--- title: "ExpressVPN vs Mullvad: Which is searched more?" description: "Is ExpressVPN or Mullvad more popular in search? Compare estimated monthly branded-search demand and Share of Search inside the VPN services set worldwide. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time." canonical: "https://gobrandwave.com/demand/global-en/compare/expressvpn-vs-mullvad" publisher: "Brandwave" --- # ExpressVPN vs Mullvad: Which is searched more? Is ExpressVPN or Mullvad more popular in search? Compare estimated monthly branded-search demand and Share of Search inside the VPN services set worldwide. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time. ## Key facts - **Compared**: ExpressVPN and Mullvad - **Competitive set**: VPN services - **Market**: Global - **Month measured**: Sep 2026 - **ExpressVPN Share of Search**: 13.9% - **Mullvad Share of Search**: 6.2% ## Is ExpressVPN or Mullvad more popular in search? - In September 2026, ExpressVPN had more branded searches than Mullvad among VPN services worldwide. ExpressVPN had about 550,000 branded searches, while Mullvad had 246,000. ExpressVPN made up 13.9% of all VPN service searches we track, and Mullvad accounted for 6.2%. - ExpressVPN was ahead of Mullvad in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026. - Across the 12 months ending September 2026, ExpressVPN’s share of searches among VPN services worldwide moved from 17.6% to 13.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 823K to 550K. - Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Mullvad’s share of searches among VPN services worldwide moved from 5.3% to 6.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 246K. ## Top VPN services in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Mullvad appeared in all five answers. ExpressVPN was mentioned in two out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Mullvad was listed before ExpressVPN in three out of five answers. Brands get a higher AI rank if they are mentioned earlier in the answers that list options. | Brand | AI rank | ChatGPT answers that named it | Google AI Overviews that named it | All answers that named it | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | NordVPN | 1st | 3 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 5 of 5 | | Surfshark | 2nd | 2 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 4 of 5 | | Mullvad | 3rd | 3 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 5 of 5 | | Windscribe | 4th | 0 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 2 of 5 | | ExpressVPN | 5th | 1 of 3 | 1 of 2 | 2 of 5 | | CyberGhost | Not ranked | 0 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 5 | ## Every AI answer about VPN services - Asked ChatGPT "Which VPN service should I use?": 1. NordVPN, 2. Mullvad, 3. Surfshark - Asked ChatGPT "What are the best VPN services?": 1. NordVPN, 2. Surfshark, 3. ExpressVPN, 4. Mullvad - Asked ChatGPT "What's the best VPN service for online privacy?": 1. Mullvad, 2. NordVPN - Searched Google, AI Overview "best vpn": 1. NordVPN, 2. Surfshark, 3. Windscribe, 4. Mullvad - Searched Google, AI Overview "vpn service": 1. Windscribe, 2. NordVPN, 3. Surfshark, 4. ExpressVPN, 5. Mullvad Not named in any answer: CyberGhost. Brands are listed in the order each answer named them. The answers were collected in the United States on October 21, 2026. ## How did search popularity change for VPN services worldwide in September 2026? - In September 2026, Surfshark overtook ExpressVPN to rank 2nd among VPN services worldwide, with 17% of the searches. - In September 2026, ExpressVPN lost share of searches among VPN services worldwide, from 15.1% to 13.9%. - In September 2026, Mullvad lost share of searches among VPN services worldwide, from 6.8% to 6.2%. ## Month by month | Month | ExpressVPN estimated searches | ExpressVPN Share of Search | ExpressVPN rank | Mullvad estimated searches | Mullvad Share of Search | Mullvad rank | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Oct 2025 | 823K | 17.6% | 2 | 246K | 5.3% | 5 | | Nov 2025 | 673K | 14.9% | 3 | 246K | 5.4% | 5 | | Dec 2025 | 823K | 17.4% | 2 | 301K | 6.4% | 5 | | Jan 2026 | 823K | 17.3% | 2 | 246K | 5.2% | 5 | | Feb 2026 | 673K | 15.5% | 2 | 246K | 5.7% | 5 | | Mar 2026 | 823K | 17.5% | 2 | 301K | 6.4% | 5 | | Apr 2026 | 673K | 17.3% | 2 | 246K | 6.3% | 5 | | May 2026 | 550K | 14.6% | 3 | 246K | 6.5% | 5 | | Jun 2026 | 673K | 17.1% | 2 | 246K | 6.3% | 5 | | Jul 2026 | 550K | 15.1% | 2 | 246K | 6.7% | 5 | | Aug 2026 | 550K | 15.1% | 2 | 246K | 6.8% | 5 | | Sep 2026 | 550K | 13.9% | 3 | 246K | 6.2% | 5 | ## How each brand is measured Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using ExpressVPN’s and Mullvad’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading. - **ExpressVPN**: Measured on the search term “expressvpn”. - **Mullvad**: Measured on the search term “mullvad”. - [ExpressVPN profile](/demand/global-en/brands/expressvpn) - [Mullvad profile](/demand/global-en/brands/mullvad) - [All VPN services worldwide](/demand/global-en/categories/vpn-services): The set both shares are measured inside, 6 brands. ## Methodology - [How is the Brand Demand Index measured?](/demand/methodology): Where the figures come from, what they compare, and how they may be reused. ## Frequently asked questions ### Is ExpressVPN or Mullvad more popular in search? In September 2026, ExpressVPN had more branded searches than Mullvad among VPN services worldwide. ExpressVPN had about 550,000 branded searches, while Mullvad had 246,000. ExpressVPN made up 13.9% of all VPN service searches we track, and Mullvad accounted for 6.2%. ## Cite this page Brandwave. "ExpressVPN vs Mullvad: Which is searched more?". https://gobrandwave.com/demand/global-en/compare/expressvpn-vs-mullvad This page is also available as HTML at https://gobrandwave.com/demand/global-en/compare/expressvpn-vs-mullvad. Brandwave publishes an index of its Markdown pages at https://gobrandwave.com/llms.txt.