AdGuard VPN is now available on the Mac App Store, giving Mac users a much simpler way to install and manage the service. Instead of downloading a separate installer from the company’s website, users can now install the VPN with a single click, just like any other Mac app.
For many people, that won’t sound like a huge change. But for anyone who prefers getting software directly from Apple’s marketplace, it removes an extra step and makes the whole experience feel more familiar. App Store users also benefit from automatic updates, subscription management through Apple, and a straightforward uninstall process without leaving the macOS ecosystem.
Built specifically for macOS
The App Store version isn’t simply a repackaged copy of the existing desktop app. AdGuard rebuilt it around Apple’s native NetworkExtension framework, which is the company’s recommended way of handling VPN connections on macOS.
Using Apple’s own framework helps the app integrate more cleanly with the operating system while meeting Apple’s latest security and platform requirements. In practice, that should mean fewer compatibility issues and a smoother overall experience.
Nikita Kanaev, Product Manager for AdGuard VPN, says the launch is about making the service more accessible to Mac users.
“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.”
There are a few compromises
The convenience does come with some trade-offs.
Because Apple places restrictions on software distributed through the App Store, the Mac version doesn’t include every feature found in AdGuard’s standalone desktop application. The company still considers the version downloaded from its website to be the most feature-complete release, although it says it plans to narrow the gap over time.
At the moment, one limitation is subscription flexibility. Users can only purchase a two-year plan through the standalone desktop version.
There’s also a more significant omission for advanced users. AdGuard’s App Exclusions feature, which allows selected applications to bypass the VPN connection through split tunnelling, isn’t available in the Mac App Store release. Website Exclusions, which lets users exclude specific websites instead of entire apps, remains available in both versions.
For anyone who relies heavily on split tunnelling for work or gaming, the standalone client is still the better option.
Is AdGuard VPN worth considering?
AdGuard VPN has evolved considerably since it expanded beyond the company’s well-known ad-blocking software.
One of its more distinctive features is its custom open-source VPN protocol. Rather than relying entirely on established protocols like OpenVPN or WireGuard, AdGuard developed its own technology that’s designed to make VPN traffic appear like standard HTTPS web traffic. The goal is to make VPN connections harder for restrictive networks, workplace firewalls, or internet censorship systems to detect and block.
The company has also been steadily expanding its software across Apple’s ecosystem and beyond. Recent updates have included an accessibility-focused redesign for macOS, usability improvements for Windows, a redesigned iPhone app, and even VPN and ad-blocking extensions for Meta Quest headsets.
A welcome addition for Mac users
Bringing AdGuard VPN to the Mac App Store won’t dramatically change how the service works, but it does make getting started much easier. For most Mac owners, the streamlined installation process and automatic updates will be enough to make the App Store version the obvious choice.
Power users, however, may still prefer downloading the standalone client directly from AdGuard’s website. Until feature parity arrives, it’s the only version that offers the complete set of tools, including App Exclusions and access to longer subscription options.
For everyone else, the App Store release is a welcome step that makes protecting your online privacy on macOS quicker, simpler, and more in line with the way Apple users expect software to work.