I just recently switched from ExpressVPN to Mullvad for security reasons and I am completely disappointed so far. My internet speed has plummeted from 400mps to now sub 10mps, usually closer to 5. The upload speed seems unaffected (~11 without a VPN vs 9.5 with it).
I’ve changed locations several times, including using the ones that are the closest to me. I’ve switched ports between 443, 53, custom, and 51820. MTU is set to 1280.
Is there anything I can do to alleviate this issue?
Since you’ve already tried changing locations and ports, make sure you’re using the WireGuard protocol, as it usually offers the fastest speeds. You can also experiment with different encryption ciphers within WireGuard to see if that makes a difference. Sometimes, certain cipher combinations work better with specific ISPs or network configurations. Additionally, check your firewall settings to ensure that Mullvad is allowed through without any restrictions. If you’re using any antivirus or anti-malware software, temporarily disable it to see if that’s causing interference.
They have a status page on the footer that lists ALL their servers.
Seek the 10Gbps ones.
I also have this problem
On my PC it dropped from 680mb to 240mb
And on my Android it dropped from same 680mb to 40mb
Using the same servers…
I will test connecting my PC outside my firewall, to see if is some firewall config (I doubt)
I tried WireGuard, OpenVPN, multiple ports, disable and enable obfuscation
I don’t know how could I investigate where is the bottleneck, if someone has some suggestion I would appreciate
Okay, putting the VPN on my allow list helped a lot. It’s still slower than without a VPN, but I can live with 300mps easily.
And now I tested on Ookla using the same server, it cuts by half the speed
I tested on cable, outside my firewall, same results
I use Malwarebytes Premium as a firewall, and I put Mullvad VPN on the allow list and it worked for me. There is still a difference but 300mps is still fast enough for my needs.