Mullvad and ExpressVPN sit at opposite ends of the market. Mullvad is a privacy-first cooperative that accepts anonymous payments and is fully transparent. ExpressVPN has polished the premium VPN experience for…
Swedish VPN that signs you up with a random account number and charges a flat 5 euros a month. Suits privacy-first users who can live without streaming.
A premium-priced VPN based in the British Virgin Islands, with RAM-only servers and a no-logs policy audited 23 times. It suits travelers and journalists.
Mullvad and ExpressVPN sit at opposite ends of the market. Mullvad is a privacy-first cooperative that accepts anonymous payments and is fully transparent. ExpressVPN has polished the premium VPN experience for mainstream users.
Their approach to privacy is the clearest difference. Mullvad accepts anonymous cash payments, assigns random account numbers in place of email addresses and is transparent about its infrastructure. ExpressVPN is secure, but it runs a conventional business with traditional account management and customer-focused services.
Mullvad charges exactly €5/month to everyone and runs no promotional pricing. ExpressVPN's price varies a lot with the length of your subscription. Streaming goes clearly to ExpressVPN, which has dedicated infrastructure and SmartPlay technology. Geo-unblocking is not a priority for Mullvad.
Mullvad offers the WireGuard protocol and detailed technical documentation for privacy enthusiasts. ExpressVPN concentrates on being easy to use and connects without fuss. Its 24/7 support is thorough, while Mullvad provides technical, privacy-focused help by email.
| Feature | Mullvad | Express VPN |
|---|---|---|
Ad & Tracker Blocking | ||
Anonymous Payment Methods | ||
Connection Protocols | ||
Custom VPN Protocols | ||
Customer Support Availability | ||
Dedicated IP Option | ||
Encryption Standard | ||
Independent Audits | ||
IPv6 Leak Protection | ||
Kill Switch | ||
Multi-Hop | ||
No-logs Policy | ||
Open Source Apps | ||
RAM-only Servers | ||
Simultaneous Connections | ||
Split Tunneling | ||
Streaming Support | ||
Support Channels | ||
Torrenting Support |
What you want from a VPN makes the choice clear. Choose Mullvad if privacy comes first and you value transparent business practices and anonymous payment options, provided you don't need streaming. Choose ExpressVPN if you want a full-featured service that excels at streaming, with premium customer support and user-friendly apps. No provider suits privacy purists better than Mullvad. Mainstream users who need versatility get better overall value from ExpressVPN.
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