Is a Best Chrome VPN able to replace a stand-alone program? I have tested five of the top choices.
If you’re seeking for a quick and simple approach to change your IP address, spoof your location, and check out sites that are unavailable where you are, the finest Chrome VPN addons could be your ideal privacy solution.
Though they have some value, these extensions often lack the complete spectrum of capabilities provided by the finest VPNs. On the lookout for a service, you will have to be a smart consumer, though. Fortunately, every year the Tom’s Guide crew and I test hundreds of VPNs, separating the trustworthy choices from the dubious offers. Privacy is my first concern, but my top services are also quick, simple to use, and contain the fundamental tools you need to strengthen your internet security.
Though NordVPN and Windscribe are fantastic substitutes (and more affordable), ExpressVPN is right now ranked #1 in my listings. For all the specifics, keep reading; I will walk you through the very best Chrome VPN apps of 2024 – or choose from the top three just below.
THE 5 BEST VPNS AT A GLANCE
1. ExpressVPN: the best overall choice
2. NordVPN: the best VPN overall
3. Windscribe: the best free service
4. Private Internet Access
5. CyberGhost
Express VPN
Best all-round Chrome VPN and beyond
- Dedicated Chrome extension: Yes
- Chrome Web Store rating: 4.7/5
- Server locations: 140 in 110+ countries
- Maximum devices supported: 6
Since we ranked the BVI-based company as our #1 choice overall in our ExpressVPN review, it makes logical that you would also get a quite outstanding Chrome VPN addon. Indeed, it is a complete VPN extension rather than only a proxy like some others provide.
You basically have the desktop app right at hand on your browser. If you do, you will have great power at your hands even if it means you will have to have the client installed.
Unlike many Chrome VPN addons, using ExpressVPN in-browser will provide complete protection — not only for your browser traffic but also for your whole system. Additionally quite handy is the fact that using the browser extension does not require launching the desktop app. Right there in Chrome, just waiting to go.
Along with fast connection speeds, various apps for all your devices, and a fantastic support system to aid should anything go wrong, you will get WebRTC blocking, location spoofing and HTTPS Everywhere (even if the extension’s not turned on) to help keep you and your browsing private. Furthermore, something the desktop app does not automatically do: the Chrome VPN stops HTML5 geolocation from exposing your position.
Find your way onto a streaming service website using Chrome while abroad; Express will have you covered since it unblocks Netflix, Amazon Prime, YouTube and more – amazing when you consider these streaming providers are always trying to deliberately block VPNs.
Express VPN provides a 30-day money-back guarantee if you wish to try the best Chrome VPN, but we believe it will either meet or exceed your expectations of what a browser-based VPN can provide.
NordVPN
The best overall VPN
- Dedicated Chrome extension: Yes
- Chrome Web Store rating: 4.2
- Server locations : 5500+ in 60 countries
One of the most well-known VPN players, NordVPN has a strong reason for that. Our overall list of the top providers ranks us as #1, and the Chrome VPN plugin is likewise first.
This light-weight Nord has an amazing server range to connect to. Having more than 6,00 sites spread throughout 111 countries. Nord can also claim 24/7 customer service and ranks among the fastest VPN companies available.
The browser extension still provides excellent streaming capability, much like the completely developed desktop version of Nord. Our tests cleared geo-restricted content for every main streaming provider.
Consider that it’s less expensive than ExpressVPN; what’s not to love? Well, a couple of things sadly. Although Express provides a real VPN using their Chrome extension, the Nord equivalent—like the rest on our list—is only actually a proxy.
It won’t encrypt your data; it will change your IP address. Your ISP, or Internet Service Provider, can thus still view what you are looking at.
Additionally lacking in the Chrome version of Nord is its antiviral capability. The Threat Protection Pro tool of the desktop NordVPN application is among our favorite features.
An amazing defense against malware, phishing, and dubious URLs, this antivirus-style solution is Although the Chrome Web Store iteration may be more easy to obtain, it only comes with the slightly watered-down Threat Protection Lite — still useful but not to the same degree.
Said all of this, the Nord Chrome addon remains a great option. Particularly if you already have a more heavyweight desktop subscription, the Nord name offers a lot of piece of mind and is a good value argument.
Windscribe
Powerful and free Chrome proxy extension
- Dedicated Chrome extension: Yes
- Chrome Web Store rating: 4.7/5
- Server locations: 69 countries
- Maximum devices supported: Unlimited
If you’re looking for a no-fee VPN, Windscribe is a terrific option; but, its outstanding Chrome VPN plugin really distinguishes it. Although the service acts as a proxy, you won’t need to install the “real” VPN client on your PC to have it operational. Although you do lose out on full-device encryption, it is rather helpful for work laptops and other devices you might not wish or be able to install software on. It also addresses one of the key ExpressVPN extension difficulties.
Beyond that, the extension presents a quite amazing set of tools. Tons of blocking options, covering advertisements, social media and other trackers, WebRTC, website alerts, malware abound.
Along with sophisticated cookie restrictions that may be set to remove any and all when you leave a page, you will also get time zone and user agent spoofing.
Offering servers in 10 countries (over 60 if you choose to pay for a premium plan), the Windscribe Free extension can also virtually relocate you and get you access to geo-restricted sites, much as a fully-fledged VPN would offer. You should have a good range to choose from, including Netflix-compatible ‘Windflix’ servers.
There are a few negatives as a totally free service, mostly a 10 GB data cap; nevertheless, for such a well-featured addon, we can overlook these. Should it prove that you indeed require more than that, premium plans also offer limitless data.
It’s a completely different beast even if it cannot match ExpressVPN’s extension that manages the desktop client in terms of genuine power. For free, this stand-alone Chrome VPN addon is absolutely worth looking at; it’s among the best of its sort.
Private Internet Access
Chrome VPN with tons features
- Dedicated chrome extension: Yes
- Chrome Web Store rating: 3.5/5
- Server locations: 20,000 in 84 countries
- Maximum devices supported: Unlimited
Affordable PIA, or private internet access, provides a great range of services with its Chrome VPN plugin for the cost. For VPN novices, this is also a great choice since it remains really simple to use.
Its browser VPN addition offers some outstanding security features including a third-party cookies blocker, Flash filtering or disabling, WebRTC leak protection, hyperlink auditing, credit card auto-filling and more.
Of course, PIA will also handle the major concerns include blocking your location from websites, camera or microphone access, and download speeds kept above average with the VPN running. Furthermore, in our tests PIA can access Netflix and Hulu; while it has suffered as an iPlayer VPN historically. Streaming is unlikely to work with only the Chrome VPN proxy at all, though.
Although PIA lacks the ExpressVPN polish and support is rather limited, it is a really effective Chrome VPN extension available at a reasonable price and is an option well worth investigating.
CyberGhost
Great free Chrome VPN
- Dedicated chrome extension: Yes
- Chrome Web Store rating: 4.2/5
- Server locations: 11,700 in 100 countries
- Maximum devices supported: 7
One of the best VPNs available today is CyberGhost; another string to its bow is the free Chrome VPN addon on offer. Though it’s not as strong as the premium VPN, the browser extension is quite easy to use as it can operate without running a desktop client.
Compared to some other free services, there is a good range given 8 servers spread over 4 countries.
For a very fair price, you can upgrade to a massive 7,000 VPN servers in 90 countries if you want the complete package; also, you will have access to CyberGhost’s outstanding desktop app with streaming and torrenting system. Additionally included are a kill button, customer service, and lightning-fast connection speeds.
Although it’s not as good as ExpressVPN, for a free Chrome VPN CyberGhost’s product is strong and most definitely practical. And should you upgrade, things only get better.
Conclusion
- Chrome VPN extensions offer convenient IP address changes and access to geo-blocked content directly in the browser.
- They generally lack the comprehensive security features of standalone VPN applications.
- ExpressVPN’s Chrome extension stands out for providing full VPN protection within Chrome, including encryption and privacy tools.
- NordVPN and Windscribe offer competitive extensions but function primarily as proxies without full encryption for all internet traffic.
- Private Internet Access and CyberGhost provide additional options with varying levels of security features and streaming capabilities.
- Choosing the best Chrome VPN extension depends on specific needs such as security, streaming, or cost-effectiveness.
- For comprehensive privacy and security, a dedicated VPN service covering all internet traffic remains the superior choice.
FAQS
What VPN does Chrome have?
Chrome lacks a built-in VPN even if it is really well-featured. That’s hardly a concern, though, given the abundance of browser VPNs available—not least the top five above.
Fortunately, Chrome is also the ideal setting for a browser VPN to operate in; it’s robust, straightforward, user-friendly, very configurable, thus some excellent Chrome VPNs will perform just as consistently as their stand-alone equivalents.
Is a VPN extension for Chrome available for free?
A free Chrome plugin is a tempting offer; browsing anonymously and data security for nothing seems fantastic. Practically, though, these free services are not as good as they look.
First thing to think about is where the free service generates income. You probably will be seeing advertisements, or more sinisterly, it may be skimming your data and profitably selling it. Should that be the case, you would be better off utilizing none at all.
Though there are several decent free Chrome VPNs on this list, such Windscribe at number 2, generally you will never be able to obtain a very fantastic all-round VPN experience unless you pay.
Still, that does not have to break the budget. For less than $2.50 a month, Surfshark provides a completely safe and fully-featured VPN service.
Although its Chrome VPN isn’t strong enough to rank on this list, we believe it’s worth the money since it’s a lightweight proxy extension and at a cost you would hardly notice.
What should the ideal Chrome VPN extension do?
A decent Chrome VPN plugin should be not only easy to install and use but also preferably provides some in-depth capabilities as well. Although there are basic proxy versions that only switch on and off within Chrome – and that’s helpful – we really want more feature-rich choices.
Perfect if you like to view geo-restricted content in a tab and require a specific location chosen, the option to choose the location you want to connect from is a fairly simple but useful one.
Basic needs are security measures that limit your location from websites and camera or microphone access. Third-party cookie blocking, Flash blocking or disabling, WebRTC leak protection, hyperlink auditing and credit card auto-filling are extras we like to keep a look at. Additionally helpful is being able to employ Netflix VPN unblocking.
Whichever choice you choose, a VPN Chrome extension is only as good as the VPN behind; so, it is always advisable to go for a completely fledged and feature-rich standalone VPN.
