- AdGuard VPN is now available to download directly from the Mac App Store
- The app uses Apple’s native NetworkExtension for smoother integration
- The Mac version lacks some additional features due to Apple restrictions
Finding the best VPN for your Apple device just got a little more convenient. AdGuard VPN has officially launched a dedicated app on the Mac App Store, allowing users to protect their internet traffic with a simple one-click installation.
Until now, Mac VPN users who wanted to protect their online privacy with AdGuard had to navigate to the provider’s website, download a standalone installer, and configure the software manually. While this process is standard for many tech-savvy people, the App Store offers a faster, more familiar, and often more reliable experience for the average consumer.
By bringing its software directly to Apple’s official marketplace, AdGuard VPN aims to make strong digital privacy more accessible to a broader audience. Users can now easily manage their subscriptions, handle automatic app updates, and completely uninstall the service without having to leave the Apple ecosystem.
What the launch of the App Store brings to macOS
Beyond the obvious convenience of an optimized download, the new edition of AdGuard VPN for the Mac App Store has been built specifically around Apple’s modern VPN framework.
The app uses Apple’s native NetworkExtension framework for VPN management. This architectural choice helps ensure that the software integrates seamlessly with macOS, minimizing system conflicts and strictly complying with Apple’s latest platform and security requirements.
Nikita Kanaev, product manager at AdGuard VPN, explained the strategy behind the new launch: “For us, launching on the Mac App Store is about bringing AdGuard VPN closer to Mac users and giving them the installation experience they already expect, fast, native and fully integrated into the Apple ecosystem.”
However, there is a minor drawback for advanced users.
Because Apple imposes strict platform restrictions on software distributed through its store, the new version of the Mac App Store differs slightly from the traditional desktop app.
AdGuard notes that the standalone version remains its “most fully featured version,” although the development team plans to minimize the differences between the two iterations over time. At the time of writing, these include the ability to purchase a two-year subscription (available only in the standalone desktop app).
Crucially, AdGuard’s split tunneling feature that allows you to exclude VPN traffic from specific apps, called App Exclusions, is also not available for the Mac App Store version of the app. However, the website exclusion tool can be accessed in both versions.
To learn more about all the technical distinctions, you can consult the official AdGuard knowledge base.
Is AdGuard VPN good?
If you’re unfamiliar with the provider, our latest AdGuard VPN review highlights a service that has steadily increased its security capabilities since emerging from its popular ad-blocking roots.
Instead of relying solely on standard protocols like OpenVPN or WireGuard, the service went open source with its own custom VPN protocol. This proprietary technology is specifically designed to disguise your VPN connection as normal HTTPS web traffic, making it incredibly difficult for strict network administrators or local firewalls to detect and block your connection.
The vendor has also been on a relentless development spree across multiple platforms over the past year.
Beyond rolling out accessibility-first updates for its Mac app and prioritizing usability for Windows users, AdGuard has aggressively expanded its ecosystem. The company recently launched a completely revamped iPhone app and even ventured into the metaverse by launching VPN extensions and ad blockers on Meta Quest.
With its long-awaited arrival on the Mac App Store, AdGuard is clearly solidifying its position as an incredibly flexible and easy-to-use option for Apple loyalists looking to improve their daily digital privacy.
Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to receive news, reviews and opinions from our experts in your feeds. Be sure to click the Follow button!
