Best VPN For Linux 2023

With only around 2% of desktops running it, we wouldn’t blame you if Linux isn’t your first choice for an operating system. However, it is the go-to OS for many developers and IT enthusiasts, and it’s no surprise that many of them would like to keep their internet connection private using a Linux VPN. 

The problem is that with such a small market share, not a lot of VPN service providers focus on the Linux experience. This makes it difficult to find a Linux VPN that will perform well and provide the online security you need. If you’re a Linux user, though, fret not, because we reviewed some of the best VPN services that are compatible with Linux. 

Key Takeaways:

• Private Internet Access is the best Linux VPN, with a user-friendly Linux client and great overall performance and features.
• ProtonVPN is a free alternative but has very few servers if you don’t pay for a premium plan.
• ExpressVPN, NordVPN and Surfshark are great performers, but the lack of a GUI makes them a worse option for non-tech-savvy users.

If you’re not keen on reading through, Private Internet Access took the win with a graphical user interface and all the functionality you’d get with the Windows version, as well as a great price-to-performance ratio. There are some interesting alternatives that might be a better fit for your needs, so read on. 

• Does Linux Have a Built-in VPN?

  No, Linux does not have a built-in VPN. To use a VPN on Linux, you’ll need to install and set up your own VPN.

• Does Ubuntu Have a VPN?

  No, Ubuntu doesn’t have a built-in VPN, but you can install and configure your own Ubuntu VPN.

• Do I Need a VPN With Linux?

  If you want your internet connection to remain for your eyes only, and you want to add security to your internet browsing experience, you need a VPN with any operating system, including Linux.

• How Do I Set up a VPN on Linux?

  You can set up VPNs for Linux by using the VPN provider’s setup guide. Some have an installation file, while others will require you to use the command-line terminal to set them up. It varies depending on the Linux VPN provider.

Top VPNs for Linux

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What Makes the Best Linux VPN

If you look at our list of best VPNs, you will find that four things matter most: speed, security, features and price. You want a fast VPN that won’t impact your browsing speeds too much, and you want your VPN connection to be for your eyes only. Additional features like a strict no-logs policy, kill switch and split tunneling are also welcome, and budget is always a consideration. These VPN services check all the aforementioned boxes. 

1. Private Internet Access — Feature-rich VPN with a minimalist GUI
2. ProtonVPN — Free VPN with a neat user interface
3. ExpressVPN — Blazing-fast premium VPN
4. NordVPN — Highly secure VPN with a CLI
5. Surfshark — Affordable option with unlimited simultaneous connections 
6. Mullvad — Simple-to-use VPN with a graphical interface
7. Windscribe — Feature-rich option with a build-your-own-plan feature

With Linux users, however, there are a few other factors. OS support is first, with Linux being split up between Debian-based and Red Hat Linux-based distros, and you want the VPN service to support the distro you’re using. If possible, you also want the VPN client to offer the exact same features and functionalities it offers on other operating systems. 

While some Linux users are well versed in using a command-line interface (CLI), a dedicated Linux client with a graphical user interface (GUI) is a huge bonus because it makes using and configuring the VPN service much easier. While we’re talking about bonuses, any additional features that are Linux-specific also count. 

The Top 7 Linux VPNs

Whether you’re looking for a Linux app with a neat GUI or you prefer to use the terminal, here are the best VPNs for Linux.

1. Private Internet Access

More details about PIA:

• Pricing: $2.19 per month (three-year plan)
• Provider website: privateinternetaccess.com

Private Internet Access is a great Linux VPN, thanks to the ease of installation and use and its well-thought-out graphical UI. Feature-wise, it is identical to the app made for other operating systems. It’s highly customizable and has a built-in ad and malware blocker that works fairly well, as you can see in our PIA review.

You can install PIA on both Debian and Red Hat–based distros, which makes it one of the best VPNs for Linux in terms of versatility. The limit of 10 simultaneous connections is generous enough, and we like that you can add an antivirus and a dedicated IP address to your subscription (at an additional charge, of course). 

PIA’s monthly plan isn’t exactly cheap, but if you subscribe for three years, you get much better pricing. With a 30-day money-back guarantee, it’s the best VPN for Linux users. 

Private Internet Access Plans

• 10
• Yes

30-days money-back guarantee

1-month plan

$11.95/month

3-year plan

$2.19/month

$79 billed every 3 years

Save 81%

1-year plan

$3.33/month

$39.95 billed every year

Save 72%

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2. ProtonVPN

More details about ProtonVPN:

• Pricing: Free with unlimited data and slower speeds; $5 per month
• Provider website: protonvpn.com

ProtonVPN’s free plan has received a lot of praise from users of VPN services, and we had some nice things to say in our ProtonVPN review, too. The fact that it gets you a graphical interface for Linux is reason enough to have it on your radar. The app is organized very well, and if you’re on the free plan you’ll have the three VPN server locations available right at the top. 

The fact that you don’t have a data limit, even on the free plan, is excellent, but ProtonVPN does admit to throttling your speed if you don’t pay for a premium plan. The Linux app works with both Debian and Red Hat–based distros, and there’s even a guide to configure an OpenVPN connection on unsupported distributions. 

If you don’t mind slightly slower speeds and only having three locations to choose from, the free plan makes ProtonVPN the best free VPN for Linux, period. If you still want to try out one of the premium plans, though, you have a 30-day window to change your mind and get a refund. 

30-days money-back guarantee

Free

• Unlimited GB
• 1
• Yes

FREE

Plus

• Unlimited GB
• 5
• Yes

1-month plan

$9.99/month

1-year plan

$5.99/month

$71.88 billed every year

Save 40%

2-year plan

$4.99/month

$119.75 billed every 2 years

Save 50%

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3. ExpressVPN

More details about ExpressVPN:

• Pricing: $6.67 per month for the yearly plan, plus three months free
• Provider website: expressvpn.com

Linux’s users sometimes prefer speed to everything else. If that’s the case with you and your quest for a good VPN service, ExpressVPN is the fastest VPN out there (learn more in our ExpressVPN review). Despite that, the lack of a graphical interface is enough to push it lower down on our list because it might be a bit difficult to set up and use. 

To connect to a server, you only need to look at the list of locations and type in the appropriate server abbreviation, but it’s still more complicated than a few mouse clicks. However, if this is something you’d be willing to work with, you can use ExpressVPN on almost any distro. 

ExpressVPN’s Achilles’ heel is that it’s expensive, even with a long-term subscription. That aside, ExpressVPN is a great VPN adept at streaming, torrenting and gaming — it’s our best Steam and League of Legends VPN. If you’d still like to try it out, though, you get a 30-day money-back guarantee. 

ExpressVPN Plans

• Unlimited GB
• 5
• Yes

30-days money-back guarantee

1-month plan

$12.95/month

6-months plan

$9.99/month

$59.94 billed every 6 month

Save 22%

15-months plan

$6.66/month

$99.95 billed first 15 months and 12 months thereafter

Save 48%

ReviewVisit ExpressVPN 30-days money-back guarantee

4. NordVPN

More details about NordVPN: 

• Pricing: $3.71 per month for the two-year plan
• Provider website: nordvpn.com

NordVPN is one of the best Linux VPNs, thanks to its combination of speed and security. The NordLynx protocol is NordVPN’s implementation of WireGuard, which adds an extra layer of protection on top of the speedy base protocol. The app is also compatible with Debian and Red Hat distros, and you can even find guides on how to set it up with openSUSE. 

Unfortunately, not only is it command line–based, but it’s also a tedious chore to connect to any of its VPN servers. You’ll need to pick between UDP and TCP, choose the server and then write the exact command to connect to said server with the specified parameters. 

As far as pricing goes, NordVPN is somewhere in the middle of the pack if you opt for a two-year plan. If you do, and decide you don’t want to type out long commands every time you need a VPN, there is a 30-day period in which you can get a refund. You can find out more about it in our NordVPN review.

30-days money-back guarantee

Standard

• Unlimited GB
• 6
• Yes

1-month plan

$11.99/month

1-year plan

$4.99/month

$59.88 billed every year

Save 58%

2-year plan

$3.49/month

$83.76 billed every 2 years

Save 70%

Plus

• Unlimited GB
• 6
• Yes

1-month plan

$12.99/month

1-year plan

$5.99/month

$71.88 billed every year

Save 53%

2-year plan

$5.19/month

$124.56 billed every 2 years

Save 60%

Complete

• Unlimited GB
• 6
• Yes

1-month plan

$14.49/month

1-year plan

$7.49/month

$89.88 billed every year

Save 48%

2-year plan

$6.69/month

$160.56 billed every 2 years

Save 53%

ReviewVisit NordVPN 30-days money-back guarantee

5. Surfshark

More details about Surfshark:

• Pricing: $2.21 per month for the two-year plan
• Provider website: surfshark.com

Linux users who run multiple devices at the same time will love Surfshark and its unlimited simultaneous connections. We gave it a lot of praise in our Surfshark review. Unfortunately, the command line–based interface is incredibly counterintuitive, and you can only get it for Debian-based Linux systems. 

When you try to connect, Surfshark will list all available VPN servers, but you’ll need to go through several pages until you reach the end. Here, you’re given the choice between TCP and UDP, and only then can you select the server you want to connect to. This makes it outright difficult unless you’re a regular Linux system user who knows their way around the CLI. 

Pricing is affordable, with a two-year plan getting you a reasonably good value. Plus, you have a 30-day money-back guarantee in case you find the UI as alien as we did.

Surfshark Plans

• Unlimited GB bandwidth, Unlimited devices
• Unlimited GB
• Unlimited
• Yes

30-days money-back guarantee

1-month plan

$12.95/month

1-year plan

$3.99/month

$47.88 billed every year

Save 69%

2-year plan

$2.49/month

$59.76 billed every 2 years

Save 80%

ReviewVisit Surfshark 30-days money-back guarantee

6. Mullvad

More details about Mullvad:

• Pricing: $6 per month
• Provider website: mullvad.net

While most Linux VPNs claim to have a no-logs policy, Mullvad takes things a step further. It requires zero information from you during signup — you’re assigned an account number that you top up when you want to use the VPN. This goes a long way toward protecting private user data, as we discuss in our Mullvad review. 

Availability for Linux systems is excellent, and the Linux app itself is identical to the app for other OSes. It also maintains the ease of configuration and minimalist design, which makes this a very easy VPN to use.

There are two glaring downsides, though: the inconsistent speeds that make it impossible to use with streaming services, and the very small server network. If that is off-putting, read our Mullvad alternatives guide for more VPN options.

Mullvad comes with a flat fee of about $6 per month, regardless of how long you stay subscribed. Yes, it’s simpler, but it’s also more expensive in the long run. However, you have 30 days to get a refund if you change your mind. 

Mullvad Plans

• Unlimited GB
• 5
• Yes

30-days money-back guarantee

1-month plan

$5.30/month

ReviewVisit Mullvad 30-days money-back guarantee

7. Windscribe

More details about Windscribe:

• Pricing: Free; $5.75 per month for the yearly plan
• Provider website: windscribe.com

Windscribe — the best ProtonVPN alternative –has been at the top of our list of best free VPNs for quite some time, and for good reason. It’s fast, it has 10 servers to choose from and you get plenty of security for your VPN connections. We discuss it in more detail in our Windscribe review, but it’s not the best option for Linux users, thanks to the lack of a graphical interface. 

From a Linux user’s perspective, Windscribe keeps your internet traffic secure if you’re willing to take the time to set it up. It provides detailed how-to guides, but it took us a while to figure out that we needed to connect using the server’s alias instead of location. 

Windscribe’s basic plan is free, but you’re limited to 10 server locations and 15GB of data per month. You can build your own plan and add more locations and data, but the three-day money-back guarantee really isn’t enough. 

3-days money-back guarantee

Free

• Up to 15 GB free with email confirmation and Tweet
• 15GB
• Unlimited

FREE

Pro Plan

• Unlimited GB
• Unlimited
• Yes

1-month plan

$9/month

1-year plan

$5.75/month

$69 billed every year

Save 36%

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What Is the Best Free Linux VPN?

When it comes to using a free VPN service, most of them aren’t worth touching with a 10-foot pole. They might try to sell your data or bundle malware with the installation file. Some of them will do very little when it comes to protecting your connection, allowing your internet service provider to see exactly which websites you’re visiting. 

However, there are some exceptions to this rule, like ProtonVPN and Windscribe. When it comes to a user-friendly VPN for Linux, Proton has the edge, thanks to the GUI-based VPN app that’s simple to use. On the other hand, WIndscribe offers 10 VPN server locations (compared to three), but requires that you know your way around a Linux terminal. 

Does Linux Distro Matter for VPN Service Use?

To an extent, yes, but it has more to do with whether or not your distro is based on Debian or Red Hat, and less with the actual distro itself. Functionally, the main difference is the software management system, with Debian using .deb files, whereas Red Hat uses .rpm. This means you’ll need to be careful when selecting the installation files to download. 

Both types are, at their core, Linux distros. Chances are that if a VPN has a native Linux client with support for Debian-based distros, it will also have one that supports Red Hat. 

VPNs Linux Users Should Avoid

Not every VPN service provider has Linux support, and two popular VPN providers that don’t have it are TunnelBear and VyprVPN. Looking at both providers’ support pages, they do mention that you can try to configure them to work with Linux, but they didn’t work on our Ubuntu 20.04-based system.  

Final Thoughts

When all is said and done, Linux users who want a secure VPN with a simple graphical user interface and rich feature set will find their answer in Private Internet Access. Its strict no-logs policy goes a long way toward protecting security-conscious Linux user data, and the price is reasonable compared to most of the competition. 

If you don’t want to spend any money, ProtonVPN is the best free VPN for Linux, but you only get three server locations to choose from. Users who don’t need Linux apps and would rather use the terminal have a variety of premium providers to choose from — ExpressVPN, NordVPN and Surfshark all spring to mind. 

Do you use a Debian-based distro like Linux Mint, or is Red Hat more your cup of tea? Which do you prefer, PIA’s and ProtonVPN’s graphical user interfaces, or ExpressVPN’s and NordVPN’s CLI-based apps? Let us know in the comments, and as always, thank you for reading.