10 Best VPNs for Mac [May 2022]

Finding a good VPN for macOS is much harder than finding one for a PC. Not all VPN services provide full-featured software for Macs. Cooltechzone has listed the 10 best VPNs for Mac for you. These VPNs have been tested for security and offer the most powerful features.

On a Mac, VPNs are most commonly used to protect transmitted data and bypass the geo-restrictions of video streaming services. However, users are often more demanding in terms of data security than on other platforms.

At the same time, the macOS system itself has architectural features that complicate VPN software development. Not every company is ready to create really serious software with the ability to implement state-of-the-art technologies such as WireGuard, shadowsocks, and others.

Below is a list of the VPNs that performed best in our tests. We tested their security, functionality, and support for geo-restricted video streaming.

You can use the links in this article to access current promotions as well as get additional discounts on ExpressVPN - the best Mac VPN of 2022.

What you should know about VPN on macOS

VPNs for Mac can be divided into 3 groups:

1. Software using built-in system functions... Typically, this is the IKEv2 protocol.
2. Software supporting non-macOS protocols, including such common ones as OpenVPN, WireGuard, etc.
3. Services that do not create their own software, but offer settings for third party VPN clients.

Considering the device system of iMac computers and MacBook laptops, the first two types of VPN programs are more popular. And this is a fact: services that do not provide their own software are not popular with Mac users.

Choosing between the first two groups of providers, I, as a professional, would prefer software that allows you to choose the tunneling protocols (the second group) - simply because I need it for my work. However, in other cases there is not much difference. But I do recommend using more technologically advanced software because it is often of better quality.

When installing a Mac VPN, we most often deal with the IKEv2 protocol, which is built into macOS.

But there are services that work through the more efficient WireGuard, Lightway and NordLynx protocols. They will be discussed in the next chapter.

Let’s go.

What's the fundamental difference between running a VPN on Mac and other platforms?

First of all, security issues are handled better on a Mac. For example, an additional Kill Switch function that blocks traffic when the connection to the VPN server is broken is not needed in VPN applications for macOS if the built-in IKEv2 is used. The system itself copes with this task quite efficiently within reasonable limits.

Thus, individual applications are less responsible for the security of the connection.

What, then, is the main advantage of using a VPN on a Mac?

Basically, this is the presence of advanced functionality. These are functions that expand the capabilities of a regular VPN, and at the same time are in demand by users.

Examples include support for Netflix, TV platforms and game consoles, obfuscation to circumvent censorship, etc. Though note that this is not a complete list of what a good VPN should be capable of...

This is where we most often see a large number of third-rate applications that only allow you to select a country and turn the VPN connection on or off.

It's almost impossible to learn about the necessary features without trying a VPN for yourself.

Therefore, Cooltechzone has created special collections of VPN services based on their test results on different platforms and for different tasks.

The best VPN for Mac based on the test results

The VPN service with the highest score on macOS is ExpressVPN...

NordVPN, Surfshark and CyberGhost VPN all closely follow ExpressVPN. They also have outstanding characteristics that I will discuss below.

1. ExpressVPN

 

ExpressVPN is a top-tier VPN service that is a great fit for Mac. It offers all the most recent features that are needed to reliably protect the user with almost any purpose in mind.

ExpressVPN is only unable to bypass VPN protocols blocking. It also doesn’t have the Dedicated IP, Double VPN, and special server lists for streaming and torrenting.

Features:

• hide IP addresses;
• encrypt any requests to websites;
• reliably protect data;
• secure the user in public Wi-Fi hotspots;
• unblock websites;
• let you watch Netflix, Hulu, etc.;
• do torrenting;
• manage other cases where VPN technology is applicable.

ExpressVPN’s extra features available on Mac:

• Setting the VPN up for certain apps only;
• Kill Switch.

I’d like to mention that ExpressVPN also has browser extensions. They allow not only protecting the browser traffic but also controlling the ExpressVPN app which affects the entire macOS system.

Its confirmed no-logs policy is also very important. ExpressVPN is guaranteed not to log its users’ activity.

Prices of ExpressVPN:

• $6.67 per month ($99.95 for 1 year)
• $9.99 per month ($59.95 for 6 months)
• $12.95 per month when subscribing for 1 month.

ExpressVPN has a 7-day free trial but only on Android. On all other platforms, there’s a 30-day refund.

ExpressVPN’s price compared to other services.

(compared to the same-length subscriptions of the VPNs from our top 5)

You may want to read the full review of ExpressVPN

The best Mac-VPN

Visit site

2. NordVPN

 

NordVPN is registered in Panama. Combined with the fact that it certainly doesn’t keep user activity logs, it makes the service a great choice for even for the most delicate tasks.

High speed, reliable personal data protection, ability to bypass blocks, streaming support—NordVPN checks every mark consistently and decently.

It is available on MacBook as an exe file and in the App Store. The setup doesn’t require any extra knowledge while the initial settings are chosen automatically for optimal privacy and speed.

It’s hard to find a more popular paid VPN service than NordVPN. And that isn’t just because of marketing. It is the result of consistent quality work.

The incredible 5600+ servers located in 59 countries make it the largest VPN in the world as well.

NordVPN is the only one among all VPNs that offers two apps for Mac.

One is called NordVPN IKE. It’s a simplified version that supports only the standard protocol for macOS. This app is convenient because it’s available on the Mac App Store.

The second app is available on the official website and is identical in its functionality to the PC app. It offers the choice of VPN protocols, obfuscation, and many other features.

No issues were found in either version while testing them. Everything works as intended and the connection is stable. The speed of NordVPN is among the best ones.

Features:

• Hiding the IP-address;
• Encrypting any requests to websites;
• Reliable information protection;
• Secure public WiFi use;
• Website unblocking;
• Watching Netflix, Hulu, etc.;
• Safe torrenting;
• KODI;
• Roku;
• Other cases where VPN technology is applicable.

I’d like to specifically mention the kill switch function that dependably protects your computer when a reconnection occurs (if a location changes or an emergency happens). This simple but often underrated feature prevents the user’s real IP-address from leaking.

Extra features of NordVPN available on Mac:

• Dedicated servers for torrenting (almost 5000);
• VPN obfuscation (helps to bypass VPN blocks);
• Dedicated IP (allows Web-browsing with the same IP address constantly);
• Double VPN (double protection);
• Dedicated Onion Over VPN servers (3 in 2 countries);
• You can use up to 6 devices simultaneously;
• A 30-day money-back guarantee.

NordVPN is also recommended by Redditors for almost any purpose including streaming and torrenting.

NordVPN is rated very highly on the App Store:

Peculiarities of using on Mac:

• Super-quick connection;
• Full functionality.

Tariffs of NordVPN:

• $3.29 per month ($78.96 for 2 years)
• $4.92 per month ($59.00 for 1 year)
• $11.95 per month when subscribing for 1 month

The only way to use NordVPN on MacBook for free is to request a refund during the first 30 days. It can be done by contacting the 24/7 customer support.

You can read the full review of NordVPN.

Protect your macOS with top VPN service.

Visit site

3. Surfshark

During literally one year of its existence, Surfshark turned into one of the leading VPN providers. Its multifunctional nature and the levels of its service have become almost on par with the largest VPNs in history.

1000 servers in 60 states are just the right amount to be considered among the best. Moreover, P2P/torrenting is allowed on all those servers.

One of Surfshark’s main advantages is the fact that the DNS is set up on every server (the DNS server transforms the domain name into an IP-address). This allows for the guaranteed hiding of the addresses of the websites you visit. Many of Surfshark’s competitors use only a few DNS or even free public DNS (not 100% safe).

Surfshark is registered in the British Virgin Islands in the offshore jurisdiction. That allows it to be less vulnerable to political or other pressure. Concurrently, Surfshark doesn’t keep logs and protects its users’ traffic with “banking-grade” encryption technologies.

Another advantage of Surfshark is the presence of 15 double VPN variants. This technology doubles the already high degree of user privacy. So, if you’re feeling paranoid… :)

Isn’t Surfshark a perfect solution for the most delicate tasks?

Surfshark is available on MacBook not only as an executable file but also on the App Store so its installation doesn’t cause any problems.

The Mac app is nicely designed and very convenient to use with a mouse. On a touchpad, however, it’s hard to scroll the server list. This sad drawback may cause some inconvenience in public spots where very few people use a mouse.

Features:

• Hiding the IP address;
• Great encryption of any requests to a website;
• Reliable data protection;
• Public Wi-Fi protection;
• Website unblocking;
• Streaming Netflix, Hulu, etc.;
• Safe torrenting;
• KODI;
• Roku;
• Other cases where VPN technology is applicable.

The kill switch is always on by default but can be turned off at any moment.

Surfshark’s extra features available on Mac:

• MultiHop (double VPN);
• CleanWeb. Blocks ads and cookie tracking;
• You can connect up to 7 devices simultaneously;
• 30-day money-back guarantee.

Surfshark’s rating in the App Store is not yet calculated.

Peculiarities of using it on Mac:

• Surfshark VPN app is available for download on the App Store and from the official website as a dmg installer;
• No traffic obfuscation present by the PC version;
• No protocol choice.

Surfshark’s tariffs:

• $2.21 per month when subscribing for 2 years ($59.76)
• $6.49 per month when subscribing for 6 months ($38.94)
• $12.95 per month when subscribing for 1 month.

You can get a refund within 30 days by contacting the 24/7 support team.

Alternatively, you can read the full review of Surfshark.

Best cheap Mac-VPN

Visit site

4. CyberGhost VPN

CyberGhost VPN is one of the largest VPN services. Its history begins in 2011, and it has proved to be one of the best general-purpose VPNs as well as one of the best VPNs for Netflix.

It has more than 5900 servers in 90 countries and this number constantly grows.

It’s under the safe Romanian jurisdiction and has a strict no-logs policy. These facts make it an excellent choice for torrenting and other tasks that require extra privacy. Moreover, just like NordVPN, it has servers solely dedicated to torrenting (on Mac, they’re called “For downloading”).

Some of the great features of CyberGhost VPN include:

• a free trial;
• servers for streaming. Every server on the list actually has a tip telling which video service or TV channel it is optimized for:

The installation of CyberGhost VPN is done with the help of a pkg installer file. The implementation of a trusted digital signature doesn’t force the customer into doing any extra work. The initial setup is done automatically so there’s no need to set up anything else for the first launch.

The interface of the app is intuitive as all the connection settings, as well as the server selection, are represented on the main screen.

CyberGhost VPN uses the IPsec tunneling protocol which is employed by most VPN apps for macOS.

Features:

• Hiding the IP-address;
• Encrypting any requests to a website;
• Reliable data protection;
• Public Wi-Fi protection;
• Unblocking websites;
• Streaming Netflix, Hulu, etc.;
• Safe torrenting;
• KODI;
• Many other cases where VPN technology is applicable.

The kill switch function is integrated into the app but isn’t mentioned in the settings. It makes people think that CyberGhost VPN doesn’t have it, which isn’t true. It is there and always active.

Extra features of CyberGhost VPN that are available on Mac:

• Dedicated servers for torrenting in 25 countries (no US servers on this list);
• Dedicated servers for streaming (more than 40 in different countries);
• Block Ads, Block Malicious Websites and Block Online Tracking (cookie);
• You can use up to 7 devices simultaneously;
• A 45-day money-back guarantee.

Server speeds are generally great but there are slow locations. It’s hardly a problem, though, as the app allows for a manual server selection inside a specific country.

CyberGhost VPN isn’t that popular on Reddit. There, it’s most often mentioned in discussions of free VPN services and as a perfect tool for watching Netflix.

Peculiarities of using it on Mac:

Functionality differences from the full PC version are caused by macOS’s peculiarities. One example of it is the “Smart rules” menu that doesn’t have an option to turn the VPN off for selected apps and URLs.

Here’s the list of the differences I’ve found during the tests:

• In some cases, the kill switch can “freeze”. Even after you connect to a server, your traffic remains blocked for some reason. It’s best to contact the support team in this case.
• No protocol choice.
• No choice between TCP/UDP.

Tariffs of CyberGhost VPN:

• $2.15 per month ($87.75 for 3 years) + 2 extra months for free
• $3,95 per month ($47.88 for 1 year)
• $12,99 per month with the subscription for 1 month

CyberGhost VPN also offers a 24-hour free trial or a 45-day refund that you can get by getting in touch with the 24/7 support team.

I recommend using CyberGhost VPN not only on Mac but on the devices running on other OS as well. It’s perfect for streaming, torrenting, sites unblocking and other things I’ve covered in this part.

Read the full review of CyberGhost VPN.

5. Private Internet Access

 

Private Internet Access (PIA) is one of the most technically advanced VPN services. It provides not only the more popular extra features such as a kill switch and the UDP/TCP choice but also has settings of encryption (that allow even turning it off completely) and authentication, handshake, port forwarding, and some others.

Thanks to its unprecedented number of settings in apps for all platforms, high speed and a huge choice of locations (3300+ in 32 countries), PIA is considered to be a professional-grade VPN.

Drawbacks of PIA are:

• under certain circumstances, its Android app works unstably. I have to mention it because PIA allows using up to 10 devices simultaneously. You can read more about it in our NordVPN and PIA comparison;
• the US jurisdiction (the 5 Eyes alliance).

Features:

• hides IP addresses;
• encrypts any requests to websites;
• reliably protects data;
• secures the user in public Wi-Fi hotspots;
• unblocks websites;
• lets you watch Netflix, Hulu, etc. (PIA copes with it but you have to search for a working server);
• allows torrenting;
• manages other cases where VPN technology is applicable.

PIA’s extra functions available on Mac:

• VPN tunnel precise settings;
• Kill Switch;
• Port forwarding.

I have noticed no discernible peculiarities of using PIA on MacBook. Its developers made the app just as functional as its PC version which is the fullest one for most VPNs.

Prices of PIA:

• $2.03 per month ($69.95 for 2 years)
• $3.33 per month ($39.95 for 1 year)
• $9.95 per month when subscribing for 1 month

You can also make use of this link and get a 15% discount for any tariff plan.

PIA offers no free trial but guarantees a 7-day money-back period.

Or you may read the full review of PIA

Price comparison table

For your convenience, I put every tariff plan and lowest price into a single table:

Mac VPNs: Prices comparison

Top 5 free VPNs for MAC

Before I start telling you about specific providers, I have to warn you: free VPNs that I know of all have substantial drawbacks.

Here’s the list of possible drawbacks of a free VPN:

• Very slow speed
• Traffic limit (to 1-10 Gb per month)
• Number of locations is limited to as few as 1-3
• No streaming support
• Keeps logs
• Huge amounts of ads
• Giving personal data away to third parties
• Various combinations of the above faults.

You have to choose either the high functionality of a VPN or a larger amount of traffic.

I’ll elaborate.

Free VPN services (which are more correctly called free plans of paid VPNs) restrict those parameters that may cause a maintenance cost increase.

For example, all VPNs that don’t limit traffic either limit speed to 20-80 Kbps (when the standard is 20-80 Mbps) or simply forbid torrenting and don’t support video streaming (Netflix, Hulu, etc.).

And vice versa, if all of the above is allowed, then traffic is going to be limited. It makes using a VPN for traffic-heavy purposes unviable.

It concerns every platform, including macOS.

I have tested dozens of such providers and chosen the least restricting ones in terms of both functionality and traffic.

Having tried dozens of such providers, I’ve selected the least limited of them.

1. Free ProtonVPN: Best free VPN for Mac

 

Are you familiar with Swiss quality? ProtonVPN is an example of it. This Swiss VPN was commercialized in 2017 and had good IT security groundwork with its ProtonMail service. As of this day, it is the most professional free VPN with the best attributes available.

The PC app provides the service of the highest quality but the Mac app outdoes other free VPNs as well.

A full-fledged free trial period of the best premium plan lasts for 7 days. It provides an opportunity to try out the power of VPN technology.

But that’s not it! After it runs out, you don’t have to buy a subscription. Instead, you can keep on using it for free but with a few restrictions:

1. Only the slower free servers are available in 3 countries:
   United States (US)
   Netherlands (NL)
   Japan (JP)
2. No torrenting allowed
3. Doesn’t work with Netflix

Besides, there are several important points I’ll list as pros and cons.

ProtonVPN for Mac: Pros

+ no traffic limit

+ relatively good speed

+ interactive location selection map

+ server load is displayed

ProtonVPN for Mac: Cons

- unavailable on the App Store (can be installed with a .dmg file)

- only 3 countries available

- no VPN settings in the Mac app (paid version included)

- no kill switch (paid version included)

- no torrenting allowed

- doesn’t work with Netflix

- the country list is impossible to scroll without a mouse

Despite its significant drawbacks, I placed ProtonVPN first for its good combo of the unlimited bandwidth and acceptable speed.

Or you can read the full review of ProtonVPN.

2. Free Hide.me for Mac: 2 Gb per month, good speed

 

Hide.me is a Malaysian service best suited for one-off tasks. It’s server speeds are good enough for a free VPN but it has too little free traffic. This makes its permanent use impossible.

The only useful setting present on macOS is the kill switch.

Hide.me for Mac: Pros

+ Relatively fast servers (2-9 Mbps)

+ Kill Switch

Hide.me for Mac: Cons

- 2 Gb of traffic per month

- 4 available countries:

• Canada (CA)
• Netherlands (NL)
• Singapore (SG)
• USA (US)

Hide.me is a simple VPN with a small location choice but it fits well for the rare usage or one-off downloads of 1.5-2 Gb files.

You can also read our hide.me review.

3. Free Hotspot Shield for Mac: Maximally easy to use

 

This service is one of the oldest free VPNs. It works great on Mac, effectively securing your internet connection.

Hotspot Shield features a daily data limit, not a monthly one. This is convenient for constant use, since there is no risk of running through your entire bandwidth in 1-2 days.

Hotspot Shield for Mac: Pros

+ Relatively fast servers (2-9 Mbps)

+ Kill Switch

+ Quick installation

Hotspot Shield for Mac: Cons

- 1 server location

• Netherlands (NL)

HotspotShield is suitable for safe web surfing. Its free plan doesn't support Netflix. To unblock geo-restricted video streaming services, you can upgrade to an inexpensive paid plan.

4. VPN Gate for Mac: 100% free

 

The only good 100% free VPN service suitable for Mac is VPN Gate.

Something that all fully free VPNs have in common is the absence of apps. To use them, you have to install third-party programs. VPN Gate also doesn’t have apps for Mac. But if you want to and have a bit of time, you can install Tunnelblick (a free OpenVPN client for Mac) and set it up to work with VPN Gate.

What are the good things about VPN Gate?

+ The SoftEther VPN protocol. This protocol is safe to use. It was developed at the University of Tsukuba, Japan.

+ A huge location choice. PCs of other VPN Gate users (volunteers) are used instead of servers. Don’t worry: it’s only the case if you install special software.

+ Pretty good speeds. Connection speeds can vary greatly: from single-digit Kbps to dozens of Mbps.

Drawbacks of VPN Gate for Mac:

- No apps. As I said, fully free VPNs don’t provide apps. VPN Gate doesn’t either. It offers a Windows client but no software for Mac.

- Hard to install. To make VPN Gate work on macOS, you have to install a VPN client and configure it. You can find a guide on how to do that on the VPN Gate website.

- Manual server searching. Sometimes, you have to go through 5 to 10 servers (by downloading and importing their settings into a VPN client) before you find one that works with a decent speed.

- Servers are mostly in Asia. It’s really difficult to find a working US or EU server. About 80% of the locations are servers in Japan, Korea, and Hong Kong.

- Can switch off at any time. As VPN servers belong to volunteers, they can be turned off or on at any moment.

- Torrenting isn’t allowed.

You can download the OpenVPN client for Mac that supports the VPN Gate configuration by following this link.

Detailed review of VPN Gate

Besides, you can read our VPN comparison with 10 really best providers of 2022.

5. Free TunnelBear: 0.5 Gb per month, good app

 

TunnelBear’s traffic limit is even more severe: 500 Mb per month. It can be used only to solve some one-time small tasks because it’s too little for regular web-surfing.

TunnelBear has arguably the most well-designed app for Mac. Every action of the user is accompanied by an amazing animation. A cute bear digs tunnels and looks out of the spot of the virtual VPN connection on the map.

The free TunnelBear version offers locations in 22 countries, which is more than the same parameter of most other free VPNs.

It also has a kill switch and GhostBear (obfuscation to bypass state-imposed blocks). However, GhostBear doesn’t help to bypass censorship in China as TunnelBear’s servers are blocked there.

The provider offers the opportunity to increase the traffic limit up to 1 Gb. To do that, you need to twit about TunnelBear:

Pros of free TunnelBear:

+ Good speed (2-9 Mbps)

+ Has a kill switch

+ 22 countries

Cons of free TunnelBear:

- 0.5-1 GB of monthly traffic

To start using the free version of TunnelBear, you have to choose the Free plan on TunnelBear’s website, sign up by entering your email,  and download and install the app.

Or you may read the full review of TunnelBear.

How to manually set up a VPN on MacOS

If you were sent a file with VPN settings, double-click on it. This will open the network settings.

Go to Apple → "System Settings" → "Network" → "Actions". Click on "Import configurations" and click on "Import".

Now for the full manual installation:

• Apple Menu → "System Preferences" → "Network".
• Click on "Add" → "Interface" and add "VPN".
• In the "VPN Type" menu that opens, select the protocol you want to use.
• Name the VPN and click "Create".
• Write the server address, account name.
• Click on "Authentication Settings" and enter the information you got from the network administrator.
• You can further configure the proxy in the "Advanced" section.
• Click on "Apply" → "OK".

How to manually set up a VPN on MacOS

If you have been sent a file containing your VPN settings, double-click on it. The network settings will open.

Go to Apple → "System Settings" → "Network" → "Actions". Click on "Import configurations" and click on "Import".

Now for the full manual installation:

• Apple menu → "System Settings" → "Network"
• Click on "Add" → "Interface" and add "VPN"
• In the "VPN type" menu that opens, select the protocol you want to work through
• Name it VPN and click "Create"
• Enter the server address, account name
• Click on "Authentication settings" and enter the information you got from the network administrator
• You can also set up a proxy in the "Advanced" section
• Click on "Apply" → "OK"

Alternatively, here are detailed instructions on how to set up a VPN connection on your Mac:

1. Disable IPSec through the Terminal:

Go to "Finder" - "Programs" - "Utilities" - "Terminal" and enter the following line:

sudo bash

The system will prompt for an admin password. Enter the password.

Then enter the following lines:

echo "plugin L2TP.ppp" >> /etc/ppp/options

echo "l2tpnoipsec" >> /etc/ppp/options

You have now disabled IPSec verification on the system. You can close the terminal and continue with the configuration.

2. Go to "Finder" - "Programs" - "System settings" under "Internet and wireless networking" - "Network".
3. Then go to "Placement" and select "Edit Placement".
4. "Placement" - at the bottom press Plus (+) and name the new placement, e.g. Mysecur. Press the "Done" button.
5. "Placement": Mysecur.

Select from the menu on the left - Ethernet.

Configure IPv4 - Using DHCP.

Click on "Apply".

The local network is configured. Now create a connection to the internet VPN (L2TP).  

6. In the menu on the left, press Plus (+): select interface and enter the name of the new service.

Interface: VPN

VPN type: L2TP over IPSec

Service name: Mysecur L2TP

Click on the button "New".

7. In the menu on the left, select Mysecur L2TP.

Configuration: Default

Server address: Enter the address of your VPN server, which you can get from your VPN provider. Address vpn.myvpn.com is given as an example!

Account name: Your login name (for example 0892)

Check the box "Show VPN status" on the menu bar. Click on "Apply".

8.  Click on "Identity settings".

Check the Password box. Enter your password.

Press "Оk".

9. Click the "Advanced" button:

In the Settings menu, tick the checkboxes:

• Disable when user account is switched
• Disconnect when user logs off
• Send all traffic through VPN

In the TCP/IP menu

• Configure IPv4: Using PPP
• Configure IPv6: Off
• Press Ok

10.  At the bottom left, click on the gear.

In the Select Service Order list... In the window that appears:

Your location: Mysecur

Service order: The Mysecur L2TP service must be placed first. To do this, drag it to the top.

Click on "Ok" and then on "Apply".

11. The configuration is now complete. Click on "Connect".

FAQ

How do I create a VPN on Mac?

To create VPN on Mac, you need to use a VPN service that provides access to its servers through which a safe VPN connection is established.

To do that, you need to:

1. Choose a VPN service based on your needs. The optimal variant is to use a multifunctional VPN like one of those mentioned in this article.
2. Sign up and choose the subscription length you want. The longer it is, the lower is the cost of service per month. All the VPNs on the list are time-tested and have a good reputation finance-wise, including a problem-free money refund within 7-45 days.
3. Download and install software for Mac. You can do that either with the installer provided by the service (we can confirm the safety of this method) or use a link to the Mac App Store if you choose NordVPN or Surfshark. Other VPNs are only available with an installer.
4. Enter the login and password in the app, choose a country or use the suggested one, and turn the VPN on.

That’s all you need to do.

After you turn the VPN on, all the traffic of your computer, including the traffic of web browsers, system, and all the other apps, will be packed into a VPN channel established to the server. The traffic will then go to its destination only from that server and vice versa.

Are there free trial VPNs for Mac?

There are! CyberGhost VPN has a 24-hour trial period and that’s not to mention services with longer trials. Usually, they provide 7 days’ worth of trial.

I’d like to emphasize that some free trials require credit card information when signing up while others don’t. You can read more about that in our article about free trial VPNs. In it, you’ll also find out what services provide a trial period on Mac.

What VPN works well both on Mac and PC?

All the providers in this article have almost the same functionality and safety parameters for macOS and Windows. I should also note that paid subscriptions allow using from 6 (NordVPN) to an unlimited number of devices (Surfshark) simultaneously.

More on the features of VPNs on all the platforms in our big review of the best VPN services.

What versions of macOS do the VPNs in the article support?

Generally speaking, VPN services provide software for macOS versions 10.12 Sierra and higher. It means that most VPNs are compatible with macOS Sierra, High Sierra, Mojave, and Catalina.

ExpressVPN is an exception because it is also compatible with earlier versions of the system.

At the same time, it doesn’t matter if you are using a MacBook or an iMac: you can install a VPN on any device running on macOS.

What third-party VPN client is good for Mac?

In case you don’t want or, for some reason, can’t use premade software offered by VPN services, you can install and configure a third-party VPN client. To do that, you need to make use of configuration files for manual settings provided by every service in this article.

The most popular and functional VPN client for Mac is Tunnelblick.

It is free open-source software that supports the OpenVPN protocol on macOS.

If we are to compare it to the regular OpenVPN client made for PC, Tunnelblick is significantly more powerful and convenient. Besides, it has a built-in kill switch to prevent data leaks when the VPN reconnects.

How do I set up PPTP and L2TP on Mac?

To use standard VPN protocols such as PPTP and L2TP, you can use the apps of VPN services, some of which support not only IKEv2 but also older protocols. Alternatively, you can set up the system preferences by using the config provided by the service.

It can be done in Apple menu > System Preferences > Network preferences.

Should only use PPTP and L2TP unless you have no other choice. They can be dangerous and vulnerable to attacks.