ExpressVPN vs. Mullvad VPN 2024: Who Wins, Privacy Purist or Streaming Buff? (2024)

Keep reading to learn more about ExpressVPN vs. Mullvad VPN on features, pricing plans, streaming ability, and more.

ExpressVPN vs. Mullvad VPN at a glance

If you are seeking a virtual private network (VPN)that can safeguard your privacy while offering security, you may be trying to decide between ExpressVPN and Mullvad. Although both VPN solutions use military-grade encryption and offer various features that optimize your online experience, they have some key differences.

For one, ExpressVPN is more expensive, with a higher starting price of $6.67/mo (billed annually) versus Mullvad's starting price of €5.00/mo (about $5.45/mo) (a flat rate for all of its pricing plans). But ExpressVPN offers 24/7 live chat support, whereas Mullvad only accepts email inquiries during weekday office hours — a potential deal breaker if you need the assurance of available help around the clock.

• ExpressVPN: Best for streaming
• Mullvad VPN: Best for privacy purists

How do ExpressVPN and Mullvad VPN compare?

ExpressVPN pros and cons

ExpressVPN was capable of unblocking geo-restricted content on all of the streaming platforms we tested from VPN servers in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and Australia. We really enjoyed that ExpressVPN could access Netflix libraries from across the world. Of the two VPNs, ExpressVPN is certainly our winner when it comes to streaming. In fact, it's one of the best VPNs for streaming available. Plus, ExpressVPN boasts its proprietary Lightway protocol, which ensures steady speeds and enhanced security.

The only real downside to ExpressVPN is its higher-than-average costs. Comparable VPN providers offer secure services at up to half the price of ExpressVPN.

Mullvad VPN pros and cons

Mullvad VPN is perfect for privacy-minded users who want to purchase a VPN anonymously. Its novelty is that it has a forever-fixed price and monthly subscriptions only, so there's no long-term commitment. Plus, Mullvad VPN comes with the Mullvad Browser, which offers strong WebRTC protection and is one of the best privacy browsers.

Compared to top-tier VPN services, Mullvad VPN lacks robust security features and has a significantly lower server count in fewer countries. Most reliable VPNs boast a much larger server network of thousands of servers in 100+ countries. Mullvad VPN also ost its advantage over other services when it removed its port forwarding capabilities.

Prices

ExpressVPN vs. Mullvad VPN: payment options

Both ExpressVPN and Mullvad VPN offer various payment options, ranging from credit cards to PayPal to cryptocurrency. If you’re seeking more private payment options, Mullvad allows you to pay with cash by sending it in the mail with your generated account number. This helps you retain anonymity since no name or other identifying information is needed.

Keep in mind that if you do pay with cash, Mullvad can't provider any refunds or money-back guarantees to comply with anti-money laundering regulations.

ExpressVPN payment options

• Credit cards
• PayPal
• bitcoin
• Other payment options, including UnionPay, IDeal, QIWI, Sofort, Giropay, SEPA, and more

Mullvad VPN payment options

• Credit or debit card
• PayPal
• Cash via mail
• Voucher
• Cryptocurrencies (e.g., bitcoin, bitcoin cash, Monero)
• Other payment options, including bank wire, Swish, Giropay, Eps transfer, Bancontact, iDEAL, and Przelewy24

Which VPN is more secure?

ExpressVPN has a larger server presence, with servers in 105 countries worldwide, even though its exact number of servers is unknown at the time of this review. Mullvad is more forthcoming, with 675+ servers stationed in 40+ countries.

Both ExpressVPN and Mullvad VPN come with standard features, like a kill switch and split tunneling. However, Mullvad’s split tunneling function is only available for Windows, Linux, and Android. ExpressVPN has split tunneling for Windows, macOS, and Android, but it is not available on macOS 11 and above.

Both services place a high value on privacy in addition to military-grade encryption for security, with strict no-logs policies in place that have been audited by independent third-party companies to protect your privacy as you engage in online activities.

Another thing to consider is the jurisdiction of their headquarters. ExpressVPN’s base is in the British Virgin Islands, outside of any intelligence alliances, while Mullvad is headquartered in Sweden, part of the Nine Eyes alliance.

Which VPN is faster?

We evaluated our internet speeds while using ExpressVPN and Mullvad VPN to determine how fast their servers are in locations worldwide. Prior to our speed tests, we obtained our baseline speed on our test device, a 2017 Macbook Pro running the latest OS version of Ventura, while based in Los Angeles, California, U.S.

ExpressVPN is clearly the faster VPN compared to Mullvad, with its faster download speeds across server locations in the U.S., the U.K., and Australia. It's expected that connecting to a VPN server will reduce your internet speeds because the VPN encrypts and routes your internet traffic. What's unexpected is for a VPN to actually boost your speeds, as we see with ExpressVPN and NordVPN.

Mullvad VPN has marginally better upload speeds when connected to some servers, but we noticed a significant impact on overall system performance when using Mullvad. ExpressVPN is the better choice for streaming and gaming enthusiasts alike.

Compatibility and customer support

Both ExpressVPN and Mullvad VPN have simple and intuitive interfaces that are easy to navigate. We didn’t have any trouble finding the settings on either VPN. Both VPNs are also compatible with popular operating systems such as Windows, macOS, and Linux and offer mobile apps for Android and iOS.

Additionally, both offer support for various routers. However, ExpressVPN provides a broader range of support for smart devices like smart TVs and gaming consoles. Mullvad appears only to offer support for Android TV, as stated on its website. Sadly, it doesn't seem to support any gaming consoles.

When considering customer support, ExpressVPN appears to have the upper hand. Its 24/7 live chat is a plus if you want readily available access to help with time-sensitive problems. Mullvad lacks 24/7 live chat support, and it only accepts email inquiries during weekday office hours in Central European Time. This is a significant downside when it comes to customer service.

That being said, ExpressVPN and Mullvad both offer comprehensive online guides and blogs, which are very helpful in troubleshooting common issues, setting up the VPN, and explaining their features better. We really appreciate that ExpressVPN offers instant live chat support, however, so it gets more brownie points from us.

FAQs

Is ExpressVPN or Mullvad VPN better?

When weighing ExpressVPN and Mullvad VPN in a head-to-head comparison, ExpressVPN is the better VPN service for a few reasons. It's capable of unblocking a wide variety of geo-restricted content on multiple streaming services, has a larger network of server locations, offers more advanced security features, and provides 24/7 live chat support.

However, ExpressVPN's pricing is expensive compared to other top-tier VPNs like NordVPN, Surfshark, or CyberGhost.

Mullvad is a great VPN choice for privacy purists with its features that help protect anonymity and privacy-focused payment methods like cash in the mail and cryptocurrency. More importantly, Mullvad doesn't require any user information, such as your name and email, to generate an account. Instead, Mullvad lets you generate a random account number as your identifier, which is all you need to log into your account after paying for a plan.

But not all that glitters is gold. Mullvad VPN lacks support for popular streaming services in multiple regions globally, has a smaller network of servers, and doesn't offer live 24/7 chat support for those who require immediate help.

ExpressVPN vs. Mullvad VPN alternatives

if you're looking for a better price point, need even more robust security features, or simply want unlimited simultaneous connections, consider these tested VPN alternatives.

Kate is an Editor at All About Cookies. She has 8+ years of digital publishing experience as a content manager, developmental editor, and curriculum writer. She leverages specializations in EdTech and educational publishing to create impactful, well-researched content that aids learners of all ages.