Best VPN for Mac: free providers

Hackers are increasingly targeting Mac devices and bypassing the device's standard security measures. As such, it's vital to take responsibility and enhance your cybersecurity with bonus tools. One easy way of doing this would be with a free VPN (Virtual Private Network) for Mac.
Unfortunately, completely free VPNs typically have monthly data caps, minimal servers, fewer features, slow speeds, and questionable reputations. Conversely, freemium and free trial VPNs are more reliable than free options. While they may impose some restrictions that premium VPNs don't, they can still do the work you need. Most importantly, they can hide your IP address, secure your online activity, and perform reasonably well.
However, free VPNs aren't all that bad. If you want to use free VPNs for Mac, this guide is for you. Read on and find out everything you need to know about them.
5 Best free VPNs for Mac
- NordVPN β overall the best free VPN for Mac
- Surfshark β free trial Mac VPN with unlimited connections
- Atlas VPN β freemium Mac VPN with high security
- ExpressVPN β feature-rich free trial VPN for Mac
- CyberGhost VPN β VPN for Mac with lengthy money-back guarantee
Best free VPN for MacBook: comparison
NordVPN | Surfshark | Atlas VPN | ExpressVPN | CyberGhost | |
Ranking for multiple devices | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
Servers | 7100+ servers in 118+ countries | 3200+ servers in 100+ countries | 1000+ servers in 42+ countries | 3000+ servers in 105+ countries | 10200+ servers in 100+ countries |
Avg Speed (US) | 100+ Mbps | 100+ Mbps | 100+ Mbps | 100+ Mbps | 100+ Mbps |
Activity logs | Independently-audited no-logs policy | Independently-audited no-logs policy | Strict no-logs policy | Independently-audited no-logs policy | Independently-audited no-logs policy |
Popular Sites Unblocked | |||||
Simultaneous Connections | 6 | Unlimited | Unlimited | 8 | 7 |
Best packages | $3.39/month | $2.19/month | $1.64/month | $4.99/month | $2.19/month |
Review | NordVPN review | Surfshark review | Atlas VPN review | ExpressVPN review | CyberGhost review |
Discount | Get NordVPN 72% OFF | Get Surfshark 86% OFF | Get Atlas VPN 86% OFF | Get ExpressVPN 61% OFF | Get CyberGhost 83% OFF |
Best free Mac VPNs overview
Mac devices are relatively well-equipped regarding overall safety and data privacy. However, accessing geo-restricted content through their apps anonymously can be complicated. To safely bypass the geographical blocks without harming your device and risking your information, VPNs play a unique role.
Here are the top five VPNs that Mac users can use to access their favorite platforms and content:
1. NordVPN β overall best Mac VPN
NordVPN is the best VPN for Mac that offers seamless connectivity, fast streaming, and a highly encrypted channel to mask your identity. A comprehensive network of 7100+ servers across 118+ countries will maximize streaming speeds and grant access to a wide array of geo-blocked content from across the globe. Meanwhile, blazing-fast and secure connectivity is ensured with the in-house NordLynx protocol.
Malware and other digital dangers will be easily dealt with when Threat Protection is enabled. Additionally, you can enable Double VPN or obfuscated servers to greatly enhance your level of encryption and online stealth.
You can begin your free journey with NordVPN by claiming the 7-day free trial on the Google Play Store. After that, you still have a grace period in the form of a 30-day money-back guarantee.
2. Surfshark VPN - best Mac VPN on budget
Surfshark impresses us with its affordable price, excellent security, and reliable performance. It includes a highly effective kill switch, DNS leak protection, IP masking, and incredible speeds, making it a top VPN option for Mac users. Furthermore, you can use one account to protect an unlimited number of devices.
Customer online experience is improved with the all-in-one CleanWeb tool for blocking ads, trackers, and malware. Additionally, MultiHop servers can increase your level of encryption and grant different IP addresses at each end of the VPN tunnel.
You can claim this VPN for free for 7 days on either the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. If that's not enough, consider the 30-day money-back guarantee route.
3. Atlas VPN β best freemium VPN for Mac
Go for Atlas VPN if you're looking for a reliable and free VPN for Mac with no strings attached. The provider offers a completely free version for unlimited use, although it does include some drawbacks like monthly data caps and fewer features. Thankfully, the fully-featured premium version is exceptionally affordable and loaded with top-notch perks.
For starters, one premium Atlas VPN is capable of protecting an infinite number of gadgets. All of them can enable the cutting-edge WireGuard protocol for unwavering and lag-free connections under all circumstances. Plus, you can connect to the impressive network of 1000+ servers in 42+ countries.
Grab the Atlas VPN free plan if you're undeterred by the 5 GB/month data limit. Alternatively, take advantage of the 30-day money-back warranty to experience all the benefits the paid plan has on offer.
4. ExpressVPN β best Mac VPN for security
Mac users surely won't want to risk their expensive gadgets and essential data to online threats and malware, so for optimum security and data privacy, ExpressVPN is an excellent option to ensure safety and seamless streaming. With its easy-to-use interface and advanced technology, you can easily access many geo-blocked platforms while remaining secure.
ExpressVPN is a leading provider in many aspects, be it connection reliability, data security, speed, or control features in the app. For example, it provides unrivaled upload and download speeds with the proprietary Lightway tunneling protocol.
However, it does have some significant downsides, such as the exorbitant price tag and meager 5-device connection limit per account. Thankfully, you can test the service using the 30-day money-back guarantee and see if it's worth the price.
5. CyberGhost VPN - best Mac VPN for more expansive server option
CyberGhost is another excellent VPN to use on your Mac that is winning users' hearts with its massive 10200+ server network across 100+ countries, fast speed, and incredibly low subscription rates. The safety features and zero-logs policy will ensure frustration-free streaming and privacy, without a doubt.
Top speeds while surfing the net with CyberGhost behind your back are guaranteed, thanks to the lean-and-mean WireGuard protocol. Furthermore, you'll have no trouble achieving your specific goals because the service provides specialized servers for various use cases, such as streaming on specific platforms, online gaming, or extra privacy.
CyberGhost free trial offers vary based on your device and range from 24 hours on Mac to 7 days for iOS. If that's not enough, don't hesitate to utilize the lengthy 45-day money-back guarantee to conduct more thorough tests.
Our methodology for picking the best free VPNs for Mac
We considered some key points while choosing the best free VPNs for Mac. Letβs have a look:
- Free version availability: All the VPN providers we mentioned here offer free trials and money-back guarantees for risk-free testing.
- Easy-to-use Mac apps: We made sure these services include native apps for macOS, iOS, and iPad. Furthermore, they have clean interfaces and are easy to use on all devices.
- Security and privacy: Every VPN on our list has the most advanced AES-256 encryption. Moreover, each has a kill switch, strict no-logs policy, and reliable tunneling protocols like OpenVPN or WireGuard.
- Features: Most free VPNs don't offer much regarding features. As such, we specifically picked VPNs with the essential tools you need in any well-rounded cybersecurity package.
- Customer support: Each VPN in our list offers customer support in the form of FAQs or emails. Some even provide 24/7 live chat assistance.
Why use a VPN on Mac?
Overall, your online activity by default is not secure, whether you're using Apple, Microsoft, or Google devices. It's commonly on full display for your ISP, Wi-Fi network administrators, and various hackers (malicious or not) to see. Plus, one wrong move could expose you to more dangerous nuisances like malware and trojan viruses.
This is where a secure virtual private network service comes into play. It can thwart many of these risks simply by encrypting your traffic. Then your online activities become unreadable to unwelcome onlookers and impenetrable to third-party intrusions.
Moreover, a VPN can change your IP address and location. This simple process is applicable in many scenarios. Most notably, it allows you to bypass geographical restrictions and unlock exclusive foreign content. This includes movies, TV shows, online publications, video games, and other websites.
And what about connection speed? While using a reliable VPN on Mac, you can enjoy the internet without any lagging or ping issues.
How to use a free VPN on MacBook
Here are the quick steps you need to follow to use a free VPN on MacBook.
- Select a reliable free VPN for Mac. We recommend a free trial of NordVPN.
- Download and install the VPN app on your MacBook device.
- Connect to a server of your choice.
- Surf the web with your Mac securely and anonymously!
Free VPNs for Mac you should avoid
After rigorous testing and research, we identified some risky free VPNs for Mac, and we donβt advise you to use them.
- Hola VPN. A prime example of why some free VPNs should be avoided. Most notably, Hola VPN logs your internet activity and shares your bandwidth with others. Thus, your data and traffic are in even greater danger than before when this app is enabled.
- Touch VPN. Touch VPN lacks security features and has an intrusive logging policy. It has poor performance and uses the poorly-secured PPTP protocol.
- Betternet VPN. Another free VPN that is not recommended. Betternet VPN is notorious for leaking personal information and suffers from WebRTC and DNS leaks. Moreover, standard security features, such as a kill switch, are completely absent from this VPN.
Best free VPNs for Mac video review
Looking for a more entertaining way to learn all the information provided in this guide? Check the video review provided below; it will tell you all about picking the most secure VPN for Mac as well as recommend the most reliable options.
Final thoughts
If you are a Mac user, you need an expansive suite of cybersecurity features to protect your device. A VPN for Mac can help you secure your devices. However, most free VPNs for Mac are not very reliable. But still, if you want to use a VPN for free, itβs possible to do so via temporary trials and money-back guarantees.
We compiled a list of VPNs that grant such an option and work well with macOS devices. To be precise, they are secure, have numerous features, and boast easy-to-use apps. Get started with NordVPN, our top free VPN for Mac.
FAQ
What is the best VPN for free on Mac?
NordVPN is the top-rated VPN for Mac that is available for free via free trials and money-back guarantees. It offers a feature-rich macOS app, unrivaled privacy practices, and stellar connection performance with its in-house NordLynx tunneling protocol.
Is there a totally free VPN for Mac?
Yes, Proton VPN is available completely for free and is compatible with Mac. Naturally, the free plan is barren of many crucial features and offers only 3 server locations. On the other hand, it has a solid reputation and no monthly data caps to hold you back.
Is it safe to have VPN on Mac?
Yes, it is safe and recommended to use a VPN on Mac. A VPN encrypts your traffic, adds an additional security layer, and prevents malware attacks. However, it's vital to use a reliable VPN service, for example, NordVPN, to avoid any data-logging issues.
Is it safe to use a free VPN?
No, most free VPNs are not safe to use. For starters, they may collect and sell your data to third parties as a means of revenue. Conversely, freemium options are barren of features and include numerous drawbacks, making them unsuitable for most situations.
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