LimeVPN vs Mullvad
Privacy Extremist vs Value Champion
Mullvad is the gold standard of privacy-first VPNs. LimeVPN offers strong privacy at a fraction of the cost. We compare them across every meaningful dimension.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | LimeVPN | Mullvad |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $5.99/mo Core · $9.99/mo Plus | €5/mo flat (no discounts) |
| Account creation | Email required | Account number only — no email |
| Payment options | Credit card, crypto | Cash, crypto, credit card |
| Server count | 30+ locations | 590+ servers, 50 countries |
| Simultaneous devices | 5 | 5 |
| Protocols | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2 | WireGuard only (OpenVPN dropped Jan 2026) |
| No-logs policy | ✅ No browsing or activity logs | ✅ RAM-only, audited |
| Kill switch | ✅ | ✅ |
| DNS leak protection | ✅ | ✅ |
| Dedicated IP | ✅ Available | — |
| Split tunneling | ✅ | ✅ |
| Streaming (Netflix) | ✅ | ❌ Not optimized |
| Port forwarding | ✅ | ❌ Removed in 2023 |
| DNS content blocker | — | ✅ (optional) |
| DAITA (AI traffic defense) | — | ✅ |
| Multi-hop (double VPN) | — | ✅ |
| Independent audit | Planned 2026 | ✅ Audited |
| Jurisdiction | Privacy-friendly | Sweden |
| Money-back guarantee | 7 days | No — pay monthly, cancel anytime |
🔐 Privacy: The Core Difference
LimeVPN Privacy
- ✓ No browsing activity, DNS queries, or traffic content logged
- ✓ Email address required for account (for service & recovery)
- ✓ Quarterly transparency report published
- ✓ Privacy-friendly jurisdiction (non-5-Eyes)
- ✓ Cryptocurrency payments accepted
- ✓ Dedicated IPs available for consistent streaming
Mullvad Privacy
- → No email, name, or identifying info required — just a random account number
- → Accepts cash sent by mail for complete anonymity
- → Accepts Monero (private cryptocurrency)
- → DAITA — defense against AI-based traffic analysis
- → RAM-only servers (verified by audit)
- → Multi-hop routing available
- → Based in Sweden — GDPR protection, but EU jurisdiction
Who needs Mullvad's approach? Journalists, whistleblowers, activists in high-risk environments, and privacy researchers who need maximum anonymity at account level. For general privacy users, LimeVPN's no-browsing-logs policy provides equivalent protection for VPN activity — the main difference is that Mullvad doesn't require an email to sign up.
📺 Streaming: A Clear Winner
LimeVPN ✅ Streaming-Friendly
- ✓ Netflix US, UK, Canada
- ✓ BBC iPlayer
- ✓ Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max
- ✓ Dedicated IP for consistent unblocking
- ✓ Streaming-optimized servers
Mullvad ❌ Not Optimized for Streaming
- ✗ Many Mullvad IPs blocked by Netflix
- ✗ No dedicated streaming servers
- ✗ No SmartDNS for geo-unblocking
- ✗ Mullvad explicitly doesn't optimize for streaming
Mullvad is privacy-first, not streaming-first. If you primarily use a VPN for streaming, Mullvad is not the right choice.
Pros & Cons
LimeVPN
Pros
Cons
Mullvad
Pros
Cons
Our Verdict
Choose LimeVPN if you:
- • Want to stream Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney+
- • Want dedicated IP option + longer support — Core $5.99/mo or $49/yr
- • Are comfortable providing an email address
- • Need a 14-day money-back guarantee
- • Want dedicated IPs for consistent streaming/business
Choose Mullvad if you:
- • Need maximum anonymity (journalist, activist)
- • Want truly zero-knowledge account creation
- • Need to pay with cash for anonymity
- • Want DAITA AI traffic analysis defense
- • Don't care about streaming performance
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Mullvad collect any user data at all?
Mullvad is arguably the most privacy-minimalist mainstream VPN. You create an account with just an account number — no email, no name, no payment details linked to your identity. They accept cash sent by mail and Monero for fully anonymous payments. LimeVPN also enforces a strict no-activity-logs policy, but does require an email address for account creation.
Why is Mullvad €5/month with no discounts?
Mullvad deliberately charges a flat €5/month with no long-term plans or promotional discounts. This is a principled stance: they argue that multi-year plans and promotional pricing are manipulative tactics. However, it means Mullvad costs €60/year (~$65) vs LimeVPN Core at $49/yr — and LimeVPN also offers a monthly option ($5.99/mo) with no long-term commitment required.
Does Mullvad support streaming?
Mullvad is not optimized for streaming. It doesn't maintain dedicated streaming servers or offer a SmartDNS service. Many streaming platforms actively block Mullvad's IP addresses. If streaming Netflix US, BBC iPlayer, or other geo-restricted content is important to you, LimeVPN performs better with its dedicated IP option.
What happened with Mullvad and port forwarding?
In 2023, Mullvad removed port forwarding support entirely, citing abuse by torrent users to de-anonymize others. This makes Mullvad less suitable for torrenting use cases where port forwarding improves download speeds. LimeVPN supports P2P on dedicated servers.
Which is more private: LimeVPN or Mullvad?
For hardcore privacy, Mullvad is more radical — no email required, cash/Monero accepted, zero metadata collected, DAITA (defense against AI traffic analysis). LimeVPN requires an email address but has a privacy-first minimal-log policy and publishes a quarterly transparency report. For most users, LimeVPN's privacy is more than adequate. For high-risk profiles (journalists, activists), Mullvad's approach is more robust.
Dedicated IP Option + Longer Support — Mullvad Is More Privacy-Maximalist
LimeVPN Core from $5.99/month (no contract), Plus with dedicated IP from $9.99/month. No browsing logs, quarterly transparency reports, streaming-friendly. 14-day money-back guarantee.
Get LimeVPN — From $5.99/moAES-256 Encryption · No-Logs Policy · 30+ Locations · Kill Switch