Best VPN for Mac 2023: Reviews and buying advice

Surfshark is a great-value VPN that offers a lot more than you’d expect for a small monthly price.

Its apps are simple to use, and it reliably unlocks streaming services like Netflix and BBC iPlayer. It’s missing the specialty servers offered by rivals such as
NordVPN, though.

Connection speeds are very impressive, and that’s thanks to the use of the WireGuard protocol. You really won’t notice any slowdown in your internet speed when Surfshark is running, so long as you have WireGuard selected and aren’t using servers the other side of the globe.

All of its servers are now running entirely in RAM. It’s the same technology as ExpressVPN or NordVPN. It’s also a member of the
VPN Trust InitiativeWhile two-factor authentication (2FA), is an option that few VPN providers offer, it is still a useful feature.

The other reason to consider Surfshark is because it undercuts almost all of its rivals on price, yet doesn’t place any limit on the number of devices you can use simultaneously.

You can use it on your Mac, Android, and iOS devices as well as your browsers.

There’s a kill switch, a strict no-logs policy and a Multi-Hop feature which routes your connection via two VPN servers for an extra layer of protection. However, there’s no split tunneling or GPS spoofing on the Mac. 

• Servers with 3200+ RAM
• Multi-Hop connections
• Unlimited simultaneous connections
• 24/7 customer service
• Two-factor authentication
• GPS spoofing (Android only

Surfshark: Sign up here

NordVPN One of the most popular and well-known VPN services. This VPN service remained at the top of the list for many years, until Surfshark took over. NordVPN has a simpler interface than Surfshark. It also features an independent audit. You can also use it for special purposes with its specialty servers. Surfshark costs less, has unlimited connections, and has more detailed double VPN features.

More than 5,000 servers are available in 59 countries. You won’t have to figure out which one to choose thanks to the handy ‘Quick connect’ feature that picks the server best suited to your needs.

NordVPN offers fast and reliable connections. It also unblocks many streaming services worldwide, including Netflix and BBC iPlayer. You can connect up six devices at once.

Nord recently added support for the quicker
Protocol WireGuardThis makes it one of most reliable VPN services. However, it’s only available on the ‘IKE’ version of the app, which only offers a permanently enabled kill switch. To have more control, you’ll need to download the ‘OpenVPN’ version, albeit with slightly slower speeds.

• 6 simultaneous connections
• 24/7 tech support
• Kill Switch
• Works with Netflix & other streaming services

The 68% discount on your usual monthly price is possible if you use the
Two-year plan. However, there’s no split tunneling on the Mac version.

ExpressVPN offers one of the best VPN services. Everything you’d expect from a modern VPN is here, including an effective kill switch, impressive device support and split tunneling for app-by-app protection. Although the latter doesn’t yet work on macOS Big Sur, it is extremely easy to set up, with quick access via the menu bar one of the highlights.

ExpressVPN is a leader in security but others are fast catching up. It’s no longer the only one with RAM-based servers, while solid device and tech support are the norm whichever service you use.

Although the new Lightway protocol is expected to significantly increase ExpressVPN’s speed, it will also be open-source technology so other similar services can make use of it. These are often significantly cheaper.

With the introduction of Apple Silicon, there’s no doubt that ExpressVPN is more than capable of serving the next generation of Mac. It’s just not the only one.

• Kill switch (Network Lock).
• 5 simultaneous connections
• 24/7 customer service
• Works with Netflix & other streaming services

See
Here are the ExpressVPN subscription plans.

VyprVPN provides everything that most people need in a VPN without spending a lot of money.

Fast WireGuard speeds are available, along with separate protocols that focus on reliability, anti-censorship, and ease of use. It’s also excellent at unblocking geo-restricted content, whether that’s local versions of Netflix or BBC iPlayer & ITV Hub from outside the UK. Premium features such as split tunneling and a kill switch are here too, even if the latter can’t be customised. 

VyprVPN’s no-logs policy has been independently audited, and the service adheres to a strict Privacy Policy from parent company Golden Frog. More than 700 servers in over 70 countries should be plenty for most people, although there’s often only one per country. It’s also not clear which of these are physical and virtual.

• Split tunneling and kill switch
• WireGuard protocol means fast speeds
• 30 simultaneous connections
• Works with Netflix & other streaming services

Nonetheless, it’s still speedy, reliable and affordable – especially if you don’t mind subscribing for three years. Just $36 for a 36-month plan $1.81/£1.36 per month, representing excellent value for money.

Check out the full VyprVPN pricing page

This app is great for newbies to VPN. It’s simple, intuitive, and attractive. FastestVPN’s simple and uncluttered interface is complemented by its high speeds and extensive network. It’s icing on the cake that its privacy policy is easy to understand and makes all the right promises.

FastestVPN was able to maintain about 30% of its base speed in five locations during our tests. However, there were some slow spots in Australia and Asia.

• Supports up to 10 simultaneous connections
• 32 countries with more than 250 servers
• Internet When VPN connection drops, kill switch blocks all internet traffic

Despite it’s name it’s not the fastest VPN, but FastestVPN does make the right privacy promises in a way that’s easy to understand.

ProtonVPN is a great VPN. ProtonVPN comes with a very basic free tier. However, it is easy to understand and offers many interesting features as well as great speeds.

• 55 Country Options
• NetShield anti-malware and tracker blocker
• Internet You can also use the kill switch
• Uses Netflix and other streaming service
• One of the fastest VPN we’ve tested on macOS

ProtonVPN has a free trial that offers very limited features. It is an excellent service that provides fast speeds, good privacy, fair pricing and supports streaming services. It’s well worth a look.

CyberGhost is a major name in the VPN industry. It’s affordable and user friendly, so is perfect for anyone using a VPN on their Mac for the first time.

It is constantly adding servers, just like its rivals. The current count of over 6700 servers in 88 countries should ensure that you always have a reliable connection. And in our tests, we’ve always seen great speeds from CyberGhost, especially following the introduction of the WireGuard protocol.

It works with browsers, phones, tablets and Macs.

• 6700+ servers
• 7 simultaneous connections
• 24/7 customer service
• Kill switch

It’s not perfect, though – there’s no split tunneling on the Mac, no evidence of a recent independent audit of security credentials and a user experience that’s slightly rough around the edges. It also didn’t unblock BBC iPlayer in our testing.

Still, at $2.25/£1.99 per month for 3-year deal (which currently gives you three months’ extra free), it still represents very good value for money.

Private Internet Access (PIA), a compelling VPN, is an affordable option that’s great for Mac users.

It has an incredible 33,665 servers across 73 countries – that’s far higher than almost any consumer VPN service. These servers include the most popular destinations, and allow for up to 10 simultaneous connections. 

Thanks to the WireGuard protocol’s recent introduction, speeds are very good. PIA has split tunneling and a kill switch, which are features often left out of Mac VPN services. 

You can access Netflix international versions and BBC iPlayer from anywhere outside the UK. 

The service doesn’t log any of your details or activity, so even though it is based in the US, there’s no data to hand over should the authorities order PIA to do so.

• More than 33,000 servers
• 10 simultaneous connections
• 24/7 customer service
• Split tunneling and kill switch

However, it’s not perfect. There’s no evidence of an independent audit and the Mac app is clunky in comparison to some rivals.

PIA is a solid VPN service for a fair price. A  Subscription for two years works out at only $2.91/£2.37 per month. Two additional months are available for free.

Hide.me is another VPN provider that has experienced significant growth in recent years.

The free version is completely unrestricted, unlike its rivals. WireGuard also comes as a standard. It’s much faster than other encryption protocols.

Other key features include a customisable split tunneling and kill switch as well as Stealth Guard, which prevents certain apps from running unencrypted.

It can also unblock Netflix and allow you to access BBC iPlayer outside of the UK. There’s also solid device support, with up to 10 simultaneous connections permitted.

• 2000+ servers in 47 Countries
• Kill switch
• Split tunneling
• Live chat available 24/7
• 10 simultaneous connections
• Version free

However, the user interface on Mac is a bit clunky, and we’re still waiting for an update to the 2015 no-logs policy certification.

Malwarebytes is best-known for its antivirus software and advice. However, Malwarebytes Privacy, a standalone VPN service, is also available. It’s an easy to use app with the right kind of privacy promises – as you’d expect from a respected name in security based in the U.S.

• Offers in 32 countries
• More than 245 servers

Malwarebytes was mid-tier in speed tests but should still be sufficient for casual users.

Malwarebytes Privacy VPN does a good job and, starting at $3.33/£2.50 a month for one device, the price is right.

PureVPN is a service to consider if you need to connect to one or more of the countries which aren’t covered by its rivals.

There are over 2,000 servers in 141 countries (the largest number of any service listed here).

Virtual server locations can help you achieve some of these goals. The VPN company might have less control because virtual servers are often rented from a datacentre. PureVPN is transparent about which servers are virtual and which are physical – you can see a small ‘v’ next to each virtual server on the
PureVPN website. However, Mac users don’t see this information in their app.

Virtual servers will still unblock content as you’d expect. The following are also available:

• Kill switch in macOS App
• There are 140+ countries represented
• 5 simultaneous connections
• 24/7 customer service
• Works with Netflix & other streaming services

PureVPN used once to log session data, but today it has a strict no logs policy.

Standard monthly pricing isn’t that attractive for any VPN service, but like its rivals PureVPN always offers great deals if you’re happy to sign up for multiple years.

Find out more at our full article
PureVPN Review, and
PureVPN offers are available here.

Ivacy is a reliable VPN service that offers apps for macOS and iOS, as well as other devices. Its network isn’t the largest, but still offers servers in all the countries you are likely to want to pretend to be located in.

• Singapore headquarters
• Over 3500 servers in 100 countries
• 5 simultaneous connections
• Unblocks local Netflix and BBC iPlayer

It works well and you can get support via live chat 24 hours a day. And with amazingly low prices, it’s a solid choice. Unfortunately, the Mac app is just a copy of the Windows version. It only supports one protocol, and you don’t have split tunneling or a kill switch.