6 Best Free VPN for Mac in 2025 — Intuitive Apps & Good Security

I usually recommend avoiding free Mac VPNs. While they’re convenient, the drawbacks are often way too hard to ignore — annoyingly slow speeds, restrictive daily or monthly data caps, lack of streaming support, and buggy Mac VPN apps. Plus, many free VPNS lack essential security and privacy features, and even share your personal data with third parties (like data brokers). 

It’s much, much better to get a paid premium Mac VPN. With a paid VPN, you get unlimited data, fast connection speeds, and intuitive and feature-rich Mac apps. Plus, pretty much all paid VPNs come with industry-standard security features (like a kill switch and DNS leak protection), so you don’t need to worry about your privacy being compromised when you use them. 

But if you insist on using free Mac VPNs, I’ve got you covered. I’ve been using VPNs for 10+ years (especially while traveling), and I’ve often tried out free VPN services. Many of them were bad, but I found a few that actually provided great value (they have intuitive Mac VPN apps, they’re fast, and they’re also secure). 

🥇 1. ExpressVPN — Best Overall VPN Service for Mac in 2025 ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN lacks a free plan, but it’s still the best Mac VPN out there. Its Mac app is very intuitive, provides access to many useful extra features, comes with high-end security, and also provides the fastest VPN connection speeds on the market. 

Plus, the provider has a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee. And its refund policy is no-questions-asked, which pretty much means you don’t need to meet any requirements to get a refund. 

I love how easy it is to use ExpressVPN’s Mac app. It has a very user-friendly design, which makes it super simple to find and connect to different servers (finding your desired server doesn’t take more than 4–5 seconds). Plus, the app comes with Shortcuts, which is a convenient feature that lets you set up 1-click shortcuts for specific apps and sites that show up on your connection screen.

Plus, the provider’s Mac app is very feature-rich too. For example, you get access to split-tunneling, which lets you pick which apps use and don’t use the VPN connection — you could use this feature to increase your VPN speeds. Also, ExpressVPN’s Mac app comes with Threat Manager, which protects you from shady websites. 

Also, this VPN has industry-leading security features. It protects your data with advanced tools, including full leak protection, RAM-only servers (every server reset wipes all data), and perfect forward secrecy, which offers a different encryption key for each VPN connection. In addition, the provider also has a strict no-logs policy that has been proven true in many security audits and a server seizure. 

And ExpressVPN has servers in 100+ countries, which makes its server network downright huge. This makes it very simple to find and connect to a nearby server — doing this would help you get the fastest VPN speeds. And speaking of speeds, this provider always maintains blazing-fast browsing, streaming, and download speeds whenever I use it.

Also, this VPN has the best streaming support on the market too. That’s because it’s compatible with 100+ streaming services, including tons of popular ones like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+. 

ExpressVPN’s plans start at $5.49/month. It’s a bit expensive, but it’s definitely worth it since this provider offers the best value on the market. Plus, its longest plan often comes with extra months of service for free. And, don’t forget, ExpressVPN also has a risk-free 30-day refund.

Read my full ExpressVPN review

🥈 2. Proton VPN — Best Free VPN for Mac Users Proton VPN

Proton VPN definitely has the best free plan for Mac users. Its free version allows unlimited data, which means you can use the provider’s free plan to browse the web as much as you want. I’m happy to see this, as some free VPNs limit you to anywhere between 2 and 10 GB per month.

And free users get access to a very good Mac app. The app is really simple to navigate, and I like how all settings and features come with helpful explanations — so you never feel lost while using the VPN. Also, the app has a quick-connect feature that automatically connects you to the fastest server location (though, it’s shame you can’t manually connect to servers in the free version)

Also, the provider’s free plan is very secure. It protects your privacy with an audited no-logs policy. What’s more, the macOS app (along with all of the VPN’s other apps) is open-source, which means anyone can inspect the security code for issues (plus, it’s audited too). Also, Proton VPN has advanced security features, like full leak protection, perfect forward secrecy, and full-disk encryption, which keeps all data on a server 100% safe even if the server is somehow compromised. 

What’s more, Proton VPN’s free plan provides good speeds. Whenever I use it to browse the web, the sites I connect to always load in around 2 seconds (and so do HD videos on YouTube). Plus, all the videos I watched never buffered when I skipped through them.

Still, free users have to put up with some limitations — you don’t get streaming support, you can only connect 1 device, and you can only use servers in 5 countries. 

Upgrading to the VPN’s paid version is 100% worth it — it adds access to 6000+ servers in 70+ countries, compatibility with 40+ streaming platforms (like Netflix, Disney+, and YouTube TV), and access to NetShield, which is a very good ad blocker. 

Proton VPN’s prices begin at $3.59/month, which is pretty affordable. The provider has a 30-day money-back guarantee, just keep in mind it’s prorated.

Read my full Proton VPN review

🥉 3. hide.me — Great Secure Free Mac VPN With Unlimited Bandwidth hide.me

hide.me’s free plan is great for securing your online privacy when browsing the web. It comes with unlimited data, allowing you to surf as many websites as you want. And it protects your internet traffic with RAM-only servers, perfect forward secrecy, and an audited no-logs policy. Plus, it also has full leak protection — I even ran 10 leak tests while connected to one of its free servers, and I never experienced any leaks. 

The free plan also provides pretty good speeds, which isn’t surprising seeing as how you get access to server locations in 5+ countries (making it somewhat easy to connect to nearby servers). Whenever I use hide.me’s free plan for online browsing, most sites load instantly, and HD videos on YouTube don’t take longer than 2 seconds to fully load. Plus, you also get access to split-tunneling on the macOS app, which is great. 

And the provider’s Mac app is pretty good too. The app design makes it easy to find and connect to servers, and I also like how there are helpful explanations for most settings and features. That said, I still think that the design looks a bit outdated — at least when you compare it to Proton VPN’s macOS app.

The VPN’s paid version is worth it, as it provides access to many perks— servers in 50+ countries, up to 10 connections (the free plan only allows 1 connection), good streaming support, access to a good ad blocker, and more. 

hide.me is affordable, with prices beginning at $6.66/month. I also like that the provider backs all of its paid plans with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

4. Hotspot Shield — Good Free Mac VPN for People in Restrictive Regions Hotspot Shield

Hotspot Shield has one of the few free plans that works well in restrictive regions, like China and Russia for example. The provider achieves this via its proprietary Hydra protocol, which comes with obfuscation to hide your VPN traffic (helping you avoid VPN blocks). I have used this provider’s free plan on a few occasions while traveling through China, and it always worked well for me. 

Plus, the VPN’s free plan has unlimited data and good speeds — I actually ran a few speed tests while doing my research for this article, and Hotspot Shield’s free plan always maintained very fast browsing and streaming speeds. This was pretty surprising, as the free plan allegedly limits your speeds to 2 Mbps. 

You also get servers in 3 countries and good security features. The VPN has free servers in the US, Singapore, and the UK, and it secures your data with perfect forward secrecy and strong leak protection. 

And Hotspot Shield’s Mac app is pretty good, as it’s very simple to use and navigate. It also comes with split-tunneling, but keep in mind you can only split-tunnel websites. 

Also, the VPN’s paid version has some good perks — 1,800+ servers in 90+ countries, support for up to 10 connections (the free plan only lets you connect 1 device), and great streaming support. 

But I think Hotspot Shield is a bit pricey, as its plans begin at around $6.66/month. On the plus side, the provider backs all of its paid plans with a generous 45-day money-back guarantee.

5. Windscribe — Intuitive Free VPN for Mac With Good Streaming Support Windscribe

Windscribe is one of the few free VPNs that support streaming. The provider’s free plan is actually compatible with top sites like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime Video. This is likely because the VPN refreshes its free server IPs really fast (most VPNs don’t do this for their free servers). 

Plus, the provider has free servers in 10+ countries, including locations like the US, the UK, Germany, and Hong Kong. It also maintains very fast speeds for both browsing and streaming. Plus, the macOS app comes with split-tunneling, which you can use to boost your VPN speeds. 

Still, the free plan only allows up to 15 GB per month. You get 2 GB when you sign up, can upgrade to 10 GB by confirming your email, and can get 5 more GB by tweeting at the company. Unfortunately, this is only enough for a few hours of HD streaming and web browsing. If this is an issue for you (and you don’t want to use a free VPN for streaming), try Proton VPN or hide.me instead, as they both allow unlimited data on their free plans.

On the plus side, the VPN’s macOS app is really intuitive. Plus, I love how the VPN’s free plan allows unlimited simultaneous connections, meaning you can use Windscribe on as many macOS devices as you want. 

Windscribe has plans beginning at $5.75/month, and upgrading to the paid version adds unlimited data and servers in 60+ countries. The provider has a refund policy, but it only covers 3 days of service.

6. TunnelBear — Beginner-Friendly and Fun to Use Free Mac VPN TunnelBear

TunnelBear is an excellent free VPN service for people new to VPNs. That’s because it provides access to a really intuitive macOS app — it’s very simple to navigate, and it even features a digital map that lets you connect to the provider’s servers. And when you connect to a server location, a cute animated bear pops up and digs a tunnel to the server’s location on the map. What’s more, the provider’s free plan supports unlimited simultaneous connections.

Plus, TunnelBear’s free plan provides access to all features, including 5,000+ servers in 45+ countries. You also get access to split-tunneling on the provider’s Mac app, and the VPN maintains really good browsing speeds as well. 

However, the free plan only allows 2 GB per month. Unfortunately, this is barely enough for a few hours of basic web browsing. If this is a deal-breaker, try Proton VPN or hide.me instead, as their free plans both allow unlimited data.

TunnelBear has prices that start at $3.33/month. Getting the paid version provides access to unlimited data. Unfortunately, the provider doesn’t have a money-back guarantee.

Read my TunnelBear review

Bonus. CyberGhost VPN — Has Free 24-Hour Trial and Excellent Streaming Support CyberGhost VPN

CyberGhost VPN isn’t free, but it has a free 24-hour trial. And the trial provides full access to all of the provider’s features — not to mention you also don’t need to provide any payment details to be able to use the trial. 

What’s more, the VPN also has a 45-day money-back guarantee. It only covers its long-term plans, but it’s definitely very generous. If you get the shortest plan, you’re still covered by a 14-day refund, which is more than enough time to fully test the VPN. 

I think CyberGhost VPN is very good for streaming. It provides access to 100+ streaming servers in 20+ countries, which are optimized to work with 50+ streaming platforms (like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+). These servers refresh their IPs really fast, which makes it hard for streaming sites to detect and block them. 

Plus, the provider’s Mac app is very good too. It’s really easy to navigate, and it also lets you automate VPN connections via the Smart Rules feature — for example, you can configure CyberGhost VPN to connect to a specific server and open a specific app on launch.

CyberGhost VPN’s prices are affordable, as they start at $2.19/month. The longest plan often comes with extra months of service for free — plus, don’t forget that all long-term purchases come with a 45-day refund.

Read my full CyberGhost VPN review

Quick Comparison of My Top Picks

	Starting Price	Data Limit	Server Network	Split-Tunneling	Number of Devices	Money-Back Guarantee
🥇 1. ExpressVPN	$5.49/month	Unlimited	Servers in 100+ countries		Up to 8	30 days
🥈 2. Proton VPN	$3.59/month	Unlimited	Servers in 5 countries (free version) 6000+ servers in 110+ countries (paid version)	(only via paid version)	1 (free version) 10 (paid version)	30 days (prorated)
🥉 3. hide.me	$2.59/month	Unlimited	Servers in 5+ countries (free version)  Servers in 50+ countries (paid version)		1 (free version) 10 (paid version)	30 days
4. Hotspot Shield	$6.66/month	Unlimited	Servers in 3 countries (free version) 1,800+ servers in 90+ countries (paid version)		1 (free version) 10 (paid version)	45 days
5. Windscribe	$5.75/month	Up to 15 GB per month	Servers in 10+ countries (free version) Servers in 60+ countries (paid version)		Unlimited	3 days
6. TunnelBear	$3.33/month	2 GB per month	5,000+ servers in 45+ countries (free and paid version)		Unlimited
7. Bonus. CyberGhost VPN	$2.19/month	Unlimited	10,000+ servers in 95+ countries		7	45 days (long-term plans) 14 days (shortest plan)

How I Chose the VPNs on This List

• Pick a VPN with a good Mac app — I only recommend getting a free VPN whose Mac app is very simple to download and use (it shouldn’t take you more than 5 seconds to find and connect to a server). All of the VPNs on my list have extremely intuitive (and feature-rich) Mac apps. 
• Look for a free VPN plan with a good data cap — When you use a free VPN, you’ll usually have to put up with restrictive data caps. I recommend opting for a free provider that allows at least 2 GB of data per month. Luckily, there are some free VPNs (like Proton VPN or hide.me) that provide unlimited bandwidth.
• Opt for a free VPN that’s secure — Using a free VPN might put your data and privacy at risk. That’s why it’s important to only use a free service that has industry-standard security features, such as a kill switch (to protect against traffic leaks), a no-logs policy, DNS leak protection, or military-grade encryption. 
• Choose a free VPN that has good speeds — When you use a VPN, your original web speeds will slow down due to the added encryption. And with a free VPN, the slowdown might be even more noticeable since most free VPNs have limited server networks. So make sure that the free VPN you choose maintains good browsing and streaming speeds.
• Get a free VPN whose paid version offers great value — The provider’s paid plans should come with useful extras (like an ad blocker, a large server network, and great streaming support). Also, bonus points if the paid version is affordable and also backed by a generous money-back guarantee.

Risks and Drawbacks of Using Free Mac VPNs 

• Free VPNs have poorly-designed Mac apps — With a free VPN, you often have to deal with Mac apps that are difficult to use, or downright buggy (for example, some buttons might be unresponsive). 
• Free VPN services offer poor security — Many free vendors lack essential security features that are necessary to keep your data safe, like military-grade encryption or a kill switch. 
• Free VPNs log your personal data — A lot of free VPNs log user data (like browsing traffic and IP addresses), and share it with advertisers or data brokers for a profit.
• Free providers limit data usage — Many free services limit how much data you can use each day or month. On average, they usually only let you use anywhere between 2 GB and 10 GB per month. Proton VPN and hide.me are some exceptions that actually provide unlimited data to free users.
• Free VPNs are slow — Many free VPNs can’t afford to optimize their services to provide fast connections. So, you’ll often have to deal with long load times (up to 10 seconds or more, for example) when visiting websites and watching videos. 
• Free services have small server networks — A free plan usually won’t let you use the VPN provider’s entire server network. The only exception I’ve seen so far is TunnelBear, whose free plan lets you use the VPN’s whole server network (5,000+ servers in 45+ countries). While that’s great, keep in mind TunnelBear’s free plan only provides 2 GB per month.
• Free VPNs don’t have streaming support — A free VPN doesn't have the financial resources to refresh its server IP addresses very often. Due to that, it’s very easy for streaming services to detect and block a free VPN’s servers. The only exception I found so far is Windscribe, whose free plan works with streaming services without any issues (though it limits you to up to 15 GB per month). 
• Free VPNs display ads — To make money, some free services display in-app ads, which is really inconvenient. For example, you might have to watch a 30-second video ad to be able to use the VPN for a set amount of time (like 15 minutes, for instance).
• Free providers have poor customer support — Free VPNs don’t have the money to invest in round-the-clock customer support like paid VPNs do. So, free users have to settle for support articles (which are often inaccurate and outdated) and email support, which is usually pretty unresponsive when it comes to free VPNs.

Best Free VPNs for Mac in 2025 — Final Thoughts: