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ExpressVPN vs Mullvad VPN

ExpressVPN logo

ExpressVPN

Software

High-speed, secure, and anonymous VPN service

From
$6.67/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Mullvad VPN logo

Mullvad VPN

Software

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

From
$5/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: ExpressVPN the App Store listing (seller Expressco Services, LLC) states subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the billing period, and that any unused portion of a free trial is forfeited on purchase; Mullvad VPN offers no free trial or free tier, unlike several consumer VPN competitors.
  • They diverge on capability: ExpressVPN covers Lightway protocol, Mullvad VPN covers Flat single pricing.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where ExpressVPN and Mullvad VPN differ
AttributeExpressVPNMullvad VPN
Starting price$6.67/month$5/month
PlatformsWeb, Desktop, Mobile, Apiwindows, mac, linux, ios, android

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown), founded (2009).

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 ExpressVPN

  • Lightway protocol
  • TrustedServer technology
  • Network Lock kill switch
  • Split tunneling
  • No activity logs
  • Private DNS
  • Speed test
  • MediaStreamer

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.

ExpressVPN

  • Vpnnot Mullvad VPN
  • Privacynot Mullvad VPN
  • Streamingnot Mullvad VPN

Mullvad VPN

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

Where each one falls short

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

ExpressVPN

  • The App Store listing (seller Expressco Services, LLC) states subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the billing period, and that any unused portion of a free trial is forfeited on purchase
  • The same listing caps a single ExpressVPN subscription at 14 simultaneous device connections

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

ExpressVPN

$6.67/month
  • 1 Month$12.95/month
    • 8 devices
    • 94 countries
    • Unlimited bandwidth
  • 12 Months$6.67/month
    • All features
    • 3 months free
    • Best value
  • 6 Months$9.99/month
    • All features
    • 30-day guarantee

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 ExpressVPN if

  • You need lightway protocol.
  • You work on Web, Desktop, Mobile, Api.
  • You also want trustedserver technology.
ExpressVPN 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 ExpressVPN or Mullvad VPN better?
Neither clearly leads. ExpressVPN starts at $6.67/month and Mullvad VPN at $5/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ExpressVPN or Mullvad VPN?
ExpressVPN starts at $6.67/month and Mullvad VPN at $5/month.
Does ExpressVPN or Mullvad VPN run on more platforms?
ExpressVPN runs on Web, Desktop, Mobile, Api. Mullvad VPN runs on windows, mac, linux, ios, android.
What is ExpressVPN best used for?
ExpressVPN is most often used for vpn, privacy, streaming. Of those, vpn and privacy are not what Mullvad VPN is typically brought in for.
What can ExpressVPN do that Mullvad VPN cannot?
ExpressVPN covers Lightway protocol, TrustedServer technology, Network Lock kill switch, Split tunneling. Mullvad VPN covers Flat single pricing, Account-number signup, Cash and crypto payments, WireGuard support.
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