Best VPN for Mac for 2025: Improve Your Privacy for Web Browsing, Streaming and Gaming

Pros

• Exceptional price-to-performance ratio
• Lots of unique privacy features
• Supports Apple TV, iOS/iPadOS and MacOS
• Unlimited simultaneous connections
• RAM-only server network

Cons

• 14 Eyes jurisdiction (Netherlands)
• No transparency reports
• Significant renewal price increase

If you want a premium VPN experience with lots of cool features on your Mac without having to pay a ton of money, Surfshark is a solid bet. Surfshark’s MacOS app is slick and easy to use, even if you’ve never used a VPN before. We appreciate recent upgrades to the app that include snappier connection times and helpful connection and feature usage information displayed on the app interface. We particularly like that Surfshark includes split tunneling on its MacOS app, a helpful feature most VPNs no longer include in their MacOS or iOS apps. 

Why we like it

Surfshark’s MacOS app includes standard privacy features like a kill switch, protocol selection and customizable quick-connect. Along with standard features, Surfshark includes a few extras like Rotating IP, which automatically changes your IP address every few minutes, and Dynamic Multihop, which lets you double-hop through any two server locations of your choosing. You can also choose to connect to a static IP address through Surfshark’s MacOS app, which can help you reduce the number of CAPTCHAs you encounter, help you more reliably access your online bank account from abroad and even help boost your speeds. One feature that really sets Surfshark apart from the rest of the pack is its Alternative ID feature, which lets you generate a fake persona complete with name, physical address and email address that you can use to fill out forms online without having to use your actual personal information.

Somewhat confusingly, Surfshark has two different MacOS apps: One that you download from the Surfshark website and another that you download from the Apple App Store on your Mac. The difference between the two is hardly noticeable at first glance but if you want to connect via OpenVPN, you’ll need to download the App Store version. If you need access to Surfshark’s Antivirus, you’ll need to download the version from the website. If you need both, then you’ll need to download both -- which is admittedly not ideal. Even so, Surfshark is excellent on MacOS and both apps are otherwise pretty much identical.  

Although it's not the fastest VPN in the world, Surfshark is still relatively speedy and fast enough for just about anything you’d want to do online, from general online browsing to more data-heavy activities like streaming and gaming. We calculated a total average speed loss of 21% in our latest speed tests, with an 18.5% speed loss on MacOS between OpenVPN and WireGuard.

When streaming on MacOS, Surfshark performed well during our tests and was able to unblock content on Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus, Hulu, Netflix and HBO Max. The only hiccup we encountered was that Netflix titles sometimes took a little longer than normal to load on MacOS. However, once the thumbnails loaded, streaming on Netflix went smoothly.

Surfshark's long-term pricing is outstanding, with its one- and two-year plans packing tons of value in comparison to most competitors. The annual plan costs $48 for the first year, or you'll pay $60 total for the first two years combined (the one- and two-year plans renew at $79 annually). Although Surfshark recently bumped up its annual renewal pricing by $20, it's still a significantly cheaper option than ExpressVPN or NordVPN. On the other hand, Surfshark's monthly subscription costs $15.45 per month, which is more expensive than just about any other VPN's monthly rate, and as a result is effectively pointless. If you absolutely need a month-to-month plan, consider Mullvad, which costs just 5 euros (about $6), or Proton VPN, which sets you back $10 a month. Surfshark offers a 30-day money-back guarantee in case you're not satisfied with the service.

• Also nominated in: Best VPN for Apple TV, Best VPN for Streaming

Pros

• User-friendly app on MacOS and all other platforms
• Apple TV, iOS/iPadOS and MacOS apps for the whole Apple ecosystem
• Strong commitment to privacy and transparency
• Forward-thinking security enhancements
• Excellent for streaming -- unblocksDisney Plus, Netflix and other popular streaming services
• Privacy-friendly jurisdiction (British Virgin Islands)

Cons

• Extremely expensive
• No multi-hop connections

ExpressVPN is the best MacOS VPN for beginners, thanks to its user-friendly Mac app, fast speeds and excellent privacy protections. Whether you're an absolute beginner or a seasoned VPN user, ExpressVPN's minimalist interface is a breeze to navigate, with settings and server selection neatly organized behind a standard hamburger icon in the top left corner. From there, you can access privacy features and settings like the kill switch, Advanced Protection features, protocol selection and IPv6 leak protection, and you can customize the shortcuts displayed in the app after you connect. ExpressVPN's MacOS app offers Lightway, OpenVPN and IKEv2 protocols, each of which connects in a snap. Alternatively, you can set the protocol selection to automatically select the best protocol for your network. In July 2025, ExpressVPN announced that its expanded server network included servers in all 50 of the United States, making it a great VPN for travel as well as for streaming regional sports, like NFL, WNBA or MLB games.

Why we like it

With ExpressVPN, you’re also getting one of the fastest VPNs around. In our latest speed tests, we measured an overall average speed loss of 18% between both MacOS and Windows on the Lightway and OpenVPN protocols. On MacOS specifically, we measured an overall speed loss of 18.5%, with a 29% speed loss with OpenVPN and a mere 8% with Lightway. We recommend connecting via Lightway if you want the fastest speeds possible on MacOS with ExpressVPN.

On top of delivering blazing fast speeds, Lightway includes post-quantum protections, which can help protect your data from potential future threats from quantum computers. This feature works in the background and is built into Lightway, so you don’t need to do anything other than set Lightway as your protocol to activate ExpressVPN’s post-quantum protections. ExpressVPN’s ShuffleIP is another helpful privacy feature that works in the background and changes your IP address for every website you visit, which makes it even more difficult to track you online when using the service. The kill switch worked flawlessly on Mac during our latest tests and we detected no DNS leaks.

ExpressVPN is also an excellent choice if you like to stream international content on your Mac from a variety of streaming services. In our testing, ExpressVPN worked exceptionally well when streaming on Mac. It expertly unblocked content on streaming services like Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus, Hulu, HBO Max and Netflix.

ExpressVPN is a premium VPN service that does just about everything well. However, it comes with a premium price tag that eclipses the price of most other VPNs on the market. The monthly plan costs $13 per month, which aligns with the monthly prices of many other VPNs. But ExpressVPN's longer-term plans are far more expensive than most of the competition. The basic plan costs $75 for the first year, while the two-year plan costs $98 for the first two years combined (the one- and two-year plans renew for $100 annually). The yearly and two-year plans offer additional identity protection features when compared with the monthly plan, and you're essentially forced to pay extra for these even if you don't want or need the features. As it stands, it's a funky pricing structure that's not exactly consumer-friendly, but company representatives tell me that they’re working on revamping the pricing -- which will hopefully make the service more attractive to the average VPN user.

• Also nominated in: Best VPN Service, Best VPN for iPhone

73% off with 2yr plan (+4 free months). Now only $3.49/month

Pros

• Extremely fast speeds on MacOS
• Excellent for streaming -- unblocks Netflix, Max and other popular streaming services
• Vast network of global server locations
• Intuitive MacOS app

Cons

• Expensive renewal pricing

NordVPN’s best-in-class server speeds make it an excellent choice for streaming, gaming or other bandwidth-intensive applications on Macs. Its slick app design is easy to navigate. Functions from enabling or disabling the VPN to switching servers and changing settings are easy to find and use. NordVPN does just about everything well, from unblocking content on streaming services to meaningfully boosting your privacy. For Apple users, NordVPN's MacOS, iOS, iPadOS and TVOS apps mean you can use the VPN on all of your devices.

Why we like it

While NordVPN's MacOS app is intuitive, it also packs an impressive lineup of power user-caliber privacy features. Onion over VPN servers combine your VPN connection with Tor for beefed-up privacy. Its multi-hop functionality enhances your privacy by using a pair of VPN connections to make it harder to trace your traffic back to you. Meshnet lets you create a remote virtual area network so you can securely share files or watch Netflix from anywhere without worrying about verification codes.

In our testing, NordVPN delivered faster speeds than our base internet connection on MacOS over the NordLynx and OpenVPN protocols. You shouldn’t expect Nord to increase your network performance; this is an atypical experience that could be because of ISP throttling or more efficient communication with ISP DNS servers. However, you can count on Nord to retain the bulk of your usual internet connection. In our latest testing, we measured a mere 3% overall average speed loss with NordVPN. 

NordVPN is excellent for streaming thanks to its massive server network and blisteringly fast speeds. On MacOS, we effortlessly unblocked nearly every streaming service we tried, including Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, Disney Plus, HBO Max and Netflix. We did have to try a second UK server for Amazon Prime Video on MacOS. The first time, a VPN was detected but a quick server change straightened out any issues. You'll enjoy a robust network of 8,000-plus servers in 126 different countries.

Unfortunately, NordVPN’s initial value takes a nosedive after your subscription term runs out. At $13 a month, $60 for the first year or $83 total for the first two years, Nord is about in line with (or even cheaper than) the competition. But its exorbitant renewal pricing of $140 per year on the one- and two-year plans is extreme. Thankfully, you can avoid a pricey auto-renewal by stacking subscriptions, but we don’t like that you have to babysit your VPN subscription. Still, if you’re willing to monitor your VPN subscriptions, NordVPN boasts blazing-fast speeds that are excellent for streaming movies and shows in 4K, a massive global server network and advanced privacy amenities.

• Also nominated in: Best VPN for Netflix, Best VPN for Fire TV Stick

Pros

• Excellent privacy and transparency
• Fast MacOS speeds
• Great for streaming -- unblocks BBC iPlayer, Netflix and other popular streaming services
• Open-source apps
• The best free VPN on the market
• 10 simultaneous connections

Cons

• Faulty disconnect warning when switching servers on MacOS
• No 24/7 live chat
• App design could be more user-friendly

Proton VPN is the best free VPN for Macs -- and its free plan is the only free VPN we wholeheartedly vouch for. Plus, its paid premium plan is a worthy consideration for folks who need more servers or who want advanced customization options. 

Why we like it

Unlike most free VPNs, Proton VPN doesn’t sell your data or plaster your screen with ads. You get the same robust privacy with the free plan, along with access to servers in six countries and unlimited monthly use. Note that we discovered a design flaw with Proton VPN’s MacOS app, which failed to properly display a warning that your public IP address is briefly unmasked when switching servers. Proton VPN has promised a fix but folks with critical privacy needs should be aware of this limitation on Mac.

Proton VPN was the second-fastest VPN in our latest speed tests, coming in behind NordVPN, with a superb 16% average download speed loss. We measured an impressive 6% speed loss on WireGuard and 10% on IKEv2 with MacOS, which should provide buffer-free streaming video and low-lag gaming.

For streaming, Proton VPN unblocked even tough-to-access international Netflix libraries, like Netflix Egypt. We experienced no issues streaming from services including Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, CBC Gem, Disney Plus and HBO Max. Hulu even worked on MacOS while it didn’t on Android TV, where a VPN was detected. 

Proton’s free plan isn’t without its limitations. You’re restricted to using one device at a time and you can’t manually select a server. But if you need more servers, a greater simultaneous device allowance or additional manual control over your server connections, its premium plan is a fantastic choice. You’ll pay $10 a month, $60 for the first year or $108 total for the first two years (the one- and two-year plans renew at $80 annually), while getting a 10 simultaneous device allowance and access to 14,900-plus servers in 122 countries.

• Also nominated in: Best Free VPN, Best VPN for Netflix

Pros

• Cheap prices
• Open-source apps
• Split tunneling available on MacOS
• Excellent privacy and transparency
• Unlimited simultaneous connections
• Unblocks Hulu and Amazon Prime Video on MacOS, along with other popular streaming services
• Apple TV, iOS/iPadOS and MacOS apps for the whole Apple ecosystem

Cons

• US jurisdiction
• Middling connection speeds
• MacOS app feels a little outdated

PIA is a good cheap VPN at $12 per month, $40 for the first year (renewing at $50) or $79 every three years. While it’s more affordable than much of the competition, PIA's speeds were significantly slower than most of our top-rated VPNs in our latest speed tests, with an average 48% internet download speed loss. For context, we generally find an average 25% speed loss acceptable. We also encountered many CAPTCHAs when using apps and services like Google Search but the company has a CAPTCHA reduction initiative for later this year that we hope means fewer pesky authentication sessions.

Why we like it

Despite PIA’s high speed loss and unreliable server performance, its unique privacy features for MacOS make it a decent budget VPN for folks with an already strong internet connection -- something closer to Google Fiber than satellite internet. PIA is one of the few VPN providers that offers split tunneling on MacOS, which lets you route some apps, but not others, through a VPN. Notably, Surfshark also provides MacOS split tunneling but it’s a rare feature among VPNs.

PIA’s 58% average speed loss on WireGuard and 47% average speed reduction with OpenVPN on MacOS is significantly higher than what we like to see from a top-performing VPN service. Additionally, we normally expect faster speeds with WireGuard than OpenVPN but PIA surprised -- and not in a good way. However, we never noticed any moments where videos stopped playing to buffer, but quality usually started out pretty choppy before smoothing out.

While its high speed loss can be detrimental to streaming performance, PIA does a decent job with region-restricted content unblocking. Its servers in all 50 US states mean it could be a good choice for streaming regional sports, like NFL games. Some streaming services, like Amazon Prime Video US and Hulu, worked better on MacOS than Windows or Android TV -- a VPN wasn’t detected on Mac while it was on Android or Windows in some cases.

The PIA app is great for power users who want to tinker with advanced settings for VPN protocols or use split tunneling on MacBooks. While it’s reasonably intuitive on most platforms, including Mac and iPhone, on some devices like Android, we found the experience a little rough around the edges. PIA’s advanced settings are a double-edged sword for casual users, as they may be overwhelming. And PIA’s apps on Mac, Windows and Linux feel a little outdated compared to the slick apps you’ll find with many competitors, including ExpressVPN, NordVPN and Proton VPN. But if you want a budget-friendly VPN that provides helpful, unique privacy settings on MacOS, PIA is a great option in spite of some issues.

• Also nominated in: Best Cheap VPN, Best VPN for Travel