Best Linux VPN services 2023

The privacy-conscious among our readers may well be wondering which are the best Linux VPN services. With the Steam Deck taking hold and Valve offering a growing library of Linux-compatible games, many gamers are finally deciding to make the switch – but in the process, you’ll want to make sure you’ve got a Linux-friendly VPN.

The best Linux VPN services will allow you to use the popular Windows alternative without having to worry about huge corporations leering over your shoulder the whole time. It can also help you enhance your experience with online games and allow you to access your native streaming platforms when traveling overseas.

ExpressVPN receives our highest recommendation, but we’ve picked out four other top providers because we recognize that it’s not necessarily going to be a one-size-fits-all situation. If you want the fastest VPN, or maybe the most secure VPN, we’ve broken down our choices based on what each of them has to offer.

The best Linux VPN services:

• ExpressVPN – best for Linux
• Private Internet Access – best price
• AtlasVPN – best free option
• NordVPN – best download speeds
• CyberGhost – best for streaming

1. Best Linux VPN

ExpressVPN is the best Linux VPN and its pricing works out as $6.67 (£5.56) per month.

Pros:

• Command-line Linux app with GUI options as browser extensions
• Lightway protocol gives speedy performance
• TrustedServer system provides extra privacy

Cons:

• One of the most expensive options
• Smaller total server count
• No free trial

ExpressVPN offers a simple command-line Linux app (with GUI options as browser extensions) and is our choice for the best Linux VPN. Founded in 2009, it quickly cemented itself as one of the giants of the VPN world. Its Lightway protocol ensures that you get a swift and smooth service, while its 3,000+ servers all have their IP addresses refreshed on a regular basis in order to stop them from getting blocked by different sites and services.

The biggest drawback for this provider is the fact that it is significantly more expensive than the other major VPNs. On top of that, it also has a relatively small total number of servers when compared to other well-known services – while it may still outdo the tadpoles in the VPN pond, it’s noticeable that it’s outdone (in this regard) by all but one of the other services on this list.

Having said that, one of the biggest appeals of ExpressVPN is its use of the TrustedServer system. What this does is prevents the servers from ever being able to write anything about your activities on the internet, further helping to protect your online privacy. Ultimately, that’s one of the most important things for a VPN, and in all the ways that count, this provider comes out on top.

2. Best cheap Linux VPN

Private Internet Access (PIA) is the best cheap Linux VPN and its pricing works out as $2.11 (£1.63) per month.

Pros:

• One of the cheapest options for Linux users
• Offers a fully-compatible GUI app for Linux users
• Enormous selection of servers

Cons:

• One of the slightly slower providers
• No free trial

We mentioned that ExpressVPN’s biggest downside is its cost, and if you’re somebody who needs a cheap VPN, we suggest that you give Private Internet Access a look. It offers a fully-compatible GUI app and its pricing also works out as one of the lowest monthly rates you’ll see with any of the major VPN providers.

This isn’t a bargain bin VPN, either, it’s actually quite an impressive one. In terms of the sheer number of servers that Private Internet Access offers, it actually outdoes every other provider on this list (although it does cover fewer countries) and it also allows you to have a fairly generous total of ten simultaneous connections.

It might be just a little bit slower than some of the other big providers on this list, but that’s no reason to turn your nose up at it. It still performs admirably, it just struggles to keep up with the super-speedy services of some of the other VPNs on this list.

3. Best free Linux VPN

AtlasVPN is the best free Linux VPN.

Pros:

• No-logs policy intact even on free plan
• Two simultaneous connections allowed on the free plan

Cons:

• Free plan limited to 10GB
• Paid plan quite limited too

AtlasVPN is one of the best free VPN services, and for a long time, it wasn’t actually compatible with Linux, but that finally changed in 2022 with the release of a dedicated command-line app. If there’s no room in your budget, but you need a good Linux VPN, then this will definitely be your top choice.

Of course, being free, the service isn’t quite as impressive as its paid counterparts. It goes more slowly, it offers only a very limited server selection, and it doesn’t include compatibility with any of the Linux-friendly streaming services. Still, you could always use the free version and upgrade to a paid account if you ever get to the point where you feel comfortable paying for it.

Having said that, the paid version of AtlasVPN is quite limited when compared to others. Its selection of servers and locations is quite small, it doesn’t allow router support, and it’s quite expensive. But for some customers, it still might be worth it for the familiarity you build up while on the free plan.

4. Fastest Linux VPN

NordVPN is the fastest Linux VPN and its pricing works out at $3.29 (£3.39) per month.

Pros:

• The fastest VPN for Linux
• Dedicated command-line app for Linux

Cons:

• Slightly more expensive than others
• Covers fewer countries than others
• No free trial

Not only is NordVPN the fastest VPN, but it’s also easy to set up with Linux thanks to its dedicated command-line app. Its speed and accessibility are all part of the reason that it has been able to cement itself as the go-to VPN provider for millions of users.

It has an average server download speeds that exceed the other providers on this list by quite a bit. NordVPN will stop internet service providers from slowing your connection if a certain activity is using a lot of bandwidth, and when you couple that with the speedy download times, you might have a faster internet experience all-round.

Unfortunately, it is a little bit more expensive than others, and its servers span fewer countries, but if these factors aren’t too problematic for you, then this definitely deserves close consideration. For a speedy Linux VPN solution, NordVPN is a great choice.

For more information, read our NordVPN review.

5. Best Linux VPN for streaming

CyberGhost is the best Linux VPN for streaming and its pricing works out at $2.11 (£1.85) per month.

Pros:

• Decent pricing plans
• Broad streaming service compatibility
• 45-day money-back guarantee

Cons:

• Slightly slower than others
• Free trial could be longer

These days, you can access most of the major streaming platforms through Linux, and if you’re somebody who wants a VPN that’s both Linux and streaming-friendly, CyberGhost is the one to get. Not only does it have servers compatible with Netflix, Disney Plus, Amazon Prime, and more, it also has a 45-day money-back guarantee that’ll give you plenty of time to test it out its command-line app on all your favourite platforms and devices.

There’s also a day-long VPN free trial if you want to use it without having to enter your card details. This is going to be convenient for anybody seeking complete reassurance that it will work with your Linux operating system of choice.

It also has an impressive array of servers, with over 7,400 of them spread across more than 91 countries. This means that even if one of them gets blocked, there’s a huge selection of others to choose from. It may be a bit slower than others, but as a server on the lower end of the VPN costs spectrum, there’s very little to complain about.

We compiled this list by carefully considering the strengths of major VPN providers that are compatible with Linux. We understand that the ‘best’ Linux VPN won’t be the same for all of our readers, but we’re confident that, whatever your needs, at least one of the providers mentioned in this list will be appropriate, with ExpressVPN the choice that should suit the most people.

Our guides on the best gaming VPN and best no-logs VPN might also be worth a read for anyone in the market for a VPN.