Best VPNs for Chrome (browser extensions included)

Whether you own a Chromebook or just use the Chrome browser, a VPN can improve your online privacy, bypass censorship, and unblock content. Many VPNs now make browser extensions, but not all of them are trustworthy, and some aren’t really Virtual Private Networks at all.

In this article, we’ll steer you clear of misleading plugins, and we’ll look at what makes the best VPN for Chrome. We cover a lot of detail, but in case you only have time for a summary, here is our list of the best VPNs for Chrome.

1. NordVPN Our top choice VPN for Chrome. Easy-to-use apps and corresponding Chrome extension. Extremely fast, private, and secure. Includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.
2. Surfshark Budget VPN for Chrome. A fast and reliable VPN with a powerful Chrome add-on, plenty of security features, and no simultaneous connection limit.
3. IPVanish Advanced plan comes with a secure, cloud-based browser extension for Chrome. Allows unlimited connections and has speedy servers in 140 locations.
4. ExpressVPN Chrome extension is well-designed and protects your browser’s traffic. When combined with the app, your device achieves a high level of security and privacy.
5. CyberGhost A highly reliable Chrome extension that provides online privacy, access to servers in 100+ countries, and excellent speeds for streaming Netflix and other platforms.
6. PureVPN Simple Chrome extension that lets you access servers in 65+ countries. Comes with automatic obfuscation.
7. ProtonVPN Impressive Chrome extension that provides access to servers in 117+ countries and comes with split tunneling and auto-connect.

Our criteria for the best VPNs for Chrome

There are hundreds of VPNs on the market, but they do not all have the same features. To ensure we only recommend the best possible VPNs for Chrome, we tested providers in the following areas:

• Speed: We carried out multiple speed tests for each provider. The results helped us weed out any VPNs that would bog your connection down and potentially ruin your Chrome browsing experience.
• Streaming suitability: We looked for providers with a large spread of servers. We then tested these servers’ ability to access geo-restricted websites and services. In particular, we tried them with stubborn platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
• Security and privacy: We used 16 different criteria to find the VPNs most able to keep you safe while using Chrome.
• Ease of use: We prioritised VPNs with user-friendly services. We assessed each provider’s apps and customer support using 10 different metrics.
• Value for money: We’re always on the lookout for VPNs that offer consumers a good deal. Our eight test metrics help us identify the providers with generous money-back guarantees and a range of subscription terms and offers.

You can read more about our VPN testing methodology further in this article, but for now, let’s take a closer look at our top picks.

Best Chrome VPNs: At a glance

We’ve compared the most important features of the top VPNs here. Prefer to read the in-depth reviews? Start with NordVPN – our #1 choice for Chrome.

Best VPNs for Chrome: Our in depth reviews

At Comparitech, we thoroughly test each VPN ourselves before making any recommendations to you. The following reviews are based on our first-hand experiences and extensive testing.

Here’s our list of the best VPNs for Chrome:

1. NordVPN

Jun 2025 Works with ChromeTested Jun 2025

NordVPN is our top recommendation for a Chrome VPN. It checks off all of our criteria, has special servers for multi-hop connections, and avoids censorship. The service is entirely log-less and has top-of-the-line encryption standards.

It’s also very fast. In our tests, NordVPN was faster than all of the other providers. It was the only one to exceed 200 Mbps overall. This makes it the ideal choice for intensive Chrome-based activities like 4K streaming or browser-based gaming.

NordVPN lets you securely access streaming sites from anywhere, including Netflix and Hulu, even on mobile apps. The apps let you connect easily by choosing a location on a map or a server from a list. NordVPN makes apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS.

NordVPN makes a standalone browser extension that functions with or without installing the native NordVPN app. By itself, the extension only protects Chrome traffic. It also prevents WebRTC leaks that could expose your real IP address from your browser, even with the VPN enabled. Nord’s CyberSec feature comes built into both the extension and the app to block ads, trackers, and malware.

BEST VPN FOR CHROME:NordVPN is our top pick. A superfast VPN that works well with Chrome. Connects up to 10 devices simultaneously. Also works well with most popular streaming services and packs excellent security features. 30-day money-back guarantee for a risk-free deal.

Read our full review of NordVPN.

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2. Surfshark

Works with ChromeTested Jun 2025

Surfshark is a budget-friendly VPN that offers apps for every major operating system. If you’d like, you can connect to one of its 3,200+ servers (in over 100 countries) using its Chrome extension instead.

While connected to the provider’s US servers, we recorded speeds averaging 192.08 Mbps. This is very fast and makes Surfshark suitable for just about anything you can do while using Chrome. 

This VPN grants secure access to platforms including Netflix US and BBC iPlayer, plus it works in countries like China and the UAE. Better yet, Surfshark lets you connect as many devices as you like.

The Surfshark Chrome extension has plenty of security features, including HTTPS encryption, leak protection, and a built-in ad-blocker. However, certain features from the desktop apps are missing, namely the whitelister and kill switch.

Surfshark accepts Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Ripple for anonymous payments. It doesn’t log any personally identifiable data, so you’re protected, however you decide to pay. If you need any assistance, you can reach customer support 24/7 over live chat.

Surfshark provides apps for macOS, Android, iOS, Windows, and Linux. This service can also be manually installed on supported internet routers.

BEST BUDGET VPN:Surfshark has no connection limit, so it’s perfect for anyone looking to secure all of their devices at once. It also offers a strict no-logs policy, strong security features, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of Surfshark here.

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3. IPVanish

Works with ChromeTested Jun 2025

IPVanish is a great choice for Chrome. It allows unlimited device connections and has servers in 140 locations worldwide.

It’s also very fast. While connected to its servers in the US, we measured speeds of between 181.06 Mbps and 186.1 Mbps. These consistently quick speeds mean you can use it for everything from multiplayer gaming to video calling and high-resolution streaming.

In our tests, IPVanish was able to access a wide range of streaming services. These included Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and Disney Plus.

A secure browser extension for Chrome is available with the provider’s Advanced Plan. The extension (which is also available for Firefox and Edge) operates in the cloud and protects users’ devices from viruses and malware, as well as trackers and cookies.

IPVanish apps are available for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. These protect user-generated traffic with 256-bit AES encryption. Other features include split tunneling, obfuscation, leak protection, and a kill switch. The provider has an independently audited no-logs policy and provides 24-hour support via live chat and email.

SECURE BROWSER:IPVanish's cloud-based Chrome extension keeps connections secure. Provides consistently fast speeds and works with Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. Unlimited device connections and a zero-logs policy. Comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full IPVanish review.

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3. ExpressVPN

Works with ChromeTested Jun 2025

ExpressVPN offers great security and performance, combined with easy-to-use apps. Its performance was fast and stable in our tests for this article. It achieved an average download speed of 124.32 Mbps overall, with a difference of just 5.61 Mbps between its slowest and fastest results. 

ExpressVPN is a great choice for pretty much any task, whether that’s bypassing the Great Firewall of China or securely streaming Netflix.

ExpressVPN makes apps for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux (command-line), and has its own firmware for routers. 

The provider makes a user-friendly browser extension that manages your device’s native VPN connections. This is useful for Chromebook users that can’t run the Windows or iOS versions of the app. The extension does not function by itself and requires you have ExpressVPN installed or configured first. 

The extension adds in some extra privacy features, including the ability to randomize the location reported by Google’s geolocation API to somewhere around the chosen VPN server. This prevents websites from learning your real location both through Google and via your IP address.

ExpressVPN’s browser extension has passed an audit by a third-party cybersecurity firm, and all the code is open-source.

SOLID SECURITY:ExpressVPN has a large network of servers that is fine-tuned for fast connections. User-friendly Chrome extension and apps for all operating systems. Great privacy and security features. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of ExpressVPN.

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4. CyberGhost

Works with ChromeTested Jun 2025

CyberGhost’s Chrome extension brings a streamlined VPN experience to your browser. It ensures excellent stability and speedy connections to servers in 100+ countries. It even lets you connect to its streaming-optimized servers, which makes it a superb extension for watching Netflix and other popular international services.

In addition to streaming servers, CyberGhost also has servers for gaming, torrenting, and privacy (its NoSpy servers). The NoSpy servers are owned and operated by CyberGhost in the company’s Romanian data centre.

Setting up the VPN extension is hassle-free, which makes it an excellent choice for beginners. Unlike some VPN extensions, it isn’t just a proxy; it provides an encrypted connection for your browser data, which means it will provide you with online privacy.

In our speed tests for this article, CyberGhost averaged 134.44 Mbps. As a rough approximation, this is fast enough for streaming Netflix in 4K on five devices at the same time. 

The extension can allow you to enjoy uninterrupted browsing without any data caps or constraints. This makes it a great option for bypassing blocks at work or in countries that enforce restrictions. CyberGhost follows a strict no-log policy, which means it never keeps any records of what you do while connected.

Plus, it allows up to seven simultaneous connections, which means you can also install it on your laptop, smartphone, and tablet using apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android. Those apps have additional features such as a kill switch and DNS leak protection, which makes them better for tasks that require the utmost privacy. Try it yourself using its 45-day money-back guarantee.

EASY TO USE:CyberGhost is good for beginners and has a decent Chrome extension that encrypts your browser data. Fast WireGuard connections are perfect for streaming, gaming, and torrenting. Servers are available in 100+ countries. Works to access popular streaming services, including Netflix. 24/7 live chat support and a 45-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of CyberGhost.

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5. PureVPN

Works with ChromeTested Jun 2025

PureVPN has a dedicated browser extension for Chrome, which allows users to choose any websites that they wish to use without the extension, spoof their GPS location, and protect against WebRTC leaks. At the time of writing, PureVPN is offering a seven-day free trial of the extension.

Of course, you can also use the main version of the PureVPN app with Chrome. This gives you access to servers in 65+ countries and works with a variety of streaming platforms. In fact, it has a page where it links a list of streaming services to the servers they work best with.

Speed-wise, it’s very fast. While connected to its US servers, we measured an average download speed of 142.24 Mbps. This is more than fast enough for any Chrome-based activity, whether that’s streaming, video calling, or gaming. 

Your data is secured using strong 256-bit AES encryption and protected from IP and DNS leaks. There’s a kill switch, split tunneling, and automatic obfuscation that works in China and the UAE. There’s also a strict no-logs policy ensuring your personal information stays private.

Subscribers are permitted up to 10 simultaneous device connections per account. PureVPN apps — all of which have a full GUI — are available for Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Linux. Manual configuration is possible for select routers.

EASY TO USE:PureVPN hits good speeds. Solid for using with Chrome. Stores no logs and has automatic obfuscation. Great for streaming and comes with a 31-day money-back guarantee.

Find out more in our PureVPN review.

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6. ProtonVPN

Works with ChromeTested Jun 2025

ProtonVPN is well-known for being one of the most private and secure providers available. It has a browser extension for Chrome that provides access to the company’s own servers that are housed in high-security locations in privacy-friendly countries. Other features include auto-connect and split tunneling.

ProtonVPN’s system-wide apps are great for Chrome, too. They’re able to access geo-restricted streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. Servers in 117 countries means you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to trying out new content libraries.

While connected to ProtonVPN’s US servers, we measured speeds of between 136.45 Mbps and 143.77 Mbps. As well as being consistent, these speeds are also very fast — helping ensure interruption-free browsing and streaming. 

ProtonVPN is one of the few providers that allows port forwarding, making it a great option for torrenters. Other features include obfuscation, a choice of connection protocols, and an ad, tracker, and malware blocker.

Well-designed apps are available for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Linux. Subscriptions allow up to 10 simultaneous connections. If you need more, then manual router configuration is possible (which will only use up one of your permitted connections).

PRIVATE & RELIABLE:ProtonVPN confidently overcomes geo-blocking with servers in 117 countries. Chrome browser extension with great security features. Comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. 

Find out more in our ProtonVPN review.

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How to use a VPN browser extension with Chrome

Follow our step-by-step instructions on how to use a VPN browser extension with Google Chrome. Don’t worry, it’s a quick and easy process.

Here’s how to set up a VPN for Chrome:

1. Choose a VPN that offers a browser extension for Chrome. We particularly recommend NordVPN. Sign up and enter your payment details. 

2. Log in to the NordVPN website via Chrome and select ‘Downloads’.

3. Scroll down to the ‘VPN solution for browser’ section and click ‘Add extension’ next to where it says ‘Google Chrome’.

4. Click ‘Add to Chrome’ and then ‘Add extension’ when the pop-up appears.

5. Click the puzzle piece icon in the top right corner of the browser window. This will open the available extensions. Select ‘NordVPN’.

6. Sign in if required to do so and repeat Step 5. If not, go to Step 7.

7. Click ‘Quick connect’ to establish a secure connection to the fastest available server.

8. That’s it! Your browser is protected.

How to install a Chrome VPN

To get started with a VPN with Google Chrome, you will need to install it first. You have a couple of installation options, depending on what your VPN provider offers. Here’s how to install a VPN on Chrome:

How to install a VPN app on your operating system

Most VPN providers make “native” apps that install directly onto an operating system, such as Windows, macOS, iOS, or Android. You can download these from your device’s VPN provider’s website or an official app store.

1. Sign up for the VPN (we recommend NordVPN).
2. Download and install the app for your device
3. Open the app and select a VPN server or location
4. Hit the Connect button and wait a few seconds
5. Once the connection has been established, open Chrome

All the internet traffic from Chrome and the rest of your device should now be encrypted and passed through the VPN server. Your IP address stays hidden, and you can unblock region-locked content.

How to install VPNs on Chromebook

Most VPN providers don’t make apps specifically for Chromebook as they do for Windows and Mac. Instead, VPNs must either be manually configured on Chrome or you must use a browser extension. The latter is undoubtedly the easier option if it’s available.

Follow these instructions from Google to manually configure a VPN:

1. If you haven’t already, sign in to your Chromebook
2. Click the status area where your account picture appears
3. Click Settings
4. In the “Internet connection” section, click Add connection.
5. Click Add OpenVPN / L2TP
6. In the box that appears, fill in the information below
7. Click Connect

Methodology: What makes the best Chrome VPN?

We selected the best VPNs for Chrome based on tests in the following areas:

Speed

There’s little point using a VPN if it makes Chrome so slow that you never turn it on. To find the faster providers, we carried out multiple speed tests while connected to their servers in the US.

Measurements were taken using the desktop version of the Ookla speed-testing app. To better emulate the experience of the average US user, we rate-limited the base connection speed of our test machine to 250 Mbps (which is a little slower than the median fixed broadband speed in the US). 

The results for each provider were averaged and converted to a score out of 10 relative to the other tested VPNs. This makes a side-by-side comparison possible.

NordVPN was the fastest provider overall, with Surfshark a close second. Either provider is a solid choice if you regularly stream or game while using Chrome. IPVanish — with its score of 9.2 out of 10 — is the next-best option. 

Streaming suitability

VPNs with servers in lots of countries tend to be more versatile. As well as enabling you to find a nearby server for the fastest speeds, they also increase the amount of geo-restricted content you can access. As such, we scored providers on the number of countries they supported. We also scored them on their unblocking ability. In particular, we tried them with Netflix, Disney Plus, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu.

The scores for the above were averaged for each provider, before being converted to an overall score for comparison.

NordVPN’s score of 9.7 out of 10 was highest. In addition to having servers in more countries than the other tested providers, it also worked with more streaming platforms. If you want an alternative, ExpressVPN and Surfshark are both excellent options.

Security and privacy

As you can see from the table below, we looked for the presence of advanced security features like AES encryption, a network kill switch, and obfuscation. We also checked each provider’s no-logs policy for evidence of user data collection.

If our test metrics don’t mean much to you, the following chart contains an overall score for each provider. These are based on the combined scores for our security and privacy tests.

NordVPN and Surfshark were both equally impressive, with scores of 9.5 out of 10. They use effectively uncrackable encryption and have obfuscation that can bypass blocks in China and elsewhere. In addition, they use RAM-only servers as standard in their networks and have independently audited no-logs policies. ProtonVPN’s a great alternative if you have no plans on connecting from China.

Ease of use

We looked at whether the VPN extension for Chrome could be used as a standalone product or if it needed the native app. We also checked for overall user-friendliness. This required assessing each provider’s customer service. It should be helpful, responsive, and contactable via live chat. We check opening hours and give extra points for 24/7 support.

We scored each of the above metrics based on its relative importance. These scores were combined to generate an overall score for each provider.

NordVPN’s score of 9.6 out of 10 was highest. It offers users a simple sign-up and cancellation process, as well as apps that are rich in functionality without being intimidating. If you’d like to try a different provider, IPVanish provides a user-friendly interface and responsive customer support.

Value for money

Finding a good deal on a VPN subscription requires more than a straight comparison of fees. Most have introductory offers that last for varying amounts of time, as well as discounts. It’s also worth considering the number of permitted device connections and the length of any money-back guarantees.

Each of the above metrics was assigned a score based on its relative importance. These scores were combined to generate overall scores for comparison.

Surfshark’s score of 9.7 out of 10 suggests it’s the best overall value for money. As well as allowing unlimited simultaneous device connections, it has an introductory offer that lasts two years. IPVanish has a similar offering, though its two-year plans are fractionally more expensive than Surfshark’s.

Free Chrome VPNs to avoid

Most free VPN services, whether they run as browser extensions or native apps, are severely limited. They impose bandwidth throttling, data caps, and waiting queues. Many have been known to inject tracking cookies and advertisements into your browser, which, in effect, can take a counterproductive toll on user privacy. The worst of them use a decentralized peer-to-peer structure, which eats up idle bandwidth on users’ machines, exposes them to a litany of threats, and in one infamous case (Hola) leverages everyone connected to the network to perform a massive botnet attack and mine Bitcoin.

• Turbo VPN‘s Chrome store page doesn’t even link to a proper website. Instead, it just leads to a blog post about the VPN. There’s no privacy policy, no technical details, and no terms of service. Avoid at all costs!
• RusVPN stores some connection logs that could identify users.
• SetupVPN collects extensive logs about your online activity using “site analysis tools” to retrieve information from your browser including the pages you view, the links you click, your IP address, browser type and language, access times, and referring Web site addresses.
• DotVPN logs the IP addresses of its users.
• Hola is a peer-to-peer VPN that uses idle bandwidth on other users’ devices instead of its own servers. It has in the past abused its access to user devices to launch botnet attacks.

As you can see, being at the top of Google search results does not always mean the VPN is good or trustworthy.

Browser extensions vs real VPNs

Turbo VPN, DotVPN, Hola … None of these browser plugins are real VPNs. In fact, most Chrome extensions cannot function as real VPNs. Instead, they are just encrypted proxies, usually SSL or HTTPS proxies. These Chrome extensions are VPNs in name only.

True, they function similarly to VPNs. Traffic is encrypted (we hope) and sent through an intermediary server. This can help get around censorship, unblock websites, and protect your privacy.

But these “clientless” VPNs only encrypt traffic coming from the Chrome browser. A true VPN will encrypt all traffic traveling to and from your entire device. Furthermore, so-called VPNs that run solely as Chrome extensions are vulnerable to a number of security issues because they do not use OpenVPN or an IPSec-encrypted VPN protocol (L2TP, IKE, SSTP), both of which require a native client to be installed on the user’s device. Finally, they do not extend your network to access remote machines, a key defining feature of a genuine VPN.

Charlie Hosner, a security expert from the University of Michigan, details the vulnerabilities of clientless SSL VPN extensions in a blog post. Those vulnerabilities include man-in-the-middle attacks, worms, keyloggers, and remote management tools.

See also: Best VPN browser extensions.

How to prevent WebRTC leaks

Some apps that run inside Chrome require a feature called WebRTC. Those include extensions for torrenting, voice calls, and video chats. WebRTC was built into Chrome and other browsers so separate plugins wouldn’t have to be installed.

A key way that VPNs protect users’ privacy is by masking their true IP addresses. Unfortunately, WebRTC can expose a device’s original IP address even when the VPN is enabled in what’s known as a WebRTC leak.

To prevent a WebRTC leak in Chrome, you’ll (somewhat ironically) require an extension. A handful are available, but this one is the official release from Google. Once installed, right-click the extension icon and go to Options. Check the box next to “Use my proxy server (if present):” and exit the pop-up window to save your settings.

You should now be protected from WebRTC leaks when using a VPN.

VPNs for Chrome FAQ