Compared with WireGuard, which is a protocol and tooling layer, Mullvad VPN is a full commercial service with its own desktop client. The developer is Mullvad VPN, based in Sweden, and the code is open source under GPL-3.0.
Who the open-source Swedish client suits
The tags point to privacy, security and private networking. It fits people who want to read the code behind a VPN client rather than trust a closed one. The same service also runs on Android.
What the 2026.5 desktop build changes in practice
The release adds explicit log levels for the log command: off, error, warn, info, debug and trace. Clicking the tray icon now toggles the window. On Windows, the uninstaller, Electron binaries and native modules are signed, though some NSIS binaries remain unsigned.
Size and price
The installer is 128.4 MB and free to download. No Google Play rating applies to this Windows build.
What's new in 2026.5
Version 2026.5, released September 14, 2026, is a desktop-only update. It adds log levels, renames the old set-level command to set-rust-log, and increases the DNS cache flush timeout on Windows.
Mullvad VPN pros and cons
Pros
- Open source under GPL-3.0
- Signed uninstaller and Electron binaries on Windows
- Explicit log levels from off to trace
- Tray icon click toggles the window
- Also available on Android
Cons
- 128.4 MB installer
- Some NSIS binaries are still unsigned
- Offers no visual preview of the interface before installing
- Service pricing is listed separately by the provider
Is Mullvad VPN safe?
Mullvad VPN is published under the GPL-3.0 licence, so its source code is open for anyone to inspect. The 2026.5 release signs the uninstaller, Electron binaries and native modules on Windows, though the changelog admits some NSIS binaries are still unsigned.
How to install Mullvad VPN
- Press the download button to get the official file.
- Run the installer you saved and confirm the Windows security prompt if the publisher matches.
- Follow the setup steps, then start Mullvad VPN from the Start menu.
