Head to head · Updated August 13, 2026
Mullvad vs Surfshark
Mullvad takes it by 10 points, 85.5 against 75.5. That margin is worth reading past — Surfshark wins 2 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.
Surfshark
75.5The cheapest credible option per device, weakened by a Nine Eyes jurisdiction and common ownership with NordVPN.
- From
- $2.49/mo
- Based in
- Netherlands
- Devices
- Unlimited
- Audits
- 2
We earn nothing from Surfshark. This link is included because the ranking says it belongs here.
Criterion by criterion
Mullvad wins 4, Surfshark wins 2, 1 tied. Each row shows the raw score out of ten and the weighted contribution to the total.
| Criterion | Weight | Mullvad | Surfshark | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent audit | 20 | 10/10 (20.0) | 8/10 (16.0) | Mullvad |
| Jurisdiction and ownership | 15 | 6/10 (9.0) | 5/10 (7.5) | Mullvad |
| Protocol and crypto stack | 15 | 9/10 (13.5) | 9/10 (13.5) | Tied |
| Leak protection | 15 | 10/10 (15.0) | 8/10 (12.0) | Mullvad |
| Transparency | 15 | 10/10 (15.0) | 5/10 (7.5) | Mullvad |
| Price and refund terms | 10 | 7/10 (7.0) | 9/10 (9.0) | Surfshark |
| Platform coverage | 10 | 6/10 (6.0) | 10/10 (10.0) | Surfshark |
| Total | 100 | 85.5 | 75.5 | 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.
- Jurisdiction and ownership. Sweden participates in the Fourteen Eyes agreement, but Mullvad holds no email, name or payment identity to hand over.
- 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.
Surfshark is ahead on
- Price and refund terms. Lowest effective monthly rate here at $2.49 on a 2-year term, with unlimited devices and a 30-day refund.
- Platform coverage. Native apps on every major platform including TV, and unlimited simultaneous connections.
Choose Mullvad if
Readers who want the least possible account data held about them.
Choose Surfshark if
Households or shared accounts covering many devices on one subscription.
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 Surfshark if: Jurisdiction matters to your threat model, or you want a provider independent of Nord Security.
Questions
- Is Mullvad or Surfshark better?
- Mullvad scores higher overall, 85.5 against 75.5, a gap of 10 points out of 100. The strongest privacy posture of any provider in this dataset, and the only one we cannot earn a commission from.
- Which is cheaper, Mullvad or Surfshark?
- Surfshark, at $2.49/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 Surfshark’s 2023.
- Does jurisdiction differ between them?
- Yes. Mullvad operates from Sweden and Surfshark from Netherlands. Surfshark 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.