urban vpn safari

Urban VPN 4+

Urban best & unlimited vpn, urban cyber security inc, designed for ipad.

• 4.6 • 9.2K Ratings
• Offers In-App Purchases

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Description.

Protect your online identity and stay private & anonymous with a Premium unlimited VPN for iPhone and iPad! Urban VPN Premium proxy servers hide your IP address and encrypt your internet connection, keeping you safe online. When you subscribe as an Urban VPN Premium member, you get: - A true Premium experience - Access to 300+ dedicated VPN servers with more than 80 VPN locations - Change your IP location - Connect to any location from our VPN server list. - Unblock Geo-Restricted content and Avoid being tracked by websites and advertisers - Access a whole new world of content and browse anonymously! - Protect your online activity - Your ISP might collect your online data. When Urban VPN Premium is on, your data stays encrypted. Therefore, ISPs cannot collect data or throttle your bandwidth. - Stay private - Urban VPN Premium doesn't track or collect your personal information. - 7 days free trial - Discover Urban VPN Premium's features with its lightning-fast network and VPN locations. Urban VPN Premium is a product by Urban Cyber Security and the creator of one of the world's most reliable virtual private networks - Urban VPN. We do not store, collect, or process your personal data. Urban VPN Premium also ensures third parties will NOT be able to track your browsing activity and will not sell your data tracked or sold to third parties – your connection is encrypted and safe. SUBSCRIPTION PLANS Urban VPN Premium is a paid VPN service, so you need a subscription to use it; the subscription includes access to the Urban VPN Premium app on iOS. You will be billed through your Apple ID Account when you confirm the purchase. If you’re enjoying a free trial, you will be charged on the last day of your free trial. The subscription renews automatically unless the auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current billing period. You can manage subscriptions and turn off auto-renewal by going to your App Store Account Settings. Check our privacy policy right here: https://www.urban-vpn.com/about-us/privacy/ Check out our terms of service here: https://www.urban-vpn.com/about-us/terms-of-service/ If you have any questions, contact us directly at https://www.urban-vpn.com/support/

Version 3.1.1

- Added 70 designated servers for Urban VPN Premium users. - Updated to a new OpenVPN infrastructure for a more resilient quality of service. - Various infrastructure improvements. - Bug fixes to enhance app performance.

Ratings and Reviews

9.2K Ratings

Strong and Steady

Living in a country where everthing is censured to the point they go after banning the vpns, I have tested many apps but this one truely stands out for providing so many locations which are steady over time making it very reliable not to mention the incredible connections speed. I hope they keep up their great work

I have been using urban for about 7 months now and it has never failed me. (almost never) at times it can make your connection slow but for the most part it functions nicely. Would recommend.

Sadly No More….

This WAS truly fabulous and FREE, but now they are suddenly charging enormous fees, what a pity. Apparently the only thing free is connecting to an Auto location - how useless is that ?!!!!! The problem with VPN subscriptions is not so much paying the (extortionate) fees BUT as with ALL VPNs is not having the confidence that the service will last or be maintained - they never do ! So when it inevitably stops working or being maintained you end up paying through the nose over and over - we are so fed up with this.

App Privacy

The developer, Urban Cyber Security INC , indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .

Data Not Linked to You

The following data may be collected but it is not linked to your identity:

• Financial Info
• Identifiers
• Diagnostics

Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More

Information

• 1Month Subscription $9.99
• 12Months Subscription $59.99
• 6Months Subscription $38.99
• 1Month Discount Subscription $9.99
• 12Months Discount Subscription $47.99
• 6Months Discount Subscription $29.99
• Developer Website
• App Support
• Privacy Policy

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The best VPNs for Safari (including browser extensions)

We are reader supported and may receive a commission if you buy using links on this page

James Milin-Ashmore

• November 26, 2023

Safari is one of the more secure options if you’re looking at web browsers. Exclusively available on Apple devices, it, unfortunately, doesn’t work with Windows, Android, or Linux. Rather than looking at the best VPN for the Safari browser, it’s more accurate to say that this is a list of the best providers for Apple devices.

Some VPNs do have browser versions, but they’re often lacking in comparison to a dedicated app. It makes sense to look at the best VPNs for Apple devices, which can then be used with Safari, as well as protecting all other traffic in the process. If you're in a rush and don't have time to read the full article, you can see the summary of our top picks below.

Best VPNs for Safari:

• NordVPN : Our top pick overall for Safari. Exceptional apps for iOS and macOS, NordLynx protocol for Apple devices, great speeds, lots of additional features like Threat Protection and Meshnet, available via App Store, and comes with a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.
• Surfshark : Affordable deals, capable Apple apps, decent speeds and server spread, rotating IP addresses, and a private search engine.
• ExpressVPN : Unparalleled streaming access, Lightway protocol for Apple devices, great speeds, and beginner-friendly apps for iOS and macOS. 
• Mullvad : iOS app uses WireGuard protocol exclusively, has decent speeds, transparent service, and a good reputation in the industry. 
• ProtonVPN : No logs, open-source, apps for iOS and Android, leak protection, and can access some streaming services. 
• CyberGhost : Seven-day free trial on iOS, thousands of servers worldwide, and great Apple apps.
• IPVanish : Works well with iOS and macOS, has solid speeds and security, and owns and operates its entire network.

Summary Table

We used the following criteria to identify the best VPNs for Safari, but you can also read a lot more about our testing methodology further in this article:

• Apps and usability: We look at the VPN apps on offer, as well as how easy they are to use. (Of course, we’ll be focusing on Safari and Apple devices in this case.)
• Speed: The provider should have impressive connection speeds.
• Security: We check out security, including the logging policy, leak protection, and any additional features used to improve privacy.
• Streaming: Is the provider able to access international streaming services ?
• Customer support: We check out the quality of customer support options.
• Value for money: Can you get the VPN for a fair price? Does it offer a money-back guarantee?

To make the top three we only accept VPNs that tick all of the following boxes:

• Providers who have consistently pushed VPN technology forward – with a special focus on VPN apps.
• The VPN must not log identifying data on customers and must have had its logging policy audited by a reputable third party (such as PWC). This ensures that VPNs which claim to adhere to certain practices actually do so.
• The VPN must have been through a technical security audit by a third party. As opposed to a logging policy audit, this tests the security of the VPN product itself.
• The VPN provider must operate a 100% diskless server network.

WANT TO TRY THE TOP VPN RISK FREE?

NordVPN is offering a fully-featured  risk-free  30-day trial if you  sign up at this page   . You can use the VPN rated #1 with no restrictions for a month - great if you want to binge your favorite show or are going on a short trip.

There are no hidden terms - just contact support within 30 days if you decide NordVPN isn't right for you and you'll get a full refund.   Start your NordVPN trial here .

Best VPNs for Safari: Detailed reviews

Here’s a rundown of our recommendations for the best VPNs for Safari:

NordVPN is our top pick overall for Safari, offering a wealth of security features that make it a great pick for both the Safari browser, and Apple devices. As well as a dedicated iOS and macOS app, you’ll be able to set up your VPN connection manually using OpenVPN or the IKEv2 protocol. 

The Quick Connect feature is brilliant for beginner users, automatically connecting you to the optimal server location. NordLynx is a proprietary protocol built around WireGuard , offering a chance to experience its speed benefits without compromising privacy. The NordLynx protocol is available for both iOS and macOS, and includes features like Threat Protection Lite, which uses DNS filtering to block ads and malicious domains. 

Its network includes 5,900+ servers in 60+ countries, and they can all be used with the Safari browser. It can also be used to bypass regional restrictions, including blocked social media platforms and streaming services. 

• Exceptional connection speeds
• Six simultaneous device connections
• Available in Mac App Store
• Diskless infrastructure
• Fully audited no logs policy
• Can be slow to connect

BEST VPN FOR SAFARI: NordVPN pairs nifty iOS and macOS apps with a heap of notable features. Includes NordLynx protocol, great performance, is easy for beginner users, and comes with a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee. 

Read our full  review of NordVPN .

2. Surfshark

Surfshark takes the runner-up spot, as a capable VPN for Safari that works in a variety of scenarios. 

There’s no denying that Safari is a capable browser, but one of the benefits of Surfshark is its new search engine. ‘Surfshark Search’ works to prevent tracking and targeted ads without leaving any digital footprints with your searches. It ensures that your search results will be unaffected by previous searches or your real location, and you’ll be able to connect unlimited devices at the same time with a single account.

Surfshark Nexus is an exclusive technology that permits multiple advanced features, such as the ability to periodically change your IP address without disconnecting you from the VPN. Once again, there’s no dedicated browser extension, but there are apps for macOS, iOS, Android, Windows, and Linux . 

It’s great for streaming, and it doesn’t log any personally identifiable information. A seven-day free trial for iOS is great for new users, and it has a range of affordable deals to take advantage of. Surfshark merged with Nord Security in 2021, however, the companies still operate independently.

• Lots of great budget deals – including a seven-day free trial for iOS
• Diskless infrastructure 
• Unlimited device connections 
• Private search engine
• Apps have been audited
• Can sometimes cause captchas when browsing on mobile

BEST BUDGET SAFARI VPN: Surfshark is a viable pick for any users who need a capable budget service. Great macOS/iOS apps, streaming support, advanced features, and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full  review of Surfshark .

3. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN was one of the few providers to actually offer a Safari extension, which essentially allowed the user to control a VPN app via the browser. However, it's no longer supported, so we’ll be looking at the dedicated client apps for Apple devices.

If you’re planning to stream via the browser, ExpressVPN is invariably one of the best options for accessing blocked websites and services. This includes the likes of Apple TV , Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, HBO, Hulu, Netflix, Showtime, Sling TV, and many more. It offers guides and support for the services listed above. There are servers in 105+ countries, and it’s ideal for bypassing blocks or censorship.

The proprietary Lightway protocol is great for speed and privacy, and it’s available with Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux, and routers .

However, it’s more expensive than the average provider, so look elsewhere if you need a low-cost VPN. 

• One of the best VPNs for unblocking sites and services
• Capable Safari app 
• Lightway protocol 
• Audited zero logs policy
• Plans are pricier than the competition

GREAT STREAMING SUPPORT: ExpressVPN has been around for a while , but still has more notable features than many newer providers. Capable Apple apps and includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full  review of ExpressVPN .

4. Proton VPN

If  Proton VPN rings a bell, that’s likely due to an association with the popular ProtonMail service. The VPN has apps for iPhone, iPad , and Mac devices, even if it lacks a Safari browser extension. In terms of notable features, you can add a Proton VPN widget in iOS14 and above, and the code itself is open-source. 

It offers access to Netflix, Amazon, BBC iPlayer, and other popular streaming services, and it uses bare metal single-tenancy physical servers.

Proton VPN was the provider that first disclosed an unpatched security vulnerability affecting iOS 13.3.1 or later that prevents VPNs from encrypting all traffic and can lead to some internet connections bypassing encryption to expose users' data or leak their IP addresses. 

A Switzerland-based provider, it’s worth mentioning that ProtonMail notably gave up the IP address of one of its users, which came to light in 2021. After being asked why Proton handed over a climate activist’s IP address, founder and CEO Andy Yen tweeted:

“Proton must comply with Swiss law. As soon as a crime is committed, privacy protections can be suspended and we’re required by Swiss law to answer requests from Swiss authorities.”

Note that VPNs in Switzerland cannot be compelled to begin logging, as these are protected differently to email services like ProtonMail. This means that the data request that affected Proton Mail does not affect its VPN subscribers, which are protected with a solid no-logging policy. It also comes with port forwarding, and a free tier that offers strong encryption and DNS leak protection. 

• Good streaming support 
• Capable apps for Apple devices 
• Well known brand
• Smaller server selection 

SOLID SAFARI VPN: ProtonVPN has a selection of apps that work well with Apple devices and the Safari browser. Open-source, has good streaming support, and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full  review of Proton VPN .

Mullvad has a solid reputation as one of the more dependable providers on the market. Built with a focus on privacy and security, five of its apps were independently audited by Cure53 in June 2020. 

The iOS app uses the WireGuard protocol exclusively, which is great in terms of speed and security. (It works on iOS 12 and newer iOS versions.) Advanced features include automatic WireGuard key rotation, while the macOS app also offers port probing, traffic obfuscation, an advanced kill switch, and MultiHop. This is a great result, especially as some developers are slow to add new features to Mac devices. Port forwarding is permitted, which makes this service a great option for torrenting .

Based in Sweden, it is decent from a privacy perspective due to the lack of mandatory data retention directives. We will note however that the region is still part of the 14-Eyes intelligence agreement. (This also includes Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the US, the UK, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, and Spain .) 

The iOS/iPadOS app lacks split tunneling, and you’re out of luck if you plan to use the service for streaming.

• Various advanced features available on macOS
• Audited by Cure53
• Not the best pick for streaming 
• Sweden is a 14-Eyes country 

GREAT VPN FOR PRIVACY: Mullvad offers transparency and affordability and numerous advanced features on macOS and iOS. It’s great for Safari and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of Mullvad .

6. CyberGhost

CyberGhost comes with a collection of 10,000+ VPN servers dotted across 100+ countries worldwide. It means you’ll never struggle to find a local server, and there are native apps for iOS and macOS devices. Many are optimized for streaming, so you’ll be able to use the browser to catch up with heaps of previously blocked content. 

It’s based in Romania, which is out of the jurisdiction of any known intelligence agreements. Even if it has nothing that can be tied to a user, CyberGhost does keep some connection logs, and the website collects a lot of user info. It’s also another provider that is owned by Kape Technologies, alongside ExpressVPN, Private Internet Access, and ZenMate VPN.

If you’re planning to use a VPN with iOS devices, it comes with a seven-day free trial, as long as you’re running iOS 13 or later. The provider comes with unlimited bandwidth, and will mask your online activities while in use. 

• Great streaming support 
• Free seven-day iOS trial 
• Solid Apps for iOS and macOS 
• Keeps some connection logs 
• Only a 14-day money-back guarantee for one-month plans 

THOUSANDS OF SERVERS: You’ll never struggle to find a local server with CyberGhost. It has native apps for iOS and macOS devices, works with multiple streaming services, and subscriptions of six months or longer are covered by a 45-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full  review of CyberGhost .

7. IPVanish

IPVanish has a pair of handy apps for iOS and macOS, ensuring that you’ll be able to access Safari with over 2,000 servers spread across 75+ locations worldwide. The WireGuard protocol ensures decent speeds, and it offers unlimited connections , so you’ll never have to worry about connecting multiple Apple devices. However, there’s no Safari browser extension.

Notable features include split tunneling, while IPVanish owns its entire server network. It’s great for changing your online location and accessing US services like Netflix and Hulu. IPVanish won't leak your real IP address, and the vast majority of servers offer access to HD content.  

Based in the United States, this does mean that it’s within reach of various intelligence agencies, as well as the jurisdiction of Five Eyes intelligence-sharing agreements. Monthly customers don’t qualify for the money-back guarantee, which is a notable downgrade compared to the majority of the competition.

• Secure apps for all Apple devices 
• Owns and operates its entire network 
• Works with services like Netflix US
• Based in the USA (Five Eyes)
• No money-back guarantee for the monthly plan 
• Doesn’t work in regions like China 

UNLIMITED SIMULTANEOUS CONNECTIONS: IPVanish is another respected name within the industry, offering streaming support and unlimited connections. A 30-day money-back guarantee is available for yearly/24-month plans.

Read our full review of IPVanish .

Methodology: How we find the best Safari VPNs

No two providers are the same. Everything from servers to speeds will differ depending on which VPN you’ve chosen. We used the following criteria to come up with this list of the best VPNs for Safari:

• Apple apps and usability: We looked at the VPN apps on offer, as well as how easy they are to use. Generally, we focus on every app, but this time we’re looking at performance on iOS and macOS devices for Safari. 
• Speed: The provider needs to offer top-notch connection speeds. If you plan to stream via the browser, or you don’t have the fastest internet speeds to begin with, it’s even more important. 
• Security: We check out security, the logging policy , leak protection, and any additional features used to improve privacy. We also take ownership, protocols, encryption, and more into account. 
• Streaming: What international streaming services is the provider able to access? It’s always great to have the option to access content from home while abroad. 
• Customer support: We check out the quality of customer support options. Is there 24/7 live chat, does the service have guides for Safari and Apple devices?
• Value for money: Can you get the VPN for a fair price? Is it simple to redeem the money-back guarantee just in case?

Bonus points

As well as the criteria noted above, we also awarded bonus points to the top three VPN providers in this list that provide the following:

• Providers who have consistently pushed VPN technology forward: Rather than opting to do just enough to provide an acceptable service, the VPNs that make up our top three have consistently improved at any opportunity. For example, NordVPN and ExpressVPN bucked industry trends by creating their own unique connection protocols, while Surfshark was one of the first (along with CyberGhost) to offer tools like antivirus software and ad-blocking directly in its apps. Each is a great choice for Apple devices, and Safari. 
• Based in countries not part of any known intelligence alliance: Various murky intelligence alliances exist. The best-known alliance of this type is probably The 14 Eyes (officially called SIGINT Seniors Europe, or SSEUR) which includes the UK, USA, Germany, France, Spain, and nine others, though other alliances (such as Maximator and the Afghanistan SiGINT Coalition) also exist, and it’s likely there are more partnerships that we are not aware of. NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Surfshark are all based in Panama or the British Virgin Islands, clear of any known treaties. 
• Regular application and server audits from a respected third party: A server audit examines things like whether the VPN’s infrastructure inadvertently collects data that would disprove no-logging claims. Application audits check the apps that a user runs on their device and look for exploits that can be used to unmask your activity or otherwise compromise your hardware. NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Surfshark have had both types of audits performed, so you won’t have to take their claims at face value.
• Diskless infrastructure: Moving processes to RAM means that no information can be physically taken from servers and it is wiped on shutdown, so no stored data can be accessed if they're hacked or seized. 

How to use a VPN with Safari

If you’ve never used a VPN before, we’ve put together a guide to take you through the process. Rather than using a VPN with Safari specifically, here’s how to install it on either your macOS or iOS device:

Here's how to use a VPN with Safari:

• Choose a VPN service, and sign up. ( NordVPN is our top recommendation for Safari.)
• Download and install the VPN app on your Apple device. You can check the App Store, or download it directly via the VPN website.
• Sign in, and pick a VPN server to connect to. (For example, you could use a local server if you don’t have a location in mind. Many VPNs will allow you to Quick Connect to the best available option.)
• Open Safari to begin browsing safely. 

Your device should now be protected by the VPN, and it will have been assigned a new IP address. This is what is used to access previously blocked content.

Should I use a VPN browser extension or the app?

It’s worth noting that the vast majority of providers don’t actually have a Safari app. Even if there is an opportunity to use a browser version of a VPN, we’d always advise using the dedicated app if possible. VPN apps tend to have more features, and they will encrypt all traffic, rather than only your Safari browser traffic. 

For example, any other apps you use outside of Safari will be unprotected, which isn’t ideal if you’re using a VPN as a means to improve online privacy. A VPN browser extension is more like a proxy in this respect, and it can’t measure up in comparison. 

Browse safer with a VPN for Safari

Nowadays, there are a growing number of threats to Apple Mac computers and laptops. Hackers are aware that professionals use macOS for business purposes, which provides an opportunity for locking up computers with ransomware. These small businesses and individuals, often deeply require the data on their devices for the projects they are working on, meaning that they will often pay a ransom to regain access to their files.

A VPN conceals your IP address from the websites and services you visit, which can help protect you against drive-by malware infections. The leading providers in this guide even use DNS-based filtering to block malicious websites and malware infections, which can add another layer of protection when you browse on Safari.

The important thing to remember is that macOS is not as invulnerable to attacks as it used to be. Cybercriminals are making concerted efforts to attack Mac computers, meaning that you should seek to protect yourself using a VPN and an antivirus for Mac. Some examples of known threats for Mac include KeRanger Ransomware, Pirrit Adware, Flashback Trojan, Shlayer Trojan, and Silver Sparrow Malware. These illustrate the importance of a VPN and reliable antivirus for your Mac device.

Besides these threats, a VPN for Safari also helps to hide your digital footprint. It conceals your IP address from the websites you visit, which removes a persistent layer of tracking. This helps to prevent online marketing and allows you to visit websites without them creating a personalized profile of your preferences.

Using a VPN for Safari not only enhances your protection against malware and cyberattacks but also safeguards your digital privacy, allowing you to browse the web with greater peace of mind. Your Internet Service Provider won't know what you're up to, as long as you pick a provider with strong encryption and no IP leaks.  The VPNs we've mentioned above come with strong security features, and can access geo-blocked content. 

Safari VPN: FAQs

Do free vpns work with safari.

Yes, although there are flaws to consider. If you’re planning to use a VPN to improve your online privacy, a free provider is likely to be found. After all, if you’re not paying for the service with a monthly subscription, it’s likely that the free VPN is extracting value from the user in other ways. This might be in the form of selling data to third parties or spamming the user with endless adverts. 

The majority of completely free VPNs are also hamstrung to some degree. Connection speeds are going to be far slower than the premium options we’ve mentioned above, and the same goes for bandwidth. That's why we only recommend premium VPNs . If you need a VPN, Surfshark and CyberGhost both offer free trials for iOS, with no limitations. 

Can I browse anonymously with Safari?

Safari alone won’t allow you to browse anonymously. However, when paired with a VPN, all of your data will be encrypted, making it tough to identify what the user is up to. Our top VPNs can all be used with Apple devices and will help to improve your level of online privacy.

Does Safari have a built-in VPN?

Not in the traditional sense. Apple does offer Private Relay if you have a paid subscription to iCloud+. It works by sending requests through two separate, secure internet relays. Not even Apple can see what you’re up to. However, iCloud Private Relay is not available in all countries or regions. It’s also likely to be under US jurisdiction, given the service is provided by Apple itself.

Meanwhile, Apple developers have confirmed that you won’t be able to use the system to pretend to be from another region. In other words, it’s not a great choice for accessing local sites and services while you’re abroad. 

Will Safari work with all VPNs?

Yes, as long as the VPN has a relevant iOS/macOS app. The good news is; most premium providers will have a dedicated app for all Apple devices, allowing for at least five simultaneous connections at any given time. Split tunneling may also be of interest, as it lets you connect just the apps where you need privacy. You could turn on the feature solely for Safari if you prefer.

Can I use a VPN to hide my Safari search history?

A VPN works to encrypt your traffic, ensuring anyone from your ISP to online snoopers will be unable to see what you’re up to while online. If you’re aiming to hide your Safari search history, turn on Private Browsing. This ensures that your browsing information won't be saved, and the websites you visit won't be shared with any of your other devices. Safari won't remember the pages you visit, your search history, or AutoFill information. 

Do Mac users need a VPN?

macOS has a reputation as being ‘more secure’ than Windows, mostly due to the fact that Apple devices were less popular in the past. Basically, this means that there were more viruses created for Windows, although the same isn’t necessarily true today. 

As for iOS, it’s sold as a secure platform in comparison to Android, but it’s still possible to collect lots of user information depending on your app permissions. We’d recommend using a VPN for Safari, whether you plan to browse on iOS or macOS. 

Can I watch Netflix on Safari with a VPN?

Yes. If you are a Netflix subscriber who is on vacation, you can easily regain access to your home services by using a VPN. Simply connect to a VPN server in your usual country, and when you log in to Netflix, you will see your usual catalog of titles. It is worth noting that a VPN may work better to watch Netflix on Safari than it does in the dedicated Netflix app. For this reason, if you are having any trouble watching Netflix with your VPN, you may want to try Safari or some other browser instead of the app.

Remember that cookies left in your browser can also affect your VPN, and GPS can also potentially give away your location. You can delete cookies in your browser and turn off GPS to ensure it works without problems. Contact your VPN's live chat support to get help with either of these things.

Can a Safari VPN protect me on public WiFi?

Yes. When you connect to a VPN, all the data leaving your Mac device is encrypted. This stops local networks, ISPs, government agencies, and public WiFi hotspots from being able to track your web visits. This encryption is extremely important if you use public WiFi regularly because those hotspots will use your data for profiling purposes, and even create a profit by selling it to third party marketing companies and data brokers.

The encryption provided by a VPN also makes you safer on public WiFi by preventing your data from being intercepted by hackers also connected to the hotspot, and prevents you from being victimized on badly implemented WiFi hotspots that lack adequate security or by Evil Twin attacks.

Did you know

The following information is available to any site you visit:

Your IP Address:

Your Location:

Your Internet Provider:

BLEEPINGCOMPUTER RECOMMENDS:

Using a VPN will hide these details and protect your privacy. We recommend using NordVPN - #1 VPN in our tests . It offers outstanding privacy features and is currently available with three months extra free.

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5 Best VPNs for Safari in 2024 — Secure & User-Friendly

• 🥇1. ExpressVPN — Best VPN for Safari in 2024
• 🥉2. Private Internet Access — Great for P2P File Sharing & Accessing P2P Sites on Safari
• 🥈3. CyberGhost VPN — Beginner-Friendly VPN With Convenient Automation for Safari
• 4. NordVPN — Great Safari VPN for Browsing Securely & Privately
• 5. Surfshark — Budget-Friendly VPN for Safari

Quick Comparison Table

How to choose the best vpn for safari in 2024, frequently asked questions, quick overview of my top recommendations:, short on time here’s the best vpn for safari in 2024:.

• 🥇 ExpressVPN : Comes with high-end security features, fast speeds, excellent P2P and streaming support, and easy-to-use iOS and macOS apps. Moreover, ExpressVPN has servers in 105 countries and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

While Safari is secure, it doesn’t protect your online data from hackers. Unfortunately, third parties can still monitor your web traffic and even try to target it with cyber attacks.

A VPN solves that issue by encrypting your traffic, but not all VPNs work with Safari. That’s because many VPNs have very poor macOS and iOS apps, cause noticeable slowdowns, or just lack essential security and privacy features.

Luckily, after weeks of thorough testing, I found 5 great VPNs for Safari. My favorite is ExpressVPN since it has excellent apps for iOS and macOS devices, the fastest speeds on the market, and really great security and privacy features. Editors' Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.

Get ExpressVPN Now

Quick summary of the best VPNs for Safari:

• 1.🥇 ExpressVPN — Best overall VPN for Safari in 2024 with fast speeds and user-friendly macOS & iOS apps.
• 2.🥉 Private Internet Access — Secure VPN for browsing torrenting sites & sharing P2P files on the Safari browser.
• 3.🥈 CyberGhost VPN — Beginner-friendly VPN with convenient automation settings for the Safari browser.
• 4. NordVPN — Great VPN for Safari with tons of high-end security features for safe browsing.
• 5. Surfshark — Budget-friendly VPN for Safari with intuitive apps (good for new users).

Editors' Note: Intego, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost and ExpressVPN are owned by Kape Technologies, our parent company

🥇1. ExpressVPN — Best VPN for Safari in 2024

ExpressVPN is the best VPN for Safari in 2024. It lacks a Safari extension, but that’s not an issue — you can just use its macOS or iOS apps instead, which are super intuitive. Plus, this way you secure all your device’s web traffic, not just the browser’s traffic. This is also why we’ve ranked ExpressVPN as the top VPN for Macs and iOS .

ExpressVPN has really user-friendly, feature-rich apps for Safari users. The iOS and macOS apps are intuitive, with simple navigation that makes it easy to connect to a server with just one click. Plus, they’re super easy to install — I downloaded the apps on my phone and computer in under a minute.

ExpressVPN offers really great support for streaming and torrenting. It works with 100+ streaming platforms, including Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime, Max, and more. It’s also good for downloading since it allows P2P traffic on all servers and works with popular P2P clients like BitTorrent and Vuze.

What’s more, you also get other cool perks. First, ExpressVPN has Threat Manager, which prevents you from accessing malicious sites on Safari. It also comes with split-tunneling, which lets you customize which apps use the VPN and which don’t. It also comes with an ad blocker, which filters out most ads and stops them from loading and appearing on your browser.

ExpressVPN offers plans starting at RUB600 / month. Plus, it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Bottom Line:

ExpressVPN is an excellent choice for Safari users, as it has excellent iOS and macOS apps, really good support for streaming and torrenting, and great security and privacy features. Plus, it has additional features like Threat Manager and split-tunneling. It also comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read the full ExpressVPN review

🥉2. Private Internet Access — Great for P2P File Sharing & Accessing P2P Sites on Safari

Private Internet Access (PIA) is excellent for torrenting since it allows P2P traffic on servers in all 91 countries. Plus, it comes with port forwarding, which allows you to connect to more peers for faster speeds, and SOCKS5 proxy support, which also provides faster speeds but doesn’t encrypt your traffic.

In addition, I really like the MACE feature, which is the best ad blocker on the market. It’s available on the macOS app, and you can use it while accessing P2P sites on Safari to avoid annoying ads on torrent trackers and also avoid malicious P2P websites.

The VPN also has other great security features. It comes with perfect forward secrecy, full leak protection, an audited no-logs policy, and open-source apps so that anyone can check the code for vulnerabilities.

PIA is great for streaming, too, as it supports over 30 popular streaming sites, including Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+. That said, I prefer ExpressVPN for streaming since it works with 100+ streaming platforms.

Private Internet Access has affordable plans starting at RUB190 / month. Also, it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Private Internet Access is great for torrenting on Safari. It allows P2P traffic on all servers and provides access to the best VPN ad blocker on the market. It also provides other cool security features and very intuitive iOS and macOS apps. Its plans are affordable and backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read the full Private Internet Access review

Editors' Note: Private Internet Access and this site are in the same ownership group.

🥈3. CyberGhost VPN — Beginner-Friendly VPN With Convenient Automation for Safari

CyberGhost VPN is a simple-to-use VPN that’s suitable for beginners. Its macOS and iOS apps have incredibly user-friendly interfaces that have a large power button for connecting to the VPN. The apps also provide helpful explanations for all their features, so you’ll easily figure out how to use all the different options. I found the installation and setup process to be a breeze (it took me less than 3 minutes to install the app and make an account).

CyberGhost also offers strong security and privacy features. It has strong leak protection, RAM-only servers that wipe data with every server reboot, and perfect forward secrecy.

CyberGhost VPN’s plans are cheap (as low as RUB190 / month), and it covers long-term purchases with a 45-day refund and monthly purchases with a 14-day money-back guarantee.

CyberGhost VPN is a really user-friendly VPN — it has very beginner-friendly iOS and macOS apps. In addition, its macOS app provides convenient automation scenarios that can be configured to work with Safari. Also, the VPN has very good streaming support. All of its plans are affordable, and there’s a 45-day refund for long-term purchases.

Read the full CyberGhost VPN review

Editors' Note: CyberGhost and this site are in the same ownership group.

4. NordVPN — Great Safari VPN for Browsing Securely & Privately

NordVPN comes with plenty of advanced security features, making it an excellent choice for Safari users who prioritize online security and privacy. The VPN has an audited no-logs policy, full leak protection, perfect forward secrecy, and uses RAM-only servers.

I really enjoy using NordVPN’s iOS and macOS apps. They’re both really user-friendly with an intuitive interface. Plus, there are helpful explanations for all settings and features, so you never feel lost using the VPN.

NordVPN is good for streaming and torrenting. It works with over 10 popular platforms like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Disney+. However, if streaming is your priority, I recommend choosing ExpressVPN or CyberGhost VPN , as they work with way more streaming services. NordVPN is good for torrenting since it has 4,500+ P2P servers, and it also comes with SOCKS5 proxy support.

NordVPN comes with monthly and yearly plans starting at RUB310 / month. Each plan comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

NordVPN is a secure VPN for Safari. It includes several advanced security features plus extras like Threat Protection and Dark Web Monitor. It also has great iOS and macOS apps, great streaming and torrenting support, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read the full NordVPN review

5. Surfshark — Budget-Friendly VPN for Safari

Surfshark is a budget-friendly VPN for Safari. Its plans are cheap since they start at only RUB200 / month, and the VPN provides very good value as well.

Its iOS and macOS apps are also really good, with quick-connect options and organized server lists. Plus, installing the apps only took me a couple of minutes. Surfshark also allows unlimited connections, which is convenient for big families that use Safari on Apple devices.

Surfshark offers multiple advanced security features, including perfect forward secrecy, RAM-only servers, and an independently audited no-logs policy. Unfortunately, it only has DNS leak protection (but it still never leaked my data in my tests).

Surfshark also comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee — so you can easily test the VPN risk-free.

Surfshark is a great Safari VPN if you’re on a tight budget. It has really affordable plans and a great range of features including user-friendly apps, unlimited connections, streaming and torrenting support, and advanced security features. Plus, it has a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read the full Surfshark review

• Pick a VPN with good iOS and macOS apps. Very few VPNs have extensions for Safari, so it’s important to pick a VPN that has intuitive and feature-rich apps for iOS and macOS. All of my top picks have very good iOS and macOS apps.
• Look for strong security. Ensure your VPN offers industry-standard security features like 256-bit AES encryption, strong leak protection, a no-logs policy, and a kill switch to prevent data leaks.
• Prioritize fast speeds. Though all VPNs affect your speeds because of encryption, a good VPN should provide fast and stable internet connections for Safari users. ExpressVPN has the fastest speeds on this list for browsing, streaming, and downloading.
• Pick a good VPN for streaming and torrenting. All the VPNs I recommend work with popular streaming sites like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime. Also, they allow P2P traffic on most of their servers.
• Select a VPN that offers good value for money. Look for a VPN that provides good value for money. Every VPN on my list offers affordable plans, additional features like an ad blocker or split-tunneling, and generous money-back guarantees.

Top Brands That Didn’t Make the Cut

• PrivateVPN. Although PrivateVPN offers strong security, great streaming and torrenting support, and affordable long-term plans, it’s not as feature-rich as the other VPNs on my list.
• IPVanish. IPVanish has good speeds, strong security, and support for unlimited connections. That said, it’s not good for streaming, as it isn’t compatible with most top streaming services.
• TunnelBear. TunnelBear’s user-friendly interface and solid security features make it a good overall VPN. It even allows split-tunneling on iOS devices, which most VPNs don’t support. However, it isn’t as fast as the others on my list.

Will using a VPN affect my internet speed in Safari?

Yes, using a VPN affects your internet speed to some extent, as your data needs to be encrypted and travels a longer distance to the VPN server, which takes time. However, with a high-quality VPN service, this impact is usually minimal and may not even be noticeable. ExpressVPN is my top choice since it has the fastest speeds on the market.

Can I use a free VPN with Safari?

Yes, you can use a free VPN with Safari, but I don’t generally recommend it. That’s because free VPNs often have limitations such as data caps, fewer server options, slower speeds, and a lack of advanced features.

Paid premium VPN services offer much better features and functionality, as they provide very fast speeds, unlimited data, consistent access to streaming platforms, and very good security and privacy features.

What’s the best VPN for Safari?

My top pick for Safari is ExpressVPN . Even though it doesn’t have a Safari extension, it still encrypts your entire device’s traffic via its VPN app. Plus, it has very intuitive macOS and iOS apps, it’s super fast, and it’s also really good for streaming and torrenting.

How does a VPN protect my privacy when using Safari?

A VPN protects your privacy on Safari by encrypting your internet connection. When you connect to a VPN server, all the data you send and receive travels through an encrypted tunnel, which prevents outsiders like hackers, ISPs, or even government agencies from seeing what you’re doing online.

Furthermore, a VPN masks your real IP address and makes it appear as if you’re browsing from the location of the VPN server you’re connected to. This makes it much more difficult for websites, advertisers, or other online trackers to monitor your activities and collect data about you.

About the Author

• VPN & Privacy

Best VPNs for Safari

8 best vpns for safari in 2024 – with browser extensions.

In today’s digital age, securing your online privacy is paramount, especially when cyber threats lurk around every corner. We’ve pinpointed the best VPNs for Safari through exhaustive research and rigorous testing , ensuring rapid and confidential browsing.

Whether you’re yearning to bypass geo-restrictions to devour international content or unblock censored services, we’ve got you covered. And for all you proud Mac or iOS users – you’re likely familiar with Safari, your trusty built-in browser. At the same time, it’s true that Safari doesn’t cater to Windows, Android, or Linux, its exclusive ecosystem warrants specialized protection. Dive into this comprehensive guide to discover the ultimate VPNs for Safari and unveil the compelling reasons to fortify your online fortress.

Are you pressed for time? We’ve got a snapshot of our top VPNs for Safari coming right up.

We’ll cover more details about the Best VPNs for Safari in this post, but here’s our quick summary.

We found these to be the best VPNs for Safari based on user testing:

• NordVPN   Our #1 choice Safari VPN. Superfast servers that deliver on streaming. Tight privacy and robust security. Includes 30-day money-back guarantee. TIP In our testing we found that the cheapest NordVPN plan (Standard) works perfectly for Safari.
• Surfshark : Great budget VPN for Safari. A no-logs VPN that works perfectly on iOS and MacOS. Decent speeds, excellent unblocking ability, and the ability to connect all of your devices at once.
• ExpressVPN : Solid Safari VPN with iOS and MacOS. Secure and private connections. Unblocks restricted content with ease and great for streaming.
• CyberGhost : Huge network of servers and robust security features. Works with Macs and iOS devices.
• IPVanish : Works well with Macs and iOS devices. Good speeds, privacy, and secure connections.
• PrivateVPN : An increasingly popular Safari VPN service with fast speeds. Good for streaming.
• PureVPN : A fast, no-logs provider with thousands of servers and exceptional streaming ability. Offers 24/7 customer support over live chat and works great with Safari.
• ProtonVPN : Delivers consistently impressive speeds and includes a wide range of advanced security features. Works effortlessly with most region-locked sites. Connect 10 devices at once.

If you use the Safari browser to surf the web, you should know about extra protection that you can add on to your connections. A VPN will protect your privacy and allow you to get around regional restrictions that many websites impose on access. This means that you will be able to access video streaming services from other countries, even though your location would normally get you locked out.

Best VPNs for Safari – Our hands-on review

We’ve compared the most important features for the top VPNs here. Prefer to read the in-depth reviews? Start with NordVPN – our #1 choice for Safari.

Our criteria for Safari VPNs

There are many benefits to using a VPN, which you can read about further down in this report. However, your first decision is which VPN provider to choose. When looking for the best VPN for Safari, you need to take into account the following features:

• Can be installed on Macs and iOS devices and works well with Safari
• Works with streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu
• Has fast speeds and reliable connections for downloading and streaming
• Offers strong encryption and watertight security
• Doesn’t store any activity logs with no exceptions
• Can bypass regional content blocks
• Has reliable and responsive customer support
• Has fair pricing with a money-back guarantee

Here’s a list of the best VPNs for Safari:

Apps Available:

Website:   www.NordVPN.com

Money-back guarantee:   30 DAYS

NordVPN is our top pick for a Safari VPN. You get access to servers in over 100 countries and the app is excellent at getting around regional restrictions. NordVPN does not keep any logs, which helps hide your identity on the internet. You can connect to the service on six devices all at the same time, and the website has a long list of tutorials on how to install the VPN manually on your router — that counts as just one connection.

You can install the NordVPN app on Mac OS X, macOS, and iOS, to cover your Safari browser. There is also an app available for Windows and Android and you can install the system manually on Linux computers and devices.

NordVPN doesn’t offer a Safari browser extension . It’s unfortunately only available on Google Chrome, Firefox and Edge.. However, it does have a supplementary service, called an HTTP proxy, which you can set up on your browser. A tutorial on the website explains how to set it up. A web proxy isn’t as good as a VPN because it doesn’t give you any extra encryption or other security measures, it just changes your apparent location.

The NordVPN app includes many excellent online security features. These include encryption on all of your connections and there is also a kill switch. You can choose a double-hop route that will travel through two different VPN servers and encrypt your connections twice over. You may also connect to the Tor network through NordVPN. Your online privacy is protected further by NordVPN’s strict no-logs policy.

NordVPN speed test data

• Safari browser can be paired with a HTTP proxy, or you can install a dedicated app
• Blazing fast speeds
• Huge network of servers
• Most apps feature a process-specific kill switch
• Great customer support
• Desktop app can take some getting used to

BEST VPN FOR SAFARI: NordVPN is our top choice . Tops our list of the fastest VPNs and performs well in all other categories. Strong security features and allows up to 6 devices to be used simultaneously from one account. Includes 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full NordVPN review.

2. Surfshark

Website:   www.Surfshark.com

Surfshark is a low-cost VPN that offers access to 3,200 servers across 65 countries, which alone would make it a robust choice. However, it also boasts a wealth of extra security features including 256-bit encryption, a kill switch, and protection against WebRTC, IPv6, and DNS leaks. Best of all, this service allows you to connect as many devices as you like, ensuring you never have to browse the web unprotected.

This service takes your privacy very seriously. Surfshark doesn’t log any personally identifiable information but if you’re worried about anonymity, you can sign up almost completely anonymously by paying in cryptocurrency ( it accepts Bitcoin , Ripple, and Ethereum).

Surfshark doesn’t have a Safari browser extension, but it does offer apps for MacOS, iOS, Android, Windows, and Linux. Further, it can be manually installed on supported internet routers.

Surfshark speed test data

• Budget-friendly pricing
• Powerful security and privacy protections
• Fast enough for almost anything
• Unlimited simultaneous device connections
• 24/7 customer support
• Some features require a subscription to Surfshark One

BEST BUDGET VPN: Surfshark lets you protect every device you own. Better still, with a no-logging policy, high speeds, and strong multi-platform support, you don’t have to trade security for convenience. This service has a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full Surfshark review.

3. ExpressVPN

Website:   www.ExpressVPN.com

ExpressVPN fulfils all the requirements for a Safari VPN. You can install the VPN app and use that to cover everything on your device. The ExpressVPN app is available for all of the operating systems that Safari runs on: Mac OS X, macOS, and iOS. You can also install the system on the Windows and Android operating systems, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Amazon Fire TV, Kindle Fire tablets, and Linux machines. You get an allowance of three simultaneous connections, so that you can have other gadgets covered by the VPN as well as your Safari browser at the same time.

ExpressVPN has an automatic installer for select routers. A router installation counts as only one of your five concurrent connection allowance even though it covers all of the internet-connected devices in your home.

ExpressVPN includes military-grade encryption, which is essential if you want to connect to the internet in repressive countries. As well as using 256-bit AES encryption with the OpenVPN system, it also employs 4096-bit RSA encryption for session establishment, which is the strongest available on the market.

This service is also very good at evading detection, which makes it a good option for places like China and Iran . It will also help you securely access all kinds of services including Netflix. ExpressVPN has an impressive network of servers in 94 countries, which gives you many options when you want to appear to be in a different country. The company does not keep connection logs.

Security features include a kill switch, which will prevent all the apps on your device from connecting to the internet if the VPN is not active. You also get automatic wifi protection with the ExpressVPN app, which is essential if you tend to use wifi hotspots in public places.

ExpressVPN speed test data

• Fast servers are great for streaming HD content
• Best-in-class encryption makes for solid security and privacy
• Gets around torrent tracker sites blocks without compromising privacy
• Excellent support
• A bit pricier than rivals
• Could offer more customizable features

GREAT UNBLOCKER: ExpressVPN is fast and reliable . It unblocks restricted content on all major streaming services. Strong security and privacy. The only VPN in this list with a dedicated Safari browser extension. Includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full ExpressVPN review.

4. CyberGhost

Website:   www.Cyberghost.com

Money-back guarantee:   45 DAYS

CyberGhost doesn’t have a Safari browser extension, but you can install it on Mac OS X, macOS, and iOS. Apps are also available for Windows and Android, and you can install the system manually on routers and Linux computers.

The service gives you access to a massive and secure server network of over 10,000 in 80+ countries and a special cloaking option will help you in places that have tough government restrictions on internet access. The VPN connections are connected by AES 256-bit encryption and 4096-bit RSA encryption for session establishment. A kill switch and automatic wifi protection are built into the app.

The company doesn’t hold any details on its customers. All payment processing is carried out by a third party and you are only identified on the CyberGhost system by an account number. The company does not keep activity logs and it is based in Romania where there are no data retention requirements.

The app’s interface opens with an activities screen where you can choose a VPN server adjusted for activities such as watching streaming videos or downloading. You get an allowance of five simultaneous connections with CyberGhost and the company gives all new customers a 45-day money-back guarantee.

CyberGhost speed test data

• The biggest server network on the market
• Easy to use apps work well with Safari
• Streams HD video content seamlessly
• Kill switch on all apps and keeps no logs
• Torrenting and P2P won’t work on all server locations
• Doesn’t work in China

GOOD FOR BEGINNERS: CyberGhost is easy to use. Fast and reliable internet connections with a good range of servers. Great privacy with zero logs and DNS leak protection. 45-day money back guarantee.

Read our full CyberGhost review.

5. IPVanish

Website:   www.IPVanish.com

IPVanish offers good speeds for accessing streaming video and the company has its server network in 60 countries. There isn’t an IPVanish Safari browser extension, however, there are apps for Mac OS X, macOS, and iOS operating systems, which will protect your browser traffic. You can also install an IPVanish app on Windows and Android, including manually on Amazon Fire devices and routers. The company gives you an allowance of five concurrent connections.

The company is based in the United States, which may worrisome because the NSA and other law enforcement are known to apply secret pressure to IT companies to access customer information. However, IPVanish offers strong security with the AES encryption system, using a 256-bit key through the OpenVPN methodology. The other VPNs in our list of the best VPNs Safari also use this level of protection.

A key privacy feature of the VPN service is that it keeps no logs. This is important if you want to download files with the BitTorrent protocol. Copyright lawyers in the USA are particularly active, so if your chosen VPN company retains activity or connection records, you would lose your privacy. The IPVanish app includes a kill switch and automatic wifi protection, which will prevent your real IP address from being detected by snoopers on the internet.

IPVanish offers a seven-day money-back guarantee.

IPVanish speed test data

• Provides secure apps for Mac OS X, macOS and iOS
• Keeps no logs, has automatic kill switch and wifi protection
• Works with Netflix US
• Apps don’t work in China

UP TO 10 DEVICES: IPVanish has a large network of servers . Generally solid for Safari users. Adhere to the highest standard of privacy, but can struggle with unblocking some popular streaming sites. 7-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full IPVanish review.

6. PrivateVPN

Website:   www.PrivateVPN.com

PrivateVPN is based in Sweden, but its support staff all speak excellent English. The support team can be contacted online during European office hours via a live chat window on the service’s website. The team is very competent and can even take control of your computer remotely to fix problems for you. However, you are unlikely to encounter any problems installing this app because it comes with an install wizard that will get the VPN operating without much input from you.

You can protect Safari browser by installing the PrivateVPN app on Mac OS X, macOS, and iOS devices. Apps are available for Windows and Android, and you can install the VPN manually on routers , Amazon fire devices, and the Linux operating system.

PrivateVPN runs servers in 56 countries. This is a particularly good option if you like to download with torrents because the company does not keep any logs. The OpenVPN protocol is protected with 256-bit AES solid encryption. You also get a kill switch and automatic wifi protection options with the PrivateVPN app.

The service gives each customer an allowance of six simultaneous connections and you get a 30-day money-back guarantee to try out the system.

PrivateVPN speed test data

• Has an easy install wizard for Mac OS X, MacOS and iOS devices
• Strong security and privacy protection features
• Keeps no logs whatsoever
• Support staff are good, but only operate during European business hours
• Small number of servers to choose from

GREAT SPEEDS: PrivateVPN is a good family choice . Speeds were surprisingly good at this end of the market. It could do with having more servers and lacks 24/7 support. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full PrivateVPN review.

Website:   www.PureVPN.com

Money-back guarantee:   31 DAYS

PureVPN has quite a large network, with more than 6,000 servers across 65 countries. These are exceptionally fast, averaging almost 400 Mbps, which means it’s a great option for data-intensive tasks like torrenting, making video calls, or watching TV. On that note, this VPN works effortlessly with major streaming platforms such as Prime Video and Disney+. We found PureVPN’s apps to be extremely user-friendly but if you run into any problems, staff are available 24/7 over live chat. Users can connect up to 10 devices simultaneously.

This service includes all of the tools you’ll need to browse the internet safely. For instance, it prevents DNS and IPv6 leaks , refuses to store any logs of your activities, and uses uncrackable encryption (no matter which protocol you choose). If PureVPN detects that you’re in a country with extreme censorship, it will automatically obfuscate your data, hiding any indication that you’re using a VPN in the first place. There are a couple of downsides, however; this service can’t block ads, and if you’d like to stop trackers, you’ll need a Plus or Max plan. Additionally, it doesn’t offer a kill switch on Mac or iOS.

PureVPN has its own apps for iOS, MacOS, Linux, Windows, and Android. Further, it can be manually installed on a wide range of routers, which lets you bypass the connection limit.

PureVPN speed test data

• A fast and reliable option for Safari users
• Simplifies online security
• Excels at beating online restrictions
• No kill switch or split tunneling on Apple devices
• Tracker-blocking not included as standard

CAN HANDLE ANYTHING: PureVPN is an extraordinarily versatile service boasting impressive performance and a good set of security tools. That’s not all: it also comes with built-in traffic obfuscation, a proven no-logs policy, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Check out our comprehensive review of PureVPN .

8. ProtonVPN

Website:   www.protonvpn.com

ProtonVPN is best known for its free plan, but for the best experience, you’ll want to upgrade. Doing so provides access to 3,800 servers in 85 countries, allows you to secure 10 devices at a time, and removes the speed cap. What’s more, paid subscribers can access just about any region-locked streaming platform, including Netflix, Paramount+, and Amazon Prime Video . You also get priority customer support, giving you the option to chat directly with staff should anything go wrong.

One thing is clear: this service takes your security seriously. For starters, it uses effectively uncrackable encryption and has been independently audited to prove that it doesn’t keep any logs of your activities. Additional safeguards include a kill switch, leak protection, automatic ad and tracker-blocking, and Secure Core servers designed with anonymity in mind. Experienced users will appreciate the more advanced features, such as port forwarding and split tunneling functionality, but it’s also a good choice for anyone looking to sign up without providing personal information since you can pay with Bitcoin or cash.

ProtonVPN offers apps for iOS, MacOS, Windows, Android, and Linux. Alternatively, you can follow manual setup instructions to get this VPN running directly on your router.

ProtonVPN speed test data

• High-speed VPN with a large network
• Works with all manner of streaming platforms
• Plenty of customizable security tools
• May be a little too advanced for novices
• Costs slightly more than some of its rivals

NEXT-LEVEL PRIVACY: ProtonVPN is a reliable service that goes above and beyond where privacy is concerned. Great choice for day-to-day usage thanks to its exceptional speeds and powerful security tools. All paid plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Why not read our full, exhaustive ProtonVPN review ?

How we found the best VPNs for Safari: Our testing methodology

In order to find the best VPNs for Safari, we had to test them out for ourselves! After all, not all VPNs offer apps that are compatible with the browser. Others may prove too slow or simply be lacking security. Read on to find out a little bit more about our methodology:

• Mac and iOS-compatible: All of the VPNs in this post provide apps for Mac and iOS and can therefore be used to secure apps on these devices as well as Safari browser traffic. Of course, they also include apps for Windows and Android just in case you have a few more devices that you’d like to secure.
• Servers worldwide: Many people use VPNs to bypass geographic and censorship restrictions. As such, it’s important for a VPN to provide servers in dozens of countries including the US, UK, and Australia. It also means there’s more likely to be a fast server close to your physical location.
• Speed: Some VPNs vary significantly when it comes to speed. While this may not make a huge difference when it comes to browsing, you’ll certainly notice the difference when streaming or downloading. Having found the fastest VPNs with unlimited bandwidth, you won’t have to worry about performance.
• Unblocking: Some websites and services are harder to unblock than others. That’s because some actively blacklist VPN IP addresses. Our tests have revealed the best VPNs for bypassing even the toughest of restrictions — even those of streaming services such as BBC iPlayer and Disney+.
• Security: A VPN is supposed to secure the internet traffic traveling between your browsing device and the Internet. Somewhat surprisingly, some fail to do this! However, you can rest assured that all of the VPNs recommended here provide encryption, a kill switch, and DNS leak protection.
• Privacy:  Having looked at some 140 VPN logging policies , we know which protect your privacy and which don’t (some will log and sell your browsing data to third parties!). In some cases, you can sign up to a VPN anonymously by using a burner email and by paying in Bitcoin.
• Ease of use: The Mac or iOS app you use with Safari will be quick and easy to use. They’re the most beginner-friendly on the market without compromising on advanced features. Live chat and email support are also included so that even if you encounter an issue, help (and hopefully a solution!) is available.
• Value for money: Ideally, a VPN should offer multiple subscription options. The longer the subscription, the lower the monthly amount you pay. The best VPNs for Safari offer this flexibility and even come with a money-back guarantee. What’s more, we even offer discount coupons so you’ll pay even less!

We look for a VPN to offer all of the above. However, we don’t just take them at their word. Instead, we try them out for ourselves as part of our VPN testing methodology .

Do free VPNs work with Safari?

It is better to avoid free VPN services. You won’t find any that will give you full privacy protection. Keeping ahead of restrictions and the detection systems of governments and websites costs a lot of money. So, you should be suspicious of companies that claim to offer a full VPN service for free. How do they pay their bills?

Some free VPNs are scams and rather than protecting your personal information, their VPN apps actually harvest it to sell to advertisers. A VPN is not a VPN without encryption and, surprisingly, many free VPNs don’t include any encryption at all. These services give you a false sense of security and can actually prove to be dangerous. All of the internet traffic that passes through your connection is available for any interceptor to read if your VPN does not use encryption.

Many reputable VPN services offer a free version to lure in new customers. Obviously, these free versions are not as good as the paid VPNs offered by the same company, otherwise, those providers would never be able to persuade anyone to pay for the service. Usually, those bona fide free services have restrictions imposed on them. These include a limit on the servers that you can access, a limit on the throughput speed, or a limit on the amount of data that you can use each month.

Although free VPNs are tempting, they are usually a waste of time. This is why we do not recommend that you spend precious online hours hunting for bargains. The VPNs on our list offer outstanding value for money.

VPN browser extension or app?

You will notice that ExpressVPN is the only service on our list that actually has a browser extension for Safari. You also get an app with ExpressVPN and nine times out of ten, you would be better off using the app rather than the browser extension. This is because the browser extension only covers the internet transmissions that go from and to your browser. In the meantime, lots of background processes and apps on your computer will also be accessing the internet.

When you only use a browser VPN, all of the other internet activities on your computer are not protected. This means that they all communicate using your real IP address and all of the computers that they connect to can also be recorded by your internet service provider. So, if you have a downloading client running on your computer and you are only using the browser extension VPN, those transactions performed by the downloader will all be visible to anyone on your network.

The HTTP proxy offered by NordVPN will change the location of all of your browser transactions, but won’t give you any encryption. As with the browser VPN extension, a web proxy set up in your browser won’t cover any of the other apps running on your computer that also connect to the internet. Overall, when you have a choice between a VPN app and a VPN browser extension, it is better to use the app.

VPNs for Safari – The conclusion

So, there you have it – our list of the best VPNs to use with Safari. All of these services will keep your connections encrypted and safe from prying eyes, and they will help you to bypass any regional restrictions that are stopping you from accessing your favorite websites or streaming services.

Take advantage of the money-back periods offered by the services on our list to give a few of them a spin without any risk.

Let me know in the comments below which VPN you decided to go with and how it is working out for you.

Safari VPN FAQs

Is safari browser available for windows.

There is a version of Safari that will work on Windows. However, this is an old version because Apple stopped developing Safari for Windows in 2012. To get Safari for Windows, you need to download Safari 5.1.7. This will run on Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10.

How do I uninstall and reinstall Safari on Mac?

Safari is built into the operating system of Macs from OS X El Capitan (10.11), so it isn’t possible to uninstall it individually without removing and reinstalling the entire macOS operating system. For earlier versions, use the CleanMyMac X free utility. Once you have installed the software follow these steps to remove Safari:

• Run CleanMyMac X and select Preferences from the top menu.
• Click Ignore list and select Uninstaller.
• In the Uninstaller option, uncheck Ignore system applications. Scroll through the list of installed applications in the Unistaller tab.
• Click on Safari and select Complete Uninstallation.
• Press the Remove button at the bottom of the screen.

Apple doesn’t expect anyone to remove and reinstall Safari separately. However, there is a facility to update the browser and this will reinstall it if you removed Safari.

• Click on the Apple icon at the start of the top menu bar on your desktop and select App Store from the drop-down menu.
• In the App Store, click on the Updates top menu option.
• Look for the Software Update option and click on More in the description of the item.
• Look for Safari in the list and click the Update button on that line.

Is browsing in Safari's private mode the same as using a VPN?

No, the Private Mode on Safari is not the same as a VPN. The browser Private Mode deletes cookies and trackers from your hard drive when you close the browser window. A VPN secures the connections between your computer and the web servers of the websites that you visit by hiding your location and encrypting the connection.

Will a VPN allow me to browse anonymously on Safari?

VPNs encrypt your data which means that even if it were to be intercepted, it’s almost impossible to crack. The best VPNs also have strict no-logs policies, which means none of your data is collected or shared. As such, you can use a VPN to browse anonymously, be it on Safari or any other browser such as Chrome or Firefox . You can connect to these VPNs via desktop and mobile apps or even via browser extensions in some cases.

Does Apple recommend a VPN for Safari?

Apple neither recommends nor advises against VPNs. You can find a number of VPNs listed in the Apple App Store (including those listed in this post). It’s really up to you to decide whether you want and need a VPN, be it for accessing region-locked content or browsing with more security. Note that all major VPNs are compatible with Mac and iOS and many even allow you to connect multiple devices simultaneously.

What if Safari isn't working with my VPN provider?

Safari will work with the VPNs listed in this post. However, if you’re having some issues, there are some things you can try. First, check that you’re using the latest version of the VPN software. You should also clear your browser’s cache and cookies . If you’re still having issues, be sure to contact your VPN’s customer support for further assistance.

Can I use a VPN to hide my Safari search history?

A VPN encrypts your internet traffic so that your ISP (and others) can’t see what you’re doing online. However, you will still have a Safari search history stored on your browser. The good news is that there are things you can do to browse without building up a search history. One is to use Safari’s Private Browsing mode (incognito). You can also clear your Safari search history should you wish.

Does Safari have a built in VPN?

No, Safari doesn’t have a built-in VPN . However, you can use a VPN with it by downloading and installing one of the best VPNs for Safari as listed in this post. Your best bet is a desktop or mobile app because this ensures that all of your internet traffic is secured. This includes your Safari browser traffic and any apps you use. While you can use a VPN browser extension with Safari if you prefer, this will only secure your browser traffic.

Do these VPNs work with other browsers?

Yes. You can use these VPNs with Firefox, Chrome, Edge, or any other browser installed on your device.

Our recommended VPNs can be installed on Windows, Mac, iOS, or Android. Connecting to the VPN on any of those devices will protect your browsing habits in any browser.

In addition, some of the VPNs we have recommended have dedicated VPN extensions for Firefox , Chrome, and Edge. The important thing to remember, however, is that these browser extensions are proxies that do not provide the same privacy protections as the main VPN client.

A proxy browser extension will let you spoof your location and bypass blocks, however, it will not provide the security level provided by the encryption you get with the stand-alone VPN app.

For this reason, we always recommend using the main VPN app that comes with your subscription.  This will encrypt all of the data leaving your device, including the data coming and going from your browser.

How can I get the best price for a Mac VPN?

With so many VPN providers competing for your attention, it’s common to find sales on subscriptions. One of the best times of year to purchase a VPN subscription it to do so on Black Friday or between Christmas and New Year.

However, you can currently get the best price for a Mac VPN by taking advantage of the VPN discount coupons in this post . Below each review, you’ll find a coupon for that VPN service. All you need to do is click it and it’ll be applied automatically!

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Roundup - best VPNs for Safari

Privacy alert: websites you visit can find out who you are.

The following information is available to any site you visit:

Your IP Address:

Your Location:

Your Internet Provider:

This information can be used to target ads and monitor your internet usage.

Using a VPN will hide these details and protect your privacy.

We recommend using NordVPN - #1 of 72 VPNs in our tests. It offers outstanding privacy features and is currently available at a discounted rate.

Stephen Cooper

Reviewed by:.

Paul Bischoff

• Virtual Private Network (VPN)

The 5 Best Safari VPN Services: Paid & Free Browser Extensions

Cloudwards.net may earn a small commission from some purchases made through our site. However, any earnings do not affect how we review services. Learn more about our editorial integrity and research process .

Safari is one of the most secure web browsers. However, using a Safari VPN ensures your data’s privacy from your ISP and helps you access to geoblocked content. Read on to learn about the top Safari VPNs on the market.

Last Updated: 11 Feb'24 2024-02-11T13:31:00+00:00

All our content is written fully by humans; we do not publish AI writing. Learn more here.

Key Takeaways: Best VPNs for Safari

• ExpressVPN — Excellent speed and security for Safari browsing
• NordVPN — Fast VPN for Safari users
• Surfshark — Unlimited simultaneous connections for Apple device collection
• Proton VPN — Best free VPN for Safari
• CyberGhost — Affordable VPN with automation features

A Safari VPN helps add privacy to what your internet service provider (ISP) can see and also helps you access geo-blocked streaming services, block ads and more. Although none of the premium VPN services offer a Safari browser extension, the lack of a dedicated Safari browser extension shouldn’t be a major problem — you can still use most features using the VPN app.

For example, VPNs with split tunneling can also help encrypt just the Safari browser’s traffic while other apps on your device use the unencrypted connection.

VPN providers differ greatly in terms of feature sets and performance. If you’re looking for the best VPN overall, give our best VPNs guide a read. In this guide, we talk about the top VPNs for Safari, their feature sets, performance and pricing. If you don’t want to read the full guide, we recommend ExpressVPN.

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Updated the article to reflect ExpressVPN’s recent increase of 5 simultaneous connections to 8, as well as its expansion of server presence to 105 countries, previously 94.

We updated the guide to reflect the changes in the new version of the Safari web browser and the VPN services we recommend.

Updated Windscribe pricing: the paid plan increased to $5.75 per month from $4.08. The Build-a-Plan minimum purchase also increased to $3 from $2.

What Makes the Best Safari VPN?

We chose five best VPNs for Safari based on our hands-on testing. Below, we discuss why the services we selected are an excellent choice for Safari.

Online Security

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We considered four critical factors when picking these top VPNs for Safari: feature set, security and privacy, connection speeds and the ability to bypass geoblocks.

The best VPNs also include an ad blocker and malware blocker, and the option to change the security protocol and other advanced security features like split tunneling and a killswitch.

The best VPNs for Safari ensure your Safari browser traffic is kept private while delivering fast connection speeds. Add the ability to bypass geoblocks to the mix, and you’ve got a secure, fast VPN browser extension that helps stream high-quality content without buffering.

Since there are no VPN extensions for Safari, and the web browser is deeply integrated into the Apple ecosystem, the providers listed here are similar to the best VPNs for macOS .

The 5 Best VPNs for Safari

We found five of the best VPNs for Safari users based on the criteria discussed in the previous section. Give each section a read for a thorough comparison of your best options, or go with our top pick, ExpressVPN, if you’re short on time.

1. ExpressVPN

More details about ExpressVPN:

• Pricing: $6.66 per month (15-months plan)
• Free plan: None; 30-day money-back guarantee
• Provider website: expressvpn.com
• Fast & secure servers
• Unlocks big streaming apps
• Wide VPN server network

ExpressVPN offers everything you’d expect from a top VPN service. It offers great security, fast connection speeds and the ability to unblock all popular streaming services — it’s our best VPN for streaming . While ExpressVPN doesn’t have a Safari extension, it has one for Google Chrome, Edge and Firefox. Moreover, ExpressVPN has split tunneling, so you can use the VPN connection just for Safari.

Thanks to ExpressVPN’s fast connection speed, you can stream online content in high quality without buffering. We talk more about ExpressVPN’s capabilities in our extensive ExpressVPN review .

Excellent Security

ExpressVPN’s fast speed doesn’t come at the cost of security. ExpressVPN uses best-in-class security protocols like OpenVPN and its proprietary Lightway protocol . The app has a kill switch, which blocks your internet connection should the VPN connection abruptly drop. ExpressVPN also offers DNS leak protection .

ExpressVPN is a premium VPN service and its pricing reflects that. The best deal (the annual plan) costs $6.66 per month. Shorter-term plans are also available. The six-month plan costs $9.99 per month and the monthly plan costs $12.95 per month. You can try ExpressVPN risk-free using its 30-day money-back guarantee.

• Unlimited GB

More details about NordVPN:

• Pricing: $3.09 per month (two-year plan + three months)
• Provider website: nordvpn.com
• Fastest average VPN
• Secure protocols
• Specialty servers
• Specialty servers not available on NordLynx

NordVPN is one of the fastest VPN providers on the market according to our speed tests . If you need a Safari VPN because you want to stream geoblocked content on websites like Netflix and BBC iPlayer, NordVPN is an excellent pick given its ability to bypass geoblocks effectively and fast connection speeds.

It is also a great service if your primary purpose is to secure the internet traffic when using Safari. It offers two security protocols: OpenVPN and NordLynx, the latter of which is NordVPN’s proprietary protocol based on WireGuard .

The VPN app includes a kill switch that terminates the internet connection should the VPN connection drop abruptly. It also has split tunneling, so you can choose to encrypt only Safari traffic or encrypt traffic from all apps.

Specialty Servers

The service offers five types of specialty servers to add an extra layer of security to your connection: obfuscated, dedicated IP, P2P, Onion over VPN and double VPN .

Note that NordVPN secures your connection even when not using one of these servers. However, these servers offer extra security when performing certain activities. For example, P2P servers offer extra security for torrenting . We discuss more about these servers and other features in our comprehensive NordVPN review .

NordVPN offers superior performance considering its pocket-friendly price. The best-value, two-year plan costs $3.09 per month. Shorter term plans include the annual plan and the monthly plan, costing $4.59 per month and $12.99 per month, respectively. If you’re not fully confident, you can always try NordVPN risk-free using its 30-day money-back guarantee.

• *The prices are charged in the first billing cycle only. Renewal prices vary.

3. Surfshark

More details about Surfshark:

• Pricing: $2.19 per month (two-year plan + three months)
• Provider website: surfshark.com
• Unlimited connections
• Fast streaming
• Feature-rich
• High latency

Surfshark’s dedicated VPN app offers three VPN protocols to choose from — OpenVPN, IKEv2 and WireGuard. These protocols, combined with AES-256 or ChaCha20 encryption, ensure nobody can intercept your data, including your internet service provider. Surfshark has servers in 100 countries. Like ExpressVPN and NordVPN, all Surfshark servers are RAM-only, which means they wipe out information with every reboot.

In addition to great security, Surfshark has the ability to unblock geoblocked content on all the popular streaming sites. It’s also one of the fastest VPNs on the market, which means you can use it to stream content in Safari without any buffering. Moreover, Surfshark also has an extensive feature set, as we explain in our detailed Surfshark review .

Unlimited Simultaneous Connections

Surfshark is one of the few VPNs that offers unlimited simultaneous connections. If your friends and family also need a Safari VPN, Surfshark could be an excellent pick. It’s already a low-cost VPN on long-term plans, and you can reduce the cost further by sharing your account. Since the service offers unlimited bandwidth, sharing your account won’t have any negative impact on the performance.

Surfshark is a pocket-friendly VPN. The best deal (the two-year plan) costs $2.19 per month. Shorter term plans include the annual plan costing $2.79 per month, and the monthly plan costing $15.45 per month. Like other VPNs on the list, Surfshark offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it yourself without any risks .

• Unlimited GB bandwidth, Unlimited devices, Secure VPN, Ad blocker, Cookie pop-up blocker. Plans renew: $231.75 for one year, $417.15 for two years

4. Proton VPN

More details about Proton VPN:

• Pricing: $4.49 per month (two-year plan)
• Free plan: Yes
• Provider website: protonvpn.com
• Unlimited free plan
• Stealth VPN obfuscation
• Free servers only in 3 countries

Proton VPN is an excellent free VPN. We generally refrain from recommending free VPNs, especially the ones in our worst VPNs list, because free services are generally slow and insecure. That’s why we recommend using the free version of a premium VPN. However, Proton VPN is the best free VPN for Safari and tops our list of the best free VPNs .

With Proton VPN, you can further secure Safari traffic on both Mac and iOS devices. The desktop and mobile apps for iOS and Mac users include four VPN protocols: OpenVPN, IKEv2, WireGuard and Stealth. Other security features include a kill switch and DNS leak protection. Unfortunately, split tunneling is only available on Windows and Android apps.

Generous Free Plan

Proton VPN is one of the few VPNs that offer free data on the unlimited plan. The free plan offers servers in three countries: the U.S., the Netherlands and Japan. You can access other servers by switching to one of the paid plans. However, if you don’t need access to more servers, the free plan offers access to ample features too, as we explain in more detail in our Proton VPN review .

Proton VPN’s paid plans are a little more expensive than premium services like NordVPN. The best value plan (the two-year plan) costs $4.49 per month. Shorter term plans include the annual plan costing $4.99 per month and the monthly plan costing $9.99 per month. You get a 30-day money-back guarantee on all plans, so you can try the service yourself for free .

• 1-year plan renews at $119.88; 2-year plan renews at $239.76

5. CyberGhost

More details about CyberGhost:

• Pricing: $2.19 per month (two-year plan + two months)
• Provider website: cyberghostvpn.com
• Intuitive desktop interface
• Automation features
• 45-day money-back return
• Slow download speeds

CyberGhost is the cheapest Safari VPN option on the list, except for Proton VPN’s free plan. Don’t be misled by CyberGhost’s pocket-friendly pricing, though. It’s one of the top VPNs on the market, with servers spread across over 90 countries.

The apps for Apple devices include two VPN protocols: IKEv2 and WireGuard. When using Safari on your iPhone, select the IKEv2 protocol from the iOS app for optimum performance. WireGuard is best when using the VPN on a Mac device. 

The CyberGhost app has a kill switch and split tunneling, though the latter is not available on the iOS app. Learn more about CyberGhost in our comprehensive CyberGhost review .

Automation Features

The app also has automation features that simplify VPN-related tasks. For example, you can configure the app to auto-connect when you launch Safari. The feature is called “smart rules” on the app. The feature is essentially a workflow that triggers when a certain event (such as starting the browser or visiting a specific URL) occurs.

CyberGhost’s best deal (the two-year plan) costs $2.19 per month. The shorter term plans include the six-month plan costing $6.99 per month and the monthly plan costing $12.99 per month. The two-year and annual plans come with a 45-day money-back guarantee, while the monthly plan comes with a 14-day money-back guarantee .

• *The $56.94 price under the 2-year plan is billed yearly after the first two years.

Are There Completely Free VPNs for Safari & Are They Safe?

Free VPNs are generally a bad idea. A free VPN might steal your data, offer poor connection speeds and, in worst cases, infect your device with malware. There are a few exceptions to this rule, such as Proton VPN , TunnelBear and Windscribe . These are premium VPN services that offer a generous free plan as a preview to their paid version.

If you’re looking for a free VPN provider for Safari, using one of the best free VPNs is critical to ensure your connection’s security and performance. Most of the reliable free VPN services come with restrictions. For example, you can only connect to servers in specific locations and use only a handful of features, depending on the service you choose.

Safari Not Working With VPN? What to Do

VPNs that have an automatic kill switch might keep Safari from accessing the internet connection if your VPN connection drops abruptly. 

• Launch the VPN app and see if the kill switch is turned on. 
• If it is, turn it back off and see if that helps.

If the kill switch isn’t the problem, then: 

• Quit Safari and the VPN app. 
• Restart your computer and relaunch Safari and the VPN app. 

In most cases, this should resolve the problem.

Final Thoughts

Safari is an excellent browser. Nevertheless, a VPN for Safari ensures your traffic is private and that you can access geoblocked content on websites like Netflix. Although there aren’t any Safari VPN extension options, the VPNs we recommend work well with the browser.

Have you tried using a VPN with Safari before? Which service did you use and what was your experience like? Let us know in the comments below, and as always, thank you for reading.

FAQ: The Best VPN for Safari

Yes, there are VPNs for Safari, but all of them vary in terms of performance and pricing. We recommend ExpressVPN for Safari , but you might also consider other low-cost options, like NordVPN and Surfshark.

Safari doesn’t have a built-in free VPN. However, you can use Proton VPN’s free plan to secure your connection for free when using Safari. The free plan comes with limitations, so you might consider switching to Proton VPN’s paid plan. You might also consider other low-cost VPNs like NordVPN, Surfshark or CyberGhost.

Apple doesn’t have a recommended VPN service. The VPNs in this guide are excellent choices if you’re looking for a VPN for Safari. If you don’t mind paying a premium price to use the best VPN, consider ExpressVPN. NordVPN, Surfshark and CyberGhost are great low-cost options, while Proton VPN offers a generous free plan.

We recommend using ExpressVPN for Mac because it offers great security and speed. If ExpressVPN seems expensive, consider services like NordVPN , Surfshark or CyberGhost. Proton VPN has a generous free plan if you’re looking for a free VPN.

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The Best VPNs for Safari in 2024

Our number one pick, NordVPN, provides a native extension, state-of-the-art encryption, and double-hop technology for Safari users.

• Enhances Safari security with AES-256 encryption and available double-hop technology
• Lightning-fast speeds on Macs
• Offers a browser extension specifically made for Safari

• Conceals your IP address when using Safari
• Mac and iOS versions include both split tunneling and a kill switch
• Easy to set up on Safari

• With five simultaneous connections, protect your iPhone, iPad, and Mac laptop with one subscription
• Allows you to spoof your geolocation data in Safari to match your VPN server location
• Apps available for both iOS and MacOS

Statistics show that nearly a third of smartphones and computers in the United States have Safari as their default browser, behind only Chrome. 1 But statistics are boring, so let’s stick to what we know. First off, Safari is one of the most secure mainstream browsers. It even has a feature that blocks trackers which goes a long way in protecting your privacy. Secondly, we know that Safari is the gateway to the internet for most Apple users. And what are Apple devices known for? Tenacious security and privacy. Lastly, Safari’s Private Browsing mode is as good as it gets, in terms of private browsers.

That being said, browsing with Safari isn’t as safe and private as you may think. Safari doesn’t automatically make you private. Even in its most secure configuration, your internet provider can still see your browsing activity, Big Brother can still watch your every move, and the websites you visit can still see your IP address. That’s why even though Safari is a private browser , we recommend using a VPN.

>> Learn More: What Can Someone Do With Your IP Address

What Are The Best VPNs for Safari?

• NordVPN - Best Privacy and Security Features
• Private Internet Access VPN - Best VPN with Split Tunneling for macOS
• ExpressVPN - Most User-Friendly Safari VPN
• IPVanish - Best for iPhones and iPads
• CyberGhost - Best for Streaming and Downloading

Choosing a VPN for Safari

Unlike Chrome, Safari doesn’t offer VPN browser extensions. It’s vital that we say that right off the bat, because many of those who are looking for a Safari VPN want a VPN they can access just on their browsers and not for the entire device. If that’s you, you might want to consider using Chrome instead with any of our top-pick VPNs for Chrome .

When we say “best VPNs for Safari,” we’re actually referring to the best VPNs that work on macOS , iPhones, and iPads. With these VPNs enabled, all your device’s traffic, including your Safari browsing, is encrypted by the VPN and routed through a secure server.

There is one feature that can help you isolate Safari traffic and route it through your VPN without affecting any of your other traffic. It’s called split tunneling . Unfortunately, not a lot of VPNs offer it to Mac, iPhone, and iPad users. 2  It’s usually a Windows VPN feature. The only VPN we’ve seen with split tunneling for macOS (but not iOS) is Private Internet Access. It’s second on our list.

Let’s not get too hung up on what features are missing. The top-pick Safari VPNs we listed above all offer excellent security privacy through encryption and tunneling. They can hide your real IP address when browsing, unblock websites and give you access to georestricted content, and help you stay anonymous. They are also user-friendly on any Apple OS — even iPhones and iPads — and they are affordable.

To help in your decision-making, we’re going to highlight three key areas:

• Privacy policy and protection

Performance

We’ll also discuss why we believe they’re the best VPNs for the job based on our personal experience with each VPN during a three-week testing period. Let’s start with a quick overview in the form of a chart.

The Best Safari VPNs Compared

A closer look: the best vpns for safari, 1. nordvpn - best privacy and security features.

Product Specs

Privacy policy and protection.

NordVPN proudly maintains a “no-logs” privacy policy for its VPN apps. This means it keeps zero logs of any type of data that can identify or track what a customer is doing while connected to the VPN infrastructure. This has become expected from the top VPNs .

When we tested NordVPN, we enjoyed strong encryption and tunneling thanks to the proprietary NordLynx protocol, which was the default for the macOS and iOS apps. The NordLynx VPN protocol is NordVPN’s unique take on the widely implemented WireGuard protocol, 4 which is secure but also very fast compared to other options like OpenVPN. In fact, as you’ll see below, NordLynx gave us the lowest speed loss among the VPNs we tested.

>> Related: VPN Speed Tests: Top VPNs Compared

Thanks to NordLynx, NordVPN’s performance was lightning fast. Since we wanted to test its browsing speed, we accessed the Ookla Speedtest tool via Safari and compared its speed to our network speed when not connected to the VPN. Our network download speed read 249 Mbps; NordVPN averaged 226 Mbps in three tests. That’s a 9 percent drop — barely noticeable even if you’re downloading or streaming.

That’s unsurprising. NordVPN ranked first in our roundup of the fastest VPNs , thanks to its ability to produce fast connections consistently. We also named it one of the fastest gaming VPNs . We don’t exactly play online games on our MacBook, and certainly not on Safari, but that just goes to show that NordVPN is both fast and reliable when it comes to connection speed.

>> Check Out: Best VPNs for Brave Browser

Those privacy features and NordVPN’s excellent performance do come at a higher cost than other VPNs. The most affordable Safari VPN we recommend is Private Internet Access, which offers subscriptions as low as $2.19 per month. With its cheapest option, a NordVPN plan is $3.79 per month.

One thing you should know about VPN pricing is the longer you sign up for, the better the rates you’re going to get. The cheapest NordVPN plan is the Standard Plan for two years. It costs $90.96 for those two years, which averages out to $3.79. It may be a little pricier than the most affordable options, but that price isn’t going to break the bank. And besides, NordVPN offers better privacy and features than most other VPNs.

What We Like

• Verified and audited no-logs policy
• Great speeds on macOS
• User-friendly app with a sleek user interface
• Plenty of extra features, like malicious website blocking

What We Don’t Like

• A little pricier than other options
• No free trial on iOS and macOS, unlike on Android
• No split tunneling for macOS and iOS
• App occasionally runs slow

The app doesn’t get talked about a lot when comparing VPNs, but to us, it’s one of the most important aspects you should look into when choosing a VPN. Your entire user experience will hinge on the VPN app .

NordVPN’s macOS and iOS apps offer unique functionalities that we think can elevate your browsing experience. Let’s start with Threat Protection. You know how Safari can detect and block trackers? It’s kind of like that, but aside from trackers, it also blocks malicious websites (e.g., phishing sites ) and ads. Best of all, it runs silently in the background. We didn’t even notice it was on until it blocked an email link we tried to open. Lesson: Don’t open links from strangers.

Multi-hop was another unique feature we’ve had the pleasure to test. It was listed in NordVPN’s server menu under Specialty Servers. Basically, it routed our MacBook’s traffic through two VPN servers, doubling down the encryption. It did make our network speed even slower, but it was a perfect match for Safari’s Private Browsing. If you don’t want Apple logging your browsing history for a specific browsing session, you surely don’t want your ISP or Big Brother doing the same. Multi-hop — or Double VPN as NordVPN calls it — is the solution.

>> Learn More: Is Incognito the Same as a VPN?

2. Private Internet Access VPN - Best-Priced Safari VPN

Private Internet Access (PIA) may not be as stout as NordVPN and ExpressVPN when it comes to technology, but it provides more than adequate privacy. The default encryption on macOS and iOS, for example, is 128-bit AES. That’s a little lower than the typical 256-bit AES that VPNs offer, but it’s still impossible to crack with current computing technology. 6

A lower encryption standard can actually be beneficial, especially if you want to prioritize speed when changing your Mac’s location ; for example, to access a different Netflix library region on Safari. If you really want top-notch encryption, you can easily change PIA’s encryption to 256-bit AES using the Mac app (or iPhone/iPad app if you’re on mobile).

Encryption aside, we liked Private Internet Access’ policies for privacy. You know how you can adjust your privacy references on Safari? 7 PIA has something similar. You see, even “no-logs” VPNs do log some data. The data they collect is benign and usually anonymized so it can’t be tied back to you. With PIA, however, you can opt out of all data logging completely. That was actually the default for PIA’s macOS and iOS apps.

As mentioned earlier, you can prioritize speed by opting to stay with the 128-bit AES encryption setting, but we wanted to test Private Internet Access on its most secure configuration, so we switched over to 256-bit AES.

Once we did, we saw download and upload speeds drop significantly. Download speeds averaged 208 Mbps, while upload speeds went down to around 185 Mbps. PIA wasn’t very fast, but it was fast enough to let us stream and download on Safari. We downloaded torrent with the BitTorrent Web client for Mac, which ran on Safari. Again, PIA wasn’t exceptionally fast, but it let us download a 2 GB file in under 20 minutes. Not bad.

>> See More: How to Download Torrent Using a VPN

Private Internet Access is really an affordable VPN that provides more value than it costs. Our three-year Private Internet Access plan cost us just $79, which is even cheaper than NordVPN’s two-year plan and ExpressVPN’s one-year plan.

Despite its low cost, it gave us full access to VPN benefits; it let us change our iPhone’s location , kept our Safari browsing on our MacBook private, and gave us much-needed access to different streaming apps on our iPad, even those that aren’t available in the U.S., like BBC iPlayer and All4. Did we mention that PIA has no device limits? We set up the VPN on our MacBook , iPhones, iPads, and even our Windows work laptops — 14 devices in total.

• No device limits
• Customizable encryption and tunneling standards
• Affordable price (starts at $2.19 per month)
• Split tunneling for macOS in Beta testing
• Set to 128-bit AES by default
• Tends to run slow when set to the highest privacy configuration
• Slow tech and customer support
• Sign-up process could be improved

We really liked the value we got for our money from our Private Internet Access subscription , but we like it even more now that it’s starting to bring back split tunneling to macOS. Split tunneling disappeared in macOS 12 and 13 due to a networking change in the operating systems’ architecture. But Private Internet Access somehow managed to offer it again to newer macOS versions. PIA is mum on how it did that, but right now, the macOS split tunneling is in Beta testing.

What’s the use of split tunneling? Well, let’s say you’re on a video call with your boss and you need to send a confidential file. If you connect to PIA, it will encrypt your Mac’s network. Your video call might even drop. To avoid that, you need a VPN that can exclude traffic from some apps while others enjoy encryption. In the example, you could exclude your video conferencing app so it continues to connect to the normal network.

Split tunneling can be useful in many different scenarios, but mostly for professionals and students who might need to multitask. And the fact that Private Internet Access is the first to bring it back to macOS makes it worthy of being one of the top VPNs for Safari users.

That’s just one of the many features Private Internet Access added to our digital security toolbelt. It also gave us a VPN kill switch , which is a must-have VPN feature , access to thousands of servers in over 90 locations worldwide, and an encryption-free proxy that let us change our IP address location to the Netherlands without the slowdowns of a VPN connection.

>> Learn More: The Differences Between Proxy and VPN

3. ExpressVPN - Most User-Friendly Safari VPN

ExpressVPN is another option that provides excellent privacy to MacBook and iPhone users. It takes being a “no-logs” VPN to the next level by switching to a RAM-only server network.

Traditional VPN servers run on hard disk drives (HDDs). You know how you can recover some files even after they’re wiped from a hard disk? That can happen to data in normal VPN servers, which poses a privacy risk. RAM-only servers, on the other hand, are completely wiped after every reboot. ExpressVPN reboots its servers every week or so, and that’s how it ensures that absolutely no data is stored in its servers.

When we tested ExpressVPN, we saw no security and privacy vulnerabilities. It passed all our IP address leak tests, including our WebRTC leak test. WebRTC leaks are a particular concern because it’s a feature built into most browsers, including Safari, that can compromise a VPN connection if the VPN is not secure enough.

>> Learn More: How to Check If a VPN Is Working

Beyond its security, we praise ExpressVPN for its fast connections. “Express” is right in the name, so we expected nothing less than fast, reliable, and consistent speeds, and it did not disappoint.

ExpressVPN averaged 222 Mbps for downloads and 202 Mbps for uploads on our MacBook. That’s a decrease of about 11 percent and 19 percent, respectively, compared to our baseline internet speed. It may not have been as fast as NordVPN, but we had no trouble watching Hulu on Safari besides the clearly reduced playback quality. Hulu plays in 720p on browsers. 5

>> Further Reading: The Top 5 VPNs for Watching Hulu

ExpressVPN is a strong option that could rival NordVPN, but all things considered, ExpressVPN’s pricing is its biggest kryptonite. It costs $12.95 on a monthly basis. That’s on par with NordVPN’s monthly plan. But when you look at the longer subscription options, you’ll start to see NordVPN take the upper hand. ExpressVPN costs $8.32 per month if you buy a one-year subscription. With NordVPN, the same subscription costs nearly half – $4.79 per month.

ExpressVPN also doesn’t have subscriptions longer than one year, whereas with NordVPN, you can go for a two-year subscription to lower the monthly rate to $3.79. In short, ExpressVPN’s lowest price is $8.32 monthly, while NordVPN averages as low as $3.79 monthly.

>> Compare:   NordVPN vs. ExpressVPN

• RAM-only servers for complete privacy
• Friendly user interface with multilingual option
• Decent browsing speed
• Strong IP address leak protection
• Pricey subscriptions (minimum of $8.32 per month)
• No live phone support
• Kill switch for macOS only
• Device limit (five to eight connections only)

ExpressVPN really won us over with its user-friendly apps for Macs and iPhones. The apps were actually identical, so if you have multiple Apple devices, you have to learn to use ExpressVPN only once. On that note, it was one of the very few VPNs to offer a quick tutorial after the initial setup. We’ve tested a lot of VPNs so we know our way around VPN apps, but this can be helpful to those who are still learning how to use a VPN .

ExpressVPN was also super easy to set up. After buying a subscription, we opened our account dashboard on Safari, and from there, we were able to email ourselves download links. This may come as a surprise, but one of the struggles we usually face after buying a VPN plan is finding where to download the apps, particularly the desktop apps. We’re happy that wasn’t the case with ExpressVPN.

Don’t get us wrong: ExpressVPN is every bit as secure as other top VPNs for Safari. It offers 256-bit AES encryption, which is our gold standard; it has its own VPN protocol called LightWay which is very much like NordVPN’s NordLynx; and it gets around website blocks pretty well. All those features, combined with its user-friendly interface, make it a really great choice for securing your Safari browsing.

>> Related: How to Set Up an iPhone VPN

4. IPVanish - Best for iPhones and iPads

IPVanish made our list of the best iPhone VPNs for its top-of-the-line encryption that utilizes something called perfect forward secrecy. VPNs encrypt traffic, but they also decrypt it with the encryption key when it gets to the destination (either your device or the VPN server). To enable forward secrecy, IPVanish uses the DHE-RSA 2048 for key generation, which we were able to verify on our Windows laptop. Essentially, it’s like changing the locks everytime a door opens, so even in the slim chance that someone gets ahold of the encryption key, future encryptions can’t be compromised.

It’s nice to know that IPVanish takes extra precautions to keep users private, but that’s probably too technical for an average Safari user. Let’s shift our focus to IPVanish’s privacy policy. It’s yet another VPN with a “no-logs” policy. We like how it outlines what types of data it collects. For example, we learned that it collects personal information upon signing up, such as email addresses and payment information, but does not keep logs of anything related to a user’s browsing.

>> Learn More: What Is Personally Identifiable Information?

IPVanish’s speed didn’t let us down. Our speed loss on Mac while connected to IPVanish was just 14 percent for downloads and 19 percent for uploads. That translated to speeds averaging 215 Mbps and 202 Mbps, respectively, on our 250 Mbps wired internet connection. It was just as speedy as NordVPN and ExpressVPN.

We all liked how IPVanish sat right in the middle in terms of VPN pricing. At $2.99 per month for the two-year plan, it wasn’t as affordable as Private Internet Access, but it was cheaper than NordVPN and ExpressVPN. It also comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, which is sort of like a risk-free trial that would allow you to cancel and get a refund for your two-year subscription if you do so within 30 days of buying. That’s nothing to write home about, as most VPNs, including NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Private Internet Access, and CyberGhost also have similar policies for refunds.

>> Related: The Best VPN Free Trials

• Encryption with perfect forward secrecy
• User-friendly interface, especially for iPhones
• Fast download and upload speeds
• Unlimited simultaneous connections
• Shaky past in terms of logging
• Based in the U.S. (not the most privacy-friendly country)
• No OpenVPN protocol for iOS (only WireGuard and IKEv2)
• No money-back guarantee for monthly plans

IPVanish worked great on our MacBook, but if you’re browsing Safari through an iPhone or iPad, this is another great VPN to consider. We liked IPVanish’s iOS app because of its straightforward interface. It wasn’t complicated to use; to connect, we simply launched the app, selected a server, and tapped the huge connect button in the middle of the screen. It even had some cool animations, like the spinning globe that shows the location of the server selected. Be sure to enable Dark Mode. It looks much sleeker than the regular mode.

IPVanish was more than just a pretty face. We could tell it was designed thoughtfully. For example, after connecting, it showed us our current VPN IP address. That beats having to find our iPhone’s IP address if we ever needed it. It also has a useful server filtering feature that allowed us to sort the servers alphabetically, based on their distance to us, and, our personal favorite, by latency.

While not as prominent as upload and download speeds, latency is an important internet speed metric when you’re connected to a VPN. It measures the delay of your network, which is something you want to minimize when video conferencing, playing online games, or streaming on Safari. Thanks to IPVanish’s ping filtering, we knew exactly which server to connect to when we wanted to stream an episode of “Breaking Bad” on our lunch break.

>> Related: Top VPNs for Streaming

5. CyberGhost - Best for Streaming and Downloading

CyberGhost is a sister company of Private Internet Access, as they are both owned by Kape Technologies. There was some question as to whether Kape Technologies can be trusted because of its past as an advertising company, but as we saw earlier from PIA, the VPN brands it owns can have a separate privacy policy.

CyberGhost maintains that it does not log any VPN usage data that can identify or compromise a user’s browsing. While it doesn’t have the same opt-out option as PIA, it clearly outlines what types of information are monitored, specifically, anonymized VPN metrics that it uses to improve its services.

When it comes to performance, CyberGhost actually outperformed Private Internet Access. It was about 10 Mbps faster in terms of both upload and download speeds, averaging 213 Mbps for downloads and nearly 200 Mbps for uploads.

CyberGhost was less flexible than PIA, though, because it offers only 256-bit AES encryption (if you use OpenVPN) or ChaCha20 (if you use WireGuard). Unlike PIA, it didn’t let us customize our connection to make it either faster or more secure.

>> Learn More: Fixing Common VPN Speed and Connection Issues

CyberGhost was the second-most-affordable VPN we tested for Safari. A two-year subscription to CyberGhost costs only $56.94; that’s $2.37 per month on average. Moreover, it has a 45-day money-back guarantee, which is the longest trial period among the five VPNs here.

However, CyberGhost doesn’t offer unlimited simultaneous connections like Private Internet Access. It has a limit of seven devices. That’s not necessarily a deal-breaker, but it’s something to keep in mind if you choose CyberGhost.

• 10,000+ servers in 100 countries (almost twice as many as NordVPN)
• Affordable pricing
• Based in Romania (privacy-friendly)
• Servers optimized for downloads
• Split tunneling for URLs only
• Device limit
• Slow customer service
• Non-adjustable encryption

Among the things we do on Safari, downloading and streaming are two of the most bandwidth-heavy activities. That doesn’t mean you should skip using a VPN for those activities; just find a VPN that can accommodate your network requirements.

We found CyberGhost a great VPN for downloading torrent and P2P files as well as streaming because it has servers optimized specifically for those. They’re right there in the server selection list. The P2P servers compatible with torrenting are under the For Downloading menu, while the servers optimized to unblock georestricted streaming content are under the For Streaming menu.

We used CyberGhost to access streaming services on Safari, including Amazon Prime Video and Disney+. It had no problem accessing Amazon Prime, but we did have to try several times to access Disney+, even with the optimized servers. That wasn’t a huge problem. We found while testing the best VPNs for Disney+ (CyberGhost is one of them) that it has a stronger ability to block VPNs than most other streaming services. We’re just glad we got to access Disney+ after three tries.

Methodology: How We Picked the Best VPNs for Safari

That’s our list of the top VPNs for keeping your Safari browsing private, but how exactly did we come up with this list? Hours after hours of testing.

First, we narrowed down our list to VPNs that work on macOS and iOS; that didn’t help at all because pretty much any VPN right now is compatible with Apple. However, we previously tested VPNs for MacBooks and iPhones, so we decided to retest those to see which ones work best for Safari browsing.

Next, we did some performance tests. We measured VPN speed using the Speedtest by Ookla website, which was accessed using Safari. We also did some security and privacy tests, such as DNS and WebRTC leak tests.

Finally, we spent at least three days with each VPN, testing their numerous features and observing their performance further. All that amounted to more than three weeks of testing.

For more information on our testing procedures, head over to our complete VPN guide , where we explain in detail every VPN feature we test.

» Learn about: Best VPN for Firefox

Are There Any Free VPNs for Safari?

While we didn’t test any free VPNs, a free VPN should work on Safari provided that it has apps for macOS and iOS. Be careful, though. Not all free VPNs are trustworthy. Some are just after your browsing data so they could sell it to advertisers, while others have more sinister motives, like injecting malware into your devices.

>> Related: Do MacBooks Have Built-in Anti-Malware?

To be safe, use only the free VPNs that we have verified. You’ll find them in our roundup of the five best free VPNs . You can also check the best free iPhone VPNs ; they’re the same free VPNs in the other list, but we highlight how they work on iPhones and iPads specifically.

Does Safari Really Need a VPN?

Whether you choose one of our premium VPN recommendations for Safari or a free VPN, it’s important to know what a VPN can do for you. Not to be a spoiler, but you’ll find that a VPN is necessary even though Safari is quite secure and private itself.

• Encryption: This is one of the most important functions of a VPN. Safari may be secure, but your traffic is not while in transit to the internet. Your internet provider can see every bit of data your MacBook or iPhone transmits, and the government can as well. That’s why we all need encryption. Encryption doesn’t hide the fact that we’re using the internet, but it hides our browsing activity from prying eyes.

• Hiding your IP address: Find your MacBook’s IP address ; that’s your unique identifier on the internet. If it falls into someone else’s hands, they can find out where you are, track what you’ve been doing online, and even send you malicious files like malware and spyware. You wouldn’t post your home address publicly, so you shouldn’t let your IP address be public. Using a VPN hides your IP address by putting a VPN server between you and the internet.
• Fighting censorship: Besides lack of privacy, another concerning issue with the online world today is censorship, especially in countries that don’t enjoy much online and press freedom. Internet censorship limits what you can see online in an attempt by some governments and organizations to control the flow of information. With a VPN, however, you can become anonymous and get around even the strongest censorship apparatuses like the Great Firewall of China.

>> Related: Three VPNs That Work In China

Private Browsing vs. a VPN: Which Should I Use?

We get this question a lot when discussing VPNs for MacBooks: Are VPNs better than Private Browsing?

The answer depends on what you’re trying to accomplish. In Private Browsing mode, Safari sort of closes its eyes to give you privacy. It won’t record your browsing history, cookies, and autofill information. It does keep your browsing private — for instance, from a roommate who likes to snoop — but it doesn’t stop websites, your internet provider, or the government from seeing your activity. If you want privacy from those, use a VPN.

That being said, a VPN won’t hide your search and browsing history , so if someone were to check your Safari history, they’ll see what you’ve been up to.

See where we’re going here? Safari’s Private Browsing mode and a VPN actually complement each other. The former prevents your browser from recording your activity, while the latter stops any sort of spying from outside sources.

Safari provides a great browsing experience. It’s one of the things we like most about our Apple devices. It’s elegant, functional, streamlined, and, most importantly, more secure than many other browsers.

However, Safari alone can’t protect you. When you’re on social media websites, connecting to public Wi-Fi, or downloading from online sources, you need a VPN to accompany you. You might as well choose one that works with Safari.

Don’t go away just yet. We’ve got a few more answers for you, below.

No, Apple does not recommend a specific VPN to use with its products. If you’re using a Safari browser on your Mac, we recommend NordVPN because it provides maximum security and fast speeds on Macs. Other great VPNs for Safari include ExpressVPN, IPVanish, and CyberGhost.

No, Safari does not come with a built-in VPN. We recommend you add one since without a VPN you are vulnerable when you log on to public Wi-Fi networks.

NordVPN does support Safari. In fact, NordVPN is at the top of our list when it comes to VPNs that work well with Safari. It is located outside Five Eyes, Nine Eyes, and 14 Eyes jurisdictions. In addition, it maintains a strict logging policy. Plus, it offers multi-hop technology, so all internet traffic is routed through multiple servers.

ExpressVPN works well with Safari. Not only is ExpressVPN one of the best VPNs out there on the market, but it also provides extras like split tunneling and Netflix access.

StatCounter. (2023). Browser Market Share United States Of America . gs.statcounter.com/browser-market-share/all/united-states-of-america

ExpressVPN. (2023). Split tunneling not supported on macOS 11 (Big Sur) and above . expressvpn.com/support/troubleshooting/split-tunneling-not-supported-macos-11/

Private Internet Access. (2023). Split Tunneling – Customize Your Security by App . privateinternetaccess.com/vpn-features/split-tunneling

WireGuard. (2023). WireGuard: Fast, Modren, Secure VPN Tunnel . wireguard.com/

Hulu. (2021). System recommendations for your computer . help.hulu.com/s/article/supported-computers

App Sealing. (2023). Understanding AES-128 Encryption And Its Significance In The Current Threat Landscape . appsealing.com/aes-128-encryption/

Apple. (2023). Change Privacy settings in Safari on Mac . support.apple.com/en-ge/guide/safari/sfri35610/mac

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8 Best VPNs for Safari in 2024

If you’re a macOS or iOS user, you already have the Safari browser installed in your computer system. Since all major VPN services offer apps for macOS and iOS users, you should have no problem finding a VPN service to keep your personal data secure from snooping third parties while you use the internet. In this article, I’ll go through some of the reasons to consider using a VPN and which ones are the best for Safari.

VPNs, or Virtual Private Networks, are privacy tools that are useful for both keeping you secure online and unblocking geo-restricted streaming content. VPNs will secure your traffic with a layer of encryption and route it through an intermediary server located somewhere else in the world before your internet service provider (ISP) has a chance to look through your browsing history. The encryption also keeps your personally identifiable data from being exposed to third parties. If you’re mainly interested in streaming high-definition video content unavailable in your region, then you’re in luck – a VPN will give you the appearance of watching a streaming service from another country, which means you will be able to access geo-restricted content on streaming platforms like Netflix and Hulu while you’re traveling abroad.

I’ll go into each of these VPNs in detail, but for now, here’s a quick summary of my top picks.

Best VPNs for Safari:

• NordVPN : The best VPN for Safari users . Grants access to thousands of fast servers around the world that can smoothly stream HD video. Zero logs. Comes with a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.
• Surfshark : A budget VPN that meets a high standard for security and speed. Works well with Safari on iOS and macOS devices and offers unlimited simultaneous connections.
• ExpressVPN : Remarkably fast speeds for HD streaming on iOS and macOS devices. Keeps no logs and employs strong encryption.
• CyberGhost : A user-friendly Safari VPN great for beginners. Offers 9,000+ servers in 91+ countries around the world, making it the largest server network on this list.
• PrivateVPN : A VPN newcomer that works great on Safari and is a great choice for streaming HD video.
• IPVanish : Fast speeds, strong privacy protections, and no connection limit. Works seamlessly on Safari.
• Private Internet Access : A lightweight and secure option that works seamlessly with many browsers including Safari.
• Atlas VPN : A fast option that can unblock many different services. It also works well with Safari.

While there are many great VPNs on the market today, some are better for Safari users than others. I’ve assembled this list of VPNs based on the following criteria:

• Compatible with macOS and iOS devices
• Fast streaming speeds
• Powerful encryption standards
• Lifts geographic restrictions

For more information about the criteria I used, make sure you check out my in-depth testing methodology section later in this article.

• The Best VPNs for Safari

Here is my list of the best VPNs for Safari:

NordVPN is my top pick VPN for Safari users. This fast, privacy-oriented VPN can be installed on macOS and iOS to protect the internet traffic running through your Safari browser. Apps are available for Windows, Android, and Linux as well, with the latter requiring manual configuration. It allows up to six simultaneous connections under a single account.

The provider doesn’t include a Safari browser extension, but it does include an HTTP proxy that can be configured with your browser. Web proxies aren’t as effective at protecting your privacy as VPNs, however, as they don’t encrypt your internet traffic or provide any other security benefits.

NordVPN’s security offerings include 256-bit AES encryption, 2,048-bit SSL keys, DNS leak protection, and a strict no-logs policy . That means none of your personal data will be stored on the company’s servers, so you will be able to use the internet anonymously.

It runs one of the largest server networks on the market with more than 5,600 servers in 59+ countries to choose from. It offers specialty servers that are optimized for anti-DDoS, video streaming networks, double VPN, Tor over VPN, and dedicated IP. NordVPN can circumvent geographical restrictions on popular streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer, and it also supports torrenting .

• Compatible with macOS, and iOS
• Remarkable connection speeds
• Over 5,600 servers worldwide
• Safari-compatible HTTP proxy
• Military-grade encryption and strong security protections
• The desktop app is somewhat challenging for VPN novices

BEST VPN FOR SAFARI: NordVPN is my favorite VPN to use with Safari. Strongest security standards in the industry including a zero-logs policy. Comes with a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.

• 2. Surfshark

Surfshark is perfect for Safari users on a budget. Even at a low price, Surfshark offers great security features such as 256-bit encryption, a kill switch, and protection against WebRTC, IPv6, and DNS leaks. If you own a large number of devices, this provider will protect all of them with its unlimited simultaneous connections . There are over 3,200 servers to choose from, most of which are great for streaming HD content.

Surfshark follows a no-logs policy and lets customers sign up anonymously by accepting payments in Bitcoin , Ethereum, and Ripple. Although it doesn’t feature a Safari browser extension, it does offer apps for macOS, iOS, Android, Windows, and Linux. Supported internet routers can be manually configured with the app.

• Strong emphasis on privacy and security
• Fast connection speeds are suitable for HD streaming from abroad
• Unmetered connections
• You might run into a few slow servers here and there
• Customer support can be hard to reach

TOP BUDGET CHOICE: Surfshark is great for families who need to protect a lot of devices. Comes with reliable security protections that you can trust, including a zero-logs policy. Includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.

• 3. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN covers all operating systems that Safari comes with by default, including macOS and iOS. It is the only VPN on this list that comes with a dedicated Safari browser extension . It will also run on Windows and Android operating systems as well as Amazon Fire TV Stick, Amazon Fire TV, Kindle Fire tablets, and Linux devices. Five simultaneous connections are permitted at once.

ExpressVPN’s robust security offerings include 256-bit AES encryption with the OpenVPN protocol, and 4096-bit RSA encryption for session establishment – the strongest encryption available on the market today. Other security features include automatic WiFi protection and a kill switch to halt all web traffic in the event of a sudden loss of connection, keeping you from using the web without encryption.

Its server network is spread across 94+ countries and gives users a wide selection of 3,000+ servers to choose from, making ExpressVPN a good choice for those who are mainly interested in unblocking geo-restricted streaming content.

• Thousands of fast servers worldwide for streaming, downloading, and gaming
• Military-grade encryption and strong privacy protections
• Bypasses geo-blocks easily
• Safari browser extension
• One of the more expensive VPNs
• Isn’t the most customizable VPN

STREAM ANYTHING: ExpressVPN is a great VPN for streaming HD video , but it doesn’t slack when it comes to privacy, either. It’s the only VPN in this list with a dedicated Safari browser extension. Try it for 30 risk-free days.

• 4. CyberGhost

CyberGhost is a user-friendly VPN that works with Mac OS X, macOS, and iOS, but does not feature a Safari browser extension. Apps are available for Windows and Android as well, and can be manually configured on some routers and Linux systems.

CyberGhost is a suitable option for those who have never used a VPN before due to its easy-to-use interface . Users can select a server based on the desired activity, such as downloading or streaming, and even lets you select a server by streaming service. Up to five devices can be protected simultaneously.

It offers a server network of over 9,000 servers in 91+ countries and includes a special cloaking option for additional protection in countries with strong government restrictions on internet services. Your traffic is secured with AES 256-bit encryption and 4096-bit RSA encryption for session establishment. CyberGhost features a built-in kill switch and automatic WiFi protection.

• 9,000+ servers in 91+ countries
• Optimized servers for high-performance streaming and security
• Tough encryption protocol
• Easy for novices
• No Safari browser extension
• Experienced VPN users may want to look elsewhere for customizable features

FIRST-TIME VPN: CyberGhost is beginner-friendly. Largest server network on this list. Great for streaming and secure online browsing. Comes with a generous 45-day money-back guarantee.

• 5. PrivateVPN

PrivateVPN is another no-logs VPN that offers access to 200+ servers in 63+ countries. Your Safari browser is protected with apps for macOS and iOS devices. Apps are also available for Windows and Android, and can be manually configured on supported routers, Amazon fire devices, and Linux operating systems.

With PrivateVPN, your internet connection is secured with 256-bit AES encryption on the OpenVPN protocol. This VPN also includes a kill switch and automatic WiFi protection to keep you safe on unsecured public networks. PrivateVPN’s customer support is available during Swedish business hours via live chat, and they can even take control of your computer remotely to configure your VPN for you, with your permission.

A single account will grant you a total of 10 simultaneous connections and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

• Compatible with Mac OS X, macOS, and iOS devices
• Excellent suite of security features
• Unblocks and streams just about anything
• Small server network
• Customer support only available during Swedish business hours

GOOD ALL-ROUNDER: PrivateVPN is a great VPN for streaming, but maintains high security standards as well. Doesn’t have 24/7 support or very many servers. Comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

• 6. IPVanish

IPVanish is a reliable VPN service for both streaming and privacy purposes. Its server network spans over 2,000 servers in 75+ locations around the world. It doesn’t feature a Safari browser extension, but apps are available for macOS and iOS operating systems. Additional apps are available on Windows and Android devices, and can be manually configured on Amazon Fire devices and routers. IPVanish is one of the few VPNs that permits an unlimited number of simultaneous connections .

Although the company is based in the United States and is therefore vulnerable to the demands of law enforcement agencies like the NSA, customers’ data is fortified with 256-bit AES encryption on the OpenVPN protocol. Other security features include a kill switch and automatic WiFi protection. Furthermore, IPVanish keeps no logs on its users’ data, which means that the company wouldn’t be able to disclose your information to the authorities even if they wanted to.

• Compatible with Mac OS X, macOS, and iOS
• 256-bit AES encryption, kill switch, automatic WiFi protection
• Stores no logs
• Unlimited simultaneous connections
• Relatively small server network
• Doesn’t work in China

NO CONNECTION LIMIT: IPVanish emphasizes security above all. Doesn’t consistently work with Netflix but it comes with powerful security protections and a zero-logs policy. Features a 30-day money-back guarantee.

• 7. Private Internet Access

Private Internet Access (PIA) is a lightweight option that makes use of the fast and efficient WireGurd VPN protocol. This ensures that users have the speed that they need when carrying out activities such as streaming. It works well with Safari too, allowing users to access services like YouTube TV and BBC iPlayer. PIA’s app interfaces can be customized as well to suit your preferences.

The provider also has strong security measures in place. These include AES 256-bit encryption, a kill switch, and split tunneling. This service also stores no logs.

PIA also provides apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android. In addition, PIA has an excellent customer service team in place. They are available 24/7 via live chat. 10 simultaneous connections are also allowed.

• Strong security measures are in place
• PIA can provide secure access to many different services
• The fast and efficient WireGuard protocol is supported
• Several customization options are available
• Doesn’t work reliably in China
• App design is lacking in some ways
• 8. Atlas VPN

Atlas VPN has servers in over 40 locations. In total, this provider has more than 750 servers and its network is fast enough to allow for the streaming of services such as Netflix without lag or buffering . While this provider’s VPN network isn’t the largest, it offers high-quality service and is a great choice for browsers such as Safari.

In addition, Atlas VPN has strong security features including AES 256-bit encryption, a kill switch, and protection against DNS, WebRTC, and IPv6 leaks. This service stores no logs either. There are also MultiHop servers available that can encrypt your data twice .

Apps are available for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. An unlimited number of connections is also supported.

• Able to access many different streaming services
• Fast connection speeds
• MultiHop servers encrypt data twice
• No identifying logs are stored
• Customer service could use some improvement
• Methodology: How I found the best VPNs for Safari

Not all VPNs work with Safari, so I try and test each VPN myself to check for compatibility. There are also other aspects I consider before recommending a VPN to my readers. Here are some of the criteria I use when assessing VPNs for Safari:

• Sever network : I look at the number of servers available and their geographical coverage. This ensures that there are enough servers for busy periods and that you can use the VPN when traveling to different international destinations.
• Speeds:  The speed of a VPN is incredibly important, especially if you are using it for streaming, gaming, or downloading. I run my own speed tests to ensure that the Safari VPN can maintain good speeds over an extended period of time.
• Privacy and security : Any decent VPN will have some security measures in place, but only the best services will include premium safety features. Things I look for include AES encryption, a n0-logs policy , and a reliable network kill switch.
• Compatibility : The VPN is tried and tested on Safari and is only recommended if it works perfectly on the browser. Following that, I also check the VPN on different browsers, operating systems, and devices. This is particularly important if you want to protect multiple devices.
• Safari VPN FAQs
• Can I get a free VPN for Safari?

Yes, you can, but I strongly suggest avoiding free VPNs. VPNs are intended to be tools that protect your privacy, not compromise it – and yet free VPNs often leave their users more exposed to security threats than they would otherwise be without using one. If an online service is free, that raises the question: how are they making their money?

Some providers profit from collecting and selling their users’ personally identifiable information to third parties without the users’ knowledge or consent. These third parties are usually advertisers. Free VPN providers have also been known to insert ads into the user’s browser , and some even come with malware . A reputable, paid VPN service protects your data online with a layer of encryption, but a large number of free VPNs don’t even include that. Without encryption, a VPN is hardly a VPN at all, and free providers lure their users into a false sense of security that can expose them to serious security threats.

Performance is an issue as well. Usually, free VPN providers lack the resources to invest in a large number of fast and secure servers, so there is a high chance that your internet browsing experience will be disrupted with frequent interruptions, buffering, and dropped connections. They operate only a handful of servers that tend to overflow with more users than the servers can handle, so speeds are typically slow, or at least unreliable.

If you're on a tight budget, then check out my list of cheap VPNs .

• Browser extension or VPN app: Which is best?

Whenever you have the option between using a VPN browser extension or a VPN app, it is always better to go with the app. VPN browser extensions will only encrypt communications passing through your browser and leave every other internet-connected process on your computer wide open to monitoring. That means each of your unencrypted internet communications will use your real IP address and every computer you’re connected to will see it, including internet service providers.

• Is Safari browser available for Windows?

To use Safari on a Windows operating system, you will need to download Safari 5.1.7. This version runs on Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10.

• How do I uninstall and reinstall Safari on Mac?

Because Safari is built into the Mac operating system since OS X El Capitan (10.11), Safari can’t be uninstalled individually without the use of third-party tools. If you still want to uninstall it, download the free CleanMyMac X utility and follow these steps:

• Run CleanMyMac X and select Preferences from the top menu.
• Click Ignore list and select Uninstaller.
• In the Uninstaller option, uncheck Ignore system applications.
• Scroll through the list of installed applications in the Unistaller tab.
• Click on Safari and select Complete Uninstallation.
• Press the Remove button at the bottom of the screen.

To reinstall the browser, you will have to manually update Safari by performing the following:

• Click on the Apple icon at the start of the top menu bar on your desktop and select App Store from the drop-down menu.
• In the App Store, click on the Updates top menu option.
• Look for the Software Update option and click on More in the description of the item.
• Look for Safari in the list and click the Update button on that line.
• Is browsing in Safari's private mode the same as using a VPN?

No, the private mode included on many browsers is completely different from using a VPN. Private mode deletes cookies and trackers from your hard drive when you close the browser window, but your internet traffic remains unencrypted and exposes your data and IP address to monitoring by third parties. A VPN solves this problem by securing your traffic with a layer of encryption before it reaches the ISP and the servers of the websites you visit online.

• Will a VPN allow me to browse anonymously on Safari?

If your VPN provider follows a no-logs policy and protects your traffic with a strong encryption protocol, then you’re on your way to anonymous browsing . Just make sure to use Safari’s private mode in combination with the VPN, as you could still be identified by a tracking cookie or another identifier if you use the VPN by itself.

• Does Apple recommend a VPN for Safari?

Apple neither recommends nor advises against the use of VPNs – that decision is up to you. The Apple App Store contains a wide range of VPN apps available for download, including the ones on this list. All major VPNs are compatible with Mac and iOS platforms.

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Urban VPN review

A free vpn, unlimited bandwidth, no registration required what's not to like well, let's see....

TechRadar Verdict

This service is slow, unreliable, has no features, no support, a free iOS version which logs screenshots, and those are only some of Urban VPN's problems. Avoid.

No registration required

Unlimited free bandwidth on desktops

Paid version unblocked Disney Plus

Free version may log browsing history, device screenshots, more

Very poor desktop speeds

Repeated connection failures

Didn't unblock iPlayer, US Netflix, Amazon Prime Video

No real support

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Urban VPN is a basic but popular VPN with an unlimited bandwidth free plan.

The service is a P2P VPN, a little like Hola : you use the spare bandwidth of other Urban VPN users, and they're able to use yours.

The website has few details on the service, and the information we could see was inconsistent. '80+ locations', it claimed at the top of the page; '21 locations', it said underneath. Checking the apps gave us another figure of around 50. It looks like Urban VPN has updated its website over time, forgotten to change all the figures, and failed to notice this, later – not exactly professional.

• Want to try Urban VPN? Check out the website here

Urban VPN's apps are very limited, with almost no features beyond a Favorites system (and even that's only available on the mobile apps).

Auto-connect options, a choice of protocol, custom DNS, split tunneling, double VPN? You won't find any of that here. The apps don't even have a Settings page.

Urban VPN's desktop apps give you access to the service for free, no registration required, and no sign of any bandwidth limits (we successfully used 15GB of data in a few minutes of speed testing). Install on as many devices as you need (there are no connection or device limits), run and you're ready to go.

The mobile apps work a little differently. They only give you a tiny 100MB of data and a limited number of locations for free. But a paid Premium edition drops the data limits, offers access to all locations, collects less of your data and (apparently) opts you out of the P2P network (meaning other Urban VPN users won't get access to your connection).

Prices look good, too, at $3.49 billed monthly , $2.99 a month on the annual plan , or only $1.49 a month if you pay for a year upfront .

Privacy and logging

If you're concerned about the idea of your VPN traffic passing through other devices, then you would not be alone – so are we. Urban VPN says it uses OpenVPN, and we confirmed that on the desktop, but its website has no detail on the mobile apps or how they protect your data.

The website does provide a lot of information in other relevant areas, though. In particular, the privacy policy has a lengthy list of all the data Urban VPN collects: device IDs, IP addresses, search engine results, web pages visited, 'clicked stream data' and more.

Urban VPN says this only applies to the free edition, but the small print is a little vague. For example, it describes one paid feature as 'No user data to be collected except the information needed to provide the Services' functionality.' We'd like to know exactly what information that is, but the company isn't saying.

The End User License Agreement for the iOS app goes even further, explaining that the free version also collects 'web page URLs and device screenshots', supposedly to 'identify web pages that load slowly or apps that load slowly.' If the company has URLs, why does it need screenshots? And is it really now admitting that it's collecting data on the apps you use?

Still, whatever it logs, Urban VPN keeps this data to itself, though, right? Nope: the policy says it might share information 'for security and fraud detection', 'as required by law or regulation' or 'with trusted partners and third parties.'

The website claims you can prevent your data being sold by choosing an option on the mobile VPN's 'About' screen. But when we tapped 'About' on our Android app, it displayed a 'Can't open this link' error, and we weren't able to opt out.

Urban VPN hasn't put itself through a public audit to verify what it's doing, either. The website claims it 'protects your privacy', but there's no evidence here to back that up.

Desktop apps

Urban VPN's Windows app is very easy to use. There's a list of alphabetically sorted locations in a right-hand sidebar, and you can use the search box, or scroll down to find whatever you need. Just double-click a location to connect, and tap a button when you're done to disconnect.

The Mac app displays a little more status information on the right – original and current IP address, current upload and download speeds, the amount of data uploaded and downloaded – but is otherwise identical.

Unfortunately, the apps are also very basic. There's no 'Automatic' option to choose the nearest server, for instance. No latency or ping times to help you make a smarter choice. No city-level location choices. No Favorites system to group your commonly-used locations (although a 'recently used' list helps with that). There's not even a Cancel button to stop a lengthy connection attempt, if it isn't working: you have to wait for the app to time out.

The app doesn't have a single user-accessible setting, either. It loaded when our device started, and there's no built-in way to stop that. There's no choice of protocols: it's OpenVPN-only. There's no auto-connect functionality, no connection tweaks, no configurable DNS protection, no kill switch, and if you're hoping for split tunneling or anything else advanced, well, prepare for disappointment.

We wondered if this extreme simplicity might be a plus point, especially for beginners who don't need anything other than the basics, and might be intimidated by the usual technical jargon.

But then we found the Mac app simply didn't work for us (either it failed to connect, or we connected but couldn't access any websites). With no easy access to troubleshooting logs or configuration settings, there's not much you can do to diagnose or fix this kind of problem.

If your needs are extremely simple and you don't care about privacy (you're just looking to unblock a streaming site, maybe), then Urban VPN's unlimited traffic might make it seem worth a try.

But if you're looking for a VPN you can trust, and which has at least some features, then Urban VPN is not the service for you.

Mobile apps

Urban VPN's mobile apps look a little different to their desktop cousins – the location list is on a second screen, and there's a Favorites system for your most-used servers – but otherwise they're much the same. Tap to connect, tap again to disconnect, and there are no settings or extra features to configure how the app works.

Urban VPN's free plan is far more limited on mobile devices. We were offered only 100MB traffic a day, for instance, which you could easily use in just a few minutes of browsing.

You can at least pay to upgrade the mobile apps, which in theory should get you a better service.

The paid edition still had its quirks, though. The apps had an Auto option to choose the best server, for example, but this gave us, well, unusual results. When we first connected from the UK, for instance, it sent us to South Africa. Then, with our second connection attempt, the app redirected us to Costa Rica. After that, we chose our own servers.

Manual selection didn't always help, though. The app often failed to connect to our chosen server, and we were regularly forced to use another location. Sometimes we just gave up and tried again later. Most of the free VPNs we've used are more reliable than Urban VPN's paid edition.

Browser extensions

You can use Urban VPN direct from your browser via its Chrome, Firefox and Edge extensions.

These are free and don't require registration. But you'll probably pay in other ways.

As we've discussed above, the regular service may log your browsing history. And our Chrome extension explained that we could only use the full service if we enabled 'integrated Anti-Mining protection and Ad-blocker', which meant 'giving us access to your visited URLs.' That's everywhere you go, whether you're connected to Urban VPN or not.

If you're not concerned by that, agreeing gets you access to the full browser extension. This is almost identical to the regular Urban VPN apps, with just a couple of additional switches: you can turn ad-blocking or anti-mining on or off.

Urban VPN's website lists other products, but most of these seem more about gaining extra search engine traffic than providing real value to users.

The site lists 'Free Anti Malware', for instance, but there's no obvious indication of how that 'product' differs from the regular extension.

It also lists a 'Free Hotspot Shield', though we can't see any purpose in that beyond trying to get downloads from VPN newbies looking for the real Hotspot Shield.

Performance

We run our main VPN speed tests using desktop apps from a US residential location and a UK data center, with the aid of several benchmarking sites and services: Speedtest's command line app, nPerf, Speedof.me and more.

These showed Urban VPN's free desktop service managed very low speeds, barely 10Mbps on average in the UK.

That's so bad we wondered if it was due to a problem with the UK test environment – but the US results were even worse, with Urban VPN barely reaching 5Mbps.

We carry out our standard automated speed tests on Windows. As Urban's results were so bad, we tried some quick manual checks on Android. This delivered much better results, reaching 60Mbps on a 75Mbps line, so it's at least possible Urban VPN will deliver useable speeds on your device.

Netflix and streaming

We don't expect free VPNs to do a good job of unblocking websites, but even by those standards, Urban VPN performed poorly. The free apps couldn't get us into any of our regular test services from the UK: Netflix, Disney Plus, Amazon Prime, or BBC iPlayer.

Browser extensions often perform better than free apps, but not here. Urban VPN's Chrome extension also failed to unblock any of our test sites.

We expected the paid mobile apps to deliver, at least, just because Urban VPN's P2P technology (where you're given IP addresses from other users) is extremely difficult to block. But although it did succeed with Disney Plus, BBC iPlayer refused to play when connected to Urban VPN, and we weren't able to view US Netflix or Amazon Prime Video.

With most VPNs if you hit problems, you'll have plenty of support resources to help you get up and running again. But as with the rest of the service, Urban VPN has almost nothing to offer.

There's no Support area on the website, for instance, no FAQ page, no list of setup tutorials or troubleshooting guides. The site has a few very brief setup details on some pages, but nothing that's likely to help you solve real-world problems.

There's no live chat, and no general support email. Paying users get access to a dashboard with a Support link, but that just displays a simple contact form. We used that to send a simple product query to check response time, but no-one replied.

That's bad news, especially because, as we pointed out earlier, Urban VPN's apps have no settings. If you can't connect, for instance, there's usually plenty you can do without contacting support: switching protocols, changing from UDP to TCP, browsing the OpenVPN logs and more. With Urban VPN, there's nothing to tweak, and no real support to help you out, either.

Urban VPN review: Final verdict

Free unlimited bandwidth on desktops sounds good, until you see how Urban VPN falls short in features, speed, reliability, privacy, logging, transparency, support and more. Choose a VPN (or, alternatively, picking one from our list of best VPNs ) by rolling dice or tossing a coin, and the chances are you'll get something much better than this.

Mike is a lead security reviewer at Future, where he stress-tests VPNs , antivirus and more to find out which services are sure to keep you safe, and which are best avoided. Mike began his career as a lead software developer in the engineering world, where his creations were used by big-name companies from Rolls Royce to British Nuclear Fuels and British Aerospace. The early PC viruses caught Mike's attention, and he developed an interest in analyzing malware, and learning the low-level technical details of how Windows and network security work under the hood.

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Most Popular

Urban VPN Review 2024 : Is Urban VPN Safe To Use in USA

• Last updated June 13, 2024

Urban VPN is a popular free P2P VPN with unlimited bandwidth and an extensive network across 80 countries. However, being peer-to-peer reliant raises concerns. So, I’ve thoroughly examined its privacy features and performance to provide an authentic Urban VPN review in USA .

Unlike the best VPN , this 100% free VPN service relies on users’ networks , which can slow down your connection. Their privacy policy raises concerns , and the security features are fairly simple. Additionally, Urban VPN doesn’t support torrenting, struggles with streaming services, and has limited customer support.

Users can access restricted content online using the Urban Free VPN Proxy service, which provides anonymity and bypasses geo-restrictions. Thus, it might be tempting for casual users seeking a no-cost option, but it has some trade-offs. In this review, I aim to provide you with the essential information, to make an informed decision about whether this VPN is the reliable guardian of your digital life or merely a facade.

Ranked #14 out of 56 VPNs

• Streaming 5.5 / 10
• Torrenting 1.2 / 10
• Compatibility 6.4 / 10
• Speed & Reliability 4.5 / 10
• Server Locations 8.9 / 10
• Bypassing Censorship 6.5 / 10
• Security & Features 7.4 / 10
• Ease of Use 8.7 / 10
• Customer Support 6.3 / 10
• Price & Value 9.9 / 10

Urban VPN Review in USA: 2024 Key Findings

According to the Urban VPN reviews, it offers some appealing features, such as a free desktop version and unlimited bandwidth. The primary findings are as follows:

• Pricing – Urban VPN stands out as a free VPN service that offers unlimited location switches and access to content without any charges.
• Server Network – Urban VPN offers 4,600+ servers in 80+ countries, all optimized and specialized for streaming, gaming, torrenting, and dedicated IP.
• Security – Security protocols such as OpenVPN and IKEv2 are employed by Urban VPN to secure user data.
• Speed – Urban VPN’s speeds on remote servers generally lag behind those of paid VPN services, reaching up to 70Mbps only.
• Streaming – Its capability to unlock streaming services like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu etc is inconsistent.
• Device Compatibility – Urban VPN has compatibility with common operating systems such as Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android.
• Ease of Use – Provides user-friendly applications for beginners using a simple and streamlined design.
• Customer Support – Urban VPN’s customer support is primarily provided through email.
• Trustworthiness – The Urban VPN Trustpilot score indicates mixed experiences with the support provided.
• Simple and easy-to-use apps.
• Easy to install.
• OpenVPN protocol for Windows and Mac.
• Urban-free VPN comes completely free of charge.
• Works well with US Netflix.
• Massive server network.
• Doesn’t support torrenting.
• Logs information such as browsing activity and IP addresses.
• Based in a 5-Eyes Alliance nation (the US).
• Doesn’t offer basic features like a kill switch and split tunneling.
• Average server speeds.
• No stability in speed.

Expert Opinion –  UrbanVPN is Unsafe to Use in USA

No, Urban VPN isn’t good – I don’t recommend it at all for privacy-conscious users. Like Hola VPN , this service offers a Peer-to-Peer VPN network lacking security. Utilizing its users’ devices functions as a server for other users, posing a significant risk to your data.

Urban VPN Pricing – How Much is Urban VPN in USA?

Urban VPN is a basic but popular VPN with an unlimited bandwidth free plan. Since it is free, users can enjoy without worrying about data usage limits, or caps on the number of applications or websites visited.

However, Urban VPN’s free plan on mobile platforms is capped at 100MB , which might not suffice for heavy usage. To overcome this, users can opt for the paid Premium edition priced at $3.49 monthly , or $2.99 per month when billed annually, and even less at $1.49 per month for an annual upfront payment .

You can also check out the list of VPN deals 2024 in USA  and get premium VPNs at discounted rates to browse and stream without any restrictions.

Urban VPN Server Network and Locations

Urban VPN boasts an extensive server network with claims of servers in “80+ locations, ” although the exact number of servers and countries available has some inconsistencies. Manual checks indicate around 50 locations , showing a discrepancy in the reported server count.

Nonetheless, the service offers a wide geographical reach, including servers in regions like Asia, Africa, Europe, the Middle East, North America, and South America , allowing users to bypass geographical restrictions and access various online content.

Connect to any of the following servers!

Jurisdiction – Does it Belong to Five Eyes Country?

Urban VPN is a US-based VPN service that abides by mandatory US data retention laws. The US is a part of 5 Eyes, 9 Eyes, and 14 Eyes Countries , meaning if the US authorities ask for any users’ information, they must follow the law and give away the information.

In the meantime, I suggest you use a VPN based in a privacy-friendly nation. ExpressVPN is headquartered in the British Virgin Islands , which is not a part of the 14 Eyes Alliance.

Speed and Performance – How Fast is Urban VPN in USA?

The service offers a f ree plan with unlimited data , a standout feature, particularly for a free VPN.

During the speed test, Urban VPN’s US server connections can exhibit download speeds of 52.37 Mbps and upload speeds of 45.19 Mbps on a 100 Mbps connection, a feat that rivals the performance of the fastest VPN in USA .

Urban VPN achieved a pretty good speed on the US server!

UK Speed Test

UK Speed test results of Urban VPN!

Speed test Australia of Urban VPN!

Security & Privacy – Is Urban VPN Safe & Secure in USA?

When assessing whether Urban VPN is safe or not, I consider its security measures and privacy policy. Let’s delve into each subheading to understand Urban VPN’s security offerings better.

• Encryption : Urban VPN employs AES-256 encryption with the OpenVPN protocol , widely recognized for providing high security, ensuring that user data remains confidential and inaccessible to unauthorized parties.
• Ad-Blocker :  The Urban VPN extension and apps include ad-blocking features to improve browsing privacy by blocking risky, intrusive advertisements.
• Anti-Mining: During Urban free VPN review about the security, I learned it  incorporates anti-mining features to safeguard users from unauthorized cryptocurrency mining activities.

No Advanced Security Features

A significant omission in UrbanVPN’s security offerings is the absence of a kill switch and IP/DNS leak protection fundamental to maintaining a secure connection. Without these protections, the overall safety and privacy of using Urban VPN are questioned.

Leaks – IP, DNS, WebRTC, & Virus Test in USA

I conducted thorough evaluations using various privacy testing tools to examine its IP leak, DNS leak, and WebRTC leak protection capabilities. Remarkably, the software successfully cleared all the assessments, demonstrating its robust shielding against potential leaks.

These results underscore the reliability and effectiveness of its protective measures, ensuring enhanced privacy and security for users. I connected to the same US server. Here are the test results:

WebRTC Test

To our surprise, upon scanning the Urban VPN Windows client, I meticulously searched for any traces of malware or viruses. Much to my relief, my thorough examination yielded no evidence of harmful viruses lurking within the software.

Urban VPN Virus test.

Streaming – Does Urban VPN Work with Netflix in USA?

Urban VPN might occasionally allow access to streaming content , but its reliability is not assured. Although it claims to offer access to geo-blocked content, user experiences with streaming platforms such as Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video vary.

While some have successfully accessed different regions’ Netflix libraries, others have faced issues like buffering and detection errors that block access. Fortunately, I faced no server disconnections or buffering problems using the Urban VPN Netflix together.

The US server of Urban VPN allows me to watch Netflix!

Torrenting – Is Urban VPN Good For Torrenting in USA?

No, Urban VPN is not ideal for torrent downloading . Urban VPN maintains a non-disclosure policy regarding torrenting activities, leaving users uncertain about its compatibility with such file-sharing protocols.

Regrettably, my thorough evaluation revealed that Urban VPN is not conducive to torrent downloads. My attempt to initiate the download of a copyright-free torrent file through an Urban VPN server proved futile, as the VPN failed to commence the downloading process altogether.

Urban VPN Device Compatibility

The device compatibility of Urban VPN is inadequate, unlike the best VPN to support multiple devices in USA , and the site seems unnaturally bloated.

Urban VPN apps for Windows operating systems, including Windows 11, 10, 8, and 7 . Users can also use free Urban VPN apps tailored for Mac, Android, and iPhone .

Furthermore, Urban VPN offers seamless integration with popular web browsers such as Urban VPN Chrome extension, and Firefox , Edge. Here is the list of compatible devices:

Urban VPN Desktop and Mobile Apps (Android & iOS)

In this Urban VPN review, I should discuss user experience. It was excellent, mainly because it’s too simple and does not possess energy. The setup is simple: visit the site, tap the Urban VPN download tab, and install the program.

After installation, you may access the app without logging in. On the left is a significant connection (Play) button , and on the right is a server list. To connect to a server, double-click on the desired country and allow Urban VPN to connect to the server there.

In terms of mobile compatibility, Urban VPN is compatible with both iOS and Android devices . On iOS, the app is outdated and has few functions. Interestingly, the mobile app offers some premium options if you click the Payment View option in the menu.

Urban VPN mobile app is outdated as seen in the image!

Urban VPN Browser Extensions

The VPN service provides free browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, which do not require users to register for an account. However, Urban VPN Chrome extensions may log visited URLs , and enabling features such as anti-mining protection could give the service access to all the URLs visited, even when not connected to Urban VPN.

Urban VPN TV Apps

Urban VPN includes a native Android app, which means it should function on Android Smart TVs. Even though it works on Android, its lack of features makes it unsuitable for usage on platforms other than the ones listed above.

If you use an Amazon Fire TV Stick, for example, Urban VPN will not operate, and the same is true for Samsung and LG TVs . It’s possible to sideload it on your Nvidia Shield TV, but don’t expect miracles since its streaming skills aren’t the best.

Urban VPN and Gaming: All You Need To Know

Gamers considering Urban VPN should be aware of its limitations. The free service offered by Urban VPN may not provide the speed and reliability required for an optimal gaming experience.

Furthermore, Urban VPN does not offer dedicated apps for gaming consoles such as PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo. This limitation restricts the use of Urban VPN to PC or mobile gaming, with no support for routers or Smart DNS to bridge the gap for console gamers.

Urban VPN Router Support

The last point to mention in this section of my Urban VPN review for 2024  is router support. As expected, it is not present, and the provider will not operate with any router type.

For a seamless experience across all devices, consider opting for ExpressVPN , renowned for its robust support for all router types, ensuring comprehensive home network security.

Ease of Use — Urban VPN Offers User-friendly Apps

Urban VPN simple interfaces make the applications easy to use on Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android applications. My Urban VPN review for the old version of the PC app found that it lacks premium VPN functionality, which is still a problem.

However, the updated applications are quick, and you may effortlessly connect to a VPN server and change your IP address.

Urban VPN Setup – How to Install in USA

When it comes to setup, Urban VPN ensures a user-friendly experience. Here are the steps to get started:

• Download Urban VPN for PC or the intended mobile device from the official website.
• Install the application on your chosen device.
• Launch the app and, if necessary, sign up for an account to access all features.
• Select from over 80 server locations to mask your IP address and maintain privacy online.
• Begin browsing, streaming, or engaging in other internet activities with the security shield of Urban VPN.

Customer Support

Urban VPN’s lack of live chat support and a comprehensive knowledge base is a notable drawback. Its customer support is primarily provided through [email protected], which is available for privacy policy inquiries.

For business inquiries, it provides a contact form for the Business page, but the response times are reported to be slow. The website lacks crucial sections such as a support page, FAQ section, setup instructions catalog, and troubleshooting resources .

Trustworthiness – Logging Policy

In the comprehensive Urban VPN review conducted, it has been revealed that the service has not submitted to independent public audits .

Notably, the free version of the service admits to gathering user information , including browsing history and IP addresses, potentially undermining user anonymity. It’s guilty of data logging, which can compromise user privacy.

Urban VPN claims GDPR compliance and uses the secure OpenVPN protocol in its Windows and Mac apps. However, explicit data safeguarding details are lacking on the website. Urban VPN Trustpilot review rates its reliability at 2.7 stars , indicating poor user experiences.

VPN Comparison Between Urban VPN and ExpressVPN

Here is a quick comparison between the two VPN providers based on their features and prices. Let us know which one is the best:

Urban VPN Review 2024: What Redditors Say?

Reddit users expressed satisfaction with Urban VPN’s ability to handle their online privacy needs . As per Urban VPN Reddit reviewers, they also felt that it provided a level of online security and allowed them to keep their digital life under control. Specifically, users mentioned that Urban VPN was a good choice for public Wi-Fi due to its added security.

Other users raised concerns about Urban VPN’s reliability and data logging practices. They recommended alternatives like Mullvad VPN , ProtonVPN , and tools like GoodbyeDPI for better privacy and performance . Softether VPN was also suggested for its extensive server options, especially in Japan.

As an expert, my Urban VPN review differs from Reddit’s opinion. While free and user-friendly, it lacks vital security features like a kill switch, and its logging practices raise privacy concerns. For serious data protection, I advise against using Urban VPN . Instead, consider ExpressVPN as a safer option.

FAQs: UrbanVPN Reviews in USA

Is urban vpn trusted.

No ! While Urban VPN utilizes industry-standard AES-256 encryption and offers secure protocols like OpenVPN and IKEv2, questions have been raised about its logging practices and the absence of a kill switch. Additionally, operating under US jurisdiction raises concerns due to stringent data retention laws. 

Is Urban VPN proxy safe in USA?

When it comes to Urban VPN proxy, it offers basic security features like encryption and protocols but lacks essential elements such as a kill switch and leak protection. Concerns about privacy practices and transparency raise significant doubts about the safety of using Urban VPN on Chrome as a proxy.

Does Urban VPN Collect Data?

UrbanVPN does collect data and may share it with third parties , including service providers assisting in providing their services. This includes sharing web browsing data with affiliated companies to create insights. However, reviewing their privacy policy for detailed information on data collection and sharing practices is important.

Is UrbanVPN free forever?

Yes , Urban VPN P2P offers a free plan for non-commercial use and will remain free indefinitely. Premium users on Android and iOS platforms support the free version. While all users receive unlimited and unmetered VPN connections, premium users enjoy additional features and guaranteed access to fast servers.

Does Urban VPN Support Torrenting?

Urban VPN does not actively promote its support for torrenting , and its effectiveness is not verified. Users should proceed cautiously if considering Urban VPN for P2P file sharing, as it may not provide the necessary security features or speeds for efficient torrenting.

Is there a limit on Urban VPN free?

Yes, there is no use restriction with Urban VPN for Windows . You can use this without worrying about the data you send across the network. The Android version, on the other hand, is a different story. Its free version has a data limit of 500MB and updates every 12 hours.

Is Urban VPN free forever?

Urban VPN provides a free plan that doesn’t necessitate registration and comes with access to numerous servers. Users can switch servers frequently to enhance performance and access content from various locations at no cost.

Why doesn’t Urban VPN work?

Urban VPN may fail to function properly for various reasons, such as having an outdated application , encountering server problems , facing network connectivity issues , or being obstructed by firewall or antivirus software.

Does Urban VPN work with Netflix?

No , Urban VPN does not reliably work with Netflix and other popular streaming platforms due to its lack of obfuscation capabilities and slow speeds.

Is Urban VPN a Virus?

While Urban VPN is not confirmed to be a virus , concerns surrounding potential privacy risks, performance issues, and lack of transparency suggest it may not be the safest or most reliable choice as some even consider Urban VPN scam, particularly for free users.

How to use Urban VPN?

To use VPN Urban, simply download and install the app on your device from the respective app store. Once installed, open the app, select a server location, and toggle the VPN connection switch to connect.

Is Urban VPN legit?

Yes , it is a legitimate VPN service that provides users with privacy and security features for their online activities.

How much does Urban VPN cost in USA?

Urban VPN primarily offers a free service with unlimited bandwidth for users seeking no-cost VPN solutions. However, its mobile free plan has a 100MB daily traffic limit, which may be insufficient for heavy usage. How much is the Urban VPN? For users interested in removing the limit, they can opt for the paid Premium edition on mobile, priced at $3.49 monthly , $2.99 annually , or $1.49 monthly with an annual upfront payment.

Final Verdict

After carefully analyzing Urban VPN, I’ve found that it stands out with its free, peer-to-peer model and unlimited bandwidth on desktop platforms. However, the Urban VPN review in USA reveals that despite its vast server network , the lack of a kill switch and advanced protocols raises significant privacy concerns.

Drawing on insights from the Urban VPN review, the trade-off for a no-cost service is steep , with potential risks to personal data. Therefore, for a more secure and private VPN experience, I suggest ExpressVPN , which prioritizes user safety and offers robust support.

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Urban VPN Proxy

Description.

A free premium VPN for anonymous browsing

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May 24, 2024

Urban VPN is a comprehensive, reliable, and simple VPN that lets you change your IP address in the easiest way possible. With it, you can browse the Internet as if you were in another country, bypassing all the restrictions in your area without any hassle. Enjoy anonymous, secure, and unrestricted browsing with free premium features.

The main advantage of this tool is that it doesn't require any prior experience or knowledge. All you have to do is choose the country from which you want to connect to the Internet, then tap the connect button. After a few seconds, Urban VPN changes your location by connecting you to a server within the borders of the country you've chosen. If you want to change the location, just cancel the process and choose any other option from the list.

When you connect to a proxy, you'll see your connection time at the bottom of the window. From there, you'll be able to control the process, changing or turning the location on or off. All Urban VPN features are completely free, so you can enjoy an anonymous, secure and fast connection without any restrictions.

Download the app and easily avoid any censorship in your region. Surf the Internet as you normally would without any kind of problems and access any site without leaving any trace. With unlimited bandwidth, Urban VPN won't give you any connection trouble, and you'll be able to change region as many times as you need without extra charges or restrictions.

Information about Urban VPN 2.3.02

Older versions, rate this app.

nobody got this vpn. I don't recommend 1

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