Private Internet Access vs Mullvad VPN Speed Tests and Port Forwarding Compared

Choosing a VPN often comes down to two critical factors: raw speed and advanced features like port forwarding. If you’re a gamer, a heavy torrent user, or run a home server, the ability to use port forwarding can be the deciding factor between a good VPN and a great one. This comparison pits two privacy-focused giants, Private Internet Access (PIA) and Mullvad VPN, against each other in real-world speed tests and a deep dive into their port forwarding capabilities. We’ll show you which service delivers the performance you need for your specific tasks.

What you’ll learn:

• Which VPN delivered faster download and upload speeds in our tests.
• A clear breakdown of how each service handles the crucial feature of port forwarding.
• Our final recommendation based on your primary use case.

Why Speed and Port Forwarding Matter for a VPN

When you connect to a VPN, your internet traffic takes a longer route through an encrypted tunnel to a remote server. This process can slow down your connection. For activities like streaming in 4K, competitive online gaming, or downloading large files, every megabit per second counts. That’s where speed tests become essential; they reveal the real-world performance cost of using a VPN.

Port forwarding is a more advanced feature, but just as vital for certain users. In simple terms, it allows incoming connections from the internet to reach a specific device or service on your private home network. If you want to host a game server, access your home security system remotely, or maximize your download speeds with a torrent client, you need a VPN that supports port forwarding. Without it, these applications can struggle or fail completely.

Our Testing Methodology for a Fair Fight

To ensure our results were accurate and reproducible, we conducted all tests under the same conditions. We used a 1 Gbps fiber internet connection and connected to VPN servers in three key locations: New York, London, and Frankfurt. Each test was performed three times, and we recorded the average download speed, upload speed, and ping.

Our testing device was a desktop computer running a fresh installation of the official VPN client for each service. We used the WireGuard protocol for both PIA and Mullvad, as it is widely regarded as the fastest and most modern VPN protocol available today.

Speed Test Results: PIA vs. Mullvad

Here’s how the two VPNs stacked up in our performance benchmarks. The percentages represent the speed retained compared to our base connection without a VPN.

As the results show, the race was incredibly close. Mullvad VPN consistently held a slight edge, typically retaining 2-4% more of our base speed than PIA. Both services delivered excellent performance that is more than sufficient for high-bandwidth activities, but Mullvad takes a narrow victory in pure speed.

A Deep Dive into Port Forwarding

This is where the two services diverge significantly. Both PIA and Mullvad offer port forwarding, but their implementations are worlds apart in terms of philosophy and user experience.

How Private Internet Access Handles Port Forwarding

Private Internet Access allows you to enable port forwarding directly within its application. You simply go into the settings, find the network privacy tab, and toggle the feature on. PIA will then automatically assign a random port for you to use. This process is straightforward and user-friendly, making it accessible even for those who aren’t networking experts.

However, there is a key limitation: PIA’s port forwarding only works when you are connected to specific, supported servers. You must check the server list on their website or in the app to find which locations allow it. This can be a minor inconvenience if your preferred server doesn’t support the feature.

How Mullvad VPN Handles Port Forwarding

Mullvad VPN takes a more manual and privacy-centric approach. To use port forwarding, you must log into your account on the Mullvad website. From there, you can manually add up to 5 ports. These ports are then tied to your account and will work on any Mullvad server you connect to, which offers greater flexibility than PIA’s server-specific model.

The trade-off is that the setup requires a few more steps. You need to forward the port in your router’s settings to the local IP address of the device running the Mullvad client. This gives you more control but demands a higher level of technical comfort.

Which VPN Is Right for You?

Your choice between Private Internet Access and Mullvad VPN ultimately depends on your priorities.

Choose Private Internet Access if:

• You value a simple, one-click setup for port forwarding.
• You’re comfortable using specific servers to enable the feature.
• You want a proven service with a long track record and a massive server network.

Choose Mullvad VPN if:

• You want the absolute fastest connection speeds.
• You prefer the flexibility of having your forwarded ports available on any server.
• You are technically adept and don’t mind a more hands-on configuration process.

For a deeper look at other top-tier options, check out our full VPN comparisons.

Best VPN This Month

Looking for a top-tier all-rounder? This month, we’re highlighting NordVPN for its blistering speeds, robust security features, and user-friendly apps that balance power and simplicity.

Final Verdict: Speed vs. Simplicity in Port Forwarding

In the battle of PIA vs. Mullvad, there is no single winner—only the best tool for the job. Mullvad VPN is the undisputed champion of raw connection speed and offers a powerful, flexible system for port forwarding that rewards technical knowledge. Private Internet Access provides a very close second in speed and wins on user-friendliness, with an incredibly simple way to get port forwarding up and running for less technical users.

If your primary need is hosting game servers or running demanding applications that require the fastest possible upload speeds, Mullvad’s performance and port forwarding model are hard to beat. If you want a reliable, easy-to-use VPN that still delivers great speed and makes advanced features accessible, PIA is an excellent choice.

Ready to stop compromising on speed or features? Test Private Internet Access risk-free with its money-back guarantee, or experience Mullvad’s top-tier performance for yourself today.