Mullvad VPN: Privacy-First with Native Linux Support

Overview

Mullvad is a privacy-focused VPN provider based in Sweden. What sets it apart is its commitment to anonymity: accounts are identified by a randomly generated number, not an email address. You can pay with cash or crypto.

Linux Client

Mullvad provides a first-class Linux experience:

• GUI app — available as a .deb or .rpm package or via their apt/dnf repository
• CLI tool — full-featured command line interface for headless setups
• WireGuard support — fast, modern VPN protocol with kernel-level support on Linux
• OpenVPN support — as a fallback

Installation on Debian/Ubuntu:

sudo apt install mullvad-vpn

The CLI is particularly well-thought-out:

mullvad connect
mullvad status
mullvad relay set location se  # connect to Sweden

Kill switch, DNS leak prevention, and split tunneling all work on Linux.

Android App

The Android app is clean and well-maintained. It supports WireGuard and includes an always-on VPN mode and per-app split tunneling.

Pricing

A flat $5/month regardless of subscription length. No introductory pricing tricks. You pay for exactly what you use.

Privacy

• No logs policy — independently audited
• No account email required — truly anonymous sign-up
• Jurisdiction — Sweden (outside 5/9/14 Eyes at a practical level, though Sweden is in the EU)
• Open source clients — all apps are open source

Verdict

Mullvad is the VPN I recommend to anyone who takes privacy seriously and uses Linux. The native Linux client is one of the best among VPN providers, pricing is transparent, and the no-logs policy has been audited. The only downside is no free trial.