Mullvad vs Surfshark
Side-by-side comparison based on Reddit & Twitter discussions
Community Pick
Mullvad
Based on community sentiment and discussions
Mullvad
Winner
Approval Rate
90%
473 recommend · 53 warn
Data Quality
High
Reviews
708
Reviewers
577
Best for:
Privacy-focused users who want minimal personal info tied to their account
People who want a straightforward VPN for everyday browsing and torrenting
Anyone who values a VPN that doesn’t rely on referral links and influencer promos
Mullvad has a really strong reputation for privacy, and it’s one of the few VPNs people trust when they say “no logs.” It’s also loved for letting you sign up without an email and pay in very private...
Approval Rate
52%
127 recommend · 116 warn
Data Quality
High
Reviews
413
Reviewers
344
Best for:
People who want a cheaper VPN that still works for streaming
Households with lots of devices
Everyday users who want something simple on Windows, Android, and iOS
Surfshark comes up a lot as a good-value VPN that’s easy to live with day to day. People like that it’s usually cheaper than the big-name alternatives, works well for streaming (Netflix, Hulu, YouTube...
Performance by Use Case
| Use Case | Mullvad | Winner | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Streaming | 76% (31) | ← | 68% (52) |
| Torrenting | 65% (28) | ← | 33% (7) |
| Privacy | 95% (387) | ← | 42% (86) |
| Censorship | 61% (33) | ← | 47% (21) |
| Gaming | 100% (1) | - | 33% (6) |
| Travel | 0% (1) | → | 50% (2) |
| Work | 67% (4) | ← | 50% (4) |
| Router | 100% (2) | ← | -- (1) |
| Mobile | - | → | 50% (2) |
| Price | 92% (21) | ← | 67% (37) |
Mullvad
Strengths
- Strong privacy focus
- No email required
- Anonymous payment options
- Fast speeds (especially with WireGuard)
- Good for torrenting
- Trusted “no-logs” reputation
- No influencer/affiliate marketing feel
Weaknesses
- Streaming can be hit or miss
- Port forwarding no longer supported
- Can feel pricey for a basic VPN
- Some apps/services may block it
Surfshark
Strengths
- Unlimited devices
- Good value for the price
- Works well with popular streaming services
- Generally fast speeds
- Useful safety features like a kill switch
Weaknesses
- Billing and renewal issues
- Support can be slow or unhelpful
- Some streaming apps still detect/block it
- Trust concerns about company ownership/jurisdiction
- Occasional location/IP accuracy complaints