Best VPN for Mac

Your Mac already has solid built-in security, but it does not encrypt your internet traffic or hide your IP address from your ISP. A VPN fills that gap. The challenge is finding one that works seamlessly on macOS without slowing you down or missing key features.

We tested dozens of VPN apps on both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs, checking connection speeds, macOS-specific features, App Store availability, and ease of setup. Here are the results.

Top Mac VPN Apps Ranked

Below are our top picks. Each one offers a dedicated macOS app, strong encryption, and features that actually work on Mac.

Rank	VPN Provider	Mac App Store	Apple Silicon Native	Kill Switch on Mac	Split Tunneling on Mac	Starting Price	Simultaneous Devices
1	NordVPN	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	$3.49/mo	10
2	ExpressVPN	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	$6.67/mo	8
3	Surfshark	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	$2.19/mo	Unlimited
4	CyberGhost	No	Yes	Yes	No	$2.19/mo	7
5	ProtonVPN	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	$4.99/mo (Plus)	10
6	Private Internet Access (PIA)	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	$2.03/mo	Unlimited

1. NordVPN: Best Overall VPN for Mac

NordVPN delivers the strongest combination of speed, security, and macOS integration. Its Mac app is native on Apple Silicon, averaging 850+ Mbps on M2 MacBooks in our speed tests. The kill switch works at the system level, and the Threat Protection feature blocks ads and trackers without a browser extension.

Pros:

• Fastest speeds we recorded on macOS (880 Mbps on WireGuard/NordLynx)
• Full-featured Mac App Store version
• Meshnet feature lets you route traffic through your own devices
• Audited no-logs policy (Deloitte, 2023)

Cons:

• Mac app occasionally requires re-authentication after sleep
• Premium price compared to Surfshark

Mac-specific note: Download from NordVPN’s official site for the full-featured version. The Mac App Store version works well but may lag behind on updates.

2. ExpressVPN: Easiest Mac VPN to Use

ExpressVPN is the most polished Mac VPN app we tested. It connects in under 2 seconds, the interface is clean, and it runs natively on M1, M2, and M3 chips. Lightway, its proprietary protocol, hit 780 Mbps on our test MacBook Pro.

Pros:

• One-click connect with smart server selection
• Lightway protocol built for speed and battery efficiency
• Split tunneling works reliably on macOS Sonoma and Sequoia
• 24/7 live chat support

Cons:

• More expensive than most competitors
• Limited to 8 simultaneous connections

Mac-specific note: ExpressVPN’s Mac app uses a system extension (not a kernel extension), so it stays compatible with the latest macOS security requirements.

3. Surfshark: Best Budget VPN for Mac

Surfshark gives you unlimited simultaneous devices at one of the lowest prices available. On Mac, the app is native for Apple Silicon and includes CleanWeb ad blocking, split tunneling (called Bypasser), and a kill switch. Speeds averaged 720 Mbps in our tests.

Pros:

• Unlimited devices per account
• Starts at $2.19/mo on a 2-year plan
• CleanWeb blocks trackers, ads, and malware domains
• Dynamic MultiHop for extra privacy

Cons:

• Speeds fluctuate more than NordVPN or ExpressVPN
• Some advanced settings are buried in the UI

Mac-specific note: The Bypasser (split tunneling) feature on Mac lets you exclude specific apps or websites from the VPN tunnel.

4. CyberGhost: Best for Streaming on Mac

CyberGhost labels its servers by streaming service (Netflix US, BBC iPlayer, Disney+), making it dead simple to access content on your Mac. It runs natively on Apple Silicon and hit 690 Mbps in our tests. If you primarily want a VPN to stream content on your Mac, CyberGhost is a strong choice.

Pros:

• Dedicated streaming-optimized servers
• 45-day money-back guarantee (longest on this list)
• 9,700+ servers across 100 countries
• Automatic Wi-Fi protection on Mac

Cons:

• No Mac App Store version; must download from their site
• No split tunneling on the macOS app
• Slower on long-distance servers

Mac-specific note: CyberGhost’s kill switch on Mac blocks all traffic instantly if the VPN drops.

5. ProtonVPN: Best Free Option for Mac

ProtonVPN offers a genuinely free tier with no data limits and no ads. The free plan gives you servers in 5 countries and decent speeds for browsing. The paid Plus plan accesses streaming support, Secure Core servers, and speeds up to 740 Mbps on Mac. If you want a free VPN for Mac that you can trust, start here.

Pros:

• Free plan with unlimited data (rare and legitimate)
• Based in Switzerland with strong privacy laws
• Open-source Mac app, independently audited
• Secure Core routes traffic through privacy-friendly countries

Cons:

• Free plan limited to servers in 5 countries
• Free plan does not support streaming or P2P
• Slightly slower than NordVPN and ExpressVPN on paid plan

Mac-specific note: ProtonVPN’s Mac app is available on the Mac App Store and supports IKEv2 and WireGuard natively.

6. Private Internet Access (PIA): Most Customizable Mac VPN

PIA gives power users full control. You can configure encryption levels, choose between WireGuard and OpenVPN, set per-app rules, and adjust DNS settings. On Mac, it averaged 650 Mbps and offers one of the most flexible kill switches available.

Pros:

• Granular control over encryption and protocol settings
• Unlimited simultaneous devices
• MACE ad and tracker blocker built in
• Proven no-logs policy (verified in court twice)

Cons:

• Interface can feel overwhelming for beginners
• Not available on the Mac App Store
• Based in the US (Five Eyes jurisdiction)

Mac-specific note: PIA’s split tunneling on Mac works at the app level.

What to Look for in a Mac VPN

Not every VPN works equally well on macOS. Here are the features that matter most for Mac users:

Apple Silicon support. If you have an M1, M2, M3, or M4 Mac, choose a VPN with a native ARM app. Running an Intel app through Rosetta 2 drains battery faster and reduces speeds by 10-20% in our tests.

Kill switch behavior on macOS. macOS handles network interruptions differently than Windows. A good Mac VPN kill switch blocks all traffic at the firewall level, not just at the app level. NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and PIA all do this correctly.

Split tunneling. This lets you route some apps through the VPN and others through your regular connection. Useful when you want to stream foreign content while keeping local banking apps on your real IP. Not all Mac VPN apps support this; CyberGhost’s Mac app, for example, does not.

Network extension vs. kernel extension. Apple deprecated kernel extensions in macOS Big Sur. Modern VPN apps should use the Network Extension framework. All six VPNs above have migrated to this approach.

Mac App Store availability. Apps from the Mac App Store go through Apple’s review process and use sandboxing, which limits functionality. Some providers (CyberGhost, PIA) skip the App Store entirely to ship full-featured apps. Others (NordVPN, Surfshark) offer both versions. In most cases, the direct download version has more features.

How to Set Up a VPN on macOS

Setting up a VPN on your Mac takes less than 5 minutes. Here is the process:

1. Choose a VPN provider from the list above and create an account on their website.
2. Download the Mac app directly from the provider’s website (recommended) or from the Mac App Store.
3. Open the installer and drag the app to your Applications folder. macOS may ask you to approve a system extension in System Settings > Privacy & Security.
4. Log in with your account credentials.
5. Click Connect. Most apps auto-select the fastest server. You can also choose a specific country.
6. Verify your connection by visiting a site like ipleak.net to confirm your IP address has changed.

Optional: Manual IKEv2 setup. macOS has built-in IKEv2 VPN support in System Settings > VPN. This works if your provider supplies server addresses and certificates, but you lose split tunneling, kill switch, and auto-connect features. We recommend the dedicated app for most users.

Why Mac Users Need a VPN

Many Mac users assume macOS is secure enough on its own. It is more resistant to malware than Windows, but it does nothing to protect your internet traffic. Your ISP can see every site you visit. Public Wi-Fi networks expose your data to anyone on the same network. Content providers restrict access based on your location.

A VPN solves all three problems. It encrypts your traffic so your ISP and network snoops see nothing. It masks your IP so streaming services think you are in another country. It secures public Wi-Fi connections automatically.

If you also use an iPhone or iPad, the same VPN subscription usually covers those devices too.

Free vs. Paid VPNs for Mac

Free VPNs are tempting, but most come with serious trade-offs:

Feature	Free VPNs	Paid VPNs
Speed	Throttled (50-200 Mbps typical)	Full speed (650-880 Mbps in our tests)
Data caps	Common (500 MB-10 GB/month)	Unlimited
Server locations	3-5 countries	60-100+ countries
Streaming support	Rarely works	Reliably accesses Netflix, Hulu, etc.
Kill switch on Mac	Usually missing	Included
Split tunneling on Mac	Usually missing	Included on most apps
Logging policy	Often unclear or invasive	Audited no-logs policies

Our recommendation: ProtonVPN’s free plan is the only free Mac VPN we trust. It has no data cap, no ads, and a clear no-logs policy. For anything beyond basic browsing, a paid plan from NordVPN or Surfshark is worth the $2-4/month investment.

Final Verdict

For most Mac users, NordVPN is the best overall choice. It has the fastest speeds on macOS, a native Apple Silicon app, a system-level kill switch, and a full-featured Mac App Store version. If budget matters more, Surfshark gives you unlimited devices for around $2/month. And if you want a free starting point, ProtonVPN is the only free Mac VPN worth using.

No matter which provider you pick, download the app directly from the provider’s website for the best macOS experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

AllHow it worksSpeed & StreamingPricingSetup & Support

What’s the difference between using a dedicated Mac VPN app and macOS’s built-in IKEv2 client?

The built-in IKEv2 client in System Settings > VPN only works if your provider supplies server addresses and certificates, and it drops split tunneling, kill switch, and auto-connect entirely. Dedicated apps use Apple’s Network Extension framework, the successor to kernel extensions deprecated in macOS Big Sur, which all six VPNs reviewed here have adopted. Manual setup sacrifices real functionality for basic connectivity.

Which VPN is fastest for everyday use on a Mac?

NordVPN ranks #1 of 22 in our Speed Lab, aggregated from independent labs, and its Mac app runs natively on Apple Silicon rather than through Rosetta 2 translation. That distinction matters: running an Intel-only app via Rosetta 2 on M1 through M4 chips cuts speeds by roughly 10 to 20 percent and drains battery faster, a gap native ARM apps avoid entirely.

Which VPN is best for accessing streaming platforms on a Mac?

CyberGhost, which labels servers by streaming service (Netflix US, BBC iPlayer, Disney+) so you connect to the right server without guesswork. It runs natively on Apple Silicon and ranks #10 of 22 in our Speed Lab, aggregated from independent labs. It also backs streaming subscribers with a 45-day money-back guarantee, the longest refund window among the Mac VPNs reviewed here.

How trustworthy is NordVPN’s no-logs claim on its Mac app?

Deloitte audited NordVPN’s no-logs policy in 2023, and its Mac app enforces the kill switch at the system firewall level rather than just the app level, so traffic stops completely if the connection drops. NordVPN also runs Threat Protection natively, blocking ads and trackers without needing a separate browser extension installed alongside the VPN app.

Is ProtonVPN’s free Mac plan good enough for daily use?

It depends on your needs. ProtonVPN’s free tier has no data cap and no ads, unusual for a free VPN, but it restricts you to servers in 5 countries and drops support for streaming and P2P entirely. The paid Plus plan removes those restrictions and adds Secure Core servers, starting around $4.99/month for Mac users.

Does split tunneling work the same way across every Mac VPN app?

No. ExpressVPN’s split tunneling works reliably on macOS Sonoma and Sequoia, Surfshark calls its version Bypasser and lets you exclude specific apps or sites, and PIA implements it at the app level. CyberGhost’s Mac app skips split tunneling entirely, so if routing only some apps through the VPN matters, CyberGhost is the one to rule out.

How many devices can one Mac VPN subscription actually cover?

It varies by provider. NordVPN and ProtonVPN’s Plus plan both cover 10 simultaneous devices, ExpressVPN covers 8, and CyberGhost covers 7. Surfshark and PIA both allow unlimited simultaneous connections on one account, which matters if your household runs Macs, iPhones, and other devices under a single subscription.

How much should I expect to pay for a Mac-ready VPN?

Starting prices for Mac apps range from about $2.03 to $2.19 per month for PIA, Surfshark, and CyberGhost on longer plans, up to $3.49/month for NordVPN and $4.99/month for ProtonVPN’s Plus tier. ExpressVPN runs highest at $6.67/month. All six offer native Apple Silicon apps regardless of price tier.

What refund window applies if a Mac VPN app doesn’t perform well on my machine?

CyberGhost offers the longest window at 45 days. NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Surfshark, and ProtonVPN each back their Mac apps with a standard 30-day money-back guarantee. Test the app on your specific Mac model, Intel or Apple Silicon, within that window before committing to a longer subscription term.

How do I know my Mac VPN app is running natively on Apple Silicon instead of through Rosetta 2?

All six Mac VPNs reviewed here, NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Surfshark, CyberGhost, ProtonVPN, and PIA, ship native Apple Silicon (M1 through M4) apps when downloaded directly from the provider’s site. This matters because running an Intel-only build through Rosetta 2 translation reduces speeds by roughly 10 to 20 percent and drains battery faster. Stick to the direct-download version rather than an older cached installer.

Why does macOS ask me to approve a system extension when installing a VPN?

Apple requires apps to use the Network Extension framework instead of the kernel extensions it deprecated in macOS Big Sur, so installers prompt you to approve the extension in System Settings > Privacy & Security. ExpressVPN specifically built its Mac app on a system extension rather than a kernel extension to stay compatible with current macOS security requirements.

What if my Mac VPN keeps asking me to log in again after the laptop wakes from sleep?

This is a known quirk on NordVPN’s Mac app specifically, which can require re-authentication after sleep. Reopen the app and log in again rather than assuming the service is down. If it happens repeatedly, check that the app’s system extension is still approved under Privacy & Security, since macOS updates occasionally reset that permission.