Best Free VPN For Mac Review - Looking for a good free VPN for Mac? Well, you can either risk your privacy with a free VPN.1️⃣ 👉 Get ExpressVPN https://bi. Windscribe Free is the best free VPN for Mac. The VPN comes with a generous monthly data allowance of 10GB, and it allows usage on an unlimited number of devices at once. The free service is fast, secure, and its native MacOS app is easy to use. Top Download Speed i. Based on a 100Mbps test connection.
Though Mac computers are generally considered the most protected in the world, they are not 100% invulnerable. You can never be sure that you are not tracked by someone – hackers, scammers, intelligent services, or your own ISP. If this seems a bit annoying to you and you experience quite a natural desire to disappear for a while, a good free VPN is exactly what you need.
Moreover, a vpn service can help you resolve some other issues, for example, get access to geo-restricted web content or securely connect to a public Wi-Fi. In our review, we are going to present you a list of best free VPN solutions for Mac of the year 2019.
Before we move on to reviewing best free VPNs for Mac available in the market, let us say that all of them are limited in capabilities in one way or another. Chances are that after using a free VPN for a while, you may start to get annoyed with these limitations. This is why we cannot but talk about the alternative approach.
You can actually use premium VPN software without spending a single dollar on it. Keep on reading to know how to use the best VPNs for free and enjoy unlimited opportunities.
All of the VPNs listed above are top providers that ensure 100% safe web-browsing and suit for streaming and torrenting thanks to high speed. The good news is there is a smart way to use high-quality paid services as free products. The point is that most providers offer a free trial period and/or guaranteed money back period.
- ExpressVPN is without exaggeration it is the best VPN provider for any platform including Mac. The fact you may not be aware of is that it offers an impressive 30-day money back guarantee period. It means that if you are going on a business trip abroad, you may simply download ExpressVPN and use it for over 4 weeks without spending a cent! Just get a full refund no questions asked. ExpressVPN copes well with tough governmental censorship and is, therefore, a perfect choice for people going to countries like China.
- NordVPN is known for its double-security solutions and a huge number of available servers – over 4800 units located in 62 countries of the world. NordVPN offers a free trial, but it only lasts for 3 days, which will suit you in case you need one-time access to a particular web-resource. On the bright side, there is a 30-day period when you can take your money back. That is, you can buy its basic plan, use it as intensively as you like, and simply take your money back in a month!
- CyberGhost VPN– one of the industry’s leaders – offers plenty of cool features to Mac users. It has a generous 7-days free trial and 30 days of the guaranteed money back period. It’s a good chance for getting VPN software from the globally recognized provider for free.
What is the best free VPN for Mac?
Naturally, free trials and MBG cannot last forever. While most VPN offer significant discounts for 1-year or 2-year packages, you may still have your reasons to look for an absolutely free service.
It’s hard to believe, but there are some totally free VPN services that work really well for Mac and can be used for various purposes just as popular paid VPNs.
However, let us once again remind you that all of them have certain limitations. It’s for you to decide whether you can do with these restrictions or not, as it largely depends on the goals you pursue. Read all the reviews carefully to find your best VPN for Mac.
TunnelBear
- access to remote servers in 20+ countries
- truly user-friendly interface
- no-logging policy
- no annoying popups
- only 1.5 Gb per month for free
TunnelBear is one of the best VPN services for Mac that has both a free and a paid version. But its free iteration is even more popular, as it has few true competitors. Its performance is pretty good: TunnelBear will let you modify your IP address, access censored and restricted sites, and even unlock streaming services (except for, maybe, Netflix).
TunnelBear is a service that won’t make you compromise your privacy. It boasts a 100% zero-logging approach, so you may stop worrying about the probability of your data being traded or stolen. When it comes to security, advanced AES 256-bit encryption and OpenVPN protocol are used by default.
TunnelBear doesn’t cut down speed in its free version but you’ll hardly be able to stream something with it, as the monthly free traffic is just 500 Mb. Twitting about them will give you extra 1GB monthly, but 1,5 GB is still not quite impressive. This is the biggest disappointment about TunnelBear free package.
A great thing about TunnelBear is that all its servers are available to the users of the free edition. As of now, the provider has servers in 22 countries, which is not bad. Add the fact that the provider doesn’t force you to watch pop-up ads, and you’ll fall in love with it.
TunnelBear gives its users an opportunity to upgrade to the paid tier at any moment. It offers a single all-in-one pricing plan that allows up to five simultaneous connections and unlimited bandwidth. As for the paid version, the plans are as follows:
- Giant (billed monthly) – $9.99
- Grizzly (billed annually –$59.99 ($5.00 per month, save 58%)
Windscribe
- 10 Gb per month for free
- torrenting allowed
- zero-logging
- strong encryption and data protection
- the speed is average due to a high load on free servers
Windscribe adheres to high security standards in its work. For data encryption, it uses AES-256 cipher with SHA512 auth and a 4096-bit RSA key. As for security protocols, the default option is OpenVPN but SOCKS, and IKEv2 are also available.
A strong advantage of Windscribe over TunnelBear is 10 Gb of free bandwidth per month. However, the number of server locations available to the users of the free version is limited to 10. For this reason, the load on these servers is pretty large, which causes noticeable speed drops. Thanks to the availability of P2P servers, torrenting is possible: with Windscribe one can download up to 10 Gb of free content every month.
Like other free VPNs, Windscribe offers its premium version with expanded possibilities. Apart from unlimited bandwidth, after upgrading you will get an access to 55 server locations instead of 10, ad- and malware blockers, and a config generator. The monthly fee for this option set is $9 but you can buy an annual pack and get a generous discount.
- Monthly price – $9
- Annual price–$48.99 ($4.08 per month, save 55%)
ProtonVPN
- high security standards
- no bandwidth limits
- minimal logs are collected
- only 3 server locations
- no P2P support
- low speed
In terms of security, ProtonVPN has nothing to complain about. It uses an AES-256-CBC cipher with HMAC SHA-512 hash authentication and OpenVPN protocol as a default option. The provider collects minimal logs, such as the time of connection and the duration of a session, nothing more.
As we had mentioned, the free version of ProtonVPN is rather restricted. Users get access to 3 server locations and can connect only one device under one free license. P2P servers are unavailable for free, which means you won’t be able to use the VPN for torrenting. Moreover, the connection speed is quite low, partly, because of the load on the free servers.
Unlike the previously described providers, ProtonVPN offers three different premium plans – Basic, Plus, and Visionary. Their monthly price is $4, $8, and $24 respectively. All of them open access to all server location, support P2P and can be used for torrenting and streaming, as there is no speed limit. More expensive plans come with a range of useful extras and allow more simultaneous connections.
- Basic monthly price – $5;
- Basic annual price – $48 ($4 per month, save 20%)
- Plus monthly price – $10;
- Plus annual price – $96 ($8 per month, save 20%)
- Visionary annual plan – $ 288($24 per month).
Hotspot Shield
- access to US servers
- strong encryption
- blazing speed
- malware protection as a bonus
- only 500 Mb of bandwidth per month
- no streaming and torrenting
The free Hotspot Shield version is quite usable, but only if don’t need a VPN for streaming and torrenting. Needless to say, it can’t unblock Netflix. Hotspot Shield supports P2P, but an access to dedicated P2P servers is provided only to those users who upgrade to the premium version. A pleasant bonus is the availability of free browser extensions and free malware protection.Like other top-rated free VPN providers, Hotspot Shield uses top-notch AES-256 encryption and supports OpenVPN protocol. The company claims to collect zero user logs, which is a strong advantage, as well as the availability of the kill-switch feature. That said, it forces users to watch pop-up ads, which is rather annoying.
Those looking for high download speed will like the Hotspot Shield VPN. It is one of the fastest free VPNs compatible with several platforms, including Mac. That said, its speed is a sort of unstable and largely depends on the server location. In the free version, users are granted 500 Mb of traffic daily, which is not bad for hassle-free and secure browsing.
If you decide to upgrade to the premium version of Hotspot Shield, you’ll get numerous perks, such as unlimited bandwidth, access to 2500 servers in 25 locations, including P2P servers, and will get rid of the annoying advertisements. While a basic monthly plan is quite expensive – $12.99, you can save up to 76% and get a bi-annual plan at the price of $3.49 per month. All the packages available are as follows:
- Monthly price – $12.99;
- 6 Months price – $53,94 ($8.99, save 31%);
- Annual price – $71.88 ($5.99, save 53%);
- Bi-annual price – $125.64 ($3.49, save 60%).
Betternet
- access to servers in 10 countries
- an easy-to-use app
- unlimited bandwidth
- customer service to help you
Vpn For Mac
- little information about the product’s specifications
- a lot of ads
Betternet doesn’t provide much information about its security protocols and encryption methods used. According to the claims found in its blog, this is OpenVPN with AES 256-bit encryption and 128-bit AES-CBC for IPSec but there are no official specs on their site. It is known that Betternet keeps some connection logs but no activity logs.
Betternet makes money on advertisement, which is officially stated on its website. You’ll be regularly offered to watch an ad or install an app. In exchange for this, it provides unlimited bandwidth to all its users. Connection and download speed is not bad too, so torrenting and streaming via Betternet is possible.
Like most free VPNs, Betternet offers a premium version of its software. As it is stated on their site, the biggest advantages of the paid edition are the absence of advertisement and a possibility to choose which server you want to connect to. At the same time, the number of servers is not specified. The basic price of its paid version is $11.99, which is a sort of pricey. But you can save up to 66% going long-term.
- Monthly price – $11.99;
- 6 Months price – $23.99 ($3.99 per month – save 50%)
- Annual price – $35.99 ($2.99 per month – save 66%)
Things You Should Know Before Getting a Free VPN
The above-mentioned products are absolutely free, and all of them are available for Mac users. Just visit the site of the chosen free VPN, download Mac version and enjoy complete online privacy for no money.
As a rule, a genuine purpose of any free program is to make its users purchase the full premium version. Free VPN for Mac is not an exception. You can use it, but you will constantly think of upgrading. They will provide you the bare minimum of features, suitable just for basic tasks resolving.
Free VPN providers want to make money like any other commercial organizations. They can do it in several ways. Most frequently, one of the following methods are used:
- They force you to watch paid ads every time you set a VPN connection. Though this approach doesn’t cause any real harm to you, it is rather annoying, plus it takes up your time.
- They set severe speed limitations. You still can access any sites you wish but the connection speed is twice or thrice as low as usual.
- Some dishonest providers use “black” methods. They simply collect your logs and personal information and sell the data to third parties, for example, to advertisers.
Ads and various limitations that would not allow you to enjoy streaming and torrenting are quite annoying, but the truly worrisome fact is that some free VPNs would sell your personal data to third parties to make money. Therefore, we highly recommend you to stick to one of the free VPNs listed above to be on the safe side.
When Does It Maker Sense to Use a Premium VPN?
It’s logical enough that all the top VPN providers want some money for their services. However, as a rule, the fee is not large – in some cases, it is possible to acquire full-featured software at a price of $2 monthly. Consider getting a premium VPN if you need one to access Netflix – free VPNs won’t help you with this one. Streaming and torrenting fans should also consider getting a paid plan to have decent speeds and truly enjoy watching their favorite shows instead of dealing with annoying buffering. In the following cases a free trial or MBG will let you solve your problem using a top VPN without spending a dollar:
- You are going to a country with severe censorship for 2-3 weeks (for example, on a business trip).
- You need one-time access to torrents (to download a particular file) or a streaming site.
The Bottom Line
VPN services have become an integral part of our life. With a good VPN software, Mac users can feel protected wherever they are, e.g use a public wi-fi with no worries that someone will snoop their private information. If this is your reason for getting a VPN, one of the reliable free providers listed above will probably work for you. Just be careful and remember that some free VPNs cannot be trusted.
Would you like to use your VPN for torrenting or streaming? If so, and in addition, annoying ads are not something you are ready to tolerate, you would better take a closer look at the top VPN providers. Get use of the trial period and money back guarantee they offer to test the services and choose the one that will fully satisfy your needs. Once you are ready to commit, a premium VPN service can cost you just a couple of dollars per month.
VPNs or virtual private networks have become hugely popular in the last few years, thanks in part to the way that they allow you to mask your locations. This allows you to view streaming video services that are only available in your home country while you’re traveling, or watch services like Netflix that are intended for a different country — so, for example, if you live in Europe you could watch the US version of Netflix. There are a number of VPN services available, both free and paid for, but they vary in lots of ways, including price and the features they offer. So, which is the best VPN for Mac?
What is a VPN?
VPN is an abbreviation of a virtual private network. The easiest way to think of it is as a tunnel between you and whatever online service or website you’re visiting. Instead of connecting to your ISP’s servers and then from there to a website, you bypass your ISP an connect to the VPN server and from there to the online destination. Most VPN services have servers in multiple geographic locations and the one you choose to connect to will determine which country the website or service you’re visiting thinks you’re coming from. Hence, you can pretend to be in a different location — useful if you need to bypass restrictions place on internet access by your own government or by the website you’re connecting to. You connect to a VPN using a Mac VPN client, usually supplied by the company operating the service.
In addition, VPNs encrypt the data that travels on their network. That means it’s a much more secure way to use the internet, particularly if you’re connected via a public wifi network such as those in coffee shops or airports. It also means it’s much more difficult for hackers, or anyone else, to snoop on your online activity. If this is an important feature to you, make sure that the service you choose anonymizes traffic and doesn’t share details of customers with anyone, including law enforcement authorities. There have been occasions when companies have claimed their service is secure and anonymous and then have been found to have been sharing details.
The other reason for using a VPN is if you’re connecting to a local network when you’re working remotely. However, on those occasions, the company you’re working for will have set up its own VPN and configured your Mac to connect to it.
Why do I need a VPN?
As we said above, one of the main reasons for using a VPN is to be able to access services that are restricted in the country where you’re currently located, including streaming media services that are intended for customers in a different country.
The other main reason is security. The fact that VPN connections are encrypted makes them much safer when you use public wifi. For example, you shouldn’t connect to your online bank over an open public wifi connection, but with a VPN in place, it’s fine.
Tip: If you care about the security, you should think about managing Wi-Fi networks on your Mac. The point is that your computer stores a list of all networks you've earlier connected to and connects to them automatically. These include insecure open Wi-Fi hotspots. If you want to fix that quickly and easily, we recommend using CleanMyMac X app. It has a special tool that allows you to see the list of all secure and open networks and remove them right away.
Finally, some people use VPNs because they have a fundamental objection to the restrictions placed on online activity by their government. These include obligations placed on websites to verify your identity before they allow you to access the content. By setting up a VPN to mask your location, you can make it appear that you’re in a different country and therefore not have to provide personal data.
Best paid VPN
Here are some of the best of the paid VPNs for Mac only cost a few dollars per month and ensure you get a secure connection and access to any content.
Best Vpn For Mac Os
1. ClearVPN
ClearVPN is the first effortless VPN for a personalized and secure online experience. ClearVPN features shortcuts for quick content access and lets users browse the web safely and privately without having to pick a server location, thanks to its unique DynamicFlow Technology. ClearVPN automatically analyzes the user's current network status and connects them to the fastest idle server to enable secure, low-ping, and smooth access based on their activity or goal.
2. NordVPN
NordVPN is probably the most widely know VPN service for Mac. It has excellent security features, including a kill switch that ends your connection to the internet if the VPN drops out. On top of that, the company doesn’t keep any records of your online activity. There are 4,400 servers in 62 countries, a huge selection. And it’s Mac app is easy to set up and use. There are also mobile apps and you can connect up to six devices. NordVPN starts at a couple of dollars a month if you sign up for three years.
3. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN has over 2,000 in 148 different locations. But it supports a maximum of three devices. However, its Mac client is excellent and easy to use and It’s lightning fast. Its privacy policy is also rated favourably.
As you can see, when it comes to choosing a VPN for your MacBook or any other VPN Mac client, there’s a great deal to consider. The good news is that when when you’re ready to set up a VPN on Mac, it’s very easy as they all come with their own setup app, and some even have a Safari VPN extension. If you’re thinking about choosing a free VPN, rather than paying for one, be aware that you’re likely to have to put up with ads on your desktop and your data may be passed to third parties. That compromises one of the key benefits of using a VPN — security. You’ll also have a cap on the data you can transfer on a free VPN.
Paying a few dollars a month, especially if you use a VPN regularly, is very worthwhile.
Best free VPN for Mac
Before deciding that you want a free VPN rather than one you have to pay a subscription for every month, you should know that there are consequences. Free VPNs often have a data cap, meaning they limit the amount of data they allow you to transfer every month. That’s fine if you only want to use it when you work from your local coffee shop, not so good if you want to connect to it permanently.
Also, free VPNs have to make money somehow and for some, that means installing toolbars that show you adverts or have links to products they want to promote. For others, it means passing your data to third parties — including information on the sites you visit. If you’re happy with those conditions, read on. If not, jump to the Best paid-for VPN for Mac.
1. TunnelBear
Of all the free VPNs for Mac, this is one of the best. It has a free tier and a paid-for tier, and the free tier limits you to 500MB per month. On the plus side, it has around 1,000 servers in more than 20 different countries and allows you to connect up to five devices at a time. So you could use it for your Mac, iPhone, and your iPad. It’s Mac client is user friendly and easy to use, though, like all free VPNs, the number of features is limited.
2. Windscribe
If TunnelBear’s 500MB restriction doesn’t appeal, Windscribe offers 10GB/month. What’s more, you can “earn” an additional 5GB by tweeting about the service and 1GB for referring a friend. You only need a user name and password to sign up, so it’s one to choose if you’re worried about giving out your email address. And for those concerned about privacy, there’s some very good news: Windscribe doesn’t store connection logs, the sites you’ve visited, or IP stamps; everything is deleted within minutes of you ending a session. And, it has a built-in ad-blocker and firewall — making it a real winner for anyone who needs privacy.
On the downside, it only has servers in eight locations, and you can only connect one device.
What Is The Best Free Vpn For Mac
3. HotSpot Shield
Free Vpn
HotSpot Shield’s data limit is 500MB/day, which is better than either TunnelBear or Windscribe. It also allows you to connect from up to five devices. And it has servers in 25 locations. However, you can’t choose which location you connect to; it’s chosen for you. HotSpot Shield is funded by adverts, which means it places adverts on your Desktop when you’re connected to it. It’s probably not the one to choose if privacy is your main concern.