The Best Mac VPNs for 2024

Why Do You Need a VPN on a Mac?

Using a VPN app creates an encrypted connection between your Mac and a remote server operated by the VPN company. All your web traffic is sent through this encrypted connection.

The encryption prevents anyone on the same local network as you—and even the person who runs the network—from seeing what you do online. A VPN also shields your online activity from internet service providers (ISPs). Most of us already fork over a hefty chunk of change to our ISPs, but now those same companies are trying to profit off their customers by selling anonymized user data.

There’s a strong argument that the widespread adoption of HTTPS already protects your data, making VPNs overkill. It’s true; HTTPS does prevent observers from intercepting your information. VPNs also protect your DNS requests, though, which denies ISPs insight into your activities. 

VPNs help protect your privacy in other ways, too. A VPN will mask your true IP address with the IP address of the VPN server. That’s handy since an IP address can be used to track your movements across the web and to discern your approximate location. Advertisers and anyone else interested in monitoring your online activities have a harder time tracking you while the VPN is active.

You can also use a VPN to spoof your location. For example, I live in Atlanta, but if I connect to a VPN server in Canada, it appears to anyone paying attention that I am located in Toronto. Journalists and activists have used this feature to bypass restrictions from repressive governments. PCMag does not evaluate VPNs on their ability to bypass censorship due to the dire consequences that could befall our readers if our test results are inaccurate.

Location spoofing with a VPN can be used for far more mundane purposes, too. You can access streaming content that’s available in other countries using a VPN connection. If you live in the US and connect to a VPN server in London, you can watch Netflix content that is otherwise only available in the UK. For this reason, Netflix and other streaming services work hard to block access via VPN. Keep in mind, however, that VPNs and streaming services are locked in a cat-and-mouse struggle, so a VPN that works today may be blocked tomorrow.

What VPNs Can’t Do on Mac

A VPN is, first and foremost, for protecting your privacy, not guarding against malicious sites or malware. Some VPNs watch for known malicious sites, but you should still protect your machine with Antivirus software. The best antivirus provides some protection against novel attacks that simply aren’t known yet and can guard against malware that sneaks onto your computer from sources other than dangerous websites.

Some attackers don’t even bother with malware and, instead, craft ingenious phishing scams designed to trick you into voluntarily handing over personal information. When you enter your PayPal login information into a phishing site made to look like PayPal, someone else instantly has your credentials. Many VPNs offer phishing protection, but malicious sites are ephemeral and vanish as quickly as they appear. Antivirus apps can help block phishing attempts, but it also helps to pay close attention to web addresses to make sure you are browsing a legitimate site.

Beyond phishing, perhaps the most dangerous attack the average person might encounter is an account takeover. This happens when a bad guy has guessed or purchased your login information and can seize control of your account. This is particularly dire if it’s an email account. An attacker can then use the password recovery feature on other sites to access more of your accounts. VPNs can’t help much here, either. Instead, use a password manager to create unique and complex passwords for your online accounts. Lastly, enable multi-factor authentication (MFA or 2FA) wherever available. When your account is protected with MFA, an attacker can’t access it even when they know your password.

Finally, a VPN won’t make you fully anonymous online. Changing your IP address and spoofing your location is great, but advertisers (and spies and law enforcement) have many other methods to keep tabs on you. We recommend using a tracker blocker such as the EFF’s Privacy Badger and enabling the privacy protections available in most modern web browsers. You’ll need to use the free Tor network to increase your anonymity, but this slows down your internet connection even more than a VPN.

What Features Should a Mac VPN Include?

At its most basic, a good VPN should allow you to connect five devices simultaneously. It needs to work on multiple platforms. Paying for a subscription for your Mac should get you iPhone VPN functionality. If a VPN forces you to jump through hoops and pay extra to secure all the devices in your home, it’s not a good value.

When we review a VPN, we like to see services with excellent, easy-to-use clients. Frankly, far too many security companies give usability a back seat. You might have the most powerful, secure VPN ever, but it won’t matter if the average person dreads using it. We test-drive each VPN on several devices to see if it’s usable on every platform.

We notice when a VPN has features that take some of the pain out of VPN use. Split tunneling, for instance, lets you designate which apps send traffic through the tunnel and which do not. You might want to protect your browser traffic, but your favorite games may not need as much protection and would suffer from the increased latency.

Money shouldn’t be an obstacle to security, and there are many worthy free VPNs. You can save a lot of money by opting for a long-term VPN subscription, but we highly recommend trying out a service on its shortest plan before taking that plunge. 

Stay Safe and Private on Your Mac

While Apple has polished macOS to a shine, it has also given special attention to privacy and security. That’s great; advertisers and ISPs don’t care what kind of device you use on the web. They’ll spy on you regardless. Using a VPN can help take back some privacy.

While you’re thinking about privacy for your Mac, you should consider security as well. If you’re not protected yet, you should read our roundup of Mac antivirus software.

(Editors’ Note: While they may not all appear in this story, IPVanish and StrongVPN are owned by Ziff Davis, PCMag’s parent company. Max Eddy contributed to this article.)