Best Free VPNs for Mac & MacBook in 2024

Mac users have the luxury of an increased level of security compared to their Windows counterparts. However, once you venture into the vast landscape of the internet, things start to slowly change, making macOS security obsolete.

While surfing the web without an exposed IP, everyone can see what you do online and you’re prone to hacker attacks, especially on public Wi-Fi hotspots. Moreover, encountering geo-restrictions online is devastating, as there’s no way of bypassing them.

With that in mind, Mac users started looking for a way to improve their online experience with not much effort. And thus, the need for the best free VPN for Mac quickly became a thing in 2024. But is a 100% free Mac VPN as good as the premium one?

Well, we recently talked about the best premium VPNs for macOS, so make sure you check that article. Today, we’re going to give you lots of free providers and make you spoilt for choice.

So, without further ado, let’s talk about the best free VPN for Mac in 2024 and see what we’re dealing with!

Best Free VPN for Mac 2024 (For 30 & 45 Days)

Okay, so right before we present really free Mac VPNs, let’s swiftly talk about the three premium choices. As said, they can be free for 30 or 45 days, and to be honest, they’re much better than the 100% free VPNs we’re going to discuss later.

These choices include ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and NordVPN. They’re currently the best services you can get, and with the trick that we’re going to show you, you can use them for free for 30 or 45 days, without spending any of your hard-earned money.

How Can You Use ExpressVPN for Free?

ExpressVPN can indeed be the best free macOS VPN in 2024. While it’s not free, it’s worth mentioning that it offers no speed/bandwidth limits and offers exceptional performance. It’s safe to say that it’s way ahead of any other free VPN.

Using it for free for 30 days is quite simple, though. That is because ExpressVPN offers a no-condition 30-day money-back guarantee for ALL subscription plans. To translate, it means that you can get a full refund in the first 30 days for no specific reason, no questions asked.

Get ExpressVPN for FREE for 30 Days

However, to do so, you need to get a subscription. We recommend its annual plan with a 49% discount and 3 months free on top of that, just in case you keep using it. Although, you can get a monthly plan as well if you’re planning to get a refund anyway.

Now, with the subscription in place, you can use it limitlessly and enjoy its benefits on macOS and other platforms in the first 30 days. Right before this period expires, contact its 24/7 live chat support, say that you want to get a refund, and they’ll give you your money back the same day.

If they ask you why you want to get a refund, simply say that you don’t need a Virtual Private Network (VPN) anymore. It’s as simple as that and it’s risk-free, so don’t be afraid to check it out before going for any of the best free VPNs for Mac.

Why ExpressVPN Instead of a Totally Free VPN for Mac?

Getting ExpressVPN instead of a free Mac VPN is a much better choice and as you read, you’ll find out why. For the start, it offers 3,000+ servers in 105 countries, with the fastest speeds and stable performance across the entire network.

Mac users will like how feature-rich ExpressVPN is. It offers security features like 256-bit encryption, an automatic kill switch, and IP/DNS leak protection, which is essential for a high-quality VPN.

Moreover, ExpressVPN comes with Lightway – a proprietary protocol. Mac users can enjoy this protocol with no limits and get much stronger security and better performance.  A no-logs policy is in place as well, and with an external audit, you can expect the highest level of privacy.

But what about streaming? Well, ExpressVPN shines here. It can unblock Netflix US, Japan, and other relevant libraries, along with BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and many important streaming portals. With unlimited bandwidth, you can binge-watch your favorite content day & night!

We should also mention ExpressVPN’s device support. Apart from being the best risk-free VPN for Mac, you can use it on Android, iOS, Windows, Linux, Smart TV, or any other device. Plus, there are 8 simultaneous connections, making it a great family service.

The aforementioned 24/7 live chat support is here, too! This means that you can get help at any time of the day thanks to instantaneous responses from the customer support team. Anyway, you get the idea of the level of quality you’re going to get here.

This is THE best VPN for Mac in 2024 and if you want no compromises, this is the one to go for. Besides, you already know the trick to use it for free for 30 days, so you won’t have any issues. To learn more, check our ExpressVPN review.

Get 45 Days of Risk-Free Use With CyberGhost!

Okay, so CyberGhost is one of the most reliable services your money can buy. It’s significantly cheaper than ExpressVPN and packs a huge 45-day money-back guarantee that covers all subscription plans, aside from the 1-month plan with a 14-day refund policy.

Regardless, it can be a great free VPN for macOS if you decide to get it. CyberGhost is a premium service, so you need to buy a subscription. For that, we strongly recommend using the red button below, which will take you straight to the cheapest plan, allowing you to get it immediately.

Try CyberGhost For 45 Days Risk-Free

Simply click the red button, choose a subscription plan, and select your payment methods from the list. You can pay using credit/debit cards, crypto, or PayPal, so it’s your choice. Make sure you enter your email, of course, and complete the payment.

Once you do that, CyberGhost will let you create a new password and you’re ready to download the app. From here, you can use it however you want, thanks to unlimited bandwdith and everything else, so you can enjoy your 45 days of risk-free use like a boss!

Then, if you really want a refund, you should contact its support through live chat and say so. They won’t ask you too many questions, and in most cases, they’ll issue a refund without quibble. This way, you’ll get your money back fully, not losing a dollar in the process – such a great 45-day free macOS VPN!

Why Use CyberGhost Instead of a 100% Free VPN for macOS?

In case you’re wondering why using CyberGhost and not a totally free VPN is a better idea, know that this provider won’t limit your bandwidth and performance. You’ll get unlimited traffic with at least 10 Gbps speeds, providing plenty of decent speeds and performance.

In addition, CyberGhost boasts nearly 12,000 servers in more than 100 countries, which is super impressive. Many of these servers are streaming-friendly, so using the provider for unblocking Netflix, HBO Max, and foreign TV channels is a breeze.

macOS users will also like P2P servers for torrenting, which, in conjunction with WireGuard support, provide extremely fast speeds. Also, AES-256 encryption is used by the provider for encrypting your traffic but you also get a kill switch, split tunneling, and IPv6 leak protection.

We like the addition of an ad blocker that’s very efficient, as well as NoSpy servers that are operated by CyberGhost directly for added privacy. No doubt, it stores no logs of your IP, DNS requests, and browsing history, which was verified by Deloitte in 2024.

Transparency reports are here too and CyberGhost is dedicated to making itself 100% trustworthy. Finally, it offers 7 simultaneous connections and supports ALL platforms, so you’re not limited only to Mac, as it can be used on iOS, Android, Windows, and Linux.

Having said that, I think it’s more than clear why CyberGhost is so revered. Keep in mind that, while not free, its price can go as low as around $2 a month, a tad above, so it’s pretty close to a totally free VPN for Mac. You have $2 a month to spend on a VPN – right?

Not Enough With ExpressVPN or CyberGhost? Use NordVPN for Free for 30 Days!

Another great free VPN for macOS is NordVPN. Thankfully, it’s very easy to use risk-free because it offers the same 30-day money-back guarantee for all subscription plans. However, bear in mind that NordVPN is a bit cheaper in the long run, catering to budget users better.

Nevertheless, to use NordVPN for Mac for free, just get its subscription first. Its long-term plans are priced very reasonably, with discounts reaching up to 60%. Once you get it, you’re free to use it with no limits, aside from a 30-day refund period.

Use NordVPN for 30 Days for FREE

Should you decide to get a refund, you can do so right before the first 30 days expire. In this case, contact NordVPN’s live chat support, and say that you want your money back, and they should issue a refund right away.

If they ask you why, use the trick I talked about before – say that you just don’t need it anymore. Depending on the payment method you used, the money should be returned to you in less than 3 business days, so you lose nothing.

This is the best way of using a free VPN for Mac and taking full advantage of it. Much like ExpressVPN, NordVPN offers so much more compared to free providers that you’ll most likely want to continue using its service.

Why NordVPN Instead of a Totally Free Mac VPN?

One of these features is a huge server fleet. The provider comes with 6,100+ of them in 60+ countries, boasting a network that could shame many other providers. Furthermore, it comes with unlimited bandwidth and great speeds, which Mac users will surely appreciate.

NordVPN also focuses on privacy and security. Sure, it’s based in Panama and offers a verified no-logs policy, proving that it stores absolutely no logs. However, we also like its security features, from 256-bit encryption to NordLynx protocol which makes things much better.

Not to mention a kill switch or even a Double VPN for doubling your level of encryption. This is all backed up by P2P dedicated servers and obfuscated servers for bypassing censorship in China. What’s more, NordVPN offers CyberSec, an ad-blocker for getting rid of annoying pop-ups online!

They’re more prevalent on streaming sites, where NordVPN found its home ground. It works with many Netflix libraries, including the ones in the US, UK, Canada, Japan, and many others. Platforms like Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max are also easily unblocked outside the US.

This makes NordVPN extremely versatile, especially due to its cheap price. Unlike ExpressVPN, it offers 6 simultaneous connections on one account, which is a bit better. Device support is excellent, so you can install it on any platform your brain can fathom.

Arguably, its 24/7 live chat support is one of the best in the business. Coupled with a sleek app design, overwhelming server network, and state-of-the-art security, NordVPN is a treat for your Mac but an even bigger treat to you as its user!

Now that you know how to use it for free for 30 days, feel free to try it as well. You have nothing to lose, yet, you’ll spend some quality time with this VPN.

Top 6 Best REALLY Free VPN for Mac – Our Favorite Choices

With NordVPN, CyberGhost, and ExpressVPN, you can experience the vast online space to the fullest. However, we have a few favorite free VPNs for Mac that we promised to talk about. Besides, there are 6 of them, so you’ll have a lot of choices after reading this article.

Before divulging our list, we just want to clarify a couple of things. These top free VPNs for Mac are 100% free, so they don’t require you to pay anything or give out your credit card info. Some of them are usable even without creating an account, making them easy to set up.

Now that you know the real deal, let’s continue in the same fashion with the 6 best 100% free macOS VPNs:

1. ProtonVPN

Our favorite free VPN for Mac is ProtonVPN and there are a couple of reasons for that. First, ProtonVPN offers unlimited bandwidth on its free plan, which we rarely see in free providers. This allows you to browse the web infinitely, without worrying about wasting allowed data.

Second, ProtonVPN is really secure – even more than some paid VPNs! Even in the free version, it comes with bank-grade encryption, a reliable kill switch, and split tunneling. You can also find IP leak protection, WireGuard support, and the so-called VPN accelerator.

Based in Switzerland, you can expect ProtonVPN to be satisfying privacy-wise. I mean, it won’t store any unnecessary logs, and because of Swiss stringent privacy laws, the government won’t bother ProtonVPN to hand out any information.

Its app is easy to use on Mac as well and to use it, you just need to make a free account. Since this is a free VPN for Mac, I must address the elephant in the room – a couple of them. Namely, ProtonVPN, despite unlimited bandwidth, offers very slow speeds.

This makes it unsuitable for streaming due to the frequent buffering that you’re going to experience. Speaking of which, ProtonVPN doesn’t work with Netflix and other streaming services, so unblocking any of them won’t be possible.

Partly, this has to do with its 3 server locations – the US, Netherlands, and Japan, which aren’t enough to bypass geo-restrictions efficiently. Furthermore, ProtonVPN doesn’t allow for P2P on a free plan and excludes some of the bonus security features that paid users get.

Perhaps the most infuriating thing here is the lack of 24/7 live chat support and not the best device compatibility. With all of these downsides, ProtonVPN is the best free VPN for Mac if you’re looking to browse the web safely and anonymously, and nothing more.

As said, it’s completely free, making its setup that much easier. Just visit its site, choose the free plan, make an account, and you’re all set up. It’s forever free, so you can use it infinitely – at least that’s a bit of solace!

Visit ProtonVPN

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2. Hide.me

Hide.me is an excellent VPN, with a free plan that some users will find useful. Its premium variant is much better though, but if you have a shoestring budget, hear me out. Hide.me’s forte is security and an overwhelming focus on user privacy.

In the free version, you’ll get all security features, ranging from 256-bit encryption and a kill switch to OpenVPN support and split tunneling. WireGuard support is reserved for paid users, which I dislike given that ProtonVPN gives this protocol to free users as well.

On the brighter side, Hide.me is based in Malaysia and this is a very privacy-friendly jurisdiction. Even better is the fact that it has a certified zero-logging policy, making sure that users indeed have the maximum level of privacy.

Its app is very easy to use as well and surprisingly, the speeds aren’t that bad! Unsurprisingly, you get 10 GB of monthly data, which is all but enough in 2024. After spending your 10 GB, Hide.me will give you unlimited bandwidth, but in this case, the connection speed is so slow that even a snail would seem hasty.

What about 5 server locations? If you didn’t know, this free VPN for Mac offers 2 server locations in the US, with the other 3 located in Germany, Canada, and the Netherlands – still not good enough!

Streaming support is non-existent as well. This means that Hide.me won’t work with Netflix and even if it did, with 10 GB of bandwidth, you can barely watch 5 episodes of a show. Unlike ExpressVPN or NordVPN, this VPN gives you only one connection.

This means that, once you install it on your Mac, you can’t protect any other device unless you uninstall it from your macOS PC. At least it offers 24/7 live chat support which not many free providers will give you.

To get this free VPN for Mac in 2024, you just need a free account – as is the case with ProtonVPN. After that, you get your 10 GB so good luck enjoying the entire month of browsing the web.

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3. TunnelBear

As we move down the list of our favorite free VPNs for Mac, we have TunnelBear. TunnelBear is a cute-looking application with a focus on great visuals and its brown bear mascot. And the good thing is that it’s really good – I mean the bear, of course.

Jokes aside, TunnelBear comes with more than 500 servers in around 30+ countries, all of which are accessible in the free version. Therefore, it has the largest server network out of all free VPNs. Security-wise, you can expect its bear to keep you safe enough.

With features like a kill switch, a high level of encryption, and GhostBear for bypassing censorship, I think that free users will be satisfied enough. Its no-logging policy isn’t very trustworthy due to its Canadian jurisdiction, which isn’t the pinnacle of privacy.

However, TunnelBear had no issues with logging, so it’s still a viable option. What’s not so great is its tiny 2 GB monthly bandwidth cap. It means nothing for Mac users, as you can waste it in about 2 minutes by watching a 4K video on YouTube.

Even Netflix won’t work here and TunnelBear won’t be great for Hulu, BBC iPlayer, or Hotstar. I would also like to mention its customer support. It’s easily one of the worst in the business, with no 24/7 live chat option and poor response times that can reach up to 72 hours.

What’s more, its paid plans do almost nothing except give you unlimited bandwidth, so it’s not worth upgrading. In this case, you’re much better off with NordVPN or ExpressVPN. But if you want a really free VPN with no need to pay any money, you can consider TunnelBear.

That is if you don’t mind the annoying 2 GB cap which is as annoying as a mosquito in the summer.

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4. Hotspot Shield

Hotspot Shield is a free VPN that defines the term “mixed bag” perfectly. Much like Hide.me, it’s primarily a premium VPN but there’s a free plan that seems attractive for some users. What does it offer? Glad you asked – not too much.

You get a nice-looking black-themed application that looks modern, yet sleek and sophisticated. Inside the app, you’ll see that the service offers some security features like a kill switch and Hydra, a proprietary protocol from Hotspot Shield.

There’s even IP leak protection and split tunneling called Smart VPN here. Apart from these security features, Hotspot Shield offers nothing impressive. However, you get 500 MB of daily data, which ends up being ~15 GB a month if you could carry unspent data into the next day.

Hotspot Shield is the only VPN that doesn’t have a no-logs policy on this list. If you check it out, you’ll see that this VPN stores quite a lot of user information and even sells it to third parties if you use a free plan – be careful!

In the app, you’ll find only one server location, which is the US. This might lead you to think that it works with Netflix US, Hulu, or Disney+, but it doesn’t. So yeah, it’s not good for streaming either, especially because of very limited bandwidth.

Needless to say, 1 connection is what you’ll get here, with no 24/7 live chat support or anything else. Even worse are ads that Hotspot Shield will often display while using it on mobile as a free user, making it that much more annoying.

But if 500 MB a day is enough for you and you don’t mind its logging practices, Hotspot Shield might be a viable option.

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5. Windscribe

To end this list of the best free VPNs for Mac in 2024, let’s discuss Windscribe. This is a Canadian provider that built its reputation on a free plan that many people use. It offers nearly 500 servers and is probably one of the most unique applications for macOS.

With its minimalist look, Windscribe is very easy to use on both mobile and desktop platforms. What’s more, this VPN comes with rock-solid security, offering all the important features, some of which are WireGuard support, a kill switch, and OpenVPN.

Despite its Canadian jurisdiction, Windscribe has a no-logs policy, which is a plus for privacy-aware Mac users. I also like its performance that’s not bad given that we’re talking about a completely free Mac VPN app.

There’s more to Windscribe, though, and the important thing is its bandwidth limit. We’re talking about up to 10 GB a month if you make an account, which is the same thing you get on Hide.me. Here, it’s not enough either, especially for bandwidth-hungry activities.

Mac users of Windscribe won’t be able to watch Netflix or unblock BBC iPlayer abroad. Besides, Windscribe doesn’t offer streaming support in the free version, so you can forget about it right off the bat.

We also don’t like its fake live chat support, which makes you talk with Gary, an annoying chatbot, instead of a real human. And, to be honest, its Canadian jurisdiction isn’t the most trustworthy in terms of privacy, so we would rather go with something like ExpressVPN which’s based in the British Virgin Islands.

Is Windscribe a good free VPN for Mac, then? Yes, but it’s far from being the greatest. At least it lets you use it without an account but you only get 5 GB of bandwidth then.

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6. Atlas VPN

The second-best free VPN for Mac in 2024 is Atlas VPN. Atlas VPN is a relatively young provider on the market, offering both free and premium plans. Today, our focus is on free stuff, so we’ll talk about some of its great features for free users.

Let’s start with the good stuff – security. Atlas VPN is a subsidiary of NordVPN, so expecting lackluster security would be foolish. Much like its competition, it comes with military-grade encryption and a reliable automatic kill switch.

Free users also get WireGuard support, with the ability to change to IKEv2 if needed. Despite its US jurisdiction, Atlas VPN is a no-logging provider, with a certified no-logs policy to prove it. And, to be honest, it’s pretty easy to use, despite its outdated look.

Now that I stepped into the negative side of Atlas VPN, let me mention its 5 GB bandwidth cap. You’ve already seen it in Hide.me and it’s not good. What’s not good is the free server park – free users get only two locations – the US and the Netherlands.

This means that bypassing geo-restrictions isn’t possible, especially with no streaming servers in the free plan. Without streaming support, Mac users can’t watch Netflix or enjoy foreign TV channels abroad.

As you would expect from a free VPN, there’s only one connection. So, if you need protection for multiple devices simultaneously, you better check out its father company NordVPN. And if you need faster speeds because Atlas VPN is very slow, ExpressVPN is far better.

24/7 live chat support is available for premium users only and you can expect sub-par device support that excludes Linux and routers. However, the VPN is easy to set up and it’s free forever.

Visit Atlas VPN

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Shortcomings of a Free VPN for Mac

Before wrapping up this article, let’s quickly discuss the typical downsides of the best free VPNs for Macs. You’ve noticed that they’re not as great as their paid counterparts, so if you decide on a free option, look out for this:

Slow Speeds/Limited Bandwidth

You’ve already figured out that free Mac VPNs don’t exactly have the best performance. In 2024, that’s especially the case given how fast premium services like ExpressVPN and NordVPN have become.

At least 95% of free VPNs are very slow, making even basic browsing, not the best experience. Some VPNs like Hide.me and Windscribe are somewhat fast but they limit your bandwidth to 10 GB a month, which is another typical downside.

Whatever provider you choose, you’ll notice this typical trend. Usually, if you get unlimited bandwidth like in ProtonVPN, you can expect noticeably slower speeds. If bandwidth is limited, VPNs will slightly increase the connection speed to compensate for the lack of bandwidth.

Either way, you won’t find these compromises on paid services.

No Streaming Support

Mac users who love streaming will be greatly disappointed with free VPNs. None of them are great for streaming and the first reason for that is above – read it again. The second reason is that they simply don’t work with popular streaming platforms.

None of the free VPNs for Mac can unblock Netflix, Hotstar, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and similar services. This makes them a poor choice for entertainment, except if all you do is read blogs and scroll through Facebook and Instagram endlessly.

Some free VPNs will be able to unblock foreign TV channels, however. But even then, with slow speeds and limited bandwidth, does it actually matter? I think not…

Questionable Security/Logging Practices

Lastly, we must bring security into the conversation. Security-wise, there are a few good free VPNs like ProtonVPN, Hide.me, and Atlas VPN. However, many of them are not secure and they could care less about your privacy.

Some of them include Hotspot Shield, Betternet, Hola VPN, and many others. They don’t have strong security and they’ll most likely collect and sell your personal info to third parties to be able to earn revenue.

If you don’t want to risk your privacy and enjoy maximum security, avoiding a majority of free VPNs for macOS is your best bet. With NordVPN or ExpressVPN, you have nothing to worry about in this department!

Conclusion

After everything we said, you have our go-to free VPN for Mac in 2024. We strongly recommend using ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, or NordVPN for free for 30 or 45 days. Sure, it’s limited to 30/45 days only, but this way, you’ll get unlimited bandwidth, great performance, and uncompromising security.

Try ExpressVPN for free Today

If you’re on a tight budget, you can check other 100% free Mac VPN services. Atlas VPN and ProtonVPN are the best ones but be aware that they have significantly more issues and aren’t suitable for streaming or downloading large files.

By having to pay nothing, you must be able to deal with some compromises. And with free VPNs, they’re numerous. However, you have the option to go for a premium provider with a money-back guarantee, which is always a much better decision.

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FAQ

If there’s something unclear about VPNs and macOS, let’s make it clear here:

How to use a free VPN for Mac?

Using a free VPN for Mac is like using any other app. If it’s a free VPN, just download the app from the Apple Store, sign up/sign in, and connect to a server to start using it. Paid VPNs are almost the same, except for purchasing a subscription beforehand.

Once you get a subscription, everything else is the same. Visit the Apple Store, find the corresponding app, sign in, and use it with no problems.

How to change my IP on Mac for free?

Changing your IP on a Mac is always the safest with a VPN. For this purpose, we recommend ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, or NordVPN but free VPNs can do the job as well. Although they don’t have many server locations, so you most likely won’t be able to get the IP you want.

Anyway, changing your IP on a Mac with a Virtual Private Network is simple. Just connect to a server in the country whose IP you want to get. For instance, if you want a US IP, connect to a server in the United States, and so forth.

Will a Mac VPN work on iOS?

Sure, it’ll work flawlessly. Since we’re talking about iOS, you’ll need to use your iPad or iPhone to download the app from the Apple Store. Once you do that, the rest is exactly the same – signing up, connecting to a server, and securing your connection.

Which free macOS VPNs should I avoid?

The last thing we’ll address is that you shouldn’t use random free Mac VPNs. We listed the best ones and as you see, even they’re imperfect. However, we’ll mention a few more that you should avoid due to various problems.

• Hola VPN. This VPN has a Mac app with unlimited bandwidth and plenty of locations. However, it suffers from excessive logging, poor security, and data-selling practices. We strongly advise against using it, despite its ability to unblock a few Netflix catalogs. These commodities come at the price of your privacy.
• Urban VPN. It’s very similar to Hola VPN but with half the performance. With unlimited traffic and a respectable server fleet, it’s surprisingly slow and offers no security features. Not to mention it’s prone to IP/DNS leaks and doesn’t work for streaming. Everything is topped by intrusive logging that aims to destroy your privacy.
• Turbo VPN. A VPN that barely works. It’s limited to a few server locations, has nothing to do with “turbo”, and performs poorly. As is the case with the two previous VPNs, it stores logs and comes with ridiculously expensive paid plans that don’t improve the situation much. Check our Turbo VPN review for more information.