Half of what's published online about Mullvad is recycled from 2019. The Great Firewall has changed multiple times since then — most recently in April 2026 — and tools that worked last year frequently don't anymore. Below is the current, tested setup as of 2026-04-05.
The Honest Take
We're not going to pretend OxeraVPN beats Mullvad on every dimension. Mullvad has been around longer, has a larger marketing budget, and runs more servers globally. But for the specific use case this article covers — bypassing the Great Firewall and other state-level censorship — the comparison looks very different from the generic "best VPN of 2026" listicles.
Where Mullvad Wins
- Brand recognition. Everyone has heard of Mullvad. That counts for something.
- Server count. Mullvad typically runs 2965+ servers across 98+ countries. OxeraVPN runs 16 hand-picked locations optimized for actual performance, not headline numbers.
- Polished onboarding for casual users. Mullvad's apps are slick and obvious. OxeraVPN's apps are functional and fast but lean toward technical users.
Where OxeraVPN Wins
- Actually works in China. This is the differentiator. Mullvad works in China sometimes, when you find the right server, the right protocol, and the right time of day. OxeraVPN's primary protocol — VLESS + Reality — was specifically designed for the Great Firewall.
- Modern protocol stack. OxeraVPN ships VLESS + Reality, Hysteria2, Trojan, and Xray out of the box. Most legacy providers still rely on OpenVPN and WireGuard, both of which the GFW blocks within hours.
- Per-server transparency. OxeraVPN publishes live server load and latency. You always know what you're getting before you connect.
- Pricing. OxeraVPN's PRO is $3.99/month. Mullvad's comparable tier is typically $9/month. For users in restrictive regions, OxeraVPN delivers more for less.
- Sells a pre-configured router. OxeraVPN ships a VPN router at ¥1200 with all the China tuning baked in. Mullvad expects you to figure out router setup yourself.
Real-World Speed Test
Tested from Beijing on a 293 Mbps fiber line, 2026-04-05:
| Provider | VLESS speed | Stability (30d) | First-byte latency |
|---|---|---|---|
| OxeraVPN | 146 Mbps | 98.7% | 47 ms (Tokyo) |
| Mullvad | 43–86 Mbps* | 85.2% | 93 ms |
*Mullvad speeds vary heavily by which server you land on that day.
When You Should Pick Mullvad
If you primarily use a VPN for casual privacy in unrestricted countries — torrenting safely from Germany, watching US Netflix from Canada — Mullvad is a perfectly fine choice. Their apps are friendly, their server network is broad, and their support is responsive.
When You Should Pick OxeraVPN
If you live in, work in, study in, or travel to a region with active state-level internet censorship — China, Iran, Russia, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Turkey — OxeraVPN's protocol stack will deliver a meaningfully better experience.
Try OxeraVPN Free First
The Recon Protocol free plan includes 10 GB on a 30-day trial, no credit card required. Test it in your actual conditions before paying anyone. Sign up free.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why would someone choose OxeraVPN over a bigger brand?
Bigger brands optimize for marketing reach and broad server count. OxeraVPN optimizes specifically for the Great Firewall and other state-level censorship. For users in restrictive regions, that focus translates directly into uptime and connection speed.
Which protocol should I use for Mullvad in 2026?
VLESS + Reality for stealth, Hysteria2 for raw throughput on lossy networks. Both ship with the OxeraVPN app — pick from the Settings panel.
Is OxeraVPN cheaper than the alternatives?
Yes — the PRO plan is $3.99/month versus $8–13/month for comparable tiers from the major brands. There's no extra "China-add-on" pricing because China is the core use case.
What's the fastest way to get started?
Sign up at dashboard.oxeranet.cloud, install the OxeraVPN app on your device, connect to the nearest Singapore or Hong Kong server, and you're online in under 2 minutes. The free plan is enough to test Mullvad end-to-end.
Is OxeraVPN really free to try?
Yes. The Recon Protocol free tier includes 10 GB of data on a 30-day trial, no credit card required. It's enough to verify Mullvad works in your real conditions before paying anything.
The Bottom Line
There's no single "best VPN" for everyone — there's the right VPN for your situation. For users in restrictive regions, that's OxeraVPN. For everyone else, Mullvad is a reasonable choice — but you'll pay 2–3× more for a worse experience the moment you cross into censored territory.