If you therefore want a secure, fast VPN that guarantees that you can surf privately and unblock services like Netflix and BBC iPlayer with official apps for Apple Silicon M1/M2 Macs, we strongly recommend checking out our guide to the best VPNs for Macbefore trying an inferior free solution. In the case of macOS, there is less choice than on Windows as VPN providers have to keep updating the apps for the latest versions of macOS such as Ventura, Monterey and Big Sur. Providing secure, reliable VPNs requires a lot of investment from VPN providers as they require servers, development teams and constant maintenance. It’s important to be aware that there are very few reliable free Virtual Private Network (VPNs) for Mac on the market. These can do everything from steal your passwords to hijacking your computer.įinally, if you have any problems using a free VPN such as slow speeds or connection failures then there’s usually no support with free VPN providers.

In the worst cases, some free VPNs actually install malware on your Mac.Īccording to one study, 4 out 10 free VPNs installed malware on a computer. So if you’re hoping to use these free VPNs to unblock Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime or HBO Now you may be disappointed.Īnother common drawback with free VPN services is that they often display invasive ads while you’re surfing or streaming video.įrom a security point of view, free VPNs also likely to sell your data to third parties so for those that want a VPN for privacy purposes, it’s much safer to subscribe and pay for a VPN instead. This means that after a limited amount of surfing or streaming – typically up to 10GB of data per month – they will stop working. That means that essential features such as security, privacy, speed and server location choice are all either compromised or inferior to paid VPN services.įree VPNs are only suitable for limited internet surfing as they all have different restrictions such as data limits, speed throttling, limited server choice and may not be as secure as paid VPN services.įrom a usage standpoint, the main problem you’ll find with most free VPNs is that they limit the amount of data or bandwidth you can use. The main drawback of free VPNs is that many of the reasons for using a VPN in the first place don’t apply to free VPN services.

What We Looked For In The Best Free Mac VPNĪs you might expect, there are some disadvantages to free VPNs to be aware of.

Best Free VPN For Mac: What’s The Catch?.

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