Mullvad Pricing: Plans, Costs & Best Deals
Compare Mullvad plans and pricing. Intro vs renewal rates, seasonal discounts, and which plan offers the best value for your needs.
title: “Mullvad Pricing: What the Flat €5/Month Model Actually Costs You” description: “Complete breakdown of Mullvad pricing, payment methods, refund policy, and how its flat €5/month cost compares to competitors like NordVPN and Surfshark.”
How Much Does Mullvad Cost?
Mullvad charges a flat €5 per month (~$5.40 USD) with no annual or multi-year plans. Every user pays the same price regardless of subscription length. There are no introductory discounts, no renewal price hikes, and no tiered plans. You get one product at one price.
Mullvad’s Single-Plan Structure Explained
Mullvad offers exactly one plan. That plan costs €5 per month, billed monthly. There are zero alternatives, zero upgrades, and zero add-ons.
This is unusual in the VPN industry. Most providers push 2-year or 3-year commitments to lock in lower monthly rates. Mullvad rejected that model entirely and keeps pricing transparent.
Your account gets a random 16-digit number instead of an email address. You load time onto that number in 30-day increments. Each 30-day block costs €5.
Intro vs. Renewal Pricing: No Surprises
Most VPN providers advertise $2-3/month rates that require 2-3 year prepayments. When those plans expire, renewal prices jump 200-400%. NordVPN’s $3.09/month plan renews at $14.99/month. Surfshark’s $2.19/month plan renews near $15.95/month.
Mullvad charges €5 in month 1 and €5 in month 37. The price never changes. There is no contract, no auto-renewal trap, and no hidden fee schedule.
This flat structure means Mullvad costs more than competitors in year 1 but often costs less by year 3. Over 36 months, Mullvad totals €180 (~$194). NordVPN’s 2-year plan plus 1 year renewal totals roughly $233.
Which User Type Gets the Best Value?
Casual Users (1-3 Months per Year)
Mullvad is ideal for short-term use. You pay €5 only for months you need. No commitment locks you into 24 months of payments for occasional airport WiFi protection.
A casual user spending 3 months on Mullvad pays €15 total. The same user on NordVPN’s cheapest plan prepays $80+ for 2 years upfront.
Power Users (Always-On VPN)
Power users who run a VPN 12 months per year pay €60 annually. That is more than NordVPN’s $99.63 for 2 years but less than monthly rates from most competitors.
Mullvad supports WireGuard natively and runs 5 simultaneous connections. Power users get full-speed servers in 40+ countries without paying extra for premium tiers.
Families and Multi-Device Households
Mullvad allows 5 simultaneous connections per account. Families needing more must buy a second account at another €5/month. That totals €10/month for 10 devices.
Surfshark offers unlimited devices on one account for ~$2.19/month (2-year prepay). Families with 6+ devices save more on Surfshark during the initial term.
Payment Methods Available
Mullvad accepts more anonymous payment options than nearly any competitor. Here is the full list:
- Credit/debit card processed through Stripe
- PayPal linked to your existing PayPal account
- Bitcoin sent directly to a generated address
- Bitcoin Cash for lower transaction fees
- Monero for maximum transaction privacy
- Cash by mail in EUR, USD, GBP, SEK, DKK, NOK, CHF, or CAD
- Bank wire for EU-based SEPA transfers
- Swish for Swedish users
- Voucher codes purchased from resellers
Cash by mail is Mullvad’s most private option. You stuff bills into an envelope with your account number and mail it to their Swedish office. They credit your account upon receipt.
Seasonal Discount Patterns
Mullvad does not run seasonal discounts. There are no Black Friday deals, no holiday promotions, and no coupon codes. The price has been €5/month since 2009.
This is confirmed on their official website and verified across 15 years of pricing history. If you see a “Mullvad discount code” advertised elsewhere, it is not legitimate.
The company has publicly stated they will not adopt discount pricing. Their philosophy ties flat pricing to user trust and transparency.
Mullvad vs. Competitor Pricing Comparison
| Provider | Monthly Rate | Best Annual Rate | 2-Year Total | 3-Year Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mullvad | €5 (~$5.40) | €5/mo (no discount) | ~$130 | ~$194 |
| NordVPN | $13.99 | $4.59/mo | $99.63 + renewal | ~$280 |
| Surfshark | $15.45 | $2.19/mo | $59.13 + renewal | ~$250 |
| ExpressVPN | $12.95 | $6.67/mo | $159.96 + renewal | ~$316 |
| PIA | $11.99 | $2.19/mo | $56.94 + renewal | ~$200 |
Mullvad looks expensive at first glance. But the 3-year column tells the real story. Competitors spike at renewal, and Mullvad stays flat.
Mullvad also includes no upsells. NordVPN charges extra for Threat Protection Plus ($4.19/mo). Surfshark charges extra for Surfshark One ($1.49/mo add-on). Mullvad bundles ad blocking and tracker blocking at no additional cost.
Money-Back Guarantee and Refund Process
Mullvad does not offer a traditional money-back guarantee or free trial. Instead, it operates a pay-as-you-go refund system. Unused account time is refundable upon request.
If you load 30 days and use 5 days, you can request a refund for the remaining 25 days. Refunds are processed to the original payment method when possible. Cash payments are refunded via bank transfer.
To request a refund, email support@mullvad.net with your account number. Mullvad typically processes refunds within 3-5 business days. There is no refund form or automated system.
This model gives more flexibility than a 30-day money-back guarantee. You can test the service for 2 days and get 28 days back. Most competitors require you to cancel within the guarantee window or lose everything.
Hidden Costs and Gotchas
Mullvad has no hidden costs. There are no data caps, no bandwidth throttling, no premium server tiers, and no feature gates behind higher-priced plans.
The only potential extra cost is currency conversion. Mullvad prices in euros, so USD, GBP, or other currency users may pay 1-3% in conversion fees depending on their bank or payment processor.
Bitcoin and Monero payments carry network transaction fees. These typically range from $0.50-$3.00 depending on network congestion at the time of payment.
FAQ
How Much Does Mullvad Cost?
Mullvad costs €5 per month (~$5.40 USD). There is only one plan with one price. No annual discounts or multi-year deals exist. You pay €5 for each 30-day period you add to your account.
Is Mullvad Worth It?
Mullvad is worth it for privacy-focused users who value transparency over rock-bottom pricing. You get WireGuard support, a verified no-logs policy (audited by Assured AB), RAM-only servers, and 5 simultaneous connections. The flat pricing eliminates renewal surprises that inflate competitor costs over time.
For budget users willing to prepay 2-3 years upfront, Surfshark or PIA offer lower initial costs. But those savings disappear at renewal time.
Does Mullvad Have a Student Discount?
No. Mullvad does not offer student discounts, military discounts, or any promotional pricing. The company maintains one universal price for all customers. This policy has remained unchanged since launch.
Can You Pay for Mullvad Anonymously?
Yes. Mullvad accepts cash by mail, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, and Monero. Combined with the anonymous account number system (no email required), you can use Mullvad without providing any personal information.
Does Mullvad Offer a Free Trial?
No. Mullvad has no free trial. However, unused time on your account is refundable. This effectively lets you test the service for a few days and recover the remaining balance if unsatisfied.