How to choose, use and configure a VPN in EndeavourOS (Guide)

Choosing the Right VPN for EndeavourOS

EndeavourOS is a rolling‐release distribution based on Arch Linux, aimed at users who appreciate a minimal base, the pacman package manager and the Arch User Repository (AUR), plus the option to install a range of desktop environments—XFCE, KDE Plasma, GNOME, Budgie and more—via its installer. It uses systemd for service management and leaves most configuration details in your hands. This makes it perfect for enthusiasts who are comfortable with command‐line tools, text editors and manual configuration.

When selecting a VPN for EndeavourOS, look for:

Availability in the official repos or AUR, so updates integrate smoothly with pacman/yay.
Support for modern protocols (WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2) with systemd service units or NetworkManager integration.
A CLI client (and optionally a GUI) that works reliably under systemd and doesn’t depend on snap or Flatpak by default.
Strong privacy policy, preferably under a friendly jurisdiction.

Based on these criteria, three standout VPNs are:

Mullvad – WireGuard specialist, minimal logging, AUR package available.
ProtonVPN – CLI amp GUI, supports WireGuard/OpenVPN, AUR and Flatpak strong privacy.
NordVPN – Rich feature set, AUR package, many protocols, good systemd integration.

Comparison Table

VPN	Protocols	AUR Package	Official Repo	CLI	GUI	Systemd Units	Privacy Jurisdiction
Mullvad	WireGuard, OpenVPN	Yes (mullvad-vpn)	No	Yes	No (community GUI available)	Yes (mullvad-daemon)	Sweden (strong privacy laws)
ProtonVPN	WireGuard, OpenVPN	Yes (protonvpn-cli-ng)	No (Flatpak available)	Yes	Yes (Flatpak / electron-based)	Yes (protonvpn.service)	Switzerland (strong privacy laws)
NordVPN	WireGuard (NordLynx), OpenVPN, IKEv2	Yes (nordvpn-bin)	No	Yes	No (web panel)	Yes (nordvpnd.service)	Panama (no mandatory logs)

Installing and Configuring the Top VPNs

Mullvad

Mullvad is popular for its privacy‐first approach and easy WireGuard setup. Installation via AUR integrates neatly with your system updates.

Install the AUR helper if you haven’t already:

sudo pacman -S --needed git base-devel
cd /tmp
git clone https://aur.archlinux.org/yay.git
cd yay
makepkg -si

Install the Mullvad package:

yay -S mullvad-vpn

mullvad account login YOUR-ACCOUNT-NUMBER

Enable and start the Mullvad daemon under your user:

systemctl --user enable mullvad-daemon
systemctl --user start mullvad-daemon

Connect using the CLI (WireGuard is default):

mullvad connect
mullvad status

To auto‐start on login, ensure your desktop environment starts the user systemd instance (most do by default). For KDE Plasma or GNOME, the VPN will reconnect automatically.

ProtonVPN

ProtonVPN offers both CLI and GUI clients. The AUR package protonvpn-cli-ng provides the CLI the official GUI is distributed as a Flatpak.

Install via yay:

yay -S protonvpn-cli-ng

sudo protonvpn-cli login your_username

Initialize systemd service:

sudo systemctl enable protonvpn.service
sudo systemctl start protonvpn.service

Connect to a server:

protonvpn-cli c --p2p

If you prefer a GUI, install the Flatpak:

sudo pacman -S flatpak
flatpak install flathub ch.protonvpn.ProtonVPN

NordVPN

NordVPN’s AUR package delivers the official Linux client, complete with NordLynx (WireGuard) support.

Install the client from AUR:

yay -S nordvpn-bin

nordvpn login

Enable the NordVPN daemon:

sudo systemctl enable nordvpnd
sudo systemctl start nordvpnd

Connect with NordLynx:

nordvpn set technology nordlynx
nordvpn connect

Conclusion

Each of these VPNs integrates well with EndeavourOS’s rolling‐release model, pacman/AUR workflow and systemd infrastructure. Mullvad shines in simplicity and privacy, ProtonVPN adds the convenience of both CLI and GUI clients, and NordVPN delivers a polished feature set with NordLynx performance. Pick the one that best aligns with your workflow and threat model, and you’ll have secure, leak‐proof traffic on your EndeavourOS machine.

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