When it comes to looking for the Best VPN for Mac you have to consider that the Mac OS is already a very stable operating system, used and enjoyed by many people around the world. Mac or Macbook users who are concerned about their privacy while browsing the web, especially if they are accessing the internet in places like public WiFi hotspots may be pondering: Where can I get the Best Mac VPN to secure and encrypt my data so that its not available to prying eyes or anyone looking to steal it?
Wherever you go in daily life while using your Mac and iOS devices you are constantly being bombarded by governments or third parties looking to get hold of data that can be collected and used against you, or to make money from you. Most of them are a serious risk to your daily privacy and most go unknown or unseen without your prior knowledge.
Well not to worry, later on in the post we will cover the 5 Best VPN’s for Mac or Macbooks that will allow you to browse with full security and even unblock content like US Netflix or BBC iPlayer that has Geo restrictions. In addition to unblocking websites using a VPN you will be able to bypass any restrictions placed by your ISP or local government that may be stopping you from using your Mac or Macbook, iOS device to the full.
Buffered VPN offers native clients for Windows, Mac, and Linux. To use it on mobile devices, you need to install OpenVPN app from the app store and then download Buffered config files. It’s not much of a hassle since you only need to do it once. All VPNs come with perks and glitches, so I never expect a 100% smooth ride when installing a new. Buffered VPN offers very easy to install and user-friendly apps for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS. These apps can be set up within minutes and offer users a very intuitive way of staying protected. If you encounter any challenges while installing apps, there are very detailed guides on the Buffered website to point you in the right direction.
- The best Buffered VPN alternatives are Tor, Tor Browser and OpenVPN. Our crowd-sourced lists contains more than 100 apps similar to Buffered VPN for Windows, Mac, Android, iPhone and more.
- Jan 10, 2021 Right now we think Buffered VPN is the best for most circumstances. As for regulations, they know that if they betray the customer word will get around very quickly (much like your experience with ExpressVPN) and customers will jump ship to another VPN very quickly, so the best VPNs are trustworthy.
Each and every VPN for Mac we have chosen for our list of 5 will offer tutorials on how to install a VPN on Mac or Macbook, but here is some additional criteria you will want to look for when choosing a good VPN for Mac and iOS:
- Good server numbers (VPN servers based around the world)
- Helpful customer service & support
- Installation guides for Mac and Macbook
- A Trial or 30-day money-back guarantee (So you can give them a trial run on your Mac)
- Reliable speeds and connection (So you can stream US Netflix with no buffering issues)
- Simultaneous Connections (So you can use a VPN on iPhone & Mac at the same time)
Now that we know what to look for when buying a VPN for Mac and Macbook lets jump in and take a look at the 5 Best VPN for Mac…
30-day Money back Guarantee!
ExpressVPN has been the Best VPN for Mac OS for a long time offering great VPN apps with seriously easy-to-use features that make it simple to switch and connect to a VPN server in seconds.
One of the key criteria for a Mac VPN is that it needs to be fast so it doesn’t halt the users productivity or get in the way with issues like buffering or lag. Luckily using ExpressVPN for Mac you will experience none of these as they offer fast and reliable speeds to their VPN servers which you can rely on when you need them most.
Probably the best part about ExpressVPN besides their speed and security is the fact they offer you a 30-day Money-back guarantee to ensure you love the service. So feel free to visit them below and try them out for 30-days risk free.
- Large selection of servers based in 87+ countries around the world!
- Fast and reliable speeds
- Top notch customer service and support
- P2P availability
- Zero usage logs stored
- 30-day Money back guarantee
- Price slightly higher than some other VPN providers (But you get what you pay for!)
- Some connection log storage (For internal use only)
30-day Money back Guarantee!
What makes Buffered VPN a good choice for Mac and Macbook users is that its presently based in Hungary, which means it currently falls out of UK & US governments watchful gaze that would look to invade your privacy, and collect data on your internet usage while using a Mac OS.
Buffered VPN has grown in popularity with Mac OS users in recent years mainly due to the fact they offer some seriously good and stable Mac VPN software.
In addition to easy to use VPN app’s and software Buffered VPN also lead the way when it comes to customer support, giving detailed and helpful support to any questions or queries you might have for them.
Installing a VPN on Mac is also a breeze with Buffered VPN as they offer helpful options and tutorials to get started quickly.
With really fast servers and speeds it makes them a top choice which is why they have appeared in our 5 Best VPN for Mac and Macbook’s. Better still like ExpressVPN, Buffered VPN also offer you the 30-day money back that is a really good option for people who have never used a VPN on Mac OS but want to test it for the 30-day run
- Fast and Reliable Speeds
- Friendly UI and easy-to-use
- Good selection of security features and options
- P2P is available
- Outside of UK and US jurisdiction
- 30-day Money Back Guarantee
IPVanish
Security and privacy are the key concerns for IPVanish when using a Mac to connect to a VPN server. You can use their Encrypted VPN’s to do almost anything you like from unblocking and watching TV shows or movies that are not available in your area, to placing a high level of encryption on your connection so you can browse on public WiFI with added peace of mind.
When using IPVanish for Mac you never have to worry about lag or buffering issues as they have some seriously great connection speeds and VPN server selections.
One added bonus is that they also accept using Bitcoin to buy a VPN so you can keep the payment process with them even more anonymous, safe in the knowledge that your payment details are not being stored anywhere or with anyone.
With that said they to offer a good customer support structure combined with a 7-Day money back guarantee which makes them a great VPN for Mac to give a trial run to.
Buffered Vpn For Macbook
- Good all-round support for Mac OS & iOS
- Easy-to-use VPN app’s and Software
- Superior speeds over most VPN providers
- Excellent security options and features
- P2P is available
- Buy the VPN using Bitcoin
- 7-day Money Back Guarantee
- Currently only allows two devices to be connected to a VPN server simultaneously
30-day Money back Guarantee!
NordVPN is another top choice when it comes to the Best VPN for Mac as they put a high priority on your overall security while using their service. Based in Panama they offer anyone using the VPN servers, 256-bit AES encryption which is more than enough for anyone especially if you are using a VPN to secure your data and unblock websites or streaming services like Netflix that are currently blocked in your area.
As an added bonus NordVPN also offer you a set of dedicated streaming servers designed to allow you to stream movies and TV shows with minimal buffering issues.
They offer top drawer dedicated apps to both OS X and iOS which makes them a great choice for Apple users as the support is present allowing you to easily install and begin using VPN servers near you to encrypt your data.
One thing we loved to see is that NordVPN offer a 30-day Money back guarantee, so feel free to try out NordVPN for 30 days by visiting their website below.
- Good Support for Apple users with Great iOS and OS X app’s
- Zero log’s stored (A major + for your privacy)
- P2P support
- Good security and Encryption
- 30-Day money back guarantee (Give them a try for 30 days!)
- Speeds can vary depending on which servers you connect to
- Price a little higher than some others on offer
7-day Money back Guarantee!
With some of the nicest priced VPN’s around, PureVPN are a great choice for a VPN when using Mac or Macbook.
If you head over to their website above, you will see that they offer a full range of features from a great user interface that allows you to use the VPN in specific ways such as picking you connection based on streaming, or high security. You can also setup split tunnelling and run specific web browsers or app’s through a encrypted connection.
Install a VPN on Mac was also seriously easy as they offer good tutorials, and 24/7 live chat if you get stuck at any part of the setup.
PureVPN is a good and reliable VPN for anyone who has never used a VPN provider before, and with a 7-Day money back guarantee you will feel hard pushed not to at least try them for 7 days.
- Good prices (Prices vary a-lot meaning you can pick up a good VPN for cheap)
- Clean easy-to-navigate website for tutorials and assistance using live chat
- Feature rich, with a shed-load of security and protocol options to choose from
- 7-Day money back guarantee
- Some servers located far geo-graphically may be troublesome to connect to
- Live chat helpful but lacking a personal touch
- Connection log storage?
Things to consider when using a VPN for Mac
A VPN can do a lot for protecting using while using a Mac, Macbook or other iOS devices like iPhone. One of the key areas of concern is that with every OS X update such as ‘El Capitan’ further exploits are revealed that customers of the OS would be not be entirely aware of.
Namely an exploit found in Apples Keychain app which stores users passwords to make it easier for you to get quick access to your stored passwords for websites, public WiFI info and even credit card information. You can read an article about the exploit here.
You can only imagine what would happen if someone gets into your Keychain without your knowledge, but luckily the Best VPN’s for Mac above will go a long way to curbing this issue and help your devices go under the radar and out of reach of people or third parties looking to steal your sensitive data.
Free VPN’s for Mac are available in the app store and around the internet, but compared to the 5 Best VPN for Mac in this post they offer nowhere near the levels of security, or unblocking power you will be needing if you want to watch things like US Netflix using a VPN. While a free VPN for Mac or Macbook does look appealing it’s important to know that the majority out there don’t have to go through as much of a vetting process as some of the paid services available. Namely services like Hola spring to mind that was found to be using users bandwidth when they we connected to be part of a giant botnet, even without the users knowledge.
Things like this are prevalent in the highly tech based era we live in today, so it’s important that you do your research before ever going with a VPN provider or service online. We aim to guide you through the process with our best VPN’s for Mac so hopefully this can go a long way to helping you pick the right service for your needs.
Best VPN For Mac Conclusion…
Our list of the 5 Best VPN for Mac should give you a good idea what to aim for when choosing a VPN for Mac or VPN for El Capitan. We covered in a previous post the Best VPN’s for iPhone which is quite similar to this list with ExpressVPN coming out on top once again.
Any of the VPN providers for Mac above will allow you to unblock and access streaming services such as US Netflix, BBC iPlayer or other things like Watching Premier League using a VPN.
While as a whole Apple devices such as the Mac or Macbook are much more secure than their Windows rivals, it’s still very much important to only go with a good and trust source for your VPN client.
You will have to weigh up how valuable your privacy is to you against the monthly cost of each of the VPN’s for Mac above, but i’m sure most of you will agree that the price you pay will mean less to you than the risk of loosing your data to snoops or hackers looking to exploit it and get access to things like your online banking.
If you have any questions or queries about choosing the Best VPN for Mac or El Capitan then don’t hesitate to contact us, or leave a comment below and we will get back to you!
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If you own a Mac, then you know how software can sometimes perform much differently than Windows-based systems. Usually, this isn’t a bad thing, but there are instances where applications may leave you annoyed with the way that they operate. Case in point: VPNs. There are many built for multiple platforms, but the majority of the best companies in the category have a very large focus on Apple operating systems. Below are ten of the best VPN services for Macs, both Macbooks and iMacs. See what you think is better for your privacy needs, then head over to the FAQ for even more in-depth information.
Are Mac VPN applications unique?
They can be, but since VPNs typically don’t require a lot of space or controls to run, you won’t notice any major differences between it and the Windows/Linux versions of the software. OS-X has built a reputation for having streamlined the downloading and installation process, so the chances of apps crashing or taking too long to place on your computer are low. Downloads will go fast as well, but there are some technical aspects that you may want to check with the company for before purchasing anything. For example, there are many network settings for OS-X, and getting your VPN to run smoothly may require you to look at instructions from the VPN company’s website.
And there’s also the controls. Mac trackpads can be either very easy to use with VPNs or feel extremely incompatible. This is more of a problem with VPNs that may have just built applications for Macs. Of course, you probably won’t have this problem, but it’s still a possibility. And lastly, check with your network provider and make sure that you have decent speed. VPNs tend to perform much better and faster than what they would on slow connections. You won’t be able to do some of the things you might have planned with gusto, particularly if you want to stream movies or download from torrent applications. The average speed that a VPN can run on Mac could be between 30 and 60 megabytes per second (Mbps), so if your connection is above that, then you’re good to go.
How to Determine the Best Features and Services
Just remember that finding a good VPN doesn’t have any exclusive nature that’s different from doing the same exact thing on another operating system. What this means is that you will have to look at the features and quality of the product itself, because VPNs servers do not discriminate by OS. So focus on the company first, their product, and the location of their servers. After that, check to see how well it run on the Mac and if there are any disadvantages to the program.
Speed privatization is what makes good VPNs. If a product has a least these two attributes, then it will usually be recommended. However, most of them are going to be paid, not free. Free VPN services aren’t always reliable. There are applications out there that are free and run well, but few and far between, for the most part. It’s suggested that you stick to the paid services to avoid any possible logging attempts to sell off your personal information, which is what a lot of VPN freeware has taken part in. Sometimes that could be indirectly done with no ill will, but in some cases, malicious activity might be the driving force. On a good note, the paid services do have decent trial lengths and may go for thirty days or longer if you contact them once the first trial is finished.
See How They Compare
This is a listing of every VPN service featured. There are other statistics not shown, so if you want more information, a visit to their web address should help.
- VyprVPN: Servers by Country: 73; Located In: Switzerland; Server Count: 700; Available in App Store: Yes
- ExpressVPN: Servers by Country: 94; Located In: British Virgin Islands; Server Count: 160; Available in App Store: Yes
- Private VPN: Servers by Country: 32; Located In: USA; Server Count: 3300; Available in App Store: Yes
- PureVPN: Servers by Country: 140; Located In: Hong Kong; Server Count: 750; Available in App Store: No
- Hotspot Shield: Servers by Country: 25; Located In: California (USA); Server Count: 200; Available in App Store: Yes
- IPVanish: Servers by Country: 75; Located In: USA; Server Count: 1300; Available in App Store: Yes
- CyberGhost: Servers by Country: 59; Located In: Romania; Server Count: 3488; Available in App Store: Yes
- Private Internet Access: Servers by Country: 43; Located In: Sweden; Server Count: 60; Available in App Store: Yes
- ZenMate: Servers by Country: 30; Located In: Berlin, Germany; Server Count: 3000; Available in App Store: No
- Buffered VPN: Servers by Country: 37; Located In: Gibraltar (BOT); Server Count: 45; Available in App Store: No
10 of the Best Mac VPN Apps Reviewed
1. VyprVPN
VyprVPN has become one of the most trusted brands of VPNs in recent years. The company has built a good reputation for itself, and nowhere does that shown better than on the Mac. The servers are fast and will get you quickly into your favorite streaming and torrent sites without any blacklisting. There are no leaks, and a kill switch is shown in the settings, to which the application will shut down your entire connection if the server did go down. Try out their service if you want dependable servers and don’t mind the lack of anonymous payment options.
Pros:
- Most servers have a decent speed, even those that have a low signal indicated
- DNA leaks are nonexistent
- Signs on quickly and rarely ever drops the connection
Cons:
- There’s no way to make anonymous payments during purchase; no cryptocurrency options
2. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is another popular VPN with tons of neat apps embedding into the larger application. There are more than you can download once it’s installed, and they range from malware detection to changing the protocols of your program, such as PPTP. The Location Swap is also a great plus, having controls that will help you change out servers within seconds. If you want a VPN that’s cheap, you would be better off looking at some of the other products that are featured in the reviews. ExpressVPN has one plan that’s inexpensive, but most of the others are quite pricey. Still, the app is suggested for people that want a VPN that will always run as expected, with few lags in between.
Pros:
- Lots of apps can be downloaded from their content page
- Includes Location Swap, which allows users to quickly navigate to different IPs at a rapid pace
- Controls work well with all Apple trackpads
Cons:
- Their service is quite pricey, one of the most expensive in the world of VPNs
3. Private Internet Access
Private Internet Access is a VPN company that’s based in the United States. Yes, that means it’s a part of the “fourteen eyes” list of countries that have been known for their government’s penchant for spying, but there’s little room to worry here. The brand will never log any of your data, and even if they did, servers are encrypted so that your identity cannot be known by them. The installation time is fast of Mac computers, especially with Macbooks. Just drag and drop the icon to your applications folder, and that’s it. Trial periods for the Mac is the same as all others, a set standard of only seven days. That’s not much time when compared to those offering longer periods, but could be enough for you to figure out if you’re sold on the VPN or not. Recommended for anyone that likes simplicity but has enough features to keep you engaged with the VPN.
Pros:
- Connects at least five individual users on just one account
- There is no generic or temporary logging done by the company
- Fast installation time on Mac software
- AES-256 encryption throughout the network
Cons:
- The trial period is only for 7 days (but could last longer by contacting the company at the end of it)
4. PureVPN
PureVPN is great for torrent lovers. Everything runs smoothly here, and you can access all the torrent clients that you know of, without becoming annoyed with adware in the process. Files sharing works like a charm, so you won’t need to wait hours at a time to get your favorite video file finished. And the brand never attempts to control the speed of your connection to their servers, no matter how much bandwidth you’ve used up. Yet the app itself may take some time to finish downloading, their download server appear to move slow. But other than this small hiccup, there’s not much else to complain about PureVPN. Try them out for a trial period if you’re interested.
Pros:
- Peer-to-peer file sharing applications and websites are free to explore
- No speed throttling for all users
- Shields against adversaries (hackers) that may attempt to spy on outgoing connections
- Numerous protocol options such as L2TP and OpenVPN (open-source)
Cons:
- Downloading applications is a tedious process; takes too long
5. Hotspot Shield
Hotspot Shield has been available on the Mac and Mac App Store for quite some time. They already have a large following on iOS, but their OS-X based application is just as stellar. You can download the dmg file quickly and have it set up in seconds under a decent internet speed. Their customer support is also quick with responses, so contact them if there’s any trouble and they will probably get back at you on the same day.
Pros:
- Download is fast, and connection reaches their servers almost immediately
- No torrent clients and programs are blocked; no bandwidth cap
- Support can quickly be reached without a long wait period
- Built-in antivirus detection
Cons:
- Runs pretty slow on Macbooks (iMacs are okay)
6. IPVanish
IPVanish is also a well-known VPN that has great customer support, good connectivity, and loads of servers from many server nations. The speeds on their primary servers can get up to 40 Mbps but may linger around 35 when there are lots of people on the network. But the best part is that you can connect up to ten of your devices on a single account. There is a small chance that you the app could crash, more so if you have lots of other applications open at the same time that you’re using the VPN.
Try not to run your Mac’s memory up too high when you’re on a server, and nothing should shut down. It that does happen, you’ll still be protected by the kill switch and none of your other apps will leak your real IP to any incoming servers. So if you own several Mac products, download the application on them all, and let IPVanish anonymize your online experience.
Pros:
- Tech support can be contacted on a 24 hour basis
- Averages about 35 megabytes per second when tested for speed
- Simple interface that looks well on OS-X software
- Users have the freedom to use ten devices with one account
Cons:
- May log users out of the server when memory is high
7. CyberGhost
CyberGhost is often touted as a secondary choice to more expensive VPN brands. That’s because they have great prices but offer services that can be compared with any other paid VPN. The key is in the sever locations. They are spread out through most of the globe, so you’ll have access to opening streaming and any other account that’s far from your present location. As for third parties, the app does contain some in-app features that are built by third-party organizations, so you might want to be careful what you place on the program if you’re a number one issue is privacy.
Pros:
Buffered Vpn For Mac Free
- Slightly higher than average down speed (40 Mbps)
- Servers can be found on every continent, with the exception of Antarctica
- Good plans that have varied prices that cater to the savers
Cons:
- Some of their applications are not controlled by their organization
- No option to force HTTPS over extensions
8. Private VPN
Private VPN is a good choice for people that need servers that won’t log you, even for more general things that wouldn’t give out your information. No matter if you’re on a trial or have a paid service, there’s a handy little indicator on the window of the app that will let you know when you need to make a payment. The servers perform great, and it doesn’t stall or lower in speed when you’re trying to watch high definition videos. That doesn’t apply to 2K or 4K though, so there could be a bit of buffering if your ISP connection isn’t that fast.
Pros:
- Doesn’t signify any “hidden” logging activities in the fine print
- Servers speeds are stellar, and connections get through in about a minute
- Indicated in the upper right hand corner of the application window when monthly payment is close
Cons:
- Streaming sites may see buffering when attempting to play videos 2K and higher
- Although torrenting is allowed, connection speed may slow down by a few notches
9. ZenMate
ZenMate has done a good job a simplifying the controls, to which they work well with Mac trackpads. And it doesn’t matter if your using the trackpad included on the MacBook or have one separate from the computer. You only have to press one button to connect to a server as well, so there’s no hassle when you’re in a hurry to get online quickly. There’s not a large listing of countries provided by the servers, so take note and check what’s given if you need a server that specifically based in a not-so-popular location.
Pros:
- The one-touch button to connect makes sign in very simple
- The most important application settings are easy to find, clicking multiple options to find features isn’t necessary
- Doesn’t slow down OS-X devices, even when memory is high
Cons:
- Lacking in the number of countries that are accessible
10. Buffered VPN
Buffered is the last VPN product featured, but certainly not the least. One neat aspect to the application is how you can get accurate of detailed analysis of your browsing speeds, length of time online, and other statistics. This information is never logged by Buffered either, so use it if you want to monitor how much activity you’re doing with the VPN. However, they do in fact log generic data, but not enough to determine who you are. The service is recommended for Mac users that like to know how their VPN performs when they’re online.
Pros:
- Users can access to very detailed statistics about their use and speed
- Netflix works smoothly on most screen resolutions
- Easy to use over the Tor network
Cons:
- Logs some user data (but not enough to give away the identity of an individual)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Are VPNs completely private?
Privacy is something that applications can help you achieve, but entirely dependent on how someone uses the internet. If you want to keep yourself anonymous, you should be careful about what information you put online. However, this isn’t really a concern for VPN because of the nature of sharing the service with other users. Because IPs aren’t dedicated, it’s difficult to tell where the location is of someone that’s on said server. You’re accessing a private server to travel to public servers, and there could be hundreds or thousands doing the same thing simultaneously. Try to make strong passwords for the accounts you do use on a VPN, but leave your really sensitive things for either your real IP or a dedicated server.
Is there any way to control other applications on my Mac through the VPN I choose?
Some VPN brands do allow you to control other applications in some way. This is needed for the kill switch (discussed in detail later) or if there’s a firewall present. With a firewall app, you can control how other applications connect to the server, or whether you want them to at all. These are usually advanced settings though, so try not to bother with anything if you’re not familiar with the way VPNs work. Everything should be in a default setting when you install.
Is setup easy to do for beginners?
It’s pretty simple to download VPNs from a Mac. If you getting one from the App Store, then you won’t even have to drag any files into the applications folder. If there are more advanced features that you need to set up in your Network Settings, be sure to check with the VPN itself to see if they have tips on what to do. Some VPNs might need to be set up different initially, but much of this is dependent on your connection and how you intend to use it.
Should I use a VPN for all of my online needs?
You can, but very private info would be best done with a dedicated VPN or your ordinary IP address. This is due to web server becoming confused as to who you are, and your location. For example, if you tried to log into a payment account online, you would risk getting locked out it if you tried to do it with a different IP address than what you normally use. VPNs are mostly needed for privacy with file sharing and streaming movies, but some can use for work-related problems that need to be private. Whatever you do, divide your accounts from the ones you want on the VPN server, and those that should remain public.
What is a Kill Switch?
The kill switch is the last resort for hiding your IP address from websites. If you lost your connection to the VPN server, the app would automatically shut down all other applications that are connected, including what’s outside of the VPN itself. It almost performs like a giant firewall, but will not leak any of your DNS settings are other data. Until you gain access to the internet again, the Kill Switch will remain on and deactivate once server access is gained again.
What about compatibility with the Trackpad?
Mac trackpads are noted for their ease of use and quick response to the commands you swipe on it. Since the majority of VPN apps have Mac versions featured for download, you shouldn’t have too many issues with using it for the VPN itself. If you don’t like the way it’s controlled from the trackpad, simply change your settings until you find one that feels natural for you to turn and scroll through the VPNs servers.
Summary/Conclusion
Now that you’ve read through all the great products that have been featured, try to see if there was any that you skipped. That could be the dealbreaker that you’re looking for. Mac VPN apps are outstanding, and there’s not a bad one that was revived here. The best was shown at the very top though, but you should be satisfied with speeds and controls for them all. Choose based on speed, price, and reliability. You will finally be able to control how private you want your public internet activity to be.