From PCMAG · Justyn Newman · · 1m 50s
Best Mac VPNs Tested for 2026
Proton VPN leads PCMag's top Mac VPN picks with 5.0 rating for privacy and security.
In brief
Proton VPN leads PCMag's top Mac VPN picks with 5.0 rating for privacy and security. Proton VPN wins PCMag's 2026 Mac VPN test with best privacy, security, and features. Originally reported by PCMAG.
Why Mac Needs VPNs
Apple's ecosystem prioritizes privacy but has security incidents like August 2026 screen-sharing vulnerability.
“screen-sharing vulnerability in August 2026”
What VPNs Do
VPNs reroute internet traffic and encrypt data to reclaim privacy for users.
Proton VPN Wins

Proton VPN earns top spot with 5.0 rating for cross-platform consistency and advanced mac features.
“Proton VPN's cross-platform consistency and advanced features on mac earn it the number one spot”
NordVPN Details
NordVPN offers 4.5 rating with multi-hop, split tunneling, and tor connections for video streaming.
“NordVPN offers a comprehensive suite of privacy and security features”
ExpressVPN Strengths
ExpressVPN provides 4.0 rating with post-quantum encryption and fast speeds for globe-trotters.
“ExpressVPN is a top service for frequent travelers thanks to its expansive global network”
TunnelBear for Novices
TunnelBear offers 4.0 rating with unlimited connections and friendly design for beginners.
“TunnelBear VPN forgoes complicated apps in favor of a simple yet powerful service”
Hide.me Affordable
Hide.me provides 4.0 rating with ten simultaneous connections and reliable netflix access.
“Hide.me vpn offers truly unlimited free trials, great performance, and tons of security options”
Mullvad Transparency
Mullvad earns 4.5 rating with anonymous signup and radical transparency policies.
“Mullvad vpn's anonymous signup, steadfast privacy measures, and advanced features make it an excellent choice”
Windscribe Best Policy
Windscribe gets 4.5 rating for company transparency and unlimited simultaneous connections.
“From its extensive feature set to its class-leading transparency, windscribe offers an excellent, refreshingly clear-cut vpn experience”
Proton's Features
Proton includes netshield ad blocker, 10 simultaneous connections, and securecore connections.
“Proton packs a ton of features into its reasonably priced subscription”
Proton Privacy
Proton's open-source apps and annual audits ensure strong privacy standards with no logs.
“The people behind proton take privacy seriously, with an unyielding commitment to transparency and accountability”
Proton Speeds
Proton shows 20.11% download speed decrease and 43.21% upload speed decrease.
“Proton's premium servers rank in the middle of the pack in terms of performance”
Proton Streaming
Proton works flawlessly with all regional netflix catalogs without issues.
“We had no issues streaming netflix with proton”
NordVPN Speeds
NordVPN reduces download speeds by 1.94% and upload speeds by 5.54%.
“Nord has consistently delivered excellent performance in our tests”
NordVPN Streaming
NordVPN unblocks all regional netflix libraries without buffering.
“Nord managed to unblock every regional netflix library we tested”
ExpressVPN Speeds
ExpressVPN decreases download speeds by 15.48% and upload speeds by 13%.
“Expressvpn decreased download speeds by fifteen point four eight percent”
The big picture
Proton VPN wins PCMag's 2026 Mac VPN test with best privacy, security, and features.



