NordVPN
All-round choice: simple apps and up to 10 devices
- Up to 10 devices on one account
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- No-logs policy checked by independent auditors
VPN guide
★ Our pick
Best VPN for Mac
Native macOS apps with full encryption. NordVPN, Surfshark and Proton VPN compared for Mac users.
Mac users often assume macOS security is enough, but your network traffic is still visible on shared Wi-Fi. A VPN encrypts that traffic regardless of how secure your operating system is. All three services here have native macOS apps available on the App Store with full Apple Silicon support.
Surfshark
Big households: unlimited devices on one account
- Unlimited devices on one account
- 30-day money-back guarantee on the first purchase
- No-logs policy independently assessed (2025 report)
Proton VPN
Try before you pay: a free plan for one device
- Free plan to start (1 device)
- Up to 10 devices on the Plus plan
- Swiss company, also behind Proton Mail
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Side by side
Best VPN for Mac
Facts from each brand's official site, checked 27 Oct 2026. Prices change often: today's price is on the official site.
| NordVPN | Surfshark | Proton VPN | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Money-back guarantee | 30 days | 30 days (first purchase) | 30 days (paid plans) |
| Devices | Up to 10 | Unlimited | 10 on Plus · 1 on the free plan |
| Free option | No free plan | 7-day free trial (conditions on the official site) | Free plan (1 device) |
| Company base | Panama (parent company in the Netherlands) | Netherlands (Surfshark B.V.) | Switzerland (Proton) |
| Best for | All-round choice: simple apps and up to 10 devices | Big households: unlimited devices on one account | Try before you pay: a free plan for one device |
| NordVPN | Surfshark | Proton VPN |
Tips
Tips
Download from the Mac App Store
App Store versions are sandboxed by Apple for extra security. All three VPNs are available there.
Use the menu bar widget
NordVPN and Surfshark have lightweight menu bar controls so you can connect without opening the full app.
Enable IKEv2 or WireGuard
These protocols are optimized for macOS and give you the best speed and battery life on a MacBook.
Questions
Do Macs need a VPN?
macOS protects your device, but it does not encrypt your network traffic. On public Wi-Fi, your data is still exposed without a VPN.
Will a VPN slow down my Mac?
Modern VPN apps use minimal resources. On an Apple Silicon Mac, the impact on battery and performance is negligible.
Does it work with Safari?
Yes. A system-level VPN encrypts all traffic from every app — Safari, Chrome, Mail, Slack and everything else.
Complete your setup