Gjurgjica Panova
Updated on: December 29, 2025
Fact-checked by Katarina Glamoslija
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🥇 ExpressVPN
: It has a Linux app and lets you choose between a command line and GUI (graphical user interface) for Ubuntu 24.04 and above. It includes industry-leading privacy and security features, maintains the fastest speeds on the market, and provides excellent streaming and torrenting support.
As an occasional Ubuntu user, I know it’s hard to find a good Ubuntu VPN. A lot of VPNs don’t have Linux apps that integrate well with Ubuntu. Even those that do work with Ubuntu lack a lot of features, which is very frustrating if you like customization options!
I found the best Ubuntu VPNs after testing all the top VPNs with it (on a virtual machine on my PC). My favorite is ExpressVPN as it has a full-featured Linux GUI app that’s compatible with Ubuntu, maintains the fastest speeds on the market for streaming and torrenting, and comes with industry-leading security and privacy features, including post-quantum protection.
May 2025 update: We’ve updated this article to include the latest Ubuntu versions supported, along with new insights on NordVPN’s recently released GUI app for Linux. We’ve also added information on providers offering post-quantum protection and refreshed the content to highlight additional security features for Linux.
Editor’s Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.
Quick Summary of the Best VPNs for Ubuntu in 2026
Editor’s Note: Intego, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost and ExpressVPN are owned by Kape Technologies, our parent company
🥇1. ExpressVPN — Best Overall VPN for Ubuntu
Approved by our experts
ExpressVPN is my favorite VPN for Ubuntu because it has a feature-rich Linux app that’s compatible with Ubuntu 24.04+ (LTS). You can choose between a command line interface (CLI) or a GUI in light and dark mode, and even use the browser extension for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge.
The VPN has very user-friendly guides, regardless of whether you prefer to use CLI or a GUI, and they come in both written and video form. This way, it won’t take you long to set everything up, even if you’re a beginner.
- Supports a GUI setup
- Lightning-fast speeds
- Post-quantum support
- Strong privacy features
- Supports P2P on all servers
- Limited to 8 simultaneous connections
The provider comes with excellent security and privacy features for Ubuntu. It includes an ad blocker that stops them from loading (which allows sites to load faster), it prevents ad trackers from spying on your browsing, and it blocks connections to malicious sites. You can even use ExpressVPN Keys on restricted networks, as it provides obfuscation on all servers that hide your VPN traffic to bypass censorship.
This VPN has the fastest speeds on the market, thanks to its proprietary Lightway protocol — it has fewer lines of code and consumes less processing power. As a result, it doesn’t drain as much battery as most other VPN protocols, which is great news if you’re a laptop Ubuntu user. Plus, Lightway is future-proof against potential quantum computing threats.
ExpressVPN has excellent streaming support — it works with 100+ streaming sites, including Netflix and Hulu, and all of its servers in 105 countries work with top torrenting apps on Linux. It also offers split-tunneling on the Linux GUI app, so you can choose which apps use the VPN and which ones connect directly to the internet.
Bottom Line:
ExpressVPN is the best VPN for Ubuntu — it has a Linux app that’s compatible with Ubuntu and has both a CLI and a GUI interface. Its proprietary Lightway protocol, which you can use on Ubuntu, is the fastest on the market and has post-quantum protection. You also get excellent streaming support and a great ad and tracker blocker on Linux distros.
Read the full ExpressVPN review
🥈2. Private Internet Access — Great for Torrenting + Highly Customizable
Private Internet Access (PIA) offers great P2P support on Ubuntu. It allows torrenting on all of its servers in 91 countries, giving you plenty of options to find the fastest server. What’s more, it comes with SOCKS5 proxy support, which changes your IP address like a VPN but doesn’t encrypt your traffic, so you get much faster speeds. Plus, it has port forwarding, which lets you connect to more peers for faster download speeds.
- Port forwarding is available
- Best VPN ad blocker
- Multiple encryption options
- Split-tunnels apps & IPs
- Obfuscation on some servers
- Spotty live chat support
PIA has a quite customizable app for Ubuntu 20.04+ (LTS) with an easy-to-navigate GUI. I liked that I could easily change protocols (OpenVPN or WireGuard) and encryption levels to get faster and more secure connections. Also, it includes the best ad blocker on the market, called PIA MACE, which successfully blocks ads, ad trackers, and shady sites. Obfuscation is also available.
The app also has a split-tunneling feature (which is really rare on Linux) that provides faster speeds by allowing you to choose which apps use the VPN and which apps bypass it. Plus, it split-tunnels IP addresses too, so you can tunnel specific websites instead of an entire browser.
PIA has good streaming support for Ubuntu users — it works with 30+ streaming services, including Max, Disney+, and Hulu, as well as several Netflix libraries. That’s still a lot fewer than ExpressVPN, which accesses 100+ streaming apps.
Bottom Line:
Private Internet Access has a GUI for Ubuntu and great torrenting support, with SOCKS5 proxy options and port forwarding. The app is customizable, so it’s great for more advanced users who want better control over their VPN connection. You also get a split-tunneling feature and great streaming support.
Read the full Private Internet Access review
Editor’s Note: Private Internet Access and this site are in the same ownership group.
🥉3. CyberGhost VPN — Great Streaming Support for Ubuntu
CyberGhost VPN is a great Ubuntu VPN for streaming. It has dedicated streaming servers available in the Linux app that are optimized to access 50+ streaming apps like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and BBC iPlayer.
- Works with 50+ streaming apps
- Dedicated P2P servers
- WireGuard & OpenVPN available
- No kill switch
- Available in CLI only
The Linux app is very easy to set up on Ubuntu (there are video guides, too), and works on Ubuntu versions 19.04, 18.04, 16.04, and 20.04. Plus, you can choose between WireGuard and OpenVPN, both of which are secure and fast options.
The slight disadvantage is that the Linux app only has CLI, which makes it less intuitive than ExpressVPN’s and Private Internet Access’ Linux apps. Also, the Linux app lacks a kill switch, so if the VPN unexpectedly disconnects, your data can be exposed. You also don’t get split-tunneling on Ubuntu.
I like CyberGhost for torrenting on Ubuntu. Although it lacks P2P extras like port forwarding or SOCKS5 proxy support (both of which Private Internet Access has), it allows torrenting on most of its servers in 85+ countries and works with all popular P2P clients like uTorrent and Vuze.
Bottom Line:
CyberGhost VPN is a great pick for streaming on Ubuntu. Its Linux app gives you access to streaming servers that work with 50 + streaming platforms, and it also has servers optimized for torrenting that are compatible with all major P2P clients. However, it’s missing a kill switch, extras such as split-tunneling, and doesn’t have a GUI.
Read the full CyberGhost VPN review
Editor’s Note: CyberGhost and this site are in the same ownership group.
4. NordVPN — High-End Security Features for Ubuntu
NordVPN’s Linux app has tons of additional security features for Ubuntu users. It has an ad, tracker, and malicious blocker in the Linux app that worked well in my tests, and it offers double VPN servers, which route your traffic through 2 VPN servers instead of 1 for an extra layer of privacy.
- GUI & CLI options
- Protocol for restrictive networks
- Allows encrypted remote access
- No port forwarding
- Only works with 10+ streaming apps
Its app for Ubuntu is available with a GUI setup, and you can even choose between a dark and a light mode. Its very fast proprietary protocol is also available on Ubuntu NordLynx protocol, and it comes with post-quantum protection, just like ExpressVPN’s Lightway. Other options include OpenVPN (TCP/UDP), and NordWhisper, which obfuscates your traffic to bypass censorship on restrictive networks.
Plus, it includes Meshnet, a feature that lets you remotely access your other devices over an encrypted network, and it has a kill switch and split-tunneling. NordVPN accesses 10+ streaming sites, and it supports torrenting on all servers in 178 countries, though it lacks port forwarding, which you get with Private Internet Access.
Bottom Line:
NordVPN’s app has great security extras for Ubuntu users in a GUI-Linux app. It comes with an ad blocker, double VPN servers, and a Meshnet feature for secure remote access. Its app also includes its proprietary NordLynx protocol and its stealth NordWhisper protocol that works on restrictive networks.
5. Surfshark — Beginner-Friendly VPN With Affordable Plans
Surfshark has a Linux app with a GUI that is easy to navigate. I like that you can mark servers as Favorites, which will enable a 1-click connection. Plus, the search function enables you to quickly find a server, which is pretty convenient.
- Intuitive GUI Linux app
- MultiHop servers for privacy
- Good ad & tracker blocker
- No kill switch
- No split-tunneling
The app works with Ubuntu 20.04 or higher. It comes with a kill switch, which is great, but it offers only 1 protocol for Linux users, OpenVPN. It’s also missing a kill switch and split-tunneling.
I like Surfshark because the app for Ubuntu includes its Dynamic MultiHop servers, which send your data through 2 VPN servers instead of 1 for better privacy. You also get its ad, tracker, and malicious site blocker, which worked well in my tests.
The VPN is also pretty good for streaming — it works with 50+ streaming apps, and it supports torrenting on about half of its servers. Still, ExpressVPN is the better choice for P2P as it supports torrenting on all servers.
Bottom Line:
Surfshark has an easy-to-navigate GUI app. The app comes with a kill switch, Dynamic MultiHop servers that send your data through 2 servers, and an ad blocker. It has good streaming and torrenting support, too. Unfortunately, you only get 1 protocol, and there isn’t split-tunneling.
Read the full Surfshark review
Quick Comparison Table
Editor’s Note: Intego, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost and ExpressVPN are owned by Kape Technologies, our parent company
Testing Methodology: Comparison & Ranking Criteria
I followed our tried-and-true testing methodology to make sure I only recommend the best VPNs for Ubuntu. I ran various real-life scenarios with every VPN on Ubuntu to determine compatibility, feature availability, and ease of use. Here’s a more detailed breakdown of how I picked and ranked each:
- I looked for a VPN with a Linux app that supports Ubuntu specifically. Not all VPNs offer a Linux app, and some only support other distributions. All the VPNs on this list come with a user-friendly Linux app that works seamlessly on Ubuntu.
- I checked if the apps offer a CLI or GUI. Some Linux VPN apps only provide a command-line interface (CLI), while others offer a full graphical user interface (GUI), such as ExpressVPN. If you’re comfortable with the terminal, a CLI app can be lightweight and fast. However, if you prefer a more visual experience, look for a VPN with a GUI.
- I assessed each VPN’s privacy and security features. I only recommend VPNs that come with industry-standard features for Linux, like military-grade 256-bit AES encryption, an audited no-logs policy, and leak protection. Most of them have a kill switch that disconnects your internet if your VPN connection drops, and RAM-only serves for added security.
- I tested each VPN’s speeds on local and distant servers. All VPNs slow down your speeds because they encrypt your traffic. However, top brands are able to maintain fast speeds across all servers. ExpressVPN had the fastest speeds in my tests.
- I made sure the apps are intuitive and easy to set up. Linux apps can sometimes be tricky to install or configure, especially if they rely heavily on command-line instructions. The VPNs on this list offer straightforward installation processes with tutorials, and setup typically takes less than 2 minutes, even for users who aren’t Linux experts.
- I checked how well each VPN works for streaming and torrenting. All the VPNs I picked access top streaming sites like Netflix and support torrenting on their servers.
- I ensured the VPN provides good value. All the VPNs on this list offer multiple simultaneous connections, affordable deals, and money-back guarantees.
Top Brands That Didn’t Make the Cut
- TunnelBear. TunnelBear doesn’t offer a dedicated Linux app. If you want to use it on Ubuntu, you’ll have to set it up manually using OpenVPN configuration files, which can be tricky.
- VyprVPN. VyprVPN supports all devices running Ubuntu. However, it only has a manual setup option (most VPNs on my list have a GUI app). In addition, the VPN lacks an ad and malware blocker.
- Astrill VPN. Astrill VPN is compatible with Linux but it’s not great for streaming and its plans are very expensive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which VPN is best for Ubuntu?
ExpressVPN is the best VPN for Ubuntu. It offers both a command line and GUI that are easy to navigate. It comes with advanced security features and post-quantum protection, along with a Threat Manager that blocks malicious ads and trackers.
It has the fastest speeds on the market and works with all popular streaming sites such as Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video. It also supports torrenting on all its servers, and its Linux apps offer split-tunneling and a kill switch.
Is there a free VPN for Ubuntu?
Yes, but I don’t recommend it. Most free Linux VPNs have weak security features, limit data usage, small server network, and lack streaming support. Instead, I recommend purchasing a premium VPN, like ExpressVPN. It’s compatible with Ubuntu, has the fastest speeds on the market, and has excellent streaming support.
Should I use a VPN on Linux?
Yes. Like many operating systems, Linux has hackers and malicious third parties that want to exploit your personal data. While Linux does include built-in VPN support through tools like NetworkManager, it often requires manual configuration and lacks advanced features. All the VPNs on this list come with advanced security features like RAM-only servers and an audited no-logs policy to protect your data fully.
Is it legal to use a VPN on Ubuntu?
Yes, it’s legal to use a VPN on Ubuntu in most countries. However, using a VPN for illegal activities remains illegal, regardless of the platform.
