10 Best VPN for Mac 2024 (updated in December 2024)

I always use a VPN on my Mac because it provides tons of perks — it secures my internet traffic, it enhances my online privacy, it allows me to access my favorite streaming content while traveling abroad, and it also protects my torrenting traffic. 

While many VPNs have macOS apps, not all of them are great. Actually, a lot of VPN apps for macOS are difficult to use, as the interface is simple and not intuitive at all. And out of the VPNs that do have good macOS apps, many come with annoying drawbacks — they either have poor streaming or P2P support, provide slow speeds, or lack essential security tools. 

But all the macOS VPNs I mentioned in this article are really good. I’ve been using VPNs for the past 10+ years while traveling and have found these 10 providers to be excellent for macOS devices. If you’re in a hurry, the best Mac VPN in my opinion is ExpressVPN due to its very intuitive macOS app, blazing-fast speeds, and excellent streaming support.

🥇 1. ExpressVPN — Best VPN Service for macOS in 2024 ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is the best Mac VPN on the market — its macOS app is feature-rich and very intuitive, the provider has excellent streaming and P2P support, and it also has the fastest speeds on the market and excellent security features. 

I really like how user-friendly the provider’s Mac VPN app is — the interface is very intuitive, and it doesn’t take more than 5 seconds to find and connect to a server. Plus, there’s a quick-connect feature that automatically connects you to the fastest server. And you get access to Shortcuts, which lets you create 1-click shortcuts for specific apps and sites. Once you connect to a VPN server, those shortcuts show up on your connection screen, which is really convenient. 

Plus, ExpressVPN’s macOS VPN app comes with split-tunneling, which lets you choose which apps use the VPN and which apps use your local internet connection — this is great to see, as not many VPNs have split-tunneling on their macOS apps. You could use split-tunneling to only route a streaming app through the VPN, which could increase your VPN streaming speeds. Just keep in mind that split-tunneling is only available on versions older than macOS Big Sur.

And the provider’s Mac app comes with other extras. You get access to obfuscation, which hides your VPN traffic, allowing you freely access the web in restrictive countries (such as China). And you also get Advanced Protection, which blocks ads, ad trackers, and shady sites, and also provides a certain level of parental controls by letting you block adult sites.

Plus, the VPN also has ExpressVPN Keys, which is a great password manager. This tool is included for free with each VPN subscription, and it protects your logins and lets you generate secure passwords. You can use it on your macOS device via a browser extension in Chromium browsers.

And ExpressVPN also has other excellent perks — it has servers in 100+ countries, it works with 100+ streaming platforms (like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime Video), it allows P2P traffic on all of its servers, and it maintains blazing-fast VPN connection speeds for all online activities on both nearby and distant servers. 

ExpressVPN’s plans start at $5.49/month. Some might say the provider is expensive, but I think it’s worth the money since it provides excellent value. Plus, the long-term plans often include extra months of service for free, and all purchases are backed with a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read my full ExpressVPN review

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

Proton VPN is the best free service for macOS (and also has the best free plan on the market). Its free version allows unlimited bandwidth, which means you can use the VPN to browse the web, download files, watch videos, and play online games as much as you want on your macOS device.

Its free plan also provides great privacy, which is not something you usually get with free VPN services. Basically, the VPN comes with a strict no-logs policy that has also been independently audited. In addition, the provider’s macOS app (as well as the rest of its VPN apps) is open-source, which means anyone can inspect the code for security holes. Plus, all of its apps have passed independent security audits. 

And you also get fast speeds, as well as an intuitive Mac app. The free version maintains very good speeds for browsing sites and watching HD videos, and it also provides access to a macOS app that’s very intuitive and simple to navigate.

But the free plan has some drawbacks. It doesn’t have streaming or P2P support, it restricts you to servers in 5 countries, it doesn’t let you pick which server you connect to (it automatically connects you to the fastest one), and it limits you to 1 device. 

The paid version adds tons of perks for Mac users. It unlocks the whole server network, which consists of locations in 110+ countries. It also adds compatibility with 40+ streaming sites, P2P servers in 90+ countries, and support for 10 simultaneous connections. Plus, you get extra security features too, including an ad blocker and Secure Core servers, which provide extra security by sending your traffic through two VPN servers, one of which is located in a privacy-friendly country. 

Proton VPN’s prices start at $3.59/month. The provider also backs all purchases with a prorated 30-day refund.

Read my full Proton VPN review

🥉3. Private Internet Access — Excellent Mac VPN for Torrenting and Privacy Private Internet Access

Private Internet Access (PIA) is among the best Mac VPNs for torrenting, as it allows P2P traffic on all of its servers, which are located in 90+ countries. In addition, it also supports port forwarding, which lets you connect to more peers to get faster downloads. And it has SOCKS5 proxy support, which changes your IP address but doesn’t provide encryption (allowing you to get very fast downloads). 

PIA also provides very strong privacy features, as it has a strict no-logs policy that has passed an independent security audit — and on top of that, it has also been proven true in several court documents. What’s more, all of the provider’s apps (including the macOS app) are open-source.

And the provider’s macOS app also comes with strong security features. It has MACE, which is very good at blocking ads, ad trackers, and malicious sites. In addition, you get obfuscation, though this feature is only good for extra privacy since PIA doesn’t work well in restrictive countries.

Plus, I like how PIA’s macOS app has split-tunneling. What’s more, the provider’s split-tunneling tool lets you split-tunnel both apps and websites, which is very convenient. 

I also like how user-friendly the provider’s macoS VPN app is. It comes with a quick-connect tool, and it also has a search field for instant access to your desired server locations. What’s more, the VPN allows unlimited simultaneous connections, which means you can install and use PIA on as many Mac devices as you want. 

And you also get other good perks — PIA works with 20+ top streaming sites (like Netflix and BBC iPlayer) via dedicated streaming servers, and it also provides very good speeds on both nearby and distant servers.

Private Internet Access is affordable, with prices starting at $2.19/month. It also backs each purchase with a no-questions-asked 30-day refund.

Read my full Private Internet Access review

4. NordVPN — Great Mac VPN for High-End Security NordVPN

NordVPN provides excellent online security tools for Mac devices — my favorite feature is Threat Protection Pro, which blocks ads, stops you from connecting to shady websites, prevents ad trackers from spying on your browsing, and even protects you from malware-infected downloads (most VPN ad blocking tools can’t stop malware infections). 

In addition, NordVPN also has Dark Web Monitor on macOS. This feature alerts you if your NordVPN login credentials have been compromised on the dark web — and if you use the same login details for other web accounts, you can use this tool to keep an eye on them as well.

And the VPN service also comes with other high-end security features. It provides access to obfuscated servers for extra privacy, though they won’t work in restrictive countries. Plus, you also get double VPN connections, which protect your internet traffic with an extra layer of encryption.

But I think it’s a shame that NordVPN’s macOS app is missing split-tunneling. If this is an issue for you, consider getting ExpressVPN or Private Internet Access, as they both support split-tunneling on macOS.

Plus, NordVPN also has a large server network and fast speeds. It has 6,000+ servers in 110+ countries, and it maintains very fast streaming, browsing, torrenting, and gaming speeds on both nearby and distant servers. 

And this provider also has great streaming and P2P support — it works with top streaming sites (like BBC iPlayer, Disney+, and Netflix), and it allows P2P traffic on P2P servers in 110+ countries. What’s more, it also comes with SOCKS5 proxy support. 

NordVPN has tier-based subscriptions. I recommend getting the Plus subscription since it includes Threat Protection Pro (the cheapest subscription only has Threat Protection, which blocks just phishing and malicious domains). In addition, the provider backs all purchases with a 30-day refund

Read my full NordVPN review

5. Surfshark — Good Mac VPN for Beginners Surfshark

Surfshark has a super intuitive macOS app, as its interface is very easy to navigate, there’s a quick-connect tool, and there’s also a search field. Plus, all settings and features come with quick, helpful explanations. What’s more, this provider also allows unlimited simultaneous connections, making it a good pick for large families.

And the provider’s macOS app is also very secure. It comes with CleanWeb, which is a very good ad blocker. In addition, it also has IP Rotator, which provides extra privacy by regularly changing your VPN IP address without dropping your VPN connection. And you also get access to customizable double VPN connections via Dynamic MultiHop.

Plus, I also like how good Surfshark is for streaming. That’s because it works with 100+ streaming platforms, including top ones like Disney+, BBC iPlayer, and Netflix. 

And the provider also has a huge server network, consisting of 3,200+ servers in 95+ countries. This helps you avoid overcrowded servers and ensures you can connect to nearby servers to get the fastest speeds. In my tests, the VPN always provided me with fast streaming, browsing, and gaming speeds.

My only complaint is that the macOS app lacks split-tunneling, which is only available on Windows and Android. If this is a deal-breaker, check out ExpressVPN or Private Internet Access instead, as they both come with split-tunneling on their macOS apps.

Surfshark has super affordable prices that start as low as $2.19/month. The provider also backs each purchase with a no-questions-asked 30-day refund.

Read my full Surfshark review

6. CyberGhost VPN — Streaming-Focused and User-Friendly VPN for Mac CyberGhost VPN

CyberGhost VPN is an excellent VPN provider for streaming, as it has streaming-optimized servers that work with 50+ streaming platforms — including top ones like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and BBC iPlayer. Plus, the provider also provides great variety for Netflix, as it’s compatible with 15+ libraries, including Netflix US, Netflix UK, and Netflix Japan. 

Plus, the VPN service has a really intuitive macOS app. The app design makes it very easy to find and connect to your desired VPN server, and there’s also a quick-connect feature. Plus, the app comes with Smart Rules, which allows you to set up automated VPN connections — for example, you can configure the macOS app to automatically connect to a specific VPN server on startup, and then open a specific app on your Mac device. 

And CyberGhost VPN’s macOS app is great for protecting your internet traffic. The macOS app has Content Blocker, which is an ad blocker — while it’s not that good at getting rid of ads, it’s really good at blocking malicious websites. And the VPN also has Identity Guard, which alerts you if your email address has been compromised in a data breach. 

But the provider’s macOS app doesn’t come with split-tunneling, as that tool is only available on the vendor’s Android app. If that’s an issue, just get ExpressVPN or Private Internet Access instead.

CyberGhost VPN’s plans start at $2.19/month, which is really affordable. The provider also backs its long-term plans with a generous 45-day money-back guarantee, and it has a 14-day refund for its shortest plan.

Read my full CyberGhost VPN review

7. PureVPN — Secure VPN for Mac With Huge Server Count PureVPN

PureVPN provides access to a really large server network — 6,000+ servers in 65+ countries. The large server count makes it very simple to avoid overcrowded servers to get fast speeds. And I can confirm that, whenever I use this VPN while traveling, I always get really fast streaming, browsing, and torrenting speeds on both nearby and distant servers. 

I also like how secure this VPN provider is. It comes with Quantum-Resistant servers, which will future-proof your data against potential quantum threats in the future (when quantum computing becomes the norm). And it also has obfuscation, which allows it to work in restrictive countries without issues.

And this is also a really good streaming VPN for Mac, as it works with 10+ top streaming platforms (such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video). Plus, you also get access to Shortcuts on macOS, which is a feature that lets you set up customized VPN connections to specific streaming websites. Still, I think ExpressVPN is better for streaming since it works with 100+ streaming platforms.

PureVPN has tier-based subscriptions, with prices starting at $2.14/month. And the VPN provider also backs all of its plans with a 31-day money-back guarantee.

Read my full PureVPN review

8. IPVanish — Decent macOS VPN for Torrenting IPVanish

IPVanish provides pretty good P2P support, as it allows torrenting across its entire server network — and this amounts to 2,400+ servers in 50+ countries. In addition, the provider also has SOCKS5 proxy support, which helps boost P2P speeds. 

And IPVanish also has an intuitive Mac app. I especially like that it comes with a digital map that allows you to quickly connect to different VPN server locations. Plus, this provider allows unlimited simultaneous connections, so it’s a good pick for anyone who needs to secure tons of macOS devices.

You also get good security with this provider, as it blocks malicious ads and sites via its Threat Protection feature. Plus, the macOS app provides access to obfuscation, which adds extra privacy by making your VPN connection look like a regular internet connection.

IPVanish’s plans start at $2.19/month, which is pretty affordable. The VPN service also has a 30-day refund, but it only covers its long-term plans.

Read my full IPVanish review

9. PrivateVPN — Minimalistic and Fast VPN for macOS PrivateVPN

PrivateVPN has a really minimalistic macOS app, which makes it a good fit for people new to VPNs. That’s because they won’t feel overwhelmed when using the provider’s app. Plus, I like how the intuitive design makes it very simple to find and connect to VPN server locations. 

That said, some users might not like how bare-bones the provider’s macOS app is. It doesn’t come with any additional tools, such as split-tunneling, an ad blocker, or obfuscation. If this is an issue for you, consider getting ExpressVPN instead, as its macOS app has split-tunneling, obfuscation, and a tool that blocks shady sites.

On the plus side, PrivateVPN has good speeds — I ran speed tests while connected to servers in 10+ countries, and I was always able to load sites, HD videos, and 4K videos instantly. 

PrivateVPN has super cheap plans that start as low as $2.00/month. The provider also backs each purchase with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read my full PrivateVPN review

10. Astrill VPN — Good Mac VPN for Restrictive Countries Astrill VPN

Astrill VPN works very well in restrictive countries, like China, Russia, and Egypt. It manages that via its 2 proprietary protocols that are called OpenWeb and StealthVPN —  and both of them are available on the provider’s macOS app. 

But, sadly, Astrill VPN’s macOS app is missing other extras, like split-tunneling or a malicious site blocker. If you were interested in such features, I recommend getting ExpressVPN instead.

On the plus side, it has servers in 55+ countries, so it’s somewhat easy to use nearby servers to get fast speeds. Whenever I use this provider while traveling, I always maintain smooth connection speeds for all online activities.

Astrill VPN has plans that start at $12.50/month, which makes it one of the most expensive Mac VPNs on the market. And, unfortunately, the provider doesn’t come with a money-back guarantee.

Read my full Astrill VPN review

Quick Comparison of My Top Picks

	Starting Price	Number of Streaming Services	Server Network	Split-Tunneling	Free Plan	Money-Back Guarantee
🥇 1. ExpressVPN	$5.49/month	100+	Servers in 100+ countries	(versions older than Big Sur)		30 days
🥈 2. Proton VPN	$3.59/month	40+	6000+ servers in 110+ countries			30 days (prorated)
🥉 3. Private Internet Access	$2.19/month	20+	Servers in 90+ countries	(all versions)		30 days
4. NordVPN	$3.99/month	Unknown	6,000+ servers in 110+ countries			30 days
5. Surfshark	$2.19/month	100+	3,200+ servers in 95+ countries			30 days
6. CyberGhost VPN	$2.19/month	50+	Servers in 95+ countries			45 days (long-term plans) 14 days (shortest plan)
7. PureVPN	$2.14/month	10+	6,000+ servers in 65+ countries			31 days
8. IPVanish	$2.19/month	Unknown	2,400+ servers in 50+ countries			30 days (long-term plans only)
9. PrivateVPN	$2.00/month	Unknown	200+ servers in 60+ countries			30 days
10. Astrill VPN	$12.50/month	Unknown	Servers in 55+ countries

How I Chose the VPNs on This List

• I only picked VPNs with intuitive Mac apps. I made sure to only recommend providers that have a Mac app that makes it very simple to find and connect to servers. Additionally, I ensured the apps also come with helpful explanations for most settings and features.
• I only added secure VPNs for Mac to my list. You should only get a VPN that has essential VPN security features, such as military-grade encryption, a no-logs policy, DNS leak protection, and a kill switch to prevent data leaks if the VPN connection drops. Plus, most of the VPNs I recommend also have advanced security features, like RAM-only servers (every server reset wipes everything) or perfect forward secrecy, which provides a different encryption key for each encrypted connection.
• I only ranked VPNs with good streaming and torrenting support. I only chose VPNs that work with top streaming sites, such as Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime Video. I also prioritized VPNs that support torrenting on most (if not all) of their servers. 
• I prioritized VPNs with large server networks.  If you use a server that’s too far away from your real location, your VPN speeds will be slower. So, it’s important to pick a provider that has servers in at least 50+ countries, so that it’s easier for you to connect to nearby servers to get fast speeds.  
• I only ranked VPNs with fast speeds. When you use a VPN, your online speeds will always slow down due to the added layer of encryption. But the best VPNs for Mac (like the ones on my list) optimize their services to minimize the speed loss.
• I only included Mac VPNs that provide good value. I made sure most VPN on my list provides access to extras on their macOS apps (like split-tunneling or an ad blocker). Also, I only ranked VPNs with affordable plans, a free plan, or a generous money-back guarantee.

Why Use a macOS VPN?

• Secure your online data — A VPN encrypts your internet connection, which makes all of your online data 100% unreadable. This way, nobody (including malicious actors) can monitor your online traffic to compromise your data.
• Enjoy more privacy — VPNs hide your IP address, so nobody can use it to detect your real-time location. Plus, because VPNs encrypt your data, your internet service provider (ISP) won’t be able to spy on your web browsing anymore.
• Secure your P2P traffic — With a VPN, you enjoy safer torrenting on your Mac device. The VPN encrypts your torrenting traffic, so that nobody can spy on it. Also, it stops anyone in the torrent swarm (the total number of people uploading and downloading a torrent) from seeing your real IP address.
• Improve your streaming experience — With a VPN, you can circumvent geo-blocks when you travel abroad, and access streaming sites and content that’s only available in your country.
• Enhance your online gaming — When you use a VPN, it might lower your ping by routing your traffic straight to the gaming server. Also, VPNs protect you from Distributed-Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks that force you offline by hiding your real IP address.
• Prevent bandwidth throttling — Your internet service provider can see your web browsing, so it can selectively slow down your online speeds when you use too much data (like when you’re playing online games for hours on end). But with a VPN, all your web data becomes encrypted, so your ISP can’t use it to selectively throttle your speeds anymore.

How to Install and Use a VPN on macOS

1. Get a reliable VPN service for macOS. I personally recommend ExpressVPN since it has a really intuitive and feature-rich macOS app, and it also has excellent streaming and P2P support, as well as super-fast speeds and high-end security features.
2. Download and install the provider’s macOS app. Just download the app from the VPN’s website or the Mac app store, and follow the installation wizard’s instructions to set up the app.
3. Open the VPN app. Find the VPN app on your device, run it, and connect to your desired server location.
4. Start surfing the web. The VPN will encrypt your traffic and hide your IP, so you can now securely surf the internet.

Best VPNs for macOS in 2024 — Final Thoughts: Best VPNs for macOS in 2024 — Final Thoughts