Looking for a free VPN for Mac in 2024? Protecting yourself from online threats and cyber attacks is more important than ever, and while free VPNs aren’t as secure as paid ones, they still offer a good level of protection and privacy.
In this article, we’ll discuss the top 10 free VPNs for Mac in 2024 so that you can make an informed decision about which one is right for you.
But first, what is a VPN and why do you need it?
What Is a VPN and Why You Need It
You need a VPN. Yes, you do, especially if you want to browse the internet free from prowling eyes.
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A VPN establishes a secure connection between your device and the web by routing your network traffic through a server in a location of your choice.
Want to get past censored information from the government, use torrents and avoid being flagged for visiting any website of your choice? A trusted Virtual Private Network is all you need.
And you’d browse the internet without fearing being monitored by your internet service provider, your school, or your government.
In short, with a trusted VPN, you can conveniently share very personal and financial details without the fear of vulnerability and theft.
Now that you know this, you should then consider the following factors in choosing the best free VPNs for your Mac this year.
Factors to Determine Best free VPNs for Mac
1. Is it secure?
The main reason you need a VPN is security. What’s the point of a VPN if your privacy isn’t guaranteed? A VPN should boast of a strong security setup that helps keep your internet activities private.
2. Is it fast?
Before getting on to a VPN, one question you want to ask is: is it fast? If you’re secure but your access to the net is throttled, you wouldn’t enjoy the service. A good VPN provider shouldn’t make you wait forever before you accomplish your tasks on the internet.
3. Is it reliable?
How reliable a free VPN is would show how much value would be enjoyed from its premium version. In terms of reliability, you should check if the VPN is taking all day to connect. Also, how many servers are provided, and what does the server speed level look like?
Now that we know what to look out for before settling with a free VPN, let’s now check out the top 10 free VPNs for the year 2024.
Top 10 Free VPNs for Mac in 2024
If you’re looking to download and enjoy the best free VPN on your Macbook Pro, this list is useful.
1. NordVPN
NordVPN is one of the best free VPNs for Mac in 2024, providing a great balance of speed, security, and affordability. With it, you can enjoy unlimited access to servers located in over 60 countries around the world, so you can unblock sites and content from almost any region.
NordVPN also provides top-level encryption protocols, including OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec, L2TP/IPSec, and PPTP to protect your data while browsing online. It also features an intuitive user interface that makes it easy to connect to the best VPN server for your needs.
With the app on Mac, you can take advantage of the automatic kill switch and DNS leak protection options. These features ensure that your data and identity remain safe, even if your connection is lost or disrupted.
Other advanced features include double VPN, Onion over VPN, and dedicated IP addresses.
Looking for a reliable and secure free VPN for Mac in 2024, NordVPN is a great choice. It offers excellent privacy protection, great speeds, and unlimited server access.
| Price | Pros | Cons |
| Standard: $14.49 per month | Protection from DDoS attacks | No protection from voluntary data collection |
| Prevents bandwidth throttling | Not available in certain locations |
2. Surfshark
Surfshark is also among the list of top free VPNs for Mac in 2024. It offers a secure and fast connection while protecting your online privacy. The service is easy to use and offers unlimited simultaneous connections, making it ideal for Mac users who need to protect multiple devices at once.
The provider comes with a range of features, including AES 256-bit encryption, a strict no-logs policy, and built-in malware protection. It also supports multiple protocols, including IKEv2 and OpenVPN, allowing you to pick the protocol that best suits your needs.
You can enjoy full access to all Surfshark features on Mac for free. All you need to do is download the app from the App Store, create an account, and enjoy unlimited VPN protection without any restrictions. With Surfshark’s 30-day money-back guarantee, you can try the service risk-free.
Surfshark offers excellent security and privacy features and allows you to enjoy unrestricted access to the internet with no bandwidth limits. With its free version, you can test the service before you decide to purchase a subscription.
| Price | Pros | Cons |
| 1 month plan: $12.95 | Strong encryption | Not strong social media presence |
| 24 months: $2.49/mon | Very safe connection | Inconsistent P2P traits |
| 12 months: $3.99 | Multi-hop connection |
3. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is another great free VPNs for Mac users in 2024. It provides top-notch encryption, fast speeds, and reliable connection. With it, you can safely unblock websites and streaming services, access geo-restricted content, and stay anonymous online.
ExpressVPN offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee so that you can try it out risk-free. You can install it on up to five devices at the same time with a single subscription, making it one of the best VPNs for Mac users in terms of value for money.
| Price | Pros | Cons |
| 1 month: $12.95 | Super fast | Price is on the high side |
| 6 months: $9.99 | Choice of protocols | |
| 12 months: $8.32 |
4. CyberGhost
If you’re looking for the best VPN for Mac in 2024, CyberGhost is an excellent choice. This powerful and easy-to-use tool offers a variety of features that make it a great fit for those seeking to enhance their online security and privacy.
The first benefit of CyberGhost is its zero-logging policy, which ensures that none of your online activity is recorded or stored by the provider. This policy also prevents any third-party from accessing your data.
In short, it is one of the few free VPNs that offers an automatic kill switch, which will instantly cut off your internet connection if it detects any suspicious activity.
CyberGhost also offers a range of servers located around the world, allowing you to unblock a variety of websites and services. You can also access restricted content in countries such as China, where many VPNs are blocked.
Its 256-bit AES encryption provides top-notch security while surfing the web, ensuring that your data remains secure at all times.
| Price | Pros | Cons |
| 1-month: $12.99 | Powerful protocols and encryption | Payment options are limited |
| 2 years + 4 months: $2.03: | Reliable speed | |
| 6-month $6.99 | Good pricing for long-term users |
5. UrbanVPN
If you’re looking to use the best free VPN for Mac this year, you should consider UrbanVPN. It offers strong privacy protection giving you a secure browsing experience.
With UrbanVPN, you also have access to 80 free working server locations. So, you have the opportunity to choose the one that best suits your needs.
Also, you can use the VPN on unlimited devices. It uses OpenVPN protocol which gives you optimal security and speed. UrbanVPN is unique in its offer of maximum protection for your online activities. It offers such powerful services as:
- Anonymous browsing
- ISP throttling
- Server locations
- Unlocking any website
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Unlimited devices
| Price | Pros | Cons |
| Absolutely free | User-friendly | No choice of servers |
6. Outbyte VPN
As one of the best VPNs for Mac in 2024, Outbyte VPN offers a free, secure and reliable connection. This VPN is especially great for Mac users, as it has apps designed specifically for macOS.
It offers one of the most comprehensive privacy and security encryption with state-of-the-art technological setup. With its rocket speed, reliable bandwidth and stable network, you’d have the best streaming experience like no other.
You don’t have to worry about your browsing history, because it’s all free of logs. You’re safe and private.
With access to a whopping 80 different locations, you can easily access geo-restricted content from anywhere around the world.
If you’re looking for the best free VPN for Mac in 2024, Outbyte VPN should be at the top of your list. Its features, speed and reliability make it one of the top choices for free VPNs for Mac users.
| Price | Pros | Cons |
| Monthly: $7.99 | No logs policy | |
| 1 year: $5.00/month | Plenty of server options | |
| 6-month plan: $6.33/month | Rocket speed |
7. Hotspot Shield
Hotspot Shield is one of the best VPNs for Mac users looking for a free solution in 2024. This VPN offers high-speed connections and an easy-to-use interface. It also provides users with up to 500 MB of data per day, making it a great choice for those who don’t need a large amount of bandwidth.
Hotspot Shield provides military-grade encryption and IP address masking. This makes it difficult for hackers to track your activity online and ensures that your data is secure. It also offers users a variety of protocols to choose from, including OpenVPN, IKEv2, and L2TP/IPSec. These protocols ensure that your connection is as secure as possible.
Hotspot Shield also has a feature called Malware Protection which scans your device for malicious programs. This feature helps to keep you safe from any potential threats that may be lurking on the web.
| Price | Pros | Cons |
| Premium: 7,99€/month | Good speed | |
| Premium family: 11,99€/month | Strong malware protection |
8. TunnelBear
TunnelBear is one of the best VPNs for Mac users in 2024 due to its ease of use and privacy features. It encrypts your connection using the OpenVPN protocol, which means you can trust your data to remain secure and private.
With a single subscription, you can connect up to five devices simultaneously, and the Mac version of the app includes a unique “GhostBear” feature that makes your data even more secure by obfuscating it from your ISP.
TunnelBear also offers an impressive variety of servers in 22 different countries, allowing you to access content from anywhere in the world. It’s also one of the few free VPNs for Mac that allows unlimited data usage and a generous 500MB per month of free data, making it one of the best VPNs for Mac free users.
| Price | Pros | Cons |
| Unlimited: $3.33/month | Free plan | 500MB data monthly limit |
| Teams: $5.75/month | Multiple devices | |
| Good speed |
9. Windscribe
Looking to download the best free VPN for mac? Try Windscribe. It provides users with a secure, private, and reliable connection to the internet and is free of charge.
It offers unlimited data with 10GB of data per month, and it also offers access to over 60 countries and 110 cities worldwide. It has strong encryption protocols and many advanced features, such as an ad-blocker and an internet kill switch.
Windscribe also offers a secure connection to public Wi-Fi networks and can be used on up to five devices simultaneously.
In short, Windscribe is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a free VPN for your Mac in 2024.
| Price | Pros | Cons |
| Monthly:plan $9 | 10GB of free plan | Not impressive speed |
| Yearly plan: $5.75 | No DNS leaks | No Netflix unlock |
| Government-grade encryption |
10. ProtonVPN
ProtonVPN is a great choice for Mac users looking for the best VPN for Mac free in 2024. With it you get high-speed connections with no logs and military-grade encryption. It also has a strict no-logs policy and is based in Switzerland which means user data is protected by some of the world’s strongest privacy laws.
One of the key features of ProtonVPN is its secure core technology, which routes all your traffic through multiple encrypted tunnels before leaving the network. This ensures that any hackers or surveillance agencies trying to intercept your data will be blocked by strong encryption.
Another useful feature is split tunneling, which allows you to route specific apps and websites through the secure ProtonVPN tunnel while leaving other connections unencrypted. This helps you keep your data safe while still being able to use all your favorite apps and services.
ProtonVPN offers a free plan with basic features that includes unlimited data and up to three device connections.
| Price | Pros | Cons |
| 1-month plan: 9.99€ | No logs | Connection is restricted |
| 1-year plan: 5.99€ | Data usage is unlimited | Not made for streaming services |
| 2-year plan: 4.99€ |
Conclusion
When you surf the internet, you can’t overlook your browsing privacy and security. If you do, you’re risking placing your personal information and financial details in the hands of hackers and other cyber urchins. However, you can avoid this if you choose any of the top 10 free VPNs for Mac in 2024.
And the best part? You can simply create your very own free VPN on Mac!