Mullvad VPN vs NymVPN (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 12, 2026, NymVPN grades higher than Mullvad VPN: 2.2 against 1.8 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 2, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 · graded Nov 2, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 by ToolGPA
NymVPN grades higher on the free plan and ease of use. They get the same grade on value for money, features and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Mullvad VPN
Flat-rate Swedish VPN with anonymous numbered accounts
NymVPN
Swiss VPN with a decentralized WireGuard mode and a mixnet mode
Which one is for you
Pick Mullvad VPN if
- Fits if you don't want your name or email tied to your VPN
- Works for a short trip abroad, as one month costs the same €5 rate as a year
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if you want to try before paying, as there's no trial or free plan
- Watch out: the 14-day refund excludes cash payments, and the VPN page says crypto too
- Skip it if you torrent and need port forwarding, or want a dedicated IP; Mullvad offers neither
- Tight if you have more than 5 devices to cover
- Watch out: it's priced in euros, €5 a month, which the page converts to about $5.60
Pick NymVPN if
- Fits if you want to pay with Bitcoin, Monero or cash rather than a card
- Works for people who want a mixnet option and can live with a slower connection in that mode
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want a free plan, because there isn't one
- Tight if you want the trial: it's card-only, needs a payment method and ends after 7 days
- Not for you if you use Android TV, as the vendor says it isn't supported
- Watch out: all plans auto-renew and refunds are pro-rata, and only the 1-year price could be read
- Watch out: the currency you see depends on your location and payment method
How we grade them
| 1.8GPAMullvad VPNWeak | 2.2GPANymVPNFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C€5 a month flat, about $5.60, whether you pay for one month or a year ahead, so two years come to €120. That's a little above the middle of what VPNs charge, with no first-term discount to expire. Paying in cryptocurrency takes 10% off. | C$4.00 a month on the 1-year plan ($48 up front), just over the cheaper quarter's $3.99. The page crosses out $96 and shows no end date for the 50% off, and the other terms weren't readable. |
| Free plan and trial | FNothing free: there's no trial, and the 14-day money-back guarantee excludes cash and, on the VPN page, crypto payments too. A money-back guarantee isn't a trial anyway. | DA 7-day trial, but only on select plans with a card, it needs a payment method, and it can't be started with crypto. No free plan. |
| Features | CAnonymous numbered accounts, DAITA against traffic analysis, quantum-resistant tunnels, multihop, obfuscation and DNS blocking. But the listing names the gaps: 5 devices, no port forwarding and no dedicated IPs. | CWireGuard mode, a mixnet mode, an ad blocker on every plan, bridges for blocked networks and 10 devices. The listing names a gap: it isn't supported on Android TV. |
| Ease of use | C4.1 from about 1,500 App Store ratings, below most VPNs here. You sign up with a generated account number rather than an email, so keep that number somewhere safe. | BNo store rating on record. It's an app you install and connect, though the mixnet mode is slower and you pick between two modes. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWindows, Mac, Linux, iPhone and Android, with open-source apps. There's no integration list or API on record, so it stops at B. | BWindows, Mac, Linux, iOS and Android. No API or integrations on record, and no Android TV app. |
| Best for | a VPN with no email or name attached | a VPN you can pay for in crypto or cash |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Mullvad VPN and NymVPN. How we grade
Price against what you get
Mullvad VPN starts at about $5.59 a month and scores 2.3 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. NymVPN starts at $4 a month and scores 2.7.
NymVPN scores higher and starts $1.59 a month lower. Of the other VPNs on the chart, 14 score higher than Mullvad VPN for less, and 3 score higher than NymVPN for less.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Where they differ
At a glance
| Mullvad VPN | NymVPN | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Paid | Free trial |
| Starts at | €5 per month, the same rate for any length paid ahead | $4.00 per month on the 1-year plan, $48 billed yearly |
| Free plan | None | None |
| Free trial | None listed | 7-day free trial on select plans when paying by card; not available with cryptocurrency, and a payment method is required. |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Mullvad VPN AB | Nym Technologies SA |
| Price read from | mullvad.net | nym.com |
| Checked | Nov 2, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Mullvad VPN
- Priced in euros: €5 a month, which the page converts to about $5.60 at the current exchange rate.
- Covers up to 5 devices, and offers neither port forwarding nor dedicated IP addresses.
- No free trial; the 14-day money-back guarantee excludes cash payments, and the VPN page also excludes crypto payments.
NymVPN
- There is no free plan; the 7-day trial is limited to certain payment types and needs a payment method.
- The pricing page also lists 1-month (full price) and 6-month (25% off) options; only the 1-year price could be read here, so check the page for the others.
- All plans auto-renew unless cancelled, and refunds are described as pro-rata.
- The vendor says NymVPN is not supported on Android TV, and the pricing page notes that currency (EUR, USD, GBP, CHF) depends on location and payment method.
Key features
Mullvad VPN
- Anonymous accounts
- Signing up generates an account number; no email or other personal details are asked for, and cash or cryptocurrency are accepted.
- DAITA
- Defense Against AI-guided Traffic Analysis, a feature in the app meant to make encrypted traffic harder to analyze.
- Quantum-resistant tunnels
- Quantum-resistant VPN tunnels can be switched on in the apps on every supported platform.
- Multihop and obfuscation
- Route traffic through two or more servers in different jurisdictions, and use obfuscation to get past firewalls that block VPNs.
- DNS content blocking
- Built-in toggles block ads, trackers and malware through Mullvad's DNS, except on Android, where custom DNS entries do the same job.
NymVPN
- Two connection modes
- A faster decentralized VPN mode built on WireGuard, and a mixnet mode that adds noise to traffic for stronger anonymity.
- Anonymous payments and access
- Accepts cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Bitcoin, Monero, Zcash, Taler and cash, and says its zk-nym credentials keep payment data from being linked to activity.
- Ad blocker
- Every plan includes an ad blocker the vendor says is powered by Brave.
- Censorship resistance
- The vendor lists censorship resistance in what every plan includes, and its app notes mention bridge modes for networks that block the connection.
- Open source and audits
- The site's home page says the software is open source and independently audited.
Plans
Mullvad VPN
Flat rate€5
per month, whether you pay for 1 month, 1 year or longer
Every feature on up to 5 devices, VAT included. The page shows a dollar equivalent that moves with the exchange rate. No sales or term discounts.
NymVPN
1 year$4.00
per month, billed yearly ($48 total)
All features on all plans, up to 10 devices and servers in 70+ locations. The page shows $96 crossed out and 50% off, with no end date given.
Ways to pay less
Mullvad VPN
- Other savings
10% off when paying with cryptocurrency
Mullvad discounts payments made in its accepted cryptocurrencies by 10%, citing lower fees and less administration.
NymVPN
- Other savings
Up to 75% off when paying with the $NYM token
The pricing page offers up to 75% off if you pay with the $NYM token.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Mullvad VPN or NymVPN?
As of Nov 12, 2026, NymVPN is cheaper to start with: $4 a month, against about $5.59 a month for Mullvad VPN. Mullvad VPN starts at €5 per month, the same rate for any length paid ahead, and NymVPN starts at $4.00 per month on the 1-year plan, $48 billed yearly.
Which has a free plan, Mullvad VPN or NymVPN?
As of Nov 12, 2026, neither Mullvad VPN nor NymVPN has a free plan. NymVPN has a free trial.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.