If we’ve learned anything over the years, it’s the susceptibility of Mac computers to suffer privacy and security breaches.
The number of malware attacks on Mac OS computers in 2017 jumped up to 80% as per Symantec, pushing people to search for solutions to enhance their cybersecurity and privacy on the web:
One definite action that you can take to instantly consolidate your online privacy is to use a VPN service compatible with your Mac.
VPN Tracker is the #1 VPN client for Mac OS X. VPN Tracker supports over 300 VPN devices and lets you securely connect to any IPSec, PPTP, OpenVPN & L2TP VPN. Apple Mac VPN Downloads. Ultra VPN works with all Apple desktops and laptops. Connect Any Mac MacBook, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, iMac Pro, Mac Pro Mac Mini Use Any Modern OSX From Mountain Lion to the most recent release, UltraVPN’s app has got your covered. Download For Mac.
PureVPN is our top recommendation as the best Mac VPN in 2019. It offers a broad set of features to allay your privacy concerns while also giving you the freedom to access blocked websites/services (including Netflix, p2p etc.) at will for only $1.65/mo.
We have tested and reviewed over 150 VPNs, but found only 5 of them capable enough to make it into this article.
Let’s get started.
5 Best VPNs for Mac
Here are our top VPN picks for systems running on MacOS:
- PureVPN ($1.65/mo)
- Surfshark ($1.99/mo)
- ExpressVPN ($8.32/mo)
- CyberGhost ($2.75/mo)
- NordVPN ($3.49/mo)
1. PureVPN ( $1.65/mo )
Number of Servers: 2000+ | Countries: 140+ | Simultaneous Connections: 5
PureVPN is known primarily for the vast geographical diversity of network. It is the best cheap VPN for Mac due to its impressive pricing plan of $1.65/mo.
There are 2,000+ servers distributed over 140+ countries around the world.
This VPN comes with security features like AES 256 bit encryption and OpenVPN tunneling (among other options). It consists of a very responsive kill switch for an added measure of privacy and security for your web traffic.
The zero-logging stance of the company makes it well-worth the attention of users seeking to enhance their privacy as well.
Although the Windows app of the VPN supports split-tunneling, this feature is unfortunately unavailable for Mac yet.
PureVPN has a very minimalistic app design and UI for Mac and offers a smooth user experience.
It is dead simple to use and the option to simultaneously connect up to five devices to one subscription makes it dirt cheap to afford.
If you don’t end up liking their service, then you can always get your money back with their 31-day money back guarantee.
Prices:
![Openvpn mac book Openvpn mac book](/uploads/1/3/4/0/134049587/212246938.png)
- Ultimate discount deal 85% Off, $1.65/mo – 5 year plan
- [47% off], $5.81 a month – 1 year plan
- $10.95 a month – 1 month plan
Read complete PureVPN review for more details.
2. Surfshark ($1.99/month)
Number of servers: 800+ | Countries: 50 | Simultaneous connections: Unlimited
Surfshark is the fastest VPN you can get for your Mac ($1.99/month). Despite its low cost, it doesn’t compromise on quality on any front.
It offers 800+ servers in 50+ countries around the world.
For added security, there is a built-in kill switch for Mac. It serves as an insurance policy should your connection drop and reveal your real IP address (though the service is free from any IP leaks).
Apart from this, Surfshark also supports split-tunneling through its WhiteLister feature – a handy tool to split your VPN and non-VPN web traffic.
Surfshark’s Mac VPN app has a very intuitive design to facilitate user accessibility.
On the privacy front, the provider has a policy of zero-logging so you can forget worrying about your sensitive information being monitored for any purpose.
The British Virgin Islands jurisdiction ensures that you are free from any data logging from the provider.
Finally, there is no other highly-rated provider in the industry offering unlimited simultaneous VPN connections per subscription.
Combined with a full 30-day money back guarantee, Surfshark is a valuable VPN service to have for Mac.
Prices:
- [50% off], $5.99 a month – 12 months plan
- $11.95 a month – 1 month plan
Read complete Surfshark review for more details.
3. ExpressVPN ($8.32/month)
Number of servers: 3000+ | Countries: 94 | Simultaneous connections: 5
ExpressVPN is not the cheapest option out there, but its excellent speed and strong privacy policies make it an easy choice for those who can afford it.
The VPN is powered by 3,000+ servers in 94 countries of the world, having a strong capability to unblock any censored/restricted website. With such a huge server base, it’s one of the best option for VPN streaming as well.
The app for MacOS has Network Lock (the company’s proprietary kill switch) to interrupt your connection and prevent your IP from leaking to the wider internet.
Like its young counterpart (Surfshark), ExpressVPN is operating under the jurisdiction of British Virgin Islands and has an excellent no-logs privacy policy.
The split-tunneling feature for Mac gives the user complete control over which apps should use the VPN and which shouldn’t.
You can use up to 5 simultaneous connections on one subscription and avail a 30-day money back guarantee.
Simply put, ExpressVPN covers all bases as a VPN for privacy and internet freedom on your Mac.
Prices:
- $9.99 a month – 6 months plan
- $12.95 a month – 1-month plan
Read ExpressVPN review for more details.
4. CyberGhost ($2.75/month)
Number of Servers: 3500+ | Countries: 59 | Simultaneous Connections: 7
CyberGhost covers a lot of key bases that are of interest for an average privacy-seeking Mac user.
It possesses a network of 3,500+ servers that use powerful encryption protocols (AES-256).
For VPN tunneling, you can choose from PPTP, L2TP, and OpenVPN protocols as your preference. There is a built-in kill switch in CyberGhost and IP leak protection for ironclad security and privacy.
Moreover, the service offersplenty of servers in a multitude of locations that support both P2P and streaming services without any data logging.
The fact that it is based in Romania shows that the provider is under a safe jurisdiction for user privacy, since the country repealed its data retention (demanded by EU), in 2014.
CyberGhost Mac client is amongst the most user-friendly applications we have ever used.
It automatically tweaks itself to offer the best experience depending on what you intend to do with it.
You can connect up to 7 devices simultaneously on one CyberGhost subscription plan.
As always, it offers a full 45-day money back guarantee for ultimate peace of mind.
Prices:
- $5.99 a month – 1 year plan
- $3.69 a month – 2 year plan
- $12.99 a month – 1 month
See CyberGhost review for more details.
5. NordVPN ($3.49/month)
We don’t recommend NordVPN at the moment due to its security vulnerabilities.
Number of Servers: 5500+ | Countries: 60 | Simultaneous Connections: 6 Project management mac os.
NordVPN keeps no user logs and grants users the ability to access any website on the web, all for a cost of $3.49/month.
The provider offers excellent features like AES-256-CBC ciphers encryption and OpenVPN, IKeV2 protocols.
It also sports a huge arsenal of 5,500+ servers in 60 countries around the globe for ultimate coverage and fast speed.
However, the kill switch that NordVPN uses for Mac terminates applications when your connection drops, rather than shutting down your entire Internet for maximum protection.
Other than this, the service throws some amazing extra features in the mix such as DoubleVPN and Onion over VPN.
The doubleVPN feature is basically the multihop feature that routes your traffic through two separate VPN servers for even stronger-than-default security.
Onion over VPN servers combine the features of Tor and VPNs as another mechanism of bolstering your web security.
The interface is smooth and responsive, so much so that there are literally no lags or crashes in the Mac application.
The user-friendly privacy policy ensures no logging of user data.
Openvpn Mac Free
The privacy benefits of NordVPN are further vindicated when you consider that it is based in Panama. The country has no mandatory data retention requirements (read our article on Five/Nine/Fourteen Eyes for more detail).
Nord also offers the ability to connect 6 devices simultaneously.
To top it off this provider also offers 30-day full money back guarantee, so you can try out their service without any strings attached.
Prices:
- [66% off], $3.99 a month – 2 year plan
- [41% off], $6.99 a month – 1 year plan
- $11.95 a month – 1 month plan
Read NordVPN review for further details.
The Insecurity Underlying Mac Systems
The idea that Macs are secure from malware and data breaches has existed as long as Mac itself and actually been repeatedly emphasized by Apple.
Just take a look at this advertisement from the early 2000s:
While it is true that Mac machines are more secure than their Windows counterparts, they are not immune to the exploits of cybercriminals.
In fact, experts now believe that Mac OS is just as vulnerable to data breaches and other vulnerabilities as Windows machines.
3ric Johanson, a security researcher, asserted:
“If you look at the number of published vulnerabilities in software and the number of users and compare Windows versus Mac OS you will discover that Mac OS has far more published vulnerabilities per user than Windows does so I think the data pretty much speaks for itself.” – [Source]
Statistics accurately support this assertion, as the chart compellingly illustrates below:
Source: AV-Test Security Report 2017/18
Another research by Cybersecurity ventures revealed that the world will receive a massive hit of approximately 6 trillion dollars by 2021 as a consequence of cybercriminal activities alone.
This calls for Mac users to take their web security seriously.
For this, it is essential to ensure your anti-malware suites are updated.
And while you’re at it, don’t forget to take additional preventive measures like using VPN services on your Mac system-wide to fill any digital cracks capable of compromising your privacy.
Final Verdict
We recommend PureVPN as the best VPN for Mac due to a wide range of security features, watertight privacy, and a huge list of servers to choose from for gaining access to restricted sites all at highly affordable pricing.
In short, you can’t go wrong with any of these VPNs listed above, but the best value providers are PureVPN and Surfshark.
These instructions may seem arcane and complex but they’re really easy if you just follow along step by step. Donald Burr of Otaku No Podcast (otakunopodcast.com) created all of these instructions in text form, Allison just created the ScreenSteps tutorial! I’ll be focusing on using a Mac on your home network using an Airport Extreme Router (of course any router will work but the screenshots will be for the Airport). If you have a router capable of installing the Tomato Router Firmware, you should look at Donald’s full instructions because you may not need to use a Mac at all for this, your router can do it all. See Donald’s notes for other options.
Read Donald’s instructions > here.
If you’d rather download this manual for easy off line reference, click here.
If you’ve installed the VPN Server but would like to UNinstall it, click here for instructions.
If you can connect to your VPN server but can’t get outside your network, click here.
If you can connect to your VPN server but can’t get outside your network, click here.
Let’s get started already! https://jhjbdlp.weebly.com/e-sword-for-mac.html.
SECTION 1 – Setting Up a Static IP for the Server on the LAN Side
These instructions should be completed on the machine that will become the VPN server.
Open Network Preferences
Select Advanced
Copy the Mac Address
Open AirPort Utility
Click on your router, in my case it’s called White Dart.
Select Enter Router Password
Enter your password when prompted and click OK.
Select Edit
Select the Network Tab and Click the + Button
Paste in the Mac Address You Copied Earlier
Select Update
Select Continue
Quit Airport Utility when this operation completes.
SECTION 2 – Creating Account at No-IP.com
Navigate to http://www.noip.com and select Sign Up.
Create a Username and Password
Enter your Email address. Note the host name shown which is free, but if you want to pay you can get more options. Scroll down to the bottom of the page.
Select Sign Up
Email Confirmation Will be Sent
Click the Link in the Email
Download the Update Client
This client will run in the background and check to see if your IP address has changed, and if it has, will send it to no-ip.com
Download and Install the Client
Enter Your No-iP.com Account Info You Just Created
This menu should pop up automatically.
![Open Vpn For Mac Open Vpn For Mac](/uploads/1/3/4/0/134049587/597487177.png)
Click OK
Click on Hosts and Check the Box Next to the Host Name You Chose
It may take a few moments for the host name you selected at no-ip.com to show up. Make sure you note this name, you’ll need it later.
Select Update Now
Turn on the Daemon
I chose this rather than running the application in the background all the time.
SECTION 3 – Installing Xcode and Running Command Line Tools
Install Xcode
Install Java
Xcode only installs the standalone Java, and it does NOT include the Java Web plugin that has been the subject of so many security vulnerabilities lately.
Select Install Next to Command Line Tools
Wait till the installation finishes and quit X-Code
Type xcodebuild -license to Open the License Agreement
Start Hitting the Space Bar to Scroll Through the EULA – A LOT of Times
Type Agree
Type agree
Joy of Agreement
SECTION 4 – Installing MacPorts
Navigate to https://distfiles.macports.org/MacPorts/ and scroll to the bottom to download the installer file for your OS.
Install MacPorts
Enter These Commands in the Terminal
To run the self update to Macports enter:and enter your administrator password
Success
Open the VPN Software
Enterand watch a lot of glop go by…
SECTION 5 – Installing Tuntap Drivers
Download tuntap drivers from http://tuntaposx.sourceforge.net/download.xhtml
Open the Package File (in the folder after tuntap expands)
Gatekeeper won’t let you just double click on the installer package (it will complain that it is from an unknown source), you have to right click on the installer package and choose “open”.
SECTION 6 – Donald’s Nifty Scripts of Doom
Download Donald’s scripts from: https://www.dropbox.com/s/4yhc5oimze9zzij/openvpn-mac.tar.bz2?dl=0
Type These Commands to Unarchive the Scripts
Setting Up OpenVPN Server
We’re now going to run Donald’s scripts. Enter this command:Name your Server (I’ve entered kyles-mac-vpn)
Enter the dynamic dns host name you noted back on no-ip.com (you DID note it, right?)
Enter the dynamic dns host name you noted back on no-ip.com (you DID note it, right?)
Keep Answering Questions
The first time through you need to answer these. These steps will be duplicated MANY times, but after this the answers will be there and you can simply hit Enter for each questions.
Hit Enter for All These Questions for an RSA Key
And Again for Some Reason
Keep Answering…
And Again
And Again…
Whew!
Enter passphrase and password as many times as they ask for it!
Finder Window Opens Showing config-files
Copy this file to Dropbox. It will be the first connection file you test. It would be good to name it something associated with the device on which you’ll use it (you’ll be creating one of these for each of your devices).
Create a New VPN Connection Document for Each Device You Have
In Terminal, enter:where connection-name means something to you for each different device you’ll want to connect to the VPN server. Move each of these files to Dropbox to be picked up on your devices.
SECTION 7 – Opening up UDP Port 1194
Open Airport Utility again, select your Airport again, Select Edit again. Select the Network tab, and select the + under Port Settings
Enter Information As Shown
Select Update
Wait until your Airport updates.
SECTION 8 – Install VPN Software on iOS
Download OpenVPN Connect from the iTunes App Store.
Open Dropbox
Find the file you created and moved into Dropbox and tap on it.
Openvpn Mac Os
Select the Open In Button in the Bottom Right
Select Open in OpenVPN
Click the Green Plus Button to Import the File
Enter the Password
Openvpn For Mac
Enter the Password you created in the creation of the file, and tap the Save switch to turn it on. Finally tap the Off Switch to Connect to the VPN.
Connected!
SECTION 9 – Install VPN Software on OSX
Two options for a VPN application on the Mac. Donald recommended Viscosity from http://www.sparklabs.com/viscosity/download/ which is $9 per Mac.After the show Dr. Matt suggested the free TunnelBlick from http://code.google.com/p/tunnelblick. I installed both and they both work well. This tutorial will be for Viscosity, but if you try Tunnelblick you have to do one thing to make it work. In the Settings, Configuration tab, select Advanced and then uncheck the box to use TunnelBlick’s tun/tap drivers.
Let’s keep going with Viscosity as our example.
Install Viscosity
Click on the icon for Viscosity in the menubar and choose Preferences.
In the Connection Tab Click on the Plus Button at the Bottom
Select Import Connection From File…
Navigate to the File You Created for This Device
In my case I called it alsmac so I could tell which one to open
Connection Imported
Connect Using Menu Bar App
Enter the Password You Created
No clue which one of the 198 I entered, luckily I typed the same one over and over again.
Fleeting Notification of Connection
To test mine at home I used a Mifi so I was on a different network.
Use the Menubar Icon to Disconnect When You’re Through
Openvpn For Mac Os X Download
If you want to prove to yourself that you’re on VPN – go to http://ipchicken.com before and after you VPN and you’ll find that your IP changes to your home IP. Congratulations!