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Apple Mac owners have plenty of reasons to feel pretty confident about security – for one, the platform is far less vulnerable to viruses than Windows. But what about your privacy? The best VPNs for Mac can help keep your browsing and web activity anonymous and secure.
Based on our independent testing, the best VPN you can choose is NordVPN, which is a powerful and easy to use app for Apple users. It's closely in our rankings followed by and IPVanish and PureVPN. All three VPNs are simple to use, secure and affordable.
A VPN is an essential tool with several uses – protecting your Mac itself, protecting your own data privacy, and accessing areas of the internet that you’ve been blocked off from because of region-locking. Fancy seeing what Netflix offers in different countries? With a VPN, it’s easily possible.
For just a few bucks a month, a Mac VPN offers incredible value. We round up the best out there for your Apple.
Best VPNs for Mac in 2021
If you're running a Mac and want the added security of a VPN, these are the best VPNs for Mac we've tested:
- NordVPN – Quite simply, the best VPN package we’ve tested. Offers great features and value
- IPVanish – A great choice for expert users, boasting rich options and depth
- Pure VPN – A fast VPN that is crammed with features and safeguards your privacy
- Private Internet Access – A well-rounded service with great privacy and anonymity features
- TorGuard – Offers an excellent degree of performance, power and control
- Windscribe – Not for beginners, but affordable, fast and effective at protecting your identity
- Proton VPN – Expensive and aimed at experts, but gives the user lots of control
- HideMe VPN – Straightforward and stress-free, although a pricey option compared to others
- ExpressVPN – Easy to set up and use, but struggles to compete on speed and price
- AirVPN – A powerful privacy tool for experts, but lacking the slick interface of other VPNs
Just want to know about the very best VPNs to choose for an Apple MacBook or iMac? Below, we pick out our top VPNs and explain why they came through our tests with flying colors.
| Test Score Our scoring is based on independent tests and assessments of features, privacy settings, ease of use and value. | Verdict | No. of Devices | No. of Servers | Zero Data Logging | Killswitch | Email Support | Live Chat | Ease of Use | Features | Privacy | Speed | Help & Support | Value for Money | Free Trial | Price From | Try Click to find the latest offers, deals and discounts from the VPN provider | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BEST ON TEST  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||
4.1 | 4.0 | 3.9 | 3.8 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.6 | 3.5 | 3.5 | |||||||||
Fast, effective, low-cost and simple – the best VPN we've tested, with risk-free money-back guarantee | Powerful features and security, but a bit technical. Some massive savings currently available. | A safe, simple, outstanding VPN | Outstanding value, with an advanced VPN app | Good VPN privacy at good speeds | A good, well-priced VPN | A decent option for expert users | A beautifully simple VPN, though not the fastest | Superb features, but at a higher cost | A powerful tool for expert users | |||||||||
6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 5 | |||||||||
5,363 | 1,000 | 2,000+ | 3,035 | 3,000 | 480 | 112 | 130 | 1,500 | 60 | |||||||||
★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | |||||||||
★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | |||||||||
★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | |||||||||
★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | |||||||||
★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | |||||||||
★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | |||||||||
$3.71 (2-year plan) | $3.25 (1-year plan) | $2.88 (2-year plan) | $3.33 (1-year plan) | $4.99 (1-year plan) | $4.08 (1-year plan) | $4 (1-year plan) | $4.99 (2-year plan) | $8.32 (1-year plan) | $2.66 (1-year plan) | |||||||||
How we test and rate VPNs
Our VPN scores are based on expert, independent testing, so you can be sure that our recommendations will help you choose the best VPN. For example, we put each VPN through multiple speed tests, using both long-distance and short-distance servers. We assess how easy each VPN is to set up and use, rewarding simple services and penalizing complex ones.
We also do all-important privacy and security tests, including a leak test, to ensure the VPN doesn't accidentally reveal your actual server location.
Let's take a look at our top-rated VPN services in more detail, below:
Pros:
- Risk-free money-back guarantee
- Excellent mobile app
- Fast and effective
- Packed with features
- Excellent value
Cons:
- Couldn't unblock some streaming services when tested
- Assumes some technical knowledge for advanced features
Pros:
- Great Savings: Up to 73% Off
- Crammed with settings that put you in control
- Strong privacy and security features
- Decent speeds
Cons
- Slightly intimidating
- Priced above some rivals
Pros:
- Effective privacy and security features
- Smart Mode-based approach
- Clear notifications
- Excellent value
Cons
- Not quite as fast as billed
- Doesn’t unblock Netflix unless you use the browser extension
Pros:
- Good features
- Good local speeds
- Inexpensive
Cons:
- PC app isn't user friendly
- Better-suited to technically confident users
- Long distance speeds suffer
Pros:
- Strong global presence
- Great features and control for expert users
- Impressive VPN performance
Cons:
- Not great for less experienced users
- Awkward sign-up process
- Tiny text when you sign in
Pros:
- Distinctive app and add-on combo approach
- Good free option with no nagging and no ads
- Decent speeds
- Unblocks Netflix
Cons:
- Technical style
Pros:
- Impressive interface
- Powerful features
- Lots of hands-on control
Cons:
- Premium plans are expensive
- Can be intimidating
- Average speeds overall
Pros:
- Easy to set-up
- Intuitive, well-designed app
- Decent free plan
Cons:
- Slow
- Not great value
Pros:
- Easy to use with great support
- Extensive features
- Smart location selection
Cons:
- Inconsistent speeds
- Pricey on per-month plan
Pros:
Low costs and flexible plans
Strong encryption and privacy options
Clear no-logging policies
Good speeds
Cons:
Complex and technical
Tricky to get started
No dedicated mobile app
Best Free VPNs for Mac
A good VPN service isn’t expensive, with great options available for the price of a takeout coffee a month. Your privacy has to be worth that. However, if you’re not sold on the whole idea of a VPN, or just curious to see what they entail, you can check out one of the free offerings.
If you do want to dip your toe in the waters of free VPNs, be sure to check the terms before you download. While you may not be handing over any cash, there could still be a price to pay, be it your personal data or even your bandwidth.
1) TunnelBear
It might seem like an oxymoron, but TunnelBear is a VPN with a sense of fun. No, really. Its interface is populated with an animated bear who helps you through the VPN process and pops through a yellow tunnel to signify when you’re using a different server. Behind this fun facade is a surprisingly competent VPN, with a dedicated Mac client, offering decent speeds. With a data allowance of just 500GB a month though, it’s best for light users.
2) Opera
This one requests that you ditch Safari, as it’s not so much a VPN as an entire web browser. However, you’ll struggle to find an easier VPN to use. If you’re happy to switch browsers, you’ll find a fully functional VPN that can handle your private browsing, to the same level of encryption used by some of the paid-for services. One drawback is that it only protects data that comes through the browser – any activity carried out on another browser, or through another program, will not be disguised.
3) Hola – Avoid
Hola is one of the more prominent free VPNs out there, but we don’t recommend it. As a service, it's fine and will get the job done, but scratch beneath the surface, and there are issues. In our testing, we found that it revealed not only our ISP but on one occasion our IP address, which means that users are vulnerable to being identified – literally the opposite of what you expect from a VPN. Not only that, but users of the free service are signing up to have their bandwidth used by other Hola customers. Not only could this slow down your connection, but this also means that people could be using your connection for illegal activity.
Hola is a reminder that when it comes to VPNs, the best things in life aren’t free, and that it’s well worth spending a few bucks a month for great service and peace of mind.
Check out a few other free VPNs to see how the compare to each other in this comprehensive table below.
| Verdict | No. of Devices | No. of Servers | Zero Data Logging | Killswitch | Email Support | Live Chat | Ease of Use | Features | Privacy | Speed | Help & Support | Value for Money | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |  |  | | | | |||||||||
Tunnelbear | Opera | |||||||||||||
A beautifully simple VPN, though not the fastest | Fun and easy to use | Simple, limited to browser | A good, well-priced VPN | A decent option for expert users | Good VPN privacy at good speeds | |||||||||
5 | 5 | Unlimited | 10 | 10 | 5 | |||||||||
130 | 22 | 5 | 480 | 112 | 3,000 | |||||||||
★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | |||||||||
★★★☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | |||||||||
★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | |||||||||
★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | |||||||||
★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | |||||||||
★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ |
Safari VPN Extensions
When looking for a VPN for your Mac, check what form the software comes in.
There are two main ways that VPNs work. Some will install a client on your Mac. This is a small program that sits on your Mac itself. Running a client means that all online activity is disguised when you’re running the VPN, whether you’re browsing the web or downloading a torrent.
Then there’s the browser extension. This is a handy tool that sits on your browser as an extra option and can be toggled on/off and adjusted as needed while you surf. The best VPNs (including all those mentioned in our top 10 above) will offer both a client AND an extension.
However, watch out for those that only provide a web browser extension, as they will only protect your web browsing, and won't channel your app connections through the VPN. Many free VPNs are browser extensions only.
You can find Safari extensions for most popular programs.
How to Set Up a VPN on Mac
Getting started with a VPN on Mac is a pleasingly stress-free experience, especially if you pick one of our recommended apps.
- Sign up for a subscription service on the VPN site. This will involve setting up an account, giving payment information and choosing your login details.
- Download the client. Make sure to choose the dedicated Mac program, and that you’re picking the latest version.
- Install and run the software. Here you will need to log in with your account details. You can also go through the options to set up the VPN to best suit your needs, such as when to start it, and which programs you would like to associate it with.
Read our full guide to setting up a VPN
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