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Best for Open Source
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Best for Affordable Pricing
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Best for Security Enthusiasts
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Best for Unlimited Connections
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Best for Seamless Streaming
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Linux users may have a hard time finding a virtual private network (VPN) that's compatible with Linux operating systems while meeting their needs for privacy, security, and fast speeds. We recognized this demand, so we decided to show Linux users some love by testing several VPN services and found Proton VPN, Private Internet Access, NordVPN, Surfshark, and ExpressVPN to be our top five contenders.
Here's a bonus: they all offer a GUI.
I'll go into detail about why Proton VPN is our pick for the Best Linux VPN, cover how the other recs stack up, and share our answers to commonly asked questions about VPNs for Linux.
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Privacy-focused VPN headquartered in Switzerland, outside the Eyes alliances, with an independently audited no-logs policy
Secure Core servers in Switzerland, Iceland, and Sweden add an extra hop to your connection, making it much harder to trace back to you
Includes a Stealth protocol that disguises VPN traffic to bypass blocks in restrictive networks and countries
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Affordable VPN with servers in all 50 U.S. states, useful if you need to connect to a specific state's network
Covers unlimited devices at $1.33/mo on the best-value plan
Unlocked Netflix in the U.S., Canada, U.K., and Australia with streaming-optimized servers available
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Our #1 rated VPN, which has increased download speeds by up to 36% across all regions in our testing
Historically unlocks Netflix libraries in the US, Canada, UK, and Australia with no errors
Bundles with ad blocker, data removal, and encrypted storage for a more complete privacy setup
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Budget-friendly VPN that lets you connect unlimited devices at once, which most VPNs cap at 10 or fewer
4,500+ servers across 100 countries with proven fast speeds, even on distant connections
Includes a built-in ad and tracker blocker, so you get cleaner browsing without a separate tool
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Fast VPN with a Lightway Turbo protocol that increased our U.S. download speeds by 15% in testing
Servers in all 50 U.S. states, covering more domestic locations than most VPNs offer
Works with the Aircove router to cover every device on your home network, using just one device slot
| VPN | Best Overall
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| Best for | Best overall open source VPN | Cheap open source VPN | Privacy and security enthusiasts | Linux enthusiasts on a budget | Seamless streaming |
| Starting price | Starts at Free | Starts at $1.33/mo | Starts at $3.49/mo | Starts at $2.49/mo | Starts at $2.49/mo |
| Server count | 20,000+ servers in 145 countries | Unlisted in 90 countries | 8,400+ servers in 160+ countries | 4,500+ servers in 100 countries | Unlisted in 113 countries |
| Linux compatibility | Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora, Arch via AUR, all other distros via Snap, community-compiled version on Flathub | Ubuntu, Mint, Debian, Fedora, Arch | All Linux distros except TailOS and TempleOS | Debian 11, Ubuntu 20.4, Mint 20 or higher | Ubuntu, Fedora, Debian, Arch, Raspberry Pi (armhf), Mint |
| VPN protocol | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec, Stealth | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IPsec | NordLynx (WireGuard), OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPSec | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2 | Lightway, OpenVPN, IKEv2, WireGuard |
| No-logs policy | No logs | No logs | No logs | No logs | No logs |
| Headquarters | Switzerland | United States | Panama | The Netherlands | British Virgin Islands |
| Learn more | Get Proton VPN Read Proton VPN Review |
Get Private Internet Access Read Private Internet Access Review |
Get NordVPN Read NordVPN Review |
Get Surfshark Read Surfshark Review |
Get ExpressVPN Read ExpressVPN Review |
Every VPN in this guide is hands-on tested by our team using a consistent process. We evaluate each product across seven areas:
We test VPNs at least twice a year. Testing has been carried out across Windows, macOS, and mobile, so our results reflect real-world performance across devices.
To learn more about how we test, read our full VPN methodology here.
Privacy-focused VPN headquartered in Switzerland, outside the Eyes alliances, with an independently audited no-logs policy
Secure Core servers in Switzerland, Iceland, and Sweden add an extra hop to your connection, making it much harder to trace back to you
Includes a Stealth protocol that disguises VPN traffic to bypass blocks in restrictive networks and countries
Proton VPN is part of the well-known suite of Proton services (including Proton Mail) that are designed first and foremost for privacy-loving individuals. You can even pay for the service with cryptocurrency for increased anonymity. But the part that will probably interest most Linux users is the fact that all of Proton VPN's apps have been open source since 2020.
Being able to review the source code means that even the most paranoid of us can dig in and see exactly what information the app collects and sends back home, or not, as the case may be. Oh, and there's a great free plan.
If you're in a hurry to browse privately and on a budget, the free plan is actually pretty good. Free VPNs are normally sketchy as all get-out, but Proton VPN bucks the trend by providing decent service at no charge. However, you're limited to a small number of servers in five countries, which may be kinda busy. There are no data caps on the plan, though.
On the paid side, Proton VPN has a wide-ranging network with servers in 145 countries, your choice of protocols, perfectly good speeds, and compatibility with almost all Linux distributions. It unblocks Netflix just fine, and it's headquartered in Switzerland, which has solid privacy laws.
Proton VPN also has a solid and well-tested no-logs policy, which is always a big plus for privacy-conscious users. That's why it's also easy to recommend it as the best free VPN for Linux.
It's more expensive than alternatives like Private Internet Access or Surfshark, and that's our main gripe. You can get comparable service at a slightly lower price with either of those options. Of course, Surfshark isn't open source, and Private Internet Access has a smaller server network.
| Price range | $2.99–$9.99/mo |
| Server count | 20,000+ servers in 145 countries |
| Linux compatibility |
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| VPN protocol | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec, Stealth |
| Headquarters | Switzerland |
| Learn more | Get Proton VPN Read Proton VPN Review |
To assess Proton VPN’s performance, we conducted speed tests, Netflix tests against its geo-restrictions, and leak tests.
Proton VPN had minimal impact on our speeds, successfully unblocked all the Netflix libraries we tested, and prevented all data leaks.
| Test type | 
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| Audited no-logs policy | Yes, audited by Securitum in September 2025 |
| Speed | Maintained our download speed with most servers |
| Netflix | Unblocked Netflix U.S., Canada, U.K., and Australia |
| DNS leak | Passed, no DNS leaks |
| WebRTC leak | Passed, no WebRTC leaks |
| Kill switch | Passed, no trace of our physical location when switching servers |
| Learn more | Get Proton VPN |
Proton VPN earned a perfect star rating of 5.0 due to its ease of use, extensive security features, audited no-logs policy, and privacy-friendly headquarters.
| Decision factor | Weight | Verdict |
| Our experience | 15% | 5.0 |
| Value | 11% | 5.0 |
| Features | 30.5% | 5.0 |
| Test results | 20% | 5.0 |
| Privacy and security | 9.5% | 5.0 |
| Compatibility | 3% | 5.0 |
| Customer service | 5% | 5.0 |
Affordable VPN with servers in all 50 U.S. states, useful if you need to connect to a specific state's network
Covers unlimited devices at $1.33/mo on the best-value plan
Unlocked Netflix in the U.S., Canada, U.K., and Australia with streaming-optimized servers available
Private Internet Access is one of the cheapest VPNs, and has long been a popular pick among privacy-conscious Linux users. (It was my own personal VPN of choice for several years.) As a bonus, the client app is entirely open source, just like Proton VPN, and quite easy to use. PIA is a great option at a great price if you just want to unblock Netflix on Linux, get around bandwidth throttling, or rent out a static IP address that you can use from anywhere. This can be useful for things like accessing your bank account or handling secure server management.
It's just a good, affordable, fairly basic VPN with solid bandwidth and connectivity.
While other VPNs have bigger networks, Private Internet Access isn't exactly a slouch with servers in 90 countries all over the world. It unblocks Netflix just fine if you need that, and it has a great set of mobile apps for iOS and Android. Of course, it also has pretty solid Linux support on the most common distributions and an easy setup process.
The no-logs policy has been audited, and you have your choice of the usual open source protocols: WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IPsec. There's also a secure DNS feature if you need it. And, in all the time I personally used PIA, I never had any connectivity or speed issues.
It couldn't quite match my gigabit connection, but you'd have a hard time finding a VPN that does. Private Internet Access does support unlimited devices and connections, which is highly convenient.
Private Internet Access is headquartered in the United States, which is part of the Five Eyes alliance. While U.S. data privacy laws aren't generally the worst you'll find, the state of data privacy in the U.S. has been cause for concern more than once over the years. Private Internet Access is more than secure enough for most use cases, but it's just something to keep in mind.
| Price range | $1.33–$11.95/mo |
| Server count | Unlisted in 90 countries |
| Linux compatibility |
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| VPN protocol | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IPsec |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Learn more | Get Private Internet Access Read Private Internet Access Review |
We conducted hands-on testing with Private Internet Access to determine how well it can maintain your speeds, unblock geo-restrictions, and prevent data leaks.
Private Internet Access is a top performer, having unblocked all the Netflix libraries we tested and preventing all data leaks. It just had higher than average impact on our download speeds.
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| Audited no-logs policy | Yes, audited by Deloitte in April 2024 |
| Speed | Decreased our download speeds by an average of 58% |
| Netflix | Unblocked Netflix U.S., Canada, U.K., and Australia |
| DNS leak | Passed, no DNS leaks |
| WebRTC leak | Passed, no WebRTC leaks |
| Kill switch | Passed, no trace of our physical location when switching servers |
| Learn more | Get Private Internet Access |
Private Internet Access has a high star rating of 4.7 due to its low starting price, unlimited simultaneous connections, full suite of must-have VPN features, and audited no-logs policy.
Private Internet Access received a lower score in the experience category because the interface can be confusing for new VPN users. It also received a lower score in the test results category due to its impact on our speeds.
| Decision factor | Weight | Verdict |
| Our experience | 15% | 4.0 |
| Value | 11% | 5.0 |
| Features | 30.5% | 5.0 |
| Test results | 20% | 4.0 |
| Privacy and security | 9.5% | 5.0 |
| Compatibility | 3% | 5.0 |
| Customer service | 5% | 5.0 |
Our #1 rated VPN, which has increased download speeds by up to 36% across all regions in our testing
Historically unlocks Netflix libraries in the US, Canada, UK, and Australia with no errors
Bundles with ad blocker, data removal, and encrypted storage for a more complete privacy setup
I selected NordVPN as our top pick for Linux users seeking a fast, dependable VPN that prioritizes privacy and security, even though its client isn't open source. NordVPN has the most extensive support for nearly all Linux distros except three, making it the best choice for Linux enthusiasts who don't mind a proprietary client. With its large server network across 160+ countries, it’s also a great choice for users worldwide who want to bypass geo-restrictions.
We liked that NordVPN prioritizes privacy and security by offering next-generation encryption and secure protocols such as OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec2, and its proprietary NordLynx, built on top of WireGuard. Its powerful features include a kill switch, double VPN servers, smart and private DNS, Onion over VPN for torrenting, ad and malware blocking, and more. It's also headquartered in Panama and holds a true no-logs policy.
NordVPN Linux users will be impressed that nearly all Linux distros are supported. NordVPN provides .deb and .rpm packages for all Linux distros except for TailOS and TempleOS.
It supports Ubuntu and is compatible with many other Linux distros, such as Debian, Fedora, Elementary OS, Mint, RHEL, CentOS, openSUSE, and especially Qubes OS. Qubes OS primarily focuses on security, so we think NordVPN is the perfect choice for security-conscious Linux users.
Lastly, but still importantly, NordVPN is one of the fastest VPNs we’ve tested. It also offers a user-friendly interface that makes it quick and easy to connect to the fastest available server.
We experienced connectivity issues with NordVPN when we tried to run it from the command-line interface in our Ubuntu distro. Sometimes, it would connect to the VPN server successfully; other times, it would give us an error.
We found it a bit glitchy and were unable to test it on all Linux distros to make a detailed comparison of their connectivity performance. Needless to say, it’s still a solid VPN, and with its 30-day money-back guarantee, it’s worth a shot.
| Price range | $3.49–$29.99/mo |
| Server count | 8,400+ servers in 160+ countries |
| Linux compatibility |
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| VPN protocol | NordLynx (WireGuard), OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec |
| Headquarters | Panama |
| Learn more | Get NordVPN Read NordVPN Review |
To assess NordVPN’s performance, we conducted tests to review impact on speed, ability to unblock Netflix geo-restrictions, and protection against potential data leaks.
NordVPN passed all three tests with flying colors. It has minimal impact on our speeds, unblocked all the Netflix libraries we tested, and prevented all data leaks.
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| Audited no-logs policy | Yes, audited by Deloitte from November-December 2025 |
| Speed | Decreased our download speeds by an average of 5% |
| Netflix | Unblocked Netflix U.S., Canada, U.K., and Australia |
| DNS leak | Passed, no DNS leaks |
| WebRTC leak | Passed, no WebRTC leaks |
| Kill switch | Passed, no trace of our physical location when switching servers |
| Learn more | Get NordVPN |
NordVPN has a perfect star rating of 5.0 and is our top VPN recommendation. You can expect a user-friendly experience, standard VPN features along with helpful extras, an audited no-logs policy, and intuitive apps across devices.
| Decision factor | Weight | Verdict |
| Our experience | 15% | 5.0 |
| Value | 11% | 5.0 |
| Features | 30.5% | 5.0 |
| Test results | 20% | 5.0 |
| Privacy and security | 9.5% | 5.0 |
| Compatibility | 3% | 5.0 |
| Customer service | 5% | 5.0 |
Budget-friendly VPN that lets you connect unlimited devices at once, which most VPNs cap at 10 or fewer
4,500+ servers across 100 countries with proven fast speeds, even on distant connections
Includes a built-in ad and tracker blocker, so you get cleaner browsing without a separate tool
Surfshark is another solid VPN option for Linux enthusiasts who want an affordable, secure VPN that lets them browse the internet anonymously with unlimited simultaneous connections.
With its large list of 4,500+ servers in 100 countries worldwide, it’s also great for those who want to bypass geo-restricted content securely and anonymously.
We liked that Surfshark packs a punch with its security protocols and encryption, along with the additional features it offers, making it better than free VPNs for budget users. Surfshark uses industry-standard AES-256-GCM encryption with secure protocols such as WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2. All of this can be used simultaneously on as many devices as you choose.
Surfshark also supports the more modern, fast, and secure WireGuard protocol on Linux. It even has additional features most of us would ask for in a VPN, such as static and rotating IP addresses, private DNS, ad blocking, and more. Moreover, Surfshark's unlimited simultaneous connections are a great bonus for its low price, which is rarely offered, even among more expensive VPNs.
Although Surfshark has many benefits for Linux users, there are a few downsides worth noting. First, it currently doesn’t support IPv6. Therefore, it’s recommended that you disable IPv6 to prevent connectivity issues.
Second, Surfshark’s GUI app for Linux only supports the following Linux distros: Ubuntu 20.04 LTS and newer, Debian 11 and newer, and Mint 20 and newer versions. Lastly, we found that Surfshark doesn’t let you do port forwarding or port mapping properly on Linux.
| Price range | $2.49–$21.85/mo |
| Server count | 4,500+ servers in 100 countries |
| Linux compatibility |
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| VPN protocol | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2 |
| Headquarters | Netherlands |
| Learn more | Get Surfshark Read Surfshark Review |
We conducted several tests on Surfshark to assess its performance: speed tests to measure impact, Netflix tests to unblock geo-restrictions, and leak tests to determine privacy protection.
Surfshark went above and beyond, causing minimal impact on our download speeds and unblocked all the Netflix libraries we tested. It also recently passed all three leak tests.
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| Audited no-logs policy | Yes, audited by Deloitte in June 2025 |
| Speed | Decreased our download speeds by an average of 8% |
| Netflix | Unblocked Netflix U.S., Canada, U.K., and Australia |
| DNS leak | Passed, no DNS leaks |
| WebRTC leak | Passed, no WebRTC leaks |
| Kill switch | Passed, no trace of our physical location when switching servers |
| Learn more | Get Surfshark |
Surfshark has a perfect star rating of 5.0 because of its affordable plan pricing, allowance for unlimited simultaneous connections, a robust server network and features, and an audited no-logs policy.
| Decision factor | Weight | Verdict |
| Our experience | 15% | 5.0 |
| Value | 11% | 5.0 |
| Features | 30.5% | 5.0 |
| Test results | 20% | 5.0 |
| Privacy and security | 9.5% | 5.0 |
| Compatibility | 3% | 5.0 |
| Customer service | 5% | 5.0 |
Fast VPN with a Lightway Turbo protocol that increased our U.S. download speeds by 15% in testing
Servers in all 50 U.S. states, covering more domestic locations than most VPNs offer
Works with the Aircove router to cover every device on your home network, using just one device slot
Couch potatoes and movie buffs who enjoy watching Netflix for their favorite films and TV shows will love ExpressVPN.
What made ExpressVPN stand out was its seamless streaming capabilities and great compatibility with Linux operating systems. Although ExpressVPN may be more expensive than other VPNs, its speed and reliability make it an excellent choice for Linux users. (And as the saying goes, "You get what you pay for.")
We liked that ExpressVPN is a fast, reliable, and secure VPN client. With its lightning-fast speeds, it's excellent for streaming content from various streaming platforms.
It also offers broad support for popular Linux distros, such as Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, Arch, Raspberry Pi (armhf), and Mint.[1] Plus, it's easy to install from the command line, but it also has a graphical app for the most popular Linux distros.
ExpressVPN also offers a wide range of security features, such as a tracker blocker, smart DNS, and secure VPN protocols, including OpenVPN and IKEv2/IPsec. It also has its own proprietary tunneling protocol, Lightway.
Lightway is one of the fastest and most secure tunneling protocols in the modern world. It was built on top of a lightweight SSL/TLS library called WolfSSL to improve connection times and speed. Like WireGuard, it aims to improve upon the de facto standard VPN protocol, OpenVPN.
Although ExpressVPN’s Linux app has many great features, we didn’t like that it supports only 14 devices simultaneously (on the top tier) and is still pricey compared with other VPNs that support an unlimited number of devices. Additionally, we wish it offered support for more Linux distros as NordVPN does.
| Price range | $2.49–$19.99/mo |
| Server count | Unlisted in 113 countries |
| Linux compatibility |
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| VPN protocol | Lightway (runs on wolfSSL), OpenVPN, IKEv2, WireGuard |
| Headquarters | British Virgin Islands |
| Learn more | Get ExpressVPN Read ExpressVPN Review |
ExpressVPN has a high star rating of 4.8 due to its intuitive dashboard, wide price range that suits multiple budgets, audited no-logs policy, and extensive compatibility.
ExpressVPN received a lower score in the test results category because it failed to unblock Netflix U.K. It also was marked down in the features category because it doesn't offer multi-hop servers.
| Decision factor | Weight | Verdict |
| Our experience | 15% | 5.0 |
| Value | 11% | 5.0 |
| Features | 30.5% | 4.8 |
| Test results | 20% | 4.5 |
| Privacy and security | 9.5% | 5.0 |
| Compatibility | 3% | 5.0 |
| Customer service | 5% | 5.0 |
We put ExpressVPN through three types of tests: speed tests to measure impact with different servers, Netflix tests to unblock geo-restrictions, and leak tests to determine privacy protection.
ExpressVPN had almost no impact on our download speeds and successfully unblocked all the Netflix libraries we tested. However, ExpressVPN only partially passed the WebRTC leak test, as the BrowserLeaks site detected that something was off.
| Test type | 
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| Audited no-logs policy | Yes, audited by KPMG in June 2025 |
| Speed | Maintained our download speed with most servers |
| Netflix | Unblocked Netflix U.S., Canada, U.K., and Australia |
| DNS leak | Passed, no DNS leaks |
| WebRTC leak | Partially passed, WebRTC IP didn't match remote IP |
| Kill switch | Passed, no trace of our physical location when switching servers |
| Learn more | Get ExpressVPN |
Because VPN services may have limited support for Linux, we suggest researching VPNs that support your preferred Linux distro, which is a crucial first step. Note the installation methods, as VPNs installed via the Snap package can sometimes come with limitations. Second, we believe your VPN service should provide robust privacy and security features, such as strong encryption like AES-256 and secure protocols like WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2/IPSec.
Third, consider server speeds and reliable connectivity, as it can be frustrating to stream content that gets interrupted by buffering or experience lag in a game. Lastly, check for advanced VPN features, great troubleshooting support and guides for Linux users, and a price that makes sense to you.
We tested five VPNs for Linux, and Proton VPN came out as our top pick, thanks to its speed, stability, standout feature set, huge server network, and reasonable pricing, all wrapped up in a fully open-source Linux client that serious Linux fans will appreciate. Private Internet Access offers something almost as good, but cheaper.
NordVPN, Surfshark, and ExpressVPN all offer excellent Linux support, strong encryption, and advanced features for Linux users, but their client apps are proprietary. That said, if you don't mind managing your VPN connection manually, you can use any of these services without the official client app.
Any one of these five VPNs is a solid choice. They're fast, they're easy to use, and they add an extra layer of security to your online activity. Pick the one that suits your needs, and you can't go wrong.
After all, Linux is safer to use than Windows, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't enhance your online security with additional protection like a VPN.
After testing VPNs across Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, and Arch, five stood out: Proton VPN, Private Internet Access, NordVPN, Surfshark, and ExpressVPN. Proton VPN topped our list for its fully open source Linux client, wide server network, and rock-solid no-logs policy. Private Internet Access matches it on openness and price, just with a smaller network. NordVPN, Surfshark, and ExpressVPN all bring proprietary apps, strong encryption, and dependable speeds. You'll just pay a bit more for the polish.
Most free VPNs for Linux are a bad trade. No company gives away unlimited bandwidth and premium servers for nothing, so the cost shows up somewhere else, usually in your data. That held true across the board in our testing: throttled speeds, data caps, and business models that quietly monetize your browsing.
Proton VPN's free tier is the one exception worth using. It's limited to servers in five countries and won't win any speed records, but there are no data caps, and it comes from the same company behind the fully open source paid app we tested. If you're serious about security, put your money toward one of our five paid picks instead. Proton VPN is still our overall winner.
Not out of the box. Linux distros can connect to VPN servers manually through built-in support for protocols like OpenVPN, WireGuard, and IKEv2/IPsec, but that means editing config files and running commands. That's exactly why every VPN on this list ships a proper GUI app for Linux instead of leaving you to wrangle the command line yourself.
Two ways: point-and-click through a GUI app, or configure it manually via command line. We tested the GUI route for every VPN on this list, and most took a few minutes. Download the package for your distro, log in, and connect. If a VPN doesn't have a Linux app yet, most services publish command-line setup guides, or you can fall back on a browser extension, though that only protects traffic inside the browser, not your whole system.
Proton VPN and Private Internet Access are the two fully open source options on our list, meaning anyone can inspect the client code line by line. Proton VPN is the stronger overall pick, with a bigger server network, faster speeds in our testing, and a genuinely useful free tier. PIA costs less and is just as transparent, but its network is smaller. Either one beats a proprietary client if code transparency matters to you.
Yes, for four of our five picks. NordVPN, Surfshark, ExpressVPN, and Private Internet Access all officially support Linux Mint 20 or newer with dedicated packages. Proton VPN doesn't list Mint as a named distro. Its "all other distros via Snap" option covers it, but Mint doesn't install Snap by default, so you'd need to set that up first.
Our #1 rated VPN, which has increased download speeds by up to 36% across all regions in our testing
Historically unlocks Netflix libraries in the US, Canada, UK, and Australia with no errors
Bundles with ad blocker, data removal, and encrypted storage for a more complete privacy setup
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