Best Free VPN for Mac in 2026
Updated 25 July 2026- Truly free Mac VPNs — no credit card required
- Tested on macOS Sequoia, Sonoma & Apple Silicon
- Native WireGuard & IKEv2 with AES-256 encryption
These are the best free VPNs for Mac in 2026 — tested for actual encryption, no logging, macOS Sequoia compatibility, and native Apple Silicon support. Plus paid VPNs with 30-day money-back if you need more.
ExpressVPN Ultra fast & secure. Great for privacy, downloads, and everyday browsing on all your devices. 24/7 live chat support.
ExpressVPN Ultra fast & secure. Great for privacy, downloads, and everyday browsing on all your devices. 24/7 live chat support.
IPVanish Fast speeds with unlimited device connections. Strong no-logs privacy and 24/7 live chat support. Great for families.
IPVanish Fast speeds with unlimited device connections. Strong no-logs privacy and 24/7 live chat support. Great for families.
NordVPN Excellent speeds with one of the largest server networks. Strong security features and easy-to-use apps. 24/7 live chat support.
NordVPN Excellent speeds with one of the largest server networks. Strong security features and easy-to-use apps. 24/7 live chat support.
Proton VPN Swiss-based VPN with strong privacy focus. Audited no-logs policy and open-source apps. Great for privacy-conscious users.
Proton VPN Swiss-based VPN with strong privacy focus. Audited no-logs policy and open-source apps. Great for privacy-conscious users.
CyberGhost Fast speeds and strong privacy tools. Simple apps, automatic WiFi protection, and 24/7 live chat support.
CyberGhost Fast speeds and strong privacy tools. Simple apps, automatic WiFi protection, and 24/7 live chat support.
TotalVPN Affordable VPN with strong privacy and reliable speeds. Easy-to-use apps for all major devices. No-logs policy.
TotalVPN Affordable VPN with strong privacy and reliable speeds. Easy-to-use apps for all major devices. No-logs policy.
Private Internet Access High-speed VPN with a large server network and advanced security settings. Ad blocker included and 24/7 live chat support.
Private Internet Access High-speed VPN with a large server network and advanced security settings. Ad blocker included and 24/7 live chat support.
Surfshark Unlimited device connections at a budget-friendly price. Includes ad blocker and strong privacy tools. Great value for money.
Surfshark Unlimited device connections at a budget-friendly price. Includes ad blocker and strong privacy tools. Great value for money.
Rankings are based on our independent testing methodology. We evaluate speed, privacy, security features, and value for money. We may earn affiliate commissions from links on this page, which helps fund our testing — this does not influence our rankings.
Our Top Choice
ExpressVPN Ultra fast & secure. Great for privacy, downloads, and everyday browsing on all your devices. 24/7 live chat support.
ExpressVPN Ultra fast & secure. Great for privacy, downloads, and everyday browsing on all your devices. 24/7 live chat support.
2026 Rankings At a Glance
| # | VPN | Score | Price (2-yr plan) | Money-back | Key strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ExpressVPN | 9.9/10 | $2.79/mo | 30 days | 3,000+ servers in 105 countries |
| 2 | IPVanish | 9.8/10 | $2.19/mo | 30 days | 3,200+ servers in 112+ countries |
| 3 | NordVPN | 9.7/10 | $3.09/mo | 30 days | 7,400+ servers in 118 countries |
| 4 | Proton VPN | 9.6/10 | $2.99/mo | 30 days | 15,000+ servers in 120+ countries |
| 5 | CyberGhost | 9.5/10 | $2.03/mo | 45 days | Servers in 100 countries |
| 6 | TotalVPN | 9.4/10 | $1.59/mo | 30 days | Servers in 50+ countries |
| 7 | Private Internet Access | 9.3/10 | $1.75/mo | 30 days | Servers in 91 countries |
| 8 | Surfshark | 9.2/10 | $1.78/mo | 30 days | 3,200+ servers in 100 countries |
Scores follow our testing methodology. Prices reflect the current 2-year promotional rate, billed upfront.
Why You Need a VPN on Mac
Mac is generally well-defended against malware compared to Windows, but a VPN solves different problems — privacy and network-level encryption. MacBooks are heavily used on changing networks: home WiFi, coworking spaces, café, hotel, airport, conference networks. Each network can potentially monitor your traffic. iCloud Private Relay is Apple's privacy tool but only works in Safari, has limited country availability, and routes through known Apple/Cloudflare proxy IPs. A free Mac VPN encrypts ALL apps (not just Safari), gives you control over your apparent IP location, and works in countries where iCloud Private Relay is unavailable. The one genuinely legitimate free Mac VPN tier from a reputable paid provider is ProtonVPN Free — it delivers this functionality with a native macOS app, unlimited data, no ads, and an independently audited no-logs policy. If you need more than a basic free tier, the premium providers in our ranking (ExpressVPN, NordVPN, Surfshark, CyberGhost, PIA) all ship native macOS apps and back a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can run a full premium VPN free for a month with no risk.
Encrypt All App Traffic, Not Just Safari
Unlike iCloud Private Relay (Safari only), a VPN app encrypts traffic from every macOS app — Mail, Messages, Calendar, work apps, browsers. ProtonVPN Free's macOS app uses AES-256 with WireGuard and IKEv2 protocols, and every premium provider in our ranking does the same across their apps.
Protect Public WiFi Sessions
MacBooks live on public WiFi — coworking, café, hotel, airport. A VPN encrypts everything before it leaves your Mac, protecting banking apps, email, and personal data from other users on the same network. ProtonVPN Free protects public WiFi as effectively as paid versions, and a premium VPN used under its 30-day money-back window does the same at full speed.
Hide Your IP From Apps and Trackers
macOS apps and websites routinely log your IP address. Many services use IP-based geofencing, price discrimination, or tracking. A VPN gives you a different apparent IP, breaking the link between your home identity and your browsing.
Go Beyond iCloud Private Relay
iCloud Private Relay protects Safari traffic for paying iCloud+ subscribers in available countries. It doesn't protect other apps, isn't available in all countries (excluded from China, Saudi Arabia, Belarus, others), and uses known Apple IPs. A free VPN works alongside or replaces iCloud Private Relay for broader coverage.
What to Look For in a Free Mac VPN
Most free Mac VPN apps are unsafe. The handful of legitimate options share these features:
Reputable Paid Provider Parent
A safe free Mac VPN is a freemium tier from a reputable paid provider — the standout is ProtonVPN Free. Avoid random Mac App Store free VPN downloads from unknown publishers; several top-listed free VPN apps have been found bundling trackers or weak encryption. If you want the polish of a premium app for free, use a paid provider's 30-day money-back guarantee instead.
Native WireGuard or IKEv2 Implementation
WireGuard is the modern fast VPN protocol on Mac. IKEv2 is Apple's preferred protocol with fastest reconnection between networks. The best free Mac VPNs use both. ProtonVPN Free supports WireGuard on macOS, and every premium provider in our ranking (ExpressVPN, NordVPN, Surfshark, CyberGhost, PIA) offers WireGuard and IKEv2 in their native Mac apps.
Apple Silicon Native Support
Native Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3/M4) support means better battery efficiency and performance. ProtonVPN Free ships an Apple Silicon native macOS app, as do all of our ranked premium providers. Avoid free VPNs that only offer Intel-only versions running through Rosetta 2.
Generous Data Allowance
ProtonVPN Free offers unlimited data — genuinely rare among free VPNs and best in class for a no-cost tier. Most other free VPNs impose tight monthly data caps of a few gigabytes. If you regularly hit a cap, a premium VPN's 30-day money-back guarantee gives you unlimited data for a full month at no cost.
How to Set Up a Free VPN on Mac
Download from official provider website
Go to protonvpn.com (or the official website of the premium provider you choose) and download the Mac app. Avoid random downloads — the official source is critical.
Create free account
Open the app and create a free account. Email + password. ProtonVPN Free doesn't require a credit card.
Grant macOS VPN permission
macOS will ask permission to install a VPN configuration. Approve in System Settings > VPN. This is normal and required.
Connect to a server
Select a free server location and click Connect. Verify your IP changed via Safari IP-check.
Enable kill switch
In app preferences, enable kill switch. This blocks all traffic if VPN drops, preventing IP leaks.
Set to launch at login
Configure the VPN app to launch at macOS startup and auto-connect. This ensures every Mac session starts protected.
How We Tested Free Mac VPNs
We tested every notable free Mac VPN in our 2026 evaluation. We ran each on MacBook Pro M3 Max running macOS Sequoia 15 and MacBook Air M2 running macOS Sonoma 14.
Installation and macOS Permission Review
We tested install experience, account creation friction, and macOS permission requests. ProtonVPN Free requests minimal permissions; many other free VPNs request system-level permissions that aren't necessary for VPN functionality.
Speed Testing on Apple Silicon
On MacBook Pro M3 Max connected to 1 Gbps fiber, we measured download speed, upload speed, and ping through free VPN servers. Top free options retain 35-55% of base speed; paid VPNs retain 75-85%.
Battery Impact Testing
We measured battery drain over 8-hour MacBook usage day with each free VPN active. WireGuard implementations: 3-5% incremental drain on Apple Silicon. IKEv2: similar. OpenVPN-only free VPNs: 8-12%. Apple Silicon optimization matters significantly.
Always-On VPN and Kill Switch Testing
We verify each free Mac VPN supports kill switch (blocks all traffic if VPN drops) and auto-reconnect after sleep/wake. ProtonVPN Free supports both, and every premium provider in our ranking includes a kill switch and auto-reconnect in its Mac app.
Free Mac VPN testing runs quarterly with macOS update cycle re-verification.
Frequently Asked Questions About Free Mac VPNs
Are free Mac VPNs safe?
Most aren't. Stick to ProtonVPN Free — the one freemium tier we trust from a reputable paid provider — or run a premium VPN free for a month using its 30-day money-back guarantee. Random Mac App Store free VPNs often contain tracking libraries or weak encryption; several popular free apps have even been caught injecting ads or bundling trackers.
Which is the best free VPN for Mac in 2026?
ProtonVPN Free is the best free option — unlimited data, no ads, AES-256 with WireGuard, an independently audited no-logs policy, Swiss jurisdiction, and native Apple Silicon support. Limitations: a small number of server locations, medium speeds versus paid, and no streaming unblocking.
Does macOS have a built-in VPN?
macOS has built-in VPN client functionality for IKEv2, IPSec, and L2TP — but no VPN service. You need a VPN provider's app or manually configure a server. The built-in client works with most paid VPN providers via configuration profiles.
Will a free Mac VPN work for streaming?
Limited. Free Mac VPNs typically can't unblock Netflix, Disney+, or other streaming services. For streaming on Mac, a paid VPN with 30-day money-back is essentially required.
Can I use a free VPN with Safari and iCloud Private Relay?
You can use both, but they may conflict. iCloud Private Relay routes Safari through Apple/Cloudflare; the VPN routes everything through the VPN provider. Most VPN apps detect this and warn you. Generally, disable iCloud Private Relay when the VPN is active for cleaner routing.
Will a free VPN drain my MacBook battery?
On Apple Silicon Macs, WireGuard-based free VPNs add 3-5% incremental drain over an 8-hour day — barely noticeable. OpenVPN-only free VPNs add 8-12%. For all-day MacBook use, a WireGuard-capable option like ProtonVPN Free is best, and every premium provider in our ranking ships WireGuard on macOS too.
How does ProtonVPN Free compare to iCloud+ Private Relay?
iCloud+ Private Relay protects Safari traffic only ($0.99/month minimum iCloud+ subscription required). ProtonVPN Free protects ALL Mac apps for free with unlimited data. For comprehensive Mac privacy, ProtonVPN Free is more capable; iCloud Private Relay is simpler for Safari-only use.