AdGuard VPN launches on the Mac App Store to offer Apple users one-click privacy — but with a caveat

• AdGuard VPN is now available to download straight from the Mac App Store
• The app utilizes Apple’s native NetworkExtension for smoother integration
• The Mac version lacks a few extra features due to Apple's restrictions

Finding the best VPN for your Apple device just got a little bit more convenient. AdGuard VPN has officially launched a dedicated app on the Mac App Store, allowing users to secure their internet traffic with a simple, one-click installation.

Until now, Mac VPN users wanting to protect their online privacy with AdGuard had to navigate to the provider's website, download a standalone installer, and set up the software manually. While this process is standard for many tech-savvy individuals, the App Store offers a faster, more familiar, and often more trustworthy experience for the average consumer.

By bringing its software directly to Apple's official marketplace, AdGuard VPN is aiming to make robust 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 ever leaving the Apple ecosystem.

What the App Store release brings to macOS

Beyond the obvious convenience of a streamlined download, the new Mac App Store edition of AdGuard VPN has been specifically built around Apple's modern VPN framework.

The app utilizes Apple's native NetworkExtension framework for its VPN management. This architectural choice helps ensure that the software integrates seamlessly with macOS, minimizing system conflicts while strictly complying with Apple's latest security and platform requirements.

Nikita Kanaev, Product Manager for 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 Apple’s ecosystem."

However, there is a minor catch for power users.

Because Apple enforces strict platform restrictions on software distributed through its storefront, the new Mac App Store version differs slightly from the traditional desktop application.

AdGuard notes that the standalone release remains its most "feature-complete version," though 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 on the standalone desktop app only).

Crucially, AdGuard's split tunnelling feature that let you exclude VPN traffic from specific applications — called App Exclusions — is also not available for the Mac App Store version of the app. The Website Exclusions tool, however, is accessible on both versions.

To know more about all the technical distinctions, you can consult AdGuard’s official Knowledge Base.

Is AdGuard VPN any good?

If you aren't familiar with the provider, our latest AdGuard VPN review highlights a service that has steadily grown its security capabilities since spinning out from its popular ad-blocking roots.

Rather than 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 regular HTTPS web traffic, making it incredibly difficult for strict network administrators or local firewalls to detect and block your connection.

The provider 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 released a completely revamped app for iPhone, and even ventured into the metaverse by launching VPN and ad-blocker extensions on Meta Quest.

With its long-awaited arrival on the Mac App Store, AdGuard is clearly cementing its position as an incredibly flexible and user-friendly option for Apple loyalists looking to boost their daily digital privacy.