Download a VPN for Linux

Linux itself does not come with a fully integrated VPN service out of the box. However, it supports a variety of VPN protocols like OpenVPN, WireGuard, and IPsec, as well as ExpressVPN’s custom VPN protocol, Lightway. Many Linux distributions provide network management tools, such as NetworkManager, that allow you to configure and connect to VPNs with ease.

Absolutely! Linux is highly compatible with VPN services. ExpressVPN has a dedicated Linux app, with the option to use a command-line interface or a graphical user interface (GUI).

Yes, there are some free VPN options available for Linux, however, keep in mind that free VPNs often have limitations, such as reduced speeds, limited server options, and potential security concerns. For optimal performance and privacy, a trusted paid VPN is a better choice.

A VPN enhances privacy and security by encrypting your internet traffic, making it unreadable to third parties like ISPs, hackers, or surveillance entities. This is especially valuable on Linux, as many users engage in tasks like server management, remote access, or development work. By masking your IP address and routing traffic through secure servers, a VPN minimizes exposure to cyber threats and strengthens your anonymity online.

Using a VPN on your Linux PC will ensure that everything you do is secure. By connecting to any of our VPN server locations in 105 countries, you can replace your device‘s IP address with a different one, protect your data on unsecured Wi-Fi networks, and access censored sites and services.

If you prefer CLI over GUI, and want full control over your Linux app via the Terminal, just follow the steps in the Linux CLI setup article.

If you’re using the ExpressVPN Linux app with GUI, you can check the app’s main screen to see whether the message displays Connected or Not Connected.

If you’re using the CLI version of the app you can run the command 'expressvpnctl status'. If you’re connected, you should see:
Connected to
networklock: enabled/disabled
splittunnel: enabled/disabled

If you are not connected, when you run the command 'expressvpnctl status' you will see:
Disconnected

While Kali has a built-in VPN client, it is not an actual VPN service and still requires you to connect to a third-party VPN like ExpressVPN. As a Debian based distro, you can install ExpressVPN on Kali Linux. That said, ExpressVPN does not officially support Kali Linux and will not provide fixes for any issues encountered.

While Ubuntu has a built-in VPN client, it is not an actual VPN service and still requires you to connect to a third-party VPN like ExpressVPN.

Security is at the forefront of what we do at ExpressVPN. Not only do we aim to design our apps and systems to offer a high level of privacy and security, but we also routinely engage independent auditors to validate our security claims. It’s one of the best ways for our users to know if they can trust our services to protect them. See the full list of audits and read the full reports.