Finest VPN for Mac 2025: Mac VPN evaluations and shopping for recommendation

• 5,300 servers
• 10 simultaneous connections

NordVPN is among the greatest and best-known VPN providers. It’s a totally featured VPN choice that’s safe, simple to make use of, and unbelievably quick in comparison with its opponents. There are cheaper choices, with limitless connections and extra in-depth VPN options, however NordVPN is our best choice proper now as a result of it stands out in so many areas, from pace and privateness to unblocking and ease of use.

There are greater than 5,300 servers (none of that are digital) out there throughout 60 nations, which sounds nice. You in all probability solely care concerning the servers the place you need to unblock content material, however the extra servers the higher because it means you might have a greater probability of discovering one which’s not overloaded. You gained’t have to determine which one to decide on because of the helpful ‘Fast join’ characteristic that picks the server finest suited to your wants.

Connections are quick and dependable, and NordVPN unblocks widespread streaming providers all over the world together with Netflix and BBC iPlayer. You’ll be able to join as much as six gadgets concurrently together with your Apple TV.

Nord has added help for the quicker WireGuard protocol in NordLynx, making it one of many quickest VPN providers on the market. Nevertheless, it’s solely out there on the ‘IKE’ model of the app, which solely presents a completely enabled kill change. To have extra management, you’ll must obtain the ‘OpenVPN’ model, albeit with barely slower speeds.

Nord has an up-to-date impartial audit. It additionally has specialty servers for particular functions.

Nord steadily has offers on supply that get monetary savings on the standard month-to-month worth in the event you reap the benefits of the two-year plan. NordVPN presents three tiers: Customary, Plus and Final. You will get Plus options (information breach scanner and password supervisor) or the Final tier provides cloud storage and insurance coverage choices.

Costs change on a regular basis, so check out the costs and plans at NordVPN.com.

• 3,200 servers in 100 nations
• Limitless simultaneous connections

Surfshark is a dependable, inexpensive choice with greater than 3000 servers unfold throughout 100 nations. Surfshark’s community is among the widest and most different of any VPN.

Its apps, which work with Macs, iPhones, and even Apple TV, in addition to different gadgets, are simple to make use of. The macOS app presents gentle and darkish modes, and you’ll choose to have it proven within the dock or the menu bar. The iOS model of SurfShark presents options like MultiHop and Devoted IP – it’s not a watered-down variations of their desktop VPN.

SurfShark presents three tiers of options at various worth factors. SurfShark Starter presents VPN performance in addition to an advert blocker and the choice to generate a proxy e mail deal with and private particulars. SurfShark One provides e mail and fee element breach alerts, in addition to private information safety experiences, antivirus and different malware safety. And the One+ plan provides information removing from firm databases and other people search websites.

Once we reviewed Surfshark beforehand we had some efficiency points, however this time round issues had been loads higher. With WireGuard, SurfShark is the slickest VPN round, eradicating little or no pace from my connection. OpenVPN, the place we had issues beforehand, was a lot swifter this time round. Whichever protocol we used, we had been in a position to flick between streaming libraries with ease.

These protocols additionally supply various levels of encryption to maintain your information safe. The Kill Swap characteristic is billed as a “security internet”, It’ll shut down your connection in case your VPN connection falters, stopping private information from sneaking out to unhealthy actors.

Surfshark is is headquartered within the Netherlands and has a privacy-minded no-logs coverage that’s commonly audited. Surfshark’s course of means it logs a small quantity of knowledge that’s then scrubbed from its servers with quarter-hour of closing the connection.

For much more safety, the Antivirus Scan characteristic (out there with Surfshark One and One+) can run scheduled background scans in the event you go away the app open. Ransomware Protect and Webcam Safety can cease your private folders and {hardware} digicam from falling into the unsuitable arms respectively, and the app will continuously look to replace its database of viruses to cross-reference information.

Signal as much as Surfshark right here.

• 2,000 servers
• 8 simultaneous connections

If you wish to circumnavigate geoblocking to get entry to content material not out there the place you reside, shield your information whereas shopping the online from a public community, and preserve your internet shopping habits personal, ExpressVPN, with its server places throughout 105 nations, can do nearly all of this with two or three clicks.

ExpressVPN is remarkably simple to make use of, however in case you have any difficulties the 24-hour dwell chat means you might be linked to an actual human to debate points inside minutes.

There are native apps on iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac, Android and Home windows. Plus you should use it on eight gadgets without delay (the restrict was 5 beforehand).

Like all VPNs there’s some pace loss since you are routing through a server in a foreign country, however ExpressVPN does effectively to mitigate this, dropping lower than 13% of obtain pace in our testing. NordVPN stays quicker with a 12% loss in our checks, however ExpressVPN’s 13% continues to be higher than most.

ExpressVPN presents no fewer than six completely different decisions for protocol. Lightway, the corporate’s personal choice, is fast. For improved compatibility you possibly can change to a different model of Lightway or OpenVPN – issues slowed down with  24% of pace loss with the latter.

There’s no Malware safety with ExpressVPN, however you possibly can set up a password supervisor known as ExpressVPN Keys.

The corporate is headquartered within the British Virgin Islands, so it’s free from the vast majority of intelligence-sharing businesses’ jurisdiction. Whereas it additionally operates a no-log coverage, it doesn’t have PureVPN’s “always-on” audit course of, nevertheless it undergoes audits annually.

ExpressVPN’s dearer than lots of its contemporaries and doesn’t permit entry from limitless gadgets (simply eight). However you get a strong, speedy reference to minimal fuss, and also you don’t need to tie-in for a two-year deal to get one of the best worth. That latter level is necessary as a result of VPN laws can change commonly.

See ExpressVPN subscription plans right here.

• 6,500+ servers in 100+ nations (entry servers in 5 nations on free plan, on one gadget)
• 10 simultaneous connections

ProtonVPN’s free tier of membership helps to set Proton VPN other than a few of its rivals. It’s naturally restricted, with US, Japan, and Netherlands because the server places and a few pace drop – nevertheless it’s nonetheless fairly usable

For those who pay for the service it presents a smooth interface, spectacular connection speeds and nearly sufficient options to enhance your day-to-day internet expertise with out throwing too many advanced ideas at new customers. 

Proton VPN Plus presents a number of options, together with an advert and tracker blocker and pace of as much as 10 Gbps, in addition to a 10-device restrict. There’s Port Forwarding for downloads and gaming, too, in addition to a Kill Swap for disconnecting ought to the VPN drop out.

Some VPN providers supply options like darkish internet information notifications. Proton VPN sticks to the fundamentals – and does so very effectively. The firm’s “no-logs” coverage confirms it doesn’t observe websites, IP addresses, communications, or session lengths, nor does it observe location-based info. Proton is Swiss-based, and solely Swiss courtroom orders can request information from the corporate, however because it doesn’t log information there’s little or no it could actually supply to legislation enforcement.

For the privacy-minded, Safe Core, routes site visitors by one of many firm’s ‘Safe’ servers, minimizing the potential of a knowledge leak. These safe servers are owned by Proton and are situated in additional than 90 nations.

Proton VPN does enhance latency, however solely by about 29% in our testing on a modest 60 Mbps broadband. In reality, it’s solely about 7% slower when downloading and 5.5% slower when importing, making it one of many slicker VPNs we’ve examined.

By way of included VPN protocols, Sensible will likely be perfect for many customers, robotically setting the best protocol in your present utilization, however WireGuard, WireGuard (TCP), IKEv2 and Stealth are additionally provided.

Proton VPN is a simple advice each for brand spanking new and skilled customers.

Join Proton’s subscription plans right here.

• 800+ servers in 49+ nations
• 10 simultaneous connections

FastestVPN packs spectacular VPN efficiency, however that’s just one aspect of what makes it price a glance. It’s additionally comparatively low cost in comparison with many rivals, and has seen a bunch of enhancements since we took a glance in 2021.

The app is smooth and simple to make use of and presents 10 simultaneous connections.

FastestVPN is headquartered within the Cayman islands and has undergone a third-party audit from Altius to verify its no-logs coverage.

Because the final time we checked out it it’s gained a quantity energy person options like multi-hop connections. It additionally now options an Web Kill Swap to close down all site visitors in case your VPN drops for any cause. It’s also possible to use Sensible Tunneling to make sure sure apps go through a VPN whereas others don’t.

Will FastestVPN provide help to get round geoblocks? Sure, in actual fact, FastestVPN highlights sure streaming-focused servers to assist get round geoblocking.

You’ll discover a wide range of VPN protocols to select from, with Wireguard, OpenVPN (TCP and UDP choices) and IKEv2 out there, and Servers have not too long ago been up to date to 10 Gbps choices, however regardless of the identify, it’s not the quickest round. Nevertheless, it’s so inexpensive that it’s laborious to not suggest, with a lifetime worth of $40 (usually $600), which we’ve even seen diminished to simply $30!

FastestVPN does a terrific job and for lots lower than others. FastestVPN has greater than 800 servers, which is loads – however in context, that’s dramatically lower than NordVPN or ExpressVPN. Rivals do supply a bigger server depend, however the ease of use, and low barrier of entry, make FastestVPN certainly one of our greatest VPN picks in 2025.

FastestVPN is out there on Mac in addition to Home windows, iOS, iPadOS, Android, and lots extra apps.

See FastestVPNs plans right here.

• 700+ servers
• 5 connections

Mullvad doesn’t supply recurring plans, you pay €5 a month whether or not you join a month, a yr or longer. The one worth change will likely be depending on the change price from euros at the moment. This manner you aren’t caught up in a recurring subscription and Mullvad doesn’t retailer your private info – a terrific instance of its privacy-first mindset. You’ll be able to even purchase pay as you go playing cards in the event you don’t need to log fee info, which makes Mullvad the best VPN service for anybody trying to go away a minimal digital footprint.

Break up Tunnelling, multihop connections and even an AI-focused defence mechanism known as DAITA are included.

Efficiency is superb and there are many options that may be paid additions elsewhere. For instance, the Kill Swap to chop site visitors if the VPN drops, and a Lockdown Mode that forces the person to reconnect through Mullvad if the connection drops. Multihop will bounce your connection through a number of servers, and break up tunnelling is out there so you possibly can ship some site visitors through the VPN and ignore it for others. There’s additionally an advert blocker.

It’s out there on Mac, Home windows, iOS, iPadOS, and Android. It’s accessed completely from the menu bar on Mac. The iPhone and iPad apps pack loads of energy person options that in some providers are restricted to desktop, like multihop connections and the DAITA safety. DAITA (Defence towards AI-guided Site visitors Evaluation) will add ‘community noise’ so information packets are all the identical measurement.

The principle disadvantages are the 5 gadget restrict, which is decrease than many VPNs, and. a decrease server depend. It has 700, however that is nonetheless decrease than the likes of NordVPN with over 7,000. Mullvad’s servers are all actual, not digital, servers although. Connection speeds are spectacular.

Mullvad is a incredible VPN service that’s about as privacy-minded as might be. It won’t have probably the most servers, however that’s a small worth to pay for the service on supply.

Signal as much as Mullvad right here.

• 35,000+ servers, 91 nations
• Limitless connections

Personal Web Entry (PIA) is a robust VPN designed for savvy customers, providing “energy person” instruments and options equivalent to customized DNS, connection guidelines, break up tunnelling, and extra at a decrease price than many opponents. The PIA Mac app presents just about every part its Microsoft counterpart does. 

The app can be utilized on any gadget and presents servers in 91 nations. In my testing, the “auto” setting did a great job of choosing servers that balanced pace and privateness.

The principle window gives info on efficiency graphs, obtain and add speeds, and fast settings for instruments like Gentle Mode, Port Forwarding, and LAN connections.

Whereas you should use PIA for getting round geoblocked content material in your streaming providers, PIA is extra privacy-focused than different VPNs, with options just like the Superior Kill Swap, Break up Tunnelling, port forwarding, and Multi-Hop server obfuscation. PIA additionally presents customizable options like automation setup and DNS choices. 

Personal Web Entry can’t beat the speeds of NordVPN and Surfshark, and its stablemate CyberGhost VPN presents extra spectacular speeds, however at the price of some energy options. In our testing, we noticed an affordable drop of round 8% on Mac whereas utilizing the PIA VPN. Add speeds dropped significantly– by round 25%, which can be a difficulty in the event you do quite a lot of importing. 

Its zero-log coverage has been verified by Deloitte Audit Romania.

Regardless of inconsistent speeds, Personal Web Entry is a superb VPN for all budgets with a wealth of options for privacy-inclined customers.

Subscribe to Personal Web Entry right here.

• Greater than 50 servers
• Six gadget restrict

MacPaw’s ClearVPN service is a VPN that lacks many extra superior options provided by its rivals, however then again, it’s one of many best to make use of. With a pleasant UI and easy-to-use options it’s thoughtfully designed for VPN newcomers. It actually is so simple as hitting a button to attach.

Within the settings are choices to dam adverts, preserve ClearVPN within the dock, and a Kill Swap so that you could reduce site visitors out of your gadget if the connection to the VPN is damaged.

It’s all fairly primary stuff, nevertheless it’s provided in such an easy-to-use means that it’s laborious to not recognize the simplicity. There are additionally helpful keyboard shortcuts to maneuver across the app.

There are greater than 50 servers, which feels like loads, nevertheless it’s dwarfed rivals who’ve 1000’s of servers. Meaning your decisions are restricted, however no less than ClearVPN helps you to filter between Optimum Location or leaping straight to one thing like Disney Plus US or UK.

One of many extra frequent energy person options for VPNs is break up tunneling, which lets some site visitors undergo the VPN whereas some goes round it. That’s not supported right here.

Sadly, MacPaw’s VPN speeds additionally want some work. We noticed appreciable pace drops throughout a number of servers – even nearer ones. We noticed drops of round 20 to 30 % in obtain pace, and round 50 % for add pace. It’s nonetheless quick sufficient to make use of Netflix, nevertheless it’s slower than the vast majority of alternate options on the market.

Most VPN firms use exterior auditors to confirm that they’re not recording person or session information, however ClearVPN hasn’t undergone one on the time of writing. This shouldn’t imply something untoward as the corporate is headquartered in Ukraine, which falls outdoors of assorted surveillance alliances, so it could actually’t be requested to share your information.

ClearVPN is priced affordably, however costs and the offers on supply change on a regular basis with VPNs. Look out for low month-to-month costs that don’t lock you in for too lengthy. There’s a six-device restrict.

For those who’re new to utilizing a VPN service, ClearVPN makes a compelling case to be your first alternative, and stress-free entry to Netflix across the globe, it’s a terrific starter choice. Nonetheless, the pace drop and lack of frequent options like break up tunneling seemingly imply energy customers ought to look elsewhere. It can save you cash by paying for the primary yr up entrance, however you can even pay month-to-month.

See full ClearVPN pricing right here.

• 6,500 servers, 78 nations
• 10 simultaneous connections

For those who’re on the lookout for a versatile VPN service that may get round geoblocking and is straightforward to make use of, PureVPN is effectively price a glance.

The essential plan consists of the VPN service and nothing extra, however you possibly can add a Password Supervisor and File Encryption instruments within the Plus plan. The Max plan provides a Digital Privateness Supervisor that requests your data be scrubbed by information brokers, blocks internet trackers, and recommends methods to maximise your privateness.

Whichever plan you go for you’ll be capable to join 10 gadgets without delay. PureVPN will run in your iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple TV, and is straightforward to make use of on every to allow you to hook up with over six thousand servers.

So far as getting round geo-blocks, we discovered PureVPN to be as simple as every other service to make use of. Choose a location, load your streaming service or app of alternative, and also you’re off.

PureVPN is registered within the British Virgin Islands, which is extra privacy-friendly than Hong Kong the place it operated beforehand. PureVPN presents one of many extra spectacular no-logging insurance policies, with an ongoing “always-on” audit course of whereby an auditor can request affirmation of that coverage at any time.

PureVPN has been winding down its digital servers, of which it has much less management. There are nonetheless 23 such servers, however PureVPN is clear about which servers are digital and that are bodily – you possibly can see a small ‘v’ subsequent to every digital server on the PureVPN web site.

On the time of writing PureVPN is providing greater than a whopping 80% off its plans in the event you join 24 months. Two years is a very long time on the planet of VPNs, however no less than means the complete month-to-month pricing gained’t kick in twelve months time.

See PureVPN presents right here.

• Greater than 245 servers
• 32 nations

Malwarebytes might be finest identified for antivirus software program and recommendation (see our overview of Malwarebytes Premium for Mac), nevertheless it additionally presents a standalone VPN service known as Malwarebytes Privateness VPN. It’s a simple to make use of app with the correct of privateness guarantees – as you’d count on.

Malwarebytes Privateness VPN is straightforward to make use of and presents speeds which might be higher than lots of its rivals for each downloads and uploads. It additionally has split-tunnelling through its ‘Connection guidelines’, and a Kill Swap to chop all site visitors if the VPN drops out.

There are some caveats — particularly that it options fewer server places than its rivals, and getting round geoblocks for various variations of streaming providers could be a tad inconsistent.

There’s no multi-hop server leaping, however the firm does have a verified no-logs coverage in place which implies info isn’t held a few person’s exercise.

See full Maywarebytes pricing right here

• 11,000+ servers in 100 nations
• 7 simultaneous connections

CyberGhost is a user-friendly app that connects to quite a few servers worldwide, making it perfect for streaming Netflix from completely different nations and routing site visitors away from untrustworthy open Wi-Fi networks. 

It presents core options like kill change help, break up tunnelling, and no bandwidth restrictions. CyberGhost’s no-logging audit historical past is thorough, and there’s a 45-day free trial out there.

CyberGhost apps might be downloaded for varied platforms, together with Chrome extension and sport consoles (we examined on Mac and iPhone). The app presents a easy “click on and go” connection course of, with a listing of server nations and a number of places. Encryption is commonplace throughout servers, and break up tunnelling prioritizes site visitors the place wanted. An automatic kill change can reduce connections if the VPN drops out, whereas ‘Block content material’ blocks DNS domains for adverts, trackers, and malware.

The app doesn’t supply something like Proton VPN’s Safe Core or extra options like a Password Supervisor, however subscription tiers are primarily based on including a devoted IP deal with. The VPN has over 9,000 servers situated in over 100 nations, with plans to increase in South America and Asia in late 2023.

CyberGhost VPN has a formidable no-logs coverage, which means nobody can entry data of your exercise whereas linked to the VPN. The app doesn’t supply the Darkish Internet monitor provided by NordVPN, nevertheless it does have an automatic kill change to chop connections if the VPN drops out. The DNS blocking characteristic is straightforward to make use of however doesn’t mean you can select what to dam.

CyberGhost presents a compelling package deal with only one predominant plan and a 45-day money-back assure. It’s a wonderful VPN for newcomers, with spectacular audits, an array of servers, respectable speeds, and easy-to-use apps.

See CyberGhost pricing right here.

Norton has a long time of expertise defending gadgets from cyber threats (learn our overview of Norton 360), however what or its VPN?

Norton’s VPN plans are, outdoors of the essential tier, tied into its safety software program. It additionally comes with a password supervisor, darkish internet monitor, and cloud storage, however the VPN aspect of issues is a little bit missing.

Maybe it’s from testing so lots of the finest VPN providers that we’ve grown used to a sure set of non-negotiables. Chief amongst them is browser extension choices to permit for fast switching, however on the time of writing, there’s no such providing from Norton.

Norton’s VPN does embrace loads of accoutrements that different VPNs both don’t have or cost further for. You’ll be able to set up the app in your iPhone, iPad, and Mac, and all three platforms have apps that work effectively and run properly within the background.

Norton presents Browser Safety, which scans websites as you browse. Norton additionally scans information earlier than they land in your gadget. This labored effectively in testing, with barely added any extra time to the size of downloads. There’s a password supervisor, nevertheless it’s tied to the center subscription tier and above.

VPNs naturally lower your web speeds as your sign is fired throughout the globe, and Norton has servers in 32 nations – a steep drop from the 111 in NordVPN’s portfolio – nevertheless it does supply 4 protocols to select from. IKEv2, OpenVPN and WireGuard are fairly generally discovered throughout the board of rivals, however Norton has its personal Mimic protocol which is meant to be perfect for unblocking worldwide streaming providers. Sadly, testing on a 70 Mbps connection noticed a constant pace drop-off. As for Mimic, Norton’s personal VPN protocol, I used to be upset to seek out some worldwide streaming providers merely weren’t in a position to be unblocked with it. Norton clarified that Mimic is particularly designed for patrons with particular use circumstances who’re unable to make use of WireGuard. We did have extra luck with the extra standardized protocols.

VPNs price their salt ought to all the time give attention to privateness as their main concern, and Norton does a great job, having undergone an audit from VerSprite, a safety agency.

It’s not a nasty VPN, and in the event you’re on the lookout for an choice that packs an entire host of cyber-security instruments into one easy-to-use package deal, it’s a terrific choice. It’s disappointing that there’s solely a pay yearly choice, the place different VPNs have the choice to pay month-to-month. Added to that may be a steep bounce in worth for the second yr. 

See full Norton Extremely VPN pricing right here

• 2,600+ servers in 90 nations
• 10 simultaneous connections

Cover.me is one other VPN service that has improved significantly in recent times.

In addition to providing a very free model (which none of its rivals right here do), it has additionally added WireGuard, which is significantly quicker than different encryption protocols.

Different key options embrace a customizable kill change and break up tunneling. Cover.me is the one VPN to supply Break up Tunnelling in macOS. They state on their web site: “cover.me VPN for macOS helps break up tunneling. You’ll be able to configure it within the shopper’s settings.”

Cover.me additionally presents Stealth Guard, which stops chosen apps from working with out the safety of a VPN connection.

It might probably unblock Netflix and means that you can entry BBC iPlayer from outdoors the UK. There’s additionally strong gadget help, with as much as 10 simultaneous connections permitted.

Malaysia-based, in recent times it has expanded the variety of servers and doubled the variety of nations it covers. Sadly, the third-party audit hasn’t been up to date since 2015

Nevertheless, the person interface on Mac is a bit clunky, and we’re nonetheless ready for an replace to the 2015 no-logs coverage certification.

See full Cover.me pricing right here

• 70 servers
• 5 simultaneous connection

VyprVPN presents every part most individuals are on the lookout for in a VPN, without having to spend a lot cash.

You get quick WireGuard speeds, alongside separate protocols centered on reliability, anti-censorship and ease of use. It’s additionally wonderful at unblocking geo-restricted content material, whether or not that’s native variations of Netflix or BBC iPlayer & ITV Hub from outdoors the UK. Premium options equivalent to break up tunneling and a kill change are right here too, even when the latter can’t be customised. 

VyprVPN’s no-logs coverage has been independently audited, and the service adheres to a strict Privateness Coverage from mother or father firm Golden Frog. Greater than 700 servers in over 70 nations must be loads for most individuals, though there’s usually just one per nation. It’s additionally not clear which of those are bodily and digital.

Nonetheless, it’s nonetheless speedy, dependable and inexpensive.

See full VyprVPN pricing right here