Best VPNs for Mac: Complete Feature Comparison 2025
Independent analysis of VPN features specifically for macOS users. Based on comprehensive research of Mac-specific features, security audits, and real-world performance testing.
Mac-Specific Focus: This comparison prioritizes features that matter most to macOS users, including Network Extensions integration, split tunneling availability (rare on Mac), and native app quality.
Key Findings for Mac Users
✓ What Works Well on Mac:
- • Kill switches are standard across all major VPNs
- • Network Extensions provide system-level integration
- • WireGuard/modern protocols perform excellently
- • Native macOS apps are generally well-designed
⚠ Mac-Specific Limitations:
- • Split tunneling is rare (only a few providers)
- • Some advanced features require manual configuration
- • App Store versions may have limited functionality
- • System permission dialogs can be confusing
Top VPN Recommendations for Mac
Best Overall
#1NordVPNScore: 9.0/10
Panama
Audited
Low Risk
Verified 2025-08-21Why This VPN for Mac:
- ✓Includes kill switch protection
- ✓Recently audited by Deloitte (2024)
- ✓Based in privacy-friendly Panama
- ✓Supports 10 simultaneous connections
Consider:
- !No split tunneling support on macOS
Key Details:
Price (2yr):$3.09/mo
Connections:10
Servers:7,400
Countries:125
Speed:Very Fast
Mac Features:
No Split Tunneling
Kill Switch
NordLynx
OpenVPN
IKEv2
Streaming Performance:
Netflix US: works
Apple TV+: works
YouTube TV: works
Peacock: works
Disney+ US: works
Hulu: works
BBC iPlayer: works
ITVX: works
Channel 4: works
Crave: works
Stan: works
Discovery+: works
ESPN+: works
Crunchyroll: works
#2VyprVPNScore: 9.0/10
Switzerland
Audited
Verified 2025-08-21Why This VPN for Mac:
- ✓Supports split tunneling on macOS (rare feature)
- ✓Includes kill switch protection
- ✓Independently audited no-logs policy
- ✓Supports 30 simultaneous connections
Consider:
- !Audit may be outdated
Key Details:
Price (2yr):$3.75/mo
Connections:30
Servers:700
Countries:64
Speed:Average
Mac Features:
Split Tunneling
Kill Switch
WireGuard
OpenVPN
IKEv2
Chameleon
Streaming Performance:
Netflix US: works
Apple TV+: mixed
YouTube TV: fails
Peacock: mixed
Disney+ US: works
Hulu: mixed
BBC iPlayer: works
ITVX: mixed
Channel 4: mixed
Crave: fails
Stan: fails
Discovery+: fails
ESPN+: fails
Crunchyroll: mixed
#3SurfsharkScore: 8.0/10
Netherlands
Audited
High Risk
Verified 2025-08-21Why This VPN for Mac:
- ✓Supports split tunneling on macOS (rare feature)
- ✓Includes kill switch protection
- ✓Recently audited by Deloitte (2025)
- ✓Excellent value for money
- ✓Unlimited simultaneous connections
Consider:
- !Jurisdiction risk: HIGH JURISDICTIONAL RISK: Netherlands is Nine Eyes member with expansive surveillance powers under Wiv 2017. Strong technical audits but legal environment hostile to privacy. Potential for secret orders compelling data collection.
Key Details:
Price (2yr):$2.19/mo
Connections:Unlimited
Servers:3,200
Countries:100
Speed:Fast
Mac Features:
Split Tunneling
Kill Switch
WireGuard
IKEv2
OpenVPN
Streaming Performance:
Netflix US: works
Apple TV+: works
YouTube TV: mixed
Peacock: mixed
Disney+ US: works
Hulu: works
BBC iPlayer: works
ITVX: works
Channel 4: works
Crave: mixed
Stan: mixed
Discovery+: works
ESPN+: mixed
Crunchyroll: works
#4WindscribeScore: 8.0/10
Canada
Audited
Verified 2025-08-21Why This VPN for Mac:
- ✓Supports split tunneling on macOS (rare feature)
- ✓Includes kill switch protection
- ✓Recently audited by Packetlabs (2024)
- ✓Excellent value for money
- ✓Unlimited simultaneous connections
Key Details:
Price (2yr):$3.00/mo
Connections:Unlimited
Servers:400
Countries:69
Speed:Average
Mac Features:
Split Tunneling
Kill Switch
WireGuard
OpenVPN
IKEv2
Stealth
Streaming Performance:
Netflix US: works
Apple TV+: mixed
YouTube TV: works
Peacock: mixed
Disney+ US: mixed
Hulu: works
BBC iPlayer: works
ITVX: works
Channel 4: works
Crave: mixed
Stan: mixed
Discovery+: mixed
ESPN+: mixed
Crunchyroll: mixed
#5IPVanishScore: 8.0/10
United States
Audited
Verified 2025-08-21Why This VPN for Mac:
- ✓Supports split tunneling on macOS (rare feature)
- ✓Includes kill switch protection
- ✓Recently audited by Schellman Compliance, LLC (2025)
- ✓Unlimited simultaneous connections
Key Details:
Price (2yr):$3.33/mo
Connections:Unlimited
Servers:2,400
Countries:90
Speed:Average
Mac Features:
Split Tunneling
Kill Switch
WireGuard
OpenVPN
IKEv2
Streaming Performance:
Netflix US: works
Apple TV+: works
YouTube TV: mixed
Peacock: works
Disney+ US: works
Hulu: works
BBC iPlayer: works
ITVX: mixed
Channel 4: mixed
Crave: mixed
Stan: fails
Discovery+: works
ESPN+: works
Crunchyroll: works
#6Proton VPNScore: 8.0/10
Switzerland
Audited
Verified 2025-08-21Why This VPN for Mac:
- ✓Includes kill switch protection
- ✓Recently audited by Securitum (2024)
- ✓Supports 10 simultaneous connections
Consider:
- !No split tunneling support on macOS
Key Details:
Price (2yr):$4.99/mo
Connections:10
Servers:14,000
Countries:122
Speed:Fast
Mac Features:
No Split Tunneling
Kill Switch
WireGuard
IKEv2
OpenVPN
Stealth
Streaming Performance:
Netflix US: works
Apple TV+: works
YouTube TV: mixed
Peacock: mixed
Disney+ US: works
Hulu: works
BBC iPlayer: works
ITVX: works
Channel 4: works
Crave: mixed
Stan: mixed
Discovery+: mixed
ESPN+: mixed
Crunchyroll: works
#7Mullvad VPNScore: 7.0/10
Sweden
Audited
Verified 2025-08-21Why This VPN for Mac:
- ✓Supports split tunneling on macOS (rare feature)
- ✓Includes kill switch protection
- ✓Recently audited by Cure53 (2024)
Key Details:
Price (2yr):$5.00/mo
Connections:5
Servers:900
Countries:45
Speed:Fast
Mac Features:
Split Tunneling
Kill Switch
WireGuard
OpenVPN
Streaming Performance:
Netflix US: mixed
Apple TV+: fails
YouTube TV: fails
Peacock: fails
Disney+ US: fails
Hulu: fails
BBC iPlayer: fails
ITVX: fails
Channel 4: fails
Crave: fails
Stan: fails
Discovery+: fails
ESPN+: fails
Crunchyroll: fails
#8ExpressVPNScore: 7.0/10
British Virgin Islands
Audited
Low Risk
Verified 2025-08-21Why This VPN for Mac:
- ✓Includes kill switch protection
- ✓Recently audited by KPMG (2025)
- ✓Based in privacy-friendly British Virgin Islands
Consider:
- !No split tunneling support on macOS
Key Details:
Price (2yr):$6.67/mo
Connections:8
Servers:3,000
Countries:105
Speed:Fast
Mac Features:
No Split Tunneling
Kill Switch
Lightway
OpenVPN
IKEv2
Streaming Performance:
Netflix US: works
Apple TV+: works
YouTube TV: works
Peacock: works
Disney+ US: works
Hulu: works
BBC iPlayer: works
ITVX: works
Channel 4: works
Crave: works
Stan: works
Discovery+: works
ESPN+: works
Crunchyroll: works
#9CyberGhost VPNScore: 6.0/10
Romania
Audited
Verified 2025-08-21Why This VPN for Mac:
- ✓Includes kill switch protection
- ✓Recently audited by Deloitte (2024)
- ✓Excellent value for money
Consider:
- !No split tunneling support on macOS
Key Details:
Price (2yr):$2.03/mo
Connections:7
Servers:11,500
Countries:100
Speed:Average
Mac Features:
No Split Tunneling
Kill Switch
WireGuard
OpenVPN
IKEv2
Streaming Performance:
Netflix US: works
Apple TV+: mixed
YouTube TV: mixed
Peacock: works
Disney+ US: works
Hulu: works
BBC iPlayer: works
ITVX: mixed
Channel 4: mixed
Crave: works
Stan: mixed
Discovery+: works
ESPN+: works
Crunchyroll: works
#10Private Internet AccessScore: 5.0/10
United StatesVerified 2025-08-21
Why This VPN for Mac:
- ✓Supports split tunneling on macOS (rare feature)
- ✓Includes kill switch protection
- ✓Excellent value for money
- ✓Unlimited simultaneous connections
Consider:
- !No independent audit of no-logs policy
Key Details:
Price (2yr):$2.03/mo
Connections:Unlimited
Servers:3,300
Countries:84
Speed:Average
Mac Features:
Split Tunneling
Kill Switch
WireGuard
OpenVPN
IKEv2
Streaming Performance:
Netflix US: works
Apple TV+: mixed
YouTube TV: works
Peacock: mixed
Disney+ US: works
Hulu: works
BBC iPlayer: mixed
ITVX: mixed
Channel 4: mixed
Crave: mixed
Stan: fails
Discovery+: mixed
ESPN+: mixed
Crunchyroll: mixed
#11IVPNScore: 5.0/10
Gibraltar
Audited
Verified 2025-08-21Why This VPN for Mac:
- ✓Includes kill switch protection
- ✓Recently audited by Cure53 (2024)
Consider:
- !No split tunneling support on macOS
Key Details:
Price (2yr):$6.00/mo
Connections:7
Servers:200
Countries:37
Speed:Fast
Mac Features:
No Split Tunneling
Kill Switch
WireGuard
OpenVPN
IPSec
Streaming Performance:
Netflix US: mixed
Apple TV+: fails
YouTube TV: fails
Peacock: fails
Disney+ US: fails
Hulu: fails
BBC iPlayer: mixed
ITVX: fails
Channel 4: fails
Crave: fails
Stan: fails
Discovery+: fails
ESPN+: fails
Crunchyroll: fails
#12TunnelBearScore: 4.0/10
Canada
Audited
Verified 2025-08-21Why This VPN for Mac:
- ✓Includes kill switch protection
- ✓Recently audited by Cure53 (2023)
Consider:
- !No split tunneling support on macOS
Key Details:
Price (2yr):$4.17/mo
Connections:5
Servers:5,000
Countries:47
Speed:Slow
Mac Features:
No Split Tunneling
Kill Switch
OpenVPN
IKEv2
Streaming Performance:
Netflix US: fails
Apple TV+: fails
YouTube TV: fails
Peacock: fails
Disney+ US: fails
Hulu: fails
BBC iPlayer: fails
ITVX: fails
Channel 4: fails
Crave: fails
Stan: fails
Discovery+: fails
ESPN+: fails
Crunchyroll: fails
macOS VPN Setup: What to Expect
Network Extensions Permission
Modern VPNs use Apple's Network Extensions framework for system-level integration. You'll see permission dialogs that look official and secure.
- • System will ask for VPN configuration permission
- • May require admin password
- • Creates a VPN profile in System Preferences
- • Allows automatic connection management
Common Setup Steps
- Download VPN app from provider's website
- Install and launch the application
- Grant Network Extensions permission when prompted
- Enter your VPN account credentials
- Choose your preferred server location
- Connect and verify your new IP address
Our Testing Methodology
Mac-Specific Testing
- • Native macOS app functionality
- • Network Extensions integration
- • Split tunneling availability
- • Kill switch effectiveness
- • System resource usage
Security & Privacy
- • Independent security audits
- • No-logs policy verification
- • Jurisdiction analysis
- • DNS leak testing
- • WebRTC leak protection
Performance Testing
- • Speed tests from multiple locations
- • Streaming service unblocking
- • Connection reliability
- • Server network coverage
- • Protocol performance comparison
Transparency Note: This comparison is based on independent research and testing. We may earn affiliate commissions from some providers, but this doesn't influence our rankings. All scores are calculated using objective criteria including Mac-specific features, security audits, and performance testing. Last updated: 2025-08-27.