If we’ve learned anything over the years, it’s the susceptibility of Mac computers to suffer privacy and security breaches.
The number of malware attacks on Mac OS computers in 2017 jumped up to 80% as per Symantec, pushing people to search for solutions to enhance their cybersecurity and privacy on the web:
VPN Tracker also supports PPTP it's not free but presumed to be the most professional VPN Software for the Mac. PPTP connections are automatically imported into VPN Tracker if launched on El Capitan prior to the upgrade and if the connection fails, there is a professional support team. Best VPN for Mac provides you Mac VPN client software so when you setup Mac OS X, all required settings will be imported automatically. For manual setup, you should follow the below steps. Step 1: At first go to “System Preferences” of your Apple devices and then press on “Network”.
One definite action that you can take to instantly consolidate your online privacy is to use a VPN service compatible with your Mac.
NordVPN is our top recommendation as the best Mac VPN in 2019. It offers a broad set of features to allay your privacy concerns while also giving you the freedom to access blocked websites/services (including Netflix, p2p etc.) at will for only $2.99/month.
We have tested and reviewed over 150 VPNs, but found only 5 of them capable enough to make it into this article.
Let’s get started.
The Best VPN for Mac in 2019
Here are our top VPN picks for systems running on MacOS:
1. NordVPN ($2.99/month)
Number of Servers: 5500+ | Countries: 60 | Simultaneous Connections: 6
NordVPN is our top choice for Mac. The provider keeps no user logs and grants users the ability to access any website on the web, all for a cost of $2.99/month.
The provider offers excellent features like AES-256-CBC ciphers encryption, kill switch, and OpenVPN, IKeV2 protocols.
It also sports a huge arsenal of 5,500+ servers in 60 countries around the globe for ultimate coverage and fast speed.
However, the kill switch that NordVPN uses for Mac terminates applications when your connection drops, rather than shutting down your entire Internet for maximum protection.
Other than this, the service throws some amazing extra features in the mix such as DoubleVPN and Onion over VPN.
The doubleVPN feature is basically the multihop feature that routes your traffic through two separate VPN servers for even stronger-than-default security.
Onion over VPN servers combine the features of Tor and VPNs as another mechanism of bolstering your web security.
The interface is smooth and responsive, so much so that there are literally no lags or crashes in the Mac application.
The user-friendly privacy policy ensures no logging of user data.
The privacy benefits of NordVPN are further vindicated when you consider that it is based in Panama. The country has no mandatory data retention requirements (read our article on Five/Nine/Fourteen Eyes for more detail).
Nord also offers the ability to connect 6 devices simultaneously.
To top it off this provider also offers 30-day full money back guarantee, so you can try out their service without any strings attached.
Prices:
Read NordVPN review for further details.
2. Surfshark ($1.99/month)
Number of servers: 800+ | Countries: 50 | Simultaneous connections: Unlimited
Surfshark is the cheapest VPN you can get for your Mac ($1.99/month). Despite its low cost, it doesn’t compromise on quality on any front.
It offers 800+ servers in 50+ countries around the world.
For added security, there is a built-in kill switch for Mac. It serves as an insurance policy should your connection drop and reveal your real IP address (though the service is free from any IP leaks).
Apart from this, Surfshark also supports split-tunneling through its WhiteLister feature – a handy tool to split your VPN and non-VPN web traffic.
Surfshark’s Mac VPN app has a very intuitive design to facilitate user accessibility.
On the privacy front, the provider has a policy of zero-logging so you can forget worrying about your sensitive information being monitored for any purpose.
The British Virgin Islands jurisdiction ensures that you are free from any data logging from the provider.
Finally, there is no other highly-rated provider in the industry offering unlimited simultaneous VPN connections per subscription.
Combined with a full 30-day money back guarantee, Surfshark is a valuable VPN service to have for Mac.
Prices:
Read complete Surfshark review for more details.
3. ExpressVPN ($8.32/month)
Number of servers: 3000+ | Countries: 94 | Simultaneous connections: 5
ExpressVPN is not the cheapest option out there, but its excellent speed and strong privacy policies make it an easy choice for those who can afford it.
The VPN is powered by 3,000+ servers in 94 countries of the world, having a strong capability to unblock any censored/restricted website.
The app for MacOS has Network Lock (the company’s proprietary kill switch) to interrupt your connection and prevent your IP from leaking to the wider internet.
Like its young counterpart (Surfshark), ExpressVPN is operating under the jurisdiction of British Virgin Islands and has an excellent no-logs privacy policy.
The split-tunneling feature for Mac gives the user complete control over which apps should use the VPN and which shouldn’t.
You can use up to 5 simultaneous connections on one subscription and avail a 30-day money back guarantee.
Simply put, ExpressVPN covers all bases as a VPN for privacy and internet freedom on your Mac.
Prices:
Read ExpressVPN review for more details.
4. CyberGhost ($2.75/month)
Number of Servers: 3500+ | Countries: 59 | Simultaneous Connections: 7
CyberGhost covers a lot of key bases that are of interest for an average privacy-seeking Mac user.
It possesses a network of 3,500+ servers that use powerful encryption protocols (AES-256).
For VPN tunneling, you can choose from PPTP, L2TP, and OpenVPN protocols as your preference. There is a built-in kill switch in CyberGhost and IP leak protection for ironclad security and privacy.
Moreover, the service offersplenty of servers in a multitude of locations that support both P2P and streaming services without any data logging.
The fact that it is based in Romania shows that the provider is under a safe jurisdiction for user privacy, since the country repealed its data retention (demanded by EU), in 2014.
![Client Client](/uploads/1/2/6/0/126011271/268322411.jpg)
CyberGhost Mac client is amongst the most user-friendly applications we have ever used.
It automatically tweaks itself to offer the best experience depending on what you intend to do with it.
You can connect up to 7 devices simultaneously on one CyberGhost subscription plan.
As always, it offers a full 45-day money back guarantee for ultimate peace of mind.
Prices:
See CyberGhost review for more details.
5. PureVPN ($2.95/mo)
![Pptp Pptp](/uploads/1/2/6/0/126011271/736040187.png)
Number of Servers: 2000+ | Countries: 140+ | Simultaneous Connections: 5
PureVPN is one of the premium VPN providers known primarily for the vast geographical diversity of network and an impressive pricing plan of $2.95/month.
There are 2,000+ servers distributed over 140+ countries around the world.
This VPN comes with security features like AES 256 bit encryption and OpenVPN tunneling (among other options). It consists of a very responsive kill switch for an added measure of privacy and security for your web traffic.
The zero-logging stance of the company makes it well-worth the attention of users seeking to enhance their privacy as well.
Although the Windows app of the VPN supports split-tunneling, this feature is unfortunately unavailable for Mac yet.
PureVPN has a very minimalistic app design and UI for Mac and offers a smooth user experience.
It is dead simple to use and the option to simultaneously connect up to five devices to one subscription makes it dirt cheap to afford.
If you don’t end up liking their service, then you can always get your money back with their 31-day money back guarantee.
Prices:
Read complete PureVPN review for more details.
The Insecurity Underlying Mac Systems
The idea that Macs are secure from malware and data breaches has existed as long as Mac itself and actually been repeatedly emphasized by Apple.
Just take a look at this advertisement from the early 2000s:
While it is true that Mac machines are more secure than their Windows counterparts, they are not immune to the exploits of cybercriminals.
In fact, experts now believe that Mac OS is just as vulnerable to data breaches and other vulnerabilities as Windows machines.
3ric Johanson, a security researcher, asserted:
“If you look at the number of published vulnerabilities in software and the number of users and compare Windows versus Mac OS you will discover that Mac OS has far more published vulnerabilities per user than Windows does so I think the data pretty much speaks for itself.” – [Source]
Statistics accurately support this assertion, as the chart compellingly illustrates below:
Source: AV-Test Security Report 2017/18
Another research by Cybersecurity ventures revealed that the world will receive a massive hit of approximately 6 trillion dollars by 2021 as a consequence of cybercriminal activities alone.
This calls for Mac users to take their web security seriously.
For this, it is essential to ensure your anti-malware suites are updated.
And while you’re at it, don’t forget to take additional preventive measures like using VPN services on your Mac system-wide to fill any digital cracks capable of compromising your privacy.
Final Verdict
We recommend NordVPN as the best VPN for Mac due to a wide range of security features, watertight privacy, and a huge list of servers to choose from for gaining access to restricted sites all at highly affordable pricing.
Surfsharkis a close second because of its extremely cheap price. It doesn’t leave much to be desired in terms of overall performance and unblocking ability on Mac devices as well.
ExpressVPN is a considerably more expensive option than other providers mentioned in this list, but it is a highly reliable VPN that seldom suffers any problems/errors.
CyberGhost and PureVPN are good VPNs as well, but their overall performance and reliability doesn’t meet the standard set by the leading 3 providers in this list.
In short, you can’t go wrong with any of these VPNs listed above, but the best value providers are NordVPN and Surfshark.
Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) are more popular than ever. They are an important weapon in the ongoing fight against cyber-snooping and can even unlock some geo-blocked apps and websites.
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Different VPN providers specialize in different areas; it can be difficult to choose the right supplier for your needs. But once you’ve selected your provider, you still have decisions to make. Specifically, how do you know which VPN client to useThe Best VPN According to RedditThe Best VPN According to RedditBut with so many VPNs on the market, how do you decide which one to use? We checked Reddit's best subreddits and threads to get the best VPN recommendations.Read More? Should you use your VPN provider’s proprietary app, or a flexible solution that can connect to several different services?
If you’re not sure where to turn, keep reading for the best free Mac VPN clients you can use right now, and a few other options you might not have considered.
Free Open-Source Clients
Here are the top free VPN clients you should consider.
TunnelBlick
TunnelBlick is an Apple-specific VPN client. It works on macOS and iOS. There is no Windows or Linux version. It works with any VPN provider which offers OpenVPN support.
Because the app is completely open source, you can be confident it’s not secretly tracking your internet usage in other ways and thus negating the benefit of using a VPN. It is more transparent than proprietary apps.
Interestingly, TunnelBlick logs all your session data by default. This is not unusual — all OpenVPN clients do the same thing. If you want to turn off session data logging, all you need to do is add verb 0 to the app’s config file. Remember, this is not linked to whether the VPN provider itself is logging your data.
Finally, the app has a vibrant support community. If you encounter difficulties, head to the Google Group discussion forum and someone will quickly step in to assist.
OpenVPN
The OpenVPN project began back in 2002. It is probably the most well-known of all the free VPN clients. In addition to a Mac version, the app is also available on iOS, Windows, and Android.
The app itself supports lots of different VPN configurations, including remote access, site-to-site VPNs, and enterprise-scale deployments.
The app isn’t as easy to use as proprietary apps — or even some other OpenVPN clients — but it’s established a name for itself thanks to its feature-rich menus and unflinching reliability.
The main criticism of OpenVPN is its VPN configurations limit. By default, you cannot have more than 50 saved. It is possible to recompile the app to remove the limit, but it’s a complicated process and beyond the scope of this article. It’s also important to be aware that the OpenVPN app only supports the OpenVPN protocol.
SoftEther VPN
SoftEther VPN is possibly the easiest to use multi-protocol VPN app on this list. It runs on Mac, Windows, and Linux. The open-source app is entirely free, regardless of whether you’re going to use it in a personal or commercial environment.
It supports almost all VPN protocols, including L2TP/IPsec, OpenVPN, MS-SSTP, L2TPv3, EtherIP, and most impressively, VPN-over-HTTPS.
Vpn Client For Mac
If you use the developer’s own SoftEther VPN protocol, you can expect faster surfing speeds than OpenVPN. In testing, the SoftEther server was 103 percent faster than Microsoft’s Windows implementation of L2TP/IPsec and up to 117 percent faster than OpenVPN.
Additional features include support for packet filtering, dynamic DNS, and UDP hole punching.
Service-Specific Apps
Some providers offer their own apps. The apps themselves are free, but they only work with the providers’ services.
Here are a couple of the best free provider specific apps. Remember, the quality of any provider’s app has no bearing on the quality of the actual VPN service, but they often offer more pleasing interfaces than the open source options above.
NordVPN
NordVPN is widely considered to be one of the best VPN services availableThe Best VPN ServicesThe Best VPN ServicesWe've compiled a list of what we consider to be the best Virtual Private Network (VPN) service providers, grouped by premium, free, and torrent-friendly.Read More. It always scores highly on privacy tests thanks to its lack of logging and Panamanian jurisdiction.
The Mac app was recently overhauled. You can choose from hundreds of servers around the world on the app’s interactive map, chat to tech support via live chat, and quickly jump between server locations with a single click.
The app also has a kill switch that prevents data being revealed to snoopers if you unexpectedly get disconnected from your VPN. Lastly, it includes shortcuts to servers specifically designed for streaming and P2P downloading.
You can download the NordVPN app on macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, and even on some smart TVs and gaming consoles.
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is another well-known VPN providerEnjoy a Secure and Easy-to-Use VPN With ExpressVPNEnjoy a Secure and Easy-to-Use VPN With ExpressVPNWhy should you choose ExpressVPN? Well, we've given it a try, and quite like what we've seen so far. We think you will, too.Read More that been around since 2009. It’s headquartered in the British Virgin Islands, thus giving you peace of mind regarding anonymity and data disclosure. It’s also one of the fastest VPN providers and offers unlimited bandwidth.
The Mac desktop client supports OpenVPN (UDP and TCP), L2TP, and PPTP protocols. The app lets you bookmark your favorite servers for easy access and chat with the tech support team.
It also provides a way to set up one-click connect and, like NordVPN, has a kill switch in case you lose your connection. The app is free to download and use, but it will only work with ExpressVPN’s service.
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For a Small Fee…
There’s one paid app that deserves a mention in this list.
Viscosity ($9)
Like the three free solutions I discussed, Viscosity is open source. It costs a one-time fee of $9. It’s also cross-platform — you can run it on Windows as well as macOS.
Viscosity undoubtedly wins the design award. Its user interface is much more polished than the free alternatives, and it’s incredibly easy to use and navigate. If you’re new to the world of third-party VPN clients and aren’t au-fait with terminologyThe Short MakeUseOf Guide to VPN TerminologyThe Short MakeUseOf Guide to VPN TerminologyThe need for a secure internet connection has never been more vital. A VPN is a great way to stop unwanted snooping in your internet traffic. We're here to cut through the VPN jargon.Read More, it’s $9 well spent.
From a technical standpoint, the app gives you a complete traffic breakdown of your connections, integrates with Keychain to keep your details safe, and works with macOS’s advanced DNS system.
On the downside, the app only works with the OpenVPN protocol.
Which VPN Client Do You Use?
Each VPN client has different advantages and disadvantages. Which one you choose to use will depend on which protocols your VPN provider offers and your familiarity with setting up and using VPNs on third-party apps.
Which is the best free VPN client on macOS? Do you use one of the apps I reviewed, or have you found a better app that did not make this list? You can let us know which app you use and why it’s so good in the comments section below.
Explore more about: Computer Security, Open Source, VPN.
- I'm all in for TigerVPN (paid lifetime license was on sale). It refuses connections sometimes, but other than that it is a good service. I am also crazy about the free Windscribe VPN service -- it works like mad (but, limited free GBs per month)! If I hadn't already paid for TigerVPN, I would probably switch over.
- About Private Internet Access - Presently I am using their two-years package. I have been facing serious low band width issues since more than a month or so. I wrote to them a couple of times. They never bothered to get back to me. This is unforgivable. I would not be renewing my services with them.
- I use Purevpn as recommended by Make Use Of. It causes no end of problems, especially when I am on public WiFi, which is where I need it most. On public WiFi (shopping centers etc) it hardly works and mostly is so slow (if I get a server to respond) I have to disconnect it to be workable. Every time I contact Purevpn support, their answer is try this other server.. Why don't they fix their servers? I am in Australia.
- PureVpn is what i use. The biggest amount of servers ever seen in a VPN service. Also, it is among the fewest that offers NAT service , to open ports...
- I also use Purevpn as recommended by Make Use Of. It causes no end of problems, especially when I am on public WiFi, which is where I need it most. On public WiFi (shopping centers etc) it hardly works and mostly is so slow (if I get a server to respond) I have to disconnect it to be workable. Every time I contact Purevpn support, their answer is try this other server.. Why don't they fix their servers? I am in Australia.