NymVPN for macOS is not on the Mac App Store. You download it directly from nym.com instead. This article explains why, and confirms that the direct download is the official app.
The short answer
To protect your traffic, the NymVPN macOS app installs and runs a small background service on your Mac. Apps on the Mac App Store must run inside Apple's sandbox, which does not permit that kind of background service. So we distribute the macOS app directly from nym.com rather than through the Apple App Store.
Why the background service matters
NymVPN is more than a standard VPN. Its 5-hop mode routes your traffic through the Mixnet to resist metadata analysis, hiding not just your IP address but who you talk to, when, and how much. Even 2-hop mode needs low-level control of your Mac's network stack.
On macOS, NymVPN does this through a background helper service that runs with system-level permissions. This is the Helper Tool that NymVPN asks to install the first time you connect (known technically as nym-vpnd), and you may see it listed under System Settings > General > Login Items & Extensions. The Mac App Store sandbox is designed to keep apps isolated from exactly this kind of privileged, system-level access, so a full NymVPN client cannot be shipped there.
Is the direct download safe?
Да. The installer on nym.com/download/macos is the official NymVPN app, published by Nym Technologies SA. Distributing it ourselves also lets us send you updates and security fixes straight away, without waiting for App Store review.
For your safety, only ever download NymVPN from nym.com. We do not distribute the macOS app through any other website, download mirror, or app store. If someone points you to a "NymVPN" download anywhere else, it is not from us.
What about iPhone and iPad?
The mobile app is different. NymVPN for iPhone and iPad is available on the Apple App Store. On iOS and iPadOS the app runs entirely within Apple's app model and does not need the separate background service that the macOS version uses, so it fits the App Store's rules. The Mac App Store and the iOS App Store have different requirements, which is why NymVPN is on one but not the other.
How to install NymVPN on macOS
- Go to nym.com/download/macos and select Download for macOS.
- Open the downloaded file and mount the NymVPN Installer disk image.
- Run the installer and follow the prompts.
NymVPN for macOS requires macOS 14 (Sonoma) or later. For full step-by-step instructions, see the related articles below.