Best VPN for Linux 2026 - GUI & CLI Guide
The best VPNs for Linux with native apps: Mullvad, ProtonVPN, and PIA offer graphical Linux clients and are open source. How to install via GUI or command line.
The Short Answer
The best VPNs for Linux are Mullvad, ProtonVPN, and PIA - all three offer native graphical Linux apps (not just a command line) and are open source. NordVPN is also a strong choice with a Linux client. If you want a proper GUI and code you can inspect, the first three lead; if you're comfortable with the terminal, any of them works well.
Best VPNs for Linux
- Mullvad - best for privacy on Linux. Native GUI, open source, anonymous accounts. A favourite in the Linux community.
- ProtonVPN - best all-rounder. Native Linux GUI, open source, and a free tier to try. Clear per-distro instructions.
- PIA - best value. Native Linux GUI, open source, unlimited devices, $2.03/month.
- NordVPN - fastest. Has a Linux client (historically CLI-focused) and our top speeds. $3.09/month.
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GUI vs Command Line
On Linux, VPN clients come in two flavours. A graphical (GUI) app gives you a window with a connect button and server list, like on other platforms - Mullvad, ProtonVPN, and PIA all provide one. A command-line (CLI) client has no window; you connect by typing commands, which suits servers and power users but is less friendly for everyday desktop use. If you want point-and-click simplicity, pick a provider with a native GUI.
How to Install on Linux
- Go to the provider's Linux download page and follow the instructions for your distro (Ubuntu/Debian use .deb; Fedora uses .rpm; some use their own repository).
- Install the app or repository using your package manager.
- Open the app (GUI) or run the login command (CLI) and sign in.
- Connect to a server, and enable the kill switch if the client offers one.
Prefer to do it manually? Most providers offer WireGuard/OpenVPN config files you can use with the native Linux tools - see our protocols guide.
Linux VPN Notes
Two honest points for Linux. First, feature parity varies: kill switch and DNS-leak protection are present on some clients and not others, so confirm your chosen app includes them - the open-source options are transparent about exactly what's supported. Second, not every mainstream VPN ships a Linux GUI; some are CLI-only. That's why our top Linux picks are the providers that treat Linux as a first-class platform rather than an afterthought.