VPNs are essential for any system, including Linux. If you’re looking for a VPN for Linux, this article will recommend the best paid and free Linux VPNs in 2025.
These VPNs are compatible with a variety of Linux distributions, including Ubuntu, Debian, and Fedora. They will give you fast streaming speeds, protect your online security, and provide powerful unblocking capabilities.
Read on to learn about the perfect Linux VPN for you!
4 Best Linux VPNs
1. Best Overall Linux VPN (Ubuntu, Debian, and Fedora)

If you are looking for a reliable, fast, and secure Linux VPN, LightningX VPN should be your first choice.
With over 2,000 servers in more than 50 countries, including the United States, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and Australia, LightningX VPN helps you to access websites worldwide. You can use Netflix, Hulu, or YouTube without restrictions.
LightningX VPN offers speeds of up to 800 Mbps with no bandwidth restrictions. Whether streaming 4K videos or playing online games like League of Legends, it ensures a smooth experience.
In terms of security, it uses advanced encryption protocols such as AES-256-GCM and ChaCha20-Poly1305, DNS leak protection and a no-logging policy to ensure your data is safe and private.
Most importantly, you only need one account to protect all your devices – LightningX VPN is available for Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows and supports Linux systems. This is very good news for Linux users.
Click the button above to get a 7-day free trial and explore all the premium features. Additionally, they offer a 30-day money-back guarantee.
LightningX VPN is a great choice for Linux users because of the above features.
2. Best Linux VPN with GUI
As a Linux user, finding a good VPN can be a challenge, but Private Internet Access (PIA) is worth considering. Unlike many VPNs that rely solely on a command-line interface, PIA offers a full graphical user interface (GUI) for Linux, making it very user-friendly. It also supports various Linux distributions, including Ubuntu, Mint, Debian, Fedora, and Arch.
PIA’s Linux version is open source, and anyone can view its code. And with over 20,000 servers in 91 countries, you’ll always find a fast and reliable connection. All servers are optimized for P2P traffic, making them great for torrenting.
PIA has all the necessary features, including a kill switch, split tunneling, and ad blocking. It also uses strong encryption and has a strict no-logging policy.
PIA also unblocks popular platforms like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney Plus, and Amazon Prime Video, making browsing your favorite content on Linux easy.
PIA isn’t the fastest VPN out there, but with speeds of around 400 Mbps, it’s more than enough for streaming, torrenting, and everyday use.
Private Internet Access is the perfect choice if you’re looking for a feature-rich VPN for Linux.
3. Best Linux VPN for Newbie
PureVPN is also one of the great choices for Linux users.
PureVPN offers both GUI and CLI applications for all users. If you are just starting out with Linux, you can choose the GUI, but the CLI is also available. It is available for popular distributions like Ubuntu, Fedora, Manjaro, and others, so almost all Linux users can use it.
PureVPN comes with essential features like a VPN kill switch and DNS leak protection to ensure that your online activities remain private.
PureVPN has servers in 66 countries, giving you plenty of options for secure connections. Streaming platforms like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime Video work smoothly most of the time.
Apart from that, PureVPN allows optional add-ons like port forwarding or dedicated servers, which is useful for advanced users.
If you are looking for an easy-to-use Linux VPN, PureVPN is an excellent choice. But if you need extra features like an ad blocker or dedicated servers, you should probably consider other VPNs.
4. The Most Secure Linux VPN
Cyber Ghost VPN can meet your needs if you are looking for a very secure VPN to protect your Linux system. CyberGhost VPN uses military-grade encryption to protect your data, making it impossible for anyone to access it.
Moreover, with a strict no-logging policy, your activities will remain 100% private.
Not only does it work with Linux distributions such as Ubuntu, Fedora, Mint, and Kali, you can also use CyberGhost on Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and even routers, which ensures that all devices are fully protected.
No data caps and no bandwidth restrictions. CyberGhost lets you browse and download as much as you want without worrying about a slow connection.
With CyberGhost’s 10-Gbps servers, you will enjoy ultra-fast connections, perfect for streaming your favorite shows in HD. Servers in over 100 countries allow you to unblock streaming platforms such as Netflix, Hulu, and more, no matter where you are.
In short, CyberGhost is your ideal Linux VPN, and its speed and security make it a top choice for Linux users.
Other Best Free Linux VPN
1. Proton VPN
Proton VPN offers a full-featured GUI for Linux users, eliminating the need to memorize tedious commands. The free plan offers 90+ servers in the United States, the Netherlands, and Japan. With unlimited data, you can easily browse the web, watch YouTube, and even access Netflix Originals.
Proton VPN has a strict no-logging policy and is headquartered in Switzerland. No payment information is required to sign up, and an account can be created with an anonymous email address.
And it supports router connections. Although the free plan only allows one device, you can protect all the devices in your home by connecting to a router, making it truly free.
2. Surfshark
If you need a good, affordable VPN for Linux, Surfshark has a full-featured GUI app designed for Ubuntu, Mint, and Debian users, and installation is as easy as on Windows or macOS.
It offers over 3,200 servers in more than 100 countries, which can help you unblock sites such as Netflix and YouTube. Military-grade encryption to protect your data. Independently audited no-logging policy to ensure your privacy. However, the Linux app lacks split tunneling.
3. Hide.me
If you’re looking for a free Linux VPN that’s easy to use, hide.me is definitely worth it. Its installation process is super simple. Just copy a command from the official website to the terminal and the VPN will be installed. Then enter your username and password to get started.
It offers 8 free server locations, including the United States (East, West, and Central), Canada, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and Spain.
It adheres to a no-logging policy and supports the WireGuard protocol to ensure data transmission security. It also passed the IP and DNS leak tests to ensure your online privacy.
However, the connection speed provided by Hide.me has a significant drop (more than 50%), which is not suitable for gaming, torrenting, or streaming HD playback.
How to Set Up a VPN on Linux?
Now that you know about best Linux VPNs, setting up a VPN on Linux is not a simple matter. Here are some methods to follow:
1. Using a VPN Provider
Method 1: Using OpenVPN’s Command Line
- Open a terminal and run the following command to install OpenVPN: sudo apt-get install openvpn
- Get the configuration file from your VPN provider.
- Connect to the VPN using the following command: sudo openvpn –config /path/to/your/config.ovpn
- After executing the above command, you should be connected to the VPN.
Method 2: Using Network Manager
Open System Settings and find the Network panel.
Click the “+” button to add a new connection and select “VPN”.
Select the type of VPN you want to configure (e.g., OpenVPN, Cisco AnyConnect) and enter the necessary details.
Save the configuration and connect to the VPN through the Network Manager interface.
2. Using a VPN App
Some VPN providers offer dedicated Linux apps. For example, the best Linux VPNs we recommend above, you can install them directly to your Linux device.
3. Manual configuration with OpenVPN or WireGuard
If you need to configure a less common type of VPN, you can manually set up OpenVPN or WireGuard:
- Depending on your distribution, install additional packages.
- Create a configuration file with the settings required for the VPN connection. (Server address, port, and protocol)
- Use the command line to start the VPN through the configuration file.
There are many distributions for setting up a VPN on Linux, and if you don’t want to spend too much time, choose a VPN that can be installed directly on your Linux device.
FAQ about Linux VPN
1. Does Linux have a built-in VPN?
Linux doesn’t have a built-in VPN application, but it supports VPN connections through tools like Network Manager and command-line utilities like OpenVPN. You can easily set up and manage VPN connections on your Linux system, ensuring that you stay private and secure while online.
2. What is a Linux VPN?
Linux VPN is a VPN service that helps you use it on Linux. Many VPNs are available for Linux, such as LightningX VPN. You can download VPN apps directly on your Linux device to help you unblock websites, protect your data from hackers or snooping, and hide your IP address.