# ExpressVPN vs Mullvad (2026)

By Noah — last updated & pricing verified September 14, 2026.

> **Verdict:** Choose ExpressVPN if you want the widest device and platform coverage, including routers, smart TVs, and browser extensions, plus bundled extras like a password manager. Choose Mullvad if you want anonymous, email-free signup and a single flat €5/month price with no tiers to compare. The deciding factor is anonymity and pricing simplicity versus device breadth: Mullvad never asks for personal information and charges one flat rate, while ExpressVPN's lowest advertised rate only applies on a 1- or 2-year prepaid term.

**Choose ExpressVPN if:** You need router, smart TV, or browser-extension support beyond core desktop and mobile apps; You want a bundled password manager and identity-theft protection on the Pro tier; You want the largest server footprint, with 3,000+ servers across 105 countries; You're comfortable prepaying a 1- or 2-year term to reach the lowest advertised monthly rate; You want a 30-day money-back guarantee window to test the service

**Choose Mullvad if:** You want to sign up with a random account number instead of an email address; You want to pay with cash or cryptocurrency to avoid linking a card to your VPN account; You want a fully open-source, GitHub-published client under GPL-3.0; You want one flat €5/month price with no tiers, term length, or bonus-month math to compare; You value DAITA traffic-analysis defense and quantum-resistant tunnel options

## At a glance

|  | ExpressVPN | Mullvad |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pricing | From $2.79/mo | Custom pricing |
| License | Paid | Open source |
| Best for | consumers who want a simple, reliable VPN that works out of the box across many device types (routers, smart TVs, browsers) without manual protocol configuration | privacy-conscious individuals who want anonymous signup and a single flat-rate plan instead of tiered VPN pricing |
| Ratings | Capterra 4.6/5 (287 reviews) | — |

## Feature comparison

| Feature | ExpressVPN | Mullvad |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Starting price | Yes (from $2.79/mo (2-year plan)) | Yes (flat €5/mo (~$5.40), any term) |
| Free tier | No (30-day money-back guarantee only) | No (14-day money-back guarantee only) |
| Platforms | Yes (web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android) | Partial (Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android (no web app)) |
| License | No (closed-source, paid) | Yes (open source (GPL-3.0), published on GitHub) |
| Anonymous signup | No (email required) | Yes (random account number, no email required) |
| Cash or crypto payment | No | Yes |
| Server network | Yes (3,000+ servers in 105 countries) | Partial (smaller network, exact count not published) |
| Independently audited no-logs policy | Yes | Yes |
| RAM-only server infrastructure | Yes (TrustedServer technology) | Unknown |
| Proprietary fast protocol | Yes (Lightway) | No (WireGuard-based, with DAITA traffic-analysis defense) |
| Simultaneous device connections | Yes (up to 14 (Pro tier)) | Yes (up to 5) |
| Bundled password manager / identity protection | Yes (on Pro tier) | No |
| Long-term price discount | Yes (2-year term drops rate to $2.79/mo) | No (same flat rate at any term length) |
| External rating | Yes (4.6/5 from 287 reviews (Capterra)) | Unknown |

## ExpressVPN vs Mullvad pricing: which costs less?

Mullvad costs less for most users, since its flat €5/month (about $5.40) rate applies with no commitment, while ExpressVPN's cheapest $2.79/month rate requires prepaying a full 2-year term.

ExpressVPN's Basic tier is $12.99/month billed monthly, dropping to $2.79/month only if paid upfront for 2 years. Mullvad charges the same €5/month whether billed monthly or in advance, with no tiers or long-term discount to calculate. Buyers who don't want a multi-year prepay will pay less with Mullvad; buyers willing to commit for 2 years can beat Mullvad's rate with ExpressVPN.

## Which is more private, ExpressVPN or Mullvad?

Mullvad offers stronger anonymity by design, since it never collects an email address and accepts cash or cryptocurrency payment, while ExpressVPN requires an email at signup.

Both undergo independent third-party audits of their no-logs claims. Mullvad generates a random account number at signup and never asks for personal information, and its client code is open source under GPL-3.0 so researchers can inspect it directly. ExpressVPN requires an email address and does not publish its client source code, though it runs on RAM-only TrustedServer infrastructure so no data is ever written to disk.

## Which has more device and platform support, ExpressVPN or Mullvad?

ExpressVPN supports more device types, adding a web app, router firmware, smart TV apps, and browser extensions on top of the desktop and mobile apps both services offer.

## Can Mullvad replace ExpressVPN?

Yes, for users who only need core VPN encryption on desktop and mobile and prioritize anonymous signup over device breadth or bundled extras.

Mullvad covers the core VPN use case on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android with WireGuard, multihop, and DAITA traffic-analysis defense. Users who specifically need router or smart TV apps, browser extensions, or a bundled password manager will not find equivalents in Mullvad and should stay with ExpressVPN or a similarly full-featured competitor.

## Strengths and weaknesses

### ExpressVPN

- Pro: Independently audited no-logs policy and RAM-only server infrastructure for stronger privacy assurances.
- Pro: Proprietary Lightway protocol delivers faster connection times than legacy VPN protocols.
- Pro: Broad device and platform support, including routers, smart TVs, and browser extensions.
- Pro: 30-day money-back guarantee on all subscription terms.
- Con: Monthly billing without a long-term commitment is notably more expensive than most competitors.
- Con: No free tier; even a short trial requires payment upfront (refundable within 30 days).
- Con: Some reviewers report intermittent connection drops and slower performance when switching servers.
- Con: Pricing structure with bonus months and multiple simultaneous-connection tiers can be confusing to compare against flat-rate competitors.

### Mullvad

- Pro: Anonymous signup with a random account number; no email or personal information required.
- Pro: Cash and cryptocurrency payment options for users who want to avoid linking a card to the account.
- Pro: Client apps are open source (GPL-3.0) and published on GitHub, with regular independent security audits.
- Pro: DAITA traffic-analysis defense and quantum-resistant tunnel options beyond standard WireGuard.
- Con: No free tier; every user pays the same flat €5/month with no trial beyond the money-back guarantee window.
- Con: No discount for paying annually or multi-year in advance, unlike competitors that cut price sharply on longer commitments.
- Con: Smaller server network than large competitors like NordVPN or ExpressVPN, which can matter for streaming geo-unblocking.
- Con: No bundled extras (password manager, ad blocker as a separate product, antivirus) that some competitors include in higher tiers.

## Which fits your use case?

| Use case | Pick | Why |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Privacy-focused user who wants to avoid linking any personal information to a VPN account | Mullvad | Mullvad's random account-number signup and cash/crypto payment options avoid an email or billing trail entirely; ExpressVPN requires an email address. |
| Household that wants VPN coverage on a smart TV or router alongside phones and laptops | ExpressVPN | ExpressVPN ships apps for routers and smart TVs plus browser extensions; Mullvad's platform list stops at desktop and mobile. |
| Budget-conscious user who doesn't want to prepay a multi-year term | Mullvad | Mullvad's flat €5/month applies with no commitment, while ExpressVPN's low advertised rate requires a 2-year prepay. |
| User who wants a bundled password manager and identity-theft monitoring with their VPN | ExpressVPN | ExpressVPN's Pro tier includes ExpressVPN Keys and identity-theft protection; Mullvad has no bundled extras. |
| Developer or security researcher who wants to audit the VPN client's source code | Mullvad | Mullvad publishes its client code on GitHub under GPL-3.0; ExpressVPN's client is closed-source. |

## Migration FAQ

### Should I use ExpressVPN or Mullvad?

Use ExpressVPN if you need router, smart TV, or browser-extension support and don't mind paying more for a long-term plan; use Mullvad if you want anonymous signup and a single flat price.

### Is ExpressVPN cheaper than Mullvad?

Only if you prepay a 2-year term: ExpressVPN then drops to $2.79/month, below Mullvad's flat ~$5.40/month, but ExpressVPN's monthly-billed rate of $12.99 is far higher than Mullvad's flat rate.

### Can Mullvad replace ExpressVPN?

Yes for core VPN use on desktop and mobile, but Mullvad has no router, smart TV, or browser-extension apps, and no bundled password manager, so users relying on those need to stay with ExpressVPN.

### Does Mullvad require an email address to sign up?

No — Mullvad generates a random account number and requires no email address, name, or personal information, unlike ExpressVPN which requires an email at signup.

### Is ExpressVPN's or Mullvad's client open source?

Mullvad's client is open source under GPL-3.0 and published on GitHub; ExpressVPN's client is closed-source.

## Neither a match?

- 6 alternatives to ExpressVPN: https://findalternative.to/expressvpn
- 5 alternatives to Mullvad: https://findalternative.to/mullvad

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