Softwr

Government · head to head

Citizen vs Mullvad VPN

Citizen logo

Citizen

Government

Real-time Safety Alerts

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite
M

Mullvad VPN

Cybersecurity

Privacy-first VPN with one flat price and no email required to sign up

From
$5/month
Free plan
No
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Citizen has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Citizen no premium or paid features mentioned; Mullvad VPN offers no free trial or free tier, unlike several consumer VPN competitors.
  • They diverge on capability: Citizen covers Real-time Alerts, Mullvad VPN covers Flat single pricing.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Citizen and Mullvad VPN actually diverge.

Attributes where Citizen and Mullvad VPN differ
AttributeCitizenMullvad VPN
Starting priceFree$5/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsIos, Androidwindows, mac, linux, ios, android
CategoryGovernmentCybersecurity
Founded20162009

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Citizen

  • Real-time Alerts
  • 911 Monitoring
  • Live Video
  • Safety Map
  • Personal Safety
  • Emergency Services
  • Social Media
  • Location Services

Only in Mullvad VPN

  • Flat single pricing
  • Account-number signup
  • Cash and crypto payments
  • WireGuard support
  • Independent audits

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Citizen

  • Citizen Servicesnot Mullvad VPN
  • Records Managementnot Mullvad VPN
  • Public Safetynot Mullvad VPN
  • Civic Engagementnot Mullvad VPN

Mullvad VPN

  • Paying for a VPN anonymously with cash or cryptocurrencynot Citizen
  • Avoiding tiered upsells with a single flat-rate plannot Citizen
  • Signing up without providing an email addressnot Citizen
  • Verifying a provider's privacy claims via independent auditsnot Citizen

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Citizen

  • No premium or paid features mentioned
  • App is completely free with no monetization model disclosed
  • No in-app purchases or premium tier mentioned
  • Subscription or paid features may exist but not disclosed

Mullvad VPN

  • Offers no free trial or free tier, unlike several consumer VPN competitors.
  • Lacks a bundled tiered structure, so there is no cheaper limited plan for occasional users.
  • Server network and streaming-unblocking performance is smaller than large mainstream VPN providers.
  • No annual discount, meaning long-term subscribers pay the same monthly rate as short-term users.

Pricing, plan by plan

Citizen

Free
  • BasicFree
    • Real-time Alerts
    • Incident Feed
    • Safety Map

Mullvad VPN

$5/month
  • Mullvad VPN$5/month
    • Flat rate regardless of subscription length
    • 5 simultaneous devices
    • No email required

Which should you pick?

Choose Citizen if

  • You need real-time alerts.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Ios, Android.
  • You also want 911 monitoring.
Citizen review

Choose Mullvad VPN if

  • You need flat single pricing.
  • You work on windows, mac, linux, ios, android.
  • You also want account-number signup.
Mullvad VPN review

Questions people ask

Is Citizen or Mullvad VPN better?
Neither clearly leads. Citizen starts at Free and Mullvad VPN at $5/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Citizen or Mullvad VPN?
Citizen has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Citizen and $5/month for Mullvad VPN.
Does Citizen or Mullvad VPN run on more platforms?
Citizen runs on Ios, Android. Mullvad VPN runs on windows, mac, linux, ios, android.
Can I use Citizen for free?
Yes. Citizen has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Mullvad VPN starts at $5/month.
What is Citizen best used for?
Citizen is most often used for citizen services, records management, public safety, civic engagement. Of those, citizen services and records management are not what Mullvad VPN is typically brought in for.
What can Citizen do that Mullvad VPN cannot?
Citizen covers Real-time Alerts, 911 Monitoring, Live Video, Safety Map. Mullvad VPN covers Flat single pricing, Account-number signup, Cash and crypto payments, WireGuard support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Citizen: How much does Citizen cost?

Citizen is available as a free app download for iOS and Android. The app includes core safety and alert features at no cost.

Source
Citizen: Are there paid features or premium subscriptions in Citizen?

Citizen's website does not mention paid features, premium subscriptions, or in-app purchases. All advertised features appear to be included in the free app.

Source
Share

Related pages

More on Citizen

More on Mullvad VPN

Keep looking

Other head to heads