Head to head · Updated August 13, 2026
Mullvad vs NordVPN
Mullvad takes it by 1.5 points, 85.5 against 84.0. That margin is worth reading past — NordVPN wins 3 of the seven criteria outright.
Mullvad
85.5The strongest privacy posture of any provider in this dataset, and the only one we cannot earn a commission from.
- From
- $5.50/mo
- Based in
- Sweden
- Devices
- 5
- Audits
- 2
We earn nothing from Mullvad. This link is included because the ranking says it belongs here.
NordVPN
84.0The most complete all-round package here, provided you accept closed-source clients and a renewal price well above the introductory rate.
- From
- $3.39/mo
- Based in
- Panama
- Devices
- 10
- Audits
- 2
We earn a commission if you subscribe through this link. It does not change NordVPN’s score.
Criterion by criterion
Mullvad wins 4, NordVPN wins 3. Each row shows the raw score out of ten and the weighted contribution to the total.
| Criterion | Weight | Mullvad | NordVPN | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent audit | 20 | 10/10 (20.0) | 9/10 (18.0) | Mullvad |
| Jurisdiction and ownership | 15 | 6/10 (9.0) | 9/10 (13.5) | NordVPN |
| Protocol and crypto stack | 15 | 9/10 (13.5) | 8/10 (12.0) | Mullvad |
| Leak protection | 15 | 10/10 (15.0) | 9/10 (13.5) | Mullvad |
| Transparency | 15 | 10/10 (15.0) | 6/10 (9.0) | Mullvad |
| Price and refund terms | 10 | 7/10 (7.0) | 8/10 (8.0) | NordVPN |
| Platform coverage | 10 | 6/10 (6.0) | 10/10 (10.0) | NordVPN |
| Total | 100 | 85.5 | 84.0 | Mullvad |
Where each one actually wins
Mullvad is ahead on
- Independent audit. Recurring published audits by Assured AB and Cure53 covering infrastructure, apps and extension.
- Protocol and crypto stack. WireGuard and OpenVPN only, with no proprietary protocol in the stack.
- Leak protection. Kill switch is always on by design across desktop and mobile, with IPv6 and DNS resolved in-tunnel.
- Transparency. All clients are open source, signup issues a random account number with no email, and cash payment is accepted by post.
NordVPN is ahead on
- Jurisdiction and ownership. Incorporated in Panama, outside the Fourteen Eyes agreement, with disclosed parent ownership under Nord Security.
- Price and refund terms. Effective $3.39/month on a 2-year term with a full 30-day refund, but the monthly rate is $12.99 and renewals price higher than the intro term.
- Platform coverage. Native apps across desktop, mobile, Apple TV, Android TV and routers, with 10 simultaneous connections.
Choose Mullvad if
Readers who want the least possible account data held about them.
Choose NordVPN if
Readers who want one subscription to cover a household of mixed devices.
Reasons to pick neither
Skip Mullvad if: Your main reason for buying a VPN is watching a specific streaming catalogue. Mullvad does not chase streaming platforms and does not claim to.
Skip NordVPN if: You need open-source clients or want to pay month to month. At $12.99 monthly it is one of the most expensive short-term options here.
Questions
- Is Mullvad or NordVPN better?
- Mullvad scores higher overall, 85.5 against 84.0, a gap of 1.5 points out of 100. That is close enough that the deciding factor should be which criteria matter to you rather than the total.
- Which is cheaper, Mullvad or NordVPN?
- NordVPN, at $3.39/mo against $5.50/mo. Both rates require committing to the provider’s longest term; the monthly rates are considerably higher.
- Which one has been audited more recently?
- Mullvad, most recently in 2024 against NordVPN’s 2023.
- Does jurisdiction differ between them?
- Yes. Mullvad operates from Sweden and NordVPN from Panama. NordVPN is outside the Fourteen Eyes agreement; the other is not.
Related comparisons
Comparison generated from the same dataset as the ranking. Emphasis criterion definitions are on the rubric page. Criterion labels: Independent audit, Jurisdiction and ownership, Protocol and crypto stack, Leak protection, Transparency, Price and refund terms, Platform coverage.