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Best VPNs for Linux

Anyone who is serious about online privacy knows about or even uses Linux. It’s known to be the most secure and safe operating system in the computer industry, but it may not be as secure and safe as it seems to be. There are still many third-parties out there that want to use your information to make a quick buck.

As online security becomes a higher priority for internet browsers there becomes a higher priority for internet users to use a VPN service that can help them further their online security. A VPN is the easiest, fast, and most secure way to improve online security as it secures your online identity, keeps private information private, and overall keeps you more anonymous online.

Even though Linux is a very popular operating system for users who love privacy, VPN services rarely put effort into Linux and care more about operating systems like macOS and Windows. We wanted to find great VPNs that actually respect Linux. Although it was quite challenging to find good VPN services it was possible and actually fun.

After testing all of the VPNs that are available for Linux we have created the ultimate list of the best VPNs for Linux. All the VPNs in this list have the following criteria:

No-Log Policies (don’t track your VPN activity and history)
Protected from leaks (this means that you are protected from DNS leaks and IPv6 leaks at all times)
Quality Apps (good quality, reliable applications that work well with Linux OS)
Customer Support (offers great customer support and responds quickly)
VPN’s History (the VPN services history must be good, and they should be honest)

With that being said, these are the 5 best VPNs for Linux:

1. ExpressVPN - Best VPN for Linux

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Pros

Superfast VPN speeds
No log policy
No IP address leaks
Works with Neflix, and other streaming services
Easy to use apps
VPN browser extensions
Over 3,000 VPN servers in 94 countries
Torrenting

Cons

ExpressVPN is easily the best VPNs for Linux, it supports a large range of Linux distros such as Fedora, Debian, Ubuntu, CentOS, Mint, and more. The VPN also has over 3,000+ servers located in 94+ countries across the world. Each of their servers offers high-performance and allows P2P/torrenting connections. ExpressVPN is a great choice if your planning on streaming and torrenting on your Linux device, as well as its the fastest VPN we’ve tested for Linux. (read our full ExpressVPN review)

ExpressVPN is based in the British Virgin Islands meaning they benefit from privacy-friendly laws, plus it’s outside of the 5/9/14 eye alliance. They offer the OpenVPN, PPTP, and IPSec / L2TP protocols which are currently the industry-standard protocols. The VPN encrypts your data with 256-bit AES encryption and has a no-logs policy meaning your data is safe from any harm. ExpressVPN also offers tons of different features such as the automatic kill switch and a split tunnelling feature.

The VPN understands that people want to remain anonymous that’s why they accept the Bitcoin as a payment method. They also offer a feature called SmartLocation which easily switches between different locations based on which servers are faster. The ExpressVPN Linux client does a great job of protecting users from DNS leaks and IPv6 leaks.

If you’re wanting to watch content from other countries ExpressVPN does a great job at bypassing geo-restricted content. You can easily watch Netflix, and other streaming services in different regions (this includes US Netflix). ExpressVPN also offers great browser extensions for both Chrome and Firefox (its pretty handy if you watch streams or browse online often).

Here are ExpressVPN’s important features that you should know:

High Performance – All of their servers offer great performance fast enough to stream HD content.
No-Logs Policy – None of your personal data will be collected. (You should always choose a VPN that has this)
Easy Interface – ExpressVPN offers an easy-to-use Linux interface. It works straight out of the box and it’s fairly straight forward.
Features – The VPN service offers tons of unique and useful features that enhance your privacy and overall experience.
Torrenting Permitted – With ExpressVPN high-performance servers its easy to torrent and feel safe, especially considering their no-logs policy and security features.
Streaming – ExpressVPN is one of the best VPNs out there for streaming since they have high-performance servers that are able to stream HD and unblock geo-restricted content.

ExpressVPN offers a 30-day trial with a money-back guarantee, meaning you can try them out risk-free. They also offer great 24/7 live chat support, so if you have any questions they can answer them. If you’re curious you can get three months of ExpressVPN for free here.

2. ProtonVPN - High Quality, Swiss Based

Pros

Cons

ProtonVPN is one of the best VPN services regarding privacy and honesty. It was created by a group of passionate people who wanted to secure the internet for everyone, everywhere. Their main goal was to keep their users anonymous while connected to the VPN and give them privacy, and security while doing so.

On top of that Proton also offers both a free and premium subscription (ProtonVPN is hands down the best free VPN service out there, read our free VPNs list). Their server network offers 876 high-performance servers in 50 countries, and each ProtonVPN account may be used with up to 10 devices simultaneously (the free plan offers 1 simultaneous connection).

The ProtonVPN Linux application is great because it offers a clean and modern design while being easy-to-use and navigate. The encryption used to secure your data is the 256-bit AES encryption method which is currently the industry standard. They offer the OpenVPN protocol as well as the IKEv2/IPSec protocols which are commonly used in the VPN industry because of their performance and security.

ProtonVPN is based in Switzerland which adds an additional layer of security to its service. Being based in Switzerland allows Proton to benefit from the great privacy-friendly laws, as well as being outside of the 5/9/14 eyes alliance. Another great thing about Proton is that they understand that their users want to be kept anonymous that’s why no personal information is needed to sign-up for their service.

Here are key features to ProtonVPN that you should know:

Torrenting/P2P – With many high-performance servers and high levels of protection ProtonVPN is a great VPN if you’re into torrenting.
Simple – The Linux app for ProtonVPN is incredibly easy-to-use while offering a modern design that anyone could get around.
Server Network – With more than 800 high-performance servers located in 50 countries across the world they have one of the best server networks in the VPN industry (even though its not as large as other providers).
Security – ProtonVPN has done everything they can to create the most reputable, honest, and secure VPN service out there.
No-Logging Policy – ProtonVPN under no circumstance will collect/track your private VPN activity. The no-logging policy also applies to their free plan making it a handful of free VPN’s to do so.

ProtonVPN offers a 7-day free trial money-back guarantee on all of their subscriptions. They also have great customer support you can contact via email. ProtonVPN is honestly a great VPN service for Linux devices and I would highly recommend it.

3. Private Internet Access

Pros

Cons

Private Internet Access (PIA) is another great VPN for Linux as it offers more than 3,125 servers in more than 33 countries. Their servers are able to handle HD streaming from anywhere in the world. You can also use a single PIA account with up to 10 different devices (10 simultaneous connections). Private Internet Access is also a great choice if you’re planning on torrenting as it will keep you safe and your information secure.

The PIA Linux client uses the 256-bit AES encryption method to ensure that your information is secure and you remain anonymous online. Another great thing is that OpenVPN is the default VPN protocol (most secure VPN protocol) used by PIA. The Linux client is able to protect you from IPv6 and DNS leaks. It also offers an automatic kill switch that protects you from sudden VPN connection drops.

Private Internet Access is great if you want to stream HD content. Their servers are able to unblock certain Netflix regions across the world, they can also unblock other popular streaming services such as Hulu.

Being based in the United States can make many users turn away from PIA because it’s located in the 5/9/14 eyes alliance. But honestly, you shouldn’t have to worry about it so much (read PIA response/FAQ about this topic).

Here are some key features that you should know about Private Internet Access:

P2P/Torrenting – PIA offers tons of features that make torrenting safe and secure as well as offering high-performance servers.
No-Logging Policy – The VPN service is strongly against tracking users’ activity online. Read more about their no-logging policy here.
Server Network – With more than 3,125+ servers in more than 33 countries PIA has a huge server network that is great for any task.
Streaming – With over 3,125+ servers each with high-performance its easy to stream HD content from anywhere in the world.
Leak Protection – PIA protects its users from IPv6 leaks and DNS leaks as well as offering an automatic kill switch to ensure that all your data is safe.

Private Internet Access offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on all of their plans as well as having 24/7 live chat available in case you have any questions. PIA is also heavily recommended on different forums and chat boards by current customers.

4. AirVPN - Great Linux Client

Pros

No-Logs Policy
Accepts alternative payment options (BTC)
Strong Encryption
Torrenting allowed
High performance & reliable
No IPv6 or DNS leaks

Cons

AirVPN is one of the most honest, and genuine VPNs I’ve ever seen in the competitive VPN industry. AirVPN offers more than 220+ servers located across 20 countries, although their server network isn’t as large as other VPN providers it still does the job well. AirVPN allows up to 5 devices per subscription which is great if you want to share with family and friends. AirVPN also is great if you’re into torrenting since it uses military-grade encryption (256-bit AES) and high-speed servers.

The AirVPN Linux client isn’t as “aesthetic” as the other VPNs in this list it does a great job at keeping your safe and secure online. The Linux client uses the OpenVPN client as the default VPN protocol (most secure & trust VPN protocol). AirVPN does a great job of protecting you from IPv6 and DNS leaks while you are connected to the VPN, meaning you never have to worry about getting your information leaked by-accident.

Another great thing about AirVPN is that it is actually able to unblock Netflix (US Netflix) and multiple other popular streaming services such as Hulu. The servers are fast enough to handle streaming content in HD.

Here are key features of AirVPN that you should know:

No Leaks – AirVPN is a great VPN service that protecting you from any IPv6 or DNS leaks.
Torrenting – With AirVPN’s high-speed servers and great secure foundation you could easily torrent without worrying.
Strong Security – With the OpenVPN protocol and 256-bit AES encryption being standard you shouldn’t ever have to worry about anything leaking or going side-ways.
No-Logs Policy – The VPN’s privacy policy is easy to understand and doesn’t have twists and turns. AirVPN is very straight-forward saying that they don’t log users’ online activity. Read their privacy policy here.

AirVPN is one of the most honest and reliable VPN services out there. They offer a 3-day free trial with a money-back guarantee and if you have any questions they have a detailed FAQ section, a forum, and you can contact them via email.

5. TorGuard

Pros

Cons

TorGuard offers over 1600+ servers in more than 50 countries and is constantly growing and improving its services. The servers provide users with tons of bandwidth, high-performance, and new additions frequently. TorGuard also allows up to 8 simultaneous connections, this means you can use TorGuard on multiple different devices at the same time. The Linux app defaults to 256-bit AES encryption meaning you get the highest level of security while connected to the VPN. (they also offer 128-bit AES encryption if faster speeds are your priority).

The TorGuard Linux client offers a modern design that is easy-to-use and requires no background knowledge. You can easily change the protocol, tunnel type, port, and cipher without having to search for it. There is also an option to automatically connect to TorGuard when your Linux device turns on. The client itself is great at protecting you from IPv6 and DNS leaks while connected to the VPN.

If you’re looking for a VPN to watch Netflix with or any other popular streaming services, TorGuard is a great VPN for that. It offers great speeds, no leaks, and secure servers. TorGuard is able to bypass geo-restricted content fairly easily. Their servers are fast enough to stream content in full HD.

Here are some key features of TorGuard that you should know:

Support – Even though TorGuard doesn’t offer live support yet but they do offer email support, a community forum, a FAQ, and a knowledge base.
Torrenting – TorGuard allows users to use P2P the way you want to use it. They also offer secure VPN protocols, leak protection, and most importantly a no-logs policy.
Netflix – With its advanced technology TorGuard can easily bypass content restrictions while being able to stream in HD.
No-Logs – TorGuard doesn’t store or log any activity from both its VPN and Proxy service.
Security – From 256-bit AES encryption to OpenVPN protocol being the default TorGuard is as secure as it gets. Also, don’t forget about its no-logs policy.

TorGuard offers a 7-day refund guarantee (also known as their free-trial). TorGuard is also often recommended on Reddit and other online forums by existing customers. If you’re interested here is 50% off TorGuard.

What makes a Linux VPN good?

There are multiple different factors that make a Linux VPN good. The list of VPN above all have the following criteria:

High-performance
No-logs & no leaks (IPv6 and DNS)
Linux app
High levels of security
Customer Support
Unblock geo-restricted content such as streaming services, websites, and apps.

Using a VPN on your Linux device is important to ensure your online privacy. A VPN (Virtual Private Network) encrypts all traffic coming in and out of your device. It sends that traffic to the users wanted destination. During this process, it’s very difficult for third-parties to spy on your traffic.

Should I use a VPN on Linux?

Yes, you should always be using a VPN when connected to the internet. Here are a few ways VPNs can make your internet experience more secure and safe:

Privacy – A VPN at its core is a privacy device. If you want to ensure that no-one is spying on you a VPN can definitely help. As long as the VPN is using encryption of 128-bit or 256-bit you shouldn’t have to worry much about being monitored or spied on.
Torrenting – This is often looked down upon by your ISP (internet service provider). ISP’s often will punish the user for this behaviour, legal or illegal. Plus there are tons of copyright trolls out there trying to scare you. With a VPN all of your traffic is encrypted and your real IP address is hidden. Meaning an ISP can’t punish you and copyright trolls can’t trick you.
Security – A VPN helps in securing your device and protecting it from online threats. Public wifi is one of the most dangerous places to connect to without using a VPN. If a hacker gets into the public wifi they can see all the traffic that runs through it. With a VPN your traffic would be encrypted making it extremely hard almost impossible for a hacker to decrypt it.
Geo-restricted content – It’s common for websites to restrict users coming from certain countries accessing content. A VPN can bypass these restrictions by connecting to a server located in the specific country the content is permitted. A VPN is often used to bypass Netflix, BBC Player, Hulu, and Amazon Prime.

How do you install a VPN on Linux?

There are multiple easy ways to install a VPN onto your Linux device.

The VPNs listed above all have dedicated apps and unique installation guides on their websites. Another way is to install OpenVPN on your Linux device.

What's OpenVPN?

OpenVPN is a popular open-source connection protocol used to create a secure connection between two points. OpenVPN is commonly used by VPNs to ensure that any traffic sent is being encrypted and kept private. It’s also fairly easy to install and setup on your device.

Summary

While it can be challenging to find a VPN focuses on Linux just as much as they focus on Windows and macOS devices there are definitely some good ones out there. The VPNs listed above are amazing because they offer unique apps made for Linux while offering some of the best security, support, privacy, encryption and more.

To quickly recap here the best VPNs for Linux:

ExpressVPN – The best all-round VPN for Linux.
ProtonVPN – A great high-quality VPN that is based in Switzerland. It also offers the best free plan.
Private Internet Access – An affordable VPN that has lots of flexibility. It also offers a large server network and works great with Netflix.
AirVPN – The most honest and trustworthy VPN service out there. Offers great privacy and is great for torrenting and streaming.
TorGuard – Another great VPN for torrenting and streaming. Offers customer support and is reliable.