How to choose, use and configure a VPN in GhostBSD (Comparison)

The Best VPNs for GhostBSD and Why They Shine

GhostBSD, a user-friendly FreeBSD derivative, ships with the pkg package manager and default desktop environments like Lumina, MATE or Xfce. It’s geared toward both newcomers and seasoned BSD users who appreciate a polished GUI experience alongside FreeBSD’s rock-solid kernel. When choosing a VPN on GhostBSD, you’ll want providers that:

Offer configuration files or native BSD support.
Work seamlessly with pkg and the ports collection.
Support WireGuard or OpenVPN without too many Linux-specific binaries.

Here are the top services tailored to GhostBSD’s landscape:

Mullvad – Official WireGuard and OpenVPN support, with FreeBSD-friendly configuration.
IVPN – High configurability via OpenVPN/WireGuard and easy import of .ovpn files.
ProtonVPN – Secure core servers, uses standard OpenVPN/WireGuard configs you can drop into /usr/local/etc.

Comparison Table

VPN Provider	Protocols Supported	GhostBSD Integration	Key Features
Mullvad	WireGuard, OpenVPN	Native WireGuard tools in `pkg`, manual OpenVPN setup	Audited codebase, no logs, port-forwarding
IVPN	WireGuard, OpenVPN	Easy import of .ovpn files, managed with `service openvpn start`	Multi-hop, tracker blocking, strong privacy focus
ProtonVPN	WireGuard, OpenVPN	Use standard config files in `/usr/local/etc/wireguard` or `/usr/local/etc/openvpn`	Secure Core, full-disk encryption support

Installing Configuring the Top Picks

Mullvad (WireGuard)

Mullvad’s WireGuard setup on GhostBSD leverages the wireguard-tools package. Follow these steps:

# 1. Install the tools
sudo pkg install wireguard-tools

# 2. Download your WireGuard config (.conf) from Mullvads website

# Save it as /usr/local/etc/wireguard/mullvad-wg0.conf

# 3. Enable at boot

sudo sysrc wireguard_interfaces=mullvad-wg0

# 4. Start the interface now

sudo service wireguard start

# 5. Verify status

sudo wg show

The file mullvad-wg0.conf will contain your private key and peers. GhostBSD’s rc system will bring it up on every boot.

IVPN (OpenVPN)

IVPN provides .ovpn files for each server and supports both OpenVPN and WireGuard. GhostBSD’s OpenVPN support is solid and straightforward:

# 1. Install OpenVPN
sudo pkg install openvpn

# 2. Create a configs folder

sudo mkdir -p /usr/local/etc/openvpn/configs

# 3. Place your IVPN .ovpn file, e.g.:

# /usr/local/etc/openvpn/configs/ivpn-uk-london.ovpn

# 4. Create an rc.conf entry:

sudo sysrc openvpn_ivpn_enable=YES
sudo sysrc openvpn_ivpn_configfile=
/usr/local/etc/openvpn/configs/ivpn-uk-london.ovpn

# 5. Start the service now

sudo service openvpn_ivpn start

# 6. Check the log for connection status

sudo tail -f /var/log/openvpn.log

ProtonVPN (Generic WireGuard/OpenVPN)

ProtonVPN doesn’t provide a FreeBSD-specific client, but you can use standard configs:

# For WireGuard
sudo pkg install wireguard-tools
# Download protonvpn-wg0.conf from your dashboard
sudo sysrc wireguard_interfaces=protonvpn-wg0
sudo service wireguard start

# For OpenVPN

sudo pkg install openvpn
sudo mkdir -p /usr/local/etc/openvpn/configs

# Place your protonvpn-.ovpn files there

sudo sysrc openvpn_protonvpn_enable=YES
sudo sysrc openvpn_protonvpn_configfile=
/usr/local/etc/openvpn/configs/protonvpn-.ovpn
sudo service openvpn_protonvpn start

Wrapping Up

On GhostBSD, the key is choosing a VPN that fits seamlessly into the FreeBSD world of pkg and rc scripts. Mullvad’s native WireGuard approach delivers minimal fuss, while IVPN’s OpenVPN configs are rock-solid for advanced users. ProtonVPN remains a strong choice if you need Secure Core architecture, configured manually. Whichever you pick, you’ll enjoy a privacy boost without leaving the GhostBSD desktop behind.

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