Greatest VPN for Mac 2025: Reliable Mac VPNs examined by consultants

• 5,300 servers
• 10 simultaneous connections

NordVPN is among the greatest and best-known VPN companies. It’s a completely featured VPN possibility that’s safe, straightforward 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 velocity and privateness to unblocking and ease of use.

There are greater than 5,300 servers (none of that are digital) accessible throughout 60 international locations, which sounds nice. You most likely solely care in regards to the servers the place you need to unblock content material, however the extra servers the higher because it means you may have a greater probability of discovering one which’s not overloaded. You gained’t have to determine which one to decide on due to the helpful ‘Fast join’ function that picks the server greatest suited to your wants.

Connections are quick and dependable, and NordVPN unblocks well-liked streaming companies all over the world together with Netflix and BBC iPlayer. You may 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 companies on the market. Nevertheless, it’s solely accessible on the ‘IKE’ model of the app, which solely gives a completely enabled kill change. To have extra management, you’ll have to obtain the ‘OpenVPN’ model, albeit with barely slower speeds.

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

Nord steadily has offers on supply that lower your expenses on the same old month-to-month worth when you make the most of the two-year plan. NordVPN gives 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 international locations
• Limitless simultaneous connections

Surfshark is a dependable, inexpensive possibility with greater than 3000 servers unfold throughout 100 international locations. Surfshark’s community is among the widest and most assorted of any VPN.

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

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

After we reviewed Surfshark beforehand we had some efficiency points, however this time round issues have been quite a bit higher. With WireGuard, SurfShark is the slickest VPN round, eradicating little or no velocity from my connection. OpenVPN, the place we had issues beforehand, was a lot swifter this time round. Whichever protocol we used, we have been capable of flick between streaming libraries with ease.

These protocols additionally supply various levels of encryption to maintain your information safe. The Kill Change function 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 often 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 function (accessible with Surfshark One and One+) can run scheduled background scans when you go away the app open. Ransomware Defend and Webcam Safety can cease your private folders and {hardware} digicam from falling into the improper fingers respectively, and the app will continuously look to replace its database of viruses to cross-reference recordsdata.

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 accessible the place you reside, shield your information whereas searching the net from a public community, and maintain your net searching habits personal, ExpressVPN, with its server places throughout 105 international locations, can do nearly all of this with two or three clicks.

ExpressVPN is remarkably straightforward to make use of, however when you’ve got any difficulties the 24-hour dwell chat means you may be related 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 directly (the restrict was 5 beforehand).

Like all VPNs there’s some velocity 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 velocity in our testing. NordVPN stays quicker with a 12% loss in our assessments, however ExpressVPN’s 13% remains to be higher than most.

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

There’s no Malware safety with ExpressVPN, however you may 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, but it surely undergoes audits every year.

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

See ExpressVPN subscription plans right here.

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

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

In the event you pay for the service it gives a modern interface, spectacular connection speeds and nearly sufficient options to enhance your day-to-day net expertise with out throwing too many advanced ideas at new customers. 

Proton VPN Plus gives a bunch of options, together with an advert and tracker blocker and velocity 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 Change for disconnecting ought to the VPN drop out.

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

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

Proton VPN does improve latency, however solely by about 29% in our testing on a modest 60 Mbps broadband. Actually, 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, Good can be splendid for many customers, robotically setting the proper protocol in your present utilization, however WireGuard, WireGuard (TCP), IKEv2 and Stealth are additionally supplied.

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

Join Proton’s subscription plans right here.

• 800+ servers in 49+ international locations
• 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 modern and simple to make use of and gives 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.

For the reason that final time we checked out it it’s gained a quantity energy consumer options like multi-hop connections. It additionally now options an Web Kill Change to close down all site visitors in case your VPN drops for any purpose. You can too use Good Tunneling to make sure sure apps go through a VPN whereas others don’t.

Will FastestVPN aid you get round geoblocks? Sure, actually, FastestVPN highlights sure streaming-focused servers to assist get round geoblocking.

You’ll discover quite a lot of VPN protocols to select from, with Wireguard, OpenVPN (TCP and UDP choices) and IKEv2 accessible, 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 decreased to only $30!

FastestVPN does an important job and for lots lower than others. FastestVPN has greater than 800 servers, which is quite a bit – however in context, that’s dramatically lower than NordVPN or ExpressVPN. Rivals do supply a bigger server rely, 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 many 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 12 months or longer. The one worth change can be depending on the trade charge from euros at the moment. This fashion you aren’t caught up in a recurring subscription and Mullvad doesn’t retailer your private info – an important instance of its privacy-first mindset. You may even purchase pay as you go playing cards when you don’t need to log cost info, which makes Mullvad the best VPN service for anybody seeking 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 great and there are many options that may be paid additions elsewhere. For instance, the Kill Change to chop site visitors if the VPN drops, and a Lockdown Mode that forces the consumer 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 may ship some site visitors through the VPN and ignore it for others. There may be additionally an advert blocker.

It’s accessible on Mac, Home windows, iOS, iPadOS, and Android. It’s accessed solely from the menu bar on Mac. The iPhone and iPad apps pack loads of energy consumer options that in some companies are restricted to desktop, like multihop connections and the DAITA safety. DAITA (Defence in opposition to AI-guided Visitors Evaluation) will add ‘community noise’ so information packets are all the identical dimension.

The primary disadvantages are the 5 gadget restrict, which is decrease than many VPNs, and. a decrease server rely. 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 implausible VPN service that’s about as privacy-minded as may be. It may not have essentially 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 international locations
• Limitless connections

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

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

The primary 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 companies, PIA is extra privacy-focused than different VPNs, with options just like the Superior Kill Change, Break up Tunnelling, port forwarding, and Multi-Hop server obfuscation. PIA additionally gives customizable options like automation setup and DNS choices. 

Non-public Web Entry can’t beat the speeds of NordVPN and Surfshark, and its stablemate CyberGhost VPN gives 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 when you do a whole lot of importing. 

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

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

Subscribe to Non-public Web Entry right here.

• Greater than 50 servers
• Six gadget restrict

MacPaw’s ClearVPN service is a VPN that lacks many extra superior options supplied by its rivals, however however, 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 advertisements, maintain ClearVPN within the dock, and a Kill Change with the intention to lower site visitors out of your gadget if the connection to the VPN is damaged.

It’s all fairly primary stuff, but it surely’s supplied in such an easy-to-use approach that it’s laborious to not respect the simplicity. There are additionally helpful keyboard shortcuts to maneuver across the app.

There are greater than 50 servers, which appears like quite a bit, but it surely’s dwarfed rivals who’ve hundreds of servers. Which means your decisions are restricted, however not less than ClearVPN allows you to filter between Optimum Location or leaping straight to one thing like Disney Plus US or UK.

One of many extra frequent energy consumer 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 velocity drops throughout a number of servers – even nearer ones. We noticed drops of round 20 to 30 p.c in obtain velocity, and round 50 p.c for add velocity. It’s nonetheless quick sufficient to make use of Netflix, but it surely’s slower than the vast majority of options on the market.

Most VPN firms use exterior auditors to confirm that they’re not recording consumer 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 exterior of assorted surveillance alliances, so it might’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.

In the event you’re new to utilizing a VPN service, ClearVPN makes a compelling case to be your first selection, and stress-free entry to Netflix across the globe, it’s an important starter possibility. Nonetheless, the velocity drop and lack of frequent options like break up tunneling probably imply energy customers ought to look elsewhere. It can save you cash by paying for the primary 12 months up entrance, however you may as well pay month-to-month.

See full ClearVPN pricing right here.

• 6,500 servers, 78 international locations
• 10 simultaneous connections

In the event you’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 may 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 net trackers, and recommends methods to maximise your privateness.

Whichever plan you go for you’ll be capable to join 10 gadgets directly. 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 straightforward as some other service to make use of. Choose a location, load your streaming service or app of selection, 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 gives 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 may 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 when you join 24 months. Two years is a very long time on this planet of VPNs, however not less than means the total month-to-month pricing gained’t kick in twelve months time.

See PureVPN gives right here.

• Greater than 245 servers
• 32 international locations

Malwarebytes might be greatest identified for antivirus software program and recommendation (see our overview of Malwarebytes Premium for Mac), but it surely additionally gives 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 gives speeds which can be higher than lots of its rivals for each downloads and uploads. It additionally has split-tunnelling through its ‘Connection guidelines’, and a Kill Change to chop all site visitors if the VPN drops out.

There are some caveats — specifically that it options fewer server places than its rivals, and getting round geoblocks for various variations of streaming companies generally is a tad inconsistent.

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

See full Maywarebytes pricing right here

• 11,000+ servers in 100 international locations
• 7 simultaneous connections

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

It gives 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 accessible.

CyberGhost apps may be downloaded for numerous platforms, together with Chrome extension and recreation consoles (we examined on Mac and iPhone). The app gives a easy “click on and go” connection course of, with a listing of server nations and a number of places. Encryption is customary throughout servers, and break up tunnelling prioritizes site visitors the place wanted. An automatic kill change can lower connections if the VPN drops out, whereas ‘Block content material’ blocks DNS domains for advertisements, 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 handle. The VPN has over 9,000 servers positioned in over 100 international locations, with plans to broaden in South America and Asia in late 2023.

CyberGhost VPN has a powerful no-logs coverage, that means nobody can entry data of your exercise whereas related to the VPN. The app doesn’t supply the Darkish Net monitor supplied by NordVPN, but it surely does have an automatic kill change to chop connections if the VPN drops out. The DNS blocking function is straightforward to make use of however doesn’t will let you select what to dam.

CyberGhost gives a compelling bundle with only one principal 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, exterior of the fundamental tier, tied into its safety software program. It additionally comes with a password supervisor, darkish net monitor, and cloud storage, however the VPN facet of issues is just a little missing.

Maybe it’s from testing so lots of the greatest VPN companies 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 embody loads of accoutrements that different VPNs both don’t have or cost further for. You may 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 gives Browser Safety, which scans websites as you browse. Norton additionally scans recordsdata 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, but it surely’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 international locations – a steep drop from the 111 in NordVPN’s portfolio – but it surely 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 splendid for unblocking worldwide streaming companies. Sadly, testing on a 70 Mbps connection noticed a constant velocity drop-off. As for Mimic, Norton’s personal VPN protocol, I used to be disenchanted to search out some worldwide streaming companies merely weren’t capable of be unblocked with it. Norton clarified that Mimic is particularly designed for purchasers with particular use instances who’re unable to make use of WireGuard. We did have extra luck with the extra standardized protocols.

VPNs price their salt ought to at all times concentrate on 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 when you’re on the lookout for an possibility that packs a complete host of cyber-security instruments into one easy-to-use bundle, it’s an important possibility. It’s disappointing that there’s solely a pay yearly possibility, the place different VPNs have the choice to pay month-to-month. Added to that could be a steep leap in worth for the second 12 months. 

See full Norton Extremely VPN pricing right here

• 2,600+ servers in 90 international locations
• 10 simultaneous connections

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

In addition to providing a totally 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 embody a customizable kill change and break up tunneling. Conceal.me is the one VPN to supply Break up Tunnelling in macOS. They state on their web site: “disguise.me VPN for macOS helps break up tunneling. You may configure it within the shopper’s settings.”

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

It may unblock Netflix and means that you can entry BBC iPlayer from exterior the UK. There’s additionally stable 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 international locations it covers. Sadly, the third-party audit hasn’t been up to date since 2015

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

See full Conceal.me pricing right here

• 70 servers
• 5 simultaneous connection

VyprVPN gives every part most individuals are on the lookout for in a VPN, while not having to spend a lot cash.

You get quick WireGuard speeds, alongside separate protocols targeted on reliability, anti-censorship and ease of use. It’s additionally glorious at unblocking geo-restricted content material, whether or not that’s native variations of Netflix or BBC iPlayer & ITV Hub from exterior the UK. Premium options akin 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 dad or mum firm Golden Frog. Greater than 700 servers in over 70 international locations ought to be a lot for most individuals, though there’s typically 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