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Best VPNs for Mac in 2024


MacOS devices do not come with an integrated VPN, so if you're on a Mac, you’re not fully protected from privacy threats. To enhance your security and privacy, consider using a trustworthy VPN.

With so many VPN options being described as the best in one way or another, it might be difficult to pick the right service provider for you. Thankfully, our team’s years of experience in testing VPNs can help you out. Our research team and I spent hundreds of hours testing the best VPNs for Mac using our trusty in-house methodology. So, read further to discover which VPN service excels on Mac and what to look for when picking your own provider.

Which VPN is best for Mac?

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Is VPN really necessary for Mac users?

Apple and its OS products tend to be quite secure, but unless you have a built-in antivirus, there are still plenty of cyber threats that malicious agents can exploit. A VPN is not just for avoiding busy internet traffic on your server, accessing foreign streaming service libraries, or staying safe while using public Wi-Fi. It can increase the degree of your Mac security and protect your privacy in an era of trading customer data as currency.

While a VPN will not provide immunity against all potential risks, it can at least guarantee privacy and online security. For example, when traveling and using public Wi-Fi, a VPN will add a layer of protection that will prevent ISP or malicious agents from discovering your true IP address or getting to your other personal data.

Mac users can also expect some VPNs to have threat protection features or, like Surfshark, come as a bundle deal with antivirus, which will scan their downloads for malware and even block ads and web trackers. So, in general, a VPN on your device can have basic antivirus functionality and ensure complete privacy.

The best VPN for Mac – a detailed list

Our research team and I tested more than two dozen VPNs to determine which ones are the most suitable for macOS devices. The goal was to select those that provide a well-functioning Mac app. I then narrowed the list down to the top 5 by evaluating how each provider performs in security, speed, compatibility, and ease of use criteria.

1. NordVPN – the best VPN for Mac for security, speed, and streaming

Nordvpn banner
MacOS supported versions:
macOS 11 and later
Servers and locations:
6400+ servers in 111 countries
OS compatibility:
Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS
Current deal:Get 74% OFF NordVPN + 3 months free

NordVPN is the best VPN for macOS devices in 2024. Not only does it have an extensive list of security and privacy features for Mac, but it consistently proved itself to be the leading streaming VPN.

I mostly value NordVPN for its privacy and security. Independent audits confirm NordVPN’s no-logs policy, and I found at least four audit reports during my research. As for security guarantees, our research team’s tests showed that NordVPN’s antivirus Threat Protection feature was able to detect and remove most of the planted malware. Just this year, AV-Comparatives certified NordVPN as effective against phishing. And if you want more unique features, NordVPN can offer Meshnet. It allows you to create private and secure networks to share files and information.

NordVPN’s dedication to security should not overshadow its streaming unblocking capabilities. At least with Netflix, I personally never found any faults for at least 3 years. Our research team also has yet to encounter any difficulties or latency issues when attempting to unblock major streaming services like Disney+, Max, and Hulu or even smaller platforms like FuboTV and TVNZ.

In-house VPN speed tests confirm this VPN’s stability and speed. The latest OOKLA test showed that NordVPN has a speed retention of over 90% (compared to baseline network speed of 500Mbps). It means that on a daily basis, you shouldn’t notice a drop in connection speed with a VPN on, except maybe an occasional increased loading times when downloading large files.

As for the part that most users will encounter first, I find the NordVPN Mac app very intuitive and easy to navigate. While the setup process could be slightly more streamlined, for example, there could be less back-and-forth between the app and website; it’s not complicated to install. There’s no difference between Mac and Windows app designs, as both provide clearly laid out features and information.

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NordVPN Mac dark mode interface

One thing that might reduce NordVPN’s appeal just a little bit is its price. There are three subscription plans to choose from, the cheapest costing $2.99/month. However, it lacks more advanced security features that pricier plans provide. On the plus side, there are ways to save by subscribing to long-term plans during deal events, claiming our coupons, or taking advantage of a 30-day money-back guarantee. Unfortunately, only Android users can claim a 7-day free trial.

Overall, I would recommend NordVPN for those Mac users who value privacy and security, as well as those who want to access their favorite content in other streaming service locations. While it’s not the cheapest VPN on the market, there are ways to save on subscriptions, and the price-quality ratio speaks for itself. Having privately used NordVPN, I never found its price to be too steep compared to what it has to offer.

2. Surfshark – the fastest VPN for Mac at a budget-friendly price

Surfshark banner
MacOS supported versions:
macOS 10.15 and later
Servers and locations:
3200+ servers in 100 countries
OS compatibility:
Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS
Current deal:Now up to 87% OFF Surfshark + 4 months FREE

Surfshark is the best VPN for Mac for those seeking great speeds for a friendly price. But being a budget alternative does not make Surfshark any less advanced in terms of security and privacy.

Similarly to NordVPN, Surfshark’s One and One+ plans include an antivirus feature, which our research team confirmed to be effective against malware, and AV-Test certified for top-notch security. But even with the cheapest plan, you can get features such as Surfshark Alert, which secures your sensitive data.

Having tested Surfshark’s ability to unblock streaming services, I did not notice much difference between it and NordVPN either. There were no sudden drops of connectivity, no latency issues, and it was able to unblock all tested streaming services, like Netflix, Hulu, Max, Disney+, Prime Video, and BBC iPlayer. While I personally used NordVPN for longer, I still tested Surfshark for multiple weeks, and throughout this time, there were no issues with streaming on Mac.

Great streaming performance is, without a doubt, linked to Surfshark’s speed test results. OOKLA test showed its download speed as 469Mbps and upload – 333Mbps on the US server (compared to 500Mbps baseline). Overall, Surfshark’s average speed retention is 86%, which is very high. A stable and fast VPN connection is the main factor that prevents lagging and buffering down the line.

Surfshark’s Mac app, while not as interactive as NordVPN’s (no map view, for example), still has a clearly defined layout with all necessary features being readily accessible. A nice feature is the ability to quickly select favorite server locations, which will then be always readily available or automatically turned on. In general, all Surfshark apps are user-friendly, but the Windows app has split tunneling, which the Mac app does not.

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Surfshark Mac app interface

In addition to being simple to navigate, fast, and reliably secure, Surfshark is also very affordable. With the most affordable plan costing just $1.99/month, Surfshark is cheaper than NordVPN. However, plans that include antivirus and other advanced features, such as One and One+, cost more. But there’s a free iOS trial lasting 7 days and a 30-day money-back guarantee, so there are ways to test out Surfshark without significant investment.

I recommend Surfshark for Mac if you want to get similar quality to NordVPN without spending as much. Out of all cheap VPNs, Surfshark shows the best speeds, nearly rivaling NordVPN's performance. It also has notable security features and a simple interface, making it a safe and user-friendly Mac VPN.

3. Proton VPN – the best completely free Mac VPN

Proton VPN adblocker
MacOS supported versions:
macOS 10.12 and later
Servers and locations:
5 servers free, and 8600+ servers in 112 countries paid
OS compatibility:
Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS
Current deal:Get up to 70% OFF ProtonVPN

Proton VPN is the best free VPN for Mac users due to its effortless setup process and reliable security features. Besides, it’s one of the rare free VPNs that can unblock streaming platforms.

A lot of free VPNs cannot be trusted because they sell user data to advertisers. But Proton is ad-free and follows a strict no-logs policy, which has been confirmed by third-party audits. Additionally, Proton does not require any personal details other than email to create its free version account. When I was testing Proton it even created a password for me, so, if you want, you can use Proton VPN with minimal effort and in less than 5 minutes.

Testing also showed that Proton’s free VPN is capable of unblocking major streaming sites like Netflix, Disney+, and Max. However, I noticed slight video quality drops, but they weren’t consistent, and generally, streaming quality remained pretty high. One issue is that you cannot pick your own server – in Proton’s free version, the server location is automatically assigned, and even though you can see all possible locations, clicking on any of them would trigger a pop-up window for purchasing the premium version.

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Proton VPN macOS app interface

While I still consider Proton VPN to be a great free option for Mac, there’s no denying that its premium plans have more to offer. Proton Plus costs $2.99/month and includes a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can test the difference yourself. But, overall, I’d suggest only getting the free version for Mac if you don’t mind fewer streaming opportunities or the ability to connect to many different countries.

4. IPVanish – a Mac VPN with excellent customization

IPVanish banner
MacOS supported versions:
macOS 10.13 and later
Servers and locations:
2400+ servers in 100 countries
OS compatibility:
Windows, Mac, Android, iOS
Current deal:Now up to 83% OFF IPVanish

IPVanish has a great customizable Mac app. It allows users to pick VPN protocols to better adapt to different locations and streaming platforms, and even shows server load status so you could pick a less-crowded one for streaming or gaming.

Similarly to NordVPN, IPVanish also has a threat protection feature in its Mac app, which, when turned on, blocks ads, trackers, and malicious websites. I attempted to visit some questionable sites and IPVanish did issue a warning. As for ad blocking, I’d say IPVanish successfully blocked about 40% of them, with more complex advertisements bypassing threat protection tracking.

Testing IPVanish's ability to unblock streaming services also had its ups and downs. While the quality of streaming services on any of the tested servers remained very high, and there was no noticeable lagging or buffering, it took a few attempts to unblock Amazon Prime Video and Hulu. But at least with Netflix and Disney+, it was pretty much smooth sailing.

Good streaming quality can be explained by IPVanish protocol options. This VPN allows its users to pick between 4 protocols, but I found WireGuard, the same as Surfshark’s, to be fastest and most compatible with streaming. Overall, IPVanish has a speed retention rate of 80%, which is pretty high.

Setting up the IPVanish app was very easy. I just bought a subscription, created the account, downloaded the application, and that was it. If you want IPVanish on Safari only, you’ll still need to download the VPN app on your device, as Safari does not support proxies. Minor downsides that I could name would be slightly longer loading times, which would be particularly noticeable after I’ve already tested NordVPN and Surfshark. Map view, for example, can take a few seconds to load.

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IPVanish Mac app server selection

IPVanish subscription costs $2.19/month and includes a 30-day guarantee for you to try it out risk-free. Those who have iOS or Android smartphones can also claim a 7-day free trial. In general, IPVanish is pretty affordable, so it’s a great alternative if you want a more hands-on VPN.

Overall, I would recommend IPVanish to more experienced VPN users and those who want to be in control of the app and its settings. While having minor flaws, IPVanish is still a great streaming-friendly and secure VPN for Mac.

5. CyberGhost – the most affordable premium VPN with a large server count

CyberGhost VPN banner
MacOS supported versions:
macOS 11 and later
Servers and locations:
11500+ servers in 100 countries
OS compatibility:
Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS
Current deal:Get 84% OFF CyberGhost + 4 months FREE

CyberGhost is one of the cheapest VPNs on the market, with subscription costs starting at $2.03/month. The only cheaper premium VPN I could find was PIA, but it has nowhere near the number of servers and features that CyberGhost has.

While not having strong security features like NordVPN or Surfshark, CyberGhost is still very safe, having an optional ad and tracker blocker, kill switch, and market-leading data encryption. CyberGhost also has an independently confirmed no-logs policy, so there’s nothing to indicate that it’s any less private than other VPNs. The in-app Privacy settings let you block malicious DNS domains.

CyberGhost is very streaming-friendly, too, offering a selection of servers that are highly suitable for watching online content. With these servers on, I did not encounter any issues when testing CyberGhost with popular streaming platforms. Additionally, like IPVanish, CyberGhost shows server load percentage, so you can manually pick less-crowded servers for streaming.

Speed test results revealed that, while not as fast as NordVPN or Surfshark, CyberGhost still has a pretty good speed retention rate of 86%. As it also has a WireGuard protocol, you shouldn’t encounter any major latency issues. Personally, while I noticed that CyberGhost effortlessly unblocks major streaming services, it does have minor video quality issues, but those clear up if you just wait a little longer.

The CyberGhost Mac app was very easy to set up. The whole process, minus the purchase, took me about 5 minutes or so. Out of all tested providers, CyberGhost takes the least amount of time to connect to a server, so I appreciated how streamlined the whole process was. Overall, while less feature-rich than NordVPN, in terms of Mac app interface, I would place CyberGhost on par with Surfshark and IPVanish.

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CyberGhost Mac app interface

CyberGhost has only one plan option, you can pick its duration between 6 months, or 2 years. The 2-year plan has by far the best long-term value, as it comes with various deals and promotional offers and costs just $2.03/month. Besides, CyberGhost also has a 45-day money-back guarantee – that’s longer than most VPNs.

All in all, CyberGhost is great for budget-conscious Mac users. While not as advanced as NordVPN, it has all the essentials, plus uniquely streaming-oriented servers, to offer its users great service. Whatever flaws CyberGhost has does not lessen its overall value for money.

Best Mac VPNs comparison

VPNsApp Store ratingAvailability on other platformsPrice24/7 customer supportMoney-back guaranteeSimultaneous connectionsAverage speed retention % (baseline 500 Mbps download & upload)Unblocked streaming services
NordVPN4.7Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOSFrom $2.99/month ✅ Yes✅ Yes (30-day)1093.6% download, 84.6% uploadNetflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, and more
Surfshark4.8Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOSFrom $1.99/month✅ Yes✅ Yes (30-day)Unlimited93.3% download, 64.1% uploadNetflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and more
Proton VPN4.6Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOSFrom $2.99/month or free❌ No (only on paid version)✅ Yes (with paid version, 30-day)1 free or 10 paid85.7% download, 85.3% uploadNetflix, BBC iPlayer, YouTube, HBO Max, Disney+
IPVanish4.5Windows, Mac, Android, iOS
From $2.19/month✅ Yes✅ Yes (30-day)Unlimited91.8% download, 58.6% uploadNetflix, BBC iPlayer, YouTube, Disney+, and more
CyberGhost4.2Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOSFrom $2.03/month✅ Yes✅ Yes (45-day)791.2% download, 74.6% uploadNetflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Disney+

How we tested the VPNs for Mac?

To narrow down the options for the making of the final list, I conducted the testing of Mac-compatible VPNs on a MacBook Air M2 device. Meanwhile, our research team also performed additional tests on a Lenovo ThinkPad laptop to compare macOS and Windows VPN app versions. The goal of this testing was to select those VPN providers with the best app for Mac. I then further evaluated each VPN provider based on the following criteria:

  • Privacy and security (30%): I made sure that VPNs included in the list have a confirmed no-logs policy, secure data encryption, and other necessary features to ensure complete user privacy and safety. I also conducted IP leak tests using ipleak.net. ipvanish-ipleak-test
  • Performance and speed (25%): our research team and I conducted speed tests (using OOKLA) to investigate speed changes when the VPN is on and if streaming or browsing affects the VPN speed and connection stability.
  • Compatibility and ease of use (15%): I checked which macOS versions each VPN is compatible with, the average score on the App Store, and more. I also tested the apps to see if they were easy to navigate.
  • Server network and locations (10%): I investigated how many servers each provider has, making sure that there are enough servers for streaming and traveling. Speed test results also helped determine which servers of each provider are slower.
  • Streaming and content access (10%): I tested how each VPN performs at unblocking different streaming services, such as Netflix, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, and their global libraries.
  • Customer support (5%): I checked what customer support options VPN providers have and, most importantly, if 24/7 live chat is an option. For those that do have live chat support, I tested how long it takes to get a response.
  • Pricing and plans (5%): I investigated what plans VPN providers offer, how much they cost, and whether the price makes sense compared to the features offered.

Do Macs have a built-in VPN?

Mac devices do not have a built-in VPN. The closest to it that Macs can offer is iCloud Private Relay, which encrypts your web traffic, but it has two notable downsides. First, it only works on Safari, so other browsers and apps would show your IP address. Second, it does not allow you to change your virtual location, so it’s not suitable for streaming.

As for security, Mac has Privacy & Security settings that allow you to permit downloads only from the App Store, which isn’t very convenient. These settings can also permit only Apple-registered and identified app developers, but again, they are quite limiting. Besides, these settings will not protect you from online threats like phishing, ransomware, and other types of malware.

A third-party VPN app is the only way to get the privacy that a VPN service provides. It includes the ability to switch virtual locations and guarantees security that encompasses all downloads, apps, and browsing activity. VPNs like NordVPN and Surfshark even have features that can legitimately deal with malware.

VPN for Mac – buying guide

If you’re looking for a VPN for your Mac, you can check for several features that would indicate that your chosen service is worth getting. These features are key to ensuring that a VPN is truly private and secure. For example, the easiest way to know that your chosen VPN provider respects your privacy is by checking for a no-logs policy.

Independent audit is a sure way to get confirmation that the VPN’s no-logs policy is valid. Most VPNs made the results of these audits accessible to the public and you can view them on the official websites. For example, you can read Surfshark’s audit results with the original Deloitte (auditor) verdict included.

The main security features that separate good quality VPNs from lesser ones are tracker blocking, kill switch, and leading data encryption, such as AES-256, ChaCha20, and so on. Blocking trackers help protect your identity and activity privacy; the kill switch prevents your true IP from leaking in case of a VPN signal drop; and currently, there is no better encryption than AES-256. If you can’t find anywhere online that your chosen VPN has these features, it’s likely that it doesn’t.

If you keep in mind these security and privacy features, any VPN that you’ll end up choosing will effectively protect your device and identity.

Expert comment
Security advocate and senior tech writer

How to install a VPN on Mac?

It’s not difficult at all to install a VPN on your Mac device. The process can differ slightly depending on your chosen service, but the principle is always the same. First, you’ll need to download the VPN app from the App Store. Then, create an account or log in. Finally, once you pay for it, you can just start using your Mac VPN.

With free VPNs, like Proton VPN, the process is even easier. The payment part can be skipped and in some cases (like with Proton), you won’t even need to create and account. So, all it would take is to download the app and start using it.

Can I use a VPN on my MacBook Air or MacBook Pro?

If your chosen VPN service is compatible with macOS, you’ll be able to use it on all Mac devices. The most important thing is to check that your MacBook Air or MacBook Pro has the operating system that the VPN supports. Other than that, you should encounter absolutely no difference in app functionality and interface between different macOS devices.

There is a difference, however, between iOS and macOS VPN apps, as iOS VPNs are adapted for smaller devices, like smartphones and tablets. But if you’re interested in a VPN for your Mac device only, then this difference is not going to be relevant to you at all. So, as long as you have the App Store, feel free to download your chosen VPN to any of your Mac devices.

Video review

If you'd like a different point of view, our team prepared a video overview of best Mac VPNs:

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