Improve your Mac privacy and security with the best VPNs on the market

best vpn for mac

Users across the world are getting increasingly curious about the best VPNs for Mac. It’s the age of information, and nearly all of it can be found on your Mac. From office spaces to the confines of our houses, and even when all on one’s own – all our thoughts and plans are noted down in our computers. It is one habit that we won’t be breaking free from and one that is raising a lot of concerns for our security. It is where a good VPN will come to the rescue of your Mac.

We live through the internet. Whether it’s a business email or a to-do list for the day, we continuously make notes and put it all up online. Information is stored in clouds, passwords to our accounts on various sites are stored in computers, and our preferences are saved by websites via cookies. All information is public information. It is no wonder, then, that cybersecurity is one of the most hotly discussed topics today. Ransomware and its cousins are so common now that governments across the world are alerting citizens about them. Hackers are having a field day simply due to the abundance of information that we simply leave out to bask in the sun without even knowing of it. It does not have to be so scary, however. The answer to all our privacy and security woes lies simply in safeguarding your online activity and masking your actual activity. What better shield for all this than getting a VPN!

Take The Best VPNs for Mac

The market will present several options for VPNs for your Mac. It can be tough to make the right pick for your needs. We used all available options and compared their features. Here, we bring you a list of some of the most popular VPNs in the market today.

The summary of the best VPNs for MAC:

• ExpressVPN – ExpressVPN offers Ultra-high-speed servers and fast internet connection speed.
• NordVPN – Fast and secure connection made it one of the most authoritative VPN in the world. It is a great selection for MAC users.
• CyberGhostVPN – 100% no-log VPN service and high-level privacy options.
• ProtonVPN – This VPN is based in Switzerland and has a quality of Swiss watch.
• VyprVPN – This VPN also fits great for MAC users because of the wide server selection list, great encryption options, and fast internet connection.

1. ExpressVPN – The robust encryption algorithms for military-grade privacy makes it one of the best VPN for MAC

Official website	www.expressvpn.com
Rating	(Excellent – 4.8/5)
Available applications
Money-back guarantee	30-days
Price from	$6.67 (-49% deal)
Visit website
More information	ExpressVPN review

Express VPN has deservingly built an excellent reputation for itself, and it is deserving of the same. We have tested this VPN on multiple devices and rarely has it disappointed in its functioning.

Express VPN possesses a place among the largest server network in the world spread across 94 countries and 160 locations. Many of these servers are located in the United States. It ensures the availability of the most exceptional web content on your Mac.

Express VPN is a front runner in speed tests conducted globally. It provides incredible speeds while both downloading and uploading material.

They do a stellar job in the safety and security departments, as well. They utilize a variety of encryption methods to cater to any of your needs. These include OpenVPN UDP (User Datagram Protocol), OpenVPN TCP (Transmission Control Protocol), L2TP/IPSec, IPsec (Internet Protocol Security), PPTP (Point to Point Tunneling Protocol), and IKEv2 (Internet Key Exchange Version 2).

Express VPN pairs beautifully with Mac, and a single subscription allows you to connect up to 5 different devices to Express VPN.

They furnish an incredible customer service system. They are available for all your needs and queries round the clock every single day.

The one place where they have room for improvement is in the price arena. Express VPN is one of the costlier VPN services available today. However, it does compensate for its somewhat elevated price with the strength and quality of its product. Prices begin at $12.95 per month and lead up to $99.95 per year, the latter being the most value for money. Express VPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee with all its plans in case you dislike their services.

2. NordVPN – It is one of the best VPNs in the market for MAC users

Official website	www.nordvpn.com
Our Rating	(Excellent – 4.9/5)
Available applications
Money-back guarantee	30-days
Price from	$3.49/month (-70% deal)
Visit website
More information	NordVPN review

Nord VPN is often hailed as a leader in the industry, and it lives up to its name when tested in various fields.

They possess a growing network of more than 5,500 servers spread across 60 countries, making it difficult for even giants like Amazon to throw a spanner in its works.

Nord VPN gives a stiff competition to Express VPN in speed tests. Its performance was comparable and even at par with Express VPN.

In terms of encryption, Nord VPN supports the most common protocols, which include L2TP/IPSec, OpenVPN, IKEv2, PPTP, and SSTP.

Nord VPN functions seamlessly with Mac and allows you to connect up to 6 devices with a single subscription at the same time.

They provide excellent customer support and are quite prompt in assisting you with all your needs.

Nord VPN is a challenger to Express VPN and therefore prices its services competitively. Monthly plans begin at $11.95 per month, but you can save a lot with their 3-year subscription priced at $125.65. Nord VPN also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on all its plans.

3. CyberGhostVPN – The user-friendly interface and law price of it made this VPN very popular among MAC users

Official website	www.cyberghostvpn.com
Rating	(Great – 4.5/5)
Available applications
Money-back guarantee	45-days
Price from	$2.75 (-80% deal)
Visit website
More information	CyberGhost review

CyberGhost VPN is a name to be reckoned with in its field. Their network is spread across more than 80 countries and hosts close to 5,500 servers.

Even though CyberGhost posted excellent results in speed tests, it failed to put up a competition for its previous two rivals in this field. At times, the difference was as significant as up to 25Mbps in certain places when compared with a competitor.

CyberGhost makes up for its slow speed in the safety department by providing you a variety of methods of encryption. These include everything from the PPTP and L2TP/IPSec to OpenVPN and IKEv2/IPSec tunneling protocols.

CyberGhost aligns perfectly with Mac and allows up to 7 devices to be connected to the VPN at the same time with a single subscription.

The customer support system at CyberGhost is genuinely one of the best. They have an exhaustive online support page with FAQs and guides for various operating systems; they also provide an extremely efficient and prompt one-on-one service via live chatting and email.

Prices range from $12.99 per month to $99.99 for a 3-year subscription. They offer a money-back guarantee for up to 14 days if you purchase a monthly plan and for up to 45 days with longer subscriptions.

4. ProtonVPN – Outstanding privacy and fast internet connection make it a great selection for MAC lovers.

Rating	(Good – 4.3/5)
Available applications
Money-back guarantee	45-days
Price from	$4.00
More information	ProtonVPN review

ProtonVPN is comparatively a smaller contender in the field as compared to its previous counterparts. They have a robust server network of a little under 500 servers across 36 countries.

ProtonVPN exhibited high speeds in the UK, Australia, and Japan, among others. Its performance was rather lackluster in the US, India, and South Korea, where, at times, it could not touch 5Mbps.

It performs reasonably in the safety department as it uses OpenVPN (UDP/TCP) and the IKEv2 protocol, with AES-256 encryption.

The VPN functions beautifully with Mac. They allow up to 5 devices to be connected at the same time with only one subscription.

ProtonVPN does not provide live or chat support. Nevertheless, all concerns and queries can be sent to them via email. The response generally comes within 1-2 days.

Their subscriptions are attractively priced. Plans begin from as little as $4 per month to up to $288 per year.

5. VanishVPN – many security features made this VPN also very popular in the MAC users community

Rating	(Average – 3.4/5)
Available applications
Money-back guarantee	7-days
Price from	$ 6.49/month
More information	IPVanishVPN review

A popular choice among tech buffs, IPVanish has a strong network of 1,300 servers in 75 countries.

The VPN performed brilliantly in speed tests and gave fierce competition to the big names in the field. Barring its performance in a couple of places, including India (where it could not even reach 5 Mbps), the speed results for IPVanish were neck and neck with all other VPNs that we have previously detailed.

It even has excellent performance in the safety arena with IKEv2, OpenVPN, and L2TP/IPsec VPN protocols.

IPVanish works wonderfully with Mac and is probably the most flexible as it allows you to connect up to 10 devices to the VPN with a single subscription.

They even have a stellar customer support system with an extremely helpful live chat. Customer service is available 24/7.

Prices are extremely attractive, with their packages starting at $5 per month going up till $40 for a 1-year subscription. They offer a 7-day money-back guarantee.

A free VPN is not recommended for MAC users

We’re sure that you would have noticed many free VPN services for Mac on the internet. Although extremely tempting, we must make you aware of the drawbacks of such service providers.

Firstly, let us remind you that if certain services are provided free of cost, there’s a reason behind it. Free VPN services always come to have bandwidth limitations and slow network speeds, thus, tarnishing your Mac experience.

Another fact often hidden from users is that the VPN provider always makes money off of you even if the service provided to you is free of cost. Free VPN services maintain logs of your online activity, which can be sold to third-party advertisers.

Free VPNs do not keep your internet activity anonymous, and you have no privacy when using such a service. Needless to say, there is an immense threat to your valuable personal data when indulging in such a service.

Moreover, if something untoward does occur while you use a free VPN service, you won’t find any help either. There is negligible customer service with a free plan.

VPN is a powerful tool that can increase your MAC privacy and security

Think of it as the much-desired invisibility cloak. A Virtual Private Network does precisely what its name suggests. It extends a private network over a public one, and in doing so, it makes the world wide web available to you while making your actual whereabouts practically untraceable. Each internet-enabled device has a unique Internet Protocol (IP) address.

When you access the internet through a VPN, it assigns a temporary IP address to your device. Information is channeled via multiple servers based far and wide, thus, creating a web of virtual footprints that never give away your actual location or device. This enables you to have a foolproof session online.

MAC users need a VPN for many reasons

It was once believed that Mac is safer than Windows OS, especially so against viruses or cyber threats. Such notions only lead to more significant troubles as we leave our trails out in the open for all to see. Your entire browsing history itself can open portals to identity theft. All data is saved in one place or another.

Much of it, needless to say, is personal. Worst case scenario, even your banking password is saved on your device and is now available for hackers to enjoy. A VPN will pose as a round-the-clock guard against any third party trying to obtain information collected on your Mac. It even protects all data from the websites that you have visited.

Another reason why you need a VPN on your Mac is to escape the clutches of geo-blocking. Various nations across the world differ in their policies regarding the content that they allow people to access on the internet. This can be particularly upsetting when you’re on the move and cannot relax with the shows you loved back home.

Or when your nation is playing spoilsport by not giving you access to the content that the rest of the world can get. Once again, a good VPN can make all these problems vanish into thin air. The VPN will lay all the content of the world at your feet.

How to Choose the best VPN for MAC?

The moment you decide to get a VPN for your Mac, finally, you will also discover that there is an abundance of them out there. Each VPN that you come across will market itself as the greatest yet, leaving you confused when making a choice. We feel it our duty to help you in making that decision by first clarifying what you need to be looking for in a VPN. Here are some factors you must keep in mind when making a choice:

• Speed – This is a no-brainer. There is no point in getting a VPN that isn’t fast enough. If your Mac is only going to keep hanging while the sites take forever to load, your VPN isn’t doing you any favors.
• Number of Servers – A good VPN will have a large number of servers spread across a wide geographical area, preferably across a multitude of nations. The broader their web of servers, the higher the number of options available to you for browsing from any part of the world. It also strengthens your security by expanding the network over which your identity is kept secret. To top it all, a more comprehensive network of servers positioned globally allows your Mac unlimited access to nearly all the web content in the world.
• Strong Encryption – A great VPN encrypts all its data to make it untouchable. The VPN will keep all your data highly secured to allow you to use your Mac without the fear of prying eyes.
• No Bandwidth Limitations – The fact that you are using a VPN itself suggests that you want to be free of all browsing limitations. Your VPN should help you achieve this by keeping you free of any compulsions regarding the bandwidths or the file types that you can access.
• No Activity Logs – VPN is supposed to guarantee you a stress-free browsing session on your Mac. If the VPN itself was keeping a log of all your activity, it defeats the very purpose of the project. VPNs are not supposed to keep tabs of what you’re doing and where. Their job is merely to furnish the content you need.
• Cost – The market is flooded with VPNs. Many of them will offer great features at competitive prices, while others will boast of unmatched quality at elevated prices. There is no precise formula as to which you should always choose. However, if you find a VPN that offers the features that you’re looking for and is lighter on the pocket, it's only wise to save your hard-earned money.
• Customer Support – A sound customer support system is the hallmark of a quality product. Just like all other products today, there is a chance that you end up in a situation where a little help wouldn’t hurt. Always invest in a VPN that offers excellent customer service and helps you out in your time of need.

Final Thoughts

Our computers hold the very key to our lives. Not only does your Mac keep those necessary business plans that you stayed up late to create for your boss, but even your shopping lists, bank payments, travel plans, social media account passwords, and much more are all in there. It’s only right that you can log on to the internet without any fear for the security and privacy of you and your near and dear ones. A VPN is, therefore, the need of the hour today. It is unavoidable to ensure safety in all your computer tasks.

However, we would caution you against the temptation of getting a free VPN for the same reasons. Many high-quality VPNs are offering reasonably priced subscription plans, and it would be advisable to choose from among them instead. Consider your needs and then make the right pick for your Mac. There’s nothing more that we could wish for you than a safe internet browsing.

Recommended VPNs

Options
Location	B.V.I. Islands	Panama	Romania
Servers	3000+	5000+	3500+
Countries	160	60	60
Supported devices	5	6	7
Torrenting	✔	✔	✔
U.S.Netflix	✔	✔	✔
Encryption and protocols
AES-256	✔	✔	✔
OpenVPN	✔	✔	✔
PPTP	✔	✔	✔
L2TP	✔	✔	✔
SSTP	✔	✔	✔
IPsec	✔	✗	✔
Internet connection speed
Download speed	83.15	72.33	71.10
Upload speed	35.18	48.18	36.45
Security features
SSL	✔	✔	✔
No-Log	✔	✔	✔
Kill Switch	✔	✔	✔
Ad-Blocking	✔	✔	✔
Double encryption	✗	✔	✗
IP Leak protection	✔	✔	✔
Operating systems
Windows	✔	✔	✔
Mac	✔	✔	✔
Android	✔	✔	✔
Linux	✔	✔	✔
iOS	✔	✔	✔
XBox	✔	✔	✔
PS4	✔	✔	✔
Browser extension
Chrome	✔	✔	✔
Firefox	✔	✔	✔
Other features
Router support	✔	✔	✔
Free version	✗	✗	✗
Accepts Bitcoins	✔	✔	✔
Money back guarantee	30 days	30 days	45 days
Read a review	review	review	review
Paid version from	$6.67/month	$3.49/month	$2.75/month
Try

A comprehensive guide on how to set up a VPN on your MAC device

Setting up a VPN is a natural process that does not require any technical know-how. When you have chosen the VPN service provider you want, simply visit their website and go through the following steps:

1. Choose the best VPN for your MAC you like the most:
2. Subscribe to the VPN service by picking a plan that suits your needs. You will be provided a username and password.
3. Download the software.
4. Install it on your Mac and all other internet-enabled devices.
5. Log in using the username and password that were provided to you.
6. Click on the Connect button and go online via the VPN server.
7. Enjoy the secure internet session on your Mac.

There are many other options how you can use VPN on your MAC

VPN is an excellent tool for travelers. If you travel a lot but miss watching the shows you enjoy back home; a VPN can come in handy. You can access the BBC iPlayer and its likes from anywhere in the world without any obstructions in your path.

A VPN is especially desirable when you need to do online banking using public wi-fi hotspots while you are on the go. Hackers lurk in places like these waiting for victims like you as they can easily get your bank account or credit card details and steal the money. A VPN encrypts all your internet traffic such that hackers can no longer access your banking information.

VPNs have become extremely popular for gaming. If you are the avid player of “Fornite” and would like to play it with residents of the USA, location restrictions will not allow you to do that. However, if you change your IP with the help of a

VPN to an American IP address, you will no longer face this problem.

A large group of people is now using VPNs to circumvent geoblocking restrictions and watch Netflix, Hulu, Sling, or other IPTV services on their smart TVs.

Furthermore, people are using it with an Amazon Fire TV stick. It a great option to get rid off your cable TV provider, because you can start streaming television over the internet.

The most popular pattern of VPN usage is torrenting. In many countries, torrenting is illegal, but people still want free movies, software (such as VLC Media Player, WhatsApp for PC, GarageBand for PC, Audacity, etc.), and music.

At the end we could add, that a VPN could be used for unblockis websites like Omegle, Chatroulette, Ome.TV, Camsurf, Chat alternative, and others.

There are many more ways of using a VPN. It all depends on your creativity. In a nutshell, however, we can say that a VPN gives you the freedom of internet usage without leaving the traces of your presence.