How to choose, use and configure a VPN in Ubuntu MATE (Tutorial)

Choosing the Right VPN for Ubuntu MATE

Ubuntu MATE is beloved by those who want a lightweight, stable desktop built on Ubuntu’s rock-solid base. It uses APT/dpkg for package management, provides the classic MATE desktop environment (panels, applets, system tray) and caters to users who appreciate manual configuration alongside GUI tooling like the Software Boutique or Synaptic. When picking a VPN for Ubuntu MATE, you’ll want:

Official .deb packages or a trusted APT repository
CLI tools and integration with network-manager-gnome for the MATE tray applet
Support for OpenVPN, WireGuard or proprietary protocols if you need streaming or P2P
Low resource usage to keep your panels responsive

The following providers tick those boxes and adapt neatly to MATE’s toolkit.

Comparison of VPN Providers

Provider	Installation Method	GUI amp Tray Integration	Protocols	Extras
NordVPN	Official APT repo, `apt install nordvpn`	No native GUI, integrates via `network-manager-openvpn`	OpenVPN, NordLynx (WireGuard)	Automatic kill switch, systemd user service
ProtonVPN	Official APT repo, `apt install protonvpn-cli protonvpn-gui`	GTK3 GUI amp tray icon for MATE	OpenVPN, WireGuard	Built-in DNS leak protection, easy profiles
Mullvad	Official APT repo, `apt install mullvad-vpn`	Qt5 GUI amp system tray	OpenVPN, WireGuard	Account via code (no e-mail), audit-friendly
ExpressVPN	.deb package from website	CLI only, can use NM-OpenVPN	Lightway, OpenVPN, IKEv2	Split tunnelling, streaming-optimised

Installing amp Configuring Your Top Picks

NordVPN

Add NordVPN’s repository and install:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install -y apt-transport-https ca-certificates gnupg
wget -qO - https://repo.nordvpn.com/gpg/nordvpn_public.asc  sudo apt-key add -
echo deb https://repo.nordvpn.com/deb/nordvpn/debian stable main 
   sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/nordvpn.list
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install -y nordvpn

nordvpn login
nordvpn connect                # Connects to the fastest server
nordvpn set autoconnect on     # Optional: auto-connect at boot

Enable kill switch and protocol:

nordvpn set killswitch on
nordvpn set technology NordLynx

To integrate with the MATE tray, simply install:

sudo apt-get install network-manager-openvpn network-manager-openvpn-gnome

Then import an OpenVPN profile:

nm-connection-editor
# Click Add > OpenVPN, load /etc/openvpn/nordvpn/.ovpn

ProtonVPN

Set up ProtonVPN’s APT repo and install:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install -y wget apt-transport-https gnupg
wget -q -O - https://repo.protonvpn.com/debian/public_key.asc 
   sudo apt-key add -
sudo add-apt-repository deb https://repo.protonvpn.com/debian stable main
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install -y protonvpn-cli protonvpn-gui

Initialize and log in:

protonvpn init     # Follow interactive prompts
protonvpn login

Connect with GUI or CLI:

protonvpn c        # CLI quick-connect
# or launch ProtonVPN from the MATE menu for the GTK app

The GTK client places an icon in MATE’s tray, letting you switch servers at a click.

Mullvad

Add Mullvad’s repository and key:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install -y apt-transport-https ca-certificates gnupg curl
curl -fsSL https://mullvad.net/media/mullvad-code-public.gpg 
   sudo gpg --dearmor -o /usr/share/keyrings/mullvad-archive-keyring.gpg
echo deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/mullvad-archive-keyring.gpg] 
https://packages.mullvad.net/ubuntu focal main 
   sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/mullvad.list
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install -y mullvad-vpn

mullvad account login

Connect and enable autostart:

mullvad connect
mullvad autoconnect enable

The Mullvad app (Qt5) will also appear in your system tray for quick toggles.

All three providers offer rock-solid encryption, strong privacy policies and the ability to manage connections directly from your trusty MATE desktop. Enjoy secure browsing without sacrificing that classic Ubuntu MATE experience.

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