ExpressVPN vs Mullvad VPN 2024

Agnieszka Stec

Cybersecurity Researcher

ExpressVPN and Mullvad VPN are both heavy hitters in the online security space. But how does one of the best-known VPNs compare to Reddit’s top recommended service? In short: pretty well, but Mullvad VPN fell somewhat short of my expectations.

In my tests, I evaluated both VPNs across various features, including speed, streaming, torrenting, gaming, privacy policies, and more. The good news is that both offer fast speeds and fantastic security. However, I found that Mullvad VPN wasn’t as reliable for streaming, and its server network left a lot to be desired.

Overall, the win goes to ExpressVPN, as it’s a better all-rounder service than Mullvad. While it’s on the pricier side, you’ll get all the features you need to browse, stream, game, and more without risking your data. Plus, you can try it risk-free as it’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.

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Short on Time? Here Are My Key Findings

Streaming — Only ExpressVPN Is Reliable For Streaming

ExpressVPN is a clear winner here, as it consistently works with numerous streaming platforms. Plus, in my tests, it offered faster speeds and viewing without buffering. In contrast, Mullvad VPN faces challenges with certain platforms and does not specifically optimize its servers for streaming.

ExpressVPN's Smart DNS feature (MediaStreamer) enables HD streaming on devices that traditionally do not support VPNs, like smart TVs and gaming consoles. Mullvad offers a similar option (Local network sharing), which allows access to other devices on the local network.

It only took me a few seconds to connect to Disney+ and start streaming

Both VPNs provide extensive server networks, but ExpressVPN's larger global presence means you're bound to find a server in your country to safely watch any content. This, coupled with fast speeds, means you're more likely to enjoy uninterrupted streaming of your local platforms.

With Mullvad VPN I streamed "Hamilton Sing-Along" with no issues

Winner

ExpressVPN stands out with its broader compatibility with major streaming sites and its Smart DNS feature, MediaStreamer.

Server Network — ExpressVPN Has Better Server Coverage

Both VPNs offer robust server networks, but ExpressVPN has a much larger network that enhances connection speeds and global accessibility. Apart from physical servers offered by both VPNs, ExpressVPN also has virtual servers in locations where it might be difficult to maintain stable and fast connections with physical servers, such as India or Japan.

ExpressVPN and Mullvad VPN offer RAM-only servers that wipe all data upon rebooting, ensuring a high level of security and data protection. Additionally, Mullvad lets you see if the servers are owned by it or rented, which is just another part of its commitment to transparency.

Winner

With its vast network, ExpressVPN offers superior server coverage, making sure you can find fast and reliable connections anywhere in the world.

Speed — Both VPNs Offer Fast Speeds

Overall, both VPNs are really fast. Together with our speed expert in Indonesia, we performed speed tests in various locations. The values below come from their testing. They used Lightway for ExpressVPN and WireGuard for Mullvad VPN; their average base speed was 90 Mbps. Bear in mind that from Indonesia, the UK and the US are considered long-distance connections.

ExpressVPN performed really well while connected to a distant UK server

I also conducted my own tests from the UK to gauge speeds across a shorter distance, and I found the VPNs were even faster. Neither ExpressVPN nor Mullvad VPN dropped my speeds by more than 7% when I connected to servers in France, Germany, and Italy.

Our speed specialist got great speeds with Mullvad VPN on the UK servers from distant Indonesia

Overall, we both agreed that ExpressVPN’s download speeds were, on average, a bit slower than Mullvad’s, but its upload speeds were better. The only issue our tester had was that Mullvad’s speeds were, at times, inconsistent, especially on long-distance servers.

Winner - draw

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Both VPNs offered excellent speeds on both long-distance and local servers.

Gaming — Both VPNs Are Good For Gaming On Nearby Servers

As with our speed testing section, my colleague in Indonesia provided the information below, testing from a base ping of 44 ms. The actual ping you experience will depend on your location, the servers you connect to, and any server congestion.

The optimal ping for gaming is below 100 ms, and both VPNs offered that on servers in nearby locations. Longer distances usually result in higher latency for most VPN services, so I wasn’t surprised that ExpressVPN and Mullvad VPN also demonstrated higher ping while connected to faraway servers.

However, because I was testing from the UK, my ping on UK and US servers was considerably lower. I had only 8 ms on a UK server, so I could play fast-paced online games with the same responsiveness as I had on my regular, unencrypted connection. I always recommend connecting to a nearby server for gaming.

Lower latency on nearby servers allowed my characters to move without stuttering

Winner - draw

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Both services allow for seamless gaming on nearby servers but have higher latency while connected to faraway locations.

Torrenting — ExpressVPN Wins With Port Forwarding

This section was tough to call because they’re both good options — they adhere to strict no-logs policies, which have been confirmed by independent audits. They both also offer RAM-only servers that wipe your data upon each reboot.

However, unlike Mullvad VPN, ExpressVPN has port forwarding via router setup. This feature can provide faster speeds by creating a larger number of nodes to connect to. So, ExpressVPN cinches the win in this section.

Winner

Each of the VPNs has great privacy settings and good speeds, but ExpressVPN pulls ahead with port forwarding.

Security — ExpressVPN Wins With More Features

Both offer must-have VPN features like a kill switch, strong encryption, DNS/IP leak protection, and RAM-only servers. However, ExpressVPN steals another win with more protocols (including its proprietary Lightway), automatic obfuscation, and the fact that you can customize how the kill switch works.

I really like ExpressVPN’s Threat Manager, which is an ad, malware, and tracker blocker. You can choose which settings suit you best and turn off individual parts of it if necessary. I found this a lot easier to use than Mullvad VPN’s ad blocker. ExpressVPN’s Threat Manager is toggled on or off in its settings, but Mullvad required me to manually add custom DNS servers in its advanced settings to connect to its blocklist of malicious domains.

To change the Advanced Protection settings, you'll need to disconnect the VPN

On the other hand, Mullvad VPN’s Bridge mode allows you to set up multi-hop connections, which you can’t do with ExpressVPN. If you’re unfamiliar with multi-hop, it routes your traffic through two servers instead of one. With Mullvad, you can choose either two VPN servers (for extra security) or a Shadowsocks proxy and VPN server (for obfuscation).

Bridge mode can slow your connection, so I recommend you use it only when necessary

Winner

This was a tough call, as both offer great security features. However, ExpressVPN pulled ahead with its broader selection of security features, including proprietary protocols like Lightway, integrated Threat Manager, and a customizable kill switch.

Privacy — Mullvad VPN Wins by a Narrow Margin

Both ExpressVPN and Mullvad VPN take your privacy seriously, each employing strict no-logs policies verified by third-party audits. While ExpressVPN ‘s Lightway protocol is open-source, Mullvad VPN goes a step further by embracing open-source for most of its applications and protocols, allowing for greater transparency and community engagement.

I really appreciate that Mullvad VPN doesn’t require an email address for the account setup, which minimizes data collection. Both VPNs offer cryptocurrency payment options, but Mullvad VPN pulls ahead by accepting cash payments for even greater privacy.

ExpressVPN is based in the British Virgin Islands, which is a great privacy-friendly jurisdiction.

While Mullvad VPN is based in Sweden (part of the 14 Eyes Alliance), it’s clear which laws (and which parts) apply to its business and what that means for its customers. It’s not an ideal jurisdiction, but it’s transparent about what actions it will take if it receives a request for data, which is more than I can say for a lot of VPNs.

Winner

Both VPNs have impressive privacy credentials, but Mullvad edges ahead slightly due to better privacy options on signup.

Works in China — ExpressVPN Works More Consistently in China

In recent years, China has considerably strengthened its Great Firewall, which, among other things, blocks non-sanctioned VPNs within the country. Because of this, even top-rated VPNs don’t always work 100% reliably in the country.

At the moment of writing, both VPNs are known to work to some degree in China. However, ExpressVPN works far more consistently in the country. Its mirror sites allow you to download the service from within the country, where VPN websites are blocked. You can get the latest mirror site from its support email (support@expressvpn.zendesk.com) using Hotmail, which still works in China.

In comparison, Mullvad can’t guarantee that it works reliably in China. It recommends that users in China (or other restrictive countries) use Bridge mode with its Shadowsocks proxy to obfuscate the connection.

Both services also have servers in Hong Kong, so you can use those nearby servers to reduce speed loss.

Winner

ExpressVPN is a better choice for China as it works more often than not in the country.

Installation & Ease of Use — Both VPNs Are Easy to Navigate

ExpressVPN and Mullvad have user-friendly interfaces and straightforward setup processes. Each VPN offers apps for the most commonly used devices, including Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and more. They can also be configured for use with Linux.

You can quickly enable/disable the kill switch (Network Lock) in the app's settings

Mullvad VPN is a good choice for more advanced VPN users, thanks to its extensive guides to manual setup. However, if you’re a newbie, don’t worry — there’s a summary of each feature directly in the app, so you know exactly what you’re enabling in the settings.

It didn't take long before I became familiar with Mullvad's settings menu

ExpressVPN takes a slight lead with its dedicated router app, simplifying the otherwise complex process of VPN setup on routers. If your goal is to secure your entire home network, ExpressVPN offers a more user-friendly route, although Mullvad also supports manual router configurations for the more technically inclined.

Plus, ExpressVPN offers far more simultaneous connections, covering 8 compared to Mullvad’s 5. It’s not a huge difference if you live in a smaller household, but for larger families, having more simultaneous connections is ideal.

Winner

ExpressVPN takes the win for its dedicated router app, which makes it easy for beginners to secure their whole network. However, both VPNs have easy-to-use, clean, and intuitive apps.

Reliability & Support — ExpressVPN Offers 24/7 Support

Both VPNs offer reliable customer support, but ExpressVPN stands out with its 24/7 live chat. Whenever I reached out with a question, I got an answer almost immediately.

The only way to contact Mullvad VPN directly is through email, which takes a bit more time to answer. When I tested this with a simple question about the VPN, it took 24 hours to get a response. However, some of my colleagues have had almost instant email responses before, so I could’ve caught the customer support team on an off day.

Winner

ExpressVPN stands out with its 24/7 live chat and video tutorials.

Tips on Choosing Between ExpressVPN and Mullvad VPN

• Smooth streaming — ExpressVPN supports a broader range of platforms compared to Mullvad VPN, which only works with a few services. In theory, both VPNs enable connections to worldwide locations, allowing you to watch region-specific content. However, it's important to note that this practice may violate the terms and conditions of many platforms and potentially be considered copyright infringement.
• Fast speeds — Both VPNs offer fast speeds on all servers, but ExpressVPN was more consistent on long-distance servers.
• Server networks — ExpressVPN covers 105 countries, and Mullvad covers 44, which is noticeably less. Choose the service with the most servers and locations near you for the most reliable connections.
• Robust security features — Both VPNs have you covered with top security features like military-grade encryption, kill switch, IP/DNS leak protection, and more. ExpressVPN offers a built in ad, tracker, and malware blocker; Mullvad VPN is the only one with a multi-hop option.
• Respectable privacy practices — Each of the VPNs has premium privacy features, but Mullvad VPN goes one step further with maximizing privacy during setup and payment.
• Easy to use — A VPN should provide user-friendly applications with an intuitive interface. Both VPNs are easy to use. However, ExpressVPN is advantageous for router users due to its dedicated application, which makes setup significantly easier.
• Trustworthy money-back guarantee — Money-back guarantee allows you to test the service before committing. Both services have tested and proven money-back guarantees.

ExpressVPN vs. Mullvad VPN — Reddit Opinions

Most Reddit opinions on Mullvad VPN I found regard supreme privacy options. Although Redditors are mostly happy with the service, some users point out that in comparison to other VPNs, it lacks some key features, like streaming support.

Redditors describe ExpressVPN as a well-rounded VPN suitable for a wider audience thanks to its larger variety of features. It can serve many purposes, and although you can always find mixed reviews of the service, most long-term users are happy with it.

You can find mixed reviews on Reddit, but users are generally happy with both services