TL;DR: Mullvad is the most privacy-focused VPN I’ve tested, but it’s not perfect for developers. Anonymous signup, no logs, solid speeds (200+ Mbps), but lacks streaming optimization and costs more than alternatives. Worth it if privacy trumps convenience — otherwise, NordVPN offers better dev features at a lower price.
I’ve been using Mullvad for 8 months now, and honestly? It’s complicated. Everyone in the privacy community swears by it, but as a developer juggling client work, personal projects, and the occasional Netflix binge, I needed to see if the hype matched reality.
Who should read this: Developers and tech professionals weighing Mullvad against mainstream VPN options, especially those who prioritize privacy but still need reliable performance for work.
What Makes Mullvad Different (And Why Privacy Nerds Love It)
Mullvad isn’t your typical VPN company. They don’t want your email, your name, or even a credit card. You get an account number — that’s it. I paid with a prepaid card, and they literally have zero personal information about me.
The technical approach is refreshingly straightforward. They run their own servers (no sketchy third-party hosting), publish regular transparency reports, and their entire client is open source. I’ve actually browsed their GitHub repo — it’s cleaner than most commercial software I’ve worked with.
Here’s what caught my attention: they use RAM-only servers. Everything gets wiped on reboot. Most VPN companies claim “no logs” but still write temporary data to disk. Mullvad’s infrastructure design makes logging practically impossible.
Speed Tests: The Good and Disappointing
I tested Mullvad from my home office in Austin, Texas across different servers over two months. Here’s what I found:
| Location | No VPN | Mullvad Speed | Speed Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas, TX | 320 Mbps | 285 Mbps | 11% |
| Chicago, IL | 320 Mbps | 220 Mbps | 31% |
| London, UK | 320 Mbps | 180 Mbps | 44% |
| Tokyo, JP | 320 Mbps | 95 Mbps | 70% |
For development work, anything above 100 Mbps is fine. Video calls stayed stable, Git operations felt snappy, and Docker image pulls didn’t make me want to throw my laptop out the window.
But here’s where things get weird: Mullvad’s app is almost too simple. No server load indicators, no automatic best-server selection. You pick a location and hope for the best.
The Developer Experience Reality Check
Port Forwarding — This is where Mullvad shines. Need to expose a local development server? Easy. Their port forwarding actually works consistently, unlike some competitors where it breaks randomly and ruins your demo day.
Git/SSH Performance — Solid. I never had authentication issues or weird connection drops during long git push operations. Some VPNs mess with SSH key handshakes; Mullvad doesn’t.
API Development — Mixed bag. Testing webhooks and external API integrations worked fine, but I did hit rate limiting issues with some services that got suspicious of Mullvad’s IP ranges. Nothing major, just annoying.
Split Tunneling — Here’s a frustration: Mullvad doesn’t offer split tunneling on all platforms. Sometimes I want Slack and email outside the tunnel while keeping browser traffic protected. Had to use workarounds.
Privacy vs Practicality Trade-offs
✅ What Mullvad Nails:
- Anonymous signup (seriously, no email required)
- Open source clients you can audit
- Accepts crypto payments
- Sweden-based (strong privacy laws)
- WireGuard implementation is rock solid
- No bandwidth limits or connection caps
❌ Where It Falls Short:
- Streaming services block most servers aggressively
- No 24/7 live chat (email only)
- Mobile apps feel basic compared to competitors
- Costs €5 ($5.50) monthly with no discounts
- Server network smaller than NordVPN or Surfshark
The streaming thing is real. I couldn’t reliably watch Netflix, Hulu, or even YouTube TV. For a work-focused VPN, maybe that doesn’t matter. But when you’re winding down after debugging for 12 hours, it’s annoying.
Mullvad vs The Competition: Where Your Money Goes
| VPN | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost | Streaming | Port Forwarding | Privacy Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mullvad | $5.50 | $66.00 | ❌ | ✅ | 10/10 |
| NordVPN | $3.99 | $47.88 | ✅ | ❌ | 8/10 |
| Surfshark | $2.49 | $29.88 | ✅ | ✅ | 7/10 |
| ExpressVPN | $8.32 | $99.84 | ✅ | ❌ | 8/10 |
NordVPN consistently beats Mullvad on price and features, but their privacy practices aren’t as bulletproof. If you’re just trying to secure coffee shop WiFi and access geo-blocked content, Nord makes more sense.
Surfshark offers the best value proposition — unlimited simultaneous connections, decent privacy, and streaming that actually works. But their no-logs claim isn’t as independently verified as Mullvad’s.
Real-World Use Cases: When Mullvad Makes Sense
Scenario 1: You’re a security researcher or work with sensitive client data. Mullvad’s anonymity and proven no-logs policy justify the premium.
Scenario 2: You primarily work from cafes or co-working spaces and need reliable protection without corporate monitoring features.
Scenario 3: You’re philosophically committed to supporting privacy-first companies, even if it means sacrificing some convenience.
When to skip Mullvad: If you want a VPN that doubles as a streaming solution, need 24/7 support for business use, or are budget-conscious and don’t handle sensitive data regularly.
Installation and Daily Use: The Technical Bits
Setting up Mullvad took about 3 minutes. Download the app, enter your account number, pick a server. Done.
The WireGuard configuration is particularly clean if you want to set up custom routing:
# Generate Mullvad WireGuard config
curl -sSL https://api.mullvad.net/wg/ \
-d account=[your-account-number] \
-d pubkey=[your-public-key] \
--output mullvad-config.conf
# Import to WireGuard
sudo wg-quick up ./mullvad-config.confTheir kill switch actually works reliably (I tested by unplugging ethernet mid-download), and the DNS leak protection caught several attempts by websites to bypass the tunnel.
One neat feature: they provide their own DNS servers (194.242.2.2) that block ads and trackers by default. Saved me from configuring Pi-hole.
Bottom Line
Mullvad is the VPN equivalent of driving a manual transmission sports car. It’s pure, focused, and does exactly what it promises without compromise. But it’s not for everyone.
If privacy is your top priority and you don’t need streaming or premium support, Mullvad delivers. The €5 monthly cost stings compared to discounted annual plans elsewhere, but you’re paying for principles and proven technology.
For most developers though? NordVPN offers 90% of the benefits at 60% of the cost, with better streaming and more server options. Unless you’re handling genuinely sensitive data or philosophically opposed to data collection, the mainstream alternatives make more financial sense.
I’m keeping my Mullvad subscription because I appreciate what they stand for, but I understand why it’s not everyone’s first choice.
Resources
- Mullvad Official Site — Download apps and manage your account
- Mullvad Server List — Current server locations and load status
- Privacy Guides VPN Comparison — Independent VPN analysis focused on privacy
- NordVPN Developer Plans — Alternative with better streaming and lower costs
- Mechanical Keyboard for Coding — worth every penny for long sessions
- USB-C Hub for Multi-Monitor — clean desk, more screens
- Developer Desk Mat — the little things matter
Gear That Made a Difference
Some gear recommendations from my daily coding setup:
- Blue Light Blocking Glasses — late night coding without the headache
- Wireless Ergonomic Mouse — RSI prevention for heavy coders
- 4K Webcam for Meetings — look professional on every call
— John Calloway writes about developer tools, AI, and building profitable side projects at Calloway.dev. Follow for weekly deep-dives.*