Need double protection for your MacOS, or just looking for ways to bypass major geo-restricted platforms; nothing beats the process like the best VPN for Mac.
Looking at the solid security features that every macOS comes with, choosing a suitable VPN for it, is difficult. However, after running a couple of tests, I picked out 5 of the best Mac VPNs.
These were firstly based on compatibility with all Mac operating systems. I then looked on to see their ability to encompass match-able security features. They also should produce great speeds and allow you to access multiple international and local websites crossing censorships. These are:
- Surfshark – supports not only macOS but allows unlimited device connections protecting all your devices at an affordable $1.99/mo.
- NordVPN – provides the most secured streaming experience for macOS and other devices, with great speeds at $3.49/mo.
- ExpressVPN – renders some of the fastest connection speeds and the best security for all your devices including a clean app for macOS at $6.67/mo.
- CyberGhost – has user-friendly apps for macOS and other devices; maintaining privacy throughout your digital journey at $2.75/mo.
- FastestVPN – budgeted VPN that provides strong security backing for multiple mac devices, with access to bypass many geo-blocked websites worldwide at $1.11/mo.
With macOS being the second most largely used operating system, and also having not a strong, but a stable in-built security backing, this makes choosing the best VPN all the more taxing. Not every VPN provider is up-to-par with being suitable for every device.
Keeping that in mind, I tested and put together 5 VPNs that do indeed make a great and reliable app for the Mac client. In most cases, reliability alone just doesn’t cut it and I completely get that. For a superior operating system like Mac, every user will need a VPN that springs top-notch performance. And that’s exactly why the 5 VPNs mentioned above were picked.
The best VPN for macOS – What makes them worthy contenders
Okay, so, just in case you’re confused or scared about choosing the best Mac VPN, I totally get you! It’s no joke having to invest in an app just to find out it doesn’t work smoothly with your device.
The 5 VPNs mentioned on this list, (which you’ll find abridged reviews of below); have been tried and tested. They’ve also been compared to other user views and reviews, to be able to make it to my list, and onto your device.
And, even if you don’t find it fitting towards your needs, they all come with reliable refund policies and some even have a free trial period! So, without further delay, here are the top 5 best VPN for Mac, starting with:
1.Surfshark
Best all-rounder VPN for Mac
| Price | $1.99/mo. |
| Refund | 30-days |
| Website | Surfshark.com |
Privacy
Surfshark is known in the industry as not only one of the best VPNs that are compatible with multiple devices but also because it provides robust features at an affordable rate. It originates from a privacy-friendly region in the British Virgin Islands, holding some of the strongest privacy and no-data retention policies.
Compatibility
It supports macOS with versions 10.12 or later. Along with support towards Mac, it also supports numerous platforms of devices and apps. Some of these include Windows, Android, iOS, Linux, browser extensions, Nvidia Shield TV, FireStick, and a lot more.
Security
Since security is one of the main reasons why macOS users need a VPN in the first place, Surfshark uses bank-grade 256-bit AES encryption on the IKEv2 protocol. It also has an inbuilt Kill Switch for the mac client which more devices seem to miss.
Besides that, it sports other advanced features like GPS Spoofing, CleanWeb, Whitelister, DNS, and leak protection and a lot more for you to look into, in my Surfshark review.
Streaming and P2P
Coming to the fun bit, Surfshark paves the way for accessing restricted streaming platforms like Disney Plus, US Netflix (and 16 other libraries), BBC Player, and more, all while producing some of the best connection speeds. It has around 1040+ servers in 61+ countries, in which almost all its servers are P2P optimized, adding safe torrenting to its list of perks.
Refund and where to find it
Now, just in case you aren’t satisfied with the app or just looking for a small test drive, Surfshark offers a 30-day refund policy.
It also has a 7-day free trial for Android and iOS. To download the app just head over to the Apple App Store or download its.DMG file.
2. NordVPN
Best Mac VPN for security and good speeds
| Price | $3.49/mo. |
| Refund | 30-days |
| Website | NordVPN.com |
Privacy
NordVPN originates from Panama, which basically marks as a safe jurisdiction. Along with this, it holds strong grounds on preserving the privacy and anonymity of its users.
Compatibility
It supports a number of devices and apps and seems to provide a pretty slick app for macOS, with supported version (macOS Sierra 10.12 or later and Yosemite 10.10 or later).
Other supported platforms include Windows, Firestick, Android, iOS, Linux, Android TV, and browser extensions. In this case, you can connect to your macOS and other devices simultaneously, since it allows a maximum of 6 multi-device connections.
Security
Besides good privacy, Nord is also known for having great security features, making it a match for macOS clients. It works on 256-bit AES encryption, using OpenVPN/IKEv2 protocol, it includes an automatic Kill Switch, an AdBlocker, and more that you can look into, in my NordVPN review.
Streaming and P2P
Added to its list of features, it seems to swing out two very important ones. First, we have its advanced obfuscated settings, that let you access restricted content from highly censored locations like China.
And, then it runs on SmartPlay technology, perfect for accessing very limited and extremely restricted content worldwide. It has around 5500+ servers in 59 countries which are optimized equally for both streaming and torrenting.
Refund and where to find it
NordVPN is known to be one of the industry’s top picks for whichever device you use. However, if you’re still a little double-minded about investing, you should go for its 30-day refund policy, giving you ample time to test out its premium features.
Where retrieving the app is concerned, there are two clients for it. You can either head over to the Apple App Store with support towards IKEv2 protocol on version Sierra 10.12 or find its OpenVPN version on the website itself, which has added perks of obfuscated and dedicated servers. The OpenVPN version also has Double VPN.
3. ExpressVPN
Best VPN for Mac for accessing geo-restricted services like Netflix
| Price | $6.67/mo. |
| Refund | 30-days |
| Website | ExpressVPN.com |
Privacy
Just like Surfshark, ExpressVPN too hails from a privacy-friendly jurisdiction called the British Virgin Islands. Keeping your anonymity in light and scoring a no-data retention policy will never be a problem with ExpressVPN.
Compatibility
Coming to its device and app compatibility, it works very well with macOS. To specify it a little further, it works with (MacBook, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, iMac Pro, Mac Pro, Mac mini) on versions (macOS Catalina 10.15, macOS Mojave 10.14, macOS High Sierra 10.13, macOS Sierra 10.12, macOS El Capitan 10.11, and macOS Yosemite 10.10).
Other than macOS, it also supports a wide platform of devices and apps for Windows, iOS, Android, browser extensions, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV Stick, and a lot more for you to dwell into, in an ExpressVPN review.
Security
ExpressVPN runs with military-grade 256-bit AES encryption on the OpenVPN protocol, has a functional Kill Switch to maintain your anonymity, and offers DNS/ IPv6 leak protection, a Split-tunneling feature. Another great in-built feature added to it is called Speed Test. This lets you test out which servers are the fastest for you according to your location.
Streaming and P2P
Taking another look into its features, it also has a SmartDNS feature called MediaStreamer, this aids in letting you smoothly access any restricted websites that are extremely difficult to bypass. It has around 3000+ servers in a wide coverage of 94 countries. Almost all of its servers are optimized for speedy streaming and P2P file sharing.
instead. This allows you to test out its premium features for 30-days, which you can apply for on the App Store. To proceed to its download button, head over to the ExpressVPN website.
4. CyberGhost
Best VPN for Mac providing exceptional privacy
| Price | 2.75/mo. |
| Refund | 45-days |
| Website | CyberGhost.com |
Privacy
CyberGhost is known in the industry as another top contender VPN that holds some of the best, or rather more reliable privacy laws. Hailing from Romania, away from any eye-alliances, it is known to maintain its no-data logging policies.
Compatibility
Coming to the devices it supports, our most important target is macOS. You’ll be happy to know that it supports mac devices (MacBook/MacBook Air/MacBook Pro, iMac/iMac Pro, and Mac Pro/ Mac mini) with versions (macOS Mojave (10.14), macOS High Sierra (10.13), and macOS Sierra (10.12).
Along with these, it allows you to make 7 multi-device connections, which is perfect since it supports a wide platform of devices and apps, which include, Android, iOS, Windows, Android TV, Fire TV/Firestick, and more that you can scan through in my detailed CyberGhost review.
Security
Again, to choose a VPN for Mac, it has to have security features that match up to the in-built security level of macOS. It runs on AES 256-bit encryption using OpenVPN/IKEv2 protocol. The support chat reassured me that CyberGhost does support OpenVPN on macOS clients, which you can even use to perform a manual configuration.
It also has a functional Kill Switch, which is another important thing to look for. Along with that, it uses DNS and IPv6 leak protection and has an AdBlocker, and an Automated HTTPS Redirect.
Streaming and P2P
The purpose of a good VPN is also its ability to bypass certain geo-restricted websites like Netflix and Amazon Prime, from sometimes geo-censored locations. CyberGhost seems to work efficiently in these aspects. It has around 6000+ servers in 90 countries. These servers are split up into streaming and torrenting categories, showing the users exactly which server locations to connect to.
Refund and where to find it
For those who’d like to test out the apps premium features, CyberGhost has a 24-hr free trial for macOS and Windows users. If a bigger testing period is what you’re looking for, it also provides a 45-day refund policy. You can find the app on the App Store for all your Mac devices.
Where retrieving the app is concerned, there are two clients for it. You can either head over to the Apple App Store with support towards IKEv2 protocol on version Sierra 10.12 or find its OpenVPN version on the website itself, which has added perks of obfuscated and dedicated servers. The OpenVPN version also has Double VPN.
5. FastestVPN
Best budgeted VPN for Mac
| Price | $1.11/mo. |
| Refund | 15-days |
| Website | FastestVPN.com |
Privacy
For those who aren’t all that familiar with FastestVPN, let me just tell you that if privacy and fast streaming is what you’re looking for, FastestVPN is your guy. It originates from the Cayman Islands, which is a privacy-focused region.
Compatibility
Coming to the highlight, yes FastestVPN runs smoothly on macOS. It supports mac devices (MacBook, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, Mac Pro, iMac & Retina 5K, and Mac Mini) on versions (Sierra, El Capitan, Yosemite, Maverick, Lion, Mountain Lion, Snow Leopard, and older versions).
Besides mac, it also supports multiple other devices and apps for Windows, Firefox and Chrome Extension, Android, and Linux, iOS, Apple TV, Roku and a lot more. For more on its compatibility and performance, you’ll have to head down to my FastestVPN review.
Security
Another thing about FastestVPN is its knack for having the best security features. It runs on AES 256-bit encryption on OpenVPN protocol, has a NAT Firewall and AdBlocker, DNS and IP leak protection and an active Kill Switch.
Streaming and P2P
It has a very limited list of server locations, specifically 350+ servers, but is spread through all the major parts of the world, covering 39+ locations. Mostly all its servers are optimized for speedy streaming and safe torrenting. It even has its own server dedicated to Netflix. It’s tagged as US Netflix on the server list and jet started once connected to the UDP protocol.
Refund and where to find it
FastestVPN doesn’t have a free trial period but does offer a 15-day money-back guarantee for anyone willing to test out its premium features. To download its app, you can head over to its website for more information.
What Reddit users picked regarding the best VPN for macOS
FAQs
How do you set up the best VPN for Mac?
It doesn’t take much to get started and if you go through these steps thoroughly, you’ll be good to go. So to set your VPN up with your Mac device, all you have to do is:
- Choose any one of the Mac supported VPN services from the list. I’ve recommended 5 (Surfshark, CyberGhost, NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and FastestVPN) that were tried and tested.
- Sign in and log on to your VPN account and then proceed to download the macOS app.
- Once downloaded, open the app on your device and sign in to your account.
- Then just connect to any one of the servers of the location you require and start surfing!
How do you connect to the VPN manually on your Mac?
Before getting started with the VPN connection, you’ll have to configure the settings to set the network preferences. To configure the VPN settings manually on your Mac, all you have to do is:
- Go to the Apple menu and click on System Preferences. Then click on Network.
- You’ll see an add button with a + sign on the menu. Click on it and select VPN.
- Then select VPN Type, followed by choosing the kind of VPN connection (OpenVPN/IPSec/IKEv2) you want. Name the VPN service and hit the create button.
- You’ll be asked to provide the server IP address you chose and the account credentials.
- Then go to Authentication Settings and type in the information provided by the network administrator.
- If there is any additional information to be dealt with, click on Advanced to enter it.
- Lastly, click on Apply, and then OK.
How to choose a VPN for Mac? – Key points to look for
How do you think I listed these 5 VPNs for mac? I’ll tell you one thing, sometimes I look for VPNs according to public votes or even look for links on other platforms like Quora or Reddit. But, again, to get the best VPN for Mac, I had to not only test them out according to speed and DNS leaks but also looked for certain attributes. These are:
Global Coverage
A VPN mac relies on a network of servers around the world to give users the best experience. Each geographic opportunity presents a new region for the user to access content from. The larger the number of locations, the more content you can access.
The number of servers per region ensures that service will not slow down in the event of high traffic. The best VPN for Mac would have you covered on those two fronts.
AES 256-bit Encryption
Security is one of the key reasons why we use a VPN for Mac in the first place. To choose the best for Mac, look for the highest-grade encryption to protect data from intrusions and theft. Encryption is a way of scrambling data so that only the sender and receiver can understand the jargon, using a special key.
The best VPN for Mac features the highly-trusted AES 256-bit encryption protocol that is used even in the military.
Simultaneous Multi-logins
A strong VPN for Mac should also present a great value proposition. The best VPN for Mac or the best VPN in general always features multi-device logins.
What that means is that you get access to up to 5-10 or even connect to unlimited devices simultaneously with just one subscription. This opens up the possibility of using a VPN for your Mac and connect to another device or operating system at the same time.
Simultaneous connections add value to the already compelling feature set.
Affordable rates
Not everyone can afford the additional charges of a VPN, and sometimes might get tricked into buying the wrong kind just because a website portrayed it well. All the VPN providers for Mac are some of the most affordable VPNs in the market that come with premium features.
Unlimited Bandwidth
In an era when high-resolution video-streams have become a norm, and many are streaming videos in 4K Ultra HD, this feature is a need instead of a want. The best VPN for Mac allows you to watch countless hours of entertainment without ever worrying about hitting the data cap.
P2P Optimized Servers
Torrenting is a popular activity but it’s blocked in many countries due to copyright issues and well mostly because it’s illegal altogether, in most countries. The DMCA actively works with ISPs to identify users involved in copyright violations.
A VPN for Mac is the best solution to get past these restrictions and prevent your ISP from detecting your activities, or even your location if ever caught.
All the 5 VPNs for Mac mentioned on my list, have P2P optimized servers, allowing you to download torrents at high speeds.
Kill Switch
Using a VPN for Mac helps you stay anonymous and secure by masking your identity via a private IP address. Sometimes interruptions in the internet connection can temporarily suspend a VPNs protection allowing ISPs to detect your actual identity. To prevent that from happening, choose the best VPN for Mac with a featured Kill Switch. It automatically kills your internet connection if there’s ever an interruption.
Compatibility with more devices and apps
When I selected my list for macOS supported VPNs, even though I kept that as my first priority, I also looked to see if they were compatible with more devices. A VPN should cover all possibilities if ever driven to achieve the best outcomes and for that, compatibility towards multiple platforms is the way to go.
No Log Policy
A zero log policy is an important feature to look for in a VPN. Internet traffic flows through the VPN server instead of the ISP when connected. While the ISP cannot track or record user activities, the VPN used for your Mac potentially can. This is exactly why you must always look for a zero log policy in the VPN service.
The best VPNs for Mac mentioned all abide by the same policy. It does not peek into user activity or record them. Free VPNs are a concern in this regard because they sell user data to keep the servers running.
Malware Protection and Ab Blocker
The best VPN for Mac protects you from malware threats lurking in the corners of the internet. Additionally, AdBlocker helps by filtering annoying popups that infiltrate with your internet experiences. So, to choose the best one for your Mac device, always look for features like these and test them out with the free trials provided.
Multiple Protocols
This VPN for Mac features multiple protocols to choose from even though OpenVPN is the first priority to look for. The popular VPN protocols included are PPTP, L2TP, OpenVPN, and IKEv2. You can even set up manually on OpenVPN.
24/7 customer support
Another thing, it’s okay to ask for help. I’m pretty sure at some point in your VPN for Mac journey, you’re bound to need some help setting up along the way. For that, always go for Mac VPNs that provide a good support system. They should be prompt and quick to help with answering your questions.
To conclude
There are so many VPNs that you can choose from, for great quality service. However, not every VPN provider makes the best VPN for Mac. You have to be able to choose one based on the devices it supports, the speeds it renders, and mainly the security backing it comes with.
All the VPNs mentioned on my list (Surfshark, CyberGhost, NordVPN, ExpressVPN and FastestVPN), have been tried and tested, before being listed. It not only makes a great app for the macOS client but multiple other devices as well. And the best part is that they all come with trial periods or reliable refund policy for you to test out!
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