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

Why These VPNs Are a Great Fit for Solus

Solus, with its eopkg package manager and curated rolling-release model, tends to attract users who value stability and up-to-date software without the bloat. Most Solus desktops run Budgie by default, though GNOME, MATE and Plasma spins are equally popular. Systemd under the hood and a Linux-libre kernel make it a modern, minimal and performance-oriented distro. When selecting a VPN for Solus, you’ll want:

Native or easy installation via eopkg or standard Linux bundles.
Strong CLI tooling, since many Solus users prefer terminal workflows.
Optional GUI packaging (AppImage, Flatpak) that doesn’t conflict with system libraries.
Solid OpenVPN or WireGuard support for simplicity and speed.

The following VPN services meet these requirements and integrate smoothly with Solus’ philosophy of streamlined, reliable desktop computing.

Comparison of Top VPNs on Solus

VPN	Linux Support	Protocols	Packaging	CLI	GUI	Link
ProtonVPN	Official CLI	OpenVPN, IKEv2	pip / Flatpak	Yes	No (CLI only)	ProtonVPN Website
Mullvad	Official AppImage CLI	WireGuard, OpenVPN	AppImage	Yes	Yes (AppImage GUI)	Mullvad VPN
NordVPN	Official Linux script	NordLynx (WireGuard), OpenVPN	Shell installer	Yes	No (CLI only)	NordVPN Website
Surfshark	Official CLI	WireGuard, OpenVPN	DEB/RPM script	Yes	No (CLI only)	Surfshark VPN

1. Installing and Configuring ProtonVPN on Solus

ProtonVPN’s CLI tool is a lightweight, Python-based client that integrates well with Solus’ command-driven ethos.

# Ensure Python 3 pip is installed
sudo eopkg install python3-pip

# Install ProtonVPN CLI
pip3 install --user protonvpn-cli

# Initialize the client (will guide you through login)
protonvpn init

# Connect to the fastest server in a chosen country
protonvpn c --fastest

After initialization, you’ll have subcommands like protonvpn c (connect), protonvpn d (disconnect) and protonvpn s (status). For WireGuard support you can pair the CLI with wg-quick profiles obtained from the ProtonVPN dashboard.

2. Installing and Configuring Mullvad on Solus

Mullvad distributes a portable AppImage for its GUI and a CLI app. This is ideal for Solus, since AppImages don’t clash with system libraries.

# Create a directory for user applications
mkdir -p ~/Applications  cd ~/Applications

# Download the latest Mullvad AppImage
curl -L https://mullvad.net/download/app/linux/latest -o mullvad.AppImage

# Make it executable
chmod  x mullvad.AppImage

# Run the GUI
./mullvad.AppImage

For headless or automated use, install the Mullvad CLI via pip as well:

pip3 install --user mullvad
mullvad account login YOUR_ACCOUNT_NUMBER
mullvad tunnel wireguard

3. Installing and Configuring NordVPN on Solus

NordVPN offers an automated installer script that works on most distributions—even those without apt or dnf—making it a breeze on Solus.

# Run the official installer script
sh 
This CLI supports auto-connect, server recommendations, kill-switch toggles and more. It’s well-maintained and integrates cleanly with Solus’ systemd network targets.
Conclusion
For Solus users, ProtonVPN, Mullvad and NordVPN stand out thanks to their robust CLI tools, modern protocols and packaging that respects Solus’ curated environment. Whether you prefer a pure terminal workflow or a simple AppImage GUI, these services cover all bases without wrestling with package conflicts or third-party repositories.

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