Extensive features at a great price
If you want a premium VPN experience with lots of cool features on your Mac without having to pay a ton of money,Surfsharkis a solid bet. Surfshark’s MacOS app is slick and easy to use, even if you’ve never used a VPN before. We appreciate recent upgrades to the app that include snappier connection times and helpful connection and feature usage information displayed on the app interface. We particularly like that Surfshark includes split tunneling on its MacOS app, a helpful feature most VPNs no longer include in their MacOS or iOS apps.
Surfshark’s MacOS app includes standard privacy features like akill switch,protocol selectionand customizable quick-connect. Along with standard features, Surfshark includes a few extras like Rotating IP, which automatically changes your IP address every few minutes, and Dynamic Multihop, which lets you double-hop through any two server locations of your choosing. You can also choose to connect to a static IP address through Surfshark’s MacOS app, which can help you reduce the number of CAPTCHAs you encounter, help you more reliably access your online bank account from abroad and even help boost your speeds. One feature that really sets Surfshark apart from the rest of the pack is its Alternative ID feature, which lets you generate a fake persona complete with name, physical address and email address that you can use to fill out forms online without having to use your actual personal information.
Somewhat confusingly, Surfshark has two different MacOS apps: One that you download from the Surfshark website and another that you download from the Apple App Store on your Mac. The difference between the two is hardly noticeable at first glance, but if you want to connect via OpenVPN, you’ll need to download the App Store version. If you need access to Surfshark’s Antivirus, you’ll need to download the version from the website. If you need both, then you’ll need to download both — which is admittedly not ideal. Even so, Surfshark is excellent on MacOS and both apps are otherwise pretty much identical.
Though it's not the fastest VPN in the world, Surfshark is still relatively speedy and fast enough for just about anything you’d want to do online, from general online browsing to more data-heavy activities like streaming and gaming. We calculated a total average speed loss of 21% in our latest speed tests, with an 18.5% speed loss on MacOS between OpenVPN and WireGuard.
When streaming on MacOS, Surfshark performed well during our tests and was able to unblock content on Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus, Hulu, Netflix and Max. The only hiccup we encountered was that Netflix titles sometimes took a little longer than normal to load on MacOS. However, once the thumbnails loaded, streaming on Netflix went smoothly.
Although Surfshark recently bumped up its annual renewal pricing by $20, it’s still a significantly cheaper option than ExpressVPN or NordVPN. On the other hand, Surfshark’s monthly subscription costs $15.45 per month, which is more expensive than just about any other VPN’s monthly rate, and as a result is effectively without value. The annual plan costs $48 for the first year, but jumps to $79 per year after. If you choose the two-year plan, you’ll pay $60 total for the first two years combined, then $79 annually after the initial two-year term. Surfshark offers a 30-day money-back guarantee in case you’re not satisfied with the service.
Privacy protection and transparency
ExpressVPNis the best MacOS VPN for beginners, thanks to its user-friendly Mac app, fast speeds and excellent privacy protections. Whether you’re an absolute beginner or a seasoned VPN user, ExpressVPN’s minimalist interface is a breeze to navigate, with settings and server selection neatly organized behind a standard hamburger icon in the top left corner. From there, you can access privacy features and settings like the kill switch, Advanced Protection features,protocol selection, IPv6 leak protection and you can customize the shortcuts displayed in the app after you connect. ExpressVPN’s MacOS app offers Lightway, OpenVPN and IKEv2 protocols, each of which connects in a snap. Alternatively, you can set the protocol selection to automatically select the best protocol for your network.
With ExpressVPN, you’re also getting one of the fastest VPNs around. In our latest speed tests, we measured an overall average speed loss of 18% between both MacOS and Windows on the Lightway and OpenVPN protocols. On MacOS specifically, we measured an overall speed loss of 18.5%, with a 29% speed loss with OpenVPN and a mere 8% with Lightway. We recommend connecting via Lightway if you want the fastest speeds possible on MacOS with ExpressVPN.
On top of delivering blazing fast speeds, Lightway includes post-quantum protections, which can help protect your data from potential future threats from quantum computers. This feature works in the background and is built into Lightway, so you don’t need to do anything other than set Lightway as your protocol to activate ExpressVPN’s post-quantum protections. ExpressVPN’s ShuffleIP is another helpful privacy feature that works in the background and changes your IP address for every website you visit, which makes it even more difficult to track you online when using the service. The kill switch worked flawlessly on Mac during our latest tests, and we detected no DNS leaks.
ExpressVPN is also an excellent choice if you like to stream lots of international content on your Mac from a variety of streaming services. In our testing, ExpressVPN worked exceptionally well when streaming on Mac — expertly unblocking content on streaming services like Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus, Hulu, Netflix and Max.
ExpressVPN is a premium VPN service that does just about everything well. However, it comes with a premium price tag that eclipses the price of just about every other VPN on the market. The monthly plan costs $13 per month, which is in line with the monthly price of many other VPNs. But ExpressVPN’s longer-term plans are far more expensive than most of the competition. The yearly plan costs $100 for the first year and the two-year plan costs $140 for the first two years combined (the one- and two-year plans renew at $117 annually). The yearly and two-year plans offer additional identity protection features, which you’re essentially forced to pay extra for even if you don’t want or need the features. As it stands, it’s a funky pricing structure that’s not exactly consumer-friendly, but company representatives tell me that they’re working on revamping the pricing — which will hopefully make the service more attractive to the average VPN user.
NordVPN’sbest-in-class server speeds make it an excellent choice for streaming, gaming or other bandwidth-intensive applications on Macs. Its slick app design is easy to navigate. Functions from enabling or disabling the VPN to switching servers and changing settings are easy to find and use. NordVPN does just about everything well, from unblocking content on streaming services to meaningfully boosting your privacy. For Apple users, NordVPN's MacOS, iOS, iPadOS and TVOS apps mean you can use the VPN on all of your devices.
While NordVPN's MacOS app is intuitive, it also packs an impressive lineup of power user-caliber privacy features. Onion over VPN servers combine your VPN connection with Tor for beefed-up privacy. Its multi-hop functionality enhances your privacy by using a pair of VPN connections to make it harder to trace your traffic back to you. Meshnet lets you create a remote virtual area network so you can securely share files or watch Netflix from anywhere without worrying about verification codes.
In our testing, NordVPN delivered faster speeds than our base internet connection on MacOS over the NordLynx and OpenVPN protocols. You shouldn’t expect Nord to increase your network performance; this is an atypical experience that could be because of ISP throttling or more efficient communication with ISP DNS servers. However, you can count on Nord to retain the bulk of your usual internet connection. In our latest testing, we measured a mere 3% overall average speed loss with NordVPN.
NordVPN is excellent for streaming thanks to its massive server network and blisteringly fast speeds. On MacOS, we effortlessly unblocked nearly every streaming service we tried, including Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, Disney Plus, Max and Netflix. We had to try a second UK server for Prime on MacOS. The first time, a VPN was detected, but a quick server change straightened out any issues.
Unfortunately, NordVPN’s initial value takes a nosedive after your subscription term runs out. At $13 a month, $60 for the first year or $82 total for the first two years, Nord is about in line with (or even cheaper than) the competition. But its exorbitant renewal pricing of $140 per year on the one- and two-year plans is extreme. Thankfully, you can avoid a pricey auto-renewal by stacking subscriptions but we don’t like that you have to babysit your VPN subscription. By comparison, Proton VPN renews at $20 more per year on the one-year plan, while ExpressVPN re-ups for $17 more per year — neither of which is close to the $80 renewal price hike that Nord saddles you with. Still, if you’re willing to monitor your VPN subscriptions, NordVPN boasts blazing-fast speeds that are excellent for streaming movies and shows in 4K, a massive global server network and advanced privacy amenities.
The only free plan we recommend
Proton VPNis the best free VPN for Macs — and itsfree planis the only free VPN we wholeheartedly vouch for. Plus, its paid premium plan is a worthy consideration for folks who need more servers or who want advanced customization options.
Unlike most free VPNs, Proton VPN doesn’t sell your data or plaster your screen with ads. You get the same robust privacy with the free plan, along with access to servers in six countries and unlimited monthly usage. Note that we discovered a design flaw with Proton VPN’s MacOS app, which failed to properly display a warning that your public IP address is briefly unmasked when switching servers. Proton VPN has promised a fix but folks with critical privacy needs should be aware of this limitation on Mac.
Proton VPN was the second-fastest VPN in our latest speed tests, coming in behind NordVPN, with a superb 16% average download speed loss. We measured an impressive 6% speed loss on WireGuard and 10% on IKEv2 with MacOS, which should provide buffer-free streaming video and low-lag gaming.
For streaming, Proton VPN unblocked even tough-to-access international Netflix libraries, like Netflix Egypt. We experienced no issues streaming from services including Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, CBC Gem, Disney Plus, and Max. Hulu even worked on MacOS while it didn’t on Android TV, where a VPN was detected.
Proton’s free plan isn’t without its limitations. You’re restricted to using one device at a time, and you can’t manually select a server. But if you need more servers, a greater simultaneous device allowance or additional manual control over your server connections, its premium plan is a fantastic choice. You’ll pay $10 a month, $60 for the first year or $108 total for the first two years (the one- and two-year plans renew at $80 annually), while getting a 10 simultaneous device allowance and access to 13,100 plus servers in 117 countries.
Budget-friendly and transparent
PIAis a good cheap VPN at $12 per month, $40 for the first year (renewing at $50) or $79 every three years. While it’s more affordable than much of the competition, PIA's speeds were significantly slower than most of our top-rated VPNs in our latest speed tests, with an average 49% internet download speed loss. For context, we generally find an average 25% speed loss acceptable. We also encountered many CAPTCHAs when using apps and services like Google Search, but the company has a CAPTCHA reduction initiative for later this year that we hope means fewer pesky authentication sessions.
Despite PIA’s high speed loss and unreliable server performance, its unique privacy features for MacOS make it a decent budget VPN for folks with an already strong internet connection — something closer to Google Fiber than satellite internet. PIA is one of the few VPN providers that offers split tunneling on MacOS, which lets you route some apps, but not others, through a VPN. Notably, Surfshark also provides MacOS split tunneling, but it’s a rare feature among VPNs.
PIA’s 58% average speed loss on WireGuard and 47% average speed reduction with OpenVPN on MacOS is significantly higher than what we like to see from a top-performing VPN service. Additionally, we normally expect faster speeds with WireGuard than OpenVPN, but PIA surprised — and not in a good way. However, we never noticed any moments where videos stopped playing to buffer, but quality usually started out pretty choppy before smoothing out.
While its high speed loss can be detrimental to streaming performance, PIA does a decent job with region-restricted content unblocking. Its servers in all 50 US states mean it could be a good choice for streaming regional sports, likeNFL games. Some streaming services, like Amazon Prime Video US and Hulu, worked better on MacOS than Windows or Android TV — a VPN wasn’t detected on Mac while it was on Android or Windows in some cases.
The PIA app is great for power users who want to tinker with advanced settings for VPN protocols or use split tunneling on MacBooks. While it’s reasonably intuitive on most platforms, including Mac and iPhone, on some devices like Android, we found the experience a little rough around the edges. PIA’s advanced settings are a double-edged sword for casual users, as they may be overwhelming. And PIA’s apps on Mac, Windows and Linux feel a little outdated compared to the slick apps you’ll find with many competitors, including ExpressVPN, NordVPN and Proton VPN. But if you want a budget-friendly VPN that provides helpful, unique privacy settings on MacOS, PIA is a great option in spite of some issues.
Surfsharkis the best Mac VPN, undercutting most of the competition without sacrificing speed or privacy. You'll find some unique privacy features with Surfshark, including Dynamic MultiHop, Rotating IP and Alternative ID. Surfshark also offers split tunneling for MacOS, iOS and iPadOS devices, a rarity among VPN providers.
ExpressVPNis best VPN for Mac computers for beginners. We appreciate its dedication to privacy and transparency, its quick connection speeds and its extremely user-friendly Mac app that's simple to navigate for VPN beginners and seasoned privacy enthusiasts alike. Additionally, ExpressVPN offers intuitive apps for all other platforms and is great for streaming.
NordVPNis the fastest VPN for Mac — and other devices, for that matter. Its exhaustive global server network, best-in-class speeds and excellent streaming service unblocking make it a great choice for travel and streaming.
PIAis the best cheap VPN for Macs. Despite its uneven speed loss, PIA is a good choice for casual VPN users and includes some nifty privacy amenities, like split tunneling on MacOS.
Using a VPN on your Mac laptop or desktop boosts your privacy, which offersseveral benefits. VPNs improve your privacy by encrypting your internet traffic, effectively hiding your online activity from your ISP. A VPN masks yourpublic IP address, hiding it from the websites you visit or apps you use, making it look like you're connecting from a different city, state or country, depending on the server you're connected to. When you visit a website or app using a VPN, the site will only see the IP address of the VPN server and will therefore register the location of the server you're connected to.
Accordingly, you can bypass regional restrictions imposed by streaming sites, thus letting you watch BBC iPlayer outside of the UK or accessforeign Netflix librariesand internationalAmazon Prime Video content. VPNs are invaluable if you’re traveling abroad, as they may allow you to access all the content you’re used to as if you’re in the comfort of your own home, like logging into your mobile banking app without triggering a CAPTCHA. You might even be able tosave money by using a VPN for streaming.
The best Mac VPNs do everything from enhancing your privacy to unlocking international streaming content, all for relatively affordable prices. The providers we’ve picked offer great MacOS apps that are easy to use but don't skimp on privacy features. Whether you’re using one on yourMacBookAir, MacBook Pro or Mac desktop computer, it’s worth adding one of the best Mac VPNs to your app arsenal.
Most VPN providers offer a VPN app for Mac computers, but it can be difficult to choose the right provider with so many options available. Based on our extensive research and hands-on testing of VPNs over the years, these are the most important factors to consider when choosing a VPN:
The primary consideration for any VPN — including a Mac VPN — should be privacy. If your Mac VPN is unable to sufficiently protect your online privacy, then your VPN is useless. At a minimum, your VPN should employ industry-standard AES 256-bit encryption (with the OpenVPN or IKEv2VPN protocols) or ChaCha20 (with the WireGuard or IKEv2 VPN protocol), along with offering basic privacy protections like a kill switch, DNS leak protection and a no-logs policy. If you need to use a VPN in situations where they're frowned upon — like on school Wi-Fi — you may want a provider that offersobfuscatedservers or obfuscation-focused VPN protocols, such as Proton VPN's Stealth or NordVPN'sNordWhisper. Obfuscation tries to hide the fact that you're using a VPN, making your connection look like standard web traffic instead.
For critical privacy needs, you'll also want a VPN provider that's based in a privacy-friendly jurisdiction, offers obfuscation and has a RAM-only server architecture. Additional privacy features to look out for include Tor over VPN capabilities, ad and tracker blockers and multihop connections. Also, look for a VPN that undergoes regular third-party securityaudits, as audits can help bolster trust in the VPN's ability to protect its users' privacy.
Mac computers are generally known to be pretty fast, so you'll probably want afast VPNthat can deliver excellent speeds. The speed of your VPN can have a major effect on activities likestreaming, downloading, video conferencing, gaming and general web browsing. All VPNs lower your connection speed somewhat, so to keep things running as smoothly as possible, you'll want to look for a VPN that will have as minimal an impact on your regular internet speeds as possible. Generally, the best VPNs only drop your download speed by an average of 25% or less, with the best performers — NordVPN, Proton VPN and ExpressVPN — staying under 20% speed loss.
MacOS is designed to be clean and intuitive, so if you're used to the feel of the operating system, you'd probably want a similar experience with the VPN software you use. A good Mac VPN should run smoothly and have a decluttered user interface that's easy to use regardless of your technical expertise. It should have a large network of servers around the world so you can connect easily and reliably from wherever you are, and it should be able to help you access geo-restricted content from various regions. You should also consider advanced features, like specialty servers (such asTor over VPNandobfuscated servers),double hop/multi-hop, a dedicated IP address andsplit tunneling(which lets you use a VPN connection for some VPN apps but not others).
VPN pricing varies greatly from provider to provider, so if you're on a budget, you may want to consider the cost and overall value of your MacOS VPN. Typically, you can expect to spend about $5 to $15 a month for a monthly VPN subscription plan. If you want to save money, you can opt for an annual subscription, where prices can range from roughly $50 to $150 a year. Be careful with free VPNs, though, because you may end up putting your privacy at risk instead of protecting it if you go with a free option. Proton VPN is currently the onlyfree VPNthat CNET recommends. However, most VPNs offer a money-back guarantee that can be anywhere from a week to 45 days. You can also get a seven-day free trial with many VPNs if you sign up through Apple's App Store. So you'll most likely have options to try various Mac VPNs risk-free before you decide whether to fully invest in one.
You'll want a VPN that works well on your Mac devices, like your MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, Mac Mini, Mac Studio or Mac Pro. Additionally, if you're heavily ingrained in the Apple ecosystem, you may want to consider a VPN that works well on youriPhone, iPad and evenApple TV. Thankfully, most VPNs support MacOS and iOS/iPadOS, and Apple TV compatibility is increasingly common. With the majority of VPN providers, you can install a VPN on all of your Mac devices, fromMacBooksand Mac desktops to iPhones, iPads and Apple TV streaming boxes.
VPNs can elevate your streaming experience thanks to their ability to hide your IP address, thereby making apps and websites think you're in a different geographical location. For instance, you can use a VPN to unblock region-restricted content, like watching Max while traveling outside the US, or watching BBC iPlayer while vacationing outside the UK. Alternatively, you can access foreign Netflix, Disney Plus and Amazon Prime Video libraries. Think about the streaming services you want to use with a VPN, and make sure those apps work with your desired VPN service. If you want to install a VPN on yoursmart TV, Android TV device,Amazon Fire TVorApple TV, make sure your VPN provider has a compatible app for that device. Using aVPN for streaming may even help you save moneyon streaming service subscriptions.
When we determine the best Mac VPN for our readers, we address a number of factors that are fundamental to being a Mac user: First, you're used to a clean, intuitive user interface with a minimal learning curve and a well-organized set of digital tools. That's why wethoroughly testeach VPN's features and overall usability. In addition, though not all Apple products are faster than a Windows or PC device, we test each VPN's connection speeds to see how it complements MacOS machines' reputation for being fast.
We also know that for a lot of Mac users, a broad resistance to app-borne viruses and malware is a big reason for choosing that ecosystem over Windows. To that end, we assess a VPN's antitracker capacity and its general compatibility with Apple's increasingly bolstered privacy policies. We test for leaks and we test each service'skill switchfunctionality to ensure it's working as it should. We test each VPN's ability to circumvent geographical restrictions, and we evaluate each provider's pricing to determine the service's overall value.
One thing we look for in particular on Macs is whether a VPN offers split tunneling, which is useful if you need your VPN for some activities, but don't it want to slow down your streaming, for example. Most VPN don't offer split tunneling on Mac due to technical complications, so we're especially impressed with the VPNs that make it work.
IPVanishis a US-based VPN provider that's a good option for VPN newbies or casual users. Its Mac app is simple and user-friendly and offers a multitude of options to connect to a VPN server. With 2,400-plus servers in 109 countries, IPVanish has a solid global reach. IPVanish's Optimal Location feature is the quickest and easiest way to connect to a server. Unfortunately, its speeds proved underwhelming, with a 44% average internet speed loss in our 2024 tests. While it's fine for casual users, there are faster, more privacy feature-rich VPNs on the market that give you better value for your money.
Proton VPN'sfree tier is the only free VPN we've come across so far that's worth using. It costs a lot of money to operate a VPN, and free VPN services usually make up for the lack of subscription revenue by selling user data. In addition to being limited in usability and light on privacy and security, many free VPNs are fronts for malware distribution, which is why it's generally best to avoid them. However, Proton VPN's unlimited free tier is fast, privacy and can be used for most online activities, including streaming Netflix. But if you're on a budget and want access to a premium VPN solution, you can also take a look at our picks for thebest cheap VPNs.
The easiest way toset up a VPNon your Mac is by downloading your VPN provider's app from the Apple App store or directly from your VPN service's website. Then, once installed, fire up the app and log in with your username and password. Once you've logged in, you'll see the app's home screen, from which you'll typically be able to quickly connect to the closest/most optimal server location. If you want to manually select a server, you can select one from the server list — which you can usually access easily right from the home screen. If you want to adjust certain settings, or connect through a specific protocol, you can do so from the Mac VPN app's settings menu. The best VPNs for Mac require little to no learning curve and are designed to be as easy to set up and use as any other app you would use on your Mac.
In 2025, we can look forward to the best VPNs for Mac getting even more refined than they already are in terms of performance and features. A handful of the top VPNs have been adding services like password managers, antivirus solutions, secure email and identity protection features to their portfolio — services that can be bundled with your base VPN subscription for an additional charge. While these companies are still very much VPN-first, the general direction they're taking is toward becoming comprehensive privacy/cybersecurity companies. We've already started seeing some of the additional features added to existing VPN apps, but we're likely to see them integrated more into a single app where you can access everything from a single dashboard rather than installing a separate app for each individual service.
We'll also start seeing a greater degree of parity between apps on different platforms, giving users access to largely the same set of features regardless of which operating system they're using. We're already starting to see this trend increase as a few VPN providers have begun to re-introduce split-tunneling to their MacOS and iOS apps. Additionally, we'll see providers committing to more regular audits, increasing their simultaneous connection allowance and refining their pricing structures. Finally, we'll continue to see a wider implementation of forward-thinking privacy features like post-quantum protection.
Surfsharkis the current best VPN for Mac. We evaluate VPNs based on their overall performance in three main categories: speed, security features and price. Surfshark isn't the fastest, but its impressive performance and premium features — like the rare ability to activate split tunneling on MacOS — help make it a top choice for Mac users.ExpressVPNis a close second among our picks, with an easy to use app that's both highly secure and excellent for streaming.NordVPN,our third choice, is a die-hard heavy-hitter. It costs more than Surfshark, but it has an enormous network that's constantly getting faster and more secure, and is easily the most reliable service we've tested.
Yes, it is worth getting a VPN for your Mac. A VPN on your Mac computer provides an extra layer of privacy, hiding the websites you visit and apps you use from your ISP. Because VPNs can make it look like you're in a different city, state or country, you can unblock region-restricted content likeforeign Netflix libraries. Likewise, VPNs are great for travel since they can let you access apps and other internet services from your home country while abroad. A VPN may even let you bypass throttling restrictions or circumvent censorship.
No, MacOS does not have a built-in VPN. While there is a VPN section in the networking settings area of MacOS, you'll need to either install a VPN app or input VPN info from a service you subscribe to. There's VPN service setup on MacOS ready to use out-of-the-box.
Each of the best VPNs for Mac we highlight on this page offer the same level of encryption and a similar suite of privacy tools to help keep your data safe online. You'll be able to secure your connection via the same encryption standards whether you're usingSurfshark,ExpressVPN,NordVPN,Proton VPNorPIA. Each has also been independently audited for security, and each one operates a RAM-only server infrastructure or employs hard-disk encryption on their hard drives, which helps ensure your data doesn't fall into the wrong hands. Our DNS leak tests of all five providers revealed no leaks of any sort, and each one's kill switch worked, though Proton's isn't as clear about limitations on MacOS as we'd like it to be.
You can potentially get in legal trouble for using a VPN if you're in a country like China or Iran that bans or outlaws VPN use altogether. Otherwise, in the vast majority of regionsaround the world, you don't have to worry about getting into any legal trouble just for using a VPN. Just remember that if you're doing something illegal online, it's still illegal whether you're using a VPN or not. And if you're in a country where VPN use is illegal or restricted in any way, it's imperative that you connect to an obfuscated server so your VPN traffic is disguised as ordinary HTTPS traffic. This hides the fact that you're using a VPN in the first place.
Your ISP will see that you're connected to a VPN and it will see the IP address of the VPN server you're connected to, along with the amount of data you're transmitting. It will also see timestamps of when you connected to the VPN. Other than that, it won't see your browsing history or the websites you visit since your internet traffic is encrypted and rendered unreadable when you connect to a VPN.
