Apple is known for its robust security systems, but MacOS users will still benefit from investing in a virtual private network (VPN). The best VPNs bolster the security of your device by disguising your IP address from third-party sites without compromising on speeds.
Our expert team has sifted through over 30 VPN providers, run over 500 speed tests and analysed over 1,000 data points to pin down the best of the best. From these tests, we picked NordVPN as the best VPN for Mac thanks to its wide array of features and competitive pricing. For a deep dive into NordVPN and the other best VPNs for Mac, make sure you keep reading.
30
VPNs Tested
500+
Speed Tests
1000+
Data Points Analysed
Our top three VPNs for Mac
Our list of the best VPNs for Mac only includes providers offering high levels of security and top-notch features. We have hand-picked certain VPNs that work well for different users, such as those who prioritise speed, want to cut down costs, or are just stepping into the VPN world. Here are three of the best VPNs for Mac available right now.
Our award for the best Mac VPN goes to NordVPN. It’s one of the longest-running VPN providers around and has great experience in the market. Its double VPN encryption adds more privacy to your browsing, while private DNS protection means no threat of hijacking and no logging of your online activities. Performance is top-notch too, and it boasts a huge number of servers located in pretty much any country you’d need.
Our choice of the best Mac VPN for pricing has a slight but notable advantage over the competition in terms of performance – in our tests, it demonstrated the lowest level of degradation for download and upload speeds when locating your IP abroad. Surfshark’s security is also top-notch with AES 256-bit encryption, an audited no-log policy, and an automatic kill switch. All of this combined with the low price makes Surfshark incredibly hard to beat.
If you’re looking for one of the fastest MacOS VPNs, then this is the VPN for you. ExpressVPN has all the market-leading features you could want: top security, a fast, stable connection, and it’s a great option for streaming from the internet. It also has some great, user-friendly apps, for every platform you could wish for. The only real downside is that ExpressVPN is more expensive than its rivals, so better value can be found elsewhere.
James Milin-Ashmore has covered cybersecurity and VPNs since the mid-2010s, writing for industry publications and services such as VPN Mentor, Liquid VPN, Comparitech, Bleeping Computer, ProPrivacy, AlwaysVPN, and more.
With a focus on ethics and digital privacy, his work has been featured in a range of publications, including the Activist Handbook and Reader’s Digest. In his spare time, he’s likely to be watching sports, writing about collectibles, or taking his dog for a walk around Hertfordshire.
Rafay
Cybersecurity expert
Rafay Baloch
Lead cybersecurity expert
Rafay Baloch isa globally renowned cybersecurity expert and white-hat hacker with a proven track record of identifying critical zero-day security vulnerabilities in numerous web applications, products, and browsers. His discoveries have been instrumental in safeguarding the privacy and security of millions of users worldwide. Baloch has received various accolades, including being named one of the “Top 5 Ethical Hackers of 2014” by Checkmarx, one of the “15 Most Successful Ethical Hackers Worldwide”, and one of the “Top 25 Threat Seekers” by SC Magazine. In addition, Reflectiz listed him among the “Top 21 Cybersecurity Experts You Must Follow on Twitter in 2021”.
Rafay has presented his research at various international cybersecurity conferences, including Black Hat, Hack In Paris, HEXCON, the 10th Information Security Conference in Greece, the CSAW Conference, and many others. He is frequently sought after for his insights and analysis on current cybersecurity topics, appearing in national and international mainstream media outlets such as Forbes, WSJ, BBC, Express Tribune, DAWN, and many others.
Luke has been writing about technology and science for almost two decades now. As such he’s been covering VPNs since they first started making a mainstream appearance. He also specialises in cars, TVs, health and fitness tech, sound systems, smart homes, power tools, white goods, toys and more. When he’s not doing all that he likes to surf, cinema and cycle.
Mariana
Writer/VPN tester
Mariana Krasteva
Writer/VPN tester
Mariana is an experienced technology writer specialising in web and internet technology. She writes about cyber security, including VPNs; web development; and software engineering. She has been writing since 2006 and held a position of English lecturer at Technical University of Varna in Bulgaria until 2022, working in a variety of educational fields.
For the Independent Advisor, Mariana writes about the usefulness of VPNs and how people can protect themselves and their data online, as well as contributing heavily to the testing process.
How we test and score
How we select the winners
Our testing criteria
Our best Mac VPN uses objective, data-driven tests for scoring and assessing the factors and subfactors that we believe are most important for anyone considering using a VPN on a laptop or similar device. This includes 500+ speed tests across multiple desktop and mobile devices along with testing reliability while using macOS VPN apps. In addition, we considered a number of key aspects when comparing VPNs. The breakdown is as follows:
Our VPN tests compare performance across eight critical factors: privacy and security, speed, pricing, content access, usability, features, customer service, and the company. Each factor has various subfactors. For instance, when looking at privacy and security (25 per cent), we consider whether the service has a kill switch for all devices, run IP leak tests, test encryption, look for any previous security incidents, consider the company’s jurisdiction, examine the company’s data retention practices, and much more. We similarly thoroughly examine each of the criteria listed above. Wherever possible, our VPN tests and reviews use objective and quantifiable data to inform scoring. We also use expert subjective assessment supported by data to round out our testing process. You can see our testing and scoring process here.
Testing factors and evidence
Rather than taking our word for it, we’ve included information detailing the scoring and evidence we collected for each provider during testing.
For example, you’ll find speed test videos for each VPN in the speed section. Selecting privacy and security will bring up a video of our IP leak tests, alongside an average score for this criteria. For content access, we’ve added a screenshot of the VPN while accessing a popular streaming platform like BBC iPlayer or Netflix. Pricing has screenshots with the latest fees, while customer service contains videos of our interactions with live chat support. Features has a rundown of what to expect from each VPN, while we use the Flesch score of the VPN’s homepage to highlight usability. Finally, we’ve included Companies House information for the company section.
When selecting the best VPNs for Mac, we looked at the overall scoring as well as specific results relating to performance, streaming and security concerning MacOS. This data, alongside our established VPN framework, was used to inform the listings.
Recent updates
We’ve taken another look at our specifications and stats, ensuring that everything is accurate and up-to-date as of 17 October 2024
As of 7 October, NordVPN launched a new design for Threat Protection Pro and enhanced its Dark Web Monitor feature for the NordVPN app on MacOS. It has also been updated to work in the background without users needing to manually check for updates
Surfshark launched a new product, Dedicated IP, in September 2024. Dedicated IP ensures that your VPN-protected IP (internet protocol) address stays the same no matter which server you switch to
CyberGhost rebuked claims that its VPN server was compromised and has assured customers that its server remains secure and committed to protecting your privacy as of September 2024
In July 2024, Proton VPN underwent a successful independent audit by Securitum
Prices accurate and up to date as of 17 October 2024
Best results for privacy and security, usability and features
Worked with every streaming service tested
Cons
Not the cheapest option
Slower speeds on iOS during testing
Specifications
Sever countries
111
Server locations
135
Devices supported
Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, web browsers, routers, game consoles, and more
Customer support
24/7 live chat
Simultaneous connections
10 devices
Refund policy
30-day guarantee
NordVPN’s best VPN features for Mac
Secure streaming from multiple locations
Custom protocol with independent auditing
NordVPN overview
Not only is NordVPN one of the best VPNs for Mac, but it’s also my top pick for the best VPN overall, no matter what platform you’re using. Its competitive pricing combined with a wide array of features makes it a fantastic choice for any user. Right now, you can pick up a NordVPN subscription for just £2.29 per month for two years with three extra months thrown in for free.
NordVPN comes with a wide array of security and privacy features, earning it a very high score of 9.37. Threat Protection detects and blocks ads, malware and phishing attacks and will regularly check a database of known vulnerabilities to ensure you haven’t downloaded any vulnerable apps. Dark Web Monitor is another unique feature that scans the internet for credential leaks, notifying you immediately if your email address is in any way associated. NordVPN has a no-logging policy, which has been successfully independently audited four times, passing most recently in December 2023. These audits prove that NordVPN follows its no-logging policy and keeps its customers’ information from prying eyes.
Standard features, such as kill switch and multihop, are all present. Kill switch will automatically disconnect you from the internet if your VPN connection drops and multihop will route your internet traffic through multiple servers instead of just one. Unfortunately, split tunnelling – which lets you run certain traffic through a VPN and others through a standard internet connection – is not present on MacOS.
In terms of speeds (7.79), NordVPN is one of the best performers out there. We ran several tests on MacOS on UK servers, with the average coming out at 402Mbps. While providers like Surfshark may be more impressive in this category, NordVPN is still nothing to sniff at. In addition, NordVPN benefits from having a massive number of servers; at the time of writing, you can access 135 server locations in 111 countries, making it a great option for those who frequently travel.
One final thing of note is NordVPN’s high content access score (10). It passed our tests with flying colours, accessing all ten streaming platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, BBC iPlayer and Disney+.
Surfshark One features are hidden behind a paywall
Can’t access NOW TV
Specifications
Sever countries
100
Server locations
140
Devices supported
Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, web browsers, routers, game consoles and more
Customer support
24/7 live chat
Simultaneous connections
Unlimited
Refund policy
30-day guarantee
Surfshark’s best VPN features for Mac
Fastest average speed across all devices
Affordable pricing
Surfshark overview
There’s a very good reason I picked Surfshark as the best-priced VPN for Mac; at the time of writing, you can get Surfshark for as low as £1.69 per month for two years with three months thrown in for free. Surfshark is also one of the few companies to offer a seven-day free trial, truly giving you the chance to try before you buy.
Surfshark is no slacker when it comes to speed either (8.25). In our MacOS UK server test, Surfshark averaged an incredibly high speed of 444.67Mbps, with only ExpressVPN performing better (483Mbps). In our regular VPN roundup, Surfshark is our current pick for the fastest VPN, proving its worth when it comes to balancing your speeds and security.
Speaking of security and privacy (8.12), Surfshark comes with an abundance of features. One of its most impressive features is Alternate ID and Alternative Number; the former generates an online name and email address, and the latter an online number, meaning you can sign up for online services without giving up any personal information in the process. CleanWeb sees support for an ad blocker, cookie pop-up blocker, data breach alert and malware alert to Chrome, Firefox and Edge browsers. While it isn’t reinventing the wheel, it’s a nifty little feature that runs quietly in the background to make your browsing experience more seamless. Unfortunately, features such as malware protection and split tunnelling are not supported on MacOS. Multihop, however, is supported.
Surfshark is another VPN that has been independently audited. The last audit was in December 2022 and was found to be working effectively, so you can rest easy knowing that your information is being kept secure.
TV enthusiasts will also be pleased to know that Surfshark can access all the heavy-hitting streaming platforms (9.5), including Netflix, Amazon Prime and Disney+. The only platform it was unable to access was Now TV, and our tester did find that its performance on the Channel 4 app was slow, with some buffering and pixelation while streaming.
Overall, Surfshark is a fantastic pick for MacOS users who prioritise pricing. Its consistent discounts and free trial make it one of the most affordable quality VPNs on the market without compromising on security.
Successfully accessed every streaming service during testing
Lots of Fire Stick features
Custom Lightway protocol
Cons
More expensive than the average provider
Specifications
Sever countries
105
Server locations
145
Devices supported
Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Fire TV, Linux, routers, web browsers, Smart TVs, game consoles and more
Customer support
Live chat and knowledge base
Simultaneous connections
Eight
Refund policy
30-day money back guarantee
ExpressVPN’s best VPN features for Mac
Highest speed results on MacOS
A wide array of features on Mac
ExpressVPN overview
ExpressVPN smashed our MacOS speed tests, which is why it’s been given the honour of being the fastest VPN for MacOS. Despite its overall speed score (including Android, Windows and iOS) being fairly average (7.62), it shone in our MacOS UK tests, averaging a high result of 483Mbps, the highest of any VPN we tested.
Looking past its high MacOS speeds, we can also see that ExpressVPN thrives in the privacy and security department (8.77). It features Lightway, a custom protocol that is designed to use less battery and connect to VPN servers more efficiently. Post-quantum protection is another interesting proposition; it is designed to protect your data from any powerful computers in the future that may be able to bypass the encryption protocols we have in place today. While not a feature you need right now, it proves how dedicated ExpressVPN is to future-proofing its services.
Our tests also showed that features, such as split tunnelling, malware protection and ad blocker, are all available on MacOS. These features combined with the 105 server countries and 145 server locations meant we could award ExpressVPN a very high features rating of 9.05.
To keep things transparent, we have to touch on ExpressVPN’s pricing (6.9). The company does not offer any free trials or free versions of its service, with the starting price for its 12-month deal costing £5.14 per month, with three months free. Compared to the likes of NordVPN and Surfshark, ExpressVPN is on the expensive side, meaning that it may not fit into your monthly budget. If you do want to try ExpressVPN, every plan comes with an ironclad 30-day money back guarantee.
On the bright side, ExpressVPN has an impeccable content access score (10), thanks to its ability to access all of the 10 streaming platforms we tried. This is also paired with its high company score (10). ExpressVPN has never run into any issues with the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) or Information Comissioner’s Office (ICO), never experienced any data leaks and passed its most recent independent audit in 2023. As a plus, ExpressVPN is also based outside of the EU and Five Eyes – an intelligence-sharing alliance – for further peace of mind.
All in all, while ExpressVPN may not be the cheapest VPN on the market, it is one of the speediest for MacOS users.
Expert customer service for paid plansCan create user profiles
A free tier with no data limit
Lots of features across all devices
Cons
Free plans don’t come with streaming support
More expensive than the average
Specifications
Sever countries
112
Server locations
140
Devices supported
Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Android TV, Linux, web browsers and Chromebook
Customer support
Knowledge base, live chat (for customers only) and submit a request form
Simultaneous connections
10
Refund policy
30 days
ProtonVPN’s best VPN features for Mac
Audited VPN for extra security
Secure content from anywhere in the world
ProtonVPN overview
ProtonVPN is one of the most secure VPNs on the market, earning a high privacy and security score (8.27) in our testing. It comes with all the standard features you would expect from a quality VPN, including malware protection, kill switches, multihop, tracker and ad-blocker and split tunnelling, although the latter is not available on MacOS or iOS.
A notable feature of ProtonVPN is Secure Core servers; expanding on traditional forms of multihop, Secure Core servers use two layers of encryption and will route your traffic through a country with strong data privacy laws, such as Switzerland, Iceland or Sweden. It’s worth noting that Secure Core servers can reduce speeds since it sends your traffic through multiple servers, but offers a higher level of security overall.
Looking at speeds, ProtonVPN averaged an impressive result of 411Mbps on UK servers. Individual tests reached as high as 458Mbps, proving its worth for Mac users. Our UK average speeds for iOS were also noteworthy, at 405Mbps. ProtonVPN offers theoretical speeds of up to 10Gbps, meaning that you shouldn’t experience much bandwidth throttling during use, so you don’t need to choose between high speeds or a secure connection.
One of the bigger obstacles to ProtonVPN is its higher price; right now, ProtonVPN’s cheapest subscription costs £3.77 per month (converted from Euro) for 24 months. Compared to the likes of Surfshark, this is relatively expensive. However, ProtonVPN earned a respectable pricing score (7.75) thanks to its free version and 30-day money back guarantee.
Paid ProtonVPN subscriptions support up to 10 simultaneous devices, which should be more than enough to cover all devices in your home. At the right of writing, there are over 8,100 servers in 112 countries, ideal for customers who travel often.
Finally, ProtonVPN earned an impressive content access score (10). We tested 10 streaming platforms with ProtonVPN, including Netflix, Amazon Prime and BBC iPlayer, and found that ProtonVPN could access all of them without any hiccups. Another thing to mention is ProtonVPNs impeccable company score (10); not only has ProtonVPN not experienced any data leaks in the past 12 months, but it advertises a no-log policy which was last verified by an independent audit in July of this year.
Missing out on a few advanced features seen elsewhere
No 12-month subscriptions
Specifications
Sever countries
100
Server locations
128
Devices supported
Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Android TV, Linux, web browsers, Fire TV Stick, Smart TVs, games consoles and more
Customer support
Live chat, knowledge base and submit a request form
Simultaneous connections
Seven
Refund policy
45 days (annual subscription)
CyberGhost’s best VPN features for Mac
Dedicated, labelled streaming servers for MacOS
Split tunneling on MacOS
CyberGhost overview
CyberGhost currently sits on our best VPN list for a very good reason. While all VPNs listed here are easy to use, CyberGhost is ideal for beginners thanks to its simple layout. For example, users can pick a server not just based on its location, but how it performs in certain tasks. This streamlines the process of picking servers and may make the act of using a VPN for the first time a lot less daunting.
CyberGhost underwent an audit by Deloitte Romania in May 2024 and passed without a hitch, proving that the company aligns with its no-logs policy. Moreover, CyberGhost’s headquarters in Romania, based outside of the Five Eyes, helped it earn a decent privacy and security score (7.57). Mac users can also benefit from a kill switch, tracker and ad-blocker, although features like split tunnelling and multihop are unfortunately not present. The lack of features may be an issue for VPN veterans who want the highest level of security but will be better suited for newcomers just stepping into the VPN world.
CyberGhost’s content access (8.5) was fair but not flawless. While it could access heavy hitters like Netflix, BBC iPlayer and Apple TV, we were unable to access Amazon Prime, Sky Go and Channel 4 in our testing, which may be an issue for TV and movie fans. A similar story is seen with the pricing (7.40); although the 24-hour free trial available for MacOS users is a plus, the lack of a 12-month subscription plan did cause it to lose points. Thankfully, the base price for its 24-month subscription is very reasonable, coming in at just £1.92 per month at the time of writing with two months thrown in for free.
Finally touching on speed (7.31), CyberGhost managed to reach an average UK server MacOS result of 273.33Mbps. While individual UK tests reached as high as 318Mbps, this average is lower than other VPNs mentioned on this list, suggesting it’s not the right choice for people who enjoy online gaming or other internet-intensive activities. Our MacOS results were faster than Windows and Android, but our average iOS score was most impressive, at 394.67Mbps.
Access to streaming services: Amazon Prime, Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Sky Go, Now TV, Channel 4, ITV X, Apple TV, Disney Plus and Paramount Plus
Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Sky Go, ITV X, Apple TV, Disney Plus and Paramount Plus
Pricing overall score
7.40
Free trial? Y/N
Y (Android, iOS, Windows and MacOS)
12-month price
74.28
Privacy & security overall score
7.57
Audited no-log policy? Y/N
Y
Last logging policy audit date
2024
Usability overall score
8.12
Features overall score
8.61
Ad blocker? Y/N
Y
Company overall score
10.0
Customer service overall score
7.75
How to pick the best VPN for Mac
When picking a Mac VPN, you should look out for the following factors:
Compatibility: Make sure the provider has a MacOS app and is compatible with your Mac operating system
Security: Check that your chosen VPN service has a good level of encryption – ideally AEs-256 – and a variety of protocols such as WireGuard, OpenVPN and IKEv2
Privacy: Make sure the service follows a no-logs policy and that this policy has been independently audited
Speed: Choose a VPN with fast servers. Also, it’s best if the provider has a large number of servers that are located worldwide with numerous servers in each country
Reputation and review: Research customer reviews for the provider to see what customers like and dislike about the service
Price and subscription plans: Compare price plans and consider features offered. Choose a service with a money-back guarantee, this way you can try the VPN risk-free
Why do you need a VPN for Mac?
Although Macs come with a high level of security and privacy, installing a VPN increases the protection of your online security. Using a VPN on your Mac encrypts your internet traffic, masks your IP address and allows you to bypass geo-restrictions. A VPN also protects you when you’re connected to a public wifi network, where you may fall victim to cybercrime threats.
How to set up a VPN on your Mac
To set up a VPN on a Mac, follow these steps:
Choose a VPN provider: Thoroughly research and choose a trustworthy VPN provider. Check that it has the features you need
Download the VPN from the Apple App Store: Go to the App Store and search for the VPN provider and click download
Install and launch the app: Open the VPN app and complete the installation process. Sign up for a VPN account or log in if you already have one
Configure VPN settings: Follow the instructions for configuring your Mac for your VPN
Connect to the VPN: Once the app is set up, connect to a VPN server. The app will display which server you’re connected to and you can change this to suit your preferred location
Why do you need a VPN for your Mac?
Although Macs come with a high level of security and privacy, installing a VPN increases the protection of your online security. Using a VPN on your Mac encrypts your internet traffic, masks your IP address and allows you to bypass geo-restrictions. A VPN also protects you when you’re connected to a public wifi network, where you may fall victim to cybercrime threats.
How to set up a VPN on your Mac
To set up a VPN on a Mac, follow these steps:
Choose a VPN provider: Thoroughly research and choose a trustworthy VPN provider. Check that it has the features you need
Download the VPN from the Apple App Store: Go to the App Store and search for the VPN provider and click download
Install and launch the app: Open the VPN app and complete the installation process. Sign up for a VPN account or log in if you already have one
Configure VPN settings: Follow the instructions for configuring your Mac for your VPN
Connect to the VPN: Once the app is set up, connect to a VPN server. The app will display which server you’re connected to and you can change this to suit your preferred location
The best VPN for Mac FAQs
A VPN works on a Mac by creating a secure encrypted tunnel between your device and a VPN server. Using a VPN routes all of your internet traffic through a server which masks your IP address and location, making it difficult for third parties to track your online activity. Most VPN providers generally offer fewer features for their Mac apps than their Android and Windows devices, and more often than not split tunnelling features are not available.
Yes, it is perfectly legal to use a VPN on a Mac in the UK and many VPN apps can be found on the Apple App Store. However, you can potentially breach the terms and conditions of a VPN on a Mac, such as using it to illegally torrent video content.
Using a VPN on a Mac can slow down your internet connection as the internet traffic needs to go through an extra step of going through a VPN server. The rate at which your internet speed slows down will be impacted by many factors, including the VPN you choose, which server you connect to and if any additional features are turned on, such as split tunnelling.
Reliable free VPNs are safe to use on a Mac device. Free VPNs come with fewer privacy and security features than paid VPNs, which must be considered when comparing VPNs.
Our award for the best Mac VPN for speed goes to NordVPN. It’s one of the longest-running VPN providers around and has great experience in the market. Its double VPN encryption adds more privacy to your browsing, while private DNS protection means no threat of hijacking and no logging of your online activities. Performance is top-notch too, and it boasts a huge number of servers located in pretty much any country you’d need.
Our choice of the best Mac VPN for beginners has a slight but notable advantage over the competition in terms of performance – in our tests it demonstrated the lowest level of degradation for download and upload speeds when locating your IP abroad. Surfshark’s security is also top-notch with AES 256-bit encryption, an audited no-log policy, and automatic kill switch. The price is hard to beat too.
If you’re looking for a great all-round option, which is very easy to use, then this is the VPN for you. ExpressVPN has all the market-leading features you could want: top security, a fast, stable connection, and it’s a great option for streaming from the internet. It also has some great, user-friendly apps, for every platform you could wish for. The only real downside is that ExpressVPN is more expensive than its rivals, so better value can be found elsewhere.
James Milin-Ashmore has covered cybersecurity and VPNs since the mid-2010s, writing for industry publications and services such as VPN Mentor, Liquid VPN, Comparitech, Bleeping Computer, ProPrivacy, AlwaysVPN, and more.
With a focus on ethics and digital privacy, his work has been featured in a range of publications, including the Activist Handbook and Reader’s Digest. In his spare time, he’s likely to be watching sports, writing about collectibles, or taking his dog for a walk around Hertfordshire.
Disclaimer
The data in this review is reported from a neutral stance and should be used for informational purposes only. We review VPN services based on:
The quality of the product regarding the security and privacy it affords the user
The user experience of the application(s)
Connection speeds and overall performance in terms of reliability
The level and quality of customer service
Independent Advisor strongly recommends that you follow the local laws in your region while using a VPN. We do not condone the use of a VPN to bypass copyright restrictions or stream content without a valid subscription in your current region. Make sure to comply with all applicable laws and regulations while using a VPN with streaming services and any other relevant platforms.
