7 Best Mullvad VPN Alternatives for Travel in 2026

Why Look Beyond Mullvad VPN?

Mullvad VPN built its reputation on flat-rate pricing (€5/month), anonymous accounts, and a no-nonsense privacy stance. For many users, that's enough. But Mullvad has real limitations that push travelers and power users toward alternatives: an inconsistent speed profile, a relatively small server network of around 600 servers across roughly 40 countries, the removal of port forwarding in 2023, limited streaming unblocking, and customer support that amounts to little more than a FAQ page and email ticket.

If any of those pain points sound familiar, this guide covers the eight strongest Mullvad alternatives in 2026 — with exact pricing, specific differentiators, and clear guidance on which one fits your situation.

The 8 Best Mullvad VPN Alternatives

1. NordVPN — Best Overall Mullvad Replacement

NordVPN is the most direct upgrade from Mullvad across almost every measurable dimension. Its server network spans over 6,800 servers in 111 countries — more than ten times Mullvad's count and more than double the country coverage. That density translates into consistently fast, stable connections even during peak hours, which is exactly where Mullvad tends to falter.

• Streaming: Unblocks more Netflix regional libraries than any other VPN, plus BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and Max — areas where Mullvad regularly struggles
• Connections: Up to 10 simultaneous devices (Mullvad allows 5)
• Support: 24/7 live chat with responsive, knowledgeable agents — a major step up from Mullvad's email-only support
• Device support: Native apps for Apple TV, Roku, and Fire Stick; Smart DNS for devices without VPN app support
• Privacy: Audited no-logs policy, same AES-256 encryption as Mullvad, plus Threat Protection malware/ad blocking

Pricing: From $2.99/month on the 2-year plan (76% discount). Monthly billing runs $12.99/month.

Best for: Travelers who want the fastest speeds, the widest streaming access, and reliable 24/7 support.

2. ExpressVPN — Best for Travel Versatility

ExpressVPN distinguishes itself with a clean, beginner-friendly interface and exceptional ability to bypass geo-restrictions in countries with aggressive internet censorship — including China, UAE, and Russia. Where Mullvad's interface is deliberately spartan, ExpressVPN's app is polished and intuitive across all platforms.

• Servers: 3,000+ servers in 105 countries
• Lightway protocol: ExpressVPN's proprietary protocol delivers faster connection times and better performance on mobile networks than Mullvad's WireGuard implementation
• Router support: ExpressVPN offers dedicated router firmware — useful for protecting all devices in a hotel or Airbnb on one connection
• Split tunneling: Available on all major platforms including iOS, where Mullvad's split tunneling is absent
• Connections: 8 simultaneous devices

Pricing: ~$4.99/month on the 2-year plan (73% off); monthly billing is $12.95/month. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Best for: Frequent travelers to restricted-internet countries who need a reliable, easy-to-use VPN that just works.

3. Surfshark — Best for Households and Multi-Device Users

Surfshark offers the one feature Mullvad categorically lacks: unlimited simultaneous connections. If you travel with a laptop, phone, tablet, and want to protect a family member's device at the same time, Surfshark removes all device limits at a lower price than Mullvad.

• Connections: Unlimited devices on one account
• Servers: 3,200+ servers in 100 countries
• CleanWeb: Built-in ad, tracker, and malware blocker
• NoBorders mode: Specifically designed to work in restrictive internet environments
• Nexus: Routes traffic through multiple VPN servers for layered privacy (similar to Mullvad's multihop, but with a larger pool)
• Speed consistency: More predictable speeds than Mullvad across long-distance connections

Pricing: ~$1.99/month on the 2-year plan (87% discount); monthly billing is $15.45/month. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Best for: Families or digital nomads protecting multiple devices without per-seat pricing.

4. Proton VPN — Best Privacy-First Alternative

Proton VPN is the closest philosophical match to Mullvad — Swiss-based, privacy-focused, independently audited, and operated by the same team behind ProtonMail. If you're leaving Mullvad because of its speed or streaming issues but don't want to sacrifice its privacy ethos, Proton VPN is the natural landing point.

• Free tier: Fully functional free plan with no data caps (the only major VPN offering this) — Mullvad has no free option
• Servers: 9,000+ servers in 112 countries on the paid plan
• Stealth protocol: Obfuscated protocol designed to bypass VPN blocks in Iran, China, and similar markets
• NetShield: DNS-based ad and malware blocking
• Tor integration: Dedicated Tor-over-VPN servers, matching Mullvad's approach
• Open source: All apps are fully open source and audited, matching Mullvad's transparency

Pricing: Free plan available. Proton VPN Plus starts at $4.99/month on the annual plan; monthly billing is $9.99/month.

Best for: Privacy-conscious users who want Mullvad's values but better speeds, a larger server network, and a free entry point.

5. Private Internet Access — Best for Server Variety

Private Internet Access (PIA) runs one of the largest server networks in the industry — 35,000+ servers across 91 countries. For travelers who regularly encounter blocked VPN servers or need to find working connections in specific regions, PIA's sheer scale is a meaningful advantage over Mullvad's 600-server network.

• Servers: 35,000+ servers in 91 countries
• Connections: Unlimited simultaneous connections
• MACE: Built-in DNS ad/tracker/malware blocker
• Customization: Highly configurable encryption settings, including the ability to choose between AES-128 and AES-256
• Port forwarding: Available on select servers — an explicit advantage over Mullvad, which removed this feature in 2023
• Open source: All apps are open source

Pricing: ~$2.19/month on the 3-year plan; monthly billing is $11.99/month. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Best for: Power users who need port forwarding, or anyone frustrated by Mullvad's limited server footprint.

6. Windscribe — Best Budget Alternative with Port Forwarding

Windscribe is a strong Mullvad competitor that community users consistently praise for overall reliability. It restores port forwarding — the feature that drove many users away from Mullvad — and includes a generous free tier for light use.

• Free tier: 10GB/month free with access to 11 countries (no credit card required)
• Port forwarding: Available on paid plans, a key differentiator from Mullvad post-2023
• R.O.B.E.R.T.: Customizable DNS-level blocking for ads, malware, and social media trackers
• Servers: 110+ cities in 63 countries
• Stealth protocol: Obfuscated traffic mode for censorship-heavy regions
• Build-a-plan: Pay per location add-on rather than a fixed country list

Pricing: Free plan (10GB/month). Pro plan is $5.75/month billed monthly or $4.08/month on the annual plan.

Best for: Mullvad users who specifically left because of the port forwarding removal, or anyone who wants a capable free VPN to test before committing.

7. IVPN — Best Like-for-Like Privacy Replacement

IVPN is the alternative most commonly recommended in privacy and tech communities when users ask for something "just like Mullvad." It shares Mullvad's account-number system (no email required), supports anonymous cash payments, and has a similarly small but curated server network.

• Anonymous accounts: No email, no personal data required — identical to Mullvad's approach
• Anti-tracker: Built-in DNS-based blocker for ads and trackers
• Multi-hop: Route traffic through two servers in different countries for layered anonymity
• Port forwarding: Available on the Pro tier — unlike Mullvad
• Open source: All client apps are fully open source
• Servers: 88 servers in 36 countries

Pricing: Standard plan $6/month or $60/year. Pro plan (adds port forwarding and multi-hop) $10/month or $100/year.

Best for: Users who specifically want Mullvad's anonymous account model but need port forwarding or a slightly lower price on the base plan.

8. VyprVPN — Best for Bypassing Deep Packet Inspection

VyprVPN differentiates itself with its proprietary Chameleon protocol, which scrambles OpenVPN metadata to defeat deep packet inspection (DPI). This makes it one of the few VPNs that consistently works in countries like China where standard WireGuard (Mullvad's primary protocol) is frequently identified and blocked.

• Chameleon protocol: Proprietary obfuscation that defeats DPI — not available on Mullvad
• Servers: 700+ servers in 64 countries, with all servers owned and operated by VyprVPN (no third-party hosting)
• No-logs audit: Independently audited by Leviathan Security Group
• Kill switch: Available on all platforms
• Connections: 30 simultaneous devices

Pricing: $5/month on the annual plan; monthly billing is $10/month. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Best for: Travelers in China, UAE, or other countries with aggressive DPI-based VPN blocking who find Mullvad gets blocked.

Mullvad Alternatives Comparison Table

Migration Tips: Switching Away from Mullvad

Exporting Your Mullvad Configuration

Mullvad doesn't store user data on its servers, so there's nothing to export in the traditional sense. Your account is tied to a randomly generated 16-digit number — save this before canceling if you have remaining credit. Mullvad bills by the hour once you cancel, so unused time is refunded automatically to your account balance rather than your payment method.

WireGuard Config Portability

If you use Mullvad's WireGuard configuration on a router or custom setup, you'll need to generate new WireGuard configs for your new provider. NordVPN, ProtonVPN, PIA, IVPN, and Windscribe all support manual WireGuard configuration export from their dashboards — the process takes under five minutes and the config files follow the same standard format.

Multihop Users

Mullvad's multihop (routing through two VPN servers) is replicated in ProtonVPN's Secure Core, IVPN Pro, and NordVPN's Double VPN feature. If multihop was central to your setup, prioritize one of these three.

Kill Switch and Split Tunneling

All eight alternatives listed here include a kill switch on desktop. For split tunneling on iOS specifically — which Mullvad lacks — ExpressVPN and NordVPN both offer it. Android split tunneling is universal across all alternatives.

Anonymous Payment

Mullvad and IVPN are the only providers here that accept cash payments by mail and require zero personal data at sign-up. Proton VPN accepts cryptocurrency and requires only an email. NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Surfshark accept crypto but require an email address.

Which Mullvad Alternative Should You Choose?

• For fastest speeds and best streaming: NordVPN — the most comprehensive upgrade from Mullvad, with 24/7 live chat support and the largest server network
• For travel to censored-internet countries (China, UAE): ExpressVPN or VyprVPN — both have obfuscation protocols that handle DPI where Mullvad's standard WireGuard gets blocked
• For multiple devices or family use: Surfshark or PIA — unlimited simultaneous connections at well under Mullvad's €5/month flat rate
• For maximum privacy matching Mullvad's values: Proton VPN — Swiss jurisdiction, open source, audited, and free tier available
• For port forwarding (post-Mullvad removal): IVPN Pro, PIA, or Windscribe — all restore the functionality Mullvad dropped in 2023
• For a like-for-like anonymous account experience: IVPN — account number only, no email, cash payment accepted, similar privacy philosophy
• For the lowest price: Surfshark at $1.99/month or PIA at $2.19/month — both are substantially cheaper than Mullvad's €5/month while offering more features

Mullvad remains a solid baseline, but for travelers specifically, its thin server network, unreliable streaming support, and lack of 24/7 customer service are real limitations. Any of the eight alternatives above addresses at least two of those gaps — and the top picks address all of them.