macOS: The best VPN Mac providers in comparison and how to set them up

You might be wondering if a VPN is on a MacOS (formerly also MAC OS or OS X) makes sense at all - and the answer is clearly yes! Even if you might think that your Apple computer (no matter if iMac, iMac Pro, Mac Pro or Mac mini) or your MacBook are armed against the dangers of the Internet, more and more criminals on the Internet are targeting Apple's own operating system and try hard to find even the smallest security hole.

But a VPN on a macOS system not only protects you from hackers, it guarantees you Privacy and anonymitywhen you surf the internet. In this way you leave no traces and make sure that your data does not get into the hands of third parties. Another plus for a VPN on a Mac is that you can access blocked sites and streaming services that your ISP (Internet Service Provider) are blocked.

As VPN software for Mac continues to grow in popularity, we have this for you best provider tested. We have the following here Ask asked: Which VPN software is compatible with Mac OS? What features do the respective services bring and how easy is it to set up a VPN on macOS? We will answer these questions for you - and show you the best providers in comparison.

What is a VPN?

VPN means Virtual Private Network - a virtual, private network - which is established as soon as you connect to a server. As with Windows users, macOS users should use a good VPN service in addition to a suitable antivirus. Office workers, schoolchildren or students, or users who log into public WLANs in particular benefit from a good VPN service. And that from one good reason: A VPN connection protects your data connections from the rest of the Internet. Instead of connecting to the Internet of your own ISP, that of your company, or that of a public Internet, a VPN server is interposed. All data exchange is therefore encrypted.

With the help of this technology, you can surf the Internet undisturbed without leaving any traces. You can also access streaming services that are otherwise inaccessible due to a country block.

Benefits of a VPN for Mac

Even though macOS is a stable, secure operating system, like Windows, it has security flaws that can be exploited by hackers. In addition, a macOS system alone does not guarantee privacy and anonymity. The most important advantages for a VPN client on macOS are:

Privacy

Internet privacy is becoming increasingly important for most users. Many of us are aware of the fact that our surfing behavior is being tracked. Accordingly, nobody enjoys the fact that pretty much everything you do on the Internet is recorded: whether it's the pages you have visited, products you have bought, or even e-mails that you have sent and received received. Bank details and passwords are not protected from this either.

Since many of these things are very personal, you naturally want to prevent them from being visible to third parties. Especially when it comes to surfing and buying behavior, this data often reaches companies and advertising agencies, which process our data accordingly and sometimes also resell it. This is not only a nuisance, but an invasion of our privacy.

It can also happen that if your information is already disclosed, it can be used by criminals to impersonate you. So it is only natural that you want to protect your privacy. A VPN software for your macOS thus prevents everyone from seeing you to spy on.

Safety

Aside from identity fraud, there are other dangers to your online security. Passwords represent a major security gap here. Nowadays, many sites require complex passwords that consist of numbers, capital letters and special letters. Since we cannot remember all passwords, we tend to use the same password for every page often. And that can be dangerous. So if a hacker has access to a password, he can use it on other sites as well.

The same applies to bank details or credit cards. You shouldn't log into your own bank account in public WLANs from the start. Logging in to conventional sites can also be dangerous. A hacker can intervene and read out bank details and passwords. A VPN prevents this completely.

Country lock

Another advantage of using a VPN on macOS is bypassing country blocks (also geoblocking called). By connecting to a server or location of your choice, you can access sites that are blocked by your ISP or your country. This can be useful in a number of ways.

Imagine that you are on vacation and would like to surf your home pages, which are, however, blocked in your vacation country. Thanks to a VPN, you can do this without any problems. Just dial into a server near your home and you're good to go. With a VPN on your Mac, you can easily change your location and experience the same internet fun as at home.

The same applies vice versa. You know the problem for sure - on some video sites you will see the message: “This video is not available in your country.” A VPN can help you bypass this. If you want to use a streaming service from abroad, but it is blocked, you can access it without any problems thanks to a VPN.

Set up VPN for Mac - how to start

Now, although you want to set up a VPN on your Mac computer or Macbook - it is easy, than thought. With the help of a VPN you can surf the Internet safely and with peace of mind with Safari & Co. The simplest methodTo set up VPN on your Mac, download and install the appropriate software for it. Which provider you ultimately choose depends primarily on whether it is also compatible with macOS Compatible is. Furthermore, you should be aware of which features the software should contain - do you want to say goodbye to annoying advertisements? Or bypass country blocks? All of these play an important role in your decision. Since the providers that we have tested must be set up similarly, we will explain to you using our test winner UltraVPNhow to set up a VPN on your Mac quickly and easily.

If you want to set up a VPN on your iPhone or iPad, you can here find detailed instructions.

Set up VPN on your Mac - a step by step guide

Which VPN provider for macOS is the best?

We have examined and tested numerous VPN services for macOS. In terms of price-performance ratio with the best all-round package, as already mentioned, our test winner won us over UltraVPN convinced in full length. Here is an overview of the best VPNs for Mac:

FAQs

Does a VPN make sense for Mac?

In any case. As with Windows, VPN software on macOS should be part of the standard software to ensure maximum security and anonymity. Since macOS is a very secure operating system, criminals are increasingly trying to find security holes and are targeting Apple products directly. In order to surf the Internet safely, you should definitely use VPN software. Especially if you want to surf in a public WLAN, you should definitely use a VPN.

Does my Mac have its own VPN?

macOS does not have a pre-installed VPN service, but it does support the most popular third-party VPN providers. In any case, it is advisable to use a paid, secure provider when deciding on a VPN. As with Windows, VPN software can be set up and installed very easily.

Are there also free VPN providers for Mac?

Yes - but it is always advisable to use a paid service. This is the only way to ensure that you really surf the Internet securely, anonymously and privately. In addition, most paid providers offer features that free providers do not have. Furthermore, free providers are often very slow and cause regular disconnections, which compresses your own security on the Internet. We definitely recommend buying VPN software. For a macOS-operated device, we recommend our test winner UltraVPN.