How to download and install NordVPN on Mac
NordVPN for Mac comes in two versions: one from NordVPN’s website and one from the App Store. Here is how they differ, how to install the website version and which permissions to allow so your first connection works.
NordVPN
- macOS 14 or later
- One file for Apple Silicon and Intel
- Subscription. 30-day money-back guarantee
Or the installer straight from the developer’s server:
The links go to the developer’s website (nordvpn.com, downloads.nordcdn.com). MacWashing is not affiliated with the developer and keeps no installers.
Open Terminal (Applications › Utilities) and run:
brew install --cask nordvpnHomebrew downloads the app from the developer’s server, checks the file and puts the app in Applications.
No Homebrew yet? How to install Homebrew: one command from brew.sh.
Website or App Store version
Both versions use the same servers and the same protocols: NordLynx, OpenVPN and NordWhisper. According to NordVPN, they differ in extras:
- Website version: full Real-time protection with local file scanning, a Kill Switch for chosen apps, custom DNS and NordVPN’s own updater.
- App Store version: simpler installation, updates and billing through the App Store, and VPN bypass prevention that keeps all traffic in the tunnel.
Both need macOS 14 Sonoma or later. For macOS 12 and 13, NordVPN’s download page links an older version. Download NordVPN only from nordvpn.com or the App Store.
How to install NordVPN
- Open
NordVPN.pkgin your Downloads folder. Keep it on your Mac, not in a cloud-synced folder.
- Click Continue, then Install.
- Enter your Mac password or use Touch ID, and click Close when the installation is complete.
- Open NordVPN and click Log In, or Create account if you are new: NordVPN opens your browser to sign in.
- After signing in, let the browser open NordVPN, then follow the setup and click Secure my connection.
For the App Store version, search for NordVPN in the App Store, click Get, then Install, and sign in the same way.
What to set up after the first launch
- VPN configuration. On the first connection, macOS asks to add NordVPN’s VPN configurations. Click Allow and enter your Mac password, or the VPN can’t connect.
- Real-time protection. The setup offers to turn it on. Follow NordVPN’s prompts and allow what macOS asks for.
- Opening at login. In NordVPN, click the profile icon, then Settings › General, and turn Launch the app on system startup on or off.
- The installer. Move
NordVPN.pkgfrom Downloads to the Trash once NordVPN runs.
If NordVPN won’t install or connect
- The installer fails. Download the
.pkgagain from NordVPN’s website, save it to Downloads and check that your Mac runs macOS 14 or later. - NordVPN can’t connect. Check that its configuration is allowed in System Settings › VPN and try another protocol in Settings › General.
- Nothing helps. Remove NordVPN completely, with its helpers and VPN configurations, and install it again: see how to uninstall NordVPN on Mac.
Alternatives to NordVPN
Keep your Mac tidy
System Junk in MacWashing finds the caches and logs apps build up, NordVPN’s included, and shows how much space they take. And if you switch VPNs, the Uninstaller removes NordVPN with its helpers.
Free trial · macOS 14 or later
Questions and answers
Is NordVPN for Mac free?
No. The app is free to download, but connecting needs a NordVPN subscription. NordVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Should I take NordVPN from the App Store or the website?
Take the website version for full Real-time protection, a per-app Kill Switch and custom DNS. Take the App Store version for App Store billing and updates. Protocols and servers are the same.
Can I use NordVPN on macOS 12 or 13?
The current version needs macOS 14 or later. For macOS 12 and 13, NordVPN’s Mac download page links an older version of the app.