What Makes VPN Unlimited The Best VPN For Mac

ExpressVPN is offered by an IT company registered in the British Virgin Islands called Express Technologies Ltd, doing business as ExpressVPN. The British Virgin Islands has a pro-privacy ecosystem with no data retention regulations and has a separate legal jurisdiction from the UK. ExpressVPN was founded in 2009 by Peter Burckhardt and Dan Pomerantz, two Wharton School alumni. In 2021, ExpressVPN was acquired by a UK-based cybersecurity software company named Kape Technologies. The ExpressVPN app is branded as “The VPN that just works”.

ExpressVPN had a quite controversial year in 2017, as it got involved in politics and appeared on major news outlets. In 2021, ExpressVPN changed and updated its solution to protect against Log4Shell to automatically block all outgoing traffic on LDAP ports. In 2022, ExpressVPN launched Parallel Connections, a backend feature that runs multiple connection methods simultaneously, picking the one that connects the user first.

With 160 server locations, ExpressVPN supports the most popular platforms and operating systems, including Mac and iOS. It uses a 4096-bit CA, AES-256-CBC encryption technology to protect user traffic. Its VPN protocols include Lightway, OpenVPN (TCP/UDP), SSTP, L2TP/IPSec, and PPTP.

ExpressVPN has a Smart DNS feature that adds VPN capabilities to devices that do not support them, and a router app that could be installed on a router/modem. This helps bypass possibly unsupported devices such as gaming consoles. Additionally, ExpressVPN implements leak tests, enabling the user to know if their provider is leaking network traffic, DNS, or actual IP addresses, for example when switching from a wireless to a wired network.

The essential ExpressVPN subscription costs $12.95 per month (yearly plan), which is covered by a money-back guarantee during the first 30 days of purchase.

VPN Unlimited offers more for less. It has a bigger server fleet, and lifetime plans, to name a few. VPN Unlimited also supports WireGuard® for top speeds.

NordVPN is developed by Nord Security, a Lithuanian cybersecurity software vendor. As a startup, NordVPN was launched by Tom Okman & company and was supported by the business incubator Tesonet, in 2012. NordVPN operates under the jurisdiction of Panama, which has no mandatory data retention statutes and is not a member of the 14 Eyes intelligence-sharing alliances. NordVPN’s offices are located in Lithuania, the UK, Panama, and the Netherlands.

Like all virtual private networks, NordVPN routes users' traffic via a remote server, disguising their IP addresses and encrypting all send/receive traffic. NordVPN uses OpenVPN and Internet Key Exchange v2/IPsec encryption technologies. It has used L2TP/IPSec and Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol connections for some time but removed them shortly. 

NordVPN goes by the slogan “Creating a safer and better internet”. In 2016, NordVPN presented a Mac version of its solution for the first time. It introduced its proprietary NordLynx in 2019, based on the WireGuard protocol that outperforms IPsec and OpenVPN tunneling protocols. NordVPN operates roughly 5600 servers in 59 countries around the world.

NordVPN allows users to stream popular services from various international locations, including The UK and US, and even challenging libraries like Japan. 

As for pricing, the complete NordVPN plan costs $13.99/mo, which comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. NordVPN is also sold in retail stores for customers who want to maintain their anonymity by paying in cash. However, prices are higher for physical products. 

The features are nice, but pricing matters too. VPN Unlimited offers more or less the same benefits for less.

VeePN is a relatively new VPN provider based in Panama, a country that is known for being privacy-sensitive. This means VeePN is not bound to store users’ logs, except for some “service” logs. Even if someone ever becomes a person of interest, VeePN has nothing to report on them. A single VeePN subscription can be used on up to 10 different devices. VeePN is compatible with Windows, Linux, Android, as well as Mac.

VeePN optimizes the user’s connection with WireGuard, IKEv2, or OpenVPN based on their needs. It also seals users’ data with 256-AES encryption for a secure online experience. VeePN has over 2500 servers located in 60 countries. 

VeePN provides streaming from major video/audio services (Hulu, Disney+, etc.). It also provides gamers with lag-free connections. VeePN offers protections against DDoS attacks that are still a common type of unfair play used in the hyper-competitive online gaming world. 

Lastly, VeePN costs $10.99 per month, with a 14-day money-back guarantee. It accepts various payment methods, including PayPal, Bitcoin, credit/debit cards, and other cryptocurrencies.

There is, however, a superior VPN option that has credibility. VPN Unlimited is an established VPN provider with millions of users worldwide.

Founded in 2006, Avira is a German multinational cybersecurity company known for its antivirus software. As of 2021, Avira is owned by the American software company NortonLifeLock. Aside from Antivirus and firewall, this company has also launched Avira Phantom VPN for common platforms including Mac. Germany, as the juridical country of Avira, is a Fourteen Eyes country, which can freely obtain data directly from ISPs and share them. Nonetheless, Avira uses a no-log policy and claims it’s not their business what websites users visit.

In order to prevent potential DNS leaks, Avira supports the IPv4 and v6 protocols, as well as OpenVPN. TCP is, however, the only available OpenVPN option, which usually is considerably slower than UDP mode. IPsec is another tunneling protocol option that can be used.

Avira Phantom VPN offers streaming-dedicated servers but is not able to unblock US-exclusive Netflix content, BBC iPlayer, or even DAZN. This solution doesn't say much about its torrenting and P2P transfers. Avira Phantom VPN operates only 1400 servers in 37 countries around the world. 

There are two versions of the VPN app for Mac. One is available on App Store, and the other is on the Avira official website. They also have different features: the App Store version uses IPsec, while the other uses OpenVPN TCP.

Avira Phantom VPN has an annual plan for $10/mo. Avira Phantom has a free version without providing payment details or an email address to install or use. The free trial of Avira Phantom VPN is available for credit/debit card or PayPal payment methods only. However, the free version doesn’t allow the user to choose a server. The app picks one based on the user’s location (nearest). Lastly, the free version has a 500 MB/month traffic cap.

VPN Unlimited is not a complement to antivirus software. It is a dedicated VPN solution that works day and night to secure users' online privacy, for a lot less.

Urban VPN is a basic, free, but popular VPN with unlimited bandwidth, and 80+ server locations. The website has a few details on its service: “Urban VPN is free for non-commercial use and will always remain so.” Urban VPN pools its users’ network resources to help them unblock restricted websites and online services. However, it is not clear how much traffic will be routed through a given user’s system, and how it is protected. Users are left to take the company's word.

Urban VPN does collect users’ logs. The End User License Agreement explains it stores web page URLs and device screenshots to identify web pages or apps that load slowly. This policy says it shares information for security and fraud detection purposes as required by law and regulation.

The VPN app is also very basic, using only the OpenVPN protocol. There are no latency or ping times/tests to help make smarter choices and no city-level location choices. There is no Cancel button to stop a lengthy connection attempt or any way to ensure it is working.

Urban VPN is not able to get into any of the major streaming services: Netflix, Disney Plus, Amazon Prime, or BBC iPlayer. As mentioned above, Urban VPN is a free service with minimal transparency. With Urban VPN, normal browsing activities seem to take observably longer than with other competitors. The Mac version also seemed to display its own ads over web pages.

Urban VPN’s logging policy is unaudited, and some of its claims could put users' personal data at risk. There is also a total lack of customer support in this VPN solution. VPN Unlimited, on the other hand, does not sell user data for profit, not to mention a ton of features lacking in Urban VPN.

IPVanish is a VPN service based in the US, a founding member of the Five Eyes alliance. IPVanish was founded in 2012 by Lance Crosby (Mudhook Media Inc.), in Florida. IPVanish owns most of its points of presence (POPs), where the company controls the data center and hardware. In 2017, CDN company StackPath acquired IPVanish, and in 2019, IPVanish was one of many VPN services acquired by J2 Global.

For encryption, IPVanish applies the OpenVPN and IKEv2/IPsec technologies, while the L2TP and PPTP connection protocols can be configured as well. IPVanish supports the AES (128bit or 256bit) specifications, with SHA256 for authentication and RSA2048 handshake.

IPVanish has only around 2000 servers in 50 locations globally. All these servers are owned by the company, which has security benefits. The largest concentration of VPN servers is located in the US, UK, and Australia. IPVanish doesn't work in China.

IPVanish doesn't have specialized servers for streaming, but nevertheless, works well for bypassing Netflix geo-blocking. It unblocks Netflix US, UK, and India, with no freezing or buffering interruptions. IPVanish is ok for torrenting. It doesn't make any selling point out of P2P capabilities, because it offers no specialized torrenting servers. There's also a free SOCKS5 proxy for those who seek to maintain great speeds, and at the same time, be secure and have online privacy.

A 1-year subscription plan for IPVanish costs $3.33/month. Their 30-day money-back guarantee only applies to their annual plans. IPVanish does not accept crypto as a payment method.

There is a better VPN option that makes up for many shortcomings and drawbacks. VPN Unlimited offers more servers, VPN protocols, and functionality.

HMA was founded by Jack Cator in 2005, believing “privacy is a right, and required for freedom,” and “providing privacy means providing transparency.” The company is based in the UK and has been a subsidiary of the Czech cybersecurity company Avast since 2016. It offers more than 1100 servers in over 290 locations worldwide. That's fewer servers than most VPN providers, but more locations and countries compared to many competitors.

HMA VPN offers 8 P2P-optimized locations for Mac. The service only supports the OpenVPN protocol. It provides decent protection, with AES-256-GCM data encryption, RSA4096 for handshaking, and SHA256 data authentication.

The HideMyAss Mac client enables filtering its location list to display only streaming servers. Currently, there are only 6 streaming servers, which would make it easier for streaming websites to detect and block the associated IP addresses. HMA fails to open US Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime Video.

One feature of HideMyAss is IP Shuffle. It periodically reconnects the user to a different VPN server, ensuring their IP address changes constantly. This helps navigate online tracking a little more conveniently. Moreover, the Mac version of HMA offers a feature called split tunneling that allows choosing the apps that use the VPN traffic once connected to an HMA server.

A monthly HMA plan is priced at $10.99/mo. Regardless of the chosen subscription plan, HideMyAss doesn't support Bitcoin. Payments can be made via cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, and Alipay. It offers a 30-day money-back guarantee and doesn't care how many previous refunds requests a user has made, as long as it's at least six months since the last one.

Features often turn out to be overrated, offering no tangible benefits. VPN Unlimited is a reliable and solid solution that avoids any fluff.

CyberGhost VPN is offered by CyberGhost SA in Romania, founded in 2004. This VPN service is used via self-developed software clients for main platforms, including Mac. It takes advantage of various VPN protocols such as IPSec, L2TP/IPSec, PPTP, WireGuard, and OpenVPN. In 2017, the former Romanian company was acquired by the Crossrider Group. This London-listed company based on the Isle of Man changed its name to Kape Technologies PLC in March 2018. 

Romania upholds strong privacy laws that support the No-Logs policy. The country is also outside the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliances. No one in Romania has to share users’ data. And CyberGhost VPN can enforce its No-Logs policy with government support. This policy protects users’ DNS queries, browsing history, bandwidth usage, connection timestamps, and more.

CyberGhost VPN encrypts users’ internet traffic with standard 256bit AES encryption. It also has a big VPN server fleet, with 8900+ servers in 90+ countries. This will deal with overcrowded servers that constantly slow down connections.

CyberGhost VPN features a Smart DNS option to cover devices that don’t natively support VPN apps. It can enable streaming on Apple TV, Roku TV, and other Smart TVs. Smart DNS also reduces latency when gaming online.

Users can try CyberGhost for free only for 24 hours. A monthly CyberGhost VPN sub goes for $12.65/mo, with a 14-day money-back guarantee. 

Unlike CyberGhost, VPN Unlimited offers a 7-day free trial to check out everything. Also, there is no cap on the number of devices to be covered by a single subscription. And it offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Proton VPN is a “High-speed Swiss VPN that safeguards your privacy”, with headquarters in Geneva. Proton AG, the company behind Proton VPN and the email service Proton Mail, is supported by the European Commission. Proton VPN has a total of 1786 VPN servers, located in 63 different countries. All servers are owned and operated by Proton VPN via the company's network. It is available for Mac and other major operating systems. Proton VPN can also be set up on wireless routers.

Proton VPN uses OpenVPN (UDP/TCP) and the IKEv2 protocol, with AES256 encryption. The company claims to not store logs and to protect users from WebRTC and DNS leaks. In 2021, Proton VPN appended the WireGuard to its protocol fleet. Proton’s 10 Gbps server network merged with VPN Accelerator technologies enhances connection speeds.

Proton VPN deals with online surveillance by passing user traffic via the Secure Core network in privacy-friendly countries like Switzerland. So, compromised VPN endpoint servers will not expose users’ actual IP addresses. Proton VPN also integrates with Tor to route all traffic via the Tor network and to access Onion sites.

The 1-month plan of Proton VPN costs $9.99/month. Proton also provides a limited-feature free version of Proton VPN to the public, without ads. With 100 servers in 3 countries, This version is funded by Proton VPN paid users.

Aside from more VPN servers and locations, VPN Unlimited offers a better collection of VPN protocols, only for less.