The Best Free VPN for Mac and Safari! – [April 2022 Guide]

With hundreds of free VPNs available, you will find the best free VPN for Mac users here!

Apple gadgets are known for their seemingly more secure infrastructure than Windows. Take Mac, for example; Apple’s new 24-inch iMac is an absolute delight of a desktop with amazing colors, smooth performance, robust security, sleek design, and whatnot….

But for everything the latest iMac has, there’s one thing you won’t find under its hood – or that of any Apple-made device – a technology or tool that can protect you from online snoopers. Yes, we are talking about Virtual Private Networks also called VPNs.

Let’s face it: whether you’re using Windows or iMac, you don’t want people snooping around and seeing what you’re doing over the internet. It’s just not the kind of freedom we have signed up for, right? That’s where a VPN comes in to help you resurrect your online freedom. And not just that, the best VPN for Mac also helps overcome geo-restrictions on certain streaming sites and lets you stream content wherever you are. Is that what your new iMac alone can do? We guess not!

But then the question arises, how about the best free VPNs for Mac?

Well, it’s kind of a controversial topic, if you ask us… Generally, free VPNs are regarded with some suspicion. For example, researchers say they have a reputation for selling their users’ data and limiting their services to the extent that they basically become useless.

This might be true for some free VPNs, but certainly not for all. So, we have put together this guide to let you know all the best free VPNs in Canada for Mac. And just to be clear, none of them will sell your data or impose irrelevant limitations.

The Best Free VPNs for Mac! – Quick Guide

Here’s the quick rundown of the candidates for the best free VPN for Mac:

The Best Free VPNs for Mac – Full Analysis

Let’s dig into the details of all the VPNs we have selected as the best VPN for Mac.

1. ExpressVPN – the best free VPN for Mac

Key Features

ExpressVPN consistently proves itself as the fastest and the most reliable VPN for mac users. In the cybersecurity world, ExpressVPN has a pretty strong track record, offering impressive security and privacy features to its users.

It has around 3000+ servers in 90+ countries, with a speed of 95.6 Mbps on a 100 Mbps connection. With broad coverage and fast speeds, ExpressVPN faces no problem bypassing geo-blocks and restrictions.

It is highly efficient for unblocking Disney+, US Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, and other popular streaming sites with its worldwide servers, making it one of the most competent VPN providers out there.

Other than that, ExpressVPN also allows five simultaneous connections and is compatible with almost all major OS devices, including macOS 10.12, 10.13,10.14, 10.15, and the latest Sur 11. In addition, ExpressVPN is the only VPN provider that offers a dedicated Safari VPN extension for macOS users.

Talking about its security features, ExpressVPN has got all the primed for enhancing your online privacy and private data protection. Some of the features include the automatic Kill switch, Lightway protocol, and Tor support for mac users. In addition to this, it uses strong 256-bit encryption, DNS, and WebRTC leak protection with a proven no-logs policy. And if you ever face any technical issue, you can reach out to its customer support team via live chat available 24/7.

And because of its incredible security features and outstanding functionalities, ExpressVPN also ranks top in our best free VPN for Windows list.

Now the question arises why should I go for ExpressVPN when there are free VPNs available? Well, that’s because it’s simply incredible! Yes, we know, you want to save some bucks but given the standard of its performance and compatibility with macOS, we were compelled to add this service provider to our list. Sure, you have to pay for its services, but let us tell you, it’s worth every penny!

Besides, ExpressVPN premium plan costs CA$ 9.12/mo (US$ 6.67/mo)(Save up to 49% with exclusive 1-year plans + 3 months free) with a 30-day money-back guarantee to test its services risk-free. And if you aren’t satisfied with it, you can cancel the subscription and claim your refund within 30 days of purchase. I don’t think you will find a better offer than this.

2. Windscribe – the 10GB/month for Mac users

Key Features

Windscribe is a Canada-based VPN service provider, offering 10GB/month data, 235-bit encryption, and DNS leak protection to Mac users. It is the most secure free VPN client for Mac we have come across! The logging policy is pretty straightforward without any backdoors, detailing what this VPN stores and what it doesn’t.

Windscribe’s free version allows a 10 GB monthly data allowance and lets you connect unlimited devices on a single account simultaneously. However, you can increase the data limit to 15 GB by tweeting about its services from your personal account.

Other than that, you can access 10 server locations, including Canada, France, Hong Kong, the UK, and the US. With its WireGuard VPN encryption protocol, you can enjoy fast speeds for streaming in HD quality without any lagging and buffering issues.

3. ProtonVPN – Unlimited data bandwidth for free Mac users

Key Features

ProtonVPN is one of the rare VPN services, offering unlimited data in its free version. It won’t limit your bandwidth use no matter whatever you would like to stream… However, the service is quite ineffective against unblocking various streaming services and also does support torrenting.

Despite its unlimited bandwidth, the provider only lets you access 3 server locations in the Netherlands, the US, and Japan. Also, ProtonVPN couldn’t even bypass the Netflix proxy error… so there’s that! With servers only limited to the US, Japan, and the Netherlands, you can’t access the streaming services based in other regions.

So, in short, we won’t recommend ProtonVPN for streaming purposes. However, its transparent no-log policy, AES-256-bit encryption, and additional security features make it a good VPN for secure browsing.

Another most intriguing thing about this VPN is that it has a kill switch on Mac apps by default. ProtonVPN also offers an encrypted email service known as ProtonMail.

As far as its compatibility is concerned, it supports macOS Sierra 10.12, High Sierra 10.13, Mojave 10.14, Catalina 10.15, and Big Sur 11. However, it doesn’t support simultaneous connection., meaning you can only use one device at a time.

4. Hide.Me – Best free VPN for streaming

Key Features

Hide.Me is considered the best free VPN for streaming on Mac. With access to five servers in Singapore, Canada, Netherlands, US East, and IS West, you can unblock Netflix US, Hulu, HBO Max, YouTube TV, and more.

It offers 10GB of free data allowance per month, which I think is sufficient for casual browsing, checking emails, and streaming an episode or two. With Hide.Me, we could easily stream videos in both HD and SD video quality. However, it is not a good choice for unblocking UK-based streaming services like BBC iPlayer in Canada, and Sky Sports channel since it does not offer any servers in this region. And for that, you might need to purchase its premium plan.

Since it doesn’t require you to register your email while creating an account on its free version, it ensures the privacy and complete anonymity of its users. It shows the average speed rate during our testing too. This is also why it’s also on our list of best free VPN for iPhone.

Talking about its security features, Hide.Me offers leak protection and split tunneling features for additional security and online privacy. Its built-in IP leak protection keeps your identity hidden even when the connection drops. You may also use this VPN service for torrenting, as its servers are P2P optimized.

It has a SOCKS5 proxy and a kill switch to keep torrenting activity anonymous, private while also providing fast download speeds. VPN free download Mac app on your latest Macbook Pros, Macbook Airs, and Mac Mini.

Why do I need a VPN for my Mac?

Since Apple’s devices are known to have ‘supposed’ immunity against potential hacking or security threats, why would anyone want to invest in third-party VPN services? Well, yes, all Macs and MacBooks come with built-in antivirus software that blocks and removes malware, and anything you download from the internet is cleansed of malicious code by Apple’s Gatekeeper tool.

Things start to get a little dicey when any of your valuable data ventures outside your Mac device – it happens every time you connect to the internet. All those Macs’ protection is completely useless when you go out in the online wilderness.

Online intruders like your Internet Service Provider (ISP) or any other advertisement entities track your every click to compile browsing logs that they would sell to advertisers, who are champing at the bit to use this data for targeted ads. This information can also end up in the hands of government entities if your ISP has served with a subpoena.

Furthermore, regardless of how cool your Mac devices are, they still won’t let you access geo-restricted content. A VPN takes care of those geo-restrictions and other privacy issues by encrypting your web traffic. With your IP location hidden, you can skirt geo-restriction that streaming services like HBO Max have implemented and bypass government-imposed censorship in certain websites.

Online anonymity also means you can indulge in torrenting activities/peer-to-peer file-sharing – not that we condone the illegal kind, just to be clear. So, all in all, a VPN would definitely be a valuable addition to your Mac kit.

How to set up a Free VPN on a Mac device?

Here’s how you can set up a free VPN on your Mac device:

The Hidden risks of Free VPNs for Mac

We understand the allure behind free VPN services. Obviously, why would you want to pay for another subscription when you’re getting the service for free.

Let’s be blunt; the word “free” is actually a big fat deception here. They may come at free, but you actually have to pay a big price – A price of losing your privacy, a price of your security, and your overall comfort!

They limit their services to the extent where they pretty much become useless. I mean, where do you spend 500 MB of data on? With that amount of data limit, you can barely watch a 30-minutes video in HD quality. And that’s not it; in fact, free VPN services come with plenty of limitations:

• Free VPNs do not offer unlimited data bandwidth.
• They have a limited number of servers, which are usually overcrowded.
• Most free VPNs are also subjected to ads and annoying pop-ups.
• Some even collect your logs and sell your data to third-party advertisers.

Considering these limitations, it’s better to opt for a premium VPN service that actually offers what it claims, such as ExpressVPN. Unlike free VPN services, ExpressVPN offers robust security, unlimited data bandwidth, unblocking facilities, and impenetrable privacy to all of its users.

Free VPN for Mac Reddit

Reddit users have opinions about almost everything, and they also have some about free Mac VPNs. Check out what Reddit users think about using free VPNs with Mac devices:

Mcowger also seconded our views about free VPN services. If you’re not paying for a service, you are the product.

Well, GentlemanJorge has a point…

Mertcan1k2 recommends using a paid VPNs free trial option instead of completely free VPN services. But that too depends on the brand. So first, you need to make sure that your chosen brand is reliable.

Can I use a Paid Mac VPN for Free?

Yes, almost all major premium VPN services offer a 30-day money-back trial, allowing users to try out premium services for free. This feature allows you to experiment with the VPN provider’s services, see if their services are really worth the money, and can do the job you want them to do.

And if they fail to meet your expectation, you can cancel your subscription and claim your refund within 30 days of your purchase.

FAQs

Conclusion

If you don’t want to pay for the paid-for VPN service, using the best free VPN for Mac and MacBook is not bad. But there are some limitations that you need to be considerate about. For example, most free VPNs limit bandwidth use and offer fewer servers and weak security protocols than premium VPNs.

If you’re okay with data caps, speed limitations, and below-average performance, you can go for ProtonVPN on your Mac. However, it provides access to only 3 servers, which is not enough to access a wide range of streaming content in different countries.

For the safest and fastest free VPN for Mac, we recommend ExpressVPN. While it doesn’t come for free, it’s worth every penny! Its 30-day money-back guarantee allows you to try it risk-free and claim a refund if you’re not satisfied. ExpressVPN also offers plenty of advanced features to ensure maximum security and privacy of your entire traffic generated from your Mac device.