Comparison

TorGuard vs Mullvad: account choices, protocol changes and value

Compare TorGuard and Mullvad by numbered accounts, current protocol compatibility, device limits, payment and refund conditions, pros and cons and current offers.

VPNBlade Editorial · Reviewed by VPNBlade Editorial · October 29, 2026 · Updated 2026-10-29

About 6 min read

In this article

Adult man checking a smartphone on a mountain trail beside a backpack and notebook; AI-generated editorial illustration, not a customer or network test

Mullvad is worth shortlisting for its numbered-account model and a setup compatible with its current WireGuard service. TorGuard is worth investigating when its documented desktop controls or plan capacity solve a specific requirement. The first decision is compatibility, especially if you are relying on an older router or setup guide.

VPNBlade reviewed current provider documentation on 29 October 2026. We have not performed comparative speed, streaming-access or connection-resilience tests for this article. Neither a privacy policy nor a feature list establishes a universal security winner. Offer buttons may earn a commission.

Compare current TorGuard and Mullvad offers

Check the complete payment, included service time and applicable refund conditions. Avoid treating an ordinary rate as an expiring coupon. If your setup depends on a particular protocol, confirm that requirement before paying for a long term.

Check current Mullvad offers and verification dates →

Check current TorGuard offers and verification dates →

TorGuard versus Mullvad at a glance

Documented differences that can decide the purchase
Requirement	Mullvad	TorGuard
Account and access	Numbered account; current terms describe app or WireGuard-client access	Subscription with the selected plan’s account conditions
Device capacity	Account use on up to five devices	Current plan page lists Standard eight and Pro twelve simultaneous connections
Older OpenVPN setup	OpenVPN service retired; an old configuration is not a current option	Current plan page lists OpenVPN and WireGuard; verify the exact configuration
Desktop control reviewed	Assess the current app and supported setup rather than an old feature table	App Kill attempts to terminate selected processes on disconnect
Evaluation conditions	Fourteen-day policy for eligible payment methods	Ordinary seven-day first-time request window, with exclusions

Those differences are more useful than assigning points for a larger server count. A compatible service with fewer unused extras can be a better fit than a more elaborate subscription that does not support the task you have in mind.

Mullvad: features and reasons to choose it

Mullvad creates a random account number rather than asking for an email address, username and password at signup. Its policy separately explains payment, support and other data handling. Numbered signup is a distinct account design; it should not be expanded into a claim that every payment or support interaction leaves no records.

Its current terms describe access through the Mullvad app or another WireGuard client. Mullvad removed OpenVPN selection from desktop app version 2025.14 and set the final server retirement for 15 January 2026. A router that only supports an old OpenVPN configuration therefore needs a different compatible setup.

Mullvad pros

Numbered signup avoids requiring an email address to create the account.
Its current protocol direction makes compatibility requirements clear.
Its documentation distinguishes account design from payment and support data.

Mullvad cons and checks

Five devices may be insufficient for a larger independent-device setup.
Old OpenVPN instructions no longer establish usable service support.
Cash and cryptocurrency payments are excluded from its refund policy.

Choose Mullvad if the account model appeals to you, your devices support the current configuration and five devices meet your requirement. Review the Mullvad store and available purchase options without assuming an introductory discount or a different refund policy.

TorGuard: features and reasons to choose it

TorGuard’s current plan page separates Standard’s eight simultaneous connections from Pro’s twelve and lists both OpenVPN and WireGuard. Select a plan and a supported configuration rather than assuming every app, server or purchased extra uses the same options.

Its desktop App Kill guide describes selecting a process or executable and attempting to terminate it when the VPN disconnects. The provider recommends using the network kill switch alongside it. Process termination and network blocking remain different actions; we have not independently verified their behavior for a particular application.

TorGuard pros

Plan-specific allowances may accommodate more active devices than a five-device setup.
Documented desktop controls offer a specific workflow to investigate.
Current protocol listings can be relevant when an existing device has a defined compatibility requirement.

TorGuard cons and checks

More available settings mean more configuration choices to understand.
Closing a selected process can interrupt work rather than merely suspend its network access.
Its eligible refund window is shorter and excludes certain purchases and payment methods.

Choose TorGuard if the exact supported app and plan address your requirement. The TorGuard deal page keeps current subscription offers separate from this feature assessment.

Check an older router before comparing discounts

An old guide can remain readable long after the service it describes has changed. Start with the router’s actual firmware and supported VPN client. Do not treat an installation screenshot as evidence that the provider still accepts that protocol.

For example, someone whose router only exposes an OpenVPN client cannot assume that buying Mullvad account time will make that router compatible. A person already using a supported WireGuard client faces a different decision. Our router setup guide helps organize the compatibility questions without promising every router can run every service.

Mullvad also announced the removal of forwarded ports in 2023, with existing ports ending on 1 July that year. That history is another reason not to buy from a legacy feature list. An old port-forwarding tutorial is not proof that its configuration remains available.

A requirements worksheet for the pair

Resolve the relevant constraint before purchasing
Your situation	Check first	Why it matters
An existing router must keep working	The actual supported VPN client and provider protocol	A subscription does not add a missing firmware capability.
You prefer signup without an email address	Mullvad’s numbered-account design	Signup information and later payment or support records are different questions.
More than five devices need access	The provider’s exact device allowance	Count the independent devices used in the planned configuration.
An app should close when a tunnel ends	TorGuard’s desktop App Kill scope	Closing a process can affect unsaved work and helper processes.
You need a short evaluation	Payment method and applicable refund policy	A headline window may exclude the transaction you choose.

A small device list and a precise task can make this decision straightforward. A person who wants a compatible phone and computer setup should not pay for capabilities only useful to a self-hosted service. Someone with a hard protocol requirement should resolve that before comparing general privacy claims.

Payments and refunds are part of the comparison

Mullvad’s refund guide describes a fourteen-day guarantee for eligible methods. Cash and cryptocurrency are not refunded, while Apple and voucher purchases are handled through the respective seller. Its guide lists covered methods and notes that bank-wire refunds are limited to European SEPA payments. Check the applicable route before relying on eligibility.

TorGuard’s terms describe ordinary first-time VPN or proxy refund requests within seven days. Dedicated-address services, gift-card and cryptocurrency payments, terms violations and certain shipped-device offers are excluded. Neither policy is a reason to assume every purchase is refundable.

Save the initial amount, currency, service period and any later billing conditions. Our cancellation guide distinguishes ending recurring billing from requesting a refund. Keep the confirmation of whichever action you take.

Common questions

Which provider is faster or better for streaming?

No controlled current winner is established here. Server choice, local network and task affect performance, and neither service is promised to unlock a particular platform. The streaming guide explains practical checks.

Does a numbered account guarantee anonymity?

No such guarantee follows. Consider the payment method, information you submit and accounts you use online. Keep an account-design preference separate from an absolute claim about all activity.

What should I verify after setup?

Record the installed app, protocol and changed settings, then check the task that justified the purchase. Use the VPN connection-check guide to avoid treating one browser observation as a whole-device test.

Choose a suitable current offer

Shortlist Mullvad for its numbered-account design and a compatible current setup, or TorGuard for a specific supported desktop or capacity requirement. For another distinct pair, read TorGuard versus NordVPN. Confirm the full conditions before payment.