Why These VPNs Shine on PureOS

PureOS is a Debian-based, privacy-focused distribution from the folks at Purism. It uses apt as its package manager, integrates tightly with GNOME (though you can run MATE, Xfce or KDE), and leans heavily on sandboxing and free-software principles. Typical users of PureOS prize security, auditability and simplicity over bells-and-whistles. Because PureOS avoids non-free firmware and obscure third-party repos, any VPN solution you choose must:

• Offer a Debian-compatible package or simple manual install.
• Support NetworkManager integration for painless GUI usage.
• Provide WireGuard or OpenVPN profiles, since those work seamlessly with PureOS’s network stack.
• Honor the distro’s privacy standards (no closed-source backdoors or telemetry).

With these constraints in mind, the most suitable VPNs for PureOS are:

• Mullvad – Fully open-source client, WireGuard-first approach, official Debian repo.
• ProtonVPN – Official Debian repository, GUI CLI clients, strong audit record.
• Private Internet Access – Open-source Linux app, WireGuard/OpenVPN support, fácil de integrar con NetworkManager.

Comparison of Top VPNs on PureOS

1. Installing and Configuring Mullvad

Mullvad provides its own Debian repository and a straightforward GUI/CLI client. Follow these steps:

Add the Mullvad apt repository and install:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install apt-transport-https curl gnupg
curl https://mullvad.net/media/mullvad-public.gpg  sudo gpg --dearmour -o /usr/share/keyrings/mullvad-archive-keyring.gpg
echo deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/mullvad-archive-keyring.gpg] https://repo.mullvad.net/deb all main \
   sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/mullvad.list
sudo apt update
sudo apt install mullvad-vpn
  

Once installed, launch the GUI:

mullvad-vpn
  

Or use the CLI:

# Log in with your Mullvad account number
mullvad account connect YOUR-ACCOUNT-NUMBER

# List available servers

mullvad relay list

# Connect via WireGuard

mullvad connect wireguard

# Disconnect

mullvad disconnect 

For NetworkManager integration, download your WireGuard config from the Mullvad dashboard, then:

sudo apt install network-manager-wireguard
# In GNOME Settings → Network → + → Import from file → select mullvad-wg.conf
  

2. Installing and Configuring ProtonVPN

ProtonVPN’s official Debian repository provides both CLI and GUI tools. To set up:

# Install prerequisites
sudo apt update
sudo apt install gnupg2 lsb-release curl

# Add ProtonVPN repo key and source

curl [https://repo.protonvpn.com/debian/public_key.asc](https://repo.protonvpn.com/debian/public_key.asc)  sudo apt-key add -
echo deb [https://repo.protonvpn.com/debian](https://repo.protonvpn.com/debian) stable main 
sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/protonvpn.list

sudo apt update
sudo apt install protonvpn protonvpn-cli protonvpn-gui network-manager-openvpn network-manager-wireguard 

Authenticate and connect via CLI:

protonvpn-cli login your-username
protonvpn-cli connect --fastest
# or select a specific country
protonvpn-cli c NL
  

Alternatively, launch the GUI from your Applications menu: “ProtonVPN”. It will handle NetworkManager profiles for both OpenVPN and WireGuard automatically.

3. Installing and Configuring Private Internet Access

Private Internet Access (PIA) ofrece un cliente Linux open source con soporte para WireGuard y OpenVPN, muy fácil de integrar en PureOS mediante un paquete .deb y perfiles importables en NetworkManager.

# 1. Descarga el instalador .deb desde tu cuenta de PIA
wget -O pia-linux-latest.deb https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/installer/pia-linux-latest.deb

# 2. Instala dependencias y el cliente

sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y ./pia-linux-latest.deb 

Después de la instalación, encontrarás “Private Internet Access” en el menú de aplicaciones de GNOME. Inicia sesión con tus credenciales de PIA y selecciona un servidor. El cliente se encargará de levantar el túnel (OpenVPN o WireGuard) y de aplicar su kill-switch.

Si prefieres integrar PIA manualmente con NetworkManager mediante perfiles OpenVPN/WireGuard:

• Entra en tu panel de PIA y descarga el paquete de configuraciones OpenVPN o WireGuard para Linux.
• En PureOS, abre Configuración de GNOME → Red → + → “Importar desde archivo” y selecciona el .ovpn o .conf que quieras usar.
• Guarda la conexión; a partir de entonces podrás activarla/desactivarla desde el menú de red de GNOME.

Conclusion

PureOS users demand transparency, simplicity and top-notch privacy. Mullvad, ProtonVPN and Private Internet Access all tick those boxes with native Debian packages, NetworkManager support and open-source or auditable clients. Whether you prefer a slick GUI or a shell-first workflow, your choice among these providers will integrate smoothly with PureOS’s architecture—and keep your online footprint minimal and secure.