Mullvad Browser review: harder to single out

Mullvad Browser is free and open source.¹ It is a browser designed to minimize tracking and fingerprints.¹ Mullvad describes it as Tor Browser without the Tor network, so you can use it with a VPN or without one.¹ A fingerprint is the set of small details a site can read, then use to recognise you. It suits people who want to blend into a crowd and leave the defaults alone.

Last checked October 28, 2026.

At a glance

What it is: A desktop browser made so people on the same operating system have a nearly identical fingerprint.⁷

Works on: Windows 10 or later, 64-bit only.² macOS Sequoia (15) or later.³ Linux repository packages for Ubuntu, Debian and Fedora only.⁴ Manual packages for Ubuntu 24.04 or newer, Debian 12 or newer and Fedora 43 or newer, 64-bit only.⁴

Price: Free of charge, whether or not you use Mullvad VPN.¹ Mullvad does not earn money from the browser.¹

Licence: Mozilla Public License 2.0.⁵

Best for: People who want a private desktop browser and will keep the default setup.

Official site: mullvad.net/en/browser

What Mullvad Browser does (and how it protects your privacy)

The current stable download is version 15.0.26.² The 15.0.26 release entry is dated 21 October 2026.⁶ Mullvad says the fingerprinting protection matches Tor Browser, while the connection uses a normal link or a VPN instead of the Tor network.² Tor passes traffic through several relays so a site does not see your home address. This browser does not include the Tor network patches.⁷

Mullvad says the fingerprint is nearly identical for users on the same operating system, that the match is not perfect, and that each user looks like many others.⁷ Private mode is on by default, and cookies are not saved between sessions.¹ History is not saved.⁷ Bookmarks you create are saved.⁷ uBlock Origin blocks third-party trackers, and Mullvad stops there, because further blocking can reveal your identity.¹ Mullvad says a VPN will hide your IP address, and that a trustworthy VPN is still not enough: you also need a privacy-focused browser.¹ Without a VPN, that address is not masked.¹ You can see a sample of what a site can read with BellCrier’s free fingerprint test.

Key features

Shared fingerprint details. Sites are told the time zone is UTC.⁷ Not all fonts are available.⁷ Keyboard layout, language, webcam and microphone details are disguised.⁷
Letterboxing. Grey bars around websites are there to stop tracking scripts from identifying you by window size.¹
uBlock Origin, plus two lists. Adguard URL Tracking Protection strips query-string tracking parameters.⁷ EasyList Cookie removes cookie banners.⁷
Private windows only. Cookies stay in memory and are discarded when the last private window closes.⁷ During a session, third-party cookies sit in separate jars.¹
Three security levels. Standard leaves Mullvad Browser and website features on.⁷ Safer turns JavaScript (the code that makes pages interactive) off on sites without HTTPS, disables some fonts and math symbols, and makes audio and video click-to-play.⁷ Safest turns JavaScript off by default, disables some fonts, icons, math symbols and images, and makes audio and video click-to-play.⁷
HTTPS-only mode is enabled in every window.⁷ DuckDuckGo is the default search.⁷ Search suggestions are off.⁷ Turning them on leaks what you type to the search engine before you press Enter.⁷
Mullvad DNS-over-HTTPS, with no fallback.⁷ DNS is the phone book that turns a site name into a number. A plain-language guide to encrypted DNS explains that lookup.
New identity. It closes your tabs and windows and clears cookies and browsing history.⁷ It will not change your IP address.⁷ A new address needs a VPN and a manual server change.⁷

Pros and cons

Pros

Free of charge whether or not you are a Mullvad VPN user.¹
Developed by the Tor Project.¹ Developed in a collaboration between Mullvad VPN and the Tor Project.⁵ Downloads are signed by the Tor Browser Developers.⁵
Telemetry (automatic reports about how the app runs) and crash reporting are disabled when the browser is compiled.⁷
NoScript is the back-end of the security levels and filters cross-site scripting, a trick that gets a page to run someone else’s script.⁷
Syncing settings with Mozilla is disabled.⁷

Cons

Only supported versions of Linux, macOS and Windows.¹
Needs Windows 10 or later, 64-bit only.² Macs need macOS Sequoia (15) or later.³ The repository is only for Ubuntu, Debian and Fedora.⁴
No multilanguage support.⁷
Cookies, cache and history are not saved between sessions.²
No built-in VPN, and no check that a VPN is running.⁸

Is Mullvad Browser safe and private?

Mullvad says it does not believe in collecting data about users, and that telemetry has been removed.² Telemetry and crash reporting are disabled when the browser is compiled.⁷ Automatic connections are limited to a published list.⁷ That list includes the browser update, the Mullvad Browser extension update and Mullvad DoH, all via Mullvad, plus NoScript and uBlock Origin updates via Mozilla.⁷

Privacy Guides says the browser is developed by the Tor Project, distributed by Mullvad, and does not require Mullvad’s VPN.⁸ It is based on Firefox.⁷ Mullvad says new Firefox features are audited for security and privacy, and only then considered for this browser.⁷ Privacy Guides says not to modify the browser outside the security levels, because other changes make the fingerprint unique, and to restart after a security-level change so the settings fully apply.⁸

How to get started

Download the stable build from Mullvad’s page for Windows, macOS or Linux. Version 15.0.26 is the stable release listed there.² Skip the alpha. Mullvad says it can break and does not offer the same privacy and security guarantees.²
On Ubuntu, Debian or Fedora, you can install from Mullvad’s repository. It is only for those three.⁴
Open Mullvad Browser and leave uBlock Origin and NoScript at their defaults. Privacy Guides says changing those two makes your fingerprint stand out from other users.⁸ The Mullvad Browser extension can be removed without changing that fingerprint.⁸
Stay on Standard if you want browser and website features left on.⁷ If you change the security level, restart before you continue.⁸
Start any VPN in its own app. The browser has no built-in VPN and does not check that one is on.⁸
Use New identity for a fresh session. It closes tabs and windows and clears cookies and history.⁷ Bookmarks you create remain.⁷

Who should use Mullvad Browser (and who might prefer something else)

Choose it if you browse on a computer, want this protection already switched on, and can sign in again after each session. Privacy Guides recommends Mullvad Browser for strong privacy protections and anti-fingerprinting out of the box.⁸ Privacy Guides says that, with a VPN, you share a fingerprint and a pool of IP addresses with many other users, but other people on that VPN must also use Mullvad Browser for the crowd to exist, and that this is more likely on Mullvad VPN than on other providers.⁸

If you need anonymous browsing, Privacy Guides says to use Tor instead.⁸ On Android, Orbot is the Academy guide for sending selected app traffic through Tor. Privacy Guides recommends Brave if you need Chromium browser compatibility. Chromium is Chrome’s shared engine.⁸ Privacy Guides says this private mode costs some convenience and some Firefox features, such as Multi-Account Containers.⁸ For shopping kept in its own box while you stay signed in, read Firefox Containers.

Frequently asked questions

Is Mullvad Browser free?

Yes. It is open source and free of charge whether or not you are a Mullvad VPN user.¹ Mullvad earns no money from the browser, and its income comes from the VPN service.¹

Is Mullvad Browser safe?

The 15.0.26 release entry is dated 21 October 2026.⁶ Downloads are signed by the Tor Browser Developers.⁵ Telemetry has been removed.² Privacy Guides says modifications outside the security levels make the fingerprint unique.⁸ Without a VPN, your IP address is not masked.¹

Does Mullvad Browser work on iPhone?

No. Mullvad says it is currently available for supported versions of Linux, macOS and Windows.¹ A Mac needs macOS Sequoia (15) or later.³

Does Mullvad Browser use the Tor network?

No. Mullvad calls it a Tor Browser without the Tor network.¹ The difference list includes no Tor network patches.⁷ A VPN stays in its own app. This browser does not switch one on.⁸