Does Mullvad VPN require KYC?

As of Jan 1, 2026, Mullvad VPN does not require KYC for normal use. Signup is a randomly-generated account number; no email, no phone, no name. Cash by mail accepted.

What payment methods does Mullvad VPN accept?

Mullvad VPN accepts: cash-by-mail, crypto, card, bank-transfer.

Where is Mullvad VPN based?

Operating jurisdiction listed as Sweden (operator-disclosed). This is best-known information; corporate structure can be opaque.

VPN providers

Mullvad VPN

Mullvad is the reference no-account VPN.

Website: mullvad.net
KYC: no KYC — Signup is a randomly-generated account number; no email, no phone, no name. Cash by mail accepted.
Status: active
Fiat on-ramp: no
Payment: cash-by-mail, crypto, card, bank-transfer
Jurisdiction: Sweden (operator-disclosed)
Founded: 2009
Open source: yes
Custodial: no
Last verified: Jan 1, 2026
Sources: 2

Overview

What Mullvad is#

A Swedish VPN whose signup process produces a random account number instead of asking for any personal data.

Threat-model fit#

The default no-identity VPN. Pair with cash-by-mail payment to minimize linkability.

Strengths

Account model is a randomly-generated number; no personal information requested at signup.
Cash-by-mail is supported and well-documented.
In 2023, a Swedish police search reportedly produced no customer data — operator confirmed "no logs" architecture publicly.
WireGuard support and audited client.

Caveats

Operator switched from port-forwarding to no-port-forwarding in 2023; users who relied on it for P2P need to re-evaluate.
Card and bank payments still leak the payer identity to the payment processor, even if Mullvad never asks.
Facts need re-verification by operator (last seeded 2026-01).

Verdict

Mullvad is the reference no-account VPN. The account number model, cash-by-mail support, and the 2023 police-search outcome together produce the strongest no-identity-required posture in the category. The 2023 removal of port-forwarding is the main functional caveat. For most threat models that include "VPN provider should not know who I am," Mullvad is the default.

FAQ

Does Mullvad VPN require KYC?: As of Jan 1, 2026, Mullvad VPN does not require KYC for normal use. Signup is a randomly-generated account number; no email, no phone, no name. Cash by mail accepted.
What payment methods does Mullvad VPN accept?: Mullvad VPN accepts: cash-by-mail, crypto, card, bank-transfer.
Where is Mullvad VPN based?: Operating jurisdiction listed as Sweden (operator-disclosed). This is best-known information; corporate structure can be opaque.

Sources

Mullvad — why-this · accessed Jan 1, 2026
Mullvad blog · accessed Jan 1, 2026

Mentioned in

Ranked picks

Best anonymous VPN providers in 2026 Best no-account VPN

Guides

Quick answers

Recommended in country pages

United States (US) No-account, cash-by-mail accepted
Germany (DE) No-account, cash by mail
France (FR) No-account, cash by mail
United Kingdom (GB) No-account, cash by mail
European Union (overview) (EU) Swedish, no-account
Switzerland (CH) No-account, cash by mail
Netherlands (NL) No-account, cash by mail
Australia (AU) No-account
Russia (RU) No-account
India (IN) No-account
Brazil (BR) No-account
Italy (IT) No-account, cash by mail
Spain (ES) No-account, cash by mail
Canada (CA) No-account
Japan (JP) No-account
Mexico (MX) No-account
Argentina (AR) No-account
Turkey (TR) No-account
South Korea (KR) No-account
United Arab Emirates (AE) No-account

Alternatives to Mullvad VPN

Entry last verified Jan 1, 2026. Notice an error? Send it via the contact form.