Choosing the Right VPN for UBOS

UBOS is a niche, Debian-based distribution designed primarily for self-hosting personal servers. It leverages the standard apt packaging system under the hood, but adds its own ubos-admin toolchain for one-command deployment of web applications (WordPress, Nextcloud, etc.). By default, UBOS is headless—there’s no bundled desktop environment—and it tends to attract users comfortable with CLI-only, systemd-driven, server-side management. Enthusiasts who wish to experiment locally often install lightweight desktop environments like XFCE or LXDE, but the core workflows remain text-based. If you’re running UBOS on a Raspberry Pi, Intel NUC or VPS, you’ll need a VPN client that:

• Offers a mature, CLI-first Linux client (no GUI dependencies).
• Provides a .deb package or easy APT repository integration.
• Supports modern protocols (WireGuard/OpenVPN).
• Plays nicely with systemd services for auto-connect on boot.

Based on those criteria, the standout VPNs for UBOS are:

• ProtonVPN – Official Debian repo, WireGuard, OpenVPN, free tier.
• Mullvad – Privacy-first, CLI tool, WireGuard-optimized, simple account tokens.
• NordVPN – Large server network, robust CLI, proprietary protocols plus WireGuard.
• ExpressVPN – Easy .deb installer, good tech support, Lightway protocol.

Comparison Table

Installation amp Configuration

1. ProtonVPN

ProtonVPN’s official APT repo makes it very straightforward on UBOS.

# 1. Add ProtonVPN’s GPG key
wget -q -O - https://repo.protonvpn.com/debian/public_key.asc  sudo apt-key add -

# 2. Add repository to APT sources
echo deb https://repo.protonvpn.com/debian unstable main  sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/protonvpn.list

# 3. Update  install CLI
sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y protonvpn-cli

# 4. Initialise and login
protonvpn-cli init  # follow prompts to enter ProtonVPN credentials or import via browser

# 5. Connect via WireGuard
protonvpn-cli c --protocol wireguard

To enable auto-connect at boot, create a systemd unit:

cat 
2. Mullvad
Mullvad uses a token-based account system. You’ll need your 16-digit token handy.
# 1. Add GPG key  repository
wget -qO - https://pkg.mullvad.net/mullvad-repo-signing.key  sudo apt-key add -
echo deb https://pkg.mullvad.net/deb/ focal main  sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/mullvad.list

# 2. Update  install CLI
sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y mullvad-vpn

# 3. Login with your token
mullvad account login YOUR-16-DIGIT-TOKEN

# 4. Connect (defaults to best WireGuard)
mullvad connect

# 5. Check status
mullvad status

To run at boot, enable its systemd service:
sudo systemctl enable mullvad-vpn
sudo systemctl start mullvad-vpn

3. NordVPN
NordVPN provides a prebuilt .deb suitable for Debian-based systems.
# 1. Download and install the NordVPN .deb
wget -q https://repo.nordvpn.com/deb/nordvpn/debian/pool/main/n/nordvpn-release_1.0.0_all.deb
sudo dpkg -i nordvpn-release_1.0.0_all.deb
sudo apt update

# 2. Install the client
sudo apt install -y nordvpn

# 3. Login via CLI
nordvpn login   # opens browser where you approve

# 4. Connect with NordLynx (WireGuard)
nordvpn set technology NordLynx
nordvpn connect

NordVPN auto-start can be toggled with:
nordvpn set autoconnect on

Conclusion
For UBOS’ server-centric, CLI-first environment, ProtonVPN and Mullvad stand out due to their smooth APT integration and systemd support—ideal for reliable, headless operation. NordVPN remains a powerful alternative with extensive server coverage, and ExpressVPN offers its proprietary Lightway protocol if you need a GUI-optional approach later. Whichever you choose, each of these providers delivers rock-solid CLI tooling that plays perfectly with UBOS’ lightweight, systemd-centric architecture.