The research shortlist
Page updated
Proton VPNTop pick
Turnkey free VPN with an open-source Mac app
Metadata checked Aug 18, 2026
Closest functional match to ClearVPN: a current, polished Mac app with a real free VPN network, strong privacy defaults, active maintenance, and a transparent GPLv3 codebase.
A polished native VPN client paired with a genuine free provider tier. It offers one-click connection, kill-switch protection, leak protection, and unlimited free use without ads or speed limits.
- 01Native macOS client with free account and provider network
- 02Quick Connect plus free-server selection
- 03Kill switch and always-on VPN
- 04DNS and IPv6 leak protection
- 05GPLv3 source code and frequent macOS releases
- A free Proton account is required.
- The free plan has fewer server and feature choices than Proton VPN Plus.
Evidence sources (18)
- Official Proton VPN iOS and macOS repositorySource available ·
- Proton VPN GPLv3 license fileLicense ·
- Proton VPN macOS releasesRelease ·
- Proton VPN free unlimited VPN for MacFree at review time ·
- Official Proton VPN download instructionsFree at review time ·
- Proton VPN official homepageWebsite ↗ ·
- GitHub REST repository APISource available ·
- GitHub license metadataLicense ·
- Latest GitHub releaseRelease ·
- Latest macOS release assetFree at review time ·
- Current repository stars and last-pushed dateSource available ·
- Latest GitHub macOS 6.5.0 releaseRelease ·
- Official latest stable macOS release notesRelease ·
- Official Proton VPN macOS download pageFree at review time ·
- Official Proton VPN iconScreenshots ·
- Official Proton VPN macOS app screenshotScreenshots ·
- Official Proton VPN macOS download-step screenshotScreenshots ·
- Official Proton VPN macOS connection screenshotScreenshots ·
Amnezia VPN
Open-source VPN client with free and self-hosted modes
Metadata checked Aug 18, 2026
A strong second choice for users who value open protocols and control: it combines a free service with unusually capable self-hosting and censorship-resistance features, while remaining actively maintained.
Full review — capabilities, 3 caveats, evidence
A GPLv3 desktop client that can use Amnezia Free, deploy a VPN on your own server, or connect through several standard and obfuscation-capable protocols. Its current macOS package includes native desktop support and an updater.
- 01Free Amnezia service and zero-cost self-hosted mode
- 02OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKEv2, AmneziaWG, Xray, and Shadowsocks support
- 03Split tunneling and kill switch
- 04macOS package with Intel and Apple Silicon support
- 05GPLv3 source and active public release cadence
- The current 5.0.0.5 macOS package requires macOS 13 or later; macOS 10.15–12 packages are temporarily unavailable.
- The free service is limited to 8 Mbps, has no location selection, and does not include YouTube access.
- Self-hosted use requires access to a server.
Evidence sources (10)
- Official Amnezia VPN client repositorySource available ·
- Amnezia VPN GPLv3 license fileLicense ·
- Amnezia VPN releases and macOS packagesRelease ·
- Amnezia official homepage with free and self-hosted plansWebsite ↗ ·
- Official AmneziaVPN downloads pageFree at review time ·
- Amnezia macOS installation and update instructionsDocumented macOS path ·
- GitHub REST repository APISource available ·
- GitHub license metadataLicense ·
- Latest GitHub releaseRelease ·
- Latest macOS release assetFree at review time ·
Tunnelblick
Mature free OpenVPN client for macOS
Metadata checked Aug 18, 2026
The best mature Mac client among the self-configured options: current notarized builds, a long maintenance history, and a trusted GPL project make it reliable, though less turnkey than a provider-backed VPN.
Full review — capabilities, 2 caveats, evidence
A long-running Mac-native GUI for managing OpenVPN connections. It is fully free and open source, offers notarized universal builds, and is a dependable choice when you already have an OpenVPN profile or provider.
- 01Native OpenVPN client and connection manager for macOS
- 02GPLv2-or-later source code
- 03Notarized Intel and Apple Silicon builds
- 04Built-in update mechanism and signed downloads
- 05No ads, tracking, or bundled subscription
- Tunnelblick is a client, not a VPN provider; you must supply an OpenVPN profile, server, or compatible provider.
- It focuses on OpenVPN and does not provide ClearVPN-style built-in location switching.
Evidence sources (11)
- Official Tunnelblick source repositorySource available ·
- Tunnelblick GPLv2 license fileLicense ·
- Tunnelblick GitHub releasesRelease ·
- Official Tunnelblick downloads and macOS requirementsFree at review time ·
- Tunnelblick official homepageWebsite ↗ ·
- GitHub REST repository APISource available ·
- GitHub license metadataLicense ·
- Latest GitHub releaseRelease ·
- Latest macOS release assetFree at review time ·
- Official Tunnelblick release notesRelease ·
- Tunnelblick 8.0.3 macOS disk imageFree at review time ·
Specifications, side by side
| Attribute | 1 · Proton VPN | 2 · Amnezia VPN | 3 · Tunnelblick |
|---|---|---|---|
| License | GPL-3.0-only | GPL-3.0-only | GPL-2.0-only |
| Platforms | macOS, Windows, Linux | macOS, Windows, Linux | macOS |
| Status | Checked | Checked | Checked |
| Version | vmac/6.5.0 | v5.0.0.5 | v8.0.3 |
| Stars | 631 | 14.5k | 3.3k |
| Last push | |||
| Caveats | 2 | 3 | 2 |
About ClearVPN
ClearVPN — Browse more securely and privately with a one-click VPN for Mac. Works on macOS and iOS.
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