Mullvad vs NordVPN: Why PureVPN is Better?

Mullvad, NordVPN, and PureVPN are popular VPN providers, each with its unique strengths and offerings. In our Mullvad vs NordVPN vs PureVPN comparison, we will take an in-depth look at their features, speed, pricing etc. to determine which VPN stands tall among the three, providing an unparalleled VPN experience.

Pricing – PureVPN Wins

	PureVPN	Mullvad	NordVPN
Monthly	Standard ($10.95), Plus ($16.95), Max ($20.95)	€5/mo (around $5.50)	Standard ($12.99), Plus ($13.99), Complete ($14.99)
1-year	Standard ($3.74/month), Plus ($5.82/month), Max ($6.24/month)	€5/mo (around $5.50)	Standard ($4.99/month), Plus ($5.99/month), Complete ($6.99/month)
2-year	Standard ($1.96/month), Plus ($3.21), Max ($3.85/month)	–	Standard ($3.49/month), Plus ($4.49/month), Complete ($5.49)

Mullvad adopts a unique pricing approach with a flat monthly rate. Regardless of the duration you choose to use this VPN service, the monthly fee remains consistent and does not change.

NordVPN offers three tiers: Standard, Plus, and Complete. These tiers are available in monthly, 1-year, and 2-year plans, each of which give you access to unique features. The pricing varies based on the tier and duration chosen. 

PureVPN also follows a tier-based pricing structure. The tiers are categorized as Standard, Plus, and Max, having different features and pricing levels. Users can choose from monthly, 1-year, and 2-year plans within each tier.

Who tops this category? PureVPN has cheaper and more flexible pricing options than NordVPN and Mullvad.

Speed – Mullvad Wins

Baseline speed: 1 Gbps

	PureVPN	Mullvad	NordVPN
Average download speeds	381 Mbps	420 Mbps	409 Mbps
Average upload speeds	359 Mbps	399 Mbps	382 Mbps

In an extensive speed test, we evaluated the download and upload speeds of Mullvad, NordVPN, and PureVPN. Using the WireGuard protocol, we connected to servers in the US, UK, and Canada to assess their performance.

Mullvad emerged as the frontrunner in download speeds, showcasing its dominance with an impressive average of 420 Mbps. NordVPN was not far behind with a commendable average of 409 Mbps, while PureVPN achieved a notable 381 Mbps on average.

For upload speeds, Mullvad continued to excel, recording an outstanding average of 399 Mbps. NordVPN demonstrated its strength with an average upload speed of 382 Mbps, and PureVPN maintained its presence with a commendable average of 359 Mbps.

Who tops this category? While the differences in download and upload speeds are not that significant, Mullvad takes this one as it delivered the fastest speeds during our tests.

Server Locations – PureVPN Wins 

	PureVPN	Mullvad	NordVPN
Servers	6,000+	780+	5,700+
Countries	65	38	60

Mullvad’s network is relatively smaller compared to the extensive networks offered by NordVPN and PureVPN. Currently, it gives users access to 780+ servers in 38 countries across the world.

NordVPN’s powerful network encompasses 5,700+ servers scattered across 60 countries, ensuring a formidable shield for online activities and granting users seamless access to content worldwide. 

PureVPN stands strong with a staggering network of 6000+ servers spread across 65 countries, offering users a vast selection of global virtual locations for unmatched access to content and superior browsing speeds.

Who tops this category? PureVPN offers the most extensive selection of servers and countries.

Security – Mullvad Wins

	PureVPN	Mullvad	NordVPN
Encryption used	AES 256-bit	AES 256-bit	AES 256-bit
Protocol selection	OpenVPN, IKEv2, WireGuard, IPSec	OpenVPN, WireGuard	OpenVPN, IKEv2, NordLynx
Private DNS	Yes	Yes	Yes
RAM-based servers	No	Yes	Yes
Quantum-resistant	Yes	Yes	No

Mullvad employs AES 256-bit encryption to protect users’ data from threats. When it comes to protocol selection, it lets you choose from OpenVPN and WireGuard. Mullvad uses its own DNS servers instead of third-party DNS servers and offers a RAM-based server infrastructure.

NordVPN provides strong security with its use of AES 256-bit encryption. Users can select from multiple protocols, including OpenVPN, IKEv2, and NordLynx (based on WireGuard), allowing flexibility. NordVPN also routes your DNS queries through its private DNS and relies on RAM-based servers, enhancing data protection.

PureVPN boasts robust security measures, offering AES 256-bit encryption. It gives you access to a diverse range of protocols, including OpenVPN, IKEv2, WireGuard, and IPSec. While PureVPN uses its own network of DNS servers, it does not provide RAM-based servers. However, the VPN service is quantum-safe!

Who tops this category? Mullvad is first, while NordVPN and PureVPN are tied for second.

Privacy – PureVPN Wins

	PureVPN	Mullvad	NordVPN
Base of operation	British Virgin Islands	Sweden	Panama
Audited no-logs policy	Yes	Yes	Yes
Always on-audit	Yes	No	No

Unfortunately, Mullvad is not located in a privacy-friendly country. It is headquartered in Sweden, a part of the 14 Eyes alliance. However, Mullvad’s no-log policy has been verified by a third-party auditor.

NordVPN maintains a strong stance on privacy with its headquarters in Panama, a country not affiliated with the 5/9/14 eyes alliances. It offers a PWC-audited no-logs policy, providing assurance that it does not store user activity logs. 

PureVPN is headquartered in the British Virgin Islands, ensuring a favorable privacy environment. It follows a Well known audit firm-audited no-logs policy, affirming that it does not retain user activity logs. What distinguishes PureVPN is its implementation of an always-on audit mechanism, providing an additional layer of transparency and accountability.

Who tops this category? PureVPN secures the first spot given that it is the only VPN in the industry following an always-on audit structure.

Unblocking – PureVPN Wins

	PureVPN	Mullvad	NordVPN
Netflix	Yes	Yes	Yes
Hulu	Yes	No	No
Max	Yes	No	Yes
BBC iPlayer	Yes	No	Yes
Disney+	Yes	No	Yes

Mullvad falls short in unblocking most streaming services. It only provides access to Netflix while lacking support for Hulu, HBO Max, BBC iPlayer, and Disney+. Users looking for unblocking capabilities may find Mullvad’s offerings limited.

NordVPN shines in its ability to unblock various platforms, including Netflix, HBO Max, BBC iPlayer, and Disney+. However, it faces challenges with unblocking Hulu. Nevertheless, NordVPN remains a strong contender for accessing geo-restricted content.

PureVPN boasts an impressive range of unblocking capabilities, effortlessly granting access to streaming platforms such as Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, BBC iPlayer, and Disney+. With its versatility, PureVPN ensures users can enjoy their favorite content without restrictions.

Who tops this category? PureVPN successfully unblocks all popular streaming services no matter where you are. 

Features – NordVPN Wins

	PureVPN	Mullvad	NordVPN
Kill Switch	Yes	Yes	Yes
Split Tunneling	Yes	Yes	Yes
Obfuscation	Yes	Yes	Yes
DNS Leak Protection	Yes	Yes	Yes
IPv6 Leak Protection	Yes	Yes	Yes
Dedicated IP	Yes	No	Yes
Port Forwarding	Yes	No	No

Mullvad offers great features like multi-hop that sends your traffic through another server, a blocker for ads and malware, and a shadowsocks proxy for censorship circumvention. Furthermore, Mullvad also comes with a privacy-focused web browser, which can be downloaded and used for free.

NordVPN stands out with its diverse feature set, like SmartDNS for seamless streaming, Double VPN servers for added encryption layers, Onion over VPN for improved anonymity, and Threat Protection for safety against online threats. NordVPN also provides additional features such as a password manager, data breach scanner, and file encrypter, which can be added for an additional price.

PureVPN offers impressive features with its 20 Gbps servers, providing fast and reliable connections, and VPN over Tor enhancing online anonymity. Additionally, PureVPN offers a range of bundled products like a password manager (PureKeep), file encrypter (PureEncrypt), and privacy auditor (PurePrivacy), which can be purchased alongside the VPN service.

Who tops this category? NordVPN is the most featured-packed VPN service on the market, with PureVPN close behind.

Compatibility – PureVPN Wins

	PureVPN	Mullvad	NordVPN
Available apps	macOS, iOS, Android, Windows, Linux, Huawei, Android TV, Fire Stick	macOS, iOS, Android, Windows, Linux	macOS, iOS, Android, Windows, Linux, Android TV, Fire Stick
Browser extensions	Chrome, Firefox, Edge	Firefox	Chrome, Firefox, Edge
Multi-logins	10	5	6

Mullvad does not cover as many devices as you would like. It is only available on macOS, iOS, Android, Windows, and Linux. Furthemore, Mullvad has a browser extension for Firefox and supports up to 5 multi-logins under one subscription.

NordVPN is compatible with macOS, iOS, Android, Windows, Linux, Android TV, and Fire Stick, covering a wide range of devices. It has one-click browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. With support for up to 6 multi-logins, users can secure multiple devices with a single NordVPN account.

PureVPN offers broad compatibility with easy-to-use apps for macOS, iOS, Android, Windows, Linux, Huawei, Android TV, and Fire Stick. It also provides browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. Supporting up to 10 simultaneous multi-logins, PureVPN allows users to connect multiple devices simultaneously.

Who tops this category? PureVPN is first, NordVPN second, and Mullvad third.

Customer Support – Tie between PureVPN and NordVPN

	PureVPN	Mullvad	NordVPN
Live chat	Yes	No	Yes
Email	Yes	Yes	Yes
Knowledgebase	Yes	Yes	Yes
In-app support	Yes	No	Yes

All three VPNs provide email support and a knowledgebase. However, both PureVPN and NordVPN offer the convenience of live-chat along with in-app support, whereas Mullvad lacks both these options.

Who tops this category? PureVPN and NordVPN are tied for first.

Mullvad vs NordVPN vs PureVPN – Which is the Best?

	PureVPN	Mullvad	NordVPN
Pricing	1st	3rd	2nd
Speed	3rd	1st	2nd
Server locations	1st	3rd	2nd
Security	2nd (Tie)	1st	2nd (Tie)
Privacy	1st	3rd	2nd
Unblocking	1st	3rd	2nd
Features	2nd	3rd	1st
Compatibility	1st	3rd	2nd
Customer support	1st (Tie)	3rd	1st (Tie)

PureVPN shines in many categories, including pricing, server locations, privacy, unblocking, and compatibility. NordVPN takes second due to its strong showing in features and customer support. Mullvad is third, performing well in speed and security.

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FAQ

Is Mullvad better than NordVPN?

Not really. NordVPN is superior because it offers a larger server network, better customer support, and unblocks Netflix and other streaming services.

Is Mullvad more secure than NordVPN?

Mullvad is a highly secure VPN given that it provides quantum-resistant encryption and uses RAM-only servers. However, NordVPN offers more security features to play around with.

Can I trust Mullvad?

Mullvad is not based in a privacy-friendly jurisdiction, which is a huge drawback. It does have an independently audited no-logs policy, though.