Mullvad — status

Mullvad is a Swedish VPN service that is widely regarded as one of the most privacy-focused providers in the world. The company’s business model is unique and is entirely built around its core mission of user anonymity. Instead of requiring users to provide an email address, name, or any personal information during signup, Mullvad automatically generates a random, unique 16-digit account number for each user. This number serves as the only form of identification, which users then use to log in and manage their subscription. The company also encourages anonymous payments by accepting cryptocurrencies like Monero and even cash mailed to its office, which further reduces the amount of personal data collected. Unlike many of its competitors, Mullvad operates on a single, flat-rate pricing model, charging a fixed fee per month regardless of the subscription duration. While this means there are no long-term discounts, it ensures a transparent and straightforward pricing structure. The company is known for its strong no-logs policy, which has been independently audited to verify that no user activity or connection data is stored. Mullvad’s commitment to security extends to its proprietary VPN software, which is all open-source, allowing anyone to inspect the code for vulnerabilities. The service supports a range of advanced features, including MultiHop for routing traffic through multiple servers for added security, and a built-in kill switch to prevent data leaks. The company also offers a separate, privacy-focused browser and a secure DNS service.