A VPN encrypts your internet traffic and hides your IP address for secure Safari browsing. But not all VPNs, especially free ones, are trustworthy. Most free VPNs sell your data to advertisers. After extensive tests, I found the best free VPNs for Safari.ExpressVPN is my #1 choice to browse on Safari. It gave me the best overall performance in terms of speed, security, and privacy. While it’s not technically free, you can buy ExpressVPN with confidence as it’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.Use Safari with ExpressVPN
Quick Guide: These Are the Best Free VPNs for Safari in 2023
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Best Free VPNs for Safari — Fully Tested in 2023
1. ExpressVPN — #1 VPN to Browse Safely on Safari
Key Features:ExpressVPN is the best overall VPN to use with Safari. Its TrustedServer technology ensures that your data is never stored on any server. Plus, ExpressVPN provides blazing-fast speeds and excellent unblocking abilities with useful extras like basic virus protection to secure your browsing experience on Safari.The DNS queries originating from your Safari browser can’t leak because ExpressVPN has private DNS on every server. I tested 15 of ExpressVPN’s servers and found no IP, DNS, or WebRTC leaks on my Mac. Besides that, ExpressVPN secures your Safari traffic with:
IPv6 leak protection — stops Safari from using IPv6 traffic to prevent your real IP address from getting exposed. Military-grade encryption — hides your Safari internet traffic with an uncrackable 256-bit cipher to protect confidential data. Kill switch — automatically disconnects you from the internet if Safari crashes unexpectedly to prevent accidental data leaks. Threat Manager — makes Safari browsing more secure by blocking malicious sites and web trackers from profiling you.
I got lightning-fast speeds while surfing on Safari even on ExpressVPN’s distant servers. Despite the 7,000-mile distance from me, servers in New York averaged 94Mbps. ExpressVPN’s Lightway protocol is designed for data-intensive tasks like online gaming and UHD streaming without lag even on the maximum of 5 devices.Whether you use Safari on your Mac, iPhone, or iPad, you can hide your browsing data with a click with ExpressVPN’s app. With 3,000+ servers in 94 countries, ExpressVPN has IP addresses in the highest number of countries and can access global platforms like:Unfortunately, ExpressVPN doesn’t have a browser extension for Safari as it does for Chrome and Firefox. However, you can still encrypt your Safari traffic with ExpressVPN’s main app and enjoy anonymous browsing.Although it isn’t free, you can get a 49% discount with ExpressVPN’s 1-year plan. You can buy it confidently as it’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee. I tested its refund guarantee firsthand via live chat support and got my money back in just 3 days.Get ExpressVPN for Safari
2. CyberGhost — Optimized Servers for Streaming and Torrenting on Mac Safari
Key Features:CyberGhost’s streaming servers let you access your favorite platforms on Safari from anywhere. Each connection is designed to unblock a specific streaming service like Netflix US and provide ultra-fast speeds for lag-free UHD streaming. Similarly, you can enjoy fast P2P downloads with CyberGhost’s torrenting servers.While CyberGhost’s optimized servers were 11% faster on average, the regular ones gave me excellent speeds too. I watched Majestic Animals, an 8K nature documentary on a server in Sydney without quality drops. Besides some initial buffering, my streaming experience was perfect and I browsed multiple tabs on Safari without any slowdowns.To make your Safari browsing sessions anonymous, CyberGhost has the following security and privacy features:
In-built leak protection — prevents your Safari traffic from leaking outside the VPN tunnel to keep your identity anonymous on the web. Kill switch — instantly cuts off your internet during lost VPN connections while using Safari (though the 15 CyberGhost servers I tested remained stable). NoSpy servers — hide your Safari browsing history from prying eyes as they’re privately owned and managed by CyberGhost. WiFi protection — automatically turns the VPN on when you join a new network so that your device is encrypted before you open Safari.
You can encrypt up to 7 devices simultaneously with CyberGhost. Although it doesn’t have an extension for Safari, you can connect to one of its 9.500+ servers in 91 countries to hide your Safari browsing activities and access global sites like:Unfortunately, CyberGhost’s unblocking abilities aren’t as good as ExpressVPN’s — its regular servers can’t access services with strong anti-VPN measures like DAZN and ITV. However, you can use CyberGhost’s specialty streaming servers as they’re built to access platforms.CyberGhost isn’t free, but you can get a 84% discount with its 2-year + 3 months plan. You can try it risk-free with its 45-day money-back guarantee. I got my refund 5 days after submitting a request via CyberGhost’s live chat. The support agent didn’t try convincing me to stay — they verified my subscription details and processed the request.Get CyberGhost for Safari
3. Proton VPN — Offers Unlimited Browsing on Safari From Your iPhone or Mac
Key Features:Proton VPN lets you surf on Safari anonymously without limits. It’s one of the few free VPNs that doesn’t have a data cap so that you can stream unlimited content on your Apple device. My speeds dropped by 19% on a server in Japan, but I watched YouTube videos on multiple Safari tabs without any noticeable slowdowns.I liked that Proton VPN’s free plan doesn’t limit protocol choices — I could choose between WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2. WireGuard was my first choice because it’s the most efficient and secure. Besides that, Proton VPN protects your Safari traffic with:
No-logs policy — ensures that your Safari browsing history isn’t recorded or stored on the VPN’s servers. Leak protection — prevents your Safari searches from staying unencrypted to ensure that your real IP address remains hidden. Kill switch — provides uninterrupted privacy while using Safari by cutting off your internet connection if the VPN server drops unexpectedly.
With its free plan, you can protect your Safari traffic from hackers on 1 device — that’s enough for most users, and I think it’s fair that simultaneous connections should be reserved for paid plans. I found Proton VPN pretty straightforward to use on my Mac and iPhone, with visual data indicating upload and download speeds.The only drawback of Proton VPN’s free plan is its server limitations. It has server locations in the US, Japan, and the Netherlands, but that’s good enough for casual browsing on Safari and watching YouTube.To access its full network of 2950+ servers in 65 countries, you can sign up for Proton VPN’s 2-year plan and get a 50% discount. Overall, the free plan is great for basic users and casual browsing thanks to its unlimited data.Get Proton VPN for Safari
4. Hotspot Shield — Hydra Protocol Provides Excellent Speeds and Unblocking for Seamless Safari Browsing
Key Features:Hotspot Shield’s proprietary Hydra protocol lets you access your home content while traveling. It uses obfuscation to disguise your Safari traffic as normal non-VPN data, so it can access your home Netflix US library from anywhere. However, I don’t condone violating any platform’s terms of service.With split tunneling, you can route your Safari traffic through the VPN while allowing other apps to bypass the VPN connection. This gives you great control over your online privacy. In addition, Hotspot Shield includes:
DNS leak protection — prevents your Safari browser from accidentally revealing your DNS queries to third parties or potential eavesdroppers on public networks. Military-grade encryption — uses a 256-bit cipher to hide your Safari browsing activities, making it nearly impossible to decipher if intercepted. No-logs policy — guarantees that Hotspot Shield doesn’t collect or store any logs of your Safari browsing activities, including your IP address and websites visited.
I was pleased to learn that Hotspot Shield no longer has a data cap on the free plan. However, you’ll get ads on the iOS and Android apps — I obviously prefer an ad-free experience, but it’s a small price to pay for unlimited data.Unfortunately, Hotspot Shield’s free plan doesn’t include a kill switch so your IP address may get exposed if the VPN server drops. Thankfully, all servers available on the free plan in the US, UK, and Singapore remained stable in my tests.You can access Hotspot Shield’s premium features with its 3-year plan at just $7.99 a month. This includes the full network of 3,200+ servers in 80 countries, a kill switch, Smart VPN, and dedicated customer support. The paid plans are backed by a 45-day money-back guarantee, so you can try Hotspot Shield risk-free.Get Hotspot Shield for Safari
5. hide.me — Auto Connect Encrypts Your Device Before You Can Open Safari
Key Features:Hide.me’s Auto Connect feature conveniently encrypts your Safari traffic before you open it. I like this feature as I often forget to turn the VPN on after opening my Mac. Additionally, hide.me’s free plan includes the following features that are absent in most other VPN free plans:
Kill switch — cuts your device’s internet connectivity, preventing unencrypted Safari data from being accessible to third parties. Bind Internet to VPN — limits your internet connection to hide.me’s servers, so you’ll have to connect to a server before you can go online and browse on Safari.
In my tests, hide.me’s servers in the US, UK, and Canada averaged speeds of 72Mbps.Those aren’t the best numbers compared to top-tier VPNs like ExpressVPN, but good enough for UHD streaming on Safari. I recommend the WireGuard protocol as it’s the fastest and built to withstand long distances.Unfortunately, hide.me’s free plan has a monthly data cap of 10GB. That’s about 350MB per day and is good enough for casual browsing but not data-intensive activities like online gaming. But it’s still better than other free VPNs with data caps of 500MB a month.For unlimited data and 10 simultaneous connections, you can subscribe to hide.me’s 2-year + 4 months plan for $3.84 per month. I tested its 30-day money-back guarantee by submitting a request via email and got my refund in 4 days.Get hide.me for Safari
Comparison Table: Best Free VPNs for Safari
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How to Choose the Best Free VPNs for Safari
When choosing a free VPN for Safari, I considered the following factors to ensure optimal performance, security, and a seamless browsing experience:
Security and privacy features — I picked VPNs that have top-shelf security and privacy features like military-grade encryption and a no-logs policy. Server network — Free VPNs often have limited servers, but I selected options with as much coverage as possible. Unlimited data — You should choose a VPN with no data caps or a generous data allowance. Speed — I ran multiple speed tests to ensure my top picks provide fast-enough speeds for data-intensive activities like UHD streaming and online gaming. Compatibility — All VPNs on my list have user-friendly Mac and iPhone apps, so you can browse Safari securely.
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3 Easy Steps to Use a Free VPN for Safari
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Pros and Cons of Using a Free VPN for Safari
Free VPNs are tempting, but you must be careful as the worst ones can put you at serious risk. Even the few safe VPNs on this list have limitations like data caps and congested networks. Here are a few pros and cons of using a free VPN for Safari:
Pros:
Cost-effective security: Free VPNs provide a budget-friendly option for safeguarding your Safari browsing activities. Basic privacy protection: These VPNs offer encryption and IP address masking, enhancing your privacy while using Safari. Content access: Some free VPNs allow you to bypass regional restrictions, granting access to geo-blocked content on Safari.
Cons:
Limited server options: Free VPNs often have few servers, which can result in slower speeds and restricted website access. Data limitations: Many free VPNs impose data caps, limiting your usage for activities like streaming or downloading large files. Potential privacy concerns: Some free VPNs may log your activities or share your data with third parties, raising privacy concerns. Advertisem*nts and feature restrictions: Free VPNs may display ads and restrict certain features, potentially affecting your Safari browsing experience.
Free VPNs for Safari You Should Avoid
1. Betternet
This free VPN claims to offer unlimited bandwidth and speed, but it injects ads and trackers into your browser, which can slow down your browsing and compromise your privacy. It also does not support streaming or torrenting and has been accused of malware infection and DNS leaks in the past.
2. Hola VPN
Hola VPN is actually a peer-to-peer network that uses your device as an exit node for other users. This means that your IP address could be used for illegal or malicious activities by strangers, putting you at risk of legal troubles or cyberattacks.
3. SuperVPN
This free VPN has a very low rating on the App Store and for good reason. It has a lot of negative reviews from users who complain about its poor performance, frequent disconnections, and intrusive ads. It also doesn’t support streaming or torrenting, and it has been found to contain malware and spyware in its app.Browse on Safari with ExpressVPNTry CyberGhost risk-freeA VPN makes your Safari browsing activities invisible to potential surveillance by routing your data through an encrypted tunnel. It can also get past geo-restrictions by changing your IP address. However, I don’t condone violating any platform’s terms of service or local laws.Even if they’re safe, free VPNs suffer from crowded networks, slower speeds, limited bandwidth, and data caps. With such limitations, most free VPNs are just enough for casual browsing and not data-intensive activities like UHD streaming and online gaming.In that case, I recommend using a premium VPN from this list to get global coverage. I prefer ExpressVPN as it has 3,000+ servers in 94 countries and delivers ultra-fast speeds for UHD streaming on multiple devices simultaneously.ExpressVPN isn’t technically free, but I prefer using it as it’s a small price to pay for peace-of-mind Safari browsing. Most free VPNs lack the necessary security and privacy features to keep you safe. Some even sell your data to third parties, and it’s notoriously difficult to find free options with genuine privacy policies.
I suggest using a reliable VPN like CyberGhost free for 45 days with its money-back guarantee — just claim a refund before the period expires.
Get the Best Free VPN for Safari
While it has better privacy-focused features than most other browsers, Safari isn’t immune to potential privacy and security risks. Pairing Safari with a VPN is the best way to add an extra layer of browsing protection, but most free VPNs fall short. After thorough testing, I’ve identified the top free VPNs that offer performance, security, and privacy almost at par with premium options.However, a paid VPN service like ExpressVPN still has the edge. It has more server options to access global content and provides faster speeds for data-intensive tasks. You can buy ExpressVPN with confidence with its 30-day money-back guarantee.
