How to download and install Mullvad VPN on Mac
Mullvad VPN works without an email address: your account is just a number, and the price is the same flat rate for everyone. Here is how to download the Mac app from Mullvad’s website, install it and get connected.
Mullvad VPN
- macOS 14 or later
- One file for Apple Silicon and Intel
- €5 a month, one flat price
Or the installer straight from the developer’s server:
The links go to the developer’s website (mullvad.net). MacWashing is not affiliated with the developer and keeps no installers.
Open Terminal (Applications › Utilities) and run:
brew install --cask mullvad-vpnHomebrew downloads the app from the developer’s server, checks the file and puts the app in Applications.
No Homebrew yet? How to install Homebrew: one command from brew.sh.
Before you download
Mullvad VPN is one app for Macs with Apple Silicon and Intel, and it needs macOS 14 Sonoma or later. Mullvad offers two ways to install it:
- The loader (the main Download button): a small
Install Mullvad VPN.dmgthat downloads the latest app, checks its signature and installs it. - The standalone installer (under Alternative installation on the same page): a full
MullvadVPN-….pkg, if the loader doesn’t work for you.
Mullvad has no free plan: you pay for time on your account number. Download the app only from mullvad.net.
How to install Mullvad VPN
- Open
Install Mullvad VPN.dmgin your Downloads folder and double-click Install Mullvad VPN in its window.
- Click Open when macOS asks about an app downloaded from the internet.
- In the loader, click Download & install and follow the setup that opens. Enter your Mac password when asked.
- Open Mullvad VPN from Applications. A red padlock appears in the menu bar: click it to open the login screen.
- Enter your account number and press Return, or create a new account number, then add time to it on Mullvad’s website.
With the standalone installer, double-click MullvadVPN-….pkg, click Continue and Install, and enter your Mac password. If macOS asks for access to your Downloads folder, click OK.
What to set up after the first launch
- Background item. macOS reports that Mullvad VPN was added as a background item. Keep it allowed: the VPN runs through this background service.
- Your account number. It is the only key to your account and paid time. Save it somewhere safe, for example in your password manager.
- Auto-connect and opening at login. Mullvad’s settings let you start the app and connect automatically. Turn them on if you want the VPN on all the time.
- The installer. Move the
.dmgor.pkgfrom Downloads to the Trash once Mullvad VPN runs.
If Mullvad VPN won’t install or connect
- The loader fails. Download the standalone
.pkgfrom Alternative installation on Mullvad’s download page and install that instead. - The padlock says it is connecting to the Mullvad system service. Open System Settings › General › Login Items and check that Mullvad VPN is turned on under Allow in the Background.
- Nothing helps. Remove Mullvad VPN completely, with its background service, and install it again: see how to uninstall Mullvad VPN on Mac.
Alternatives to Mullvad VPN
Keep your Mac tidy
System Junk in MacWashing finds the caches and logs apps build up, Mullvad VPN’s included, and shows how much space they take. And if you switch VPNs, the Uninstaller removes Mullvad VPN with its files.
Free trial · macOS 14 or later
Questions and answers
How much does Mullvad VPN cost?
One flat price of €5 a month, with no discounts for longer periods and no free plan. One account works on up to 5 devices, and Mullvad offers a 14-day money-back guarantee.
Do I need an email address for Mullvad?
No. Mullvad gives you a random account number instead of a login with email and password. Anyone with that number can use your paid time, so keep it private.
Is Mullvad VPN in the Mac App Store?
No. For Mac, Mullvad publishes the app on its own website, so download it there or install it with Homebrew.