If you’re a Linux user, you’ll quickly find that many big-name VPNs don’t cater to you. These five VPN services offer solid clients for Linux users that will keep you safe and private while online.
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NordVPN
Best VPN for Linux Overall
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Surfshark
Best Budget Linux VPN
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Mullvad VPN
Best Linux VPN For Security
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IVPN
Fastest VPN for Linux
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Proton VPN
Best Linux VPN for Netflix
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TorGuard
Most Customizable Linux VPN
What to Look For With a VPN for Linux
A virtual private network (VPN) is a crucial tool for anyone who wants to remain anonymous online . Though they’re not perfect, they’ll do a lot to keep you out of the sight of marketers and anybody else who wants to track you, while also letting you do fun stuff like watch other countries’ Netflix libraries. It's an essential piece of the data privacy puzzle that makes it less likely for your data to be gleaned and sold to the highest bidder.
However, while there are numerous services to choose from, Linux users will soon discover that many of the most popular VPNs are incompatible with their systems. At best, they only offer a basic command-line interface, which can be quite clunky. While Linux users may enjoy playing with applications and OSes, VPNs may be one area where you'd rather they worked out of the box.
Thankfully, there are still plenty of VPN services that'll likely work with your Linux OS. Some of them are still among the best VPN services available, while others may be less well-known but still reputable options.
Best VPN for Linux Overall: NordVPN
NordVPN works well with Linux, offers excellent speeds, and, as of the time of writing, is available at up to 78% off with a two-year commitment. It's hard to knock NordVPN as the best VPN for Linux.
However, as any Linux user will know, there are a vast number of distributions to try out and use, which can sometimes affect compatibility with apps, including those like NordVPN. If you're not sure if the service will work on your particular distro, you might be wary about signing up for 24 months on the spot, regardless of the low price, but you don't need to be. With a 30-day money-back guarantee, you can test NordVPN and try it with the distro(s) of your choice before you fully commit.
What you get with NordVPN will depend on the plan you choose, but the most popular plan (the Plus plan) comes with a VPN, scam call protection, a password manager, and several other great features. With the promotional rates, you don't need to pay much, either—just make sure to keep track of the subscription renewal timing, so you can decide if you want to pay the full price before paying full price.
Best Budget Linux VPN: Surfshark
Sometimes you don't have the money to pay a lot for a VPN—and when it comes to VPNs that work with Linux distros, most of them fall into the more "premium" range.
Surfshark is not one of those services, however. At under $2 a month for the Starter plan (as of the time of writing), you can get the VPN and use it on an unlimited number of devices, which is great if you also have a Windows device or a phone you want to secure. Even the most premium plan with Surfshark, the One+ plan, is $4 a month. Couple that with a 30-day money-back guarantee, and you can ensure the VPN works with the Linux distro you use before fully committing to the 24 months you're paying upfront.
When we reviewed Surfshark, our tester did notice some slowdown, but he was able to easily get into streaming services like Netflix. If you're looking for internet security and a way to bypass geoblocking on a budget, Surfshark is the VPN for you.
Best Linux VPN For Privacy: Mullvad
One of our favorite picks for a Linux VPN is Mullvad , a small Swedish provider that impressed us in our Mullvad review . It's fast, easy to use, and regardless of the duration of your subscription, it always costs the same: €5 per month. It’s a nice change of pace for an industry where you often feel like you need to constantly calculate where to get the best deal.
The app is a pleasure to use. Like most entries on this list, it takes a no-frills approach and has just two buttons to control the entire process, which, for simple software like a VPN, is really all you need. The worst thing I can say about it is that sometimes finding a specific VPN server can be a chore. Granted, when many VPN services offer hundreds of servers, this isn't an uncommon issue.
As for Linux, one of our testers used Mullvad for months on our their Mint machine and never had any issues. The app runs natively without any issues, and the installation was straightforward. It’s clear that the team behind Mullvad cares about Team Penguin, and it's an great recommendation for anyone who uses Linux.
Fastest VPN for Linux: IVPN
Next is IVPN , another small independent provider. This app is just as simple to operate as Mullvad’s, but it offers slightly more frills in the form of a map. This makes it a good choice for anybody who likes a visual interface that’s easy to use.
On Linux, IVPN works like a charm. It installs quickly, and using it was simple. It also didn’t affect performance, and IVPN remains one of the fastest VPNs we've tested. During the IVPN review , our reviewer experienced minimal speed loss, even when connected to distant locations, which is a notable achievement considering how VPNs can often slow down internet speeds .
However, there is a small issue with IVPN, and that is its pricing model. At $60 per year, it’s roughly average for the VPN market , but it comes with the caveat that you can only connect up to two devices. While this is likely fine for the average consumer, Linux users (and many heavy tech users in general) will want to cover more than two devices. If you want a VPN to share with others or use on multiple devices, IVPN may not be the best choice.
Best Linux VPN for Netflix: Proton VPN
If you primarily want a VPN to unblock Netflix as a Linux user, you may want to consider Proton VPN . Although primarily known for its privacy services such as its secure email , Proton also excels as a streaming VPN, successfully accessing other countries’ Netflix libraries on almost every attempt .
The Linux app is very basic but gets the job done. As described in our Proton VPN review , the Linux and Windows apps seem to have been separated at birth: the Windows app is a riot of activity, while the Linux one is almost staid in comparison. However, unpolished does not mean it doesn’t work, and we've rarely had any issues with it.
Another selling point for Proton VPN is that you can pick it up in a bundle with all of Proton’s other apps, which are all pretty solid. If you’re in the market for secure mail, a password manager, and a VPN, Proton’s bundle is a good way to save money.
Most Customizable Linux VPN: TorGuard
Finally, we have TorGuard, another independent VPN that is highly customizable. Very few services let you tweak them as much as TorGuard does; it’s about as close as you can get to setting up your own VPN . This makes it perfect for Linux users, as we generally like to tinker with our software.
Interestingly enough, though, this doesn’t come at a cost to usability. When trying out the service for our TorGuard review , the VPN and app are pretty easy to use on the surface, with just a single button to switch it on and off. Once you start diving into menus, though, it gets a little complicated , so you may want to stay on the surface level unless you know what you’re doing.
Regarding cost, TorGuard is a steal at less than $35 per year, as of the time of writing. There are a few VPNs available at this price, but you should exercise caution when using the service for torrenting . It’s a tinkerer’s dream, and the price is right.
