Mullvad: Difference between revisions
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|Industry=Virtual Private Network | |Industry=Virtual Private Network | ||
|Website=https://mullvad.net/ | |Website=https://mullvad.net/ | ||
|Logo= | |Logo=Mullvad VPN logo.svg | ||
|Founded=2009 | |Founded=2009 | ||
|ParentCompany=Amagicom AB | |ParentCompany=Amagicom AB | ||
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|Description=Mullvad VPN AB, or Mullvad, is a Swedish based company created in 2009 by Fredrik Strömberg and Daniel Berntsson. The company is a subsidiary of Amagicom AB, 100% owned by Strömberg and Berntsson. Mullvad initially launched their VPN service in 2009, but since 2021, expanded into developing their own encrypted Domain Name System (DNS) service, browser, and search engine. | |Description=Mullvad VPN AB, or Mullvad, is a Swedish based company created in 2009 by Fredrik Strömberg and Daniel Berntsson. The company is a subsidiary of Amagicom AB, 100% owned by Strömberg and Berntsson. Mullvad initially launched their VPN service in 2009, but since 2021, expanded into developing their own encrypted Domain Name System (DNS) service, browser, and search engine. | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''{{Wplink|Mullvad|Mullvad VPN AB}}''' is a Swedish based company created in 2009 by Fredrik Strömberg and Daniel Berntsson. The company is a subsidiary of Amagicom AB, 100% owned by Strömberg and Berntsson. Mullvad initially launched their {{Wplink | |||
'''{{Wplink|Mullvad|Mullvad VPN AB}}''' is a Swedish based company created in 2009 by Fredrik Strömberg and Daniel Berntsson. The company is a subsidiary of Amagicom AB, 100% owned by Strömberg and Berntsson. Mullvad initially launched their {{Wplink|VPN service}} in 2009, but since 2021, expanded into developing their own encrypted {{Wplink|Domain Name System}} (DNS) service, and browser.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-15 |title=About |url=https://mullvad.net/en/about |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251007094539/https://mullvad.net/en/about |archive-date=2025-10-07 |access-date=2025-08-15 |website=mullvad.net}}</ref> | |||
==Consumer-impact summary== | ==Consumer-impact summary== | ||
===Freedom=== | ===Freedom=== | ||
Mullvad states: "We value open source" and develops various open-source projects.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-15 |title=We Value Open Source |url=https://mullvad.net/en/open-source |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250923195822/https://mullvad.net/en/open-source |archive-date=2025-09-23 |access-date=2025-08-15 |website=mullvad.net}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-15 |title=GitHub - Mullvad VPN |url=https://github.com/mullvad/ |access-date=2025-08-15 |website=Github.com}}</ref> The Mullvad VPN App for mobile and desktop is released under a GNU General Public License (GPL) 3.0 which grants irrevocable permission to use, modify, and redistribute under the same license.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-01-16 |title=GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE |url=https://github.com/mullvad/mullvadvpn-app?tab=GPL-3.0-1-ov-file |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251008085609/https://github.com/mullvad/mullvadvpn-app?tab=GPL-3.0-1-ov-file |archive-date=2025-10-08 |access-date=2025-08-15 |website=Github.com}}</ref> | Mullvad states: "We value open source" and develops various open-source projects.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-15 |title=We Value Open Source |url=https://mullvad.net/en/open-source |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250923195822/https://mullvad.net/en/open-source |archive-date=2025-09-23 |access-date=2025-08-15 |website=mullvad.net}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-15 |title=GitHub - Mullvad VPN |url=https://github.com/mullvad/ |access-date=2025-08-15 |website=Github.com |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260128161904/https://github.com/mullvad/ |archive-date=28 Jan 2026}}</ref> The Mullvad VPN App for mobile and desktop is released under a {{wplink|GNU General Public License}} (GPL) 3.0 which grants irrevocable permission to use, modify, and redistribute under the same license.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-01-16 |title=GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE |url=https://github.com/mullvad/mullvadvpn-app?tab=GPL-3.0-1-ov-file |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251008085609/https://github.com/mullvad/mullvadvpn-app?tab=GPL-3.0-1-ov-file |archive-date=2025-10-08 |access-date=2025-08-15 |website=Github.com}}</ref> | ||
Mullvad requires you to sign up to the service to use, however does not require a name, | Mullvad requires you to sign up to the service to use, however does not require a name, email address, or other identifiable information. As of March 2026, it costs €5 for 1 month's credit.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2025-02-19 |title=Terms of Service |url=https://mullvad.net/en/help/terms-service |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250924041957/https://mullvad.net/en/help/terms-service |archive-date=2025-09-24 |access-date=2025-08-15 |website=mullvad.net}}</ref> | ||
Mullvad states it will never log, modify, redirect, or inject data into a user's traffic. They also state they will never filter or block domains unless specifically requested by the owner of an Internet Protocol (IP) address, or if botnet addresses cause servers to be null routed by hosting providers.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2025-08-15 |title=Why Mullvad VPN? |url=https://mullvad.net/en/why-mullvad-vpn |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-15 |website=mullvad.net}}</ref> | Mullvad states it will never log, modify, redirect, or inject data into a user's traffic. They also state they will never filter or block domains unless specifically requested by the owner of an Internet Protocol (IP) address, or if botnet addresses cause servers to be null routed by hosting providers.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2025-08-15 |title=Why Mullvad VPN? |url=https://mullvad.net/en/why-mullvad-vpn |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-15 |website=mullvad.net |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260223001400/https://mullvad.net/en/why-mullvad-vpn |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref> | ||
===Privacy=== | ===Privacy=== | ||
Mullvad has a strict no-log policy on their services and undergo independent audits regularly to solidify these claims.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-15 |title=The Mullvad Blog: Audits |url=https://mullvad.net/en/blog/tag/audits |access-date=2025-08-15 |website=mullvad.net}}</ref> | Mullvad has a strict no-log policy on their services and undergo independent audits regularly to solidify these claims.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-15 |title=The Mullvad Blog: Audits |url=https://mullvad.net/en/blog/tag/audits |access-date=2025-08-15 |website=mullvad.net |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251217231341/https://mullvad.net/en/blog/tag/audits |archive-date=17 Dec 2025}}</ref> | ||
Mullvad does not ask for personal information when signing up for their services, instead they provide the user an account number as an alternative for usernames and passwords.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-23 |title=No-logging of user activity policy |url=https://mullvad.net/en/help/no-logging-data-policy |access-date=2025-08-15 |website=mullvad.net}}</ref> | Mullvad does not ask for personal information when signing up for their services, instead they provide the user an account number as an alternative for usernames and passwords.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-23 |title=No-logging of user activity policy |url=https://mullvad.net/en/help/no-logging-data-policy |access-date=2025-08-15 |website=mullvad.net |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260105055109/https://mullvad.net/en/help/no-logging-data-policy |archive-date=5 Jan 2026}}</ref> | ||
Mullvad provides various methods of payment depending on the level of anonymity desired from the user, including cash, {{Wplink|Bitcoin|Bitcoin}}, Bitcoin Cash, Monero, bank wire, credit card, [[PayPal]], Swish, Eps transfer, Bancontact, iDEAL, and Przelewy24.<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Pricing |url=https://mullvad.net/en/pricing |url-status=live |access-date=2026-01-06 |website=Mullvad}}</ref> | Mullvad provides various methods of payment depending on the level of anonymity desired from the user, including cash, {{Wplink|Bitcoin|Bitcoin}}, Bitcoin Cash, Monero, bank wire, credit card, [[PayPal]], Swish, Eps transfer, Bancontact, iDEAL, and Przelewy24.<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Pricing |url=https://mullvad.net/en/pricing |url-status=live |access-date=2026-01-06 |website=Mullvad |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260127023336/https://mullvad.net/en/pricing |archive-date=27 Jan 2026}}</ref> | ||
===Business Model=== | ===Business Model=== | ||
Since its inception in 2009, Mullvad has had a fixed price of €5 per month. As of June of 2022, Mullvad removed subscriptions, defined as automatic recurring payments, as a way to increase user privacy by storing less data. As a result of their decision to remove subscriptions: only one-time payments are allowed.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-20 |title=We are removing the option to create new subscriptions |url=https://mullvad.net/en/blog/2022/6/20/were-removing-the-option-to-create-new-subscriptions |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-15 |website=mullvad.net}}</ref> | Since its inception in 2009, Mullvad has had a fixed price of €5 per month. As of June of 2022, Mullvad removed subscriptions, defined as automatic recurring payments, as a way to increase user privacy by storing less data. As a result of their decision to remove subscriptions: only one-time payments are allowed.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-20 |title=We are removing the option to create new subscriptions |url=https://mullvad.net/en/blog/2022/6/20/were-removing-the-option-to-create-new-subscriptions |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-15 |website=mullvad.net |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250727190718/https://mullvad.net/en/blog/2022/6/20/were-removing-the-option-to-create-new-subscriptions |archive-date=27 Jul 2025}}</ref> | ||
Mullvad has a very serious policy rejecting paid reviews, influencer sponsorships, and shout-outs as a testament to their integrity. Instead, they | Mullvad has a very serious policy rejecting paid reviews, influencer sponsorships, and shout-outs as a testament to their integrity. Instead, they purchase ads outdoors, on [[Google]], [[DuckDuckGo]], and the [[Apple App Store]]. | ||
They do not run ads on their service applications, website, or blog, and state that any endorsements they give, they are unpaid, and solely of their opinion.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-15 |title=Policy on reviews, advertising, influencers, and affiliates |url=https://mullvad.net/en/help/policy-reviews-advertising-and-affiliates |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-15 |website=mullvad.net}}</ref> | They do not run ads on their service applications, website, or blog, and state that any endorsements they give, they are unpaid, and solely of their opinion.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-15 |title=Policy on reviews, advertising, influencers, and affiliates |url=https://mullvad.net/en/help/policy-reviews-advertising-and-affiliates |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-15 |website=mullvad.net |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260222220926/https://mullvad.net/en/help/policy-reviews-advertising-and-affiliates |archive-date=22 Feb 2026}}</ref> | ||
===Market Control=== | ===Market Control=== | ||
According to a survey conducted by [https://www.security.org/ security.org], only 2% of the 323 VPN users questioned chose Mullvad VPN.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cruz |first=Brett |date=2025-07-31 |title=VPN Use in 2025: Trends, Statistics, and Consumer Sentiment |url=https://www.security.org/resources/vpn-consumer-report-annual/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-15 |website=security.org}}</ref> The company | According to a survey conducted by [https://www.security.org/ security.org], only 2% of the 323 VPN users questioned chose Mullvad VPN.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cruz |first=Brett |date=2025-07-31 |title=VPN Use in 2025: Trends, Statistics, and Consumer Sentiment |url=https://www.security.org/resources/vpn-consumer-report-annual/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-15 |website=security.org |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260219223328/https://www.security.org/resources/vpn-consumer-report-annual/ |archive-date=19 Feb 2026}}</ref> The company sense sates that Mullvad VPN retains an estimated 0.03% market share in the industry,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-15 |title=Mullvad VPN Market Share |url=https://6sense.com/tech/virtual-private-network-vpn/mullvad-vpn-market-share |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-15 |website=6sense.com |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241213053343/https://6sense.com/tech/virtual-private-network-vpn/mullvad-vpn-market-share |archive-date=13 Dec 2024}}</ref> however their methodology for that conclusion is not clearly listed. | ||
Mullvad also provides the service backend for [[Mozilla]] FireFox's VPN.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-04 |title=Mozilla Subscription Services {{!}} Terms of Service |url=https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/about/legal/terms/subscription-services/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-15 |website=mozilla.org}}</ref> | Mullvad also provides the service backend for [[Mozilla]] [[Firefox|FireFox]]'s VPN.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-04 |title=Mozilla Subscription Services {{!}} Terms of Service |url=https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/about/legal/terms/subscription-services/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-15 |website=mozilla.org}} ([http://web.archive.org/web/20251228062252/https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/about/legal/terms/subscription-services/ Archived])</ref> | ||
==Products== | ==Products== | ||
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*'''Mullvad VPN''' - A no-log VPN service used to obfuscate your IP address and increase privacy. | *'''Mullvad VPN''' - A no-log VPN service used to obfuscate your IP address and increase privacy. | ||
*'''Mullvad Browser''' - A browser created in association with {{Wplink|The Tor Project|The Tor Project}}. Out-of-the-box, it includes technology to block third-party cookies, tracking scripts, and browser fingerprints.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-15 |title=Free the internet. With the Mullvad Browser. |url=https://mullvad.net/en/browser |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-15 |website=mullvad.net}}</ref> | *'''Mullvad Browser''' - A browser created in association with {{Wplink|The Tor Project|The Tor Project}}. Out-of-the-box, it includes technology to block third-party [[Web cookie|cookies]], tracking scripts, and browser fingerprints.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-15 |title=Free the internet. With the Mullvad Browser. |url=https://mullvad.net/en/browser |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-15 |website=mullvad.net |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260222220947/https://mullvad.net/en/browser |archive-date=22 Feb 2026}}</ref> | ||
*'''Mullvad Browser Extension''' - A more integrated way to use Mullvad VPN inside of your preferred browser. Automatically included in the Mullvad Browser.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-13 |title=Mullvad Browser Extension |url=https://mullvad.net/en/help/mullvad-browser-extension |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-15 |website=mullvad.net}}</ref> | *'''Mullvad Browser Extension''' - A more integrated way to use Mullvad VPN inside of your preferred browser. Automatically included in the Mullvad Browser.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-13 |title=Mullvad Browser Extension |url=https://mullvad.net/en/help/mullvad-browser-extension |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-15 |website=mullvad.net |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260222220924/https://mullvad.net/en/help/mullvad-browser-extension |archive-date=22 Feb 2026}}</ref> | ||
*'''Encrypted DNS''' - A DNS service to be used when not connected to a VPN and encrypt your DNS queries to prevent your network or {{Wplink|Internet service provider|Internet service provider}} (ISP) from snooping in on your searches.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-14 |title=DNS over HTTPS and DNS over TLS |url=https://mullvad.net/en/help/mullvad-browser-extension |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-15 |website=mullvad.net}}</ref> | *'''Encrypted DNS''' - A DNS service to be used when not connected to a VPN and encrypt your DNS queries to prevent your network or {{Wplink|Internet service provider|Internet service provider}} (ISP) from snooping in on your searches.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-14 |title=DNS over HTTPS and DNS over TLS |url=https://mullvad.net/en/help/mullvad-browser-extension |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-15 |website=mullvad.net |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260222220924/https://mullvad.net/en/help/mullvad-browser-extension |archive-date=22 Feb 2026}}</ref> | ||
*'''Mullvad Leta''' - A proxy for the Google Search API which are cached and shared amongst users to obfuscate users' identity, cleared of third-party tracking links.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-20 |title=Introducing Mullvad Leta: a search engine used in the Mullvad Browser |url=https://mullvad.net/en/blog/introducing-mullvad-leta-a-search-engine-used-in-the-mullvad-browser |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-15 |website=mullvad.net}}</ref> The service was discontinued on 27 November, 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-11-06 |title=Shutting down our search proxy Leta |url=https://mullvad.net/en/blog/shutting-down-our-search-proxy-leta |url-status=live |access-date=2026-01-06 |website=Mullvad}}</ref> | *'''Mullvad Leta''' - A proxy for the Google Search API which are cached and shared amongst users to obfuscate users' identity, cleared of third-party tracking links.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-20 |title=Introducing Mullvad Leta: a search engine used in the Mullvad Browser |url=https://mullvad.net/en/blog/introducing-mullvad-leta-a-search-engine-used-in-the-mullvad-browser |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-15 |website=mullvad.net |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251220103637/https://mullvad.net/en/blog/introducing-mullvad-leta-a-search-engine-used-in-the-mullvad-browser |archive-date=20 Dec 2025}}</ref> The service was discontinued on 27 November, 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-11-06 |title=Shutting down our search proxy Leta |url=https://mullvad.net/en/blog/shutting-down-our-search-proxy-leta |url-status=live |access-date=2026-01-06 |website=Mullvad |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260216054530/https://mullvad.net/en/blog/shutting-down-our-search-proxy-leta |archive-date=16 Feb 2026}}</ref> | ||
==Reception== | ==Reception== | ||
[https://www.pcmag.com PCMag.com] awarded Mullvad with "Best of the Year - 2020" for "Editor's Choice for inexpensive VPNs."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stobing |first=Chris |date=2024-09-20 |title=Mullvad VPN Review |url=https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/mullvad-vpn# |access-date=2025-08-15 |website=pcmag.com}}</ref> | [https://www.pcmag.com PCMag.com] awarded Mullvad with "Best of the Year - 2020" for "Editor's Choice for inexpensive VPNs."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stobing |first=Chris |date=2024-09-20 |title=Mullvad VPN Review |url=https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/mullvad-vpn# |access-date=2025-08-15 |website=pcmag.com |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251230171223/https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/mullvad-vpn |archive-date=30 Dec 2025}}</ref> | ||
A YouTuber and privacy advocate, Mental Outlaw, stated in a video "I just love Mullvad, so that is what I am going to use."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-04-15 |title=How To Torrent Anonymously With Mullvad VPN |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9y29Wxo060 |access-date=2025-08-15 |website=youtube.com}}</ref> | A YouTuber and privacy advocate, Mental Outlaw, stated in a video "I just love Mullvad, so that is what I am going to use."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-04-15 |title=How To Torrent Anonymously With Mullvad VPN |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9y29Wxo060 |access-date=2025-08-15 |website=youtube.com |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=Z9y29Wxo060 |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref> | ||
The Freedom of the Press Foundation has recommended the use of Mullvad among a short list of other VPN services.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Huerta |first=David |date=2018-06-29 |title=An in-depth guide to choosing a VPN |url=https://freedom.press/digisec/blog/choosing-a-vpn/ |journal=Freedom of the Press Foundation}}</ref> | The Freedom of the Press Foundation has recommended the use of Mullvad among a short list of other VPN services.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Huerta |first=David |date=2018-06-29 |title=An in-depth guide to choosing a VPN |url=https://freedom.press/digisec/blog/choosing-a-vpn/ |journal=Freedom of the Press Foundation |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260220220844/https://freedom.press/digisec/blog/choosing-a-vpn/ |archive-date=20 Feb 2026}}</ref> | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||