How We Rate Our VPNs
To figure out which VPNs are worth your money, we looked at what each VPN offers, starting with features.
When using a VPN, your priority should be security. That’s why we chose VPNs that have military-grade encryption, a range of protocols , DNS leak protection, and a kill-switch. We also looked at the number of servers and locations, and we tested each VPN for speed.
We then tested each VPN’s ease-of-use, from downloading and installing the software to connecting to the right server. Customer support is also a crucial aspect, so we examined each VPN’s availability, what forms of contact are available, and how efficient their support team is. We compared all of that to the price to see if it was worthwhile or not. Last but not least, we analyzed our users’ reviews, both the positive and the negative.
-
Features
The Problem With Free Mac VPNs
GoVPN claims to be a free VPN for Mac and iOS devices. It is currently unknown what this app does, but connecting to a VPN service is not on the list. It will claim to be connected to a VPN, but your computers IP address is still visible to any site on the internet. Avoid at all costs.
Fresh VPN offers a free trial for connecting to their service. Unfortunately, the free trial is considerably less than NordVPNs 30 days. It only lasts five minutes. Seriously. Thats all their going to give someone to test out and evaluate their service on a Mac. Not enough time for a real evaluation, and only shows what little faith the vendor has in the product on offer.
If you open the Mac app store and search for VPN youll get a long list of apps, including several that claim to be free. Most of those free VPNs include In-App Purchases, non-functioning connections or even blatant malware of some form or another. Even some of the paid-for VPNs have advertising embedded in their free, or trial version apps. Expect to encounter download caps, bandwidth limits, and waiting queues.
The Qualifications For Best VPN Service
Picking the best VPN for Mac OS X comes down to three things:
Reliability;
A VPN is no good if you cant connect to it. The biggest issue with free VPN providers is they usually provide fewer servers or slower access speed, and reserve the better systems for paying customers. Kind of a try it out and upgrade later system.
Security;
;People use a VPN provider to keep their browsing and download habits private. So the connection has to use current encryption algorithms to keep hackers and other undesirables out.
Speed;
Theres not much of a reason to connect to a VPN provider that makes you feel like youre using an old dial-up modem. A good VPN provider provides fast access so you arent spending all day waiting for something to happen.
Recommended Reading: How To Add VPN To Apple TV 4k
Considerations For Remote Workers And Expats
With the shift toward remote working and expat living, theres been a shift in culture and new concerns raised. With so many conversations moved to the online world, suddenly things that could only really be caught by a hidden audio recorder are now vulnerable to leaks, breaches, and hacks. Anything from a big contract to a new demo of video, audio, or otherwise are now online. Where once employees and collaborators spoke in person or over the phone, these same conversations are now taking place in chatrooms that can often be vulnerable.
Plus, hardware is often non-standard for remote workers of all types, especially freelancers. In a typical office, technology is standard across the board, so security software can be, too. But with different, personal devices being used remotely, cybersecurity concerns land squarely on the shoulders of the remote workers and freelancers. And, since these devices often do double-duty as personal devices, that gets mixed with work data, too, which can lead to accidental exposure to friends and family.
Free Vs Paid Mac VPNs
Lets talk more about cost. While there are several free VPNs for Mac, many of them have limits that may make them not worth it, such as:
- Data: Many free VPNs have daily or monthly limits on the amount of data you can use while connected. For high-bandwidth activities like streaming or torrenting, these may be prohibitive.
- Speed: Some free VPNs limit users in terms of speed, which could be frustrating, as premium VPNs already slow down browsing enough for our liking.
- Servers: You may only be able to connect to a small number of servers, and they may not be in your desired locations. For example, if youre a journalist in the United Arab Emirates and need a VPN for the UAE, youll want access to nearby servers, and a free VPN may not provide it.
- Devices: Most free VPNs work on one device only. If you want to use a VPN solely on one MacBook, that could be fine, but it wont work if you want a VPN for your iPhone as well.
- Time: Most free VPNs are only available for a limited time, so theyre not good solutions if you want a VPN for long-term use.
While free VPNs may work for some, there are many cheap VPNs that avoid these limits without breaking the bank.
You May Like: What Is VPN On Ipad Used For
Choose And Manage Server Locations
So you’d like to connect to a specific location? No worries, Surfshark has over 3200 servers in 65+ countries, and you can connect to your chosen one.
What Is The Best VPN For Mac
KeepSolid VPN Unlimited is the best VPN you can get on Mac App Store. Uncompromising security, unmatched privacy and anonymity, and unlimited online freedom – thats what helps our VPN for macOS stand out from the rest.
Our team of experts has been working in the security field for more than 7 years and our security software for Mac has earned the trust of more than 25 million users.;
Also Check: What Type Of VPN Is Expressvpn
A VPN Reduces These Risks
Keeping your connections secure is one of the most biggest and most important things you can do to stop these breaches from happening and reassure your employer or clients. Its oh-so-tempting to get out of the house and go to the local internet café or coffee shop, but these are very insecure networks. So before connecting to them, connect to your VPN, first.
There are other things you can do, too. When collaborating on projects, make sure you keep any business-sensitive documents in one secure cloud location, rather than on your and your teams MacBook and laptops. Plus, you can brush up on your password, too. Make sure its complex, lengthy, and easy to remember. Use a VPN and these tips, and you can keep your work secure, private, and safe.
Use Online Screen Recorder To Record Your Macbook Pro Screen
Mac built-in apps are very handy if you need quick screen capturing, but the capturing options are limited compared with online screen recorders and desktop screen recorders. For example, the Screenshot app and QuickTime Player app can only record Mac screen free with MOV format.;
Online Screen Recorder is a free web-based screen recording tool that provides diverse recording modes and exporting format options. It offers an out-of-the-box recording experience – no downloading, no installation, no login, and no commitment. It is fully compatible with mainstream browsers like Chrome and Firefox.
How to record your screen on MacBook Pro free with Online Screen Recorder:
Step 1:;Go to the web page of this recording tool.
Step 2: Click on “Start Recording Now”.
Step 3:;Follow the onscreen settings to decide if you want to record audio, the entire screen, a web window, etc., and then click “Share” to confirm.
Step 4: Click the “Rec” button on the screen to start recording.
Step 5:;Stop the recording using the same button and download the recording with WebM format.;
How to use iTop Screen Recorder to record PC screen:
Step 1: Download, install and open the application on PC following the onscreen wizard.
iTop Screen Recorder – Record Your Screen Activity on PC
Step 2:;Make adjustments before recording. You can select a recording mode, audio input, and other recording settings.
Step 3:;Click on “REC” to start recording.
Recommended Reading: Does Mcafee Livesafe Have VPN
How Does A Mac VPN Work
That’s a big question with a fairly complex answer – and we go in to it in some depth in our dedicated article on how VPNs work. But, put simply, when your VPN is turned on, all of the information you send and receive from and to your computer or mobile is channelled through an encrypted tunnel. That means even if any prying managed to hack you, they still wouldn’t be able to turn the data into comprehensive information.
Ipvanish Speed Test Data
Website:;www.PrivateVPN.com
Money-back guarantee:;30 DAYS
PrivateVPN is an up-and-coming provider making a strong first impression thanks to its download speed, security, and ability to bypass geographic restrictions. Despite its smaller server network, it performed well above average in our speed tests. Security standards are on par with what you would expect from a much larger provider, including 256-bit encryption and perfect forward secrecy. A kill switch and DNS leak protection are included. PrivateVPN is completely logless.
PrivateVPN is great for unblocking geo-locked sites like Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime Video. A basic plan allows you to simultaneously connect up to six devices. Live chat is available on the website during business hours.
Apps are also available for Windows, iOS, and Android.
Don’t Miss: How To Use VPN Windows 10 Free
What Is The Best Mac VPN In 2021
At the top of our best Mac VPN list comes ExpressVPN, TechRadar’s only 5-star VPN you can sign up for.
It scores so highly thanks to its amazing simplicity to use , strong security smarts, speedy and reliable server connections, and prowess when it comes to unlocking streaming services. Its genuinely useful 24/7 customer support is a massive boon, too.
And if you love a freebie, ExpressVPN has one of those, too! Sign up for an annual plan and it will throw in a whole year of secure cloud storage from the well-regarded Backblaze.
How VPN Connections Benefit You
Not everyone has the same priorities or uses the internet in the same way. If you want to improve anonymity online, VPN providers give you a way to discreetly access the Internet through a tunnel service. This type of access masks your communication and displays the VPNs IP address when you connect to a website, instead of your own.
This means that your private home IP address is hidden when browsing different websites. Using a VPN service will likely impact your computer speed as well. If you are looking for a high-performance VPN, make sure that it also keeps your privacy through data encryption between your computer and the target server. With ExpressVPN, you can improve the protection of your data, and stay anonymous on the internet all while browsing at top speeds.
- P2P functionality
- Price
Look for a service with high speeds, so your connection is smooth, strong security features, so your connection is private, and easy functionality, so you don’t hate your VPN. Also, look for one that offers P2P file sharing, and make sure the price is right.
Don’t Miss: How To Change VPN For Pokemon Go
Will This Prevent Me From Using My VPN
What it is important to note, is that the new privacy-invading telemetry collected by Big Sur should not prevent you from using your VPN to get around geo-restrictions. The VPN will still function normally when you access online services, and your ISP will still be unable to track what you do online.;
Is Using A VPN On A Mac Legal
VPNs are legal in most countries. In fact, there are only a handful of countries in which VPNs are banned. It doesnt matter which device youre using to access the VPN, be it on desktop or mobile via Windows, Mac, Android, or iOS. What matters the most is the location youre in. Of course, while VPNs are legal to use in most locations, its still illegal to use a VPN for illegal activities.
Don’t Miss: What Does VPN Provider Mean
What Is A VPN For Mac
A VPN essentially creates a secure tunnel between your Mac and the VPN server. Your browsing data, while connected to the VPN, is encrypted and associated with the IP address of the VPN server rather than that of your Mac. This gives you online privacy and anonymity, and security against cyber criminals gaining access into your Wi-Fi connection and intercepting the data that gets sent and received while you browse online.
Advantages Of Browsing The Internet With Our Free Mac VPN Software
- Surf anonymously and avoid trackingIf you would rather surf anonymously and not allow companies to track your activity, you need to activate your VPN connection. This way companies are unable to create a profile for you and will not, for example, be able show you as many personalized advertisements. Even your Internet Service Provider does not know which websites you have visited. We do not store any data about you, so no authority can ask us for any information. With the use of our best Mac VPN client software, you are benefiting from 30 years of experience in computer security Made in Germany. Leave the minimum number of traces and conceal your real IP address.
- Connect with military-grade securityCybercriminals try many different tactics to steal your personal data such as passwords and banking information. You are especially vulnerable in public places like hotels, bars, and restaurants. With an active VPN connection through our Avira Phantom VPN, all incoming and outgoing data is secured by encryption.
Also Check: How Does Pia VPN Work
Why Do Mac VPNs Use Ikev2 And Not Openvpn
The open-source protocol OpenVPN is not allowed on the app store – thanks to Apple’s strict developer guidelines. Many VPN providers choose to use the IKEv2 protocol for their Mac products, instead. IKEv2 is considered a secure standard and slightly faster than OpenVPN. If you’d still like to use OpenVPN, all of our recommendations support it with some manual configuration. Find out more in our guide to configuring OpenVPN with Tunnelblick.
How To Combine Connections On Macbook Pro
In order to combine Internet connections at once on your MacBook Pro, you need a link aggregation software solution, as mentioned above. Speedify is your best choice in terms of;network bonding software for Mac.;Speedify is a;fast bonding VPN;that solves the compromise you have to do when choosing privacy & security over speed.;With Speedify you get security, speed and reliability for your Internet connection, having the peace of mind youll be always on.
Here’s what you have to do to combine connections on your MacBook Pro:
Recommended Reading: How To Connect Remote Desktop Through VPN
How I Tested And Ranked These Free VPNs
I downloaded each VPN on my MacBook to make sure that it is compatible with macOS. I looked for essential features like encryption, leak protection, kill switches, and zero-logs policies.
I explored each app to find out if it is user-friendly and suitable for beginners as well as advanced users. Ive only recommended VPNs with reliable macOS apps that you will find easy to install even if youve never used a VPN before.
Once I familiarized myself with the app, I used speedtest.net to measure my connection speed. I eliminated VPNs that are too slow to watch YouTube videos in high definition.
Then, I checked to see if the service supports streaming and torrenting. I also noted whether they offer P2P-friendly servers to free users and whether they were reliable enough to guarantee anonymous torrenting.
Macbooks And Internet Speed And Reliability
Most MacBook Pro users are on a constant struggle to find fast and stable Internet. Whether they’re working while traveling or, more recently, even while working from home. And that’s because everybody’s overcrowding the existing Internet infrastructure in residential areas. So what can you do about this?
The answer is simple: use all available Internet connections at once. And we’re not talking about;switching between connections;- Wi-Fi, Ethernet, cellular dongle, etc. We’re saying;you can use all your available connections simultaneously on your MacBook Pro. That’s great news, as your connection will get faster and more stable. Your MacBook Pro will be able to harness both the download and upload bandwidth of your connections.
Wondering;how to combine Internet connections on MacBook Pro?;It’s simple: you need a software channel bonding /;link aggregation;solution that will unlock the potential of your MacBook.
Don’t Miss: How To Change Your Ip Without VPN