Best VPN for Mac

For a very long time, ExpressVPN has been one of the fastest VPNs available. It delivers lightning-fast speeds and rock-solid reliability, all in an extremely easy-to-use package. If clean user interfaces and ease of use are attractive features (which, to most Mac users, they likely are), ExpressVPN has you covered.

You can maneuver its low-intensity software with ease, change settings, connect and disconnect from servers quickly, and use its built-in killswitch and other features, all without so much as a dent in your computer’s performance. So what’s the downside, you ask? Well, unfortunately, you don’t get all of these incredible features for free.

Far from it, in fact. At a whopping $99.95 annually, ExpressVPN is one of the most expensive VPNs on the market. It also only allows up to five simultaneous connections at once in order to keep that lightning-fast speed. However, if those cons don’t outweigh the amazing pros to this high-quality service, ExpressVPN is a trusted provider that certainly won’t disappoint.

You can download ExpressVPN's software here.

Often, Surfshark is seen as the budget option of the premium VPNs. While this service is indeed cheaper than many of the other top dogs, it would be unfair to discredit that “premium” part. Surfshark delivers nothing short of excellent quality, especially for its price. Packed with advanced features, high speeds, exceptional reliability, an extensive server range, and even allowing up to 10 simultaneous connections, it is hard to believe that this service only costs an annual price of $59.78 when a majority of providers would charge far more buck for far less bang.

If you’re not looking to empty your wallet for some added security, Surfshark is an excellent choice for any Mac user, with complete support for MacOS systems and a low-intensity program that is easy to use and won’t affect your computer’s performance.

You can download Surfshark’s software here.

Back to one of our fastest competitors, NordVPN is well-known for its high speeds and high reliability. It’s also well-known in general. NordVPN has to be one of, if not the single most prominent name in the VPN market due to its massive advertising budget. However, it’s not all bark. Its bite comes in when you look at its rocket speeds, able to run without lowering download and upload speed by anything more than 10%, with airtight security measures and excellently designed software to go with it.

You could quite literally leave NordVPN running for just about anything and not even notice its impact on your connection speed. Few VPNs can boast that. Unfortunately, like ExpressVPN, this all comes with a drawback. At a six simultaneous connection limit and a deceptive pricing system that becomes more expensive than most other VPNs after your first plan expires, NordVPN has some pretty glaring downsides. However, if those aren’t enough to turn you away, you’ll be enjoying one of the highest quality VPNs available.

You can download NordVPN's software here.

What was once considered a subpar service has had a complete renovation and makeover. Rebuilt from the ground up, Cyberghost is now a mean competitor for the greatest VPN available. Its speeds are top-tier, it’s highly reliable with no crashing in testing, has a well-designed interface, and is one of our more affordable options on the list.

Cyberghost is also extremely easy to get set up and start with and has very helpful customer support that could solve any issue we threw their way with record speed. All of this comes with a 45-day money-back guarantee, so there’s no reason not to give Cyberghost a try for yourself.

You can download Cyberghost's software here.

Private Internet Access is a VPN service that is exceptionally high-quality and at one of the best prices on this entire list. If you’re on a tight budget and want a reliable service, we can’t recommend Private Internet Access enough. It’s got high speeds, solid reliability, and allows for ten simultaneous connections at once. That said, its primary issue is its ease of use. Its customer support doesn’t offer live chat and took some time to solve any issues we presented to them. It also doesn’t have the prettiest software in the world, but luckily, looks aren’t everything. If you want solid performance and excellent security, and an outstanding price, PIA might just be your pick.

You can download Private Internet Access' software here.

Another VPN that was relatively easy to get started with was IPVanish. Despite their live support not being 24/7, they were extremely helpful and responsive. The speeds we got in testing were solid and stable, and the large variety of advanced features available are very handy. With a large server collection and unlimited simultaneous connections, IPVanish is a great experience to use and runs beautifully on Mac.

The only issue, like similar providers in its class, is the price. At a whopping $89.98 a year, it’s one of the pricier options on the market. However, if that doesn’t stifle your excitement to give it a try, you can enjoy it with a 30-day money-back guarantee and enjoy tight security with great speeds and a plethora of features.

You can download IPVanish’s software here.

VyprVPN is a lesser-known name in the VPN market. It’s not known as the fastest or the most impressive provider out there. However, even if you might not have heard of it, it’s a high-quality service at an incredible price. VyprVPN, as far as we’re concerned, is the king of the budget options. You get some great features, solid security, and decent speeds at an unbelievable price.

While the $45.00 for an annual plan is already impressive with its bonus six months for free, the three-year deal is even better than most providers at $60.00, coming out to $20.00 a year. With a price like this, if you have even the slightest interest in getting the extra layer of security of a VPN, you should consider VyprVPN. It’s not the flashiest, and it’s not the fastest, but it’s approximately 100% better than not having a VPN, and it’s ridiculously affordable.

You can download VyprVPN's software here.

Looking for another great budget option? PrivateVPN is one of the newer VPNs on this list. It hasn’t made that big of a name for itself yet, but it’s starting off strong with an extensive list of features, excellent security, decent speeds, and a fantastic price. Unfortunately, if ease of use is a priority, it can definitely be a bit of a hassle to set up, especially if you’re trying to do it when their live chat isn’t available since it isn’t 24/7.

After a troublesome setup process, the service itself was a pleasant surprise. Despite the occasional speed drop or stutter, the VPN runs smoothly, and its software is easier to maneuver than you’d first expect.

Hotspot Shield is one of those VPNs that you can tell keeps ease of setup and use in mind. Make no mistake; it has excellent, consistent speeds and top-tier security to go with it. But what sets Hotspot Shield apart from the others is how easy it is to use. The interface is excellent, setup is a breeze, and 24/7 live chat support is responsive and expertly helpful with any issues you might throw their way.

At a painful $95.88 annually, we’ve had to put this one lower on the list than we’d have liked. On top of that, they limit you to a tight five maximum simultaneous connections. However, if that doesn’t bother you, the speeds and usability can more than make up for it.

You can download Hotspot Shield’s software here.

If ease of use is your primary concern, there is no better option than ZenMate. ZenMate is probably the easiest time we’ve ever had getting started with a VPN. The live chat is 24/7 and extremely helpful, the interface is very minimalistic, and you can get things running within a matter of a couple of minutes straight from purchasing the plan. The price is reasonable, and there’s no limit on simultaneous connections. The downsides, however, come with the speeds.

There are very few servers to choose from, and even if you’re close to one of them, you’ll notice your internet speed takes a bit of a hit from time to time. It’s not enough to make the VPN unusable, but you’ll definitely notice it if you’re trying to use this VPN for a lot of streaming and gaming. If you’re looking for the easiest setup experience, though, ZenMate is an absolute must.

You can download ZenMate’s software here.