| Best VPNs for Mac OS | |
| #1 | NordVPN with [68% Discount] |
| #2 | Surfshark with [81% Discount] |
| #3 | ExpressVPN |
With over 200 VPNs currently on the market, finding the best VPN for Mac OS can be rather challenging.
As a longtime Mac (and Linux) user, I’ve found that many VPNs for Mac simply do not work well. Whether it’s due to data leaks that reveal your identity or broken features, most Mac VPN apps don’t make the cut.
Because Mac OS users are a smaller percentage of the total user base, many VPN services do not invest as much into their Mac OS clients. For example, Windows and Android users will outnumber Mac OS users by a wide margin.
Fortunately, there are still a few VPNs that work very well on Mac OS, which we’ll reveal below.
Ranking criteria: The best VPNs for Mac listed below in this guide all meet these criteria:
- Offer custom Mac OS VPN apps with secure VPN protocols and strong encryption standards
- Passed all tests with no leaks found whatsoever (no IP address leaks or DNS leaks)
- Located in a good privacy jurisdiction (outside of Five Eyes countries)
- Established company with a good track record and history
- Offers a money-back guarantee (between 7 and 30 days)
Now let’s get into the test results.
Here are the best VPNs for Mac OS:
1. NordVPN – Best VPN for Mac with great features and fast speeds
| VPN | NordVPN |
| Based in | Panama |
| Logs | No logs (audited) |
| Price | $3.71/mo. |
| Support | 24/7 Live chat |
| Refund | 30 days |
| Website | NordVPN.com |
While there are many providers claiming to be the best VPN for Mac, the latest test results show that NordVPN earns the title. It continues to perform better than other VPNs in nearly all categories, particularly with performance, features, and security. With a large global team, NordVPN is strategically based in Panama, which is a privacy-friendly jurisdiction. The parent company, Nord Security, has also launched NordPass, a secure password manager, and NordLocker, a secure cloud storage and encryption tool.
NordVPN has a network of 5,500+ VPN servers located in 59 countries. All NordVPN servers run in RAM-disk mode without hard drives, making it impossible for any server to store data that could be accessed by third parties. NordVPN is a true no logs VPN service that has passed audits confirming both the no-logs policy as well as infrastructure and app security. Lastly, NordVPN is in the process of rolling out colocated (self-owned) servers in all locations with 10 Gbps bandwidth channels, which is extremely fast.
Another performance benefit you get with NordVPN is the WireGuard VPN protocol. NordVPN’s implementation of the WireGuard protocol is called NordLynx. It delivers much faster speeds than legacy VPN protocols, more reliability, and upgraded security. Below are the speed tests we ran with the NordVPN Mac OS app, getting speeds of 445 Mbps with US servers. This makes NordVPN the fastest VPN we have tested to date.
Aside from excellent performance, NordVPN also stands out from the crowd with the privacy and security features it offers. Mac OS VPN users can take advantage of these features with NordVPN:
- CyberSec: NordVPN’s CyberSec feature blocks trackers, malware, and advertising domains at the VPN server level.
- Double-VPN servers: The double-VPN servers encrypt traffic over two separate hops. These offer more encryption, a higher level of security, and distribute trust across two separate data centers.
- Tor-over-VPN servers: These servers not only encrypt traffic with the VPN server, they add an extra layer of encryption with the Tor network.
- Strong encryption: NordVPN uses an AES-256-GCM cipher with an HMAC SHA256 hash authentication, and a DHE-4096 key exchange for Perfect Forward Secrecy.
- Obfuscation: If you want to conceal (obfuscate) your VPN traffic or use a VPN where they may be blocked, then you’ll need obfuscation. NordVPN apps have built-in obfuscation features and a full lineup of obfuscated servers. This makes it a good VPN for China where blocks are a problem.
The NordVPN Mac OS app has a great layout and is very user-friendly. You can select server locations from a map and easily enable the different privacy and security features.
If you want to use a VPN for streaming, NordVPN is one of the best choices available. It supports 15+ Netflix regions and has great apps for all types of streaming devices, even including Smart TVs and gaming systems. Additionally, NordVPN is currently ranked as the best VPN for torrenting with dedicated P2P servers that are fast and secure.
Considering that you can get NordVPN for only $3.71 per month with the 68% discount coupon, I’d say it’s one of the best values for Mac OS users. It holds the top spot as the best cheap VPN with the current rates.
+ Pros
- User-friendly and reliable apps
- Strong encryption with good leak protection (kill switch)
- 30 day money-back guarantee
- Double-VPN and Tor-over-VPN servers
- 24/7 live chat support
- No logs (audited and verified)
- Works with Netflix and other streaming services
- CyberSec feature to block ads, tracking, and malware domains
– Cons
- Large discounts only available with long-term plans
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See our NordVPN review for more analysis and test results.
2. Surfshark VPN for Mac
| VPN | Surfshark |
| Based in | British Virgin Islands |
| Logs | No logs |
| Price | $2.49/mo. |
| Support | 24/7 Live chat |
| Refund | 30 days |
| Website | Surfshark.com |
Surfshark is a newer VPN service with a lot to offer, at a very reasonable price. It is based in the British Virgin Islands and is a no-logs VPN provider, scoring greats marks in the privacy category. One big way that Surfshark stands out from the crowd is that it offers unlimited connections with your subscription, while most VPNs give you five or six.
Like NordVPN, Surfshark also supports the WireGuard VPN protocol. Within the Surfshark Mac OS VPN client, you can select between OpenVPN, IKEv2, and WireGuard. And while NordVPN was slightly faster in our NordVPN vs Surfshark comparison, we still could get 397 Mbps with Surfshark servers. With most VPNs averaging around 100 Mbps, Surfshark delivers excellent performance:
Surfshark is also one of the best VPNs for streaming. It consistently works with numerous Netflix libraries, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and more. Surfshark offers apps for all types of streaming devices, including Smart TVs and even gaming systems. They even have an app in the Amazon store if you want to use a VPN with Firestick.
In terms of privacy and security features, Surfshark also has a lot to offer:
- Double VPN servers to encrypt traffic twice over two locations
- A CleanWeb feature that blocks ads, trackers, and malware domains
- Obfuscation to hide your VPN traffic and get around blocks anywhere
- Built-in leak protection combined with strong AES-256 encryption
Surfshark has a large network of 3,200 servers in 65 countries. And like ExpressVPN and NordVPN, Surfshark runs all servers in RAM-disk mode for a higher level of data security. Torrenting is allowed on every server, making Surfshark a great VPN for torrenting.
While Surfshark has many features in common with NordVPN, there is one area that it differs. Surfshark does not offer static IPs, but see these other static IP VPN services if this is a feature you need.
Below is the Surfshark Mac OS VPN client that I tested for this guide. It performed well, without any bugs or crashes.
+ Pros
- Unlimited connections
- User-friendly apps for all devices and operating systems
- CleanWeb feature to block ads, trackers, and malware domains
- Works great with Netflix, Amazon Prime, and other streaming services
- 24/7 live chat support
- Split tunneling feature
- Secure encryption and leak protection features
– Cons
- Limited support for routers
- Average speeds with OpenVPN (but very fast with WireGuard)
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Our Surfshark review has more info and test results.
3. ExpressVPN – Reliable and Secure Mac OS VPN
| VPN | ExpressVPN |
| Based in | British Virgin Islands |
| Logs | No logs (audited) |
| Price | $6.67/mo. |
| Support | 24/7 Live chat |
| Refund | 30 days |
| Website | ExpressVPN.com |
Rounding out our list of the best Mac VPNs is ExpressVPN. It’s based in the British Virgin Islands and offers a secure and user-friendly VPN apps, excellent security, and a large selection of servers around the world.
The ExpressVPN Mac OS client performed well in testing for the ExpressVPN review. There were no leaks, bugs, or connection issues identified in my tests. ExpressVPN is a very reliable and user-friendly service. Below you can see the ExpressVPN app for Mac OS with its clean and minimal design.
In addition to fast speeds and reliability, ExpressVPN also does well with security:
- Strong encryption: ExpressVPN uses the strongest encryption standards with an AES 256-bit cipher, a 4096-bit RSA key and SHA-512 HMAC authentication. ExpressVPN apps incorporate a “Network Lock” kill switch, which ensures your data never leaks outside the VPN tunnel.
- Secure servers: ExpressVPN runs all servers in RAM-disk mode, with no physical hard drives.
- Audited: ExpressVPN passed a third-party security audit performed by Cure53, a cybersecurity firm in Berlin.
- Verified no logs: Like NordVPN, ExpressVPN is one of the few verified no logs VPNs that has undergone a third-party audit to validate their no-logs policy and privacy protection measures.
Overall, ExpressVPN remains an excellent VPNs for Mac OS users. If you are in the Apple ecosystem, you will also be pleased with ExpressVPN’s iOS app, which will work great for your iPhone or iPad.
Lastly, if you need a good VPN for Netflix and other streaming services, ExpressVPN has you covered. It works with Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, and many other platforms. It is also a great VPN for Kodi streaming as well.
+ Pros
- User-friendly and very secure apps
- Fast speeds throughout the server network
- 30 day money-back guarantee
- Split tunneling feature (for Mac OS, Windows, and routers)
- Works with Netflix and many other streaming services
- 24/7 live chat support
- Passed independent third-party audits for security and no-logs
– Cons
- Above-average prices
- Fewer features than other leading VPNs
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Also see our ExpressVPN review for more info and test results.
How to use a VPN on Mac OS
Using a VPN on Mac OS is very simple. For most people, the best option is to use a custom Mac OS VPN client (app) from one of the VPN services on this page. This will give you the full leak protection settings and all features. If you don’t want to use your VPN provider’s Mac OS client, there are also some other options that we’ll cover below.
Here’s how to use a VPN on your Mac device, whether it be a MacBook Pro, Air, or an iMac.
- Select a VPN service and purchase a subscription.
- Log in to your account from your VPN service and download the Mac OS app.
- Open the application and enter your credentials (with ExpressVPN, you only need to enter the activation code found in your account)
- Connect to a VPN server and enjoy using your VPN service.
Here is a step-by-step installation video for setting up NordVPN on your Mac:
Now let’s look at another option for using a VPN on a Mac device.
VPN clients for Mac
You can also utilize third-party VPN clients for Mac OS X. Here are two options that support OpenVPN on Mac OS:
- Tunnelblick (free)
- Viscosity ($14 for a lifetime license)
Tunnelblick – Tunnelblick is a good, basic Mac OS VPN client that is free and open source. The main drawback is that Tunnelblick is very limited on features – such as a kill switch or IP leak protection. Unless you create custom firewall rules, your regular internet traffic will leak out whenever the VPN connection is not active.
Viscosity – Viscosity is a great third-party OpenVPN client that’s offered for Mac OS and Windows. The Viscosity Mac OS client provides many features and customization options. Unfortunately, Viscosity also does not have a kill switch.
There is also the option to use the open source WireGuard client if your VPN supports WireGuard.
Note: I generally just recommend using your VPN provider’s client for Mac, rather than a third-party app. This will give you access to all of the VPN’s features and also include support from your VPN provider.
Tips for using a VPN on Mac OS
Here are some general tips for using a VPN on Mac OS:
Leaks – Be careful with leaks when using a VPN on Mac OS. While many Mac VPN clients have bugs and problems with data leaks, all of the VPNs recommended in this guide passed all tests and were found to be secure. They also incorporate a kill switch into the Mac OS VPN clients. You can run your own VPN tests to identify issues.
Firewall monitor – A firewall monitor is a privacy tool that allows you to see exactly which apps are using your internet connection. One great option is Little Snitch by Objective Development. Some people combine the free Tunnelblick OpenVPN client with Little Snitch for a firewall kill switch option.
Secure browser – When using a VPN on a Mac it’s good to remember that your internet browser can be a major vulnerability. As discussed with browser fingerprinting, there are many advanced methods to identify and track your activities, even if you’re behind a good VPN. One tip would be to stop using the Safari browser and instead of using Firefox with privacy modifications, such as disabling WebRTC. There are also other secure and private browsers to consider as well.
Mac OS VPN Conclusion
As you can see, there are many good Mac VPN options. And with more people streaming content online at home, a VPN is a crucial tool for getting access to more content from anywhere in the world.
Of course, VPNs also remain a critical tool for privacy and security. This is increasingly true in 2021 where internet service providers record browsing activity (in many countries) and pass this data on to governments and other third parties. So the solution is to simply use a good VPN at all times.
Be sure to grab the best deal with the discount links below.
Comparison Table: Best VPNs for Mac
To wrap everything up, the table below highlights the best Mac OS VPN services based on the latest test results.
$3.71
[68% discount]
(30 day refund)
Review
(NordVPN)
$2.49
[81% discount]
(30 day refund)
Review
(Surfshark)
Review
(ExpressVPN)
Updated on February 3rd, 2021
This “Best VPN for Mac” article is how I found your website. The website is informative and very helpful. Thank you very much. I have 2 questions about changes in this article.
1. Is there a specific reason VPN.ac was removed from the list? I signed up with them about a year ago after reading this article and looking at the recommendations (previously, I had been with PIA… hmmm). I have been satisfied with their mac and ios apps. Is there a reason to reconsider?
2. Previously, you discussed using the mac’s built-in vpn support for IKEv2 in this article. I noticed that you have removed that portion of the article. Could I ask why that was removed? (IKEv2 itself, apple’s vpn software, something else?) I have to admit, I kind of like having the OS integration, but I’m not wedded to it. 🙂
Thanks again for the work you do with this website.
Hi Mike, I’m hesitant to recommend the IKEv2 option simply because it limits the features you can use with the VPN, since you are not using the official client. The IKEv2 protocol is also not open source.
VPN.ac still a good option to consider, but they still have not integrated WireGuard into their apps and do not work well with most streaming sites, which is a drawback as many people are using VPNs to stream content. There is also the issue with connection logs, but in terms of security, VPN.ac is still a solid choice.
Goal: building a gradually anonymous home network. (Starting at ground zero). And extending to what degree possible beyond the home over time.
Facts: We exist in an iOS ecosystem. (Three mobiles devices, 8, 10 and 11. One laptop, 2009. Capitan. One desktop, 2011, High Sierra, one Mac Book pro, near brand new. MB pro used for school, connecting at times to University portal.
Exception: one new Lenova laptop, for work. It ties into a work VPN.
Home is completely wired in every room with Cat 5.
This thread is on VPNs so I won’t fork this with additional questions.
I have to choose which part of anonymity I want to spend money on first. I respect your words on moving towards new devices. Yet I can’t blink an eye and switch out in 2020 to all Purism phones and laptops. I wish I could but I have to chip away at anonymity. I wish I had the skills to create multiple VMs, and use Linux. Maybe I am ready, I just get overwhelmed by my perception of the complexity. I’m blessed with the time to create it.
To the VPN: Much of your words were re: protection of the OS. Little on iOS. The iOS mobile is a challenging device to protect. Do I focus on home protection and use a mobile VPN, aware as has been written, it’s a mess of a device to gain much anonymity? Do I assume the VPN at its most secure form can meet the needs of the devices, modem and router? The ISP is Comcast. I dare say either of your top choices are where you would suggest. Funny the VPN is probably the cheapest part of this whole process.
Is there any truth that VPNs pay for placement on sites? It’s capitalism so to a degree it must exist. Smaller VPNs like Mullvad, who’s story seems genuine don’t seem to garner a mention. (Just an example. ). They might use their marketing budgets differently?
In the end I want to pay more to get more. I want the VPN to make enough money from subscriptions that the future lure of giving up data for bigger dollars is less likely. (No way I can guarantee this I know).
There is so much “noise” on privacy. Trying so hard to find the “sound” to avoid “privacy paralysis”. My silly feeling at times.
Thank you!
Hey there, for your situation, as we’ve chatted about briefly before, I would just start with the Vilfo VPN router. This will encrypt all traffic on your network, with every device. Just connect the Vilfo to your ISP modem, get a VPN installed and working on the Vilfo router, and then your ISP won’t be able to spy on all your traffic. That is step one and that is the first big step to privacy. Don’t worry about switching ISPs (they’re all basically the same anyway) and don’t worry about a different modem that you received from your ISP. Just start with the Vilfo and learn how to use all the functions it offers. You may want some devices to bypass the VPN tunnel and hit the internet unencrypted.
As for your Apple devices, any of the recommendations in this guide will be good for the devices you describe. They offer solid Mac OS clients as well as iOS VPN clients.
With your question on placements, yes, this is a thing with some sites, which is why we describe in the mission our policy of not accepting any paid placements, paid content, ads, etc. Mullvad is also a good option, based in Sweden, a smaller service and similar to OVPN, another small Swedish VPN that we like even better. But we have not reviewed Mullvad or some others, but we’re slowly building up our VPN review database.
Also, I wouldn’t stress too much about hardware. Purism has some major drawbacks, as does Linux and Linux hardware. Sure it is great for privacy and security, but it can also be a major burden with troubleshooting, installing drivers, learning the command line, and more. After all, most of us have tons of work to do as it is. And reviews of the Purism phone I’ve seen are very bad. And on a positive note, Apple is way better than Windows when it comes to privacy. Therefore don’t stress about your hardware, and start with securing your network with a Vilfo router to keep your ISP (and whoever they share data with) from spying on every website you visit.
Hi Sven, I took the long way to this article starting origination with your article of March 2018 where you explained to beware and aware of virtual servers. Based on your current 2020 vpn review for Mac OS, I am deciding between ExpressVPN and Nord. You did not mention virtual servers though. Is this no longer an issue since your March 2018 article? Thank you. I’ve learned so much since finding your website a week ago.
Hi Nancy, we took a deep dive on the issue of virtual server locations in this guide and examined a handful of the top VPNs. There are a few VPNs that use a limited number of virtual locations, and transparently disclose those locations, for example, with ExpressVPN and Surfshark. We do not have an issue with this.
There are also a few VPNs that use a large number of virtual locations and do not accurately disclose this to their users, such as the case with VyprVPN and HideMyAss. The biggest issue in my opinion is transparency.
I notice that Surfshark didn’t make your top five for Mac OS list here, whereas it does rate very highly across most of your other lists… On one of those other lists (Best VPNs for 2020) you mention as a con that Surfshark has “No OpenVPN protocol for Mac OS” (and it was your link after that comment that led me to this page), however when I queried Surfshark about that, they said that Surfshark does use OpenVPN protocol with MacOS? (He seemed quite certain.) So, am I not understanding something here, maybe about finer technical points? Does Surfshark does use OpenVPN protocol with MacOS? I guess my main question to you, Sven, is: What are the main reasons that Surfshark didn’t make your top five for Mac OS list here? (I’m trying to decide between Surfshark and NordVPN.)
Hi Todd, when this guide was last updated in February, Surfshark did not support the OpenVPN protocol on Mac OS. However, you are correct, and today they do. We have already updated the Surfshark review to reflect this information. Surfshark will be included in this roundup list with the next update. It is a good VPN for Mac.
I did think about the dates of the pages, but that ‘The Best VPN Services for 2020’ page (with the Surfshark ‘No OpenVPN protocol for Mac OS’ comment) was dated only six weeks ago, so I thought that information would still be current. Never mind, all good – so I’ve still got the choice of NordVPN or Surfshark in front of me, with Surfshark being almost half the price of NordVPN (both requiring 3 year sign-ups for the lowest price). As 3 years is quite a long time, please tell me, are there any reasons I should choose NordVPN over Surfshark? Will I be missing out on anything by choosing Surfshark instead of NordVPN? (My needs are pretty standard I think: a very secure no leak VPN service, with the ability to torrent (and perhaps stream, but I don’t do that at the moment), and I’ll most likely also be choosing a server in my own country (Australia) so that search results remain locally relevant. And of course I’m on a Mac obviously.)
It looks like NordVPN is removing the three year deal sometime in the next month or so. As to your questions, I’ve really found NordVPN to be faster and offer a bigger selection of servers than Surfshark.
NordVPN also now has the WireGuard VPN protocol, which you can select under the VPN protocols > NordLynx. In our WireGuard vs OpenVPN tests, we’ve found WireGuard to offer much faster speeds, and it also connects quicker. I hit 445 Mbps with NordVPN using a nearby server and the WireGuard (NordLynx) protocol.
Hi. Nice article. What about VPN Unlimited?
I did an older review of VPN Unlimited, but I’m going to re-review it in the coming weeks because they have launched new apps and they told me the leaks I found are now fixed..
Also, what about this guy [link]
Any good?
I don’t think so, CPU is probably miniscule and won’t support OpenVPN well above a few Mbps. You need higher CPU to handle the encryption, see the VPN router guide.