Most free VPNs on macOS, they’re not as slow as they promise, and they’re full of ads, more of a threat than protection.
After in-depth testing of VPNs from multiple brands, we’ve collected four top-of-the-line VPNs for Mac users that are easy to use and secure. If you feel that none of them work for you, please return to the market again and find the best alternative for you based on your own situation.
1. ProtonVPN
Most people will agree that ProtonVPN is the best free VPN service you can get on macOS, as it has the Best Overall with Free Unlimited Data. It has a friendly privacy policy that promises nothing to record what you do online, and an effective Kill Switch to ensure that you remain anonymous at all times in the event of a server failure.
Because of the use of secure AES-256 passwords, ProtonVPN’s encryption technology can protect you from cyber-attacks and threats. Once opened, click on the Quick Connect button and it will connect to the fastest available server. In its free version, only servers located in Japan, the Netherlands, and the United States are available.
Unfortunately, ProtonVPN lacks high-speed operation. Since it is the best free VPN for Mac users on the market, many people are using it, increasing the traffic on their servers and making it slower. However, that doesn’t mean it’s full of holes when it’s busy, and it’s almost perfect for everyday users.
2. Avira Phantom VPN
Featuring a user-friendly interface and 256-bit encryption, Avira Phantom VPN lets users connect as many devices as they want. Unlike ProtonVPN, Avira Phantom doesn’t offer unlimited bandwidth or data in its free version. It has a data cap of only 500MB per month. However, if you sign up with your email address, you can get 500MB more.
Overall, Avira Phantom VPN is a great option to stay safe on your Mac for free.
3. Windscribe
Windscribe allows unlimited devices to connect to the internet in a secure way and is one of the most user-friendly free VPNs for macOS. Its servers span more than 60 countries, support six different protocols, and by default, you have 2GB of bandwidth per month. However, with a simple sign-up, you can upgrade to a free plan of 10GB per month.
This bandwidth is sufficient for lightweight web surfing, but not for any heavy content such as gaming or streaming. Still, its HD streaming and gaming performance is outstanding. This is because Windscribe has strong SpeedTest scores of 17.21Mbps down, 7.49Mbps up, and 139ms ping.
When it comes to privacy, Windscribe offers AES 256-bit encryption for its free and paid tiers – the gold standard encryption algorithm. It also has a leak-proof system that prevents sensitive user information from leaking. Overall, despite the 10GB bandwidth limitation, Windscribe is still one of the best free VPNs for Mac users.
4. NordVPN
NordVPN is one of the most widely used VPNs on the market. It has more than 5,300 servers worldwide across 60 countries and operates on a strict no-log policy. Though it’s paid, you can benefit from the 30-day money-back guarantee as a trial version.
Nord offers AES 256-bit encryption—the strongest of its kind—along with other interesting features like split tunneling, the Kill Switch, DNS leak protection, and DoubleVPN, plus Nord’s 24/7 customer support.
NordVPN’s SpeedTest scores justify its price: 22.34Mbps download, 8.33Mbps up, and 135ms ping. You can use one plan on six devices and cancel the plan at any time.
The biggest problem, though, is that NordVPN isn’t completely free, and you’ll have to choose a subscription on an annual or monthly basis to get a 30-day refund offer.
How to find the best VPN for macOS
When you’re looking for any free VPN for macOS, there are a few factors you should consider:
1. Speed and bandwidth: Most free VPNs are slow and have limited data. You should pay attention to speed and bandwidth in order to surf more smoothly over a long period of time.
2. Transparent privacy policy: In general, free VPNs operate by selling user data. However, some have a clear and transparent no-logs policy that ensures some protection.
3. Servers: A VPN with one or two free servers can be slow. You have to choose at least three or five free servers.
4. User-friendliness: Some free VPNs have outdated user interfaces, which makes them difficult to set up and flooded with ads, and you’d better give them up decisively.
We used this criterion to arrive at the four VPNs above.
conclusion
If you need to use a VPN for a long time for work and play, then free VPNs will not be the best choice for you, they will either have too slow an internet connection or their bandwidth will reach its limits. For uninterrupted high-speed usage every day, you should still choose a subscription that suits your budget. Paid VPNs bring stability and efficiency that free VPNs can’t touch.
