While a VPN is useful in many different ways, the two most important reasons why many use a VPN are privacy and security. Whether you are looking for enhanced security or using your Mac to unblock blocked websites or play games or stream videos online, getting a will be beneficial. Macs are secure but they may not be completely immune from cybersecurity threats as Macs and Apple desktop computers are targeted by hackers and cybercriminals these days. Getting a VPN for your Mac will be the best option to stay away from such threats.
Here are the top VPNs we recommend for Mac based on our research and tests.
This Swedish VPN provider is routinely considered to be one of the best VPN for Mac providers – one of its most interesting selling points is that it has a range of subscription plans, but it includes all of its premium features across each of its plans. This means no speed limits, no server switch limits and no VPN protocol or other server location limit. How we chose the best VPN for Mac Stability, speed, servers. If your main reason for using a VPN on your Mac is streaming and basic privacy, then your VPN service needs to have plenty of fast servers that don't drop the connection while your in the middle of watching Jonathan Creek. Surfshark is a leading VPN provider with an astounding value deal and a focus on best speed & usability. Our current favourite service is NordVPN, which is a well priced all-rounder.
NordVPN, one of our favorites when it comes to VPNs, is great for Mac. You can enjoy complete internet freedom with NordVPN for Mac. NordVPN has an app for Mac that you can download from the Apple Store. It is easy to install the app and we are sure it will work smoothly with your device.
As soon as you log in, you can connect to a VPN server in a breeze. When you restart your Mac or launch the VPN app, you will automatically be connected to the VPN. You can enjoy complete internet freedom as NordVPN offers unlimited bandwidth and features a no-log policy. You can bid adieu to slow connections and stream content buffer-free with NordVPN.
NordVPN for Mac will let you connect to any of its servers from over 58 counties across the globe. There are hundreds of servers from which you can choose one. No matter where you are in the world, you will not have trouble accessing your favorite content, with NordVPN.
- 5200+ servers in 62 countries
- Use up to 6 devices
- Next-generation Encryption
- Double VPN Feature
- Strict no-logs policy
The kill switch is an important VPN feature that also comes with NordVPN for Mac. This feature will make sure your sensitive data does not leak when the VPN connection abruptly drops. Strong encryption is one of NordVPN's plusses. Whether you are connected to an unsecured public WiFi network or connected to your home WiFi, NordVPN will secure your data with strong encryption.
Check out our expert review on NordVPN.
IPVanish is not just a speedy VPN but also a VPN service that offers strong security and privacy for your Mac. IPVanish features an easy to use VPN client for Mac and offers the utmost security. With IPVanish for Mac, you can access blocked websites streaming services, censored games, and more.
Facebook install now. You can freely browse the web with IPVanish and enjoy complete online, freedom. It masks your IP address so that you can stay anonymous online. Your identity will be under wraps with IPVanish's strong encryption and no-logs policy. Likewise, the strong encryption IPVanish offers will help you stay away from ISP deep packet inspection.
When you are connected to IPVanish, you will be assigned a new IP address so that you can stay away from advertisers as they will not be able to target you. This also applies to censorships and firewalls that prevent you from accessing certain content. Using a Mac VPN like IPVanish will help overcome such issues. You can anonymously watch videos, access social media websites and other websites that are unavailable in your location from your Mac.
Read the IPVanish review.
- 1,500+ VPN servers
- 40,000+ shared IPs
- Unthrottled speed
- 256-bit AES encryption
- Unmetered connections
ExpressVPN is one of the best VPNs for Mac that has clients for Mojave, High Sierra, Catalina, Yosemite, and all previous versions. ExpressVPN is well known for its fast speeds and it continuously optimizes its servers for speed.
You can connect your Mac to its servers in 94 countries and in just the click of a button you can unblock all your favorite websites. ExpressVPN's app works well on all iMac models and MacBook. With this app, you can safely browse on Safari. It also has browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox.
Wherever you are in the world, you can enjoy strong and stable connections. It offers DNS and IP leak protection so that your security will remain intact. It also features the network lock switch, which is ExpressVPN's kill switch that will keep your data safe by blocking your internet traffic when the VPN connection happens to drop.
Firefox 57 0 – fast safe web browsers. Read our extensive review on ExpressVPN to know more.
- 160 server locations
- Network Lock kill switch
- Zero-knowledge DNS
- VPN split tunneling
- Stream Sports online
Surfshark VPN has apps for Mac and uses 256-bit encryption to keep your Mac secure. It has a strong server network in over 60 countries. It follows a strict no-log policy and offers strong encryption. It has apps for Windows, Android, iOS, Amazon Fire TV, Chrome, Firefox, Android, and routers.
Surfshark VPN offers a kill switch for Mac in addition to other features like MultiHop, split tunneling, and NoBorders mode that will help bypass regional blocks. Surfshark VPN is torrent-friendly and all its servers support P2P traffic.
Unblocking Hulu, Netflix, BBC iPlayer, HBO GO, ESPN, and Amazon Prime Video will be a breeze with Surfshark VPN. Another reason why we recommend Surfshark VPN is because it allows unlimited parallel connections. Not only can you secure your Mac with this VPN but all other devices, as well.
Surfshark VPN supports the IKEv2 protocol to secure your Mac and it also offers DNS leak protection. Additionally, it blocks ads, malware, phishing attempts, and trackers with its CleanWeb security suite.
Read our full review of the Surfshark VPN. 2010 mac pro high sierra.
- Connect unlimited Devices
- AES-256-GCM encryption
- IP & DNS leak protection
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Free Browser Extensions
- Strict no-logs policy
Fastest connection speeds and bank-level security are two things that make SaferVPN our top choice when it comes to VPNs for Mac. SaferVPN has a dedicated app for Mac. Once you subscribe to the VPN, you can download the app for Mac and connect to the VPN with just a single click. This VPN will immediately offer you internet security while also giving you access to all popular streaming services.
Be it an unsecured public WiFi network or a private one, SaferVPN is sure to protect your data with strong 256-bit level encryption. SaferVPN's app for Mac runs fast and you can enjoy the fastest connection speeds. This does not apply with just Macs but other platforms, as well. You can connect to SaferVPN's high-speed servers across the globe and access anything you want. In addition, SaferVPN offers unlimited bandwidth, speed, and unlimited server switching.
It features the VPN kill switch. If the VPN connection drops, the kill switch will automatically disconnect your internet connection. This way, the traffic you send and receive will always pass through the encrypted VPN connection. This VPN also supports advanced VPN protocols like OpenVPN, L2TP/IPSec, PPTP, and IKEv2
- 1300+ High Speed VPN servers
- 5 Simultaneous Connections
- Automatic Wi-Fi Security
- Unlimited Speed and Bandwidth
- 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee
SaferVPN app for Mac will run the background and you can get the latest version of the app automatically. The app also allows users to add servers they use often to their favorite list so that they need not search for the server next time they log in.
Read our full review on SaferVPN.
While there are a lot of benefits of using a VPN, internet security and privacy are the two main reasons why you need to use a VPN for Mac. macOS has strong security features and it becomes stronger when you are connected to a VPN.VPNs encrypt your internet traffic thereby protecting your personal information from hackers. VPNs also come with adware and malware blockers so that you will not see annoying ads while using your Mac. Hiding your IP address is one way to stay safe and private while torrenting or gaming online. This will help stay away from surveillance and DDoS attacks.
Main Features | SaferVPN | NordVPN | IPVanish VPN | ExpressVPN |
---|---|---|---|---|
Company | ||||
Lowest Price | $2.50/mo | $3.49/mo | $2.91/mo | $8.32/mo |
Countries | 34 | 60 | 75+ | 94+ |
Bandwidth | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
No. of Servers | 700 | 5600+ | 1300+ | 3000+ |
Connected Devices | 5 | 6 | 10 | 5 |
Speed Levels | Good | Good | Good | Good |
P2P capability | Very Limited(just 3 servers) | |||
Notable Feature | Automatic WiFi security | Double VPN - VPN cascading | SOCKS5 web proxy | Inverse Split Tunneling |
Encryption | 256-bit AES | 256-bit AES | 256-bit AES | 256-bit AES |
Netflix Accessibility | ||||
Intelligent Alliance | 5 Eyes | 5 Eyes | ||
Connection Logging | ||||
IP Logging | ||||
Browser Logging | ||||
Jurisdiction | USA | Panama | USA | British Virgin Islands |
OpenVPN | ||||
PPTP | ||||
L2TP | ||||
SSTP | ||||
IPSec | ||||
SSL | ||||
Kill Switch | ||||
Supported OS | Windows 8, Windows 7, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux Ubuntu | Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux Ubuntu | Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux Ubuntu, Linux Fedora | Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux Ubuntu, Linux Fedora |
Supported Devices | Chromebook | Chromebook | Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Apple TV, Chromebook | Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Apple TV |
Supported Routers | DD-WRT, Tomato | DD-WRT, Tomato | DD-WRT, Tomato | DD-WRT, Tomato |
1 Month Plan | $12.95/mo | $11.95/mo | $10/mo | $12.95/mo |
3 Months Plan | N/A | N/A | $8.99/mo | N/A |
6 Months Plan | N/A | N/A | N/A | $9.99/mo |
1 Year Plan | $5.49/mo ($65.88) | $6.99/mo ($83.88) | $2.91/mo | $8.32/mo ($99.95) |
Free Trial | 1 day | 7 days | ||
Free Plan | ||||
Money-Back Guarantee | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days |
Payment Options | Visa, PayPal, Mastercard, American Express, Wire Transfer, Discover, Bitcoins | Visa, PayPal, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, Bitcoins | Visa, PayPal, Mastercard, American Express, Wire Transfer, Discover, Bitcoins | Visa, PayPal, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, Bitcoins |
Customer Support | 24/7 Live Chat, Email, Twitter, Facebook, Community | 24/7 Live Chat, Email, Twitter, Facebook, Community | 24/7 Live Chat, Email, Twitter, Facebook, Community | Email, Twitter, Facebook, Community, On Call, Remote Desktop |
Conclusion
There are definitely a lot of choices when it comes to VPNs but it is important to make sure the VPN you choose is a trustworthy VPN service that will keep your data safe online. Based on our tests and research, we have recommended the above-mentioned VPNs for Mac. All these VPNs offer fast speeds and strong security.
Best VPN for
If you want to use a VPN on your Mac computer, there are a few factors you should keep in mind. Firstly, it's important to know whether the VPN software is compatible with Apple products. Fortunately, this is the case for many VPNs. Secondly, a VPN's speed can make a big difference. Trying to browse the web with a slow internet connection can make the whole experience a lot less enjoyable. Finally, any extra options a VPN offers could affect your choice as well.
We took all these considerations into account as we put together our list of the best VPNs for Mac. Eventually, ExpressVPN came out on top:
Do you own a Mac computer and would you like to secure it with the best VPN out there? Scroll down to have a look at our top 3 best VPNs for MacOS.
With a good VPN for Mac you can make sure you can browse the web safely and anonymously. In addition, a VPN helps you gain a lot more internet freedom, which you can use, for instance, to watch the Netflix content in another country. Moreover, you can use public Wi-Fi networks without having to worry about hackers stealing your personal information. In this article you will find out what the best VPN providers for Mac are.
A VPN For Mac: What to Look Out For
There are a lot of providers to choose from when you are looking for a VPN for your Mac. The most important condition is that the provider offers software for MacOS, the Mac operating system. Luckily, almost all of the premium VPN providers do so.
Another thing to look out for is connection speed, as it is very annoying when your internet is slowed down by your VPN. Therefore, we subject all VPN providers to speed tests to see if they perform well. Since the results can be very different, it's good to keep this in mind when selecting a VPN for Mac.
Finally, there are a lot of personal preferences as far as VPNs are concerned. One person might find it very important that the VPN provider allows for torrent downloading, while the other wants to be able to use his or her account on 5 devices at the same time. Therefore, the best VPN providers cater to everybody's needs and offer great value for money.
Best VPN Providers For Mac
Keeping in mind all the essential features, the following selection of VPN providers is most suitable for MacOS. All of the providers below have great software and apps for other operating systems, like Android, iOS, and Windows, as well.
ExpressVPN for Mac
You cannot make a list of good VPN providers for Mac without mentioning ExpressVPN. They offer a large number of servers (3000+) in an equally impressive number of countries (94). These servers allow for a fast and stable connection. Also, you can download through P2P networks and ExpressVPN even works with Netflix, meaning you can, for instance, watch the large selection of movies and series of the US version of Netflix.
ExpressVPN has excellent applications for all operating systems. This means that the app for MacOS, too, is very simple and clear. Their security measures adhere to the highest international standards so you will be very safe and anonymous. ExpressVPN has been in our top 5 for the last couple of years for a reason.
- Very easy to use VPN
- Perfect for anonymous browsing, downloading, and streaming (i.e. Netflix)
- 3000+ servers in 94 countries
Surfshark for Mac
Surfshark is not just a very affordable VPN provider, but also offers a large server network, comprising more than 1000 servers in 61 countries. Moreover, Surfshark is surprisingly fast for a VPN in its price range and even gives many more expensive competitors a run for their money. Also, Surfshark too offers a great app for MacOS, which is very user-friendly and works very intuitively.
As far as safety and privacy go, Surfhark is right up there with the best too. Surfshark claims it doesn't collect and store user logs, which we find a credible claim, considering the jurisdiction it's bound by (The British Virgin Islands).
Surfshark also allows for torrent downloading, which it even offers special P2P severs for. Not all VPN providers allow torrent downloading but Surfshark is a download-friendly VPN provider. What's also great to know, is that Surfshark works well with the US version of Netflix.
You can try out Surfshark on your Mac for 30 days with their 30-day money-back-guarantee.
- Very user-friendly and works with Netflix and torrents
- 30 days money back guarantee. No questions asked!
- Cheap with many extra options
Private Internet Access for Mac
Private Internet Access also has a nice app for MacOS. This provider puts their clients' privacy at number one. They offer excellent security standards, safe encryption protocols and don't keep any logs. PIA also allows torrent downloading.
Another big plus is that PIA is very affordable. Since Macs are expensive enough as it is, it might be nice to save some money on your VPN. You can get a subscription with PIA for just a couple of dollars a month.
- Strong focus on privacy and security
- Good price
- Fast and stable servers
Free vs. paid VPNs
Free VPNs can seem very attractive, just because they are free. However, many free VPNs are not secure at all. For example, they often keep logs of users or they sell your personal information to third parties. Sometimes they even leave malware on your device.
Secondly, many free VPNs have a data or speed limit, so you can only protect a certain amount of MBs or GBs of Internet traffic with the VPN. Speed limits often slow down your internet dramatically.
If you're okay with working within these limits, we recommend you take a look at our top 5 best free VPN services. This way, you can be sure which free VPN guarantees your security. It's also a good option to check out the best cheap VPNs if you don't want to spend too much money.
Installing a VPN on Mac
With a subscription to one of the providers mentioned above, it is very easy to set up a VPN connection on your Mac. Most premium VPN providers offer an easy application that makes their VPN very user-friendly. However, you might want to set up your VPN connection yourself. Use the following steps to manually set up a VPN for your Mac:
- In the Apple menu, go to 'System preferences'.
- Select 'Network'.
- Click on the plus sign in the bottom left corner.
- Select 'VPN' under Interface.
- Select the protocol that you prefer. OpenVPN is the safest and generally best option, but depending on the circumstances, MacOS might not provide that option when setting up a VPN manually. In that case, choose IKEv2.
- Fill in your login information. You can get this information from the website of your VPN provider.
We recommend using the easy installation wizard and the app that most VPN providers offer, simply because it is easier. Moreover, if you set up a VPN connection manually and you want to change the settings you will have to go back to your system preferences, while the VPN app can change everything for you automatically.
Final Thoughts
ExpressVPN, Surfshark, and Private Internet Access are all good options if you want to use a VPN for your Mac. For a few dollars every month you can be much more protected and anonymous online. Use their easy applications to create a secure connection through one of their VPN servers. If you want to, you can also set up the VPN connection yourself.
Do you have specific problems you can't solve yourself? Then take a look at our frequently asked questions below; you might find a quick answer.
ExpressVPN has a large amount of servers in many locations. On all these servers, downloading torrents via P2P networks is allowed. ExpressVPN also works with Netflix. This provider offers excellent software for all operating systems. On MacOS, too, ExpressVPN is very simple and clear. It's the combination of speed, stability and excellent customer service that makes this the best VPN for Mac.
There are several good free VPNs that work well on MacOS. However, a common drawback of these free versions is that they have speed or data limits. Would you rather surf the Internet without limitations? In that case, there are several good paid VPNs, including some very cheap options. Cookie 5 13 5.
Free Vpn For Mac
There are two ways to set up a VPN on your Mac. You can install the VPN software and then enable it; we recommend this, because it's simply the easiest way. You can also set up the VPN in your System Preferences. Learn how to do that here.
A VPN provides a secure connection between you and the internet. Whether you use MacOS, Windows or Linux, the data traffic of your internet connection is always encrypted with a VPN. If you are connected to the Internet with a VPN, all of your data is sent through an encrypted virtual tunnel, routed over one of your VPN provider's servers.
Best Vpn For Macbook
Because a VPN secures your Internet connection, you can surf the Internet more securely, anonymously, and freely on your Mac. Among other things, a VPN allows you to prevent external actors from accessing your personal information. With the right VPN, you can also access media in other countries, such as foreign Netflix catalogs.