❓ What are the best VPNs for Linux?

Following are the best VPNs for Linux : ExpressVPN NordVPN Surfshark Atlas VPN CyberGhost PureVPN Proton VPN

7 Best FREE VPN for Linux (Tested & Working) in 2023

Linux-based OS is always considered more secure against malware and viruses. But security is only one part of the picture. Even if your computer system is secured against various threats, you still need to protect your communications with the rest of the world. Like Windows, Mac, even Linux users are still subjected to intense surveillance and social tracking while browsing the Internet.

To secure your privacy, you need to use the best VPN for Linux-based operating systems tailored for your individual needs and circumstances.

Following is a handpicked list of Top VPN for Linux OS with their popular features and website links. The list contains both open source (free) and commercial (paid) software. Read more…

Our Best Free VPN recommendation

Top Pick

ExpressVPN

✔️ Jurisdiction: British Virgin Islands

✔️ Servers: 3000+

✔️ Supported Apps: iOS, Android, Linux, macOS, and Microsoft Windows.

✔️ Works with: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Sky, HBO, Torrenting, Kodi

✔️ Money-back guarantee: 30 Days

✔️ Special offer: 3 months FREE on annual plan

Our score:

9.8

Go to ExpressVPN

30-Day Free Trial

Best FREE VPN for Linux

	#1 Best Overall
VPN Provider	ExpressVPN	NordVPN	Atlas VPN	Surfshark
Linux Distro Supported	Ubuntu 19.04, 18.04 and 16.04, Fedora 29, 30 and 31, Mint 19, Kali, CentOS 17, PoP, etc.	Debian, Ubuntu, Mint, Fedora, RHEL, OpenSUSE, and CentOS	Ubuntu 19.04, 18.04 and 16.04, Fedora 29, 30 and 31, Mint 19, Kali, etc.	Ubuntu, Debian, Kali, Astra, Mint, Lubuntu, Kubuntu, MX, Parrot, Pop
GUI Client (CLI)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Number of servers	3,000+	5,000+	750+	3200+
No. of Server Countries	94	59	37	65
24/7 support	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️
Max connections	5	6	Unlimited	Unlimited
Our Review We rate VPNs based on factors such as Speed, User Experience, Bandwidth, Countries Supported, Pricing, No Log Policy etc.	Excellent – 9.8	Excellent – 9.7	Good – 9.6	Good – 9.5
Free trial VPNs offer a 30-day money-back guarantee, but you must subscribe to the 1-month plan first.	30 days	30 days	30 days	30 days
Link	Try Free Now	Try Free Now	Try Free Now	Try Free Now

1) ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is one of the best VPNs for Linux to browse the Internet secured from scammers. It provides unlimited access to music, social media websites, videos, and more. This VPN does not log IP addresses, browsing history, DNS queries, and traffic destinations.

This VPN offers online protection using leak proofing and encryption facilities. It helps you stay secure by hiding your IP address and encrypting your network data. This VPN for Linux provides 24/7 assistance via email as well as live chat.

It is one of the best VPNs for Linux that allows you to pay with Bitcoin. ExpressVPN encrypts user web traffic and masks IP addresses. It also helps you to hide your physical location. This Linux VPN service provider offers subscription plans for 1 month, 6 months, and 12 months. This VPN offers a smart DNS service to unblock geo-restricted content.

Key Specs:

Supported Platforms: Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, Raspberry Pi OS (formerly Raspbian) (32-bit only), Linux Mint, and Arch	No of Servers: 3000+	Server Countries: 94	Split Tunneling: Yes
	Data Allowance: Unlimited	Torrenting: Yes	Kill Switch: Yes
Able to unblock: YouTube TV, Netflix, iPlayer, Amazon Prime, Hulu	No-logging policy: Yes	Ip addresses: Dynamic	Simultaneous Connection: Unlimited
Free Trial: Yes – 30 days

Pros

This VPN server provides good privacy for your Internet activity.
It does not save the IP address, browsing history, traffic destination, and DNS queries.
Helps you to browse privately and securely.
Allows you to choose which network devices to protect.
ExpressVPN constantly optimizes servers to deliver the fastest speeds possible.
You can find out instantly when the VPN connects and disconnects with desktop notifications.
Easy-to-use command-line interface.
This good-rated VPN provides a wide range of server locations.
Good customer support.

Cons

This VPN is costly compared to other programs.
Not good for the advanced user who already knows about the Internet, IP, VPN, etc.
It does not support IPv6.

Connects to the router:

ExpressVPN enables you to connect only five devices at once. However, the good thing is that these devices can be wireless routers. Therefore, you can connect this VPN to a router or modem. This will help you encrypt your online activity and the IP addresses for all devices available on the network.

Availability of dynamic IP address:

ExpressVPN gives you a new IP address whenever you connect it. This service works well for streaming sites like BBC, Hulu, Netflix, and more. Therefore, it is impossible to track you online using these websites with this dynamic Internet Protocol.

How to use ExpressVPN for Free:

Start your risk-free ExpressVPN trial. You can cancel your subscription at any time. There are no costs.
ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. This VPN service provides flexible pricing plans making it an easy-to-use online privacy tool.

Get Free Now >>

30-Day Free Trial

2) NordVPN

NordVPN is one of the best VPNs for Linux, which does not track, collect, or share your data. It provides security by encrypting the data sent and received. It is a free P2P VPN that helps you prevent ads and malware. It allows you to access numerous blocked websites with no hassle. This VPN for Linux offers subscription plans for 1 month, 1 year, and 2 years.

Key Specs:

Supported Platforms: Debian, Ubuntu, Mint, Fedora, RHEL, OpenSUSE, and CentoS	No of Servers: 5000+	Server Countries: 59	Split Tunneling: Yes
	Data Allowance: Unlimited	Torrenting: Yes	Kill Switch: Yes
Able to unblock: YouTube TV, Netflix, iPlayer, Amazon Prime, Hulu	No-logging policy: Yes	Ip addresses: Static	Simultaneous Connection: 6
Free Trial: Yes – 30 days	Best for: Connecting double VPN, onion over VPN servers, P2P.

Pros

This VPN service provides good security.
No DNS (Domain Name System) and IPv6 leaks.
You can speed up Linux security by using this fastest Linux VPN.
Secure VPN client for aarch64, armv5, armv7, i386, and x86_64.
Its algorithm will connect you to the best server available at the moment.
You can easily switch between the encryption protocols.
Provides DNS leak protection.
It has a smart DNS feature that helps you to access streaming videos on smart TV.

Cons

Torrenting is supported for a few servers only.
Configuring this VPN with the OpenVPN Virtual Private Network system is not very user-friendly.

Won’t log web traffic:

NordVPN works with many streaming sites, including Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Netflix, ABC, and iView. It is based in Panama, which is a non-member country to ISG (International Surveillance Groups). NordVPN has a strong logging policy. So it does not keep the data of your online history.

How to use NordVPN for Free:

Start your risk-free NordVPN trial. You can cancel your subscription at any time. There are no costs.
NordVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. It also offers flexible pricing plans, which makes it an easy to use and valuable privacy tool.

Get Free Now >>

30-Day Free Trial

3) Atlas VPN

Atlas VPN allows you to discover a safer and more open internet. It offers the best-in-class WireGuard protocol to ensure secure and seamless gaming, streaming, and overall browsing experience. It enables you to access the internet from several IP addresses simultaneously.

Key Specs:

Supported Platforms: Mac, Windows, iOS, Android	No of Servers: 750+	Server Countries: 37	Split Tunneling: Yes
Supported Platforms: Mac, Windows, iOS, Android	Data Allowance: Unlimited	Torrenting: Yes	Kill Switch: Yes
Able to unblock: YouTube TV, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu	No-logging policy: Yes	Ip addresses: Dynamic	Simultaneous Connection: Unlimited
Free Trial: Yes – 30 days

Pros

It provides support for WireGuard tunneling protocol.
Decent speeds during daily use.
Local and faraway servers showed similar speeds.
Mobile-optimized apps for Android and iOS
Atlas VPN offers a high level of protection with built-in 2-factor authentication
24/7 support via email chat

Cons

Does not provide any dedicated IP-addresses

How to use Atlas VPN for Free:

Start your risk-free AtlasVPN trial. You can cancel your subscription at any time. There are no costs.
Atlas VPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. This VPN service provides flexible pricing plans according to your needs.

Get Free Now >>

30-Day Free Trial

4) Surfshark

Surfshark is one of the best VPNs for Linux that provides fast and secure private Internet access. This software offers secure tunneling protocols like OpenVPN and IKEv2. It helps you to make your physical location private and keeps your sensitive data secure.

This VPN allows apps and websites to bypass the VPN blocks. You can protect your identity by hiding your real IP address. It does not log your WebRTC IP and also prevents DNS leaks.

Surfshark is a Linux-supported VPN that allows P2P connection on specific servers. It is one of the best VPN services that can block unwanted websites without any hassle. It enables you to share your IP address with other people on the same server. It is one of the best VPNs for Linux, enabling you to bookmark your favorite locations for future use.

Key Specs:

Supported Platforms: Ubuntu, Debian, Kali, Astra, Mint, Lubuntu, Kubuntu, MX, Parrot, and Pop	No of Servers: 3200+	Server Countries: 65	Split Tunneling: Yes
	Data Allowance: Unlimited	Torrenting: Yes	Kill Switch: Yes
Able to unblock: YouTube TV, Netflix, iPlayer, Amazon Prime, Hulu	No-logging policy: Yes	Ip addresses: Static	Simultaneous Connection: Unlimited
Free Trial: Yes – 30 days	Best for: Gaming, Browsing, and Streaming.

Pros

Offers secure and anonymous browsing.
Provides good security and privacy online.
You can access worldwide content bypassing all censorship.
Offers ideal server connection speed.
Enables you to keep your data private using the 256-Bit AES encryption technique.
Provides DNS leak protection.
Easy installation and use on Ubuntu & other distros.

Cons

It does not offer access to the Tor browser via VPN.
This software has a complicated setup process.

Unlimited devices:

Surfshark allows you to install and connect VPN to unlimited devices. The good thing about this application is that you can add more than 10 devices at once. Moreover, the price of this VPN is also less compared to other Virtual Private Network apps. Therefore, it is beneficial for you to use this VPN for any device of your choice.

How to use Surfshark for Free:

Start your risk-free trial of Surfshark. You can cancel your subscription at any time. There are no hidden costs.
Surfshark offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. It provides different plans for online privacy and protection.

Get Free Now >>

30-Day Free Trial

5) CyberGhost

CyberGhost is a tool to unblock websites and enjoy your favorite content with no hassle. It is one of the best IP blocker software for streaming as well as bypassing geo-restrictions. This Linux VPN program helps you to surf the Internet anonymously without any restriction.

CyberGhost VPN allows you to access the NoSpy server and encrypts the data using the latest 256-bit AES encryption technique. This program enables you to hide IP with just one tap. It also notifies you when you connect to an unsecured public network.

Key Specs:

Supported Platforms: Ubuntu 19.04, 18.04 and 16.04, Fedora 29, 30 and 31, Mint 19, Kali, and CentOS 17	No of Servers: 7000+	Server Countries: 91	Split Tunneling: Yes
	Data Allowance: Unlimited	Torrenting: Yes	Kill Switch: Yes
Able to unblock: Netflix	No-logging policy: Yes	Ip addresses: Static	Simultaneous Connection: 7
Free Trial: No – 45 days money-back guarantee	Best for: Accessing streaming websites with HD video content.

Pros

Helps you to hide your IP for surfing anonymously online with ease.
Protects your digital identity.
Breaks all geo-restrictions.
Provides an unbreakable 256-Bit AES encryption algorithm.
CyberGhost VPN Linux app uses the OpenVPN protocol.
Helps you to protect your connections on public Wi-Fi.
Enables you to hide IP addresses through good VPN connectivity.
Provides lots of locations to select from.

Cons

Certain servers are very slow and can affect your network speed.
Username and password management are complicated.
Sometimes CyberGhost software crashes.

How to use CyberGhost for Free:

Start your risk-free CyberGhost trial. You can cancel your subscription at any time. There are no extra costs.
CyberGhost offers a 45-day money-back guarantee and provides many plans for users with different needs.

Get Free Now >>

45-day money-back guarantee

6) PureVPN

PureVPN is one of the best VPN software that offers a safe way to access anything on the Internet. Using this tool, you can stay protected while browsing the Internet. It does not store your IP, and the specific time you connect to the server. This program enables you to seamlessly bypass geo-restrictions and censorship. PureVPN can be used to quickly stream online content, browse the Internet, and play online games without any interruption.

Key Specs:

Supported Platforms: Ubuntu 19.04, 18.04 and 16.04, Fedora 29, 30 and 31, Mint 19, Kali, CentOS, etc.	No of Servers: 6500+	Server Countries: 140	Split Tunneling: Yes
	Data Allowance: Unlimited	Torrenting: Yes	Kill Switch: Yes
Able to unblock: YouTube TV, iPlayer, Hulu, Netflix	No-logging policy: Yes	Ip addresses: Static and Dynamic	Simultaneous Connection: 5
Free Trial: No – 31-day money-back guarantee	Best for: Unblocking BBC iPlayer, Netflix, YouTube, and DAZN.

Pros

It uses the 256-bit AES encryption technique.
Does not have any DNS leaks or IPv6 leak issues.
Allows you to browse securely, privately, and anonymously.
It offers split-tunneling for Android devices.
Offers easy to use and simple command-line interface.

Cons

This application does not support WireGuard.
It has limited features for the Linux app.

AES-256 Encryption:

AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) is an algorithm that encrypts your data with a 128, 192, or 256-bit key length. PureVPN uses the AES 256 bit security to encrypt your data. It is faster, secure, and does not use much computing power.

Get Free Now >>

31-day money-back guarantee

7) Proton VPN

ProtonVPN is a VPN software that helps you use the web anonymously, unblock websites & encrypt your Internet activity. It uses a high-speed Swiss VPN server that protects your online privacy.

Key Specs:

Supported Platforms: Debian 10, Ubuntu 20.04 (LTS), Mint 20, MX Linux 19, Kali Linux, Fedora 31+, Archlinux/ Manjaro, etc.	No of Servers: 1077+	Server Countries: 54	Split Tunneling: Yes
	Data Allowance: Unlimited	Torrenting: Yes	Kill Switch: Yes
Able to unblock: Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, iPlayer, YT	No-logging policy: Yes	Ip addresses: Dynamic	Simultaneous Connection: 10
Free Trial: Yes – Lifetime Free Basic Plan	Best for: Maximum security and features

Pros

It has strong encryption & protocols.
Your connection is routed with the help of VPN servers to increase privacy protection.
Provides a good server speed.
Allows you to stream BBC iPlayer.
Supports P2P VPN and Tor browser.

Cons

Offers limited servers for the Asian region.
Provides only email support.

How to use Proton VPN for Free:

It offers a completely Free VPN that has 147 servers in 3 countries. Just register and start using

Get Free Now >>

Lifetime Free Basic Plan

How do I set up a VPN for Linux distros?

Installing a VPN on Linux could be challenging. None of the VPNs for Linux have a simple app with a Graphical User Interface (GUI) like you find on their Windows or Android VPN apps. Fortunately, they have distro-specific installation instructions easily available.

Ubuntu-based distributions are the most popular for Linux. Hence, we will install NordVPN for Ubuntu.

Step 1) Ensure you have curl installed.

Use the command

sudo snap install curl

Step 2) Install NordVPN,

Use this command to install NordVPN

sh <(curl -sSf https://downloads.nordcdn.com/apps/linux/install.sh)

Note: The installation process will take 2-3 minutes, depending on your network speed

Step 3) Solve the access denied error (If occurs)

If you get the following error then Enter the command,and reboot the machine.

sudo usermod -aG nordvpn $USER

Step 4) Login into NordVPN using the command

```
nordvpn login
```
Enter your login credentials

Step 5) Connect to a VPN server

Use the following command to connect to a VPN server.

nordvpn connect

Step 6) To Logout use the command

nordvpn logout

Step 7) Check for the available server locations

Use the following command to check all the available server locations

man nordvpn

» Check here our list of the Best Linux Distros

FAQs:

Following are the best VPNs for Linux:

You may not be sure which protocol to choose if you’re new to VPNs. Although, OpenVPN may not be the most efficient VPN protocol. So, you should look for the most secure VPN options like NordVPN or ExpressVPN.

Here are some important things you need to consider in the best Linux VPN:

The VPN service must have native Linux clients. Else you’ll not be able to use it with your distro. Having a mobile app is surely a plus that makes you secure even while traveling. A good VPN service will also offer a selection of servers across the world. It helps you connect to a server closest to you to have a good connection speed.

Another important attribute of a good VPN service is having a clear logging policy and giving exact details about their user’s records and the main purpose of such logging.

Like all network services, occasionally, your connection to the remote VPN may be disconnected. It must allow you to handle this type of scenario as many VPN services offer a kill switch feature that automatically blocks all outgoing network data to ensure your computer doesn’t send them over an unencrypted connection. Many VPN services offer a kill switch facility, an essential feature in a VPN service.

There are some free Linux VPNs that you can use. However, you need to remember that none of them fully support Linux. Thus, we recommend that you sign-up for a free NordVPN account on a different platform and then configure OpenVPN on Linux to use it.

The Linux OpenVPN client is free, and it’s available as either a stand-alone command-line app or as a set of packages that integrate with NetworkManager.

Make sure your VPN provider supports L2TP/IPSec. If it does, it will help you get all the important connection details, including a shared secret, your username, and password. You need to install L2TP from the command line. After this, you can add a connection using the Linux Network Manager using the same steps as above.

Most of the above-mentioned VPNs have dedicated Linux apps with an option to connect in the settings automatically. However, that depends on the app. If your VPN is manually configured, you can get it to run automatically depending on your protocol and using a third-party VPN app.

VPNs act as a middleman between your device and the website you’re trying to access. Routing your traffic through a VPN server causes, on average, a 5% reduction in your connection speed.

However, if your connection runs at about 90Mbps, a VPN might reduce it to 85.5Mbps, which is surely not a noticeable loss. Suppose your ISP is congested or throttling your line. In that case, your speed will increase as your traffic bypasses your local network and uses the faster VPN network.

If you have not taken steps to protect your Internet connection, your ISP will log every website you visit. This can be disastrous if you live in a country that wants to control your online activities. So, visiting the wrong website from the wrong country may result in legal trouble for you.

Even if the knowledge of where you go online doesn’t result in a threat to your life and liberty, it can still lead to some unpleasant stuff. Many countries need local ISPs to keep records of everything people do online for months or even years.

Yes, VPNs for Linux are legal almost everywhere in the world. Today, many businesses rely on them every day to securely interconnect physical locations without building physical infrastructure. Individuals use VPNs to protect online banking and other private activities. Even in repressive countries like the USA or UK, VPN services are legal for basic privacy.

By default, OpenVPN uses UDP port 1194. Although, it can be run over TCP port 443 to emulate regular HTTPS traffic. This trick can be effective at disguising OpenVPN traffic in several situations. However, it may not hide you from more advanced deep packet inspection (DPI) techniques.

To use TCP port 443 in OpenVPN, both client-side and server-side should be configured, but most VPNs support TCP port 443. Your VPN provider may offer the OpenVPN config file (.ovpn) pre-configured for TCP port 443. If it doesn’t, you can create it yourself by performing the below steps:

Step 1) Edit the .ovpn file you want to use in any text editor, remove any existing settings, and add the lines:

Step 2) Remote server.address.com 443

Step 3) Proto TCP

Then save it. If in doubt, contact your VPN provider for advice, as it is possible that it uses custom settings, or not all of its servers support OpenVPN over TCP port 443.

You can import OpenVPN files from any convenient location (such as your Downloads folder). Once imported, they can usually be found in the /etc/OpenVPN/ folder.

Split tunneling in a Virtual Private Network enables you to route some portion of your traffic via VPN. In contrast, another portion has direct access to the Internet. This technology helps you protect the traffic you choose, and you will not lose access to your local network devices.

No-log VPNs are applications that do not exchange your sensitive information using the network. This software enables you to connect your devices in a secure way over the Internet. These types of VPNs do not store your data. Therefore, these applications are reliable to use.

Best FREE VPN for Linux

	#1 Best Overall
VPN Provider	ExpressVPN	NordVPN	Atlas VPN	Surfshark
Linux Distro Supported	Ubuntu 19.04, 18.04 and 16.04, Fedora 29, 30 and 31, Mint 19, Kali, CentOS 17, PoP, etc.	Debian, Ubuntu, Mint, Fedora, RHEL, OpenSUSE, and CentOS	Ubuntu 19.04, 18.04 and 16.04, Fedora 29, 30 and 31, Mint 19, Kali, etc.	Ubuntu, Debian, Kali, Astra, Mint, Lubuntu, Kubuntu, MX, Parrot, Pop
GUI Client (CLI)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Number of servers	3,000+	5,000+	750+	3200+
No. of Server Countries	94	59	37	65
24/7 support	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️
Max connections	5	6	Unlimited	Unlimited
Our Review We rate VPNs based on factors such as Speed, User Experience, Bandwidth, Countries Supported, Pricing, No Log Policy etc.	Excellent – 9.8	Excellent – 9.7	Good – 9.6	Good – 9.5
Free trial VPNs offer a 30-day money-back guarantee, but you must subscribe to the 1-month plan first.	30 days	30 days	30 days	30 days
Link	Try Free Now	Try Free Now	Try Free Now	Try Free Now