Best VPNs For Mac 2021: Forbes Advisor’s Top 5 Picks

We chose ExpressVPN as our top pick because of the combination of downloading speeds, sterling reputation as a first-rate company and user-friendly features. And while it comes at a cost of $99 per year, it’s still a solid value for the functionality it provides. Simply put, it’s a great fit for all kinds of small businesses.

One of the factors that distinguish ExpressVPNfrom its competitors is how easy it is to use. The Mac version of the service is particularly user-friendly. Like all the other VPNs we analyzed, ExpressVPN uses AES-256 encryption that ensures privacy of all information that travels across the web. ExpressVPN continually proves that it’s one of the fastest VPNs and most secure VPNs on the market.

Who Should Use It: Those who aren’t afraid to splurge for a high-quality Mac VPN.

One of the great features of Surfshark is the ability to connect to an unlimited number of devices simultaneously. Whether you need a VPN for work or play, Surfshark’s airtight system allows you to connect with tablets, smart TVs, and laptops, and Surfshark comes standard with a split tunneling feature, named Whitelister, which allows you to choose what connects through the VPN and what connects directly to the internet. This is a good fit if you use a lot of different devices throughout your work day.

After a 30-day free trial, Surfshark offers subscriptions on a monthly, six-month and twoyear basis. Annual plans start at $59.76.

Who Should Use It: Anyone who’s looking for an affordable and reliable VPN should consider Surfshark.

Boasting exceptional speed and an abundance of servers, HMA is a versatile option for a business or personal VPN.

With HMA, you’ll have more than 1,000 servers to choose from across 290 locations and peace of mind knowing your traffic is being protected by 256-bit key encryption, the gold standard.

While some VPNs can make it difficult to cancel a subscription, HMA makes the process smooth and painless. Just simply hit “Cancel Subscription” on your VPN control panel and the service will not renew.Unlike their rivals, HMA doesn’t have a monthly subscription. The shortest term length that HMA offers is a year for $59.88.

Who Should Use It: Those looking for an affordable annual-only VPN subscription.

NordVPN remains one of the top VPNs on the market—and for good reason. Whether you are an individual user or a budding entrepreneur, the service provides a wealth of features at a fair price.

NordVPN users can connect six devices simultaneously and access more than 5,400 servers spread across about 60 countries.
Feature-wise, NordVPN packs a lot under the hood: a kill switch, DNS-leak detection, dedicated IP address (as an add-on), split tunneling and more—all easy to navigate thanks to its simplified user-friendly interface. It also offers a team-based version for businesses with management dashboards.

As a way to improve the speed of the product, NordVPN recently launched a VPN protocol called NordLynx. An extension of WireGuard, the secure protocol is newer than other protocols such as OpenVPN and IKEv2.

When it comes to price, NordVPN offers a two-year plan that costs $4.13 per month, with the one-year plan going for $4.92 per month. The month-by-month plan costs $11.95.

Who Should Use It: Although it’s not the leader of the pack, NordVPN is still a reliable option for a VPN. It remains an affordable and inexpensive VPN.

Private Internet Access (PIA) is one of the most popular VPNs on the market for consumers and business users alike. It’s well known for its commitment to user privacy and no logs policy. In fact, it’s our top pick for best VPN on the market, full stop.

PIA uses the industry standard AES-256 encryption and WireGuard, a new open-source protocol that translates to faster speeds with the same level of security.

We also like the ability to add on a dedicated IP address a la carte to your subscription for an extra $5 per month. The standard annual plan starts at $39.95.

Additionally, Private Internet Access offers a seven-day money-back guarantee, if you decide that your team does not like it.

Note: It is worth mentioning that, despite their competitive prices and robust features, some in the cybersecurity community have reservations about CyberGhost and PIA, which are both owned by Kape Technologies. That organization has a checkered past for creating malware, and their products are not subject to third-party review like competing systems. Kape Technologies has repeatedly stood by the integrity of its VPNs, but consumers should keep these in mind if they are especially wary of privacy.

Who Should Use It: If you own several devices and need a VPN at an affordable price, Private Internet Access is a good option.