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Add to SafariWhen comparing Hide My Ass! vs Mullvad, the Slant community recommends Mullvad for most people. In the question“What is the best VPN provider? ” Mullvad is ranked 1st while Hide My Ass! is ranked 80th. The most important reason people chose Mullvad is:
According to Mullvad, they retain no traffic information or metadata. Here is their statement in 2014 when inquired by TorrentFreak if they store _any_ logs that would enable linking an IP address and a timestamp to a user: > No. This would make both us and our users more vulnerable so we certainly don’t. To make it harder to watch the activities of an IP address from the outside we also have many users share each address, both for IPv4 and our upcoming IPv6 support.
Specs
Question Ranking
Pros
Pro Price is affordable
Affordable VPN software out there, with cheaper prices than some competitors.
Pro Includes a kill switch
Pro iOS and Android App
Pro Many fast servers
HideMyAss offers three types of speed tests.
Pro No logs are kept
According to Mullvad, they retain no traffic information or metadata. Here is their statement in 2014 when inquired by TorrentFreak if they store any logs that would enable linking an IP address and a timestamp to a user:
No. This would make both us and our users more vulnerable so we
certainly don’t. To make it harder to watch the activities of an IP address from the outside we also have many users share each address, both for IPv4 and our upcoming IPv6 support.
Pro Token-based account system
When signing up, a sufficiently long random number is assigned and given to you which serves as both username and password, without any need to provide a name or e-mail address or any other identifying information.
Pro No traffic or protocol restrictions
Mullvad allows using any and all protocols that the user wishes, no traffic is restricted.
Pro Multiple payment methods
Bitcoin, cash, bank transfers, PayPal, credit cards are accepted.
Pro DNS leak protection
In the event of a DNS leak, not all traffic is routed through a secure network. Mullvad helps solve this issue by offering DNS leak protection.
Pro Supports WireGuard
WireGuard is an extremely simple yet fast and modern open-source VPN program built using the latest cryptography. It's faster, simpler, leaner, and more useful than both IPSec and OpenVPN.
Pro Includes a kill switch
It's possible to set up the software to disconnect from Internet in case the connection to the VPN service is lost to not expose traffic in case of service failures.
Pro Based outside of the Five Eyes
Mullvad operates out of Sweden, and so is not exposed to the same privacy-corresive laws as it would be if it were in the US or another “Five Eyes” country.
Pro Multi-hop
Allows hopping from one location to another for additional security. This is great because everything "hops" through multiple locations effectively providing an additional mask and making it harder to trace the route back to the source.
Pro Has native applications for all popular platforms
The platforms that Mullvad can run on include: Windows, OSX, Linux, Android, and iOS. Additionally, Mullvad offers a source code that allows the program to be run on virtually any system.
Pro Offers a free trial
One of the things that makes Mullvad's free trial attractive is the lack of personal information asked to sign up. Once downloaded, the free trial lasts three hours.
Pro Not expensive
Only 5 € by month with a 3 hours trial period.
Pro No personal information required to register
Autogenerated account number, no email accepted.
Pro Easy to set up
Easy to set up Windows client.
Pro Great customer service
Mullvad customer service is helpful and responds quickly.
Pro Short-term contract
You pay when you need it, at least for one month. No pushy salesmen model, you decide when you need it.
Pro VPN Client is both Open Source and Free Software
The VPN Client is both Open Source and Free Software (GPLv3), code can be reviewed at https://github.com/mullvad/mullvadvpn-app - issues can be reported at https://github.com/mullvad/mullvadvpn-app/issues
Pro Firefox
Cons
Con Not secure
Hide My Ass is known to sell data to marketers and allow government agencies to monitor activity.
Con Logs activities up to 2 years
Con Bad customer service
Con No longer supports port forwarding.
As of 2023-07-01, Mullvad VPN no longer supports port forwarding due to abuse.
Con Seemingly permanent kill-switch
Client, if shut down, often seemed to keep the kill-switch enabled, with no way to reset besides a rest of the hardware.
Con French Mullvad Windows Client
Sometimes for a reason of French language, the Windows client does not connect to the chosen server. It can be bypassed by installing their beta client.
