Mullvad vs Surfshark: Privacy Comparison
In this comprehensive privacy comparison, we analyze Mullvad and Surfshark across six critical dimensions: data collection practices, encryption implementation, third-party data sharing, user privacy controls, transparency, and historical track record. Both services serve similar needs, but their approaches to user privacy differ significantly. Our analysis reveals that Mullvad offers a meaningfully better privacy experience overall, though each service has relative strengths and weaknesses worth understanding in detail.
Scorecard Summary
Here is the result of weighing both services across the dimensions that decide real-world privacy. Across the six privacy dimensions we score, Mullvad finishes ahead of Surfshark, 54/60 to 38/60. That total reflects a privacy face-off in which one service is consistently the more privacy-respecting choice, even though both cover the same functional ground.
The largest single-dimension gap is in Encryption, where Mullvad leads by 3 points -- Mullvad 7/10 to Surfshark 4/10. Data Collection is where they come closest, a mere 2-point gap (10 vs 8 out of 10). Each dimension is unpacked in detail in the analysis below.
How Each Service Collects Data
Every privacy assessment starts with data collection. How much a service gathers, stores, and processes about its users is what ultimately drives the privacy risk of using it. Mullvad takes a leaner approach here, capturing only the data strictly required to make the service work. Its rival pulls in a wider net of information -- behavioral patterns, device identifiers, and usage analytics that go well past what the core features actually need. Our marks were Mullvad 10/10 and Surfshark 8/10 in this area. What separates them is not merely how much is gathered but why it is gathered and whether it is truly needed.
Encryption Standards
Encryption protects user data both in transit and at rest, and the implementation quality varies dramatically between services. Mullvad implements stronger encryption measures, including more robust protocols for data in transit and better protection for stored data. The specific encryption implementations differ in their coverage (which data is encrypted), their strength (which algorithms and key lengths are used), and whether end-to-end encryption is employed (preventing even the service provider from accessing user content). Mullvad scored 7/10 while Surfshark scored 4/10 for encryption.
Sharing Data With Outside Parties
One of the most important privacy questions is how freely a service passes data along to others. The list of recipients can run from advertising networks and analytics providers to business partners and government requests. Mullvad draws firmer limits around third-party access to user data. Such practices matter for security and not only privacy, because each new entity with access is another door through which a breach could occur. Scores: Mullvad 8/10, Surfshark 5/10.
Controls You Can Actually Use
Individuals only hold real power over their data when a service's privacy controls are available and genuinely effective. The relevant tools include the option to opt out of data collection, ways to download and erase data, granular permission settings, and how readily users can exercise the rights afforded them by applicable privacy regulations. Mullvad offers more complete and approachable privacy controls. Scores: Mullvad 9/10, Surfshark 6/10.
Openness About Data Practices
Transparency encompasses how clearly each service communicates its data practices. This includes the readability of privacy policies, the publication of transparency reports, responsiveness to privacy inquiries, and proactive communication about policy changes. Mullvad demonstrates stronger transparency overall. Clear, accessible privacy communication is essential for informed consent and trust. Scores: Mullvad 10/10, Surfshark 7/10.
Historical Track Record
A service's history of privacy incidents, regulatory actions, and responses to vulnerabilities provides important context. Mullvad has a stronger historical record on privacy, with fewer incidents and more responsible handling of the issues that have arisen. Past behavior is often the best predictor of future privacy practices. Scores: Mullvad 10/10, Surfshark 8/10.
Our Bottom-Line Call
Our comprehensive analysis gives Mullvad a total score of 54/60 and Surfshark a total score of 38/60. The overall winner for privacy is Mullvad. While both services serve similar functional needs, the winner demonstrates a more privacy-respecting approach across the dimensions that matter most. That said, no service is perfect, and users should always configure privacy settings actively regardless of which option they choose. We recommend supplementing your choice with additional privacy tools, a VPN, DNS-level ad blocker, and privacy-focused browser, to build a comprehensive privacy posture. If your threat model requires the strongest possible privacy, consider whether an even more privacy-focused alternative exists in this category beyond the two compared here.