It’s great to run the latest version of Mac OS X since Apple offers free updates. I grabbed High Sierra as soon as it was released. This can pose a challenge at times if VPN services are not ready for the changes in the OS. That seems fair since the same thing happens to Windows partners all the time. It can take time to catch up. I have noticed that some VPN providers are faster than others to update their software. This was a consideration when deciding on our list of the best Mac VPNs.

The Best Mac VPNs for 2021. Using a VPN is a simple way to improve your privacy online. We've run the tests, and these are the best VPNs for your Mac. Check Also – Best Free VPN for iPhone. Surfshark – Dedicated Mac VPN There are plenty of reasons to add Surfshark VPN to the list of 10 Best VPN for MAC. It’s the only VPN service that’s available for a more extended trial period for MAC OS. On the other hand, you pay only $2.50 a month to avail its premium services.

As a Mac user I know how important it is to find good software. I love Mac OS X but finding software can be a challenge compared to the options available for Windows users. The same is true for VPN services. A lot of them support Mac through Tunnelblick. This is ok but I prefer a custom VPN client that is easy to use. I also want the same advanced features they offer for windows users on my Mac systems.

I was a devoted Windows user for years before the release of the first iPhone. After experiencing the iPhone I started moving over to Apple devices. Next came an iMac. Followed by an iPad and a Macbook. Since then my family has added several more OS X and iOS devices. My kids each use a Macbook Pro for school and my wife loves her Macbook Air. We have grown into a family of Apple fans.

This post is focused on the best VPNs for Mac users. I would add that all of our top choices have solid iOS apps. You can view our best iOS VPNs to learn more about their mobile apps. We looked at the same criteria we use for evaluating VPNs for any purpose. That includes the speed and reliability of the service. Along with their network size, commitment to privacy and customer support. Having an easy to use Mac client was a must for ranking in our top 5 list.

Best VPNs for Mac

Reviews of the Best Mac VPNs

1. ExpressVPN offers unlimited VPN access from just $6.67 a month.

ExpressVPN is our choice for the “Best VPN for Mac” based on their performance, reliability, privacy, and price. They do a lot of things right. They are a bit pricier than some services but the quality is excellent. You can expect fast connections and friendly tech support. They have some of the best VPN client software. You can tell they put a lot of effort into the interface design for all their software. You can sign up for unlimited VPN from just $6.67 a month. They offer a 30 day money back guarantee.

ExpressVPN Mac client in action

The ExpressVON Mac client require OS X 10.8 or later. They also have a previous version that supports OS X 10.7 and lower. The client fully supports El Capitan. Here are some highlights of the ExpressVPN Mac client:

• Auto-connect to best location – let the client select the best server based on your current location
• Recently used – see a list of the latest VPN servers you connected to
• Run a speed test – you can run a speed test from within the client

You’ll find that ExpressVPN is very user friendly. They start by offering a 30 day money back guarantee. There are no usage or connection limits. You simply request a refund in the first 30 days if you are not happy with the service. Their client software is very user friendly. I am especially fond of their Mac client. The software looks great and is very easy to use.

ExpressVPN manages a large network of VPN servers around the world. They host servers in the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East, and Africa. They are one of the fastest VPN services we have had the pleasure of testing. On top of great service, ExpressVPN offers excellent customer support.

As a member of ExpressVPN you’ll have access to free client software for Windows and Mac. They also have mobile apps for iOS and Android devices. They provide a nice set up guide for DD-WRT routers. ExpressVPN supports OpenVPN, PPTP, and L2TP. You can sign up for unlimited VPN access from just $6.67 a month. All new members are covered by their 30 day money back guarantee.

2. IPVanish offers unlimited VPN access from just $4.87 a month.

Managing a tier-1 network gives IPVanish an edge over other providers. This allows them to provide you the best possible performance. It also increases the reliability of the service because they have full control over their VPN servers. They have a strict “no log” policy which gives you greater privacy. Having control over all aspects of the VPN service allows them to give you the best price. IPVanish kindly offers our guests a 25% discount. Enjoy unlimited VPN from just $4.87 a month.

IPVanish Mac client in action

The IPVanish Mac client requires OS X 10.7 or later. The client fully supports El Capitan. Here are some of the key features of the IPVanish Mac client:

• Servers Locations – select any server location to connect
• Sort options – sort by city, country, server or response time
• Response time – sort the list by response time to find the fastest server for your current location
• Protocol selection – choose between PPTP, L2TP and OpenVPN protocols

Performance is key for those of us who enjoy watching tv shows and movies from other countries. Especially if you want to watch live sporting events or HD content. IPVanish has servers around the world with the speed and reliability to handle major events like the World Cup, Olympics, ICC Cricket, Super Bowl, and Grand Prix circuit.

Privacy is important to anyone looking for a VPN service. Any VPN you choose will offer encryption but IPVanish takes it a step further. They offer 256-bit AES encryption. IPVanish supports OpenVPN, PPTP and L2TP protocols. Giving you a high level of security when connected to their network. Their “no log” policy ensures that your activities will not be logged while using the service.

IPVanish supports a wide range of devices. They have custom software for Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS and Android. They also support DD-WRT and Tomato routers. Setting up your router to use the service allows you to protect your entire network with a single VPN account. IPVanish includes two simultaneous connections with every account so you can protect multiple devices at the same time. New members are covered by a 7 day money back guarantee. Enjoy unlimited VPN access from just $4.87 a month with our 25% off discount.

3. OverPlay offers unlimited VPN access from just $6.25 a month.

OverPlay is based in the UK and provides both VPN and Smart DNS service. They separate themselves from other providers by giving VPN members free SmartDNS access. This allows you to watch shows and movies in other countries without any speed loss. Enjoy unlimited VPN and SmartDNS from just $6.25 a month with our exclusive 25% discount.

As you can see OverPlay offers SmartDNS and Secure VPN accounts. The difference is encryption. For online privacy you will want their VPN service. If your goal is to unblock content in other countries then SmartDNS is a great choice. The VPN plan comes with free SmartDNS access. Giving you the best of both worlds.

OverPlay manages a large network of VPN servers in key countries around the world. They support OpenVPN, PPTP and L2TP protocols. You will find the service to be fast and reliable. On the SmartDNS side they have a channel line up on the OverPlay site. It will help you find the channels available in each country along with the devices they support.

OverPlay offers custom VPN clients for Windows and Mac users. They also support Linux, iOS, Android and custom routers. SmartDNS adds support for game consoles, smart tv’s, media players, and more. Anything that allows you to change the DNS settings. Enjoy unlimited VPN with free SmartDNS access from just $6.25 a month.

4. HideMyAss offers unlimited VPN access from just $6.55 a month.

HideMyAss has been helping users protect their online privacy since 2005. With many years under their belt the HMA team provides an excellent service. HMA has the largest network of any major VPN provider. They are headquartered in the UK and have offices in London, Kiev and Belgrade. Enjoy unlimited VPN from just $6.52 a month.

HideMyAss Mac client in action

The HideMyAss Mac client requires OS X 10.7 (Lion) or later. They also have an older version compatible with Snow Leopard, Leopard, Tiger, Panther and older OSX versions. Here is a quick summary of the HMA Mac client features:

• Search feature – easily search for a server in the country selection
• Auto-path – enable this option to connect using UDP for the fastest connections
• IP address settings – change IP address without disconnecting and schedule regular IP changes

A benefit of having such a large network is that you can access VPN servers in countries that are not available from other services. The HideMyAss network can get very busy at times. I suggest you use their HMA Pro VPN client which has a load balancing feature. This allows you to optimize your speed while using their service.

If you travel the world or live in a country without many local VPN servers then HideMyAss is your best choice. They are always expanding their network and adding new servers. They have multiple server locations in many different countries. Including servers in areas that are not covered by other VPN networks.

HideMyAss has a full line up of software. They have custom clients for Windows and Mac. They also have mobile apps for iOS and Android. You can set up your router to work with the service. HMA supports OpenVPN, PPTP and L2TP protocols. Sign up for unlimited VPN access from just $6.55 a month. HMA offers a 30 day money back guarantee.

5. PureVPN offers unlimited VPN access from just $4.16 a month.

The PureVPN team launched their VPN service in 2007 and it has been going strong ever since. They start with standard VPN access and offer a number of add-ons like SmartDNS, dedicated IP, NAT firewall and more. With PureVPN you pay one low price for unlimited VPN access. You can add on other features for an additional cost. PureVPN is one of the only VPN providers to offer split tunneling and dedicated IP addresses.

PureVPN Mac client in action

The PureVPN Mac client requires Mac OS x 10.8 or higher. The have an older release that cover OSX version 10.5 to 10.7. Here are some of the key features of the PureVPN client for Mac:

• Purpose selection – the client will help you choose the best sever depending on your current needs.
• Country selection tool – select the country you want to connect to from the list.
• Auto-connect – automatically connect on launch and at system start up

The PureVPN team manages a large and growing network of VPN servers around the world. You will find multiple server locations in popular countries like the United States and United Kingdom. Windows users will be happy to hear that they offer SSTP connections. They also support OpenVPN, PPTP, L2TP, and IKEv2 protocols.

PureVPN has client software for Windows, Mac, iOS and Android. All together they have one of the best sets of clients and mobile apps we have ever used. The Windows client includes a VPN kill switch feature to help protect your IP address in case you drop the VPN connection. Both the Windows and Mac clients have a smart purpose selection (SPS) tool that helps choose the best protocol and server based on your needs.

I’d like to mention one more PureVPN feature that every member can use. The service supports split tunneling which allows you to tunnel a portion of your Internet traffic thru the VPN while sending other requests directly to your ISP. This can help protect your privacy while allowing you to view streaming content outside the VPN connection without any speed loss. Sign up for unlimited VPN access from just $4.16 a month.

Take a look at our Top 10 VPN services if you would like to explore other options. The top 10 list was compiled with an overall experience in mind. While this post focuses on the best VPN for Mac, the overall top 10 looks at a wide range of devices and purposes for using a VPN. You can follow us @VPNSP for the latest VPN news and special offers.

Page Contents

Mac Operating System-macOS is the most expensive system yet admirable for its user-friendly interface, memory, extensive apps, library of functions and management of processes and applications.

To stream geo-restricted content or security and privacy of your identity on the internet on your macOS, You must get a virtual private network-VPN for mac.

Best Vpn For Macbook

Here are some key points that your VPN service must provide.

1. Military-grade Encryption
2. Changes your IP address
3. Free trial for premium VPNs
4. Compatible with macOS from macOS snow leopard (10.6)- Catalina (10.15)
5. Least speeds 15-20 Mbps for streaming and surfing
6. Quality-security VPN, OpenVPN and L2TP
7. No-Log policy and network lock
8. Kill switch
9. At least 30- day money-back guarantee
10. 1-click setup

Best VPNs For MacOS:

1. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN has developed an excellent reputation in the market by offering some great services (mentioned below). This VPN is an all-rounder, accessible to all devices with numerous features accordingly. ExpressVPN is the best VPN for mac so far, easy-to-use, fast, safe, reliable and worth the money. Download ExpressVPN on your macOS, app store allows you to get the subscription in one click. ExpressVPN servers are spread across the world with military-grade 256-bit encryption.

Compatible MacOS

ExpressVPN is compatible with all MacBooks from macOS big sure(11)-OS X Yosemite(10.10), iMac and IOS models and versions, Windows, Linux and Chromecast. It is compatible with Android, IOS and Amazon fire tablet as well. Now you can sign in to your account on your macOS without any hurdle or worry. It's one of the most Easy-to-use VPNs for mac that helps you browse on the internet.

Connection Reliability

ExpressVPN has always been reliable for its connections, speed and security concerns. It's not easy to stay in the market with rotten strategies and old-school services, ExpressVPN ‘s services are up to date and connecting your macOS with such an incredible VPN provider is definitely a wise choice to make.

Anonymity

You don't need to be seen while you stream or surf the internet. Your Internet service provider, hackers and government authorities can find you and access your macOS or any other device that you use for streaming and surfing, which might let you get caught. ExpressVPN allows you to dodge the risks and let you use the internet anonymously.

Top Free Vpn For Mac

Protocols

ExpressVPN came up with the IKEv2 and OpenVPN, both. OpenVPN is the safest and fastest protocol option that ExpressVPN has to offer. Although IKEv2 is suitable for mobile service and OpenVPN for operating systems. The first and foremost choice for ExpressVPN has always been OpenVPN for its speed, security and reliability for its customers.

Safe Tunnelling

ExpressVPN is a leader for your way to bypass the geo-restricted sites, whether you stream, download torrent or hide your identity. It works with OpenVPN for solid encryption and authentication features, also, the military-grade 256 bite AES encryption guard.

DNS leak

Your DNS must be confidential; ExpressVPN keeps it safe from leaking. ExpressvPN conceals your activities on the internet through VPN tunnelling. The traffic between your macOS and ExpressVPN's DNS servers are end-to-end encrypted. VPN users are safe with DNS leak protection, guaranteed.

Blocks And Unblocks

This VPN service blocks malware, ads, bugs and spyware to keep your macOS safe and secure. You can get access to all sites from anywhere in the world, as ExpressVPN unblocks sites while keeping your identity untraceable by giving you different IP addresses.

Money-back Guarantee And Free Trials

You get a 30-day money-back guarantee which is almost a free trial, as you get a full refund if you claim within 30 days. If you surprisingly stay unsatisfied with the features and services of a VPN for your macOS, take your money back. Have a risk-free streaming opportunity for a month. If you buy a yearly plan, you get free services for three months.

Connection Speeds

You can connect six devices simultaneously with one account and still get a 135 Mbps to download speed; just make sure your internet speed is 100Mbps or more. The overall connection speeds have 58 Mbps which is enough for smooth streaming on your macOS.

Which Free Vpn Is Best For Mac

Customer Service

ExpressVPN satisfies its customer by solving their problems through 24/7 live chat support and call support.

2. NordVPN

NordVPN has been in the game for a very long time now, and now it's stable enough to offer you excellent services for your macOS at a lesser price than ExpressVPN. Its one of the best VPN services and this VPN provider has several servers worldwide that enables your macOS to connect with geo-blocked streaming services. Its number of servers spread across the world to bring in a strong macOS app in the market, It is a tough competitor among VPN providers with its 256-bit AES encryption. Best mac VPN for its onion cover and dedicated IP so far.

Compatible MacOS

Best Free Vpn For Mac Os

NordVPN is accessible in all Apple devices (MacBook, iMac, iPhone, Ipad, Apple TV) and works on all versions (from macOS snow leopard 10.6 onwards). Also, windows, android, Chromecast and Linux users can have NordVPN as a security guard for their systems. You can get all the quality security features at fast speeds.

Dedicated IP

NordVPN offers dedicated IP addresses in The US, Germany, UK, Netherlands and France. It works with a valid VPN account and costs you about $70 per year, but it's worth it! You get to connect the dedicated IP to 2 devices due to security concerns. It might not work in a region that has internet restrictions. All the dedicated mac clients have come out to be satisfied, As a VPN client, you must know the hustle to get access to your desired platform; NordVPN makes it easier with its best services; check how.

Onion Cover VPN

NordVPN helps you to set up the VPN connection and pass you through the safe side. Its onion cover feature is the best privacy solution that passes you through its VPN servers and gives your internet traffic transparency by its onion network. There are Onion networks like Tor in the market that you can buy; the question lies here, why would you buy an extra service when your NordVPN already gives you a free version.

Connection Reliability

The best way to check if the VPN server is reliable or not, go through its privacy and security features. Using a VPN is not just about getting access to streaming services anyhow, but also the know-how about it is a must. The privacy policy of NordVPN is solid; if you use a VPN already, you would understand the worth of it as a VPN server.

Anonymity

Stay anonymous while streaming or surfing the internet with NordVPN, as it gives the best encryption features to its clients. Windows, Android, Linux and Mac users are safe with NordVPN's VPN services.

Protocols

NordVPN gives you OpenVPN, IKEv2 and WireGuard. However, OpenVPN is the best privacy protocol any VPN provider could offer. Still, NordVPN has introduced WireGuard(NordLynx). It's an experimental protocol. It is used in most of its apps as it's an ultra-modern and the fastest tunnelling protocol to date.

DNS leak

The best way to keep your identity hidden is getting DNS leak protection through a VPN for your mac. Use of VPN to secure your data and keep your existence private. Install NordVPN on your mac; the app store has its newest app version to protect you from DNS leak.

Blocks and Unblocks

It blocks ads, malware and spyware while unblocking streaming sites like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, HBO, Disney+ and allows you to download torrents anonymously.

Money-back guarantee and Free trials

NordVPN gives a 30-day money-back guarantee, you can avail of its services for a month make sure to consume the best out of it!

Connection speeds

It doesn't put a limitation on speed or bandwidth, Get fast speeds with the NordVPN mac app, install it and get going

3. PureVPN

Its server locations are in 140+ countries. Its user interface for macOS is easy to use, the best VPN for Mac. It serves exclusive, yet the best, mac services are far more private and secure than any free VPN could offer.

Compatible macOS

PureVPN is compatible with all the latest MacBook, iMac, iPhone, Ipad, Apple TV versions.

Dedicated P2P servers

PureVPN offers dedicated mac servers for you to send and receive your P2P files from anywhere in the world. Also, you don't need to face speed problems while surfing.

Advanced auto protocol selection

Skip the headache with PureVPN as It provides the auto-selection tools for your protocols. It offers OpenVPN, IKEV2, SSTP, PPTP, L2TP and enables it on your macOS as needed. OpenVPN is mostly in use for its strict security and privacy policy with speed.

Blocks and Unblocks

PureVPN, like other VPN services, secure your macOS and other devices by blocking malware, spyware, ads and tracking sites. PureVPN servers work on encryption and get you the IP addresses while you stream or surf.

Refund policy and Free trials

Free trial? YES! best 30-day money-back guarantee, avail of the services and get your refund in case you don't find the services up to the mark. Risk-free streaming on Amazon Prime Video, Netflix or Hulu for a month.

Connections and speeds

You can connect to ten devices simultaneously through PureVPN. You get to avail yourself of the opportunity where it develops the criteria of bringing in the exclusive features for you to use on your macOS.

4. SurfShark

The number of servers can determine the quality of a VPN. SurfShark server locations are in 65 countries and more to grow. It has served its customers with a robust technical solution for safe and secure surfing on all compatible devices. You get access to all geo-restricted sites and download torrents, streams or surf from anywhere in the world. Best mac VPN for its connectivity and speed.

Compatible macOS

SurfShark works on Mac OS X 10.12 (Sierra) and newer versions of MacBook, iMac, IOS, iPad, Apple TV. Mac app is compatible with Windows, Android, Linux, and FireTV.

Encryption

It has military-grade 256-bit AES encryption that secures your information and engagement on the internet to get the best. SurfShark also offers OpenVPN, IKEv2, Shadowsocks, L2TP, WireGuad on Windows, iOS, Android, and macOS. If you can't find any of the encryption features, try and update the app's newest version.

Blocks and Unblock

SurfShark blocks the trackers; it prevents the ad domains from collecting data about you. It lets you bypass through tunnelling by unblocking geo-blocked streaming services and sites. You can access any site and surf as long as you want. SurfShark is a mac VPN for sure, as it has some strict security and privacy policies.

100% RAM-only

SurfShark has taken down the hard drive storage, and now it's a 100% RAM only system. Technically, any third party can barge into the VPN servers' hard drives; it's not fully secured even if the VPN service gives you updated and newest security and privacy features.

Kill switch and No-log policy

There is no way for your identity and data to be leaked. Your IP address and information are secured with the Kill-Switch feature that SurfShark has to offer. The strict no-log policy must be mandatory for a VPN service to provide; Surfshark has managed to fulfil all the requirements of privacy features.

Customer service

It has been excellent. SurfShark is not behind when it comes to satisfying the customers; its 24/7 live chat support have saved many from suffering errors.

Refund policy and free trials

You can consume the services of SurfShark as a free trial. It gives you a 30-day money-back guarantee; you can claim your refund within 30 days and get your full amount back within ten working days.

Connections speed

You can connect to unlimited devices simultaneously at high speed as Surfshark offers unlimited bandwidth. Stream faster than ever!

It has a number of servers more than VPN services, apparently a better opportunity to get faster and newest features and services. Its server locations are nearly in 88 countries. CyberGhost is one of the promising service providers with the exclusive pattern of serving its clients. Best mac VPN in terms of its security features.

5. CyberGhost

Compatible macOS

Best Free Vpn Software For Mac Os X

CyberGhost is compatible with macOS Sierra (10.12), macOS High Sierra (10.13), macOS Mojave (10.14) on MacBook,MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac,iMac Pro, Mac Pro, Mac mini, Apple TV. Almost all Mac VPN devices are also compatible with Android, Windows, Linux, gaming console, FireTV, and Android TV.

One-click connection

If you need a VPN for whatever reason, its accessibility and speed must be the priority for you, and a one-click connection in the VPN feature is mandatory. CyberGhost has been easy on its customers, just a click, and you will be connected with your desired location for surfing and streaming.

Secured file sharing

Your data and information are saved through CyberGhost's end-to-end encryption feature. It will keep your data private between you and the receiver.

Encryption

The military-grade 256-bit encryption from CyberGhost is best to secure your identity, data and information and provide its services with less worry.

Kill switch

Using a VPN is the only option for you to keep your identity hidden while streaming geo-blocked content on your macOS. The best VPNs in the market offers a kill-switch feature, so does CyberGhost. Its automatic kill-switch disconnects your internet from your device if the VPN server drops down for any reason.

No-log policy

You need a VPN like CyberGhost to make sure your internet browsing history is not saved anywhere or there is no way your activity on the internet is monitored or stored.

Money-back guarantee

CyberGhost offers the longest time to avail free trial, 45-day money-back guarantee. You can consume its service for 45 days and unsubscribe from its services and get your money back by claiming a refund.

Connections

The best VPN must offer at least five simultaneous connections, whereas CyberGhost provides you with seven simultaneous connections with unlimited bandwidth. You can stream any content without buffering on your macOS, and your friends can download any torrent on their iPad or IOS meanwhile.

Keychain Access

Mac VPNs must offer keychain Access as its an application designed for macOS. One of the best Mac features, keychain access, stores your passwords and auto-fills where needed. It's convenient yet safe. CyberGhost accesses keychain access for your password; you will receive a prompt for your password.

Protects

CyberGhost automatically connects to your macOS when it detects unknown wi-fi, in terms of protection of your privacy and security. If the VPN is already connected and you switch a wi-fi, VPN will be disconnected.

macOS versions

Five VPNs that we recommend for your macOS must have the following updated versions for secure surfing on your device.

• Mac OS X 10.10 (Yosemite)
• Mac OS X 10.11 (El Capitan)
• Mac OS 10.12 (Sierra)
• Mac OS 10.13 (high Sierra)
• Mac OS 10.14 (Mojave)
• Mac OS pro 10.15 (Catalina)

Plans and Pricing comparison

A big NO to Free VPNs for macOS

Free Vpn For Mac Download

The following VPNs offer some of the basic services but there is no assurance of security and privacy which has to be the first and foremost responsibility of a VPN provider, there is no such thing as the best free VPNs for macOS. Here's why you should not go for free VPNs for your macOS.

Hotspot shield

Free Vpn For Macbook Air

data limit of 500MB per day, No live chat, Major Issues with google, logging issues, Netflix block.

ProtonVPN

No torrenting, 1 connection at a time, 3 server connections overall, slow, unreliable security

Hide.me

Data limit of 10GB per month, Netflix USA access lags, Unreliable security.

TunnelBear

No torrenting, just 26 servers,s worth it!