- Exceptional price-to-performance ratio
- Lots of unique privacy features
- Supports Apple TV, iOS/iPadOS and MacOS
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
- RAM-only server network
- 14 Eyes jurisdiction (Netherlands)
- No transparency reports
- Significant renewal price increase
- User-friendly app on MacOS and all other platforms
- Apple TV, iOS/iPadOS and MacOS apps for the whole Apple ecosystem
- Strong commitment to privacy and transparency
- Forward-thinking security enhancements
- Excellent for streaming -- unblocks Netflix, Disney Plus and other popular streaming services
- Privacy-friendly jurisdiction (British Virgin Islands)
- Extremely expensive
- Only eight simultaneous connections
- No way to opt-out of potentially unwanted extra features
- Extremely fast speeds on MacOS
- Excellent for streaming -- unblocks Netflix, Max and other popular streaming services
- Vast network of global server locations
- Intuitive MacOS app
- Expensive renewal pricing
- Excellent privacy and transparency
- Fast MacOS speeds
- Great for streaming -- unblocks Netflix, BBC iPlayer and other popular streaming services
- Open-source apps
- The best free VPN on the market
- 10 simultaneous connections
- Faulty disconnect warning when switching servers on MacOS
- No 24/7 live chat
- App design could be more user-friendly
- Cheap prices
- Open-source apps
- Split tunneling available on MacOS
- Excellent privacy and transparency
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
- Great for streaming -- unblocks Hulu and Amazon Prime Video on MacOS, along with other popular streaming services
- Apple TV, iOS/iPadOS and MacOS apps for the whole Apple ecosystem
- US jurisdiction
- Middling connection speeds
- MacOS app feels a little outdated
The best Mac VPN in 2025
Surfshark is the best Mac VPN, undercutting most of the competition without sacrificing speed or privacy. You'll find some unique privacy features with Surfshark, including Dynamic MultiHop, Rotating IP and Alternative ID. Surfshark also offers split tunneling for MacOS, iOS and iPadOS devices, a rarity among VPN providers.
ExpressVPN is the runner-up VPN for Mac computers. We appreciate its dedication to privacy and transparency, its quick connection speeds and its extremely user-friendly Mac app that's simple to navigate for VPN beginners and seasoned privacy enthusiasts alike. Additionally, ExpressVPN offers intuitive apps for all other platforms and is great for streaming.
NordVPN is the fastest VPN for Mac -- and other devices, too, for that matter. Its exhaustive global server network, best-in-class speeds and excellent streaming service unblocking make it a great choice for travel and streaming.
PIA is the best cheap VPN for Macs. Despite its uneven speed loss, PIA is a good choice for casual VPN users and includes some nifty privacy amenities, like split tunneling on MacOS.
| ExpressVPN | Surfshark | NordVPN | PIA | |
| Price | $13 per month, $100 for the first year (then $117) or $140 for the first two years (then $150 per year) | $15 per month, $48 the first year or $54 total for the first two years (one- and two-year plans renew at $79 per year) | $13 per month, $60 for a year or $83 for two years (one- and two-year plans auto-renew at $140 a year) | $12 per month, $40 for the first year (then $50 per year) or $79 for three years |
| Server network | 3,000-plus servers in 105 countries | 3,200-plus servers in 100 countries | 7,400-plus servers in 118 countries | 35,000-plus servers in 91 countries |
| Average internet speed loss | 18% | 21% | 3% | 48% |
| Simultaneous connections | 8 | Unlimited | 10 | Unlimited |
| Apple device compatibility | MacOS, iOS, iPadOS, Apple TV | MacOS, iOS, iPadOS, Apple TV | MacOS, iOS, iPadOS, Apple TV | MacOS, iOS, iPadOS, Apple TV |
| Supported platforms | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, Android TV, iOS, iPadOS, Apple TV, Fire TV, Web browsers, Routers | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, Android TV, iOS, iPadOS, Apple TV, Fire TV, Web browsers, Routers | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, Android TV, iOS, iPadOS, Apple TV, Fire TV, Web browsers, Routers | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, Android TV, iOS, iPadOS, Apple TV, Fire TV, Web browsers, Routers |
Why use a VPN for Mac
Using a VPN on your Mac laptop or desktop boosts your privacy, which offers several benefits. For a start, VPNs improve your privacy by encrypting your internet traffic, effectively hiding your online activity from your ISP, government entities and other online snoops. A VPN also masks your true IP address, hiding it from the sites and services you visit and making it look like you're connecting from a different city, state or country. When you connect to a website or app using a VPN, the site will only see the IP address of the VPN server and will therefore register the ___location of the server you're connected to.
Accordingly, you can bypass regional restrictions imposed by streaming sites, thus letting you watch BBC iPlayer outside of the UK or access foreign Netflix libraries. VPNs are invaluable if you’re traveling abroad, as they allow you to access all the content you’re used to as if you’re in the privacy of your own home. You might even be able to save money by using a VPN for streaming.
The best Mac VPNs do everything from enhancing your privacy to unlocking international streaming content, all for relatively affordable prices. The providers we’ve picked offer great MacOS client apps, putting these apps on par with their Windows counterparts. Whether you’re using one on your MacBook Air, MacBook Pro or Mac desktop computer, it’s worth adding one of the best Mac VPNs to your app arsenal.
Factors to consider in a Mac VPN
Most VPN providers offer a VPN app for Mac computers, but it can be difficult to choose the right provider with so many options available. Based on our extensive research and hands-on testing of VPNs over the years, these are the most important factors to consider when choosing a VPN:
Privacy
The primary consideration for any VPN -- including a Mac VPN -- should be privacy. If your Mac VPN is unable to sufficiently protect your online privacy, then your VPN is useless. At a minimum, your VPN should employ industry standard AES 256-bit encryption (with the OpenVPN or IKEv2 VPN protocols) or ChaCha20 (with the WireGuard or IKEv2 VPN protocol), along with offering basic privacy protections like a kill switch, DNS leak protection and a no-logs policy. For critical privacy needs, you'll also want a VPN provider that's based in a privacy-friendly jurisdiction, offers obfuscation and has a RAM-only server architecture. Additional privacy features to look out for include Tor over VPN capabilities, ad and tracker blockers and multihop connections. Also, look for a VPN that undergoes regular third-party security audits, as audits can help bolster trust in the VPN's ability to protect its users' privacy.
Speed
Mac computers are generally known to be pretty fast, so you'll probably want a fast VPN that can deliver excellent speeds. The speed of your VPN can have a major effect on activities like streaming, downloading, video conferencing, gaming and general web browsing. All VPNs lower your connection speed somewhat, so to keep things running as smoothly as possible, you'll want to look for a VPN that will have as minimal an impact on your regular internet speeds as possible. Generally, the best VPNs only drop your download speed by an average of 25% or less, with the best performers -- NordVPN, Proton VPN and ExpressVPN -- staying under 20% speed loss.
Usability
MacOS is designed to be clean and intuitive, so if you're used to the feel of the operating system, you'd probably want a similar experience with the VPN software you use. A good Mac VPN should run smoothly and have a decluttered user interface that's easy to use regardless of your technical expertise. It should have a large network of servers around the world so you can connect easily and reliably from wherever you are, and it should be able to help you access geo-restricted content from various regions. You should also consider advanced features, like specialty servers (such as Tor over VPN and obfuscated servers), double hop/multi-hop, a dedicated IP address and split tunneling (which lets you use a VPN connection for some VPN apps but not others).
Cost
VPN pricing varies greatly from provider to provider, so if you're on a budget, you may want to consider the cost and overall value of your MacOS VPN. Typically, you can expect to spend about $5 to $15 a month for a monthly VPN subscription plan. If you want to save money, you can opt for an annual subscription, where prices can range from roughly $50 to $150 a year. Be careful with free VPNs, though, because you may end up putting your privacy at risk instead of protecting it if you go with a free option. Proton VPN is currently the only free VPN that CNET recommends. However, most VPNs offer a money-back guarantee that can be anywhere from a week to 45 days. You can also get a seven-day free trial with many VPNs if you sign up through Apple's App Store. So you'll most likely have options to try various Mac VPNs risk-free before you decide whether to fully invest in one.
Device support
You'll want a VPN that works well on your Mac devices, like your MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, Mac Mini, Mac Studio or Mac Pro. Additionally, if you're heavily ingrained in the Apple ecosystem, you may want to consider a VPN that works well on your iPhone, iPad and even Apple TV. Thankfully, most VPNs support MacOS and iOS/iPadOS, and Apple TV compatibility is increasingly common. With the majority of VPN providers, you can install a VPN on all of your Mac devices, from MacBooks and Mac desktops to iPhones, iPads and Apple TV streaming boxes.
Streaming
VPNs can elevate your streaming experience thanks to their ability to hide your IP address, thereby making apps and websites think you're in a different geographical ___location. For instance, you can use a VPN to unblock region-restricted content, like watching Max while traveling outside the US, or watching BBC iPlayer while vacationing outside the UK. Alternatively, you can access foreign Netflix, Disney Plus and Amazon Prime Video libraries. Think about the streaming services you want to use with a VPN, and make sure those apps work with your desired VPN service. If you want to install a VPN on your smart TV, Android TV device, Amazon Fire TV or Apple TV, make sure your VPN provider has a compatible app for that device. Using a VPN for streaming may even help you save money on streaming service subscriptions.
How we test Mac VPNs
When we determine the best Mac VPN for our readers, we address a number of factors that are fundamental to being a Mac user: First, you're used to a clean, intuitive user interface with a minimal learning curve and a well-organized set of digital tools. That's why we thoroughly test each VPN's features and overall usability. In addition, though not all Apple products are faster than a Windows or PC device, we test each VPN's connection speeds to see how it complements MacOS machines' reputation for being fast.
We also know that for a lot of Mac users, a broad resistance to app-borne viruses and malware is a big reason for choosing that ecosystem over Windows. To that end, we assess a VPN's antitracker capacity and its general compatibility with Apple's increasingly bolstered privacy policies. We test for leaks and we test each service's kill switch functionality to ensure it's working as it should. We test each VPN's ability to circumvent geographical restrictions, and we evaluate each provider's pricing to determine the service's overall value.
One thing we look for in particular on Macs is whether a VPN offers split tunneling, which is useful if you need your VPN for some activities, but don't it want to slow down your streaming, for example. Most VPN don't offer split tunneling on Mac due to technical complications, so we're especially impressed with the VPNs that make it work.
Other Mac VPNs we tested
IPVanish
IPVanish is a US-based VPN provider that's a good option for VPN newbies or casual users. Its Mac app is simple and user-friendly and offers a multitude of options to connect to a VPN server. With 2,400-plus servers in 109 countries, IPVanish has a solid global reach. IPVanish's Optimal Location feature is the quickest and easiest way to connect to a server. Unfortunately, its speeds proved underwhelming, with a 44% average internet speed loss in our 2024 tests. While it's fine for casual users, there are faster, more privacy feature-rich VPNs on the market that give you better value for your money.
What is the best free VPN for Mac?
Proton VPN's free tier is the only free VPN we've come across so far that's worth using. It costs a lot of money to operate a VPN, and free VPN services usually make up for the lack of subscription revenue by selling user data. In addition to being limited in usability and light on privacy and security, many free VPNs are fronts for malware distribution, which is why it's generally best to avoid them. However, Proton VPN's unlimited free tier is fast, privacy and can be used for most online activities, including streaming Netflix. But if you're on a budget and want access to a premium VPN solution, you can also take a look at our picks for the best cheap VPNs.
How to set up a VPN on Mac
The easiest way to set up a VPN on your Mac is by downloading your VPN provider's app from the Apple App store or directly from your VPN service's website. Then, once installed, fire up the app and log in with your username and password. Once you've logged in, you'll see the app's home screen, from which you'll typically be able to quickly connect to the closest/most optimal server ___location. If you want to manually select a server, you can select one from the server list -- which you can usually access easily right from the home screen. If you want to adjust certain settings, or connect through a specific protocol, you can do so from the Mac VPN app's settings menu. The best VPNs for Mac require little to no learning curve and are designed to be as easy to set up and use as any other app you would use on your Mac.
What to look forward to in 2025
In 2025, we can look forward to the best VPNs for Mac getting even more refined than they already are in terms of performance and features. A handful of the top VPNs have been adding services like password managers, antivirus solutions, secure email and identity protection features to their portfolio -- services that can be bundled with your base VPN subscription for an additional charge. While these companies are still very much VPN-first, the general direction they're taking is toward becoming comprehensive privacy/cybersecurity companies. We've already started seeing some of the additional features added to existing VPN apps, but we're likely to see them integrated more into a single app where you can access everything from a single dashboard rather than installing a separate app for each individual service.
We'll also start seeing a greater degree of parity between apps on different platforms, giving users access to largely the same set of features regardless of which operating system they're using. We're already starting to see this trend increase as a few VPN providers have begun to re-introduce split-tunneling to their MacOS and iOS apps. Additionally, we'll see providers committing to more regular audits, increasing their simultaneous connection allowance and refining their pricing structures. Finally, we'll continue to see a wider implementation of forward-thinking privacy features like post-quantum protection.