These are the best VPN providers for Mac on the market today because each of them offers dedicated VPN clients that are optimized for macOS systems. Furthermore, they each provide world-class security and reliability, a large global network of server locations, and excellent speeds for Mac users. Setting up your PPTP VPN under Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) Setting up PublicVPN access under Mac OS X 10.5 is simple. The following instructions go step–by–step through the creation process.
Even if you think that your Mac is completely immune from online security threats (they're not, by the way, as ZombieLoad recently once again proved), there are loads of reasons why downloading and installing a Mac VPN is becoming an ever more popular thing to do on Apple computers.
Whether it's because you're trying to use your Mac to access websites that are blocked by your office, school or ISP (or even your government!) or just want to watch foreign TV shows, getting a Virtual Private Network makes sense.
And because Apple’s desktop computers and MacBooks are being increasingly targeted by cybercriminals, it never pays to let your guard down. Getting the best Mac VPN you can is a good option to help give you extra online security.
As well as competent antivirus, folks with a Mac need a quality VPN just as much as anyone on Windows – although not every one of the best-rated VPN options provides a client or satisfactory support for macOS users. However, if you’re stuck as to which provider to go with, help is at hand with TechRadar's dedicated best Mac VPN guide.
- Check out our guide to the overall best VPN service of the year
The best Mac VPN 2019
1. ExpressVPN
Number of servers: 3000+ | Server locations: 160 | IP addresses: 30,000 | Maximum devices supported: 3
12 months$6.67
6 months$9.99
1 month$12.95
Easy to use Mac app
Fantastic Mac-dedicated support
Only 3 simultaneous connections
ExpressVPN is our top choice for the best all-round VPN on the Mac. The firm's dedicated app is intuitive and very user-friendly, featuring a one-click option for connecting, as well as some advanced options.
It uses 256-bit encryption over OpenVPN UDP by default and the app comes with a kill switch and split tunnelling functionality.
There’s also a very good iOS app and Safari browser extension, so you get a complete Mac VPN experience. More than that, Express's advanced features (and their in-depth tutorials) are great for Apple users. For instance, if your Mac connects to the internet by a wired connection, you can set it up as a wireless hotspot for your local devices, allowing them to connect via the VPN without having to be set up for ExpressVPN themselves.
ExpressVPN includes fast VPN servers across 94 countries and unlimited bandwidth. That makes for a solid choice for anyone using the VPN for P2P traffic or unblocking content on streaming services like Netflix.
The provider is a tad pricier than most other VPNs, but may be a great fit for those who want the best experience for Mac. ExpressVPN doesn’t come with a free trial, but there is a 30-day money-back guarantee for reassurance.
The company offers three price plans, with the 12-month plan offering the best value (you get an extra three months into the bargain). The packages available are:
Get the best Mac VPN 2019: $6.67 per month (with 3 months FREE)
You can tell that we really rate Express - it's the VPN we'd choose if we were getting one and it's hard to argue with the provider's 30-day money-back guarantee. And the good news is that TechRadar readers can get a little perk when they sign up, too. ExpressVPN has agreed to give readers three months extra FREE when they sign up for a year.
You can tell that we really rate Express - it's the VPN we'd choose if we were getting one and it's hard to argue with the provider's 30-day money-back guarantee. And the good news is that TechRadar readers can get a little perk when they sign up, too. ExpressVPN has agreed to give readers three months extra FREE when they sign up for a year.
2. CyberGhost
Number of servers: 3,600+ | Server locations: 60+ | IP addresses: N/A | Maximum devices supported: 7
36 months$2.75
12 months$5.99
1 month$12.99
Clients have plenty of smart features
Torrents are supported
Slow connection from some servers
We found that Mac VPN provider CyberGhost certainly has the smarts to easily back up its claims. Let's start with the basics: more than 3,600 servers spread across 60 countries, no bar on torrents and some really handy live chat support if you ever run into difficulties.
Guaranteed no logs, rigorous encryption and a trigger-happy kill switch for any breaches in security mean it's certainly strong. But it's the added little extras that make CyberGhost stand out from the rest. Wanting to unlock Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, YouTube or something else? No worries, as CyberGhost will automatically connect you to the server best poised for the purpose. It can also block ads, trackers and malicious websites.
CyberGhost has recently improved its interface - previously one of main gripes with this Mac VPN. Now that only gives us room to moan about the odd bit of clogging, which lead to reduced speeds from servers in the far reaches of the globe. There's still room for improvement on website-based support pages, too - an area where ExpressVPN has everybody else licked.
- CyberGhost VPN subscription options:
- 12 month plan - $5.99 per month ($71.88 total cost)
- 1 month plan - $12.99 per month ($12.99 total cost)
3. NordVPN
Number of servers: 5400+ | Server locations: 60+ | IP addresses: N/A | Maximum devices supported: 6
36 months$2.99
12 months$6.99
1 month$11.95
Double data encryption
Looooads of servers
When it comes to security, NordVPN does it like no other. Its own ‘Double VPN’ technology encrypts data twice – in other words, it passes your data through two separate VPN servers to make things even more secure – while there are additional security extras such as encrypted chat, web proxy extensions and so on.
NordVPN’s clients for both macOS and iOS are rather basic compared to others, but keeping things simple can be advantageous for novices.
That's not to say that you don't have options...NordVPN gives Mac users more choice than the average provider, with an IVEv2 version of its client available on the App store, and an OpenVPN version available directly from the NordVPN website. And that's not all-- you can also manually set up to use OpenVPN without installing either of the clients.
This provider is also P2P-friendly and has a strict ‘zero logs’ policy. Performance was slightly above average in our testing.
There's a free 7-day trial, and otherwise NordVPN is one of the most affordable VPN options for your Mac. The packages available are:
- NordVPN subscription options:
- 36 month plan - $2.99 per month ($107.64 total cost)
- 12 month plan - $6.99 per month ($83.88 total cost)
- 1 month plan - $11.95 per month ($11.95 total cost)
4. IPVanish
Number of servers: 1300+ | Server locations: 60+ | IP addresses: 40000+ | Maximum devices supported: 10
12 months$4.87
3 months$6.75
1 month$7.50
Fantastic performance
Split-tunnelling function
Mac Os Pptp Client
The Mac app from IPVanish features a nifty design and a few welcome options like a kill switch and automatic IP switching. The US VPN is blazingly fast, and it’ll automatically hook you up to the fastest server available, a nice touch on the convenience front. Not only are download speeds fast with this VPN, it allows P2P.
OpenVPN, PPTP and L2TP protocols are supported, and there’s also decent iOS support and a wide coverage of servers, with no logging of the user’s activities.
IPVanish doesn’t have a free trial, sadly, although there is a 7-day money-back guarantee with all three available plans. The 1-year subscription is clearly the best choice in terms of outright value. The packages available are:
- IPVanish subscription options:
- 12 month plan - $4.87 per month ($58.44 total cost)
- 3 month plan - $6.75 per month ($20.25 total cost)
5. Hotspot Shield
A great option for online privacy
Number of servers: 2,500+ | Server locations: 50+ | IP addresses: N/A | Maximum devices supported: 5
36 months$2.99
12 months$5.99
1 month$12.99
Low price
Super-easy to use
Logging?
The premium offering from Hotspot Shield is a great mix of price and privacy. The prices start low and we found in our tests that its encryption was strict in ensuring your anonymity online will be protected.
Plus, thanks to its pretty cool sounding Catapult Hyrda protocol, it recorded some of the fastest times of any VPN as well. So if the main reason for installing a VPN on to your Mac is for gaming or streaming, then you shouldn't be dogged with laggy interruptions that some lesser Virtual Private Networks can cause.
And then there's the numbers. For a start, you can connect up to 5 devices simultaneously from one account - so that's your Mac, smartphone (iOS or Android), Smart TV and games console with room for something else on top. Hotspot Shield has access to more than 2,500 servers across 25 countries and offers 24/ 7 support. The 7-day trial and 45-day money back guarantee makes Hotspot even more attractive to try, and these are its current plans in full:
- AnchorFree Hotspot Shield subscription options:
- 36 month plan - $2.99 per month ($107.64 total cost)
- 12 month plan - $5.99 per month ($71.88 total cost)
- 1 month plan - $12.99 per month ($12.99 total cost)
How to choose the best Mac VPN
It’s not always easy to find a Mac-friendly VPN. Obviously enough, it’s important to choose a provider that offers a pre-configured client for its service. Having a good Mac client is a huge boon in terms of simply making things as easy as possible. Solid iOS support is also a welcome feature if you’re heavily invested in the Apple ecosystem and have an iPhone as well as a Mac.
Next, you need powerful security with strong encryption, which goes without saying, and an easily understandable privacy policy that makes it perfectly clear what data is kept by the provider. Good performance levels obviously don’t hurt, either.
- Ready to make the switch from Mac? Check out the best 2-in-1 Windows laptops
- Looking for a freebie? Then here's our pick of the best free VPN providers
- Get more from your Mac - these are our pick of the best Mac apps in 2019
The best VPN services for Apple Macs
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Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products; you can learn more about our review process here. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links.
The Rundown
- Best Overall: Windscribe, 'Has a generous data cap, excellent speeds, decent server choice, and a strict no-logging policy.'
- Best for Ease of Use:TunnelBear, 'You can get up and running almost instantly even if you have absolutely no prior experience.'
- Best for Fast Servers:Speedify, 'Their turbocharging technology can actually increase your connection speed in some cases.'
- Best for Unblocking Streaming Services: ZenMate, 'It was actually able to unblock the BBC iPlayer and US version of Netflix in testing.'
- Best for Unlimited Data: ProtonVPN, 'There are absolutely no caps on the amount of data you can use.'
- Best for Free Data on Multiple Devices: Hotspot Shield, 'You can use the service on up to five devices.'
- Best for Privacy: Hide.me, 'They feature a strict no-logging policy.'
- Best for Bittorrent: SurfEasy, 'An alternative that allows P2P connections without upgrading to a premium plan.'
Our Top Picks
Best Overall: Windscribe
4.3
Windscribe is our top pick for the best overall free VPN. With a generous data cap, excellent speeds, decent server choice, and a strict no-logging policy, this is the best all-around free VPN that you’ll find.
Most free VPNs place a limit on how much data you can transfer per month, and some also cap how much you can transfer per day. Windscribe has a fairly generous cap that allows 10GB of transfer each month, with no daily limit.
Windscribe also allows you to connect to servers in 10 different countries, with no limits on the number of connections you can establish. Device connections are also unlimited, so you can use this VPN on all the Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS devices you like. It’s also available for Fire TV and Nvidia Shield, and you can even use it with your VPN router.
If you feel like a 10GB data cap isn’t enough, we have other options with more data. Other than that, Windscribe ticks all of the right boxes.
Best for Ease of Use: TunnelBear
3.9
If you’re brand new to the world of virtual private networks, TunnelBear is the VPN that you’re looking for. VPNs don’t get any easier to use than this, and you can get up and running almost instantly even if you have absolutely no prior experience.
The best thing about TunnelBear is how easy they make it to use their apps and browser plugins. Each app and plugin is designed with a simple map-based interface and features a friendly cartoon bear. Simply click or tap to enable the VPN, tap your desired connection location, and you’re in business.
The app is available for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS, and the browser plugin works in Chrome, Firefox and Opera.
TunnelBear does feature a very restrictive data cap on the free version, so this service is best for light or occasional usage. Free accounts receive only 500MB of data each month, with occasional promotions that provide additional data.
Best for Fast Servers: Speedify
3
Virtual private networks usually slow your connection down, and free VPNs sometimes place artificial limits on your connection speed. Speedify bucks that trend, as their turbocharging technology can actually increase your connection speed in some cases. This feature is available in the free version of the service, which is why it’s our top pick for speediest free VPN.
Speedify has native apps for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS, and each app has their turbocharging technology built right in. The main purpose of the app is to connect you to the Speedify VPN, but it’s also capable of pooling all available internet connections, like ethernet, Wi-Fi, and cellular, and combining them to achieve the highest download and upload speeds possible.
Coupled with some of the fastest VPN servers in the business, Speedify’s turbocharging technology guarantees that this free VPN won’t leave you trapped in the slow lane.
While free users have the same access to Speedify’s fast servers that paid users enjoy, free accounts are limited to just 5GB of data per month.
Best for Unblocking Streaming Services: ZenMate
3.8
Streaming services that region-lock content don’t like VPNs as a rule, so finding a free VPN that can reliably unblock sites can be a chore. We found that the free version of ZenMate has the best track record and that it was actually able to unblock the BBC iPlayer and US version of Netflix in testing.
The free version of ZenMate places limitations on your speed, prioritizing paid users for fast data, the number of platforms you can use, and the server locations that you can connect to. You also don’t get access to their streaming guarantee, which promises uptime for working streaming services and is only available with their Ultimate plan.
Unblocking sites with a free VPN will always be a game of cat and mouse, with streaming services identifying and blocking them at a higher rate than paid VPNs. Since you can use ZenMate for free, there’s no cost associated with checking to see if it’s working at any given time.
Need some more help finding what you're looking for? Read through our best VPNs for Netflix article.
Best for Unlimited Data: ProtonVPN
4.6
Heavy data users will want to take a look at ProtonVPN, which takes our pick for best free VPN with unlimited data. Unlike free versions of premium VPNs that severely limit the amount of data you can transfer each month, ProtonVPN places no such limitations. It also has a fantastic privacy policy, which is what the service is best known for.
Most free VPNs cap the amount of data you can use per month, or even per day, and the VPN is no longer available once you reach that cap. ProtonVPN won’t leave you scrambling for a replacement part of the way through a month, as there are absolutely no caps on the amount of data you can use.
With its great record on privacy, and unlimited data, ProtonVPN would be a contender for best free VPN if it didn’t limit you to one device, only allow connections to a limited number of servers, and give paid users priority in terms of data speed.
Best for Free Data on Multiple Devices: Hotspot Shield
3.7
If you use a lot of data on a lot of different devices, Hotspot Shield is a great free VPN with a generous data allowance. Free users are provided with about 15GB of data per month, which beats out most of the competition, and you can use the service on up to five devices.
The catch with Hotspot Shield is that you can’t use your full data allowance however you see fit. Instead of providing you with 15GB of data per month, they actually provide you with 500MB of data per day. The cap resets daily, and there is no carryover. If you need to use more than 500MB one day, you’re out of luck.
Free Pptp Vpn Client
If you use about the same amount of data every day, then HotSpot Shield’s data allowance is fairly generous. You can also use it on up to five devices at once, including Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and the Chrome browser.
Aside from the data cap structure, the only other drawback of HotSpot shield is that the free version includes ads.
Best for Privacy: Hide.me
Hide.me is the free VPN that takes our pick for the best privacy and security. They feature a strict no-logging policy, and they’re located in a jurisdiction that can’t legally force them to record your data. They also feature a high level of encryption for a free VPN.
If you’re concerned about privacy, and most VPN users are, Hide.me publishes a yearly transparency report that details all the data requests that they have received. Since they’re located in Malaysia, they can’t be compelled to record or release your data, so they don’t.
Data transferred through Hide.me is protected by AES-256 encryption, and the service uses highly secure protocols like OpenVPN and L2TP/IPsec.
Despite the high level of security, the free version of Hide.me is also surprisingly fast, includes unlimited bandwidth, and doesn’t force you to view ads.
Hide.me is available on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Amazon Fire devices, browsers, and you can even use it with VPN routers. Up to five devices can be connected at once.
Best for Bittorrent: SurfEasy
Cisco Anyconnect Vpn Client For Mac
Most free VPNs, and even some paid VPNs, block BitTorrent. Others only allow P2P connections on a limited number of servers. SurfEasy is an alternative that allows P2P connections without upgrading to a premium plan.
SurfEasy free accounts are fairly limited. Free users are limited to 500MB of data, can only connect to servers in four countries, and don’t get access to any of SurfEasy’s advanced protections and features.
Paid users gain access to additional torrent protection, which further hides your identity when using P2P connections, but free users aren’t blocked from torrenting. Free users can also gain access to additional data, from time to time, through promotions that SurfEasy runs.
In addition to working with BitTorrent, the free version of SurfEasy is sometimes also capable of unblocking Netflix, which is rare for a free VPN.
SurfEasy is available on Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and they also have plugins for Chrome and Opera.
Our writers spent 2 hours researching the most popular free VPN services on the market. Before making their final recommendations, they considered 30 different services overall, screened options from 30 different brands and manufacturers, and tested 6 of the VPN services themselves. All of this research adds up to recommendations you can trust.