5 Best Linux VPN Services: Take Control of Your Security

Thanks to the rise of portable devices like the Steam Deck, Linux is gaining more popularity as an operating system than ever before. The platform is built by users, for users, aiming to give them complete control over the software and features on their machine. Unfortunately, this means they’ll have access to fewer popular applications that are available on Windows and Mac — possibly including VPNs. Those having trouble with figuring out how to start should take a look at the 5 best VPN services on Linux, though they might be surprised at how many options they truly have.

Disclaimer: This article includes links to NordVPN and ExpressVPN. You won’t be charged anything extra for clicking on links to these services, but purchases made through these links will support the writer.

ExpressVPN has its own Linux-specific application. It also has a comprehensive setup guide that goes over terminal commands and supported Linux versions. The service was made available for these operating systems way back in 2016, meaning it has nearly ten years of full support. What it might lack in OS-specific features it makes up for in ease of use, as ExpressVPN is one of the easiest services to set up and utilize. In short, Linux users can consider this VPN as their best choice if they simply want to install and activate this type of service with minimal headache.

The cheapest option for ExpressVPN is a 12-month plan that costs around $8.32 USD per month. While the service doesn’t have much documentation on Linux in general, it recommends the OS as a great way to bring life to older computers. These devices are particularly vulnerable to malicious attacks that take advantage of software and hardware exploits, so it’s easy to guess how beneficial it can be to pair ExpressVPN with this process.

As one might expect, NordVPN does indeed include a version of its app for Linux. It offers a slew of terminal commands to use with the service, from downloading the service to creating protocols and connection whitelists. This is on top of the features it offers everyone, from 24/7 support and malware protection, making it an attractive choice for any Linux enthusiast. Plus, NordVPN has made changes in the past to support Linux-based protocols. It might find more widespread use on Windows and Android, but NordVPN is a service that every Linux user should consider.

The price of NordVPN comes in many different flavors, with its cheapest offering being a $3.49 USD-per-month 2-year plan. It also provides specific updates for its Linux app, ensuring it will stay up-to-date across that 2-year period. In case you haven’t even checked out the operating system in the first place, NordVPN includes further Linux-based documentation including articles on the Raspberry Pi and different distributions that offer more security. NordVPN certainly has its Linux users in mind, so those who take the plunge can rest easy knowing they won’t be left behind for the sake of users on another OS.

Mullvad is an especially unique VPN service. It’s well-liked amongst the Linux community for its reliability and great support. This is in spite of its lack of Linux-based documentation, which includes an installation guide and warnings of security vulnerabilities. It also guarantees every feature boasted by its Windows counterpart, a fact that even its Android and Mac variations don’t share. It wouldn’t be wise to let yourself miss out on Mullvad, as it might be one of the best Linux-based VPNs you’ll ever find.

Mullvad is priced around €5 euros per month, but this applies no matter how long you use it for. No discounts for multiple-year subscriptions, but no markup if you simply want to try it out for a month or two. For extra security, users get started with Mullvad by randomly generating their account, ensuring that even the download for the VPN is as safe as can be. For Linux users focused on Internet privacy, Mullvad certainly makes itself out to be an incredibly attractive option.

Also known as PrivateInternetAccess, PIA is another reliable — if not well-known — VPN service. It aims to make the download process on Linux as simple as possible, offering a single-click installation of its GUI application. It also offers a fair bit of documentation surrounding the OS, including a full user guide that even covers uninstallation. The VPN itself is also focused around providing as much privacy as possible, which is probably why many users install Linux in the first place.

PIA is one of the cheapest VPN services out there, offering 3 years of protection for just $2 USD per month. A simple one-month plan will cost around $12, which is in-line with most of the other services, though this only further accentuates the value of its 3-year plan. Buyers can also supplant the VPN with PIA’s own antivirus software at a slight additional cost. With how cheap PIA is on its own, this addition isn’t a bad choice whether you’re on Linux or another OS entirely.

ProtonVPN is one service that’s easy to try out no matter what platform you use. It’s one of the few reliable-yet-free VPNs out there, allowing anyone to test out the service before finalizing any sort of purchase. It also provides a list of supported distros and its own commands for use in a terminal, letting it go toe-to-toe with larger VPNs in the features department. It lacks wider documentation on the OS itself, but anyone curious about ProtonVPN can install it on their Linux device and test it out with very little risk.

Though ProtonVPN’s claim to fame is the fact that it’s free, it also offers a paid subscription plan. For €5 euros per month across 24 months — or €9 per month for just one — users gain access to a wider range of servers and extra security features. They can also opt to add Proton’s other premium services such as mail and cloud storage for a slight additional cost. All of these additional services are available on Linux as well, making Proton a great choice for those that want a full package.

Users of Linux will likely appreciate security more than those on other operating systems, and VPNs seek to provide that security. However, it’s important for those services to continually provide support for those on Linux, as it still has a long way to go before it can rival the user-based popularity of Windows or Android.

As it stands, some of the best VPNs for those systems are still some of the best services for Linux as well, and one can only hope that they’ll continue to boast that distinction.