Best Mac VPN Services in 2022

If you’ve recently decided to start using a VPN – you’re in good company. In fact, VPN use has been on the rise in the last few years – and for good reason. With more and more concerns about security and internet anonymity, a good quality VPN gives you the protection you need to browse with that extra peace of mind. Not only that – but a VPN can importantly help you change your location to access geo-restricted content or use your connection freely for anything you want, without being spied on by ISPs or Governments.

However, most of the info out there is aimed at the PC market. So if you’ve got a Mac and want to know which is the best Mac VPN service for you, you’re in the right place. While many of the big VPN services do work on Mac device, not all of them are optimized for it. Let’s look a bit deeper so you can download the right VPN for Mac.

Download and Set Up VPN on Mac

It is pretty easy to set up a VPN.

1. Choose a VPN service provider and sign up for an account. Find current VPNs deals.
2. Go to the “Download” page (some VPN providers send you a link to a page where you can download the software).
3. Download the software and follow the instructions to set up the app.
4. Run the app. Usually, it asks for your user login info.
5. Enable the advanced features such as DNS Leak Protection, Kill Switch, etc. to ensure you are fully protected.

Downloading and setting up VPN service is normally reasonably straightforward – especially with those that come with a useful App. Setting up protocols and proxies used to be difficult with some of the older-generation VPNs, but now most of them can be set up with a simple click of a few buttons. That means you can have your VPN downloaded and running within a few minutes.

Most of the VPN services you look at will have a range of different software options – so you’ll want to pick the one that’s been made for Mac OS. After you’ve signed up to a VPN service, you should have a password and username that can be entered into the installed software. You can allow the software to run on startup and remember your login details if you want to always browse behind your VPN – otherwise, you can use it normally and just log in as and when you need to.

How to test a VPN on Mac. Am I connected to a VPN?

Once you install a VPN client on your Mac, it will add an icon on your toolbar. Click on that icon to see if you’re connected or not.

Choose the Right Mac VPN 

If you’ve got a Mac, you’re probably already aware of how you often need to take a while to find the right software for your system. After all, not everyone has a Windows PC or Android Tablet. While the best Mac VPN  will often be the same as one for a PC – that’s not always the case. Before you get started with trying to find the best service – you’ll need to check a couple of things.

Firstly, find out what version of MacOS your Mac is running. This can have an impact on what VPN will work for you, and generally the newer the version, the better. To do this, click the Apple on the top left, and then “About this Mac”. You should see a pop-up in the middle of the screen which will list your Mac version (such as OS X Yosemite) along with some other information.

Now that you know your Mac version, you’ll be able to find the best Mac VPN a bit more easily. When looking at VPNs, make sure it’s compatible with your version of Mac. This usually isn’t a problem – unless you’re running a really old version for some reason.

Finding the best anonymous service has a number of similar issues to finding the best VPN service for any platform. While you’ll need to make sure it works on your system, you’ll also need to make sure the VPN you choose has got the right features for the type of internet use you need it for. We’re going to look at a few specific things when trying to find the best VPN service for you, like security, anonymity, speed and a few more.

VPN Server Location Matters

You might not think where you’re buying your VPN from makes a difference – but it does. While we’re going to look at actual server locations in a bit, this is more about where the actual company you’re using is based. That’s because some locations are forced to record your data or prohibit certain activity on your VPN. That’s why it’s important you choose the best Mac VPN, so that you’re free to do with it what you want.

Is It Anonymous VPN Service?

The true standard for this is a comprehensive “no-logging” policy. What this means is that your VPN provider will agree not to keep any logs or records of your activity on their VPN. That means they won’t have any data to show anyone if someone tries to get access to it. Some of the top providers have comprehensive “no-logging” policies that give you that extra peace of mind, but not all do.

There are a few that might store data for a number of months and years. While they might still be reasonably secure, you’re going to need to decide how important this is for you if you decide to go with one of them.

VPN server locations

One of the main reasons many people are deciding to get their own VPNs is so that they can switch their location at the click of a button. While you should use your VPN at your own risk, this can enable you to bypass certain geo-restriction rules to access more of the sort of content you want.

If this is important to you, you might want to make sure the VPN you’re looking at has enough different potential server locations that you can use. While most users are actually happy with just two or three different locations, you might want to change your location to many more. Some VPNs offer hundreds of different server location options in lots of different countries – get the one that has the right mix for you.

Buy the Fastest VPN Service

If you want to use your VPN as if it was your own high-speed internet connection, then you’ll need to make sure the one you choose is fast enough. One good idea is to try a few free trials first (many VPNs offer these), then you’ll be able to run speed tests to find out which really works for you. Remember – the raw download speed is important, but so is the ping. Make sure both are acceptable, especially if you want to play games or streams a lot of content over your VPN.

Another thing to look at when trying to find the best VPN for Mac is how much data you’re allowed to transfer. Most fully-fledged VPN services allow unlimited downloads, but not all do. Some of the cheaper VPNs might limit you to a certain amount per month, so make sure you’ve got the right limits for your general usage.

VPN with top-level security features

Aside from changing locations and accessing restricted content, security is one of the biggest reasons people are deciding to use VPNs for Macs. More and more people are worried about being spied on by ISPs, hackers, or someone else – and a VPN is a good way to protect yourself and browse anonymously.

There are a huge range of different security features that they could make up a whole article by themselves. But you need to make sure you’ve got the right protection and security for you, especially if this is a big reason for you choosing a VPN. There are a number of different encryption protocols for many VPNs for Mac, and you might also want to look at DNS leak protection to make sure your ISP doesn’t pick up clues that you’re using a VPN.

Cheap or free VPN service

After you’ve looked at all the features you need for your Mac VPN – you still need to be able to afford it. Thankfully, it’s a highly competitive market these days, and what that means is there are tons of offers you can take advantage of. Even better – most of the top VPN services for Mac will offer you a free trial so you can find out if you’re happy with the service before fully committing. Try a few and see which one works for you. Read more about the difference between free VPN and paid VPN service. 

Quick access to download a VPN on Mac

ExpressVPN Mac Client Download

NordVPN Mac Client Download

Private Internet Access Mac Client Download

CyberGhost Mac Client Download

HideMyAss Mac Client Download