Top Picks at a Glance
| Provider | GUI Client | CLI Tool | WireGuard | Kill Switch | Package Format | Price/Mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Mullvad | Yes (Qt GUI) | Yes | Yes | Yes (lockdown mode) | Deb/RPM/AUR | $5.00 |
| 2. ProtonVPN | Yes (GTK GUI) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Deb/RPM | $4.99 |
| 3. ExpressVPN | No | Yes (Lightway CLI) | Yes (Lightway) | Yes | Deb/RPM | $8.32 |
| 4. NordVPN | No | Yes (nordvpn) | Yes (NordLynx) | Yes | Deb/RPM | $3.99 |
| 5. PIA | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Deb/RPM | $2.03 |
Our Picks in Detail
- Native Qt desktop GUI for Linux — not a web wrapper or Windows port
- Lockdown mode blocks all traffic unless VPN is active (system-wide kill switch)
- WireGuard native from early adoption — kernel-integrated on modern kernels
- No email required for signup — account number only; accepts cash/Monero
- Available as .deb, .rpm, and in AUR for Arch-based distros
- Open-source client code available on GitHub
- Flat $5/month — no annual discount unlike competitors
- Smaller server fleet (~700 servers, 46 countries) vs NordVPN/ExpressVPN
- No streaming-optimized servers
- GTK-based GUI integrates natively with Gnome desktop environments
- Open-source Linux client on GitHub — auditable code
- Secure Core routes traffic through hardened servers in Iceland, Switzerland
- NetShield ad/malware blocker works at VPN DNS level
- Kill switch and split tunneling in GUI and CLI
- Free tier available (slower, 3 countries)
- GTK app can feel slightly heavy on minimal distros (i3, Sway)
- Secure Core adds latency by double-hopping through privacy jurisdictions
- Lightway (proprietary WireGuard-like protocol) delivers fastest Linux speeds
- Full CLI tool with simple commands: expressvpn connect
- Kill switch included in Linux client
- Available as .deb and .rpm packages
- Consistent server performance for streaming and general use
- No GUI on Linux — CLI only
- Highest price at $8.32/mo
- Proprietary Lightway protocol (less auditable than open WireGuard)
- nordvpn CLI is clean and well-documented: nordvpn connect, nordvpn status
- NordLynx (NordVPN's WireGuard implementation) — fast and kernel-integrated
- Kill switch: nordvpn set killswitch on
- 6 simultaneous connections
- Available as .deb and .rpm; AUR package maintained by community
- Meshnet for encrypted private networking between Linux machines
- No official GUI for Linux
- Panama jurisdiction is good but NordVPN's past no-logs claim breach (2018 server seizure) is worth noting — no user data was exposed
- 100% open-source Linux client on GitHub
- Split tunneling on Linux (exclude specific apps or IPs from VPN)
- MACE blocks ads and malware at DNS level
- 10 simultaneous connections at low price
- WireGuard support with fast performance
- US jurisdiction (5 Eyes) is a meaningful concern for privacy-focused Linux users
- CLI lacks the polish of NordVPN or Mullvad's tools
Installing VPNs on Major Linux Distributions
Ubuntu / Debian (apt)
# NordVPN
curl -sSf https://downloads.nordvpn.com/apps/linux/install.sh | sh
# Mullvad
wget https://mullvad.net/download/app/deb/latest
sudo apt install ./mullvad-vpn_*.deb
# ProtonVPN
wget https://repo.protonvpn.com/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-all/protonvpn-stable-release_1.0.3_all.deb
sudo dpkg -i protonvpn-stable-release_1.0.3_all.deb
sudo apt update && sudo apt install proton-vpn-gnome-desktopFedora / RHEL (dnf/rpm)
# NordVPN
sudo dnf install https://repo.nordvpn.com/yum/nordvpn/centos/noarch/Packages/nordvpn-release-1.0.0-1.noarch.rpm
sudo dnf install nordvpn
# Mullvad
wget https://mullvad.net/download/app/rpm/latest
sudo dnf install ./mullvad-vpn_*.rpmArch Linux (AUR)
# Mullvad (AUR)
yay -S mullvad-vpn-bin
# NordVPN (AUR)
yay -S nordvpn-binWireGuard on Linux Without a VPN App
All major VPNs support downloading WireGuard configuration files for use with the native wg-quick tool — no proprietary app required:
- Install WireGuard:
sudo apt install wireguard(Ubuntu) orsudo dnf install wireguard-tools(Fedora) - Download a WireGuard .conf file from your VPN provider's dashboard (NordVPN, Mullvad, ProtonVPN, and PIA all offer this)
- Copy it to /etc/wireguard/wg0.conf
- Bring up the tunnel:
sudo wg-quick up wg0 - Enable at boot:
sudo systemctl enable wg-quick@wg0
This approach gives maximum control — no proprietary daemon required, and the connection is managed by the kernel's native WireGuard module. The tradeoff: no automatic server switching or kill switch without additional iptables rules.
Kill Switch on Linux
A kill switch blocks all traffic if the VPN connection drops, preventing your real IP from being exposed. Implementation varies by provider:
- NordVPN CLI:
nordvpn set killswitch on— uses iptables rules to block non-VPN traffic - Mullvad Lockdown Mode: Settings → VPN Settings → Lockdown Mode — most comprehensive kill switch, blocks traffic even when the app itself crashes
- ProtonVPN CLI:
protonvpn-cli killswitch --on - Manual iptables: Drop all output traffic except through the WireGuard interface:
iptables -I OUTPUT ! -o wg0 -j DROP(crude but works for wg-quick setups)
Frequently Asked Questions
Which VPN has the best Linux client?
Mullvad and ProtonVPN have the best Linux clients overall — both offer native GUI applications (Qt and GTK respectively), full WireGuard support, kill switches, and open-source code. For CLI-first users, NordVPN's nordvpn command-line tool is the most polished and well-documented. ExpressVPN's Lightway CLI delivers the fastest speeds but lacks a GUI.
Can I use WireGuard on Linux without installing a VPN app?
Yes. All major VPN providers that support WireGuard allow you to download WireGuard .conf configuration files from your account dashboard. Install wireguard-tools (sudo apt install wireguard), place the config at /etc/wireguard/wg0.conf, and connect with sudo wg-quick up wg0. This requires no proprietary VPN software — just the kernel's native WireGuard module.
Does NordVPN's CLI work on all Linux distributions?
NordVPN provides .deb packages for Ubuntu/Debian and .rpm packages for Fedora/RHEL. Community-maintained AUR packages exist for Arch Linux. The nordvpn CLI tool works on all these distributions. NordVPN does not officially support Gentoo or more exotic distributions, though the source-based installation method can work with manual configuration.