VPNs Keep You Safe Online?
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- Some of the best features of ExpressVPN include: Anonymous access to the internet with support for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS. Good access to Netflix streams despite the company’s attempts at blocking VPNs. Unlimited bandwidth with no speed caps or throttling. No restrictions on P2P networks or torrents.
- Which is the best VPN for Mac? Here are the 10 VPN for macOS you can use. VPN Service Features Pricing Information. It connects automatically without the need to make any changes to the settings. As for the location to adopt, it is up to you to choose from the 20 countries. The speed is also one of the best. ExpressVPN has over 145.
When you access the internet over Wi-Fi, do you worry about who might be spying on your data—or even stealing it? If not, you're in the majority, and that's a serious problem. Everyone ought to be using a virtual private network, or VPN, whenever they're on a network they don't control. Yet when PCMag ran a survey on VPN usage in 2018, we found a surprising 71 percent of our 1,000 respondents had never used a VPN at all. Even among net neutrality supporters—who you might think would be better informed on security and privacy issues—55 percent had never used a VPN.
Editors' Note: IPVanish is owned by j2 Global, the parent company of PCMag's publisher, Ziff Davis.
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ExpressVPN features one of the most robust lists of compatible devices and operating systems, but every VPN service will at least have easy-to-install apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android. Similar to the Windows client, you must first sign up for service and then login to your account page on their website to download the ExpressVPN Mac setup file. You will want to go to the subscription tab of your account and click on the green “set up ExpressVPN” button. Manchester United Transfer News Jose Mourinho expressvpn apple tv settings wants Manchester United to do what they have not done in a January transfer window in 10 years Man Utd missed out on two priority targets in the last update summer transfer window and Jose Mourinho has made his position clear on the last update winter transfer window. How to expressvpn apple tv settings for.
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That attitude to the safety and privacy of personal data creates a tremendous risk when it comes to online security. Public Wi-Fi networks, which are ubiquitous and convenient, are unfortunately also extremely convenient for attackers who are looking to compromise your personal information. How do you know, for example, that 'starbucks_wifi_real' is actually the Wi-Fi network for the coffee shop? Anyone could have created that network, to lure victims into disclosing personal information. In fact, a popular security researcher prank is to create a network with the same name as a free, popular service and see how many devices will automatically connect. Yet, in a poll we conducted in 2019, only 15 percent of our 2,000 respondents use a VPN with public Wi-Fi.
Even if you're inclined to trust your fellow humans (which I do not recommend), you still shouldn't trust your internet service provider. In its infinite wisdom, Congress has decided that your ISP is allowed to sell your browsing history. In a recent poll, we found that a surprising 73 percent of respondents had no idea that their ISP was allowed to sell their browsing history.
Another government move definitely has motivated some VPN adoption however, and that, specifically, is the death of Obama-era Net Neutrality rules. ISPs are are now allowed to throttle or charge extra for different types of content (streaming video, for example) or for traffic from given companies (say, Netflix). If you're concerned about your ISP slowing down your content or charging more for it based on what it is, one way to prevent this might be to use a VPN. In one of our surveys, 52 percent of users said they were more likely to use a VPN post-Net Neutrality, and 26 percent said that Net Neutrality's repeal actually influenced them to purchase a VPN.
For many reason, then, using a VPN is a good idea. So we were interested to see how often people use VPNs, and under what circumstances. In our survey of 3,000 US consumers conducted between September 23 and 26, 2018, more than half of respondents (52 percent) said they do or would need a VPN for security purposes. Yet 48 percent said they have never used a VPN, and 23 percent have in the past but don't anymore. Just 29 percent—or almost one in three respondents—said they actually do use one. Of those who reported using a VPN, 18 percent said they do so on their laptop or desktop, while just 5 percent use one on their smartphone or tablet. A mere 6 percent said they use one on all of their devices.
Can You Be Tracked if You Use a VPN?
In the simplest terms, a VPN creates a secure, encrypted connection—which can be thought of as a tunnel—between your computer and a server operated by the VPN service. In a professional setting, this tunnel effectively makes you part of the company's network, as if you were physically sitting in the office.
While you're connected to a VPN, all your network traffic passes through this protected tunnel, and no one—not even your ISP—can see your traffic until it exits the tunnel from the VPN server and enters the public internet. If you make sure to only connect to websites secured with HTTPS, your data will continue to be encrypted even after it leaves the VPN.
Think about it this way: If your car pulls out of your driveway, someone can follow you and see where you are going, how long you are at your destination, and when you are coming back. They might even be able to peek inside your car and learn more about you. With a VPN service, you are essentially driving into a closed parking garage, switching to a different car, and driving out, so that no one who was originally following you knows where you went.
VPN services, while tremendously helpful, are not foolproof. There's no magic bullet (or magic armor) when it comes to security. A determined adversary can almost always breach your defenses in one way or another. Using a VPN can't help if you unwisely download ransomware on a visit to the Dark Web, or if you are tricked into giving up your data to a phishing attack.
What a VPN can do is to protect you against mass data collection and the casual criminal vacuuming up user data for later use. It can also protect your privacy by making it harder for advertisers to figure out who and where you are. That's why VPNs are important, even when you're browsing from the comfort and (relative) safety of your home.
Who Needs a VPN?
First and foremost, using a VPN prevents anyone on the same network access point (or anywhere else) from intercepting your web traffic in a man-in-the-middle attack. This is especially handy for travelers and for those using public Wi-Fi networks, such as web surfers at hotels, airports, and coffee shops. Someone on the same network, or the person in control of the network you're using, could conceivably intercept your information while you're connected. Our 2019 survey noted that just 19 percent of respondents use a VPN while traveling, which is a dismal result from a security standpoint.
VPNs also cloak your computer's actual IP address, hiding it behind the IP address of the VPN server you're connected to. IP addresses are distributed based on location, so you can estimate someone's location simply by looking at their IP address. And while IP addresses may change, it's possible to track someone across the internet by watching where the same IP address appears. Using a VPN makes it harder for advertisers (or spies, or hackers) to track you online.
Many VPN services also provide their own DNS resolution system. Think of DNS as a phone book that turns a text-based URL like 'pcmag.com' into a numeric IP address that computers can understand. Savvy snoops can monitor DNS requests and track your movements online. Greedy attackers can also use DNS poisoning to direct you to bogus phishing pages designed to steal your data. When you use a VPN's DNS system, it's another layer of protection.
VPNs are necessary for improving individual privacy, but there are also people for whom a VPN is essential for personal and professional safety. Some journalists and political activists rely on VPN services to circumvent government censorship and safely communicate with the outside world. Check the local laws before using a VPN in China, Russia, Turkey, or any country with with repressive internet policies.
What about using a VPN for BitTorrent? Some services allow peer-to-peer file sharing and the use of BitTorrent sharing. Others restrict such activity to specific servers. Be smart: Learn the company's terms of service—and the local laws on the subject. Only six percent of our respondents report ever having used a VPN with BitTorrent. While that's a low number, it may simply reflect the fact that not all respondents have ever used BitTorrent at all.
So what did our poll find when it comes to what sorts of online habits respondents actually use VPNs for? In our survey of 3,000 US consumers on VPN use and buying habits, we found that a majority—52 percent of respondents—said they need a VPN for security purposes. In related responses, 26 percent said they need a VPN to safely access public Wi-Fi, and 18 percent need a VPN to share data and files securely. Another marquee feature of VPNs is anonymous web browsing, yet only the most Big Brother–conscious 6 percent of respondents said they need a VPN to avoid government surveillance. Aside from privacy and security reasons, VPNs are also useful in accessing entertainment content not available in your region by switching to a server somewhere else in the world. A sizable 23 percent of respondents said they need a VPN to access streaming content such as Netflix or sports, while 4 percent of respondents use VPNs to access adult content.
How to Choose a VPN Service
The VPN services market has exploded in the past few years, and a small competition has turned into an all-out melee. Many providers are capitalizing on the general population's growing concerns about surveillance and cybercrime, which means it's getting hard to tell when a company is actually providing a secure service and when it's throwing out a lot of fancy words while selling snake oil. In fact, since VPN services have become so popular in the wake of Congress killing ISP privacy rules, there have even been fake VPNs popping up, so be careful. It's important to keep a few things in mind when evaluating which VPN service is right for you: reputation, performance, type of encryption used, transparency, ease of use, support, and extra features. Don't just focus on price or speed, though those are important factors.
Some VPN services provide a free trial, so take advantage of it. Make sure you are happy with what you signed up for, and take advantage of money-back guarantees if you're not. This is actually why we also recommend starting out with a short-term subscription—a week or a month—to really make sure you are happy. Yes, you may get a discount by signing up for a year, but that's more money at stake should you realize the service doesn't meet your performance needs.
Most users want a full graphical user interface for managing their VPN connection and settings, though a few would rather download a configuration file and import it into the OpenVPN client. Most VPN companies we have reviewed support all levels of technological savvy, and the best have robust customer support for when things go sideways.
Which Is the Best Free VPN?
Not all VPN services require that you pay. There are, in fact, many excellent free VPNs. But all of the free VPNs we've tested have some kind of limitation. Some limit you to just a few simultaneous connections or devices on an account. Others restrict you to a few hundred MBs of data per day or per month. Others limit you to just a handful of servers. Still others do all of the above.
Finding the best free VPN is an exercise in balancing those restrictions. TunnelBear, for example, lets you use any server on its network but limits you to 500MB-1GB per month. Avira Phantom VPN lets you use as many devices as you like and any server you like, but also restricts you to 500MB per month. AnchorFree Hotspot Shield also places no limits on the number of devices, but restricts you to 500MB per day and only US-based servers. Kaspersky Secure Connection doesn't limit your devices but doesn't let you choose a VPN server—the app does it automatically.
Editors' Choice winner ProtonVPN has the unique distinction of placing no data restrictions on free users. You can browse as much as you want, as long as you want. You will be limited to just one device on the service at a time and can only choose between three server locations, but the unlimited data makes up for all that. It doesn't hurt that ProtonVPN, from the same people that brought you super-secure ProtonMail email, is very concerned about security and customer privacy.
As far as what our readers are actually willing to spend, we found in our poll that 65 percent of respondents expect VPNs to be free, whereas only 10 percent expect them to cost $10 or more. For those of you who are at least willing to put down some cash, we also have a roundup of the best cheap VPNs.
As far as what our readers are actually willing to spend, we found in our poll that 65 percent of respondents expect VPNs to be free, whereas only 10 percent expected them to cost $10 or more.
Can You Trust Your VPN Service?
If you're using a service to route all your internet traffic through its servers, you have to be able to trust the provider. It's easier to trust companies that have been around longer, simply because their reputation is likely to be known. The trouble is that the VPN industry is very young, and some VPN companies have been playing dirty. In this environment, figuring out who to trust is very difficult.
We're not cryptography experts, so we can't verify all of the encryption claims providers make. Instead, we focus on the features provided. Bonus features like ad blocking, firewalls, and kill switches that disconnect you from the web if your VPN connection drops, go a long way toward keeping you safe. We also prefer providers that support OpenVPN, since it's a standard that's known for its speed and reliability. It's also, as the name implies, open source, meaning it benefits from many developers' eyes looking for potential problems.
Since we last tested VPNs, we've given special attention to the privacy practices of VPN companies and not just the technology they provide. In our testing, we read through the privacy policies and discuss company practices with VPN service representatives. What we look for is a commitment to protect user information, and to take a hands-off approach to gathering user data.
As part of our research, we also make sure to find out where the company is based and under what legal framework it operates. Some countries don't have It's also useful to know under what circumstances a VPN company will hand over information to law enforcement and what information it would have to provide if that should happen.
The best VPN services have a privacy policy that clearly spells out what the service does, what information it collects, and what it does to protect that information. Some companies explain that they collect some information, but don't inform you about how they intend to use that information. Others are more transparent.
While a VPN can protect your privacy online, you might still want to take the additional step of avoiding paying for one using a credit card, for moral or security reasons. Several VPN services now accept anonymous payment methods such Bitcoin, and some even accept retailer gift cards. Both of these transactions is about as close as you can get to paying with cash for something online. That Starbucks gift card may be better spent on secure web browsing than a mediocre-at-best latte.
Understanding the Limitations of VPN Services
VPNs are great, but it's just as important to know what a VPN can and cannot do. A tool is only useful when it's used correctly, after all.
While it hides your IP address, a VPN is not a true anonymization service. For that, you'll want to access the Tor network, which will almost certainly slow down your connection. While a VPN tunnels your web traffic to a VPN server, Tor bounces around your traffic through several volunteer nodes making it much, much harder to track. Using Tor also grants access to hidden Dark Web sites, which a VPN simply cannot do. That said, some services, such as NordVPN, offer Tor access on specific servers.
Free resume programs for mac. Using a VPN will prevent most kinds of DNS attacks that would redirect you to a phishing page, but a regular old page made to look like a legit one in order to trick you into entering your data can still work. Some VPNs, and most browsers, are pretty good about blocking phishing pages, but this attack still claims too many victims to be ignored. Use common sense and be sure to verify that websites are what they say they are by looking carefully at the URL and always visiting HTTPS sites.
In addition to blocking malicious sites and ads, some VPNs also claim to block malware. We don't test the efficacy of these protections, but most appear to be blacklists of sites known to host malicious software. That's great, but don't assume it's anywhere near as good as standalone antivirus. Perhaps troublingly, 20 percent of those who answered said that they thought VPNs could protect them against viruses. It's important to note that whatever ability a VPN might have to protect you from malware, you should use this feature to complement, not replace, your antivirus.
Lastly, keep in mind that some security conscious companies like banks may be confused by your VPN. If your bank sees you logging in from what appears to be another US state or even another country, it can raise red flags. Expect to see captchas and more frequent multifactor requests when your VPN is on.
VPNs by the Numbers
Some important things to look for when shopping for a VPN are the number of licenses for simultaneous connections that come with your fee, the number of servers available, and the number of locations in which the company has servers.
Most VPN services allow you to connect up to five devices with a single account. Any service that offers fewer connections is outside the mainstream. Keep in mind that you'll need to connect every device in your home individually to the VPN service, so just two or three licenses won't be enough for the average nested pair. Note that many VPN services offer native apps for both Android and iOS, but that such devices count toward your total number of connections.
Of course, there are more than just phones and computers in a home. Game systems, tablets, and smart home devices such as light bulbs and fridges all need to connect to the internet. Many of these things can't run VPN software on their own, nor can they be configured to connect to a VPN through their individual settings. In these cases, you may be better off configuring your router to connect with the VPN of your choice. By adding VPN protection to your router, you secure the traffic of every gadget connected to that router. And the router—and everything protected by it—uses just one of your licenses. Nearly all of the companies we have reviewed offer software for most consumer routers and even routers with preinstalled VPN software, making it even easier to add this level of protection.
The number and distribution of those servers is a key consideration. The more places a VPN has to offer, the more options you have to spoof your location! More importantly, having numerous servers in diverse locales means that no matter where you go on Earth you'll be able to find a nearby VPN server. The closer the VPN server, the better the speed and reliability of the connection it can offer you. Remember, you don't need to connect to a far-flung VPN server in order to gain security benefits. Depending on where you live, a server down the street is as safe as one across the globe.
The number of servers a VPN company provides is at least partly a function of how many subscribers it supports. But more is almost always better, and more servers mean that you're less likely to be shunted into a VPN server that is already filled to the brim with other users. NordVPN is at the forefront with over 5,200 servers, followed by CyberGhost, ExpressVPN, Private Internet Access, and TorGuard all of which have 3,000 servers or more each. But the competition is beginning to heat up. Last year, only a handful of companies offered more than 500 servers, now it's becoming unusual to find a company offering fewer than 1,000 servers.
In the most recent round of testing, we've also looked at how many virtual servers a given VPN company uses. A virtual server is just what it sounds like—a software-defined server running on server hardware that might have several virtual servers onboard. The thing about virtual servers is that they can be configured to appear as if they are in one country when they are actually being hosted somewhere else. That's an issue if you're especially concerned about where you web traffic is traveling. It's a bit worrisome to choose one location and discover you're actually connected somewhere else entirely. Some VPN companies take a smart view to virtual servers, using them to provide VPN support for regions where it might be too risky to physically house a server. When VPNs use virtual servers, we prefer that they are transparent about it and share those locations with customers.
See How We Test VPNs
What's the Fastest VPN?
We have often said that having to choose between security and convenience is a false dichotomy, but it is at least somewhat true in the case of VPN services. When a VPN is active, your web traffic is taking a more circuitous route than usual, often resulting in sluggish download and upload speeds as well as increased latency. The good news is that using a VPN probably isn't going to remind you of the dial-up days of yore. That's important, because in our 2018 survey, 45 percent of respondents said that speed was the most important factor.
Most services provide perfectly adequate internet speed when in use, and can even handle streaming HD video. However, 4K video and other>
Our testing shows that HideIPVPN has the least impact on performance and is therefore the fastest VPN. While speed is always a consideration, we maintain that value, features, and dedication to privacy is far more important. We discourage readers from choosing a VPN solely on its speed test results.
Can a VPN Be Blocked by Netflix?
Netflix and similar video streaming services are getting wise to people accessing streaming content in other countries by spoofing their location with a VPN. In our testing, we found that Netflix blocks streaming more often than not when we were using a VPN. There are a few exceptions, but Netflix is actively working to protect its content deals. VPNs that work with Netflix today may not work tomorrow.
Netflix blocking paying customers might seem odd, but it's all about regions and not people. Just because you paid for Netflix in one place does not mean you're entitled to the content available on the same service but in a different location. Media distribution and rights are messy and complicated. While this use of VPNs gets a lot of press, however, our 2019 survey found that only eight percent of respondents use a VPN to unblock Netflix or a similar streaming service.
Using a VPN With Windows 10, Chrome, and Linux
When we test VPNs, we generally start with the Windows client. This is often the most complete review, covering several different platforms as well as the service's features and pricing in depth. That's purely out of necessity, since most of our readers use Windows (although this writer is currently using a MacBook Air). We currently use a Lenovo ThinkPad T460s laptop running the latest version of Windows 10. We periodically upgrade to a newer machine, in order to simulate what most users experience.
But as you can see from the chart at the top, however, Windows is not the only platform for VPNs. The Android mobile operating system, for example, is the most widely used OS on the planet. So it makes sense that we also test VPNs for Android.
That's not to ignore Apple users. We also review VPN clients for macOS and iOS.
Using a VPN is a little weird for ChromeOS users. If you're on a Chromebook or Chromebox, your best bet is to use an Android VPN app. See our guide to how to set up a VPN on a Chromebook for more.
Finally, we have lately begun to review the best Linux VPN apps, too.
Using a Mobile VPN
We used to advise people to do banking and other important business over their cellular connection when using a mobile device, since it is generally safer than connecting with a public Wi-Fi network. But even that isn't always a safe bet. Researchers have demonstrated how a portable cell tower, such as a femtocell, can be used for malicious ends. The attack hinges on jamming the LTE and 3G bands, which are secured with strong encryption, and forcing devices to connect with a phony tower over the less-secure 2G band. Because the attacker controls the fake tower, they can carry out a man-in-the-middle attack and see all the data passing over the cellular connection. Admittedly, this is an exotic attack, but it's far from impossible.
Wi-Fi attacks, on the other hand, are probably far more common than we'd like to believe. While attending the Black Hat convention, researchers saw thousands of devices connecting to a rogue access point. It had been configured to mimic networks that victim's devices had previously connected to, since many devices will automatically reconnect to a known network without checking with the user. That's why we recommend getting a VPN app for your mobile device to protect all your mobile communications. Even if you don't have it on all the time, using a mobile VPN is a smart way to protect your personal information.
Most VPN services offer both Android and iOS VPN apps, saving you the trouble of configuring your phone's VPN settings yourself. VPN providers typically allow up to five devices to be connected simultaneously under a single account. Also, while there are free VPN services available, many require that mobile users sign up for a paid subscription.
Not all mobile VPN apps are created equal. In fact, most VPN providers offer different services (and sometimes, different servers) for their mobile offerings than they do for their desktop counterparts.
If you're of the iPhone persuasion, there are a few other caveats to consider for a mobile VPN. Some iPhone VPN apps don't use OpenVPN, even if the VPN service that made the app supports the protocol. That's because Apple requires additional vetting if a company wants to include OpenVPN with its app. VPN app developers have slowly started jumping through those extra hoops and are bringing support for protocols such as OpenVPN to iOS.
Thankfully, there's a workaround for this problem. Instead of using the VPN app from the company from which you've purchased a subscription, you can download the standalone OpenVPN app. Open it, and you can enter your subscription information from the VPN company you've decided to work with. The OpenVPN app will then connect to the VPN company's servers using our preferred protocol.
Get Yourself a VPN
Computer and software providers work hard to make sure that the devices you buy are safe right out of the box, but they don't provide everything you'll need. Antivirus software, for example, consistently outperforms the built-in protections. In the same vein, VPN software lets you use the web and Wi-Fi with confidence that your information will remain secure. It's critically important and often overlooked.
Even if you don't use it every moment of every day, a VPN is a fundamental tool that everyone should have at their disposal—like a password manager or an online backup service. A VPN is also a service that will only become more important as our more of our devices become connected. So stay safe, and get a VPN.
Click through the review links of the best VPN services below for detailed analysis and performance results, and feel free to chime in on the comments section below them. Once you've picked, be sure to read our feature on how to set up and use a VPN to get the most from your chosen service.
Best VPN Services Featured in This Roundup:
NordVPN Review
MSRP: $11.95Pros: More than 5,200 servers in diverse locations worldwide. Unique, specialized servers. Six simultaneous connections. P2P allowed. Browser apps. Blocks ads, other web threats. Strong customer privacy stance.Cons: Expensive. Cannot purchase additional simultaneous connections.Bottom Line: NordVPN wraps a slick client around a strong collection of features for securing your online activities and an enormous network of servers. Earning a rare 5-star rating, it's our top pick for VPNs.Read ReviewPrivate Internet Access VPN Review
MSRP: $9.95Pros: Well designed app. Allows ten simultaneous connections. Above average number of available servers. Advanced security settings. Ad blocking. Supports P2P file sharing and BitTorrent. Multiplatform support. Strong stance on customer privacy.Cons: No free version. No specialized servers.Bottom Line: Private Internet Access offers a robust VPN service with an excellent new app interface and up to 10 simultaneous connections. It's a strong choice for large families or people with many devices in need of VPN protection.Read ReviewTunnelBear VPN Review
MSRP: $9.99Pros: Affordable. Excellent privacy policies. Annual independent audits. Friendly, approachable design. Browser extensions, including stand-alone ad blocker. Good speed test results. Bears.Cons: Lack of geographic diversity in server locations.Bottom Line: If you're tired of edgy security products, let the strong-but-cute bears of TunnelBear VPN defend your web traffic. Easy to use and easily affordable, it's an Editors' Choice winner.Read ReviewCyberGhost VPN Review
MSRP: $12.99Pros: Offers seven licenses with a subscription. Good server distribution. Strong privacy policy. Excellent and unique features.Cons: Expensive.Bottom Line: CyberGhost offers an excellent VPN product with strong, unique features not found elsewhere, along with a generous number of simultaneous connections. It's expensive, however.Read ReviewTorGuard VPN Review
MSRP: $9.99Pros: Affordable. Numerous servers spread across the globe. Lets you easily add simultaneous connections. Many add-ons. Good speed test scores.Cons: Clunky client. No free subscription.Bottom Line: TorGuard VPN is the best bet for BitTorrent seeders and leechers looking to secure their web traffic. It's packed with features sure to appeal to security wonks, though its client is clunky.Read ReviewIPVanish VPN Review
MSRP: $11.99Pros: 10 simultaneous connections. Good geographic diversity of servers. Allows BitTorrenting. Automatic IP address cycling.Cons: Unwelcoming interface. Limited global server presence.Bottom Line: VPN service IPVanish secures your web traffic from prying eyes. It packs powerful features veteran VPN users will appreciate, and presents a good value overall, although its interface may intimidate the less experienced.Read ReviewExpressVPN Review
MSRP: $12.95Pros: Large, diversely distributed fleet of servers. Strong privacy policy. Supports OpenVPN protocol across all platforms. Allows P2P and BitTorrent. Simple interface. Greatly improved performance.Cons: Expensive. Few simultaneous connections allowed.Bottom Line: ExpressVPN is a comprehensive VPN service with an impressive server fleet and excellent features. But, compared with the competition, it allows for fewer simultaneous connections, and it's more expensive.Read ReviewSymantec Norton Secure VPN Review
MSRP: $7.99Pros: Affordable, flexible pricing. Robust server network. Integrated ad-tracker blocking. Good speed test scores.Cons: No P2P or BitTorrent support. Few server locations.Bottom Line: Norton Secure VPN offers VPN protection from a trusted name in security in addition to flexible pricing. That said, it lacks advanced security features and doesn't allow BitTorrent.Read ReviewSurfshark VPN Review
MSRP: $11.95Pros: Unlimited simultaneous connections. Unusual multihop and split-tunneling tools. Well-designed app.Cons: High price. Occasionally opaque privacy policy language. Geographic distribution of servers could improve. Mixed speed test results.Bottom Line: Surfshark VPN's comparatively high price is balanced against unlimited devices per account and an excellent set of features.Read ReviewProtonVPN Review
MSRP: $10.00Pros: Excellent free version. Flexible, low-cost plans. Focus on physical security. Excellent privacy policies. Slick, accessible client. Multi-hop VPN to secure locations and Tor connections. P2P friendly. ProtonMail bundle available.Cons: Few servers and locations. Difficult to find fastest servers. Full access to servers and features only at highest pay level.Bottom Line: ProtonVPN doesn't have as many servers as much of the competition, but its focus on exacting security at an affordable price tag makes it a compelling choice. Plus, its free version is the best we've tested so far.Read Review
A virtual private network is a great way to take control of your online experience and protect yourself from the hazards of digital life. With a lot of players on the market, though, the choice of which to use can be daunting. We’ve taken a look at some of the options to find the best VPN for Mac.
The Mac has had far less security issues than Windows over the years. Threats are on the rise, though, and it pays to take security seriously. Using a VPN will give you an edge against hackers and snoops.
If you’re using your Mac as an entertainment hub you may be frustrated at being unable to access overseas content. Mac users traveling the world may also find themselves in countries that restrict access to news or social media websites. A VPN can help you get around geoblocks and access the content you want in safety.
ExpressVPN, our overall winner, scores well on all these points, but more on that later.
The Best VPN for Mac 2019
provider
$ per month
top features More
- 1
- ExpressVPN★★★ Best VPN 2019 ★★★
30-day money-back guarantee
www.expressvpn.com - /month
- PayPal, Credit card, Bitcoin
- 5 Simultaneous connections
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Can access Netflix US
- Allows torrenting
- No-logging policy
- 2
- NordVPN$$ Best Budget VPN 2019 $$
30-day money-back guarantee
www.nordvpn.com - /month
- Credit card
- 6 Simultaneous connections
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Can access Netflix US
- Allows torrenting
- No-logging policy
- 3
- CyberGhost
www.cyberghostvpn.com - /month
- PayPal, Credit card
- 7 Simultaneous connections
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Can access Netflix US
- Allows torrenting
- No-logging policy
- 4
- Private Internet Access
www.privateinternetaccess.com - /month
- PayPal, Credit card, AmazonPay, Zcash
- 10 Simultaneous connections
- Unlimited bandwidth
- U.S. only Can access Netflix US
- Allows torrenting
- No-logging policy
- 5
- Goose VPN
goosevpn.com - /month
- PayPal, Credit card
- Unlimited Simultaneous connections
- Unlimited plan only Unlimited bandwidth
- Can access Netflix US
- Allows torrenting
- No-logging policy
What Makes a VPN the Best For Mac
Some built-in features on macOS, such as Time Machine, are nice to have, but can be improved upon, as our best cloud backup for Mac article shows. Cloud storage is another area where you might want to look at an external service.
Many of the benefits of a VPN are not dependent on the operating system. Our general article on VPN security explains the benefits a quality VPN service can provide, but there are things that will make a service especially suitable for Mac owners.
Mac software tends to be well-designed, simple and offers a clear, intuitive user interface. VPN apps that are a good match for the OS should integrate well with the platform and follow the appropriate conventions.
It should be easy to use and able to run without much fuss. While options for power users are welcome, being able to get up and running without having to do too much tweaking will score points here.
Quality customer service is also a key feature of the Mac experience, so we’ll be checking VPN providers for that, too. We’re looking for services that provide fast, reliable support, preferably via multiple channels. Thankfully, finding one of those wasn’t too hard.
Best VPN for Mac: ExpressVPN
Much like the Mac, ExpressVPN is slick, easy to use and expensive. That makes it a great fit for the OS. As discussed in our ExpressVPN review, it gets almost everything right.
Using the app is simple, with a big round button to click when you want to connect. The button turns green when connected. A smaller button lets you choose from the many server locations. It adds an icon to the Mac menu bar which you can click to quickly access its features.
With AES 256-bit encryption and a strict no logging policy, ExpressVPN has you covered for security and privacy.
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It features split tunneling, which lets you control which of your apps use the VPN. It’s useful if you have specific services that work fine over your regular connection. We don’t see this feature included on VPNs often enough, so big points to ExpressVPN here.
There’s also a kill switch to prevent your VPN traffic from going through your other connection if the VPN fails. That can be important if you’re worried about the privacy of your regular connection.
Other Reasons We Like ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN offers blistering speeds and was the quickest in our roundup of the fastest VPN services. You can test the server speeds in the app and switch servers easily. Its speeds make it ideal for streaming, gaming or torrenting.
Customer service is excellent, offering live chat around the clock and email support. ExpressVPN also has an extensive knowledgebase and clear FAQ.
You can have up to five connections at the same time and it supports a wide range of devices, including apps for PlayStation, Xbox and Apple TV, along with all major OS and smartphone platforms. It also has browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox and Safari.
ExpressVPN is not cheap, coming in at $99.95 per year. We think it is worth the price, though, considering the quality of service you get. In addition to being the best for Mac, we consider it the overall best VPN provider. There is a money-back guarantee for the first 30 days, too.
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NordVPN
With its highly-usable interface and general all-around quality, NordVPN is a great choice for Mac users. Signing up and installing it is a breeze. The simple UI is a good match for the Mac and the menu bar is supported.
NordVPN has an impressive range of security and privacy features, including AES 256-bit encryption, SOCKS5 and HTTP proxies, double-hop servers and a no-logging policy. You can find more details on those in our NordVPN review.
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It features auto-connect and a kill switch, so, once you set it up, you don’t need to worry about it much. It does lack split tunneling, though.
Best mail app for mac osx. Customer service is good, with a large knowledgebase and responsive live chat service available. There is also email support, but we found it slow. Still, should you run into an issue with NordVPN, you are well-served.
Other Reasons We Like NordVPN
It has an impressive network with over 5,000 servers in 60 countries, meaning it is likely to be fast wherever you are in the world. It also does well at connecting to streaming services. Our test results included successful connections to Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu and Amazon Prime Video.
We saw the occasional speed drop over long-distance connections, but you have access to many servers and will usually be able to find a faster one.
NordVPN also offers “speciality servers” that cater to different needs. They include peer-to-peer servers, obscured servers for those in countries that restrict internet usage and other options focused on security and privacy.
Those wanting to use a VPN for Netflix may want to check out our guide on how to beat the Netflix VPN ban, too. Much like ExpressVPN, NordVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so take it for a spin.
Pros:
- Large network
- Gets into streaming services
- Six device connections
Cons:
- No split tunneling
- Speed drops over long distances
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CyberGhost
CyberGhost is another good all-around choice. As detailed in our dedicated CyberGhost review it had a few issues in the past that have been resolved, making it one of our favorite VPNs.
Signing up and downloading the app is fiddly, but after that, it is simple to setup.
The tile-based start-up UI might give Mac owners the uncomfortable feeling that they’re using Windows, but the app is straightforward and presents its server list and many options clearly. The brightly colored tiles are plainly labeled and allow you to navigate the app in a task-oriented fashion.
The various screens allow you to change settings based on your focus. There are options to help with unblocking streaming services, as well as adjust your privacy and security settings.
The “choose my server” tab, for example, lets you rank the available servers by speed. CyberGhost is fast, especially in Europe, and connected to all the streaming services we tested, but we needed to switch servers a couple of times to get the best out of it.
It lacks split tunneling, but has a kill switch and an “app protection” feature that automatically tunes the settings on start-up to the apps you have running.
Privacy and security are also strengths. It keeps no logs and doesn’t need any information from you besides your email address, which makes it ideal for privacy-conscious users. Like most of our favorite services, it uses AES 256-bit encryption for extra security.
CyberGhost activates automatically when connecting to wireless networks. Though convenient, WiFi networks can leave you vulnerable to hackers, as mentioned in our dangers of public WiFi article, so that is a useful feature.
Other Reasons We Like CyberGhost
CyberGhost provides the quality customer service that Mac owners expect with responsive live chat agents and email inquiries handled in good time. It also has an extensive knowledgebase to search through if you have problems.
At $59.88 for its annual plan, CyberGhost is easier on the wallet than the two services above and, like them, offers a money-back guarantee. The three-year plan is even better value at $99.99. There’s also a seven-day free trial if you want to dip your toe in the water before signing up, but it’s only available on Android and iOS.
Overall, CyberGhost is a good service that’s cheaper than our two top picks, but comes with a couple of minor quibbles.
Pros:
- Lots of task-specific features
- Easy to use
- Strong customer service
Private Internet Access
Private Internet Access is famous for its advocacy of net neutrality and its service prioritizes security and privacy. It is a good choice if those are your concerns.
After going through the straightforward sign up and installation process, you have to enter your login details. The UI is minimalist and launched from the menu bar, though it does contain many options if you look for them.
Connecting is just a matter of selecting “connect” from the menu. You can accept the default server or pick from a list of countries and, in some cases, cities. You can also send a slow speed complaint from the menu, presumably allowing PIA to get on to fixing the problem.
PIA is very fast and hit impressive speeds throughout the world during our testing. That, combined with its low ping scores, makes it an ideal VPN for gaming. It isn’t as hot on streaming, though. Hulu and iPlayer blocked us.
PIA is big on privacy and, in addition to keeping no logs, allows you to sign up without providing much identifying information. It is also strong on security, using the OpenVPN protocol by default and passing all our leak tests, as described in our PIA review.
Customer service is via a knowledgebase and a support system that uses email and a web form. There’s no live chat and the response to our test email took a few hours to arrive. Though the knowledgebase is good, we wouldn’t describe customer service as one of PIA’s strengths.
Other Reasons We Like PIA
In addition to a kill switch, PIA includes automatic malware and ad blocking, but it doesn’t have split tunneling. At $39.95 per year, including five simultaneous connections, PIA is priced well for a quality service. It lacks a few frills, but the core features are excellent.
We recommend it for price-conscious and technically confident users who are happy to solve their own problems. Those who need quick, regular support are best served elsewhere.
Cons:
- Limited support
- No split tunneling
- Weak on streaming
GooseVPN
GooseVPN is a new kid on the block, but already boasts many impressive features backed by excellent support.
Setting it up is easy. Once installed, it looks pleasant, but the UI has minor issues, such as the client window not being dragable and the options menu being hidden when first opened.
It has a no-logs policy and offers several protocols. We recommend OpenVPN because it’s the most secure, if slower than the others. The AES 256-bit encryption should help keep hackers at bay, too.
It has a kill switch, activated by the “VPN always on” setting, which isn’t as clear as it could be. Split tunneling is not yet available, but will be soon, apparently.
Speeds are fast and GooseVPN has several P2P servers, making it a good choice for torrenting. Its pings are high for gaming, though, and connecting to streaming services was a mixed bag. We got into Netflix but not BBC iPlayer.
Its server network is limited, but that will hopefully improve. It has just over 100 servers, which are mostly in Europe and North America. Africa and South America only have one server each, so take a look at its website to confirm that it has servers where you need them.
Other Reasons We Like GooseVPN
Best Price For Expressvpn
Best browser for mac 10.6. GooseVPN claims it will try to add a server in a particular location if you let the company know you need it. As customer service goes that is impressive. Support is a strength of GooseVPN’s, with help offered 24/7.
As well as a live chat service, there is email support. During our testing, we got a response in less than an hour. The company says support is in-house, rather than outsourced. There’s also a FAQ and knowledgebase that includes useful YouTube videos.
As detailed in our GooseVPN review, the customer service is second to none and a strong point for Mac owners used to comprehensive support.
The standard annual package comes in at $59.88, which isn’t too bad and allows unlimited connections.
Overall, GooseVPN is a nice, fast option with great customer service and one that we hope will improve further over the coming months.
Expressvpn For Mac Download
Pros:
- Great customer service
- Fast
- Plenty of P2P servers
Final Thoughts
As we’ve seen, Mac users have many strong choices for a VPN that works well on the platform. ExpressVPN comes out as our best option for the Mac, thanks to its speed, support and all-around quality, but there are other good choices.
Best Expressvpn Server
We found GooseVPN to have the best customer support of the offerings, with NordVPN also doing well. NordVPN has a fantastic network for streamers, too, while GooseVPN is adding servers all the time.
For the budget-conscious, CyberGhost is cheaper than ExpressVPN and easy to use. PIA is even cheaper, with strong core features and low ping scores that make it ideal for gamers.
We’d love to hear your experiences with the VPNs on our list. They all have their strengths and we hope you can find one that matches your needs. If you know of any other VPNs that work well with the Mac, we’d like to hear about those, too. Please share your experiences in the comments. Thanks for reading.
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