If you want to unblock regional content on streaming services like Netflix, iPlayer, and Prime, or access websites that aren’t available in your region, or without ID, a VPN is an essential tool. A good VPN will work with all your Apple devices, including a Mac, iPad, iPhone, and even an Apple TV in some cases.
VPN services can also give you online privacy as well as letting you securely connect to open Wi-Fi networks in cafes, hotels, airports and other places. It’s something well worth packing when you go on vacation.
VPNs tend to have complex pricing structures, with long-term contract pricing and offers that seem to offer huge discounts, making identifying a good deal more complex than it is with other types of software. We have tested the Best Mac VPNs and Best VPN for iPhone and iPad and we use them daily, so we know which ones offer the best features and we know which ones offer the best value for money.
In this article, we will help you find the cheapest VPN to suit your needs. Every month we assess the best VPN for Mac deals so we can keep an eye out for the best discounts on offer right now and let you know the latest prices and best deals so you can find the VPN that suites you at the best price.
Before we share the best VPN deals you may be hoping that you can get a VPN for free…
Best free VPN
There are a few free VPNs on offer but our advice is usually to be very cautious about them. Companies that give stuff away will be making money somehow, and you can’t be sure they aren’t selling your data.
One decent VPN that does offer a free tier is Proton VPN (read our review). You can use Proton VPN for nothing, as long as you’re happy with U.S., Japan, and Netherlands as your server locations. It’s also limiting in that you can only connect a single device, and speeds are slower than the paid plans, but the free version is available on all platforms and if you like it you can always subscribe to get the whole package which will unblock a host of features, including an ad and tracker blocker and improved speed of up to 10 Gbit, as well as an expanded 10-device limit. There’s Port Forwarding for downloads and gaming, too, as well as a Kill Switch for disconnecting should the VPN drop out.
Best VPN deals and cheap VPNs
VPN providers tend to offer year-round discounts, however with most deals you will be locked into a monthly fee for a couple of years, so we recommend setting a reminder in your calendar to cancel and look for a new deal to replace the one you had at the end of the contract period. Deals change all the time.
The deals below save a significant amount compared to paying for each of these services on a rolling monthly subscription. We some great VPN deals for shoppers in the U.S., U.K., Canada and Australia below.
One deal to take a look at is FastestVPN’s Lifetime plan – which with 93% off is an absolute bargain as you pay once and have access to the VPN for life. It’s a one-off $40 (approx £33). The company says that the full price would be $600.
Read How to use a VPN on a Mac for more information, and if you still aren’t sure why you need a VPN read: Should I use a VPN on my Mac/iPhone?
1. NordVPN
Pros
- Incredibly easy to use
- Plenty of server options
NordVPN is a fully featured VPN option that’s secure, easy to use, and unbelievably fast compared to its competitors.
Read our full NordVPN review
2. Surfshark
Pros
- Simple to use
- No device limits
Surfshark is a great VPN option that’s as easy to use as the best of them, while maintaining security across an unlimited number of devices – something we don’t see often.
Read our full Surfshark review
3. Private Internet Access
Pros
- Lots of power features
- Privacy-minded
- Great value
Private Internet Access (PIA) offers a robust feature set that makes it one of the more impressive VPNs out there.
Read our full Private Internet Access review
4. CyberGhost
Pros
- Simple to use
- Decent speeds
- Plenty of servers
CyberGhost takes a lot of the complexity out of VPN usage, for better and for worse. On the one hand, some users may want more power-user features.
It’s fully refundable for 45 days, according to the company.
Read our full CyberGhost review
5. hide.me VPN
Pros
- Dedicated streaming servers
- Impressive free tier
Cons
- Slightly clunky UI
Hide.me is a solid VPN with a great free tier, but the UI isn’t particularly intuitive.
Read our full hide.me VPN review
6. ProtonVPN
Pros
- Simple to use
- Free plan
- Great speed
Cons
- Setup on macOS was a little fiddly
- Only sells in $, € and Swiss Franks
Proton VPN’s free tier, ease of use, and impressive speeds put it right near the top of our VPN recommendations.
There is a free tier of Proton VPN, but if you want a bit more flexibility and a few more features prices start at $4.49/€4.49 a month for two years. The Swiss-based company doesn’t seem to like pounds, so it’s dollars or euros, unfortunately.
Read our full ProtonVPN review
How to find the best VPN deal
VPN subscriptions typically work out cheaper if you commit for a year or longer, which saves a lot of money. Prices rarely exceed $6/£6 per month with multi-year subscriptions and are often closer to $2/£2… or even less.
Many major VPN providers offer discounts through the year, and sometimes even offer permanent discounts. These discounts can look impressive at first. It’s not uncommon to see a countdown timer telling you when the deal ends – but these are almost always to induce FOMO – the fear of missing out – in order to persuade you to sign up immediately.
Large discounts are par for the course with VPN services, especially when you’re subscribing for several years. This makes it all the more important to look into the various providers and what each has to offer, before jumping into a long-term commitment.
All VPNs we’ve tested offer cross-device coverage too, so you can use them on your Mac, iPhone, iPad and more.
For our recommendations of Mac Antivirus Software that we have tested see: Best Antivirus for Mac Top Security Software Compared.
Author: Karen Haslam, Managing Editor, Macworld
Karen has worked on both sides of the Apple divide, clocking up a number of years at Apple's PR agency prior to joining Macworld more than two decades ago. Karen's career highlights include interviewing Apple's Steve Wozniak and discussing Steve Jobs’ legacy on the BBC. Having edited the U.K. print and online editions of Macworld for many years, more recently her focus has been on SEO and evergreen content as well as product recommendations and buying advice.