Max Eddy The Best VPN Services for 2019 A VPN, or virtual private network, is one of the smartest ways to protect your privacy online and maintain your data security. We've tested scores of them, and these are the best VPN services for Windows. VPNs Can Keep You Safe Online When you're using Wi-Fi, do you ever take a moment to worry about the safety of your data as it travels over the air—and about who else might be spying on that same data, or stealing it? If not, you're in the majority, and you ought to consider using a virtual private network, or VPN. In fact, when PCMag ran a, we found that a surprising 71 percent of our 1,000 respondents had never even used a VPN.
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Even among those who support net neutrality—who you might think would tend to be well informed on security and privacy issues—55 percent had never used a VPN. That lax attitude to the safety and privacy of personal data creates an enormous risk when it comes to online security. Public Wi-Fi networks, which are ubiquitous and convenient, are unfortunately also highly convenient for attackers looking to compromise your personal information. How do you know, for example, that 'starbuckswifireal' is actually the Wi-Fi network for the coffee shop? Anyone could have created that network, and they may have done so in order to lure victims into disclosing personal information over it. 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 because it appears safe. Even if you're inclined to trust your fellow humans (which I do not recommend), you still shouldn't trust your internet service provider.
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In its infinite wisdom, Congress has decided that. In short, it's time to start thinking about protecting your personal information. That's where virtual private networks, or VPNs, come in. These services use simple software to protect your internet connection, and they give you greater control over how you appear online, too.
While you might never have heard of VPN services, they are valuable tools that you should understand and use. So The short answer is that everyone does. Even Mac users can benefit from a VPN. 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, 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, 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). 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. 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. 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 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, Russia, Turkey, or any country with with repressive internet policies. What about using a? Some services, such as TorGuard and NordVPN, 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. That way you can't complain if you run into trouble. Can VPNs Save Net Neutrality? It is possible (emphasis on 'possible') that. For those who are unaware, net neutrality is the much-discussed concept that ISPs treat web services and apps equally, and not create fast lanes for companies that pay more, or require consumers to sign up for specific plans in order to access services like Netflix or Twitter.
Federal net neutrality rules would ensure that the internet effectively continues to operate the way it has for its entire existence. Depending on how ISPs respond to a newly deregulated environment, a VPN could tunnel traffic past any choke points or blockades thrown up by ISPs. That said, an obvious response would be to block or throttle all VPN traffic. Or perhaps ISPs will come up with an entirely novel way to monetize the letitude given them by the current lack of net neutrality legislation. We'll have to see how this plays out, but this isn't really a problem that VPNs should have to fix. It's up to Congress and, by extension, the voters. So right after you purchase a VPN subscription, maybe give your reps and senators a call.
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 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. KeepSolid VPN Unlimited offers a one-week Vacation subscription, for example. 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.
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 also doesn't limit your devices but doesn't let you choose a VPN server—the app does it automatically. 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. For all that,. Note that, in addition to our collection of free VPNs, we also have a roundup of the, for those who are willing to spend at least a little cash on their protection. 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. Established security companies, such as F-Secure, may have only recently come to the VPN market.
It's easier to trust companies that have been around a little longer, simply because their reputation is likely to be known. But companies and products can change quickly. Today's slow VPN service that won't let you cancel your subscription could be tomorrow's poster child for excellence. 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 data-retention laws, making it easier to keep a promise of 'We don't keep any logs.' 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.
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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, 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. 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 network-based 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.
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. It all comes down to numbers. 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 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. When it comes to servers, more is always better. 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, Private Internet Access, and TorGuard currently lead the pack with well over 3,000 servers each—NordVPN is at the forefront with 5,130 servers. 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. The number and distribution of those servers is also important. 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. For most purposes, a server down the street is as safe as one across the globe.
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.
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. Most services provide perfectly adequate internet speed when in use, and can even handle streaming HD video. However, 4K video and other data-intensive tasks like are another story. Some VPN services, such as NordVPN, have started to roll out specialty servers for high-bandwidth activities.
And nearly every service we have tested includes a tool to connect you with the fastest available network. Of course, you can always limit your VPN use to when you're not on a trusted network.
When we test VPNs, we use the tool. (Note that Ookla is owned by PCMag's publisher, Ziff Davis.) This test provides metrics for latency, download speeds, and upload speeds. Any one of these can be an important measurement depending on your needs, but we tend to view the download speed as the most important. After all, we live in an age of digital consumption. Our speed tests stress comparison and reproducibility. That means we stand by our work, but your individual results may vary. After all, perhaps you live on top of a VPN server, or just happen to have a super-high bandwidth connection.
What follows are the results from our top-rated VPNs as of May, 2018. All that being said, we currently name TorGuard as the fastest VPN service. It doesn't take the top spot in all of our tests, but has remarkably low latency and had the best performance in the all-important download tests. Fittingly, it offers many add-ons such as dedicated IP addresses that, along with its speed, will appeal to the BitTorrent users it is designed to protect.
Can a VPN Be Blocked by Netflix? Borders still exist on the web, in the form of geographic restrictions for streaming content. The BBC iPlayer, for example, lets UK residents watch the Beeb to their heart's content. The rest of the world, not so much. But if you were to select a VPN server in the UK, your computer's IP address would appear to be the same as the server, allowing you to view the content.
The trouble is that Netflix and similar are getting wise to the scam. 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. 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.
You may or may not agree with the laws and terms of service surrounding media streaming, but you should definitely be aware that they exist and understand when you're taking the risk of breaking them. Netflix, for its part, lays out how that it will attempt to verify a user's location in order to provide content in section 6c of its document. What's the Best VPN For Kodi? If you don't know what Kodi is, you're not alone. However, an analysis of searches leading to our site reveals that a surprising number of you are, in fact looking for VPN that works with the mysterious Kodi. Dictionary.com defines Kodi as a possible misspelling of 'Jodi,' but PCMag analyst Ben Moore clarified for me that is 'free, open-source software for managing your local collection of movies, television shows, music, and photos.' With Kodi, you can access your media over a local connection (LAN) or from a remote media server, if that's your thing.
This is, presumably, where concerns about VPN enter the picture. A device using a VPN, for example, will have its connection encrypted on the local network. You might have trouble connecting to it.
Using Chromecast on a VPN device just doesn't work, for example. Kodi users might have the same issue. For local VPN issues, you have a couple of options. First, consider installing VPN software on your router and not using a VPN on your local machines.
Alternatively, many VPN services offer browser plug-ins that only encrypt your browser traffic. That's not ideal from a security perspective, but it's useful when all you need to secure is your browser information. Some, but not all, VPN services will let you designate specific applications to be routed outside the encrypted tunnel. This means the traffic will be unencrypted, but also accessible locally.
If you're trying to connect to a remote media source with Kodi, a VPN would likely play a different role. It might, for example, prevent your ISP from determining what you're up to. It might also be useful if you're connecting to a third-party service for Kodi that allows streaming of copyright-infringing material.
Keep in mind, however, that some VPN services specifically forbid the use of their services for copyright infringement. 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. That's not to ignore Apple users. We also review and iOS. Using a VPN is a little trickier for ChromeOS users, however. While Google has worked to make it easier to use a VPN with a Chromebook or Chromebox, it's not always a walk in the park.
Our guide to can make the task a bit easier, however. In these cases, you might find it easier to install a VPN plug-in for the Chrome browser. This will only secure some of your traffic, but it's better than nothing.
Finally, we have lately begun to review the, 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, 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, he 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 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, 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.
We're pleased to see that NordVPN and Private Internet Access provide the same excellent selection of servers regardless of platform. These apps received an Editors' Choice nod both for desktop VPN apps and Android VPN apps.
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 or an. 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 to get the most from your chosen service.
Although it is generally believed that Apple products, mainly MacOS, are somewhat superior to the ones of Microsoft (Windows), the Mac users shouldn’t be too complacent about the integrity of their personal data. The cybercriminals, as well as the government authorities, both of which dream about laying their hands on your sensitive information, are getting more and more resourceful in breaching various firewalls and deciphering the encrypted data. Back in the days, an antivirus solution used to be more than enough for protecting your privacy and security.
However, in 2018, your personal data will always be in danger unless you use a Virtual Private Network. In most countries, including the US and the UK, the ISP (Internet Service Provider) is obliged to keep logs on its users and give the government access to their private data. Therefore, all Mac users could benefit from some extra security measures.
But instead of trying to build an impregnable security system, which consumes a lot of system resources and can’t provide total protection, you could just wear a digital camouflage which will conceal all your online activities, so you would be able to surf the Web completely undetectable. The disguise which we refer to is called VPN (Virtual Private Network), a technology that can help you change (digital) faces just like Jaqen H’ghar from Game of Thrones. TOP-3 High-Ranked VPNs for Mac. What is the best VPN for Mac? Without at least some basic understanding of what it’s all about, you’re running the risk of wasting your money on a Network that’s moderate at best. Here’s what you should be looking for in a Virtual Private Network: first of all, make sure that it follows the no-logs policy.
That means the provider won’t have anything to give to the government when they request your personal logs, simply because they were never collected. Security also matters (obviously). Features like Kill Switch (kills the connections whenever the VPN goes offline) and Double Encryption (puts your connection through two servers at the same time) will make sure you’re well protected. As far as the security protocols go, 256-bit encryption is the industry standard today. Speed and performance come next. The more servers a provider has, the higher the speed will be. Our experts took it all into consideration and made a list of the best Virtual Private Networks for Apple’s OS.
And while they all have their pros and cons, it’s safe to say that every single VPN in this review is money well spent. Without further ado, we would like to give you our list of the best VPNs for Mac. ExpressVPN has been the leader of Virtual Private Networks for years now. It excels at providing high (and stable) connection speeds, keeping the hackers/government agencies at bay, and provides an impressive list of features. Those include Split Tunneling (allows you to hand-pick which programs/apps should be protected by the VPN) and Kill Switch. Add AES 256-bit encryption, IP address masking and support of OpenVPN, and you’ll understand why ExpressVPN is always on top. Privacy And Security ExpressVPN never logs traffic data, DNS queries, or any other data that could potentially hurt the privacy of a user.
They stick to the no-logs policy and even allow you to pay with Bitcoins. Security has always been one of this provider’s strongest suits, and with the aforementioned 256-bit encryption, secure servers, and amazing browser extensions, it took online privacy to another level. The company’s HQ is located in the British Virgin Islands. You might’ve heard about the “barbaric” online privacy laws in the United States. Well, you won’t have to deal with any of that with ExpressVPN. Again, they do not log your browsing history, traffic, IP address, or anything else that can be later used to pinpoint your location.
Torrenting And Streaming The fact that this VPN service is very stable and almost always provides high connections speeds automatically makes it an excellent pick for the fans of torrenting and streaming. With 2000+ servers to choose from, you’ll find the fastest and most reliable one in just a couple of clicks.
Plus, with ExpressVPN, you can unblock any restricted connect from across the globe Usability On Mac ExpressVPN is compatible with all devices that run on MacOS, from MacBook to Mac mini. The dedicated Mac client is considered to be one of the best ones on the market. The installation of this VPN client is very straightforward and takes only a couple of minutes. Just go to the official website, choose the plan you like, use one of the available payment methods, and download the client. The interface is equally stylish and professional. Everything is within reach, and you can see that the team took its time with the clients/apps. Pricing Plans Here are the available packages:.
As you can see, ExpressVPN is far from being the cheapest VPN for Mac, but given its extraordinary level of security and download speed, it is well worth its price. There is no free trial, but you can (and should) take advantage of the 30-day MBG (Money-Back Guarantee). First of all, NordVPN has one of the largest collections of servers out there – 4900 servers in 62 countries around the globe. It was launched in 2012, and over the years the company managed to turn it into one of the most commercially successful Networks.
Compared to ExpressVPN NordVPN is more reliable and you’ll rarely (if ever) experience any drops in speed and performance. Privacy And Security If you are wondering whether this VPN is secure, then you should know that they utilize the latest IKEv2/IPSec protocols (along with OpenVPN, of course). So, rest assured that your MacBook will be well protected from cybercriminals and intelligence agencies.
The Kill Switch feature will also make sure that your privacy is never in danger. The provider follows the no-logs policy, just like ExpressVPN, plus, they also have a massive number of servers with the Double VPN feature. They put the user’s traffic through not one but two servers thus making the connection literally impenetrable. The NordVPN HQ is located in Panama, a country that is very open when it comes to online privacy. They keep absolutely no logs, and that includes time stamps, traffic logs, bandwidth, etc.
Again: there’s no government surveillance in Panama, and that’s exactly why we called NordVPN the most secure and reliable Network. Torrenting And Streaming Stability is this Network’s second name. It might not be the fastest offer on the market, but, again, if you put reliability and durability first, then you won’t be disappointed with its performance. Furthermore, specific servers give the users unique IP addresses.
Good news for users from China with its Great Firewall, North Korea, and other authoritarian governments where Internet traffic is heavily regulated: NordVPN offers a solution called the obfuscation servers which entangle the traffic making it impossible to trace. And, thanks to SmartPlay, you’ll be able to enjoy your favorite streaming services and websites (Netflix, Amazon Prime, and other restricted online services) with just a single click of the mouse. Usability On Mac The team responsible for the clients and the apps did a fantastic job, and we are happy to say that the Mac version works like a clock. It’s fast, intuitive, straightforward, and won’t take much time to get used to. Performance is on par with the best apps on the market. Just like any other modern-day VPN, Nord is incredibly easy to download, install, and use. The interface is very friendly, and you’ll make sense of it all within minutes.
Pricing Plans Here are the available packages:. Yes, there are more than enough plans to choose from, and the yearly plans are pretty generous. Plus, along with the 30-day MBG, NordVPN also comes with a 3-day free trial. Remember we said that NordVPN is not particularly fast, but it’s reliable?
Well, if fast is what you’re looking for, then CyberGhost might be #1 on your list. CyberGhost is a VPN provider based in Romania. By the way, this country is perfect for the provision of VPN software for Mac due to its official stance on intelligence gathering by the transnational spying agencies, particularly the notorious 14 Eyes. With this VPN, you can protect up to 5 devices, take advantage of 1250+ servers, enjoy amazing 24/7 customer support, and the fancy Mac client. And, it’s incredibly fast. Privacy And Security The Constitutional Court of Romania has deemed unconstitutional the EU legislation concerning online security (which involved the covert data gathering).
This decision puts the country out of 14 Eye’s hands reach, and it means that CyberGhost will not share any information about their customers and their online activities with any international law enforcement agencies. Moreover, they fully comply with their strict no-logging policy, so you can surf the Internet without leaving any traces whatsoever. Security-wise, CyberGhost features 256-bit encryption and all the latest protocols (including OpenVPN). We already learned that CyberGhost’s HQ is in Romania, they keep no logs, and they put the privacy of their customers first. So, even if the Romanian government would suddenly change its online privacy laws, the company would still have nothing to show them, just because there would not be any logs to show in the first place. Torrenting And Streaming As for the technical features of CyberGhost, it offers an enormous number of servers, which amount to 2800+, and good streaming capacities. You can choose from the variety of servers which are located in 64 countries, depending on your browsing needs.
However, we would recommend using European servers since they offer better downloading and streaming speed. Plus, this VPN service is great for passing different access restrictions, mainly Netflix. Usability On Mac While the Mac systems are the new normal today, they used to lag behind the Win systems, and to this day, the Microsoft OS is still getting more top-of-the-line clients than any of its rivals. Thankfully, that’s not the case with CyberGhost.
The dedicated Mac client is equally stylish, smooth, and user-friendly. All you have to do is choose a plan, download it, and click install – the program will do the rest.
The interface is quite fancy and comes with clear images. Scrolling through the list of available servers, configuring the VPN, and watching your favorite streaming service is easy and fun. Pricing Plans Here are the available packages:. It is not the cheapest option, but it is one of the finest in terms of security and user-friendliness. And, the 1-year-plan is more affordable compared to ExpressVPN. The affordable plans are this VPNs biggest selling point, but we’ll talk about that a bit later. Compared to ExpressVPN, Nord, and CyberGhost, it may not be as feature-packed, but that doesn’t mean you won’t be protected 24/7.
Kill Switch would’ve been a nice addition, and sometimes, you may feel a lack in servers, but, again, nothing critical. The quick and friendly live customer support is a huge plus; the same goes for the nimble Chrome extension.
Privacy And Security AES 256-bit encryption, support of all the modern-day protocols, and the no-logging policy turn Goose VPN is a solid pick for privacy and security. Sadly, there’s no Double Encryption, for that, you’ll be better off with ExpressVPN. But if you’re looking for some basic protection at an affordable price, then don’t count this Network out just yet. The HQ is located in the Netherlands (Rotterdam, to be exact). This country is known as a liberal, open-minded state. Plus, the company follows the Zero-logs policy, and just like all the other VPNs we reviewed today, doesn’t keep any logs on the users (which is confirmed by many third-party organizations). Torrenting And Streaming Both torrenting and streaming are available on select servers.
But we have to say that accessing geo-restricted content won’t always be easy. You might already know that streaming services are always “fighting” with VPNs and finding ways to block them. Right now, GooseVPN isn’t a perfect choice for unblocking US and UK websites/services. Usability On Mac Goose VPN is great for Mac users. It is very easy to install and use thanks to its intuitive interface. Navigation is also straightforward: all functional elements are right there in front of you.
Although Goose VPN is not the best VPN for Mac from the standpoint of speed and the number of servers, it is an excellent example of a VPN that offers a very user-friendly client. Don’t worry even if you have never used VPN before; Goose VPN will automatically set up the basic configuration allowing you to engage in secure browsing in a matter of minutes. At first, the interface might not seem like much, but give it some time: soon, you’ll find yourself making good use of all the available features. As mentioned, it’s not the most feature-packed Virtual Private Network, but for the average user, it’s great. Pricing Plans Here are the available packages:. It is not the cheapest option, but it is one of the finest in terms of security and user-friendliness.
SaferVPN is perhaps one of the most budget-friendly VPNs for Mac. But its strongest suit is the incredibly simple and user-friendly interface. We’re not saying that all the other VPNs we reviewed today are hard to understand and use, but if you’ve never had to deal with one, we suggest you go with SaferVPN. Plus, it’s rather fast and reliable, which is a huge plus. Finally, it’s unexpectedly fast. Privacy And Security DNS and IPv6 leak protection, Kill Switch, and 256-bit encryption turn this VPN into a brick wall.
As far as privacy goes, even though the company follows the no-logs policy, it’s not as private as ExpresVPN or NordVPN. Every time you use the service, they log the session start/end dates, the amount of data you transmit during that time, the servers you connect to, and from which country you do that. Some privacy, huh? The HQ is located in New York, and we all know that the online privacy laws in the United States aren’t exactly user-friendly. Plus, as we just mentioned, the privacy policy leaves a lot to be desired, and that’s one of the biggest reasons why this VPN isn’t very popular, even though it is fast, reliable, and affordable. Torrenting And Streaming One of the things that make SaferVPN stand out is its download speed.
The average download speed of the European servers of SaferVPN is 79 Mbps; with the US servers, it may drop to 57 Mbps. With that kind of speed, streaming will be very enjoyable. However, P2P transfers (used for torrenting) are pretty bad. The team is working on improving the experience, but for now, it’s disappointing. Usability On Mac The Mac client is just as great as all the other ones. Everything is fast and ease here, just like it should be in a modern VPN. Recently, the company updated all of its clients and apps, and now they look and work even better.
There are also some fantastic add-ons that turn SaferVPN into one of the best Networks on the market. SaferVPN is one of the best VPNs for Mac in terms of the easiness of installation and the interface intuitiveness. SaferVPN doesn’t require system reloading after installation; therefore, it has a super-fast installation time. The entire process of registering, paying for the plan, and installation will take no longer than 3 minutes. Pricing Plans Here are the available packages:. Not all users are willing (or capable) to purchase the plans of the best VPNs listed above.
For those of you who are not engaged in active streaming or downloading, we present TunnelBear, the best free VPN for Mac. TunnelBear has all characteristics of the top VPNs, including AES-256 encryption and decent speed. But the best part is that TunnelBear offers a free plan that includes 500MB of data every month. It’s not much, but if you plan on using VPN, for example, only to protect your bank account, these 500 megabytes will be more than enough. If it’s not the case, and you need your vpn to be a more versatile tool, we have prepared another for you. Just bear in mind that none of them is as good at protecting your privacy and security as TunnelBear.
Privacy And Security AES-256 will make sure you’re safe and sound. The company doesn’t keep any logs, as they always put the privacy of their customers first. There’s even a Kill Switch feature built-in (here, it’s called VigilantBear). The company’s HQ is located in Canada (Toronto, to be exact). And while the US is out of linebad when it comes to online privacy laws, Canada is not nearly as strict.
Besides, as we just learned, they keep no logs. Torrenting And Streaming Sadly, torrenting is not an option with this VPN right now. It used to work great, but in 2018, TunnelBear has been having all kinds of problems with it. The same goes for streaming. If you want a VPN for watching Netflix/other streaming services, TunnelBear is one of the worst choices. Even SaferVPN is better. Usability On Mac The Mac client is friendly and intuitive.
It is fast, never breaks down, and everything is right there in front of you. These days, the downloading/installation process of a VPN is always extremely smooth and fast. Just follow the on-screen instruction, and you’re all set. The interface might look a bit “cartoony,” but in reality, it’s actually pretty well-constructed and you’ll get used to it in no time. Pricing Plans Here are the available packages:.
Bottom Line As you can see, there are enough offers on the market to choose from. Use the information you learned today the next time you find yourself looking for a new Virtual Private Network. ExpressVPN is the “king of kings,” but for most modern-day users, all those additional features aren’t crucial. Thus, you can go with something more affordable, like NordVPN or Goose VPN. A free VPN is also a good choice, but only if you’re planning to use it on special occasions (otherwise, you’ll go over the traffic limit).
One final thing: while choosing a Network, always think about the things that matter to you the most: if it’s privacy, then go with TunnelBear or CyberGhost. If security is #1 on your list, pick a VPN with the best encryption, like ExpressVPN or NordVPN.