The 8 Best Linux VPNs of 2019

Find the right service for your Linux PC

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The Rundown
Best Overall: NordVPN, "Their service is fast, reliable, and among the most
secure."
Best Budget: Private Internet Access (PIA), "Allows subscribers ten simultaneous
connections, one of the most generous limits around."
Best for Multiple Devices: ExpressVPN, "Provides extremely high-quality service and
security."
Best for Students: TorGuard, "Offers a wide selection of more than 3,000 servers in
over 50 countries."
Best for Security Features: ProtonVPN, "Users with a free account can connect with
one device to any of three servers."
Best for Open Source: AirVPN, "AirVPN was created by activists and focuses on
supporting a free and open Internet."
Best for Total Anonymity: Mullvad, "In theory, you can sign up for and use Mullvad
without ever identifying yourself."
Best No-Nonsense Approach: IVPN, "They handle privacy and security the tried-and-
true way, and they handle it well."
Our Top Picks
Best Overall: NordVPN

Buy on Nordvpn.com
NordVPN is one of the largest players in the VPN world and rightfully so. Their
service is fast, reliable, and among the most secure. NordVPN has an absolutely
massive array of servers, with over 5,000 available to subscribers.

This service also boasts a complete array of client apps across nearly every
platform, including Linux. The NordVPN Linux client is a command-line app for
Debian based systems, like Ubuntu and Linux Mint. It�s simple to install and work
because it�s based on OpenVPN. On other platforms, you always have the option to
use basic OpenVPN configurations themselves to connect through NetworkManager or an
OpenVPN service.

NordVPN�s service welcomes P2P connections, like torrents, and is built for
streaming. NordVPN�s clients come with a kill switch to help keep you safe while
downloading, too. Many of NordVPN�s servers can connect to and unblock Netflix and
other major services. This VPN provider has a strict no-logs policy and doesn�t
keep or track any information about you. They offer strong double encryption, and
they own their own DNS servers, ensuring that your information never leaks.

If you�re a Linux user, you probably appreciate a good balance between security and
usability. NordVPN delivers on that. Its security is top grade while remaining
convenient and easy to use.

NordVPN Review

Best Budget: Private Internet Access (PIA)

Buy on Privateinternetaccess.com
Private Internet Access is another major VPN provider that�s been around for quite
some time. Private Internet Access (PIA) supports a wide range of devices and
offers its users over 3,000 servers to connect to. PIA also allows subscribers ten
simultaneous connections, one of the most generous limits around.
Simplicity and ease of use are a focus for Private Internet Access. All their
clients are clean and uncomplicated. That includes their graphical Linux client for
Ubuntu, Mint, Debian, and Arch Linux. Other Linux distributions can still connect
easily enough with OpenVPN.

Private Internet Access uses industry-standard AES-256 encryption coupled with a

strict no-logs policy that�s been tested and held up in real investigations. Most
recently, an alleged hacker was put on trial, and when the FBI requested logs of
his activity from PIA, they weren�t able to produce them. PIA also features a
built-in ad blocker to help shut down ads and trackers that can compromise your
security and potentially reveal information about you.

Private Internet Access Review

Best for Multiple Devices: ExpressVPN

Buy on Expressvpn.com
ExpressVPN is a close second on this list. It�s another very well-respected service
that provides extremely high-quality service and security. ExpressVPN boasts a
substantial selection of servers, totaling over 3,000.

Not unlike its top competition, ExpressVPN supports a gigantic array of platforms,
including Linux. The VPN provider has client apps for various Linux distributions,
including Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, and CentOS. Other distributions are still
supported via OpenVPN configurations. Even though the Linux client from ExpressVPN
isn�t graphical, it�s still straightforward and simple to use.

ExpressVPN features powerful encryption and security, relying on AES-256 to secure

connections. It also brings leak prevention features to stop WebRTC, DNS, and other
common data leaks. ExpressVPN clients have a built-in kill switch to prevent
connections outside the VPN as well as the ability to split connections to allow
certain apps to bypass the VPN. This service is an excellent option for streaming
and P2P connections as well. ExpressVPN is known for strong streaming support and
its ability to unblock Netflix.

Even though ExpressVPN�s security is exceptionally high quality, and they have a
no-logging policy, they do still log some connection data. This data is fairly
vague, but it is tied to your account. For some people, this one might be a deal-
breaker. That�s the one and only reason ExpressVPN isn�t in the number one spot.

ExpressVPN Review

Best for Students: TorGuard

Buy on Torguard.net
TorGuard is another fantastic option for Linux users. This VPN service offers a
wide selection of more than 3,000 servers in over 50 countries to connect to. They
have a strong reputation for stability and security, and they�re known for a wide
range of features and support.

TorGuard not only has a Linux client for Debian-, Red Hat-, and Arch Linux-based
distributions, including Ubuntu, Fedora, and Manjaro, that client is fully
graphical and it�s super simple to use. In case you�d prefer the OpenVPN
configuration files to set up your connection with NetworkManager or your own
OpenVPN service, TorGuard provides those too.

TorGuard is also prepared for the future with WireGuard, a new VPN protocol that
promises faster speeds and better security than OpenVPN. WireGuard isn�t ready for
daily use, but experimental support is available for adventurous Linux users now.

TorGuard provides strong encryption on all its VPN connections, and it backs up
your privacy with a strict no-logs policy.

For people on restrictive networks, TorGuard�s Stealth VPN feature lets you mask
your VPN connection to bypass detection and get past any firewalls that may try to
block your route to the VPN. That feature alone makes TorGuard an excellent choice
for students on college networks.

Torguard VPN Review

Best for Security Features: ProtonVPN

Buy on Protonvpn.com
The people behind the popular security-focused e-mail service, ProtonMail,
developed their own VPN service as well. ProtonVPN is a young service, compared to
many others listed here, but it�s already earned plenty of respect. Not only is
ProtonVPN based in Switzerland, one of the best jurisdictions for privacy, the
infrastructure is in an underground bunker, which is probably not a practical
concern, but it�s still pretty cool.

ProtonVPN doesn�t have a Linux desktop client, though it does have clients for
other platforms. The service does officially support Linux via OpenVPN
configuration files, though, and its simple enough to set up a connection
graphically using NetworkManager on your Linux desktop.

One of the most unique aspects of ProtonVPN is its free option. Users with a free
account can connect with one device to any of three servers. Speeds and
capabilities are restricted on free accounts, but it�s a good option for a free VPN
on Linux and is an excellent way to try a free VPN on Ubuntu too. ProtonVPN�s other
options are reasonably priced, and there�s a combined plan for paid ProtonMail
users.

ProtonVPN excels in the security department. This service operates its own DNS
servers, doesn�t keep logs, and employs some of the strongest encryption available
� AES-256, 4096-bit RSA for key exchange, and HMAC and SHA38 for message
authentication. ProtonVPN also supports Tor for even more privacy and security.

Torguard VPN Review

Best for Open-Source: AirVPN

Buy on Airvpn.org
AirVPN may not get the same kind of attention as some of the other entries on this
list, but that doesn�t mean it�s a second-class VPN. This provider is dedicated to
open-source software in a big way. Their open-source graphical client, Eddie is
available on Github.

Since Eddie is open source, it shouldn�t come as a surprise to anyone that it�s
available for Linux. AirVPN packaged Eddie for multiple Linux distributions, and
there�s even a version for the Raspberry Pi. While this might sound great, Eddie is
more-or-less just a graphical front end for OpenVPN, but it�s still nice to have a
graphical client for Linux.

AirVPN was created by activists and focuses on supporting a free and open Internet.
That means AirVPN has a strong no-logging policy and will never track your
activity. This is a great choice for both streaming and P2P as well. AirVPN even
supports Tor.

With this service, you�ll get powerful encryption, perfect forward secrecy, and a
provider which understands what open source is about.

Best for Total Anonymity: Mullvad

Buy on Mullvad.net
Mullvad is another respected name in the VPN world. The Sweden-based company has
been around for numerous years and advertises the most anonymous VPN service in the
world. They may just be right, too. Mullvad uses an automatically generated number
to identify accounts, not an e-mail address or any personal information. Then, you
can pay for Mullvad with cryptocurrency, cash, or more traditional methods like
PayPal and credit cards. In theory, you can sign up for and use Mullvad without
ever identifying yourself.

Building on that, Mullvad doesn�t log any personal information. Their strict no-
logging policy prohibits them from tracking your IP address, the sites you connect
to, and any DNS information. They rely on industry-standard AES256 encryption to
keep your information secure and employ a VPN kill switch in their clients as well
as other anti-leak technology to prevent your personal info from slipping out.

In addition to other popular mobile and desktop platforms, Mullvad supports Linux
with a custom graphical client. The Mullvad Linux client is packaged and available
for Debian- and Red Hat-based distributions, like Ubuntu and Fedora. On top of
that, they provide excellent documentation to connect through OpenVPN on Linux and
even set up a custom kill switch using the iptables firewall.

Mullvad�s VPN client is fully open-source, and its source is available on Github.
With their commitment to the open-source ecosystem, Mullvad is also prepared for
the future with WireGuard support. Linux users can preview WireGuard now and see
the speed and security improvements it has to offer.

Best No-Nonsense Approach: IVPN

Buy on Ivpn.net
IVPN is well-known and trusted by people serious about privacy and security. The
smaller provider, based out of Gibraltar, has an excellent track record of relying
on only the best encryption standards and sticking to its no-logging policy.

Even though IVPN doesn�t have an official Linux client, they readily provide their
OpenVPN configuration files, making it extra simple to connect through
NetworkManager or an OpenVPN service on your computer. IVPN is also working on
WireGuard support, which is available for preview on Linux, using open-source tools
already in your distribution�s repositories.

IVPN does offer clients for Android, Windows, and other major platforms. Even
though they don�t explicitly support a wide range of devices, OpenVPN is fairly
universal and will work in most situations, including routers and the Raspberry Pi.

When you visit IVPN�s website, you�re not going to see a bunch of marketing jargon
or sales pitches about how they�ve developed the next best thing in privacy.
Instead, you�ll see the service�s straightforward approach. They handle privacy and
security the tried-and-true way, and they handle it well.

IVPN isn�t a large company. They don�t have thousands of servers. Depending on who
you are, that could be a good thing or a reason not to use IVPN.

Our Process

Our writers spent 4 hours researching the most popular Linux VPNs on the market.
Before making their final recommendations, they considered 12 different Linux VPNs
overall, screened options from 12 different brands and manufacturers, read over 8
user reviews (both positive and negative), and tested 3 of the Linux VPNs
themselves. All of this research adds up to recommendations you can trust.

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