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Google Chrome vs Mullvad VPN

Google Chrome logo

Google Chrome

Technology

Fast, secure browser built for the modern web

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Mullvad VPN logo

Mullvad VPN

Cybersecurity

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

From
$5/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Google Chrome has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Google Chrome multiple critical security vulnerabilities requiring frequent updates; 151 security flaws patched in Chrome 151 including 22 critical severities; Mullvad VPN offers no free trial or free tier, unlike several consumer VPN competitors.
  • They diverge on capability: Google Chrome covers Fast page loading, Mullvad VPN covers Flat single pricing.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Google Chrome and Mullvad VPN actually diverge.

Attributes where Google Chrome and Mullvad VPN differ
AttributeGoogle ChromeMullvad VPN
Starting priceFree$5/month
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Androidwindows, mac, linux, ios, android
CategoryTechnologyCybersecurity
Founded20082009

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 Google Chrome

  • Fast page loading
  • Extensive extension library
  • Cross-device sync
  • Built-in security
  • Developer tools
  • Incognito mode
  • Password manager
  • Auto-updates

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.

Google Chrome

  • Web browsingnot Mullvad VPN
  • Web developmentnot Mullvad VPN
  • Online researchnot Mullvad VPN
  • Work applicationsnot Mullvad VPN
  • Entertainmentnot Mullvad VPN
  • Educationnot Mullvad VPN

Mullvad VPN

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

Where each one falls short

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

Google Chrome

  • Multiple critical security vulnerabilities requiring frequent updates; 151 security flaws patched in Chrome 151 including 22 critical severities
  • Frequent arbitrary code execution vulnerabilities allow remote attackers to execute code inside sandbox via crafted HTML pages
  • Known use-after-free and integer overflow issues in V8 JavaScript engine and Codecs

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

Google Chrome

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Google Chrome review.

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 Google Chrome if

  • You need fast page loading.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android.
  • You also want extensive extension library.
Google Chrome 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 Google Chrome or Mullvad VPN better?
Neither clearly leads. Google Chrome 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, Google Chrome or Mullvad VPN?
Google Chrome has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Google Chrome and $5/month for Mullvad VPN.
Does Google Chrome or Mullvad VPN run on more platforms?
Google Chrome runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android. Mullvad VPN runs on windows, mac, linux, ios, android.
Can I use Google Chrome for free?
Yes. Google Chrome has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Mullvad VPN starts at $5/month.
What is Google Chrome best used for?
Google Chrome is most often used for web browsing, web development, online research, work applications. Of those, web browsing and web development are not what Mullvad VPN is typically brought in for.
What can Google Chrome do that Mullvad VPN cannot?
Google Chrome covers Fast page loading, Extensive extension library, Cross-device sync, Built-in security. Mullvad VPN covers Flat single pricing, Account-number signup, Cash and crypto payments, WireGuard support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Google Chrome: Does Google Chrome have offline browsing capabilities?

Chrome can display cached versions of previously visited web pages offline. Chrome removed the experimental offline mode flag, but can automatically load cached pages when offline for sites you have visited before.

Source
Google Chrome: Is Google Chrome free to use?

Yes. Google Chrome is completely free to download and use. There are no paid tiers or subscription requirements for standard browsing.

Source
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