Using a VPN app protects your entire Mac, iMac, or Mac Mini — including your Safari traffic. I tested 30 free VPNs on my Macbook Pro and shortlisted the best ones that are safe to use (some of them even performed well for streaming!). Unfortunately, like all free VPNs, they have some pretty big limitations. That’s why you’re always better off using a low-cost premium VPN, like ExpressVPN — It has no limitations: you get industry-leading security features, fast speeds, and unlimited data which is something no free Mac VPN provides. I know it’s not free, but it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so if you’re not totally happy with it, getting a refund is easy. Try ExpressVPN Risk-Free »
Best Free VPNs for Mac and Safari — Full Analysis (Updated March 2023)
1. ExpressVPN — Overall Best Mac VPN With Fully Equipped Browser Extensions
While there’s no Safari extension, ExpressVPN offers highly secure Chrome and Firefox extensions. Its interface looks similar to the main app, and it gives you access to all 3,000 servers. Unlike most browser extensions, which are usually just proxies, it works as a “remote control” for the main app. Meaning, it integrates the same level of privacy and security into your browsing sessions. Of course, the desktop app also protects your Safari sessions. The Chrome/Firefox extensions are mainly a convenience, and don’t offer extra protection. So rest assured, if Safari is your go-to browser, your data is still kept safe the app. ExpressVPN has the fastest speeds of any VPN tested. I ran speed tests this with Ookla on Safari using my MacBook Pro. With a local server in UK Docklands, I got 124.69Mbps — just 5% lower than my base speed. Its distant locations were fast, too. I had 113.26Mbps from New York (5,500km away); over 4 times what’s needed for Ultra HD. The app runs natively on silicon Macs. Most VPNs are only optimized for Apple’s older Intel processors. This causes slowdowns and drains your battery when you use it with newer models. On the other hand, ExpressVPN detects which processor your Apple device uses to give you fast speeds and optimal performance. ExpressVPN gives you access to 3,000 servers in 94 countries. These connections realiably unblocked every streaming platform I tested — like Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney+. I also like that you can create shortcuts for easy access to your favorite apps and sites on the app’s home screen. Although it’s not free, you can try ExpressVPN on Mac and Safari risk-free, since it comes with a money-back guarantee. This gives you 30 days to claim a refund if you’re not impressed. You can count on this policy, too. I requested my refund via 24/7 live chat and got a reply within seconds. The money was back in my account within 5 days.
Useful Features
RAM-only servers. These automatically wipe all user data and leave no trace of your Safari browsing or online activity. Proprietary Lightway protocol. ExpressVPN’s own speed-optimized and secure protocol that’s fully compatible with Mac. MediaStreamer DNS service. This lets you access streaming geoblocked streaming apps on devices that don’t usually support VPNs, such as game consoles and Apple TV. Setup takes under 5 minutes. Headquartered in the British Virgin Islands. It’s based outside the 5/9/14 Eyes data alliance, so is never legally obliged to hand user data to any government upon request.
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2. CyberGhost — Specialty Servers Optimized for Easy Access to Streaming and Torrenting on macOS
CyberGhost’s Mac app is easy to use because it has servers organized for specific activities. For instance, it has connections designated for streaming, gaming, and torrenting. I tested 3 streaming servers (Prime Video DE, Netflix IT, and Disney+ US) to see if they could unblock these sites on Safari. They each worked without hesitation. Its nearby connections are fastest — but I didn’t lose much speed over distance, either. I got 123.24Mbps while testing UK Berkshire on my iMac. Its USA Los Angeles server produced 99.69Mbps — that’s still pretty impressive. NoSpy servers give you extra privacy protection. They’re owned and managed in CyberGhost’s Romanian headquarters (outside the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliance). Many VPNs only provide rented servers in shared facilities, posing the threat of third-party interference. While there’s no Safari extension, CyberGhost offers free extensions for Firefox and Chrome. Unlike ExpressVPN, it doesn’t give you access to the full app or specialty servers, but you get locations in the US, Germany, Netherlands, and Romania, which isn’t bad for a free VPN proxy extension. The full app isn’t 100% free, but you can test CyberGhost with Safari on Mac with its 45-day money-back guarantee (with a long-term plan). I tried the guarantee by requesting my money back through 24/7 live chat. The agent approved, and I got my money back 5 days later.
Useful Features
Block Content. Prevents malicious ads, sites, and links from loading as it works at the DNS level. This is particularly useful for torrenting on Safari (and client apps) because P2P seed sites are rife with dangerous content. WiFi Auto-Protect. Auto-Protect ensures that when you use public or unsecured WiFi, your iPhones and iPads are safe and your data won’t leak. Competitive prices. It’s one of the cheapest VPNs available (it’s cheapest price is $2.11/month). So if you decide you like it after your money-back guarantee expires, you can get a subscription for a low cost. Virtual locations. These are IP addresses from strictly-censored countries (like China or the UAE), but the servers are located in privacy-friendly countries. This prevents government surveillance.
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3. Proton VPN — Unlimited Data to Browse Safari Safely and Without Restrictions
Proton VPN is the only 100% free VPN on my list that offers unlimited data. Most free VPNs restrict you to as little as 500MB/month, barely enough to watch a whole movie in HD. I streamed hours of Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared YouTube clips with Safari and didn’t hit any limits. For a completely free VPN, it has impressive security credentials. Its headquartered in a secure facility in Switzerland, where there are exceptional privacy protection laws. A kill switch and leak protection are included to keep your Mac browsing private. Plus, its proprietary Stealth protocol can bypass internet surveillance and censorship. Some free VPNs only allow access to one server, but Proton VPN offers 120+ servers across 3 countries (US, Japan, and Netherlands). Despite this, during busy times, my Safari browsing slowed down to as slow as 7Mbps, but you can double your speeds on Mac with its Accelerator feature. Once activated, my speed boosted above 10Mbps. As with all free VPNs, there are a few drawbacks. You only get one device connection, so I had to choose between my Mac, iPad, and iPhone. Plus, I couldn’t unblock many streaming platforms (Disney+, Hulu, or HBO Max). I did unblock Netflix, but I could only access globally-available content, so there was no advantage. And with no UK location, you won’t get iPlayer, ITVX, or All 4.
Useful Features
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4. Avira Phantom VPN — Protect All Your Apple Devices With Unlimited Connections
Avira Phantom VPN offers unlimited device connections, which is rare even with premium VPNs. I connected my Macbook Pro, iMac, Mac Mini, iPhone, and 2 iPads. This didn’t compromise my connection quality, and I could stream YouTube clips on Safari on each device. You get access to your nearest location, so I didn’t experience server crowding. The drawback is that you can’t unblock any geo-restricted content. I got a solid 66.73Mbps from UK - London in my tests, although that was 49% below my base speed, making it one of the slower VPNs on my list. Every server supports torrenting, which is rare for a completely-free VPN for Mac. That wasn’t much use to me since my nearest location is in the UK, and the UK blocks popular torrenting sites. But using a torrent I already had on my Mac, I could download a file using uTorrent Web on Safari at decent speeds. You can use Avira Phantom VPN without registering, but you only get 500MB/month. If you sign up with an email address, you get 1GB/month. The free version doesn’t offer a kill switch, although there were no leaks whatsoever during my tests. And a small privacy concern is that Avira is based in Germany, within the 14 Eyes Alliance.
Useful Features
Antivirus protection. Avira Phantom VPN can scan your Mac’s hard drive for viruses and quarantine any suspicious files. It also gives you real-time protection against any threats you encounter while browsing on Safari. Junk Cleaner. I freed over 6GB of disk space using Avira’s basic Junk Cleaner (you need the premium version to get a full clean-up). Password Manager. All devices on your free plan are covered by Password Manager, so you can browse Safari on unlimited devices without having to reset any passwords. DNS leak protection. Leak protection automatically safeguards all of your data on your macOS, iOS, and iPad devices.
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5. hide.me — Highly Secure With Tons of Features For a Free Mac VPN
For an entirely free Mac VPN, hide.me offers a nice array of security features. Stealth VPN is a feature that lets you specify how the VPN responds to your network and apps. For instance, you can select Bind Internet to VPN — this protects your entire network. Otherwise, Limit Apps to VPN prevents vulnerabilities by blocking specific apps from the internet when the VPN is disconnected. It also offers a speed-optimized protocol, called SoftEther. I tested this on my MacBook Pro and got 118.46Mbps from a local server in the UK, around 11% below my base speed. I then connected to the US and was surprised to find speeds only marginally slower, at 116.12Mbps. You get 10GB of data/month — the highest allowance offered by my listed VPNs that don’t require registration. Plus, there are 6 locations (US, Canada, UK, Germany, Netherlands, France), which is more than most completely free VPNs. A premium account gives you streaming servers in 15+ countries, but you can’t access any of them for free. I couldn’t access any major streaming platforms and couldn’t even log into Netflix. It worked smoothly for streaming YouTube videos, though.
Useful Features
Split tunnel. You can use this to select specific apps to always use VPN, such as Safari. That’s useful in countries with strict internet censorship. Extensions for Chrome and Firefox. These are also completely free and can be added to your browser with one click. They’re easy to use and convenient. 24/7 live support. Even some paid VPNs don’t offer 24/7 live support, but hide.me has someone on hand to help you (even as a free user) whenever you may need it through live chat. Headquartered in Malaysia. Its base is outside the 5/9/14 Eyes alliances.
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6. Hotspot Shield — Proprietary Hydra Protocol for Fast Speeds on Safari and Mac
Its exclusive Hydra protocol is built to balance security and speed. In my tests, Hydra had marginally better latency and 2% faster speeds than WireGuard. Although, I recommend IKEv2, for iOS devices since it’s adept at switching between different data sources when you’re on the move. The free plan for Mac includes servers in 4 locations (New York, Los Angeles, the UK, Singapore). I connected to the UK and could access iPlayer, ITVX, and All 4, with speeds of 119.59Mbps (6% below my base), rivaling some premium VPNs. I then got an impressive 115.63Mbps from LA and was able to access Netflix US. Unlike the other VPNs on my list, it allocates data daily rather than monthly. You get 500MB/day (15GB in a month). I like the daily allocation because I could do all my regular Safari browsing, plus watch an episode of Seinfeld every day. With most free VPNs, I ran out of data in the first week! Hotspot Shield is based in the US, within 5 Eyes jurisdiction. The company also admits to keeping anonymous logs of data and device usage. A free account allows 1 connection, and Hotspot Shield monetizes its free accounts with ads (which do get a little annoying).
Useful Features
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7. TunnelBear — A Quirky App for Mac That’s Fun and Easy for Newbie Users
TunnelBear’s Mac app keeps VPN use pain-free. Server locations are visualized on an animated map. When you click one, an animated bear burrows from your actual location and tunnels to your destination. There are plenty to choose from because a free account gives you access to all 47 of its locations. Speeds are impressive on nearby servers. I got 118.93Mbps when connecting to UK - London, just 8% below my base. USA - New York was understandably slower at 75.11Mbps, but that’s still easily enough to stream in Ultra HD. As with Hotspot Shield, I could access Netflix US, iPlayer, and ITVX on Safari. It offers 2GB/data per month, which is enough to watch a couple movies in HD quality. Not a ton of data compared to other free VPNs, but it’s enough to make the VPN usable for downloading 1 large torrent file or a few weeks of light browsing. TunnelBear is based in Canada, within the 5 Eyes alliance — but it’s still safer than most free Mac VPNs. It has an annual app security audit, and releases regular transparency reports. Plus, it’s given 20,000+ premium accounts away to non-governmental organizations such as campaigners and protestors, underlining its integrity as a company.
Useful Features
GhostBear. Disguises your VPN connection as regular internet traffic to bypass firewalls and evade censorship in countries like China. VigilantBear. This kill switch ensures there are no leaks in case your connection drops while on your Mac. Autoconnect. Connects to VPN on startup so your browsing is always private. TCP Override. Slightly slower, but more reliable if your connection is unstable (not available for iOS or iPad).
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Quick Comparison Table: Best Free VPNs for Mac (and Safari)
First off, all the VPNs on my list are safe and won’t compromise your pricavy on your Mac or Safari. The best free Mac VPN for you depends on your purpose for the VPN. For data-heavy activities like streaming, downloading, and gaming, VPNs with fast speeds and unlimited data are best. For unblocking abilities, a larger server network is helpful. For added privacy, look for a free VPN that doesn’t require you to sign up. Even though the first 2 VPNs aren’t completely free, they’re backed by money-back guarantees. This is why you get access to their full-featured Mac/iOS apps, while the other totally free options have limitations. Try ExpressVPN Risk-Free »
Tips on Choosing the Best Free Mac VPN
Here are the main factors I considered when ranking the best free Mac VPNs: Try ExpressVPN Risk-Free »
Warning: Most Free Mac VPNs Aren’t Safe
When you use a free Mac VPN that isn’t a product of a paid service, the “product” usually becomes you and your data. VPN providers have to make money somehow and do so using various underhand techniques. Here are some of the dangers of downloading random, untested VPNs:
They log your data and sell it to third parties. Most free VPNs that do this don’t even lie to their customers. VPNBook and BetternetVPN both admit to monitoring user data in their privacy policies. Data they collect can include the sites you visit, the time and duration of your sessions, your device model and OS, and the size of your screen. They bombard you with annoying ads. As well as selling your data to “affiliates and relevant third parties”, it can also be utilized to show you endless “targeted” ads, optimized to your browsing history. They have compromised security and weak encryption. Free Mac VPNs often lack basic security features like a kill switch and IP/DNS leak protection. Many will leak your real IP address, and some don’t encrypt your data at all. They can infect your Mac with harmful viruses and malware. That can cost you a great deal over time. You may not even notice that your shiny Mac is infected until apps start slowing down, freezing, and crashing.
The reality is, most free Mac VPNs have sketchy means of making money off of you. Your Apple products and personal data are too precious to risk downloading a shady, free Mac VPN. The completely free VPNs on my list have limitations, but are at least safe to use with Safari because the are subsidized by the VPNs’ paying subscribers.
Is there a free VPN browser extension for Safari?
Hola: Hola is not a VPN but a peer-to-peer network. This means that you share a network with all users, so you’re accountable for everyone’s online activities. VPNBook: Keeps logs and infects your device with malware. VPN Gate: Run by volunteers and stores user logs. SuperVPN: Infested with malware. TurboVPN: Downloads malware to your device. BetternetVPN: Keeps logs to create targeted advertisements. GOVPN: Leaks your IP and DNS and has embedded malware in its app.
No, and in general, very few VPNs have extensions for Safari. Apple has strict rules about which apps can feature on its App Store, so getting approval for Safari extensions is tough. Anyways, full VPNs tend to be better than browser extensions since they protect your entire device, not just Safari. Most Safari browser extensions are just proxies, so they don’t encrypt your traffic like a VPN will. These will only protect you on Safari, leaving you vulnerable on other browsers, apps, and torrent clients.
What is the best free VPN for Mac to watch Netflix?
Honestly, I wouldn’t recommend using a free VPN to watch Netflix. They rarely work at all, and when they do, it’s usually only a short while before the IP is blocked and stops working. Your best bet is to try a low-cost premium VPN that comes with a money-back guarantee because they’re way more reliable with Netflix. This way, you get unlimited data and no bandwidth caps for unrestricted access to Netflix. Plus, you’ll generally have access to thousands of servers worldwide for accessing global Netflix libraries on your Mac, iPhone, or iPad. That being said, the best completely-free VPN I tested with Netflix is hide.me. Its West Coast, USA location worked with Netflix, plus it gives you a healthy data allowance of 10GB/month (enough for around 4.5 hours of streaming in HD). East Coast, USA and the other free locations didn’t unblock Netflix though.
Can I get a free VPN for Mac without registering?
Yes. A few VPNs don’t require you to sign up or register. While you need an email address and a credit card to use a premium VPN with a free trial, your data is stored using bank-level security, so it’s completely safe. You can even register with a temporary email address for extra privacy.
Will a free Mac VPN work on my other devices as well?
Yes, but you might have to log out before using another device. You can use any of the VPNs listed here on a number of devices. Generally, if the VPN doesn’t require you to create an account, you should be able to use it on as many devices at once as you want. If you’re required to sign up, then device connections tend to be limited to only one at a time.
How can a free Mac VPN improve my security on Safari?
A Mac VPN boosts security on Safari by encrypting your data and hiding your real IP address. Encryption scrambles your data to make your browsing virtually untraceable to hackers, the government, and your internet service provider (ISP). Without it, your data is vulnerable to prying eyes. You can then back up your VPN security with a Safari Private Window. This prevents your device from tracking any data while you browse Safari. Plus, it logs you out of any accounts that track user data, such as Google and Twitter (while keeping you logged in on non-Private Windows). Safari features like Prevent Cross-Site Tracking, Block All Cookies, and Hide IP Address all offer solid privacy.
How much will a free VPN impact my Mac’s speed?
It depends. A speed-optimized VPN will keep your speed loss at a minimum. So you might only see speeds about 5-25% below your base. That said, some free Mac VPNs are super limited on speeds (I’ve seen up to 90% reductions!). Free VPNs often deliberately cap speeds to prevent servers from overloading, and to encourage users to upgrade to premium subscriptions. They usually only have 1 to 5 locations, which causes speed loss due to server crowding. You’ll also get slower speeds from faraway server locations. The fastest completely-free VPN is Hotspot Shield. Local speeds were 6% below my base, and US speeds just 8% below.
Does Mac have a built-in VPN?
No, Macs don’t have their own built-in VPN, but they do have built-in IKEv2 and L2TP support. To use Mac’s VPN interface, you still need a VPN subscription that comes with IKEv2 or L2TP configuration files, like ExpressVPN. Most free VPNs don’t offer this, though. Plus, connecting a VPN via this method gives you limited options. It’s better to install a VPN’s native Mac app, so you have full functionality — from security settings to the location you connect to. On the other hand, iCloud offers Private Relay for Safari (only). This is just a proxy connection, though, and a slow one at that. It doesn’t change your virtual location, encrypt your traffic, or help you overcome geo-restrictions. So it’s not as safe or beneficial as using a VPN.
Why do I need a VPN for Mac?
There are plenty of benefits to using a free Mac VPN — whether it’s for protection or entertainment. If you live in a 5-Eyes alliance country (UK, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand), your ISP is obliged to monitor and store your browsing data and share it with 5 Eyes governments. A reliable free VPN for Mac will encrypt your data to keep your Safari browsing private. Your data will be hidden from your ISP, the government, and hackers. A free VPN for Mac can keep you safe on public WiFi hotspots, which can leave you vulnerable to hackers — especially if they’re not password protected. A VPN for Mac with a malware blocker can protect you from malicious content and dangerous sites. Reliable VPNs can also help you access geo-restricted content on Mac. That means you can access streaming libraries in different regions, book hotels and flights that may be cheaper in other countries, and subscribe to services that have cheaper tariffs abroad. Try ExpressVPN on Mac »
Get the Best Free VPN for Mac and Safari
All completely-free VPNs limit you in some way. But there are VPNs on my list that offer various features, including strong security, fast speeds, good unblocking, and torrent support. Most completely-free services don’t offer all of the above. But you can still find one for any specific activity. That’s why I added a couple of premium services to my list so you can compare and contrast. For the most complete Mac experience, I recommend ExpressVPN. It offers everything listed above, plus unlimited data and speed, and it runs natively on Apple silicone processors. While it’s not 100% free, you can try ExpressVPN without risk as it offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. If it’s not ideal for you, claiming a refund is quick and easy.
The best VPNs for Mac (and Safari) that come with money-back guarantees are…
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