It is our job (and pleasure) to test more VPNs than most people do and select only the best for every use case and device.
If you’re an Apple device owner, you may be thinking about which VPN is right for you. Even more, which VPN will cover all your different devices — not just your Mac, but also your iPhone and perhaps an iPad. And that’s what this page is all about.
What follows is the list of best VPNs that work across Apple devices and that won’t let you down no matter what you throw at them. Whether you need a VPN to access a service or website that could otherwise be outside of your reach, to bypass a firewall in school or workplace, or just to anonymously browse the web — all services on this page are up for the task.
But I’ve said it enough. Here are the best VPNs for your Mac, iPhone and iPad:
Pros
Cons
- 5,000+ servers in the network
- Easy to use - install it and forget it
- One license is good for up to 6 devices
- Strict zero-logs policy
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Chrome extension is just a proxy
- You can't pay with PayPal
Summary
Its network includes more than 5,000 servers spread across 60 countries, which directly translates into faster speeds. NordVPN is also very secure, relying on the strong 256-bit encryption combined with secure VPN protocols (OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKEv2/IPSec). But as a user, you get a seamless experience with all this technology "doing its thing" in the background.
NordVPN is well suited to pretty much every task you throw at it — whether it's accessing a banned site from some country that filters out the internet, torrenting, accessing streaming services, or just wanting to keep a low profile on the web. It also doesn't keep any logs.
We highly recommend NordVPN to anyone looking for reliable service.
Pros
Cons
- Feature-rich yet easy to use
- One of the best VPNs around
- Strong no-logging policy
- Reliable support you can reach 24/7
- Limited number of servers in Africa and the Middle East
- Kinda pricey
Summary
ExpressVPN has great desktop apps for Windows and Mac, mobile apps and browser extensions. Also, it is well suited for video streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer and others.
However, what makes it stand out is its ease of use. We can't emphasize this enough. One could tell a lot of time has been spent making sure even the advanced features are easily accessible. And we love it for that. Plus, let's not forget ExpressVPN's speed which tends to leave other services in the dust.
Pros
Cons
- It's super fast!
- Works with Netflix, BBC and others
- Easy to use apps, browser extensions
- You can try it for free!
- Some advanced features are not configurable
- Not the best for high-censorship countries
Summary
Furthermore, thanks to the availability of browser extensions - Hotspot Shield is also one of our top choices for Chrome and Firefox VPNs.
Your privacy is equally well protected, with the software only collecting some anonymized that help continually improve its service.
There is one caveat though - it won't work in high-censorship countries like China. If you don't need that in the first place, we highly recommend Hotspot Shield.
As that's typically the case with most VPN services out there, the longer you commit - the better deal you get. However, what makes Hotspot Shield even better is the fact that it offers a 7-day free trial of its service. A few other top VPN providers do the same. Plus, its money-back guarantee lasts for 45 days, making for a risk-free purchase. Cause, you can always get your money back. Sweet and just the way we like it.
Pros
Cons
- One the best VPNs for torrenting
- Works well with Netflix
- Simple setup on all popular devices
- Strict zero-logs policy
- Doesn't work with BBC iPlayer
- Doesn't work in China
Summary
Its desktop apps are not among the prettiest ones, but they get the job done. The important thing is that installation is easy and straightforward, and that no logs are kept by the company.
When it comes to pricing, IPVanish is somewhere in the middle — it's not the most affordable option but also not the most expensive one. As noted, it will be most appreciated by heavy BitTorrent users, and — related — Kodi fans.
Pros
Cons
- Reliable download and upload speeds
- Works with Netflix and BBC iPlayer
- Strict zero-logs policy
- Lets you use it on unlimited number of devices
- Low number of servers in Africa and Australia
Summary
You can rely on it for streaming and torrenting, with included extra features like CleanWeb and MultiHop, delivering a that much better — and more secure — experience.
Surfshark, the company, is based in the British Virgin Islands and with its zero-logs policy makes for a powerful combo to anyone looking to keep its web whereabouts under the radar.
The service is easy to use and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
How we selected the best VPNs for Apple?
Everything starts with good criteria. To that end, we’ve tested VPNs in different scenarios, including:
Torrenting
We tried how a VPN handles torrenting. Does it have servers dedicated to P2P traffic or are all servers up for the task? As far as we can tell, both approaches get the job done, it’s just that in the former case – we’d like to see P2P-dedicated servers clearly marked on the list (of servers). Cause that makes for that much better user experience.
Streaming
Can you rely on a VPN for streaming from all the popular services? Do you get a buffer-free experience from different servers? Can it “handle” streaming in 4K? Can a service detect that you’re using a VPN — cause it could block your access? Are there servers dedicated to Netflix? It’s the world’s most popular streaming platform so it could be important to some folks.
Unrestricted access
Can VPN bypass restrictions that could be imposed by your ISP? How about when connecting from a university campus? Can it get the job done in a truly anonymous fashion? You don’t want a VPN that can’t handle the relatively simple school firewall, right? And the same goes for your workplace and other locations that may block parts of the Internet.
Bypassing censorship
Somewhat related – can a VPN be used in high-censorship countries like China, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Iran, UAE, etc? The infamous Great Firewall of China is arguably the toughest to bypass, but the best VPNs can do it — and we love ’em for that.
Good for all your needs
Not all VPNs are great for everything, but we wanted to come up with a good list, nonetheless. So we decided to select those that are rock-solid for everything you throw at them. In other words, the best VPNs for Apple let you access services like Twitter and Netflix from all around the world, while offering strong zero-logs privacy.
Speed & reliability
Last but definitely not least, we had to see what kind of speeds each VPN can deliver. If the experience was too slow, you can’t rely on it to access YouTube despite such an option being possible. Similarly, we wanted to test whether a VPN delivers consistent download and upload speeds. Cause, in some instances, reliability is perhaps more important than sheer speed.
What about free VPNs?
We don’t suggest them. At all.
You see, building a solid server network requires a ton of money, which is something free services don’t have. And if they do, chances are they are getting that cash from selling their users’ data. Is this the compromise you’re willing to take? We’re not, cause it effectively kills the point of getting a VPN in the first place.
Instead, we suggest getting a VPN with a proven track record to work from everywhere, and that’s what this list of Best VPNs for Apple is all about.
Further, you’ll want to insist on getting a VPN with a money-back guarantee. So, if you determine that it doesn’t work for you, there is an option to ask for a refund and try some other VPN. It’s your money and you should demand to get a solid service. Cause prices of all VPNs are rather similar; in most cases, we’re talking about differences of just a few dollars per month. Your privacy and unlimited access to the Internet are worth more than that.
Get a VPN to serve all your needs!
You need a VPN for many things. In that sense, a good VPN will:
- Protect your privacy from the government and big corporations
- Bypass restrictions imposed by the government or various organizations
- Change your IP address so you get unrestricted access to Netflix, Disney+, iPlayer, HULU, and other video streaming services
- Encrypt and protect private data from cybercriminals
The top contenders that check all these boxes include the following:
