The best Mac VPNs help you stream geo-blocked content on streaming platforms and secure your connection. In this guide, we help you find the best VPN for Mac based on feature set and performance.
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What to Look for in a VPN for Mac
Choosing a VPN for your Mac can feel daunting if you’ve never used one. The terminology may sound overly complex, or you may not fully understand how VPNs work. Before we jump into our top picks, let’s quickly talk about things to look for in a Mac VPN.
The first thing to look for is device support. Most VPNs offer an app for macOS, but you may also want to consider support for other devices, such as iOS, Apple TV, and more.
If you want a VPN to secure your Mac, look for a strict no-logs policy. Zero logging ensures none of the data transmitted from your device is readable to anyone who intercepts it—this includes your internet service provider (ISP) or even the government. All VPNs in this guide have a zero-logging policy.
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On the other hand, security is a factor of the VPN’s encryption protocol and cipher. If you don’t want to understand these terms, look for VPN protocols like OpenVPN, IKEv2, and WireGuard combined with ciphers like AES-256 or ChaCha20.
If you plan to use the VPN to unblock geo-blocked content on streaming websites like Netflix, look for VPNs with a proven track record of successfully unblocking these websites. We tested the VPNs to unblock Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and other major platforms. If you want to unblock a local streaming platform while traveling abroad, you can try many of the services below, as they often offer a free trial and a money-back guarantee.
Best VPN for Mac: NordVPN
Credit: Justin Duino / How-To Geek
According to our tests, NordVPN is the fastest VPN. When connected to a nearby server, we experienced a reduction of roughly 15%. That is excellent performance for a VPN, which can often throttle your speeds.
We were surprised to see that, even on a distant server, the speed didn’t plummet. Our tests showed a reduction of just 18% on servers halfway across the world. The latency shot up significantly, but that’s a problem only when you need two devices to work in sync, like during a video call or gaming.
Even as the fastest VPN, NordVPN doesn’t compromise encryption to boost connection speeds. It offers OpenVPN, IKEv2, and NordLynx (a proprietary protocol inspired by WireGuard) combined with AES-256 and ChaCha20 encryption.
Moreover, the app features security measures, including Threat Protection, which safeguards against malware, trackers, ads, malicious downloads, and vulnerable apps.
You can install NordVPN on almost any device, including Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS. Once installed, you can use NordVPN to unblock all popular streaming platforms on these devices, such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu. Thanks to NordVPN’s fast connection speeds, you’re unlikely to experience any buffering even when streaming in 4K.
Logging policy
No-log policy
Mobile app
Android and iOS
Number Of Servers
1,000+
Free Trial
30 days
Encryption
DES, RSA, AES
NordVPN is one of the fastest VPN options available. It’s also easy to use and compatible with a variety of devices. For Black Friday, you can get the Basic plan for only $2.99/month if you sign up for two years, and you get three extra months for free.
Pros & Cons
- Extremely fast for a VPN service
- Can get past geo-blocks
- Easy to use
- Expensive after new user deals
Best Budget VPN for Mac: Surfshark
SurfsharkCredit: Surfshark
It pays to take control of your online privacy. But that doesn’t mean you always have the funds to pay for some of the more expensive VPN subscriptions.
A great budget VPN can give you most of the features as higher-priced options, and with Surfshark, you get a fantastic deal on VPN services for 27 months. While prices will always fluctuate between sales, as of the time of writing, the Surfshark Starter plan is only $1.99/month for 24 months, plus three additional months free on top of that.
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Surfshark asks for the entire amount—which would be $53.73 for the Starter plan—upfront, but once you do, you won’t need to worry about your subscription again until 2027 (or even 2028, depending on when you’re reading this). If you end up paying and don’t like Surfshark, you can also take advantage of a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Surfshark excels at bypassing streaming services like Netflix and Hulu. Additionally, Alternative ID allows you to sign up for services and websites using alternative email addresses and phone numbers, thereby protecting your data from being scraped and keeping you safe from spam.
Logging policy
No-logs policy
Mobile app
Android and iOS
Number Of Servers
3,200+
Free Trial
30 day money-back guarantee
Encryption
AES-256
Surfshark is a low-cost VPN service that offers unlimited simultaneous connections, making it a great pick if you want to share the VPN account with friends and family.
Pros & Cons
- Extremely low intro rate, with Surfshark One+ being under $5/month
- Is able to easily crack Netflix and Hulu
- Alternative ID gives you email addresses and phone numbers for registering to sites without giving personal information
- Many of the best features are locked behind the most expensive plan, or are additional charges
Private Internet Access (PIA) is a low-cost VPN with a minimalist interface that works on macOS 10.14 and higher. But don’t be fooled by its low price tag—PIA packs a wide range of features and offers excellent performance, as we explain in greater detail in our Private Internet Access review.
The app uses AES-128 encryption by default, but you can change it to the recommended AES-256 for maximum security. You can also choose between three VPN protocols: OpenVPN, WireGuard, and IPsec (available only on iOS). This VPN service has a no-logs policy, meaning the PIA doesn’t store user data.
PIA allows connecting unlimited devices simultaneously, meaning you can use PIA on all supported devices simultaneously. Supported devices include Windows, Mac, iOS, Linux, Android, and smart TVs.
However, the interface differs slightly from that of a typical VPN. The app is clean and intuitive, but lacks the aesthetic appeal of competing VPN apps. The one-click connect button is the first thing you see when you open the app. To access more settings, you need to click the downward arrow at the bottom.
PIA unblocks most streaming services, including Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. However, during our tests, it failed to unblock Hulu.
Logging policy
No-Logs Policy
Mobile app
Android and iOS
Free Trial
30 day Money-Back Guarantee
Encryption
AES 128-bit or 256-bit
Supported platforms
Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Opera
Server locations
91 countries
Private Internet Access is a low-cost VPN that offers excellent speeds and keeps latency to a minimum. It’s a great choice if you’re looking for a secure and reliable service with an affordable price.
Pros & Cons
- Pocket-friendly
- Excellent security
- Fast
Best Free VPN for Mac: Proton VPN
Credit: Kris Henges / How-To Geek
If you’re looking for a free Mac VPN, Proton VPN is your best bet. The app is available for macOS 10.12 and later, as well as other devices running iOS, Windows, Android, and Linux.
Proton VPN offers a generous free plan with unlimited data, bandwidth, and server access in five locations—the U.S., the Netherlands, Japan, Romania, and Poland.
Unlimited data and bandwidth are a rare combination on a free VPN plan, allowing you to stream your favorite content without worrying about running out of data or experiencing significant buffering. Most features are available only on the paid plan, but essentials like a kill switch are available to all users.
Switching to the paid plan gives you access to more features like Secure Core servers (a fancy name for double VPN), NetShield (an ad and malware blocker), and port forwarding.
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However, the paid plans are pretty expensive compared to services offering similar performance. So, the VPN deal is only worth it if you’re bundling it with other apps, like the popular Proton Mail.
Logging policy
No-Logs Policy
Mobile app
Android and iOS
Number Of Servers
13,000+
Free Trial
Free version with limited features
Encryption
AES-256, ChaCha20
Supported platforms
Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Chromebook, Apple TV, Android TV, Fire TV
Proton VPN is a VPN famous for being private and secure. Its free plan comes with the same guarantees, though the paid plans are expensive.
Pros & Cons
- Generous free plan
- Fast and secure
- Parent company has a good reputation
- Expensive paid version without bundling
Best VPN for iPhones: ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is our top pick because it’s fast, secure, easy to use, and offers an extensive feature set.
Setting up ExpressVPN takes just a few minutes. Once you install the app, you can click the one-click connect button, and ExpressVPN connects you to the best server based on your location.
If you want to connect to a specific server location—ExpressVPN has servers in over 100 countries—the VPN server list is accessible via the home screen. For example, if you want to stream content on Netflix U.S. when traveling abroad, connect to a U.S. server.
ExpressVPN can be used on up to eight devices simultaneously. In addition to iPhones, the app is compatible with Apple TV, macOS, Android, and more. It also has a Safari browser extension to encrypt the browser’s traffic.
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The VPN secures your connection with encryption protocols. The Mac app offers OpenVPN, IKEv2, and Lightway (ExpressVPN’s proprietary protocol). These protocols are combined with AES-256 encryption for top-notch security.
Encryption tends to slow down the connection speed, but ExpressVPN manages to keep that reduction in speed to a minimum.
The VPN also helps unblock all the popular streaming platforms, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu. This means you can stream your favorite content in 4K without buffering.
Logging policy
No-logs policy
Mobile app
Android, iOS
Free Trial
30 days
Encryption
AES-256
Supported platforms
Windows, macOS, Linux, Apple TV, Chrome, Chromebook, Android TV, Samsung TV, Android, iOS
Devices allowed
Up to 8
ExpressVPN is fast, easy to use, and will keep you secure no matter your location.
Pros & Cons
- Great speeds and minimal speed loss
- Easy to use interface is great for the average user
- Unblocks all popular streaming platforms
- More expensive than many competitive plans
FAQ
What is a VPN?
A VPN (virtual private network) is a software solution that helps you secure your network and access geo-restricted websites. VPNs are also a great tool to bypass government censorship in countries like China.
In rare cases, when the ISP has been throttling your connection speed, VPNs can help improve connection speeds. In a typical scenario, VPNs reduce your connection speed because they transmit your data through a server in another location—the farther the location, the slower the connection speed.
What does VPN stand for?
VPN stands for virtual private network.
How does a VPN work?
A VPN connects your device to a remote server. This creates a point-to-point tunnel that encrypts your internet traffic, assigns another IP address to your device, and helps access geographically restricted websites. Put simply, a VPN creates a secure connection.
When connected to a public network, a VPN protects you against hackers trying to intercept your data through encryption. Since VPNs also mask your real IP address (which is what websites look at to determine your location), you can use it to access websites only available on a specific region.
Does a VPN slow down my internet speed?
Yes, in most cases, VPNs slow down your internet speed due to encryption. VPNs encrypt your data before transmitting it over the internet. Encryption helps protect your privacy and improves data security, but the addition of a step before transmitting data from your devices requires time and reduces internet speed.
