Best VPN apps – free and premium VPN apps for your PC, Mac, iPhone and Android smartphone Stay secure on your device, and keep your browsing data private, with this list of the best paid. We’ve surveyed the top companies in the industry to find you the best VPNs for Mac available today. All of these VPNs have dedicated apps and tons of features for Mac and Mac software and you should have no problem setting them up on your own within just a few minutes.
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Perhaps you've already seen our list of the best VPN options out there? Now you may want to narrow that down for your Apple Mac. You've come to the right place.
Apple may indeed be more secure than Windows, but this way of thinking can lead to a sense of safety when using a Mac, and that's not always a good idea. There are still potential threats out there on the deepest darkest interwebs and you need to stay protected. On a less ominous note you probably also want to roam freely online, region free that is. Both of these problems are fixed with a trusty VPN.
From watching different region Netflix shows to logging into sketchy public Wi-Fi, a VPN can keep you protected and let you pick your region. This is also great if you're travelling and want your MacBook to login as if you're still in the UK – perhaps to a work system or just good old BBC iPlayer. Whatever the need there's a perfect VPN out there waiting to help. Read on to find the best Mac VPN for you.
Also be sure to check out our best VPN for iPhone, iPad and iOS for your mobile experience.
The best VPN for Mac 2018:1. ExpressVPNExpress VPN is the best VPN for Mac with top service and an excellent appSpecifications
Good on phones and tablets: Yes
Server locations: 148
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Maximum devices supported: 3
Reasons to buy
+Excellent app+Amazing customer support 24/7+Really easy to set up+Really use to use and control
12 months
$6.67
6 months
$9.99
1 month
$12.95
ExpressVPN is our top recommendation for a Mac VPN. This is the premium option for those that want nothing but the very best VPN for safety, reliability, app quality and customer support. Express gives you round the clock 24/7 support so you don't need to worry about problems, though they'll likely not occur with this VPN. As such you'll be able to take your MacBook anywhere and enjoy safe, region free viewing but also stay secure in the knowledge that at home on your desktop Mac you're also super safe. Express lets you watch Netflix from any region you like, login to public Wi-Fi, check social media on an otherwise limited connection, or just enjoy good old BBC iPlayer when outside the UK. While this is a perfect VPN for your Mac, it'll also work across devices including your iPhone, Android device, smart TV, Amazon Fire Stick and more with up to three devices in use at the same time. There is also a 30-day no-questions asked refund policy so you can effectively try before you buy.
How to set up ExpressVPN on your Mac device:
2. IPVanishSave money on ExpressVPN while still getting an excellent VPNSpecifications
Good on phones and tablets: Yes
Server locations: 60+
Maximum devices supported: 5
Reasons to buy
+Brilliant speeds+Great apps for all devices+Reliable brand+Use 5 devices at once
12 months
$4.87
3 months
$6.75
1 month
$7.50
If you want to save some money by skipping the tip-top VPN but retain many of the best features you've found a winner in the IPVanish. This VPN has stood the test of time meaning it's matured into a really impressive and reliable service over the many years it's been running. Nice touches like auto IP switching, a kill switch, OpenVPN, PPTP and L2TP support plus P2P all make this a really impressive Mac option. While paying more for ExpressVPN gets you things like more servers in more countries, a slightly better app, an enhanced user experience and that superb customer service, IPVanish will be more than enough for most needs. Plus the IPVanish bosses claim this is the world's fastest VPN, we did find it to be rapid. Within the limits of varying connections based on location, signal strength, device and plenty more besides that will change from time to time, it pays to make sure the VPN is quick to start with. This works brilliantly on Mac to ensure maximum connection speeds and also works across other devices with five able to use the login at once. You also get a 7-day trial with money-back guaranteed.
3. VyprVPNPerformance and security are perfected in this reliable VPN service![]() Specifications
Good on phones and tablets: Yes
Server locations: 73
Maximum devices supported: 3-5
Reasons to buy
+Great speeds+Good value VPN options+Free trial+Use 3/5 devices at once
12 months
$5
12 months
$6.67
1 month
$9.95
VyprVPN is the ideal VPN for Mac if you want to save money by going for a less known name but still get a fast and reliable service. By fast we mean blisteringly rapid, making it perfect for powerful Mac machines that don't want to be slowed by their connection. This Swiss based service takes advantage of all the privacy laws that country offers but also runs a tier-1 network meaning it's solely in charge of its own servers for maximum speeds. We found this actually more than doubled our download speeds compared to a normal non-VPN connection. So if nothing else, use this for a speed boost. A really nice and unique Mac addition is the option to manage VPN connections for each app separately. Plus the security is excellent with VyprDNS, OpenVPN (160-bit and 256-bit), L2TP/IPsec protocols, as well as VyprVPN’s own Chameleon protocol for avoiding VPN blocking – perfect for Netflix. Get a 3-day free trial and see how it works for you.
NordVPNSpecifications
Good on phones and tablets: Yes
Server locations: 62
Maximum devices supported: 6
Reasons to buyReasons to avoid
£2.29
12 months
£5.35
1 month
£9.15
For the ultimate in security on your Mac go for the NordVPN . The Nord specific security uses two layers of encryption meaning your data goes through not one but two VPN servers for an even more hidden IP. This also means extras like web proxy extensions and encrypted chat as standard. The macOS and iOS clients are minimal and simple, which can be great as a great beginner platform that also offers P2P-friendly zero logs access with decent performance. Plus you get a 3-day free trial to decide for yourself if this is for you. Still not sure? Start one of the payment options and you get a further 30-day money-back guarantee so you can test it for even longer, worry-free.
IvacySpecifications
Good on phones and tablets: Yes
Server locations: 100+
Maximum devices supported: 5
Best Vpn For Mac OsReasons to buyReasons to avoid
$2.25
Ivacy - 1 Year
$3.33
Ivacy - 1 Month
$9.95
This Singapore based provider doesn't scrimp on speed, in fact you'll get comparable speeds to running without a VPN thanks to more than 450 server locations globally. The Mac service even offers specific modes to suit what you're doing from torrenting to website unblocking – just select your need and Ivacy will optimise to suit. That's all with security peace of mind thanks to protocols like PPTP, SSTP, L2TP, OpenVPN, IKEv2 and a 256-bit encryption. Despite this being a more affordable option you do get features like split-tunnelling, IPv6 leak protection and a kill switch. All that and Ivacy keeps no logs at all. While there is no free trial and no refund for cryptocurrency, there are plenty of affordable options to pick from.
Compare the best VPN services spec-by-spec:
at
12 months
at
12 months
at
36 months
at
60
55
5
6
Torrenting and P2P traffic
Balance of options and ease of use
You Need a Mac VPN
There's a dangerous belief out there that macOS is somehow immune to attacks, that Apple's computers need no antivirus, and that Macs are intrinsically protected against spies and hackers. While it's true that Windows machines see more attacks, perpetrators of mass surveillance and online data thieves aren't discerning. That's why virtual private networks, or VPNs, are so important, even for Mac users.
The problem isn't your Mac, per se. It's the fundamental structure of the internet. The first bricks of the web were laid by government and university academics who were interested in making information sharing faster and easier. Privacy and security were secondary concerns. Fast-forward a few decades into the future, and things are quite different.
Today, we use the web for far more than just trading academic papers. We transmit important documents filled with personal information; we file our taxes; we send money to our friends and request money from our enemies; we even exchange incriminating emails and compromising photos. And we do it all over a system that makes finding your location and intercepting your information very easy.
Editors' Note: IPVanish is owned by j2 Global, the parent company of PCMag's publisher, Ziff Davis.
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Best Vpn For Mac And Iphone
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Who Wants Your Data?
In short, just about everyone wants your data. Your personal information is valuable to hackers because it can be sold and resold on Dark Web marketplaces. Scammers and other criminals can then buy that information in order to commit fraud, which is not something people usually enjoy having done in their name.
In a similar vein, advertisers are keen to get your information so that they can better target you with online advertisements. Special trackers note information about you when you visit a website. When you navigate to a website that hosts another tracker from the same ad company, your movements are correlated across the web.
Even internet service providers (ISPs) are starting to get in on the act, now that Congress has given them the go-ahead to sell anonymized metadata about user activity. The ISPs argue that if advertisers can get a cut of the sweet>
Stay Safe and Private on Your Mac
Apple has polished macOS to a shine, and the company has always paid careful attention to stability and security. But out on the web, anything goes. That's why you need a VPN to provide a critical layer of security and privacy. It's a simple but powerful tool, and you'll be grateful for taking better control of your online experience.
While you're thinking about privacy for your Mac, you should also consider security. If you're not protected yet, you ought to read our roundup of Mac antivirus software.
Best Mac VPN Services Featured in This Roundup:
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