Best VPN Solution for Mac Users: Ultimate Guide

If you’re a Mac user who is concerned about online security and privacy, or if you want to access restricted content from around the world, then a VPN is an essential tool for you. Our selection is based on their features, ease of use, price, available servers, and more! So, grab a cup of tea and sit back as we explore the best VPN for Mac users.

NordVPN – Best Global VPN for Mac

NordVPN is an attractive option for those looking for the best VPN on Mac, and it offers a very comprehensive features that will suit most Mac users. This provider is continually improving its application by adding new features never seen anywhere else. Indeed, NordVPN offers strong data encryption to ensure the safety of its subscribers’ data during tunneling. It also has a substantial server network: over 5,400 servers in 60 countries, which allows you to mystify a large number of sites and avoid server congestion.

You also get advanced security features such as automatic Kill Switch, dual VPN which provides double encryption for added security. NordVPN also includes a Threat Protection (similar to an antivirus) that blocks ads, malware and intrusive ads, automatic Kill Switch, and above all, dual VPN which provides double encryption for added security. Moreover, NordVPN’s software interface is easy to use, making even newbies to VPN feel like experts. The great thing about this VPN is that you can test it without commitment for 30 days. This is possible thanks to the money back guarantee offered to new customers. No matter how long you choose to commit yourself, you will be entitled to it.

Pros:

Clear and fluid interface
Fast download speed
Free 30-day trial

Cons:

May slow down when using some servers

Surfshark: the cheapest premium VPN

Founded in 2018, Surfshark is already competing with the best VPNs on the market. Without wasting any time, the young provider has developed a large infrastructure that has more than 3,200 servers in 100 countries around the world. Like Express VPN, Surfshark’s servers run solely on RAM (random access memory). This is a huge advantage in terms of privacy, as all data that passes through the VPN is erased at regular intervals.

Security is not left out with the Camouflage feature that allows you to blur servers, support for the latest generation VPN protocol WireGuard, or kill Switch and split tunneling rarely available on Mac. Not to mention protection against trackers and malware that strengthens the security of its subscribers’ personal data.

The service also offers static IP addresses (to always keep the same IP address), as well as “Dynamic MultiHop” servers, responsible for routing traffic through two VPN servers located in different countries, manually selected by the user. All Surfshark servers support P2P downloads and the most popular streaming services such as Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, etc.

In addition, you should know that his AES-256 encryption is applied to all your data. You can even go further by enabling the MultiHop feature. This is an option that allows you to redirect your web traffic to two VPN servers located in two different countries. This ensures double protection of your IP address and your data. When it comes to pricing, Surfshark has some of the lowest rates on the market for its 1- and 2-year subscriptions. These range from €3.99/month for 12 months, to just $2.49/month for 24 months, and you get a 30 money back guarantee.

Pros:

Fast speeds
Unlimited number of devices
Nexus network
Anti-virus solution

Cons:

Unstable web extensions

CyberGhost

CyberGhost is one of the best VPNs for macs but CyberGhost has a harder time unblocking streaming platforms and TV channels, but it is fully compatible with Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Hulu.

For the rest, CyberGhost lives up to expectations. By downloading its VPN application on your Mac, you’ll be able to take advantage of an impressive number of servers dedicated to streaming and torrenting, IP addresses all over the world, and a so- called “no-log” policy. We are talking about over 9022 servers located in more than 91+ countries.

Moreover, CyberGhost can be described as cheap. Its two-year plan allows you to enjoy a monthly price of less than $2.11/month. Even better, you can use it for free thanks to its 45-day warranty that comes with the 2 years plan. Those who opt for the 1-month subscription are not left behind because they also get a 14 days money back guaranty.

Despite the low price, the security offered is not cheap. CyberGhost is a reliable provider that has not experienced any major failures. Since the company is based in Romania, it is able to enforce a no-logging policy on its servers. As premium offers like NordVPN, it obviously provides a Kill Switch function and advanced encryption of Internet traffic. If you wish, it is even possible to obtain a dedicated IP address.

Pros:

Smooth graphical interface
Performance and value for money
Servers optimized for streaming and P2P

Cons:

Some streaming platforms and TV channels are not unlocked

ExpressVPN – The fastest VPN for Mac

ExpressVPN’s connection speeds and network size make it a great VPN option for most mac users, including people who deal with sensitive information and need a high degree of privacy.

If ExpressVPN is one of the best VPNs on the Mac, it’s also thanks to its impressive infrastructure that has more than 3,000 servers spread across 94 countries leaving a wide choice of connections. The connection to the servers is reliable, fast and uninterrupted, which allows you to browse on your Mac without changing your habits. It even manages to unblock streaming platforms as well as TV channels and we can’t say the same about all VPNs.

ExpressVPN protects all users’ web traffic with a strong AES-256 encryption. It also operates a full camouflage of their source IP address for anonymous browsing. To optimize the connection, several protocols like OpenVPN, IKEv2 and PPTP are also offered. Since it is a no-log VPN, it cannot disclose any connection logs or activity records. Finally, you get a 30-day money back guarantee with no strings attached in case you want to test it.

Pros:

Large number of servers in many countries.
Advanced security with robust encryption protocols.
30-day money back guarantee.

Cons:

Higher cost than its competitors.
limited configuration options.

AtlasVPN: a generous and powerful VPN for your Mac

Without doubt one of the best VPNs on the market since 202, AtlasVPN continues to attract more and more users, largely thanks to its particularly attractive, ultra-complete and unlimited free offer. Its objective is to allow everyone to protect their personal data and keep their anonymity while surfing the web. And this, regardless of their budget and their computer skills.

Moreover, AtlasVPN does its best by providing you with high-level encryption without having to pay a single cent. Note, however, that the freemium offer is limited to 5 GB of transfers per month. In addition, you can only select 3 servers. To access the 750 servers offered by the service, you will have to $1.82/mo.

In any case, all users can enjoy the full potential of AES-256 bit encryption, which is, one of the best encryption technology on the market today. They will also be able to rely on the IPSec/IKEv2 tunneling protocol and WireGuard. And that’s not all! AtlasVPN also supports IP address protection, including IPv6 addresses. there are various additional features that are very useful for everyday uses like the Kill Switch, the autoconnect, the Tracker Blocker or SafeSwap. On top of its security and privacy options, this VPN allows its users to access all the content offered on TV and streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video or HBO Max. In short, AtlasVPN gives you the power to bypass geographic blocking.

Pros:

attractive prices and free version.
unlimited simultaneous connections.
efficient location switching.

Cons:

limited network coverage.
lack of OpenVPN protocol.

Hotspot Shield- the Best VPN for Streaming.

Created by the American company AnchorFree, HotSpot Shield is a popular VPN service with over 600 million users and 5,000 servers located in more than 75 countries and 35 cities. There are many great things about Hotspot Shield, including its ability to compress your data to improve download and upload speeds.

When it comes to speed and reliability, Hotspot Shield won the “World’s Fastest VPN” award from Ookla’s Speedtest experts, and this award is proudly displayed on their homepage. In the test which measured the speed increase on long distance connections, other VPNs showed a speed decrease of up to 42.5% which is rather disappointing. On the other hand, Hotspot Shield recorded an increase in download speed of over 26.2%! Of course, we had to do our own testing and tried several servers in the UK, EU, US and Asia. Hotspot Shield recorded impressive download speeds of 92.5, 29.3, 93.4 and 81.00 Megabytes per seconds respectively.

Also, while other VPN services use multiple encryption protocols, Hotspot Shield works on a single protocol, OpenVPN with 256-bit AES encryption. Of course, this is one of the strongest encryptions out there, but it would have been nice to have more protocol options.

The Other interesting features of this VPN include the famous Kill Switch which consists of suspending your traffic in case of VPN disconnection, Split Tunneling, which gives you the power to choose which sites/applications should or should not go through the VPN tunnel and Auto-Protection on public WIFI, so that the protection is automatically activated if you are connected to such a network. Finally, the thing we love the most about hotspot shield is that it gives you the power to Secure 5 devices with one account, from MacBook’s, phones, TVs and you get a 45-day money back guarantee.

Pros:

Extensive server network.

High speeds.
Connect up to 5 devices simultaneously.

Cons:

Collects user data than many competitors.
Limited inscription technologies.

Private Internet Access (PIA)

With more than 15 million users, Private Internet Access is a major player in the industry. While this provider is widely known in the United States, it is also becoming increasingly successful on the other side of the Atlantic due to the quality of its tool.

Indeed, among other things, it has an anti-malware filter and ad blocker, as well as a classic and advanced Kill switch to prevent data leaks. The application includes a split tunnel function that allows you to exclude certain sites from the VPN connection.

In addition to its advanced security levels, Private Internet Access provides an end-to-end encrypted connection and he is one of the few players to allow a choice between 128-bit or 256-bit AES encryption. This flexibility doesn’t stop there, as, users can also configure the remote port, choose the maximum transmission unit (MTU) or even the network type. Its software supports OpenVPN and WireGuard protocols. Also, Private Internet Access has the advantage of having more than 30,000 servers in 78 countries. In this respect, it does almost as well as the excellent CyberGhost VPN we mentioned earlier. It also has so-called Shadowsocks and SOCKS proxy servers that are particularly useful for going online in areas that censor access to certain websites. It is also possible, for an additional cost, to obtain a dedicated IP address that will allow you to obtain a better connection speed and reduce the probability of being blacklisted. Finally, you have 30 days to try this VPN. If you are not satisfied by Private Internet Access , you can get a full refund.

Pros:

Advanced security
Many servers available in the world
Very attractive price
30-day trial

Cons:

Limited customer support

IPVanish

With most VPN providers, the service you pay for limits the number of connections. It is not the case with IPVanish because it gives you the freedom to connect many devices.

In terms of security measures to protect our data, IPVanish uses the WireGuard protocol and with an Advanced encryption algorithm, the highest standard on the market. There is also a protection against DNS leakage, a Kill Switch that ensures that our data is never visible if ever a server should encounter any difficulties.

Depending on the subscription choose, between $3.33 and $11.99 per month, IPVanish allows us to secure data from up to 6 different devices. In terms of compatibility, it works on routers, Amazon Fire TV, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS and as a web extension on Chrome browsers.