Mullvad VPN Review in USA 2023 – Safe VPN but is it worth it?

In our previous Mullvad VPN review in USA, we complained about a small server network and the lack of dedicated apps for both iOS and Android. However, that’s all been taken care of now. One thing Mullvad does better than any VPN out there is anonymity. You don’t even have to provide an email address to get started!

If you ask us, then Mullvad is a VPN that should get more attention than its current stance. It offers robust encryption, and advanced features like Bridge Mode, split tunneling, and port forwarding, along with a strict no-logging policy. However, it’s also a tad bit more expensive than premium VPNs and unable to access various streaming platforms in USA.

Sure, you can argue that ExpressVPN is better and that cannot change, but Mullvad is also capable of delivering great performance in USA. After weighing all the pros and cons, we have given Mullvad a 4.4/10-star rating.

Mullvad VPN Review in USA Pros & Cons

Jurisdiction – How Safe is Mullvad VPN in USA?

Mullvad is one of the most secure VPNs to use online in USA. The provider doesn’t keep any logs or collect any personal information. It further uses the latest technology to ensure that your internet traffic cannot be tracked.

As for its headquarters, Mullvad is a Swedish VPN provider that’s renowned in the Nordic region. Even though technically Sweden is a part of the 14 Eyes, Mullvad keeps no logs and doesn’t require any information when signing up making it actually safe to use.

Even more impressive is the fact that the EU’s Data Retention Directive doesn’t apply to Mullvad because it’s technically not considered an electronics communications service.

As we mentioned earlier, you don’t have to provide any information to purchase a subscription plan. Mullvad generates a random 16-digit account number which you can use to login into your account. Another reason why we think Mullvad is safe in USA is that it accepts anonymous Bitcoin payments.

Security – Does Mullvad VPN Keep Logs in USA?

Mullvad has an underlying policy that it doesn’t store any activity logs in USA. It strongly believes in having a minimal data retention policy since the provider wants you to stay anonymous. It keeps the customers’ activity logs, which means it does not retain any information about your activity on its server. Here are some points about the information Mullvad doesn’t collect:

We log nothing whatsoever that can be connected to a numbered account’s activity

• No logging of traffic
• No logging of DNS requests
• No logging of connections, including when one is made, when it disconnects, for how long, or any timestamp
• No logging of IP addresses
• No logging of user bandwidth
• No logging of account activity except total simultaneous connections and payment information 

Mullvad VPN privacy in USA

If you’re concerned about your privacy, then Mullvad is the right option for you. As we mentioned earlier, you can purchase a subscription without providing them with even the slightest of your personal details. Not even your email address. To sign in to your account, you just need a 16-digit code.

You don’t need to register through your email!

To remain unidentified, you can also pay with cash, so there are no traces going back to you. This reveals Mullvad’s length to keep you private. Until you don’t pay through PayPal, Stripe, and Swish, the provider cannot tie your account to you.

Encryption & Other Features in USA

From a security standpoint, Mullvad packs in powerful VPN protocols in USA. You get not only OpenVPN but also the latest WireGuard in USA  protocol. The OpenVPN option comes with military-grade encryption, and the WireGuard option certainly gives Mullvad a distinct advantage over other providers.

Does Mullvad VPN have a kill switch in USA?

Mullvad’s apps offer a built-in automatic Kill Switch that’s always on. To enable it, you just need to connect to Mullvad. The feature will instantly block the internet if you click ‘Quit’ or ‘Disconnect.’

You can see that it blocked our internet when our VPN disconnected.

Kill Switch prevents your sensitive information from accidentally leaking in case your VPN connection malfunctions. You can find this option labeled as “Block when disconnected.”

Mullvad DNS Leak Protection in USA

If you’re using Mullvad’s app, it usually protects you from DNS leaks unless you visit the settings and enable “Use custom DNS server.” However, if you’re utilising DNS over TLS (DoT) or HTTPS (DoH) instead of DNS, then the app won’t be able to protect those DNS leaks. In case you want to use that, you can utilize their DoT and DoH servers.

Mullvad SOCKS5 Proxy in USA

Another awesome feature that not many VPN providers aside from Mullvad offer is the SOCKS5 proxy. This feature can make you even more anonymous on the web. It also prevents issues like CAPTCHA verification which is super helpful.

You can configure Mullvad’s SOCKS5 proxy on your browser, which will direct all of your traffic via Mullvad. This way, even if you forget to use its proprietary app, you will still be protected by Mullvad VPN.

Leaks – Does Mullvad Leak IP, DNS, WebRTC in USA?

Thanks to built-in leak protection, Mullvad is totally leakproof. During our testing, Mullvad VPN managed not to expose our IP, DNS, and WebRTC information. Here are some screenshots for proof:

IP Leak Test:

Let’s start with the IP leak test in USA. To check for any leaks, we connected to a Canadian server location (ca1-wireguard.mullvad.net). As you can see from the screenshot below, our default IP address is not being exposed anywhere. Pretty impressed so far.

This means that you’re safe to use Mullvad.

DNS Leak Test:

Next, let’s check for any DNS leaks. Thanks to the built-in DNS leak protection and the fact that Mullvad uses its own DNS servers, Mullvad passed this test too without any issues. Check out the screenshot below.

This ensured that you’re absolutely secure while using Mullvad.

WebRTC Leak Test:

As for the WebRTC leak test, Mullvad VPN passed this test too without any effort at all. Just check out the screenshot. As you can see, our original IP is not being detected.

You’re safe on every browser with this VPN.

Virus Test:

Finally, we also ran Mullvad VPN’s app through VirusTotal.com and found no hidden viruses. This is quite impressive. Just check out the screenshot of the result below:

Mullvad’s apps are safe to download on all devices.

You can also check our guide on best VPN with DNS leak protection and provides complete security with high connectivity speeds.

Servers – Is Mullvad Good for Torrenting in USA?

Out of the 50+ VPNs we tested, Mullvad can be called the sixth-best torrenting VPN. This VPN offers robust ChaCha20 and AES 256-bit encryption, doesn’t collect any user or activity logs, and quickly downloads torrent files. That’s seriously impressive, considering that it only offers 800+ servers in 40 countries.

Now, its server network isn’t too expansive like ExpressVPN, which offers 3000+ servers in 94 countries.

Speaking of servers, we like that they have a separate server page with all sorts of information related to their servers. They let users sort out the perfect server depending on the country, city, and provider. You can also sort out servers based on the following server types:

• OpenVPN servers
• WireGuard servers
• Bridge servers

Mullvad VPN Speed – How Fast is Mullvad VPN in USA?

Mullvad is decently fast. We conducted some essential tests after connecting to Mullvad’s servers, and they went great. The download speeds averaged 68 Mbps worldwide. Before we share with you the speed test results, here’s a screenshot of our default internet connection speed:

Since we own a 100 Mbps connection, our speeds were being throttled by our ISP.

US Server:

With the US – Atlanta server of Mullvad VPN, we managed to get fast speeds on this local server. On average, Mullvad’s US servers managed to output 64.14 Mbps download speeds.

We faced a speed drop of 36% on our local US server.

Canadian Server:

While connected to Mullvad’s Canada – Montreal server, we managed to get around 58.81 Mbps downloading speed. Not bad at all, considering that the country is quite near to our physical location.

Our Mullvad VPN speeds dropped by 42% on the Canadian server.

UK Server:

Finally, on the UK – London server of Mullvad VPN, we managed to get on average 42.91 Mbps download speed. Although slightly slower, however, nothing worth complaining about.

On its UK server, our speeds dropped by 58%.

Overall, Mullvad is plenty fast and should give you no connectivity issues. Just make sure to always connect to servers that are actually close to your physical location.

Streaming – Does Mullvad Work with Netflix in USA?

Mullvad doesn’t work reliably with Netflix. We tested its 10+ US servers and only its Los Angeles server unblocked US Netflix. However, the streaming was inconsistent. Mullvad was unable to unblock all non-US regions. Therefore, we don’t recommend using it with Netflix, or generally for streaming.

Streaming content without lags was quite difficult with the VPN.

So, if you want to change the Netflix region in USA and unblock all its popular libraries, then you need a solid VPN like ExpressVPN. Per our tests, ExpressVPN and Netflix work great together, thereby offering HD-quality streams at all times.

Other streaming services that work with Mullvad in USA

Apart from US Netflix, Mullvad doesn’t unblock other streaming platforms. These include Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, HBO Max, and Hulu. We tried accessing HBO Max and kept seeing its geo-restriction error every time we accessed it.

After checking Mullvad’s connection and testing 5 US servers with the streaming platform, we could easily say that HBO Max cannot be unblocked with this VPN. We then connected to its UK server and tried unblocking Channel 4 and iPlayer. However, we faced similar problems while doing so.

Overall, per our Mullvad review, this VPN can only unblock US Netflix, nothing else. Streaming is something that isn’t the VPN’s forte, so technically, we shouldn’t be annoyed and simply opt for ExpressVPN.

Compatibility – Which Devices Can I Use with Mullvad VPN in USA?

Mullvad supports macOS High Sierra (10.15) and later, Windows 10 and later, as well as Linux distributions Ubuntu 20.04+, Debian 10+, and the latest two releases of Fedora. It also offers WireGuard and OpenVPN setup files for all devices supported by them. However, we’re not big fans of OpenVPN manual setup configurations.

Also, Mullvad is compatible with DD-WRT routers in USA. You can set it up on your router with their simple 15-step process guide. Overall, app compatibility is not a big issue for Mullvad, and you can even use a single account of 5 devices simultaneously.

App Installation & Ease of Use

Mullvad VPN’s apps are clean, sleek, and pretty easy to use. We actually liked how every feature is explained within the app, making it a great choice for all novice users. All apps seem identical and we faced no bugs while using them.

Mullvad VPN for Windows, macOS, & Linux

If we talk about the Windows and macOS apps of Mullvad, they’re pretty decent looking. These apps are also fast and come with a decent amount of options as well. You can easily enable the Kill Switch feature and leak protection by simply tapping on toggle switches. We also like their server selection setup. It’s not overly complicated, which is super convenient.

Navigating through the app was pretty easy.

Similarly, Mullvad has designed a custom privacy solution for Linux as well. As for usability, Mullvad VPN’s Linux client comes packed with security features like DNS leak protection and a Kill Switch. Overall, their desktop apps are very well designed.

Mullvad VPN for iOS & Android

Even their iOS and Android apps are very pleasing to use. You’re not going to notice any lags or bugs. The only thing we wish they could improve upon is adding more options. As for mobile app ratings, Mullvad VPN has a 4.2-star rating on iTunes. As for their Android app rating, it is currently not mentioned on the Google Play Store.

Pricing – How Much Does Mullvad Cost in USA?

The Mullvad VPN price is pretty decent. They only offer one monthly flat-rate plan, which costs €5.00 ($5.33/mo). We like this subscription plan because you can pay as you go instead of committing to long-term subscriptions. As for payment methods, Mullvad accepts a ton of payment options. Just check out this list:

• Bitcoin
• Bitcoin Cash
• Cash
• Bank Wire
• Credit card
• PayPal
• Swish (Swiss mobile payment tool)
• Mullvad VPN Voucher

Last but not least, let’s talk about refunds. Similar to other renowned VPNs, it offers a 30-day refund policy, so you can use Mullvad VPN free for a month. Just keep in mind that you will not get refunded if you pay through cash due to “anti-money laundering regulations.” You can learn more about refunds here.

Mullvad VPN Customer Support in USA

According to Mullvad’s official website, they offer customer support only through email to support@mullvad.net. Now, as you might have guessed already, they don’t offer any live chat support. This can be a bit disappointing for some users.

However, Mullvad’s help center is pretty helpful with intuitive and clearly-written guides for installation and troubleshooting. But, if you want a direct answer to one of your queries, then you can contact them through email. We tested this by sending them an email and got an informative response within 5 hours. Truth be told, we were impressed!

FAQs – Mullvad VPN Review in USA

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Do We Recommend Mullvad VPN in USA?

So concluding this Mullvad VPN review in USA 2023, yes, we recommend Mullvad. There are plenty of reasons why. First off, its token-based account creation is super unique. We love that you don’t need to provide any information to create an account. Also, Mullvad offers tons of features. It is also fast and works quite well for torrenting and gaming.

But what really separates Mullvad from other VPNs is its simple and straightforward mode of operation. Even if you’re a newbie, you’re going to love Mullvad. Overall, just because it lacks live chat support, we have given the service a 4.4/10 stars rating.

That’s all for our Mullvad VPN review in USA. Subscribe to it now!