Surfshark is the better all-rounder for most households, streaming viewers, and people with many devices. Mullvad is the stronger privacy-first choice because it minimizes account data, accepts more anonymous payment methods, uses a flat €5 monthly price, and keeps its product focused. Neither is the right automatic choice if you require port forwarding, a free plan, or guaranteed access to one particular streaming catalog.
Mullvad vs. Surfshark at a glance
| Category | Mullvad | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Price model | €5 per month regardless of term length; the dollar equivalent fluctuates with exchange rates. Mullvad pricing | Tiered plans with promotional long-term pricing; introductory and renewal prices vary by country, tax, plan and date. Surfshark pricing |
| Account data | Account number; email is not required. | Conventional commercial account and subscription model. |
| Devices | Up to five devices per account. | Unlimited simultaneous connections in current consumer positioning; check live plan terms. |
| Protocols | WireGuard, OpenVPN and downloadable WireGuard configurations. | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2 on supported platforms and Dausos. |
| Kill switch and DNS protection | Yes, with IPv6 handling and other leak protections. | Yes, with platform-dependent behavior. |
| Split tunneling | Available on supported platforms. | Bypasser on supported platforms. |
| Streaming | More frequently blocked in independent testing. | Stronger results across major services in cited testing. |
| Port forwarding | New port forwarding disabled in 2023. | Not currently offered. |
| Support | Documentation and email support. | Broader mainstream support, including live assistance. |
| Refunds | 14 days for eligible payment methods; cash and cryptocurrency have exclusions. | Check the current plan and checkout terms. |
What each service is actually selling
Mullvad: a deliberately minimal VPN
Mullvad emphasizes anonymous account numbers, no email requirement, open-source applications, a flat price and a limited data model. Its feature set includes WireGuard, multihop, anti-censorship options, DNS protection and DAITA, which is designed to make traffic-analysis attacks more difficult. See Mullvad’s product overview and privacy feature explanation.
Surfshark: a broader consumer security package
Surfshark combines VPN access with convenience features such as unlimited-connections positioning, Bypasser split tunneling, CleanWeb blocking, NoBorders, MultiHop, browser extensions and router or streaming-device support. Depending on plan and market, related security and identity products may also be offered. Its current feature documentation is at Surfshark Features.
Privacy, anonymity and trust
Mullvad has the clearest account-minimization advantage. It says an account can be created without an email address or other conventional personal information, using an account number instead. It accepts cash, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash and Monero; accepted cryptocurrencies receive a 10% discount according to its pricing page. These options can reduce the link between payment and an account, but they do not make browsing anonymous: websites can still identify logged-in users, cookies, browser fingerprints and device telemetry remain relevant, and destination services retain their own records. Sources: Mullvad VPN and Mullvad pricing.
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#1 Best Overall
- 【Five Gigabit Ports】1 Gigabit WAN Port plus 2 Gigabit WAN/LAN Ports plus 2 Gigabit LAN Port. Up to 3 WAN ports optimize bandwidth usage through one device.
- 【One USB WAN Port】Mobile broadband via 4G/3G modem is supported for WAN backup by connecting to the USB port. For complete list of compatible 4G/3G modems, please visit TP-Link website.
- 【Abundant Security Features】Advanced firewall policies, DoS defense, IP/MAC/URL filtering, speed test and more security functions protect your network and data.
- 【Highly Secure VPN】Supports up to 20× LAN-to-LAN IPsec, 16× OpenVPN, 16× L2TP, and 16× PPTP VPN connections.
- Security - SPI Firewall, VPN Pass through, FTP/H.323/PPTP/SIP/IPsec ALG, DoS Defence, Ping of Death and Local Management. Standards and Protocols IEEE 802.3, 802.3u, 802.3ab, IEEE 802.3x, IEEE 802.1q
Mullvad says it does not log activity and that its apps and infrastructure have been independently audited. Surfshark says Deloitte reviewed its no-logs policy in 2023 and 2025; its trust center also references Cure53 and SecuRing infrastructure audits, including a 2026 infrastructure and Dausos audit reference. A no-logs assurance examines defined practices against a stated policy; an infrastructure or app audit examines systems and vulnerabilities. None is mathematical proof that a provider could never log under every future circumstance. Sources: Surfshark security and no-logs information and Surfshark Trust Center.
Both services shift some trust from your internet provider to the VPN operator. Jurisdiction matters, but it does not by itself determine practical privacy; technical design, account data, audit scope, legal obligations, ownership and historical conduct matter too. Mullvad VPN AB is based in Sweden and explains its legal position in its help center at Mullvad’s Swedish-law information.
Security features and protocols
Both providers support WireGuard and OpenVPN, and both offer kill-switch and DNS-leak protection. Surfshark also lists IKEv2 on supported platforms and its Dausos protocol. Protocol variety is not the same as automatic superiority: WireGuard is modern, fast and widely scrutinized; OpenVPN remains useful for compatibility and TCP-based connections; IKEv2 can reconnect well on supported mobile devices; Dausos is Surfshark’s newer protocol and its availability and audit scope should be checked in the current app and trust documentation. See Surfshark protocol support.
Rank #2
- 【AC1200 Dual-band Wireless Router】Simultaneous dual-band with wireless speed up to 300 Mbps (2.4GHz) + 867 Mbps (5GHz). 2.4GHz band can handles some simple tasks like emails or web browsing while bandwidth intensive tasks such as gaming or 4K video streaming can be handled by the 5GHz band.*Speed tests are conducted on a local network. Real-world speeds may differ depending on your network configuration.*
- 【Easy Setup】Please refer to the User Manual and the Unboxing & Setup video guide on Amazon for detailed setup instructions and methods for connecting to the Internet.
- 【Pocket-friendly】Lightweight design(145g) which designed for your next trip or adventure. Alongside its portable, compact design makes it easy to take with you on the go.
- 【Full Gigabit Ports】Gigabit Wireless Internet Router with 2 Gigabit LAN ports and 1 Gigabit WAN ports, ideal for lots of internet plan and allow you to connect your wired devices directly.
- 【Keep your Internet Safe】IPv6 supported. OpenVPN & WireGuard pre-installed, compatible with 30+ VPN service providers. Cloudflare encryption supported to protect the privacy.
Mullvad’s security emphasis
- WireGuard and OpenVPN support where available.
- A built-in kill switch that blocks traffic when the tunnel is unavailable.
- DNS and IPv6 protections.
- Multihop, bridge and anti-censorship options.
- DAITA traffic-analysis resistance.
- Open-source apps and downloadable WireGuard configurations.
Feature availability differs by operating system. Mullvad’s app documentation is at Mullvad app help.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteSurfshark’s security and convenience emphasis
- WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2 on supported platforms and Dausos.
- Kill switch, DNS protection and automatic connection options.
- Bypasser split tunneling.
- NoBorders for restrictive networks.
- MultiHop and optional dedicated IP.
- Post-quantum protection layered onto WireGuard where supported by the current app.
A kill switch may deliberately block internet access when the VPN drops; that is expected protection, not a connection repair. Split tunneling can keep a bank, printer or local service outside the tunnel, but excluded traffic is no longer protected by the VPN. Surfshark calls this feature Bypasser; Mullvad documents its equivalent in its privacy feature overview.
Streaming and geo-unblocking
Surfshark is the safer recommendation when streaming is the main reason for buying a VPN. Independent testing reported access to a broad range of major services, including Netflix, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4 and Australian services. Mullvad has improved but was more often blocked, with failures reported for services such as Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video. Sources: Tom’s Guide streaming coverage and Tom’s Guide Mullvad review.
Rank #3
- New-Gen WiFi Standard – WiFi 6(802.11ax) standard supporting MU-MIMO and OFDMA technology for better efficiency and throughput.Antenna : External antenna x 4. Processor : Dual-core (4 VPE). Power Supply : AC Input : 110V~240V(50~60Hz), DC Output : 12 V with max. 1.5A current.
- Ultra-fast WiFi Speed – RT-AX1800S supports 1024-QAM for dramatically faster wireless connections
- Increase Capacity and Efficiency – Supporting not only MU-MIMO but also OFDMA technique to efficiently allocate channels, communicate with multiple devices simultaneously
- 5 Gigabit ports – One Gigabit WAN port and four Gigabit LAN ports, 10X faster than 100–Base T Ethernet.
- Commercial-grade Security Anywhere – Protect your home network with AiProtection Classic, powered by Trend Micro. And when away from home, ASUS Instant Guard gives you a one-click secure VPN.
Streaming access changes as platforms block VPN addresses. Results vary by country, server, account, app and date; a browser connection may work while a smart-TV app fails. Switching servers, changing protocol or clearing cookies can help but is not guaranteed. Smart DNS is not equivalent to a fully encrypted VPN tunnel, and accessing another region’s catalog may breach a service’s terms.
Torrenting and port forwarding
The current port-forwarding answer is straightforward: neither service is ideal if inbound connections are essential. Mullvad disabled adding new forwarded ports on May 29, 2023, and current independent reviews report that Surfshark does not provide port forwarding. Sources: Mullvad pricing and feature status, Tom’s Guide Surfshark review and TechRadar’s Surfshark review.
Both can protect torrent traffic, but the absence of forwarding can reduce inbound peers, seeding performance and discoverability on some private trackers. It does not make torrenting impossible. Bind the torrent client to the VPN interface and verify kill-switch behavior if this matters. If port forwarding is mandatory, investigate Proton VPN and verify its current plan, platform and regional terms at Proton VPN.
Rank #4
- 【DUAL BAND WIFI 7 TRAVEL ROUTER】Products with US, UK, EU, AU Plug; Dual band network with wireless speed 688Mbps (2.4G)+2882Mbps (5G); Dual 2.5G Ethernet Ports (1x WAN and 1x LAN Port); USB 3.0 port.
- 【NETWORK CONTROL WITH TOUCHSCREEN SIMPLICITY】Slate 7’s touchscreen interface lets you scan QR codes for quick Wi-Fi, monitor speed in real time, toggle VPN on/off, and switch providers directly on the display. Color-coded indicators provide instant network status updates for Ethernet, Tethering, Repeater, and Cellular modes, offering a seamless, user-friendly experience.
- 【OpenWrt 23.05 FIRMWARE】The Slate 7 (GL-BE3600) is a high-performance Wi-Fi 7 travel router, built with OpenWrt 23.05 (Kernel 5.4.213) for maximum customization and advanced networking capabilities. With 512MB storage, total customization with open-source freedom and flexible installation of OpenWrt plugins.
- 【VPN CLIENT & SERVER】OpenVPN and WireGuard are pre-installed, compatible with 30+ VPN service providers (active subscription required). Simply log in to your existing VPN account with our portable wifi device, and Slate 7 automatically encrypts all network traffic within the connected network. Max. VPN speed of 100 Mbps (OpenVPN); 540 Mbps (WireGuard). *Speed tests are conducted on a local network. Real-world speeds may differ depending on your network configuration.*
- 【PERFECT PORTABLE WIFI ROUTER FOR TRAVEL】The Slate 7 is an ideal portable internet device perfect for international travel. With its mini size and travel-friendly features, the pocket Wi-Fi router is the perfect companion for travelers in need of a secure internet connectivity on the go in which includes hotels or cruise ships.
Devices, apps and household use
Mullvad supports up to five devices per account and says it cannot simply add more slots; a router can consolidate household traffic but requires more technical setup. Its account number is central to access, so store it securely: losing it can be harder to recover from than losing an email-based login. Sources: Mullvad pricing, Mullvad FAQ and Mullvad account help.
Surfshark’s unlimited simultaneous-connections positioning is more practical for phones, laptops, tablets, TVs, consoles and routers in one household. Confirm the exact wording, fair-use provisions and plan eligibility on the live checkout page. Unlimited connections do not necessarily mean unlimited users, bandwidth or permission to share credentials outside the provider’s terms.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Pricing and refunds
Mullvad
Mullvad lists €5 per month whether you pay for one month, one year or longer. Its displayed US-dollar equivalent is exchange-rate-sensitive, not a fixed US price. It offers a 14-day money-back policy for eligible payment methods, with exclusions including cash and cryptocurrency. There are no conventional seasonal sales or long-term lock-in discounts; accepted cryptocurrency payments receive a 10% discount. See Mullvad pricing and Mullvad refunds.
Best Value
- Next-Gen Gigabit Wi-Fi 6 Speeds: 2402 Mbps on 5 GHz and 574 Mbps on 2.4 GHz bands ensure smoother streaming and faster downloads; support VPN server and VPN client¹
- A More Responsive Experience: Enjoy smooth gaming, video streaming, and live feeds simultaneously. OFDMA makes your Wi-Fi stronger by allowing multiple clients to share one band at the same time, cutting latency and jitter.²
- Expanded Wi-Fi Coverage: 4 high-gain external antennas and Beamforming technology combine to extend strong, reliable, Wi-Fi throughout your home.
- Improved Battery Life: Target Wake Time helps your devices to communicate efficiently while consuming less power.
- Improved Cooling Design: No heat ups, no throttles. A larger heat sink and redefined case design cools the WiFi 6 system and enables your network to stay at top speeds in more versatile environments.
Surfshark
Surfshark commonly advertises tiered plans and discounted long-term introductory prices. Before buying, record the country, currency, plan name, introductory term, renewal price, taxes, bundled extras and refund period from Surfshark’s current pricing page. Comparing Mullvad’s fixed €5 rate with Surfshark’s promotional monthly equivalent without including renewal pricing or commitment length is misleading.
Support, usability and common failure modes
Mullvad favors documentation and email over live chat or phone support. That suits technically confident users who value a minimal product. Surfshark offers a broader mainstream support ecosystem and is generally easier for a household configuring many devices. Sources: Mullvad help, Tom’s Guide Surfshark review and Surfshark’s review overview.
- Lost Mullvad account number: keep it in a password manager or another secure backup.
- Five-device exhaustion: remove unused devices or use a router; a second account may be required.
- Streaming failure: try another server or protocol, clear cookies, and test a browser, without assuming any workaround is permanent.
- Captchas: shared VPN IP reputation can trigger Cloudflare checks, banking alerts or extra verification. Mullvad discusses changing servers and suitable SOCKS5 use at its CAPTCHA guidance.
- Split-tunnel confusion: an excluded app’s traffic is outside VPN protection.
- Platform differences: IKEv2, obfuscation, IPv6 controls, browser extensions, split tunneling and kill-switch behavior vary across Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, browsers, routers and TVs.
Which VPN should you buy?
Choose Mullvad if
- You do not want to provide an email address.
- Anonymous or less-linked payment is important.
- You want a predictable €5 monthly rate without renewal surprises.
- Privacy-focused browsing and public-Wi-Fi protection matter more than streaming.
- You prefer open-source software and a focused VPN product.
- Five devices are enough and email support is acceptable.
Choose Surfshark if
- Streaming is central to the purchase.
- A household has many phones, computers, TVs or browsers.
- You want browser extensions, router support, Bypasser, NoBorders and broader convenience features.
- Live support and a polished consumer ecosystem matter.
- You accept checking promotional renewal terms before committing long term.
Choose neither automatically if
- Port forwarding is mandatory.
- You need a free tier.
- You expect a VPN to provide complete anonymity.
- You need centralized business administration.
- You require a dedicated public IP as a core feature without paying for an add-on.
- You need guaranteed access to one specific streaming catalog without testing it first.
Alternatives worth considering
Proton VPN is the most relevant alternative to investigate for port forwarding and a privacy-oriented ecosystem. IVPN offers another minimalist privacy model. Windscribe is worth considering for flexible plans and configurable features. NordVPN and ExpressVPN target users who prioritize polished apps, broad streaming ecosystems and extensive support. Verify current prices and feature availability directly because these change by market and date.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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