Any Mac user who is proud of having a cyberattack immune operating system, which is debatable, should use a VPN. There is no reason not to! You can try premium VPNs for free, or even use a completely free VPN. If you decide to commit, the long-term subscription plans will cost you as much as a cup or two per month. You gain the benefits of hiding your IP and thus your location and browsing history. Additionally, the data transferred is protected with a VPN tunnel and military-grade encryption, and you can even bypass VPN blocks. To help choose the right VPN service for you, here’s a list of the best VPN for Mac:
1. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is the best Mac VPN, which is obvious in our ExpressVPN review. We and many security-conscious people particularly liked TrustedServer, the term ExpressVPN coined for 3000+ servers in 94 countries that operate on RAM instead of regular storage. ExpressVPN also has a strict no-log policy, 24/7 customer support, and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. Your traffic is encrypted with AES-256-bit encryption, and they support all popular VPN protocols (see: how does VPN work). Streaming addicts will revel in the fact that ExpressVPN bypasses Netflix VPN block easily, but also HBO Max, Hulu, Disney+, DAZN, etc.
2. NordVPN
Reading our review of NordVPN helps you understand why many consider it the top Mac VPN. The main reason? NordVPN has more than 5500 servers across 59 countries, they store no logs, and support the same VPN protocols as ExpressVPN, including one they created, called NordLynx. They use an AES-256-GCM encryption algorithm to protect your traffic, can unblock all major streaming platforms, and the servers allow for streaming in 4K. Also, NordVPN works in China, just as ExpressVPN does. So, if you want to buy a cheap VPN while still getting top-grade features, look no further.
3. Surfshark
Surfshark made a huge leap in 2020 that landed them the 3rd spot. Not only do they offer 3200+ servers in 65 countries (up from 1700 servers in 63 countries), but all of them support P2P transfer e.g. torrenting. You can also have unlimited simultaneous connections to VPN on one account. For that reason, you should pick it if you have a large family or a business with a lot of Mac computers. Furthermore, they gather no log and use a 256-bit AES encryption for protection, plus a kill switch and split tunneling features. It even works in China, UAE, and Russia if you via the NoBorders feature.
4. CyberGhost
CyberGhost is known as one of the cheapest premium-grade VPN providers. This is great – we all know Mac computers are expensive. They have 6600+ servers across 88 countries, a strict zero-log policy, and are based in Romania, a country with no privacy-invading laws. The VPN provider also offers features such as kill switch, split tunneling, IP/DNS leak protection, AES-256-bit encryption, and support for popular VPN protocols. CyberGhost also works in China, circumvents VPN blocks by leading streaming services, and even offers a 45-day money-back policy where others give 30 days.
5. Private Internet Access
This VPN provider is the top VPN for Mac server-wise, with 24500+ servers in 77 countries. Granted, not all of them are P2P friendly or achieve top speeds. However, you can still get around VPN blocks set by websites and services across the globe easily. Also, since PIA supports SOCKS5 VPN proxy, you can prevent censorship in China. They also support all major security protocols and features such as kill switch, split tunneling, port forwarding, and military-grade encryption. Finally, they keep no logs, and, to keep your identity a secret, allow you to pay with cryptocurrency and gift cards.
6. IPVanish
IPVanish has a server base of “only” offers 1600+ servers across 75 locations worldwide. Its headquarters are in the United States, which is known for keeping tabs on its citizens without consent. However, the VPN provider is the owner of every server and network equipment (instead of renting), so there’s no third-party involvement. They also allow you to connect up to 10 devices to the VPN on a single account, uphold a strict zero traffic logs policy, offer military-grade encryption, and support major connection protocols. You can read our full IPVanish review for more details.
7. PrivateVPN
PrivateVPN is a Swedish VPN provider with only around 150 servers in 60 countries. However, instead of freelancers, your inquiries are responded to by PrivateVPN developers 24/7. They have a 1-click-setup feature on Mac, and every server is optimized for P2P transfer and 4K streaming, making them a go-to VPN for unblocking Disney Plus and Netflix. Additionally, they use AES-256 encryption with 2048-bit keys, support popular VPN protocols (OpenVPN, PPTP, L2TP, IKEv2, and IPSec), and even up to 6 concurrent connections. Other features such as zero data log policy, port forwarding, split tunneling, and kill switch are offered as well.
8. ProtonVPN
ProtonVPN is known for its free VPN service for Mac with servers in 3 countries, limited to 1 device. On the other hand, with paid subscription plans you gain access to 10 Gbps servers across 54 countries. Great news – they all support P2P transfer. Furthermore, you gain the ability to connect up to 10 devices at the same time, unblock Netflix, and stay anonymous with military-grade encryption and features such as Tor over VPN. Try it – there’s no risk involved. There’s a 7-day free trial and guaranteed money refund within 30 days of purchase.
9. HideMyAss
HideMyAss is among the oldest VPN providers in the industry and offers 1100+ servers in 190+ countries and 290+ locations. Of the total number, 160 servers are optimized for streaming and large file downloading and support a 20 Gbps bandwidth. They offer a 7-day free trial of premium features. Those include 256-bit AES encryption, split tunneling, network lock, and IPv4/IPv6/DNS leak protection. You can also connect up to 5 devices simultaneously, use their IP Shuffle feature, and rest assured your identity stays a secret with their no-logging policy.
10. Windscribe
Windscribe is the answer to the question, “how to get a free VPN on Mac?” It’s a reputable VPN provider and gives you up to 10 GB of free bandwidth per month. If you run out, simply pay to upgrade to the Premium tier. This gives you access to servers in 110 cities and 63 countries. Additionally, you obtain AES-256 encryption with a 4096-bit RSA key, zero data logging, choice of connection protocols, and ad-blocking. Other features include split tunneling, port forwarding, creating proxy servers, and Double Hop (routing traffic through 2 VPN servers).
