Mullvad VPN review
Mullvad gives you a numbered account and lists the same €5 monthly rate for a month or a year. The detail I’d check first is what happens when I disconnect. The desktop app gives you a choice, and the difference matters if you sometimes use the same computer with the VPN off.
Decide what should happen when you disconnect
Mullvad’s desktop guide describes a built-in kill switch that blocks traffic if the tunnel drops. Turn on Lockdown mode and it also blocks traffic when you choose Disconnect or Quit. Apps you’ve excluded through split tunneling can still connect. I’d check that list before relying on the setting. hide.me documents a different choice on Windows, where you can tell particular programs to stay offline until the VPN connects.
Keep the number that gets you back in
Mullvad creates a random account number without asking for an email address. Keep the number somewhere you can find it on your next device. The pricing page lists €5 a month whether you add one month or a year, and the payment policy explains what information different payment methods leave behind.
Anabel’s take
On a computer I share between work and personal browsing, I’d decide which apps need to keep running before turning on Lockdown mode. I’d start with a month. There’s no cheaper monthly rate for paying for a year.