn workflows. includes double vpn 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 NordVPN, users commonly note that no free plan — you need to pay $3.99/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 NordVPN if...

You need a tool built for anyone wanting fast, secure vpn with lots of servers
You want to save on per-user costs — NordVPN is $1.01/user/mo cheaper
You specifically need 5000+ Servers and Double VPN
You care about includes double vpn as a core feature, purpose-built for vpn workflows

Choose Mullvad if...

You need a tool built for privacy maximalists wanting anonymous vpn
You specifically need Anonymous Accounts and No Logs
You care about includes wireguard as a core feature, purpose-built for vpn workflows