Best Free VPN for Mac in 2026: 9 Free macOS VPNs Ranked

Last verified 4 October 2026. The best free VPN for a Mac is Proton VPN: its macOS app has no data cap, no ads and a kill switch on the free plan, and it is paid for by subscribers rather than by your data. The trade-off is one device at a time and no say over which country you connect through, so choose Windscribe if you want to pick a country or cover a MacBook and an iPhone on one account. Below are 9 free VPNs (eight Mac apps and one browser VPN) we checked against each vendor's own site this week, ranked for Mac use: data cap, locations, devices, kill switch, how the app installs and which macOS versions it supports.

Toolradar data: of the 35 VPN tools in our catalog, 5 are completely free and another 16 are freemium.

Quick Comparison

Our picks: the best free VPNs for Mac, ranked

1. Proton VPN Free

Proton VPN's free plan is the one to install first on a Mac. There is no data cap and no ads, and Proton says the free service is supported by paying users. The kill switch and always-on reconnection are part of the macOS app on the free plan, DNS leak protection is always on, and you can start the app minimized to the menu bar. Proton's free Mac page also lists its Stealth protocol, which disguises VPN traffic on networks that block VPNs.

The limits: one device at a time, and you do not choose the country. Proton's pricing page says free users connect to servers in 10 countries, randomly selected, at medium speed. Streaming, P2P and the NetShield ad blocker are paid features.

Mac note: Proton installs from a DMG on its own site. Drag the app to Applications, then approve its network extension in System Settings on first connect. Proton's lifecycle page lists macOS Tahoe and Sequoia as supported and Sonoma as maintained. For an older Mac, Proton points to a manual OpenVPN or WireGuard setup instead.

Pick it if you want one Mac protected all day with nothing to ration, and you do not care which country you appear in.

2. Windscribe Free

Windscribe gives 10 GB a month once you confirm an email, or 2 GB without one. Free servers cover 10 countries: the US, Canada, UK, Hong Kong, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Norway and Romania. One free account works on unlimited devices, so a MacBook, iPhone and iPad can share it.

It is the most Mac-native app here. Windscribe says the macOS app is a universal binary that runs on Apple silicon and Intel without Rosetta translation, and it lives in the menu bar. It needs macOS 13 Ventura or newer. The firewall, which is Windscribe's kill switch, uses native macOS APIs to block all traffic outside the tunnel by default, so it fails closed if the tunnel drops. Windscribe says the free plan has the same protocols and firewall as paid.

Install the PKG from windscribe.com (Windscribe's recommended route) or get the app from the Mac App Store. If you outgrow the cap, Pro costs $9 a month or $69 a year.

Pick it if you want to choose your country, like a menu-bar app, and want every Apple device covered by one free account.

3. PrivadoVPN Free

PrivadoVPN, based in Switzerland, gives 10 GB every 30 days with a verified email and no card. Free servers sit in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Mexico, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the UK and the US, on the same network paying users get, and PrivadoVPN says you can watch video on the free plan.

The Mac app has a kill switch toggle on the main screen, auto-connect, and a choice of IKEv2, WireGuard and OpenVPN, including Scramble, which disguises OpenVPN traffic. PrivadoVPN's Mac guide says the app is compatible with macOS 10.14 and later, which makes it the best fit here for an older Mac. The app is a DMG download from privadovpn.com.

A free account connects one device at a time, though you can install the app on unlimited devices. When the 10 GB runs out, Lite Mode keeps you connected at reduced speed, with the kill switch still available, until the allowance renews.

Pick it if you want Windscribe-sized data with a better shot at video, and one connected device is enough.

4. hide.me Free

hide.me's free VPN has no data cap and needs no registration. You choose from 8 server locations, one device at a time, with no ads, and free users get the same 24/7 support as paying ones.

The Mac app comes through the Mac App Store. Version 6.1.4 needs macOS 11 or later, and hide.me lists a kill switch, auto-reconnect, connect on startup and DNS leak protection. The catch is speed: hide.me says free accounts do not get unlimited speeds, and its streaming-optimized servers are for Premium users only. For browsing, email and public Wi-Fi it does the job.

Pick it if you want an uncapped Mac VPN without creating an account and can live with variable speed.

5. ZoogVPN Free

ZoogVPN offers a lifetime free plan with 10 GB of traffic a month, no credit card, no ads and no logs. Free users choose from 5 locations, and ZoogVPN names London, Washington and Amsterdam among them.

The Mac app is on the Mac App Store, and ZoogVPN also offers an installer package if you would rather skip it. It works with macOS 12 and later, and ZoogVPN lists MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models with M1 and M2 chips as supported. The desktop apps include a kill switch and auto-reconnect.

ZoogVPN is upfront that the free plan is the lighter product. Its own comparison lists limited speed with possible congestion, one device, partial streaming access and 128-bit encryption on free, against 256-bit encryption, 100+ locations and 10 devices on Premium. Premium costs $9.99 for one month or $39.99 for a year, with a 7-day money-back guarantee.

Pick it if you want 10 GB with a choice of location and plan to upgrade if the network feels crowded.

6. AdGuard VPN Free

AdGuard VPN's free plan gives 3 GB a month and up to 2 devices at once. AdGuard's knowledge base adds a 20 Mbit/s speed limit and a restricted set of server locations. Its free-VPN page lists 10 locations in the FAQ and 4+ in its header banner, against 75+ on the paid plan.

The Mac app needs macOS 11 Big Sur or later, installs from a DMG or the Mac App Store (AdGuard says the two versions differ in places), and has had native Apple silicon support since its first beta. You have to sign in with an AdGuard account, or with Apple, Google or Facebook. It includes a kill switch, exclusion lists by website or app, split tunneling and a choice of DNS server.

Pick it if you already use AdGuard's ad blocker and want a light VPN on a MacBook and an iPhone at the same time.

7. Cloudflare WARP (1.1.1.1)

WARP is Cloudflare's free app for macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android. On a Mac you run the installer, WARP appears in the menu bar with the Cloudflare logo, and you turn on the toggle. There is no sign-up step. Cloudflare says the basic WARP service is free without bandwidth caps, that it will not sell your data, and its client docs list Intel and M-series processors.

It is not a location-changing VPN. Cloudflare's FAQ says sites see a Cloudflare IP that represents your approximate location, so games and streaming services that check location may not work. Apps that use your camera or microphone bypass WARP, which exposes your real IP address to them.

Pick it if you want to hide your browsing from a café network or your ISP, not to change your location.

8. Opera Free VPN

Opera's browser has a built-in free VPN on macOS with no data cap, no account, no extension and no ads. You choose between three real server locations (Ashburn in the US, Amsterdam and Singapore) or let it pick the fastest. Opera says the no-log policy was audited by Deloitte and the software tested by Cure53.

On 24 September 2026, Opera added a setting that turns the VPN on automatically on public Wi-Fi, rolling out in France and the US first. The big caveat is scope: it protects only the Opera browser, not Mail, Slack or system updates. Opera's paid VPN Pro covers the whole device.

Pick it if private browsing on public Wi-Fi is all you need and you are happy to use Opera for it.

9. TunnelBear Free

TunnelBear's free plan gives 2 GB a month and keeps VigilantBear (its kill switch) and GhostBear (obfuscation for blocked networks). The Mac app uses AES-256 encryption and needs macOS 11 or later. TunnelBear has no ads and publishes independent security audits.

But in December 2025 TunnelBear announced that country selection and SplitBear split tunneling would move to paid plans, so free users connect without choosing a location. With a 2 GB cap, that makes it a trial more than a daily driver. Unlimited starts at $3.33 a month.

Pick it if you want the gentlest introduction to VPNs and only need protection now and then.

How to choose a free VPN for your Mac

Decide whether you need a new location or just encryption. If you only want your ISP or a café network out of your traffic, Proton VPN, hide.me and Cloudflare WARP are all uncapped. If you need to appear in a specific country, rule out Proton, WARP and TunnelBear, and look at Windscribe, PrivadoVPN, hide.me or ZoogVPN.

Match the cap to how you use the Mac. A MacBook used mostly for email and documents can live on 10 GB a month. A Mac that stays connected all day and pulls software updates needs an uncapped plan, which narrows the field to Proton VPN and hide.me.

Count your Apple devices. Windscribe covers unlimited devices on one free account and AdGuard allows 2. Proton, PrivadoVPN, hide.me and ZoogVPN allow one connection at a time on free, so a Mac and an iPhone cannot both be connected.

Check your macOS version and chip. Windscribe needs macOS 13, Proton lists Sequoia and Tahoe as supported, ZoogVPN needs 12, AdGuard, hide.me and TunnelBear need 11, and PrivadoVPN says 10.14. Windscribe, AdGuard and ZoogVPN state that they support Apple silicon (M-series) Macs, and Cloudflare lists them for WARP.

Expect macOS prompts. The first connection asks permission to add VPN configurations, and some apps need a network or system extension approved in System Settings. Do it once and the apps run quietly from the menu bar.

Know what macOS already includes. macOS lets you configure a VPN you already have details for, but it has no VPN service of its own. Apple's iCloud Private Relay, part of an iCloud+ subscription, protects browsing in Safari only.

Check who pays. Every pick here is funded by paid subscribers, search deals or a larger business. For mobile-first and ad-supported options too, see our broader guide to the best free VPNs, or the best free VPN for PC if you also run Windows.

FAQ

What is the best free VPN for Mac?

Proton VPN is the best all-round free VPN for Mac: no data cap, no ads, a kill switch and Stealth protocol on the free plan, and a menu-bar app. Its limits are one device and no choice of country. Windscribe is the best free option if you need to pick a country or cover several devices.

Is there a free VPN for Mac with no data limit?

Yes. Proton VPN and hide.me both run as full Mac apps with no data cap. Cloudflare WARP has no bandwidth cap either but does not change your location, and Opera's VPN is unlimited but only covers the Opera browser.

Does a Mac have a free built-in VPN?

No. macOS includes a VPN client, not a VPN service, so it needs server details from a provider or employer. iCloud Private Relay is a separate iCloud+ feature that covers Safari. For every app on the Mac, you still need an app like the ones above.

Which free Mac VPN lets me choose my country?

Windscribe (10 countries), PrivadoVPN (10 countries), hide.me (8 locations), ZoogVPN (5 locations), AdGuard VPN (a limited set of locations) and Opera's browser VPN (3 regions). Proton VPN and TunnelBear assign the location on their free plans, and WARP does not change it.

Can I use one free VPN on my Mac and iPhone at the same time?

With Windscribe, yes: one free account covers unlimited devices. AdGuard VPN allows 2 at once. Proton VPN, PrivadoVPN, hide.me and ZoogVPN limit free accounts to one connection at a time.

Bottom line

Install Proton VPN on your Mac if you want one free, uncapped connection you never have to think about. Choose Windscribe instead if you need to pick your country or protect a Mac and an iPhone together. If neither fits, hide.me is the uncapped, no-account fallback, PrivadoVPN suits an older Mac, and Cloudflare WARP is enough when all you want is encryption on public Wi-Fi. For most Mac users the decision is simple: start with Proton VPN, and switch to Windscribe the day you need a specific country.